Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To simplify an operation in designating a storage destination of scan data or a calling source of print data, to increase convenience related to a user's input operation.SOLUTION: When an image reading unit 13 reads a document to acquire image data, a user designates a storage destination folder of the image data, and a shortcut creation unit 112 creates a shortcut for the storage destination folder. When an image forming unit 14 prints print data stored by a storage unit 15, the user designates the print data, and the shortcut creation unit 112 creates a shortcut for a folder in which the print data is stored. A control unit 111 causes a display unit 121 to display a print setting screen immediately after the print data is selected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that prints an image on a sheet of paper. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, many technologies have been developed to improve the operability of image forming devices and reduce the effort required for user operations. Patent Document 1 describes an image forming device that stores scan data and makes efficient use of the scan data. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-129248 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, although Patent Document 1 describes a method for improving convenience when using scanned data, it does not specifically describe a method for simplifying the operation when specifying the destination for saving scanned data or the source for calling print data.

[0005] The present invention aims to simplify the operation for specifying the save destination of scan data or the call source of print data, thereby improving the convenience of the user regarding input operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises a folder that stores data, a memory unit that stores shortcut folders, an input receiving unit that receives instruction input from a user, an image reading unit that reads an image of a document to obtain image data, an image forming unit that prints an image on paper based on print data, a shortcut creation unit that creates shortcuts to the folder that stores the image data obtained by the image reading unit and shortcuts to the folder that stores the print data printed by the image forming unit in accordance with the instruction input received by the input receiving unit, and a control unit that stores the image data obtained by the image reading unit and the print data printed by the image forming unit in the shortcut folders stored in the shortcut folder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the operation for specifying the save destination of scan data or the call source of print data can be simplified, thereby improving the convenience of the user's input operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of a storage unit. [Figure 3A] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for creating a shortcut to a folder that stores image data obtained by scanning. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a home screen of the image forming apparatus 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 8]FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 11A] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a process for setting a folder in which print data is to be stored after the print data has been printed. [Figure 11B] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 14] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. [Figure 16] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed by a display unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The image forming apparatus in this embodiment is an electrophotographic printer, copier, scanner, or multifunction device equipped with these functions. However, the present invention is also applicable to image forming apparatuses that use image forming methods other than electrophotographic (for example, inkjet).

[0010] 1 is a diagram showing the electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is configured to include a control unit 11, an input receiving unit 12, an image reading unit 13, an image forming unit 14, a storage unit 15, and a communication unit 16. The input receiving unit 12 includes hard keys such as an enter key and a start key for confirming various operations and settings, and a display unit 121. The display unit 121 displays an operation screen, messages, and the like. The display unit 121 may be configured integrally with a touch panel. The display unit 121 is configured to include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, etc.

[0011] The image reading unit 13 reads an image of a document to obtain image data. The image forming unit 14 prints, on paper, the image data obtained by the image reading unit 13 and the image data received from an external device by the communication unit 16. The image forming unit 14 includes a developing unit (not shown) and a fixing unit (not shown) that form a toner image on the paper. After the developing unit forms a toner image on the surface of the paper, the paper is transported to the fixing unit. The pressure roller and heat roller of the fixing unit sandwich the paper as it is transported, and the toner adhering to the surface of the paper is adhered and fixed to the paper by electrostatic force.

[0012] The storage unit 15 is a large-capacity storage device including an SSD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores image data, various programs, data tables, and the like.

[0013] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the data configuration of the storage unit 15. The storage unit 15 stores various data (not shown) necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus 1, as well as user folders 15A assigned to each user, group, etc. The user folders 15A store print data, image data, folders, etc.

[0014] Furthermore, the user folder 15A stores folders such as an xx folder 151 and a yy folder 152, document data (abc.doc), image data (def.jpg), etc. The above folders further store document data and image data.

[0015] Returning to Fig. 1, the communication unit 16 is composed of a communication module and the like, and transmits and receives various data to and from external devices via a network.

[0016] The control unit 11 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or the like.

[0017] The control unit 11 functions as a control unit 111 and a shortcut creation unit 112 by the processor executing a control program stored in a ROM or the like. The control unit 111 is responsible for overall operational control of the image forming apparatus 1. The shortcut creation unit 112 creates shortcuts to folders in accordance with instructions input by the user. Note that the components of the control unit 11 may each be configured as a hardware circuit, regardless of the operation based on the control program.

[0018] Next, the process of creating a shortcut in this embodiment will be described. <Embodiment 1> First, a case where a shortcut to a folder for storing scanned image data will be described. Fig. 3A is a flowchart showing the process of creating a shortcut to a folder for storing scanned image data. Fig. 3B is a diagram showing an example of the home screen of image forming apparatus 1.

[0019] When scanning a document, the user touches button 21 while the home screen is displayed. When the input acceptance unit 12 accepts a scan start instruction through this touch operation (YES in S1), control unit 111 causes display unit 121 to display the folder designation screen shown in Fig. 4 (S2). Fig. 4 is an example of the folder designation screen for designating the file name of the scanned image data and the folder in which to store the image data.

[0020] When a user wishes to create a shortcut to a folder, the user touches magnifying glass button 23. When input acceptance unit 12 accepts a folder display request based on this touch operation (YES in S3), control unit 111 causes display unit 121 to display a display screen showing folders and files stored in user folder 15A of storage unit 15 (S4). Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the display screen that is displayed after magnifying glass button 23 is touched.

[0021] At this time, since the user folder 15A stores the xx folder and the yy folder (FIG. 2), the control unit 111 causes the display unit 121 to display these two folders on the above display screen. The shortcut folder 153 is not displayed.

[0022] When the user touches the xx folder 24 on the display screen shown in Fig. 5, the control unit 111 expands the folders stored in the xx folder 24 in accordance with instructions input in response to this touch operation, and displays each folder in a lower hierarchy than the xx folder 24 (Fig. 6). Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen showing folders in a lower hierarchy