Image formation device

Abstract

To shorten the work time required to create a new two-dimensional code made to correspond to setting information on a new content.SOLUTION: An image formation device comprises: an image read part 11; a storage part 18 which associatively stores a two-dimensional code and setting information for execution of one of a plurality of functions that the two-dimensional code designates; an operation part 16; and a control part 100 which edits the setting information that the two-dimensional information stored in the storage part 18 designates according to an editing indication that the operation part 16 receives, and then associatively stores the edited setting information and a newly created two-dimensional code indicative of the setting information in the storage part 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] For example, an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral has a plurality of functions such as image reading, printing, and data transmission, and these functions are executed according to an instruction from a user. Here, Patent Document 1 describes a technique of reading a predetermined two-dimensional code (for example, a QR code (registered trademark)) and setting a reading unit according to the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 only sets the reading unit according to the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code, and does not edit the two-dimensional code and the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code. For this reason, in order to set the reading unit or the like using two-dimensional codes indicating different setting information, it is necessary to generate two-dimensional codes indicating different setting information from the beginning by a separate device, and there is a problem that a long time is required for the working time.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to reduce the working time required for generating a new two-dimensional code associated with setting information of new content.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a plurality of predetermined functions, including an image reading unit that reads an image on a document, a two-dimensional code, and a storage unit that stores the two-dimensional code in association with setting information for executing any of the plurality of functions indicated by the two-dimensional code, an operation unit that receives an instruction by an operation of a user, a control unit that generates a two-dimensional code indicating the setting information, stores the generated two-dimensional code in the storage unit, and controls an operation mechanism included in the image forming apparatus according to the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code included in the image obtained by reading the document by the image reading unit. The control unit edits the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit based on an editing instruction received by the operation unit, and stores the edited setting information and a newly generated two-dimensional code indicating the setting information in association with each other in the storage unit.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, by editing the setting information indicated by an existing two-dimensional code and generating a new two-dimensional code indicating the edited setting information, it is possible to reduce the working time required for generating a new two-dimensional code indicating setting information with new content.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing the structure of an image forming apparatus 1 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 a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a transmission function, a printing function, and a facsimile function.

[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, a housing of the image forming apparatus 1 houses 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 feeding unit 14, and a conveying unit 17. A display unit 15 and an operation unit 16 are provided on the front of the housing of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0011] The image reading unit 11 is an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) including a document conveying unit 6 that conveys a document placed on a document table, and a scanner that optically reads a document conveyed by the document conveying unit 6 or a document placed on a platen glass 7. The image reading unit 11 irradiates a document with a light irradiation unit and receives the reflected light with a CCD (Charge-Couple device) sensor, thereby reading the document and generating image data indicating a document image. That is, the image reading unit 11 acquires a document image by reading a document.

[0012] The image forming unit 12 includes a photoreceptor drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a transfer device. The image forming unit 12 forms an image constituted by a toner image on a recording paper P conveyed along a conveyance path T by a conveyance unit 17 based on the image data generated by the image reading unit 11 or the image data received via the communication unit 22.

[0013] The fixing unit 13 fixes the toner image on the recording paper P by heating and pressing the recording paper P on which the toner image is formed by the image forming unit 12. The recording paper P on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit 13 is discharged to the discharge tray 8. The paper feeding unit 14 includes a manual feed tray and a plurality of paper feed cassettes. The paper feeding unit 14 pulls out the recording paper P accommodated in any one of the plurality of paper feed cassettes or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray one by one by a pickup roller and feeds it to the conveyance path T.

[0014] The display unit 15 is a display device constituted by a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) display or the like. The display unit 15 displays various screens for each job executable by the image forming apparatus 1 according to the control of the control unit 100. The display unit 15 is an example of the display unit in the claims.

[0015] The operation unit 16 includes a setting key 161 for receiving input of various instructions and a touch panel 162 disposed overlapping the display unit 15. The operation unit 16 receives various instructions in response to the operation of the setting key 161 or the touch panel 162 by the user.

[0016] The conveyance unit 17 includes a pair of conveyance rollers 17A, a pair of discharge rollers 17B, etc., and a conveyance motor connected to the pair of conveyance rollers 17A, the pair of discharge rollers 17B, etc. The control unit 100 drives the conveyance motor to rotate the pair of conveyance rollers 17A, the pair of discharge rollers 17B, etc., thereby conveying the recording paper P fed by the paper feeding unit 14 along the conveyance path T toward the image forming unit 12 and the discharge tray 8.

[0017] The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10. The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0018] When a control program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 18 is executed by the processor, the control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100. Note that the control unit 100 may be configured by a logic circuit regardless of the operations based on the control program.

[0019] The control unit 100 is in charge of overall control of the image forming apparatus 1. More specifically, the control unit 100 controls the operations of each part of the image forming apparatus 1 and communication with an external device 23 such as a PC (Personal Computer) connected via a network.

[0020] The control unit 10 is electrically connected to a document conveyance unit 6, an image reading unit 11, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a display unit 15, an operation unit 16, a conveyance unit 17, a storage unit 18, an image processing unit 19, an image memory 20, a facsimile communication unit 21, a communication unit 22, and the like.

[0021] The storage unit 18 is composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and is a large-capacity storage device for storing various data such as image data (also simply referred to as an image) generated by the image reading unit 11. The storage unit 18 stores various control programs for realizing general operations of the image forming apparatus 1. Further, a two-dimensional code and setting information for executing any one of a plurality of functions provided in the image forming apparatus 1 are stored in the storage unit 18 in association with each other. A plurality of two-dimensional codes are stored in the storage unit 18 in association with the setting information.

[0022] The image processing unit 19 executes image processing on the image data generated by the image reading unit 11 as necessary. 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 the public line and transmits and receives image data via the public line.

[0023] The communication unit 22 includes a communication module such as a LAN (Local Area Network) board. The image forming apparatus 1 performs data communication with external devices 23 such as a PC connected via a network and other image forming apparatuses via the communication unit 22.

[0024] The control unit 100 generates a two-dimensional code (for example, a QR code (registered trademark), the same hereinafter) indicating setting information when executing at least one of functions such as a copy function, a scan function, a printer function, a facsimile communication function, and a transmission function that the image forming apparatus 1 can execute, and stores the two-dimensional code in the storage unit 18 in association with the setting information.

[0025] Further, the control unit 100 detects a two-dimensional code included in the image obtained by reading the document by the image reading unit 11, and controls the operation mechanism provided in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code detected by analyzing the two-dimensional code.

[0026] Furthermore, the control unit 100 edits the setting information (the setting information associated with the two-dimensional code) indicated by the two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit 18 based on the editing instruction received by the operation unit 16 based on the operation by the user, and stores the edited setting information and the newly generated two-dimensional code indicating the setting information in the storage unit 18 in association with each other.

[0027] Also, the control unit 100 causes the image forming unit 12 to form the two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit 18 on the recording paper.

[0028] The control unit 100 searches for a two-dimensional code similar to the two-dimensional code included in the image obtained by reading the document by the image reading unit 11 from the two-dimensional codes stored in the storage unit 18, edits the setting information indicated by the similar two-dimensional code extracted by the search according to the editing instruction received by the operation unit 16, and stores the edited setting information and the newly generated two-dimensional code indicating the setting information in the storage unit 18 in association with each other.

[0029] The control unit 100 deletes the two-dimensional code specified by the deletion instruction from the storage unit 18 according to the deletion instruction received by the operation unit 16.

[0030] The control unit 100 causes the communication unit 22 to transmit, to the transmission destination (such as an external personal computer) specified by the instruction, the two-dimensional code specified by the instruction among the two-dimensional codes stored in the storage unit 18, according to the instruction received by the operation unit 16.

[0031] Next, the processing based on the two-dimensional code by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing based on the two-dimensional code by the image forming apparatus 1. It is assumed that the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display a two-dimensional code setting instruction reception screen G1 shown in FIG. 4 as an example according to the two-dimensional code setting instruction received by the operation unit 16.

[0032] Here, for example, when the user operates the scan button M3 and a two-dimensional code reading instruction associated with the scan button M3 is received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 (at "code reading" in S1), the control unit 100 causes the image reading unit 11 to read the document conveyed by the document conveyance unit 6 or the document placed on the platen glass 7 (S2). Here, it is assumed that the user sets, as a reading target, a document on which a two-dimensional code is printed in the image reading unit 11 before inputting the above reading instruction to the operation unit 16.

[0033] The control unit 100 extracts a two-dimensional code from the image obtained by reading the document by the image reading unit 11, and analyzes the setting information indicated by the extracted two-dimensional code (S3). The extraction of the two-dimensional code from the image and the analysis of the setting information indicated by the extracted two-dimensional code use existing technologies.

[0034] The control unit 100 sets the content indicated by the setting information obtained by the above analysis as a set value for operating the operation mechanism of the image forming apparatus 1 (S4). For example, when the content indicated by the setting information is each set value regarding the resolution, document size, reading size, reading density, file format, etc. related to the reading by the image reading unit 11, the control unit 100 sets each of the set values for the operation of the image reading unit 11.

[0035] After that, when a function execution instruction is received by the operation unit 16, the control unit 100 operates the function indicated by the setting information with the set set values indicated by the setting information (S5). In this example, when a document reading instruction is received by the operation unit 16, the control unit 100 causes the image reading unit 11 to read the document to be transmitted according to the above set values, and transmits the read image to the above transmission destination.

[0036] On the other hand, in S1, for example, when the user operates the generation button M1 and a two-dimensional code generation instruction associated with the generation button M1 is received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 (''code generation'' in S1), the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display a function selection screen G2 (an example is shown in FIG. 5) (S11). The function selection screen G2 is a screen for receiving from the user an instruction as to which function's setting information to include in the two-dimensional code among the functions provided in the image forming apparatus 1.

[0037] When the function selection screen G2 is displayed, when the user operates any one of the scan button M7, print button M9, save button M11, and send button M13 as function selection buttons displayed within the function selection screen G2, a function selection instruction for selecting which function setting information to include in the two-dimensional code is received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 (YES in S12). The operation unit 16 receives a function selection instruction for selecting the function associated with the button operated by the user among the scan button M7, print button M9, save button M11, and send button M13.

[0038] When a function selection instruction is received, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display a setting value reception screen G3 (an example is shown in FIG. 6) for receiving the setting of a setting value as setting information for the function selected by the function selection instruction (S13). For example, when the user operates the print button M9 and a print function selection instruction associated with the print button M9 is received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display a setting value reception screen G3 for receiving the setting of a setting value as setting information for the print function.

[0039] When the setting value reception screen G3 is displayed, when the user operates setting value designation buttons displayed within the setting value reception screen G3, in this example, a print color selection button M21, an image quality button M23, etc., each setting value corresponding to the item of each button specified based on the operation, for example, "full color" for the print color item and "level 3" for the image quality, etc. are received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 (S14).

[0040] When the user further operates the task addition button 25 and the operation unit 16 receives a task addition instruction, the control unit 100 sets the set values of the respective items received by the operation unit 16 as setting information for the selected function, and generates an image of a new two-dimensional code indicating the selected function and the setting information therefor (S15). The control unit 100 generates the two-dimensional code indicating the setting information using the existing generation process.

[0041] Note that when the setting value reception screen G3 is displayed, after the user performs an operation to set the setting value for the function and the setting value for the function is received by the operation unit 16, and then the return button M24 is operated by the user without operating the task addition button 25 and the operation unit 16 receives a display instruction for the function selection screen G2, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display the function selection screen G2 again. Then, when the function selection screen G2 is redisplayed and the operation unit 16 receives a function selection instruction to select another function by the user's operation of the function selection button, and another function is selected according to the function selection instruction, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display a setting value reception screen G3' (FIG. 7) for the other function. Then, when the setting value reception screen G3 for the other function is displayed, the setting value for the other function is received by the operation unit 16 based on the user's button operation.

[0042] The display of the setting value reception screen G3' for such other functions and the reception of setting values for other functions by the operation unit 16 are repeatedly performed. When the task addition button M25 on the setting value reception screen G3 is operated by the user and a task addition instruction is received, at this point, the setting values of each item for all the functions received by the operation unit 16 are set as setting information, and an image of a new two-dimensional code indicating the selected function and the setting information therefor is generated (S15). Since the control unit 100 generates a two-dimensional code indicating the setting values for a plurality of functions, for example, both the scanning function and the transmission function, the setting information for causing the image forming apparatus 1 to perform an operation of transmitting the image read by the image reading unit 11 by email, or the setting information for causing the image forming apparatus 1 to perform an operation of transmitting the image read by the image reading unit 11 to a personal computer via a network can be included in one two-dimensional code.

[0043] After generating the two-dimensional code, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display a two-dimensional code processing selection screen G5 as shown in the example in FIG. 8 (S16). On the two-dimensional code processing selection screen G5, an image im1 showing the generated two-dimensional code, a name input field M19 for the two-dimensional code, a date and time input field M27 for the generation date and time, a two-dimensional code printing button M31, and a two-dimensional code saving button M29 are displayed.

[0044] When the name input field M19 for the two-dimensional code is operated by the user at the time of displaying the two-dimensional code processing selection screen G5, a name input instruction is received by the operation unit 16, and in accordance with this instruction, the control unit 100 displays a window screen showing a soft keyboard over the two-dimensional code processing selection screen G5. The control unit 100 sets the character information received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 in response to the operation of the soft keyboard by the user as the name of the two-dimensional code.

[0045] Also, when the date and time input field M27 of the two-dimensional code is operated by the user when the two-dimensional code processing selection screen G5 is displayed, an instruction to input the date and time is received by the operation unit 16. In accordance with this instruction, the control unit 100 displays a window screen showing a soft keyboard over the two-dimensional code processing selection screen G5. The control unit 100 sets the date and time information received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 in response to the operation of the soft keyboard by the user as the date and time indicating the date and time when the two-dimensional code was generated.

[0046] After the above name and date and time are input, when a print instruction for the two-dimensional code is received by the operation unit 16 based on the operation of the two-dimensional code print button M31 by the user ("Print" in S17), the control unit 100 causes the image forming unit 12 to form (print) an image of the two-dimensional code on a recording sheet (S18).

[0047] On the other hand, when a save instruction for the two-dimensional code is received by the operation unit 16 based on the operation of the two-dimensional code save button M29 by the user ("Save" in S17), the control unit 100 associates the two-dimensional code, the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code, and the information indicating the input name and date and time with each other and stores them in the storage unit 18 (S19). After S5, S18, or S20, the process ends.

[0048] Next, the management process of the two-dimensional code by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the management process of the two-dimensional code by the image forming apparatus 1.

[0049] When the two-dimensional code setting instruction reception screen G1 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 15, and the user operates the two-dimensional code management M5 and a two-dimensional code management instruction associated with the two-dimensional code management M5 is received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 (S31), the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display a list of each two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit 18 together with the corresponding setting information (S32). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a saved code display screen G6 that displays a list of each two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit 18 by their respective names. For example, in the saved code display screen G6, the control unit 100, as an initial display, displays an image of the two-dimensional code corresponding to the name (eight in the example shown in FIG. 10) that is displayed at the top and on the left side in FIG. 10 among the names displayed in a list as described above (in the example of FIG. 10, "QR_001"). A code deletion button M49, a two-dimensional code reading addition button M55, and an edit button M53 are displayed on the two-dimensional code setting instruction reception screen G1.

[0050] When, when the two-dimensional code setting instruction reception screen G1 is displayed, any one of the images showing the two-dimensional code names displayed in a list is operated by the user, and further, the code deletion button M49 is operated by the user, and a code deletion instruction associated with the code deletion button M49 is received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 ( "delete" in S33), the control unit 100 deletes from the storage unit 18 the two-dimensional code corresponding to the above image operated by the user and information such as the setting information associated therewith (S34).

[0051] On the other hand, in S33, when any one of the images showing the two-dimensional code names displayed in a list on the saved code display screen G6 is operated by the user, and further, the edit button M53 is operated by the user, and an edit instruction associated with the edit button M53 is received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 ( "edit" in S33), the control unit 100 causes the display unit 15 to display a function selection screen G2 as shown in FIG. 5 as an example (S35).

[0052] After the display of the function selection screen G2, the control unit 100 performs code generation processing similar to the processing of S11 to S15 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 described above, and generates a two-dimensional code indicating the setting information newly set by the user (S36). The control unit 100 stores the newly generated two-dimensional code in the storage unit 18 instead of the two-dimensional code that has been stored in the storage unit 18 until now, that is, the two-dimensional code with the name corresponding to the image operated when the editing instruction was received in S33 (S37). That is, the control unit 100 deletes the previous two-dimensional code and the setting information etc. related thereto, and replaces them with the new two-dimensional code and the setting information etc. related thereto.

[0053] Also, in S33, when the two-dimensional code reading addition button M55 displayed on the save code display screen G6 is operated by the user and a two-dimensional code reading addition instruction is received by the operation unit 16 via the touch panel 162 ( "reading addition" in S33), the control unit 100 causes the image reading unit 11 to read the document conveyed by the document conveyance unit 6 or the document placed on the platen glass 7 (S38). Here, it is assumed that the user sets the document with the two-dimensional code printed thereon as the reading target in the image reading unit 11 before inputting the two-dimensional code reading addition instruction to the operation unit 16.

[0054] Subsequently, the control unit 100 extracts a two-dimensional code from the image obtained by reading the document by the image reading unit 11 (S39). Then, the control unit 100 searches for a two-dimensional code similar to the extracted two-dimensional code from each two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit 18 (S40). The control unit 100 performs this search by (i) detecting, by pattern matching or the like, a two-dimensional code composed of an image within a predetermined identity range with the image of each two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit 18, or (ii) analyzing the setting information indicated by the extracted two-dimensional code, and detecting, among each two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit 18, a two-dimensional code associated with setting information that is the same as or similar to (for example, a matching rate of 80%) the setting information obtained by this analysis. Note that in S40, the control unit 100 may search only for a two-dimensional code that matches the extracted two-dimensional code, rather than being similar. In this case, only the matching two-dimensional code is the target of the above editing.

[0055] And when the control unit 100 detects a two-dimensional code similar to the above search (YES in S41), it causes the storage code display screen G6 to be displayed again on the display unit 15 (S32). In the storage code display screen G6 (FIG. 11) in this case, the control unit 100 causes the image of the similar two-dimensional code among the names listed as described above to be displayed as the image im1, and instead of the above initial display, among the images indicating the names of the respective two-dimensional codes stored in the storage unit 18, the image indicating the name of the similar two-dimensional code (in the example of FIG. 11, "QR_005") is displayed in a display form different from the images indicating the names of other two-dimensional codes (for example, highlighted display). Thereby, even if the user does not know what the name of the two-dimensional code printed on the recording paper is or what the content of the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code is, it is possible to find and edit a two-dimensional code identical or similar to the two-dimensional code printed on the recording paper. Thereafter, the control unit 100 performs the processes of S33 to S37 to execute the editing of the similar two-dimensional code. Note that when the control unit 100 does not detect a two-dimensional code by the above search (NO in S41), it causes the display unit 15 to display a message indicating that there is no two-dimensional code (S42).

[0056] As described above, according to the above embodiment, by editing the setting information indicated by an existing two-dimensional code and generating the edited setting information and a new two-dimensional code indicating the setting information, it is possible to reduce the working time required for generating a new two-dimensional code indicating new content of the setting information.

[0057] Also, when it is desired to edit the two-dimensional code already printed on the recording paper and its setting information among the respective two-dimensional codes stored in the storage unit 18, by causing the recording paper on which the two-dimensional code is printed to be read by the image reading unit 11, it is possible to easily read and edit a two-dimensional code that matches or is similar to the two-dimensional code.

[0058] Note that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. Further, the configuration and processing shown by the above embodiment using FIGS. 1 to 11 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to such configuration and processing.

Explanation of Signs

[0059] 1 Image forming apparatus 100 Control unit 11 Image reading unit 12 Image forming unit 15 Display unit 16 Operation unit 18 Storage unit 22 Communication unit

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus having a plurality of predetermined functions, comprising: an image reading unit that reads an image on a document; a storage unit that stores, in association with each other, a two-dimensional code and setting information for executing any one of the plurality of functions indicated by the two-dimensional code; an operation unit that receives an instruction by an operation of a user; a control unit that generates a two-dimensional code indicating the setting information, stores the generated two-dimensional code in the storage unit, and controls an operation mechanism included in the image forming apparatus according to the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code included in an image obtained by reading a document by the image reading unit. The control unit edits the setting information indicated by the two-dimensional code stored in the storage unit based on an editing instruction received by the operation unit, and stores the edited setting information and a newly generated two-dimensional code indicating the setting information in the storage unit in association with each other. An image forming apparatus.

2. The control unit searches for a two-dimensional code similar to the two-dimensional code included in the image obtained by reading a document by the image reading unit from the two-dimensional codes stored in the storage unit, and edits the setting information indicated by the similar two-dimensional code extracted by the search according to the editing instruction received by the operation unit, and stores the edited setting information and a newly generated two-dimensional code indicating the setting information in the storage unit in association with each other. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The control unit deletes the two-dimensional code specified by the deletion instruction from the storage unit according to the deletion instruction received by the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

4. further comprising an image forming unit that forms the image on a recording medium, The control unit causes the image forming unit to form, on the recording medium, a two-dimensional code specified by an instruction received by the operation unit among the two-dimensional codes stored in the storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

5. further comprising a communication unit that communicates with an external device, The control unit causes the communication unit to transmit, to a transmission destination specified by the instruction, a two-dimensional code specified by an instruction received by the operation unit among the two-dimensional codes stored in the storage unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

Images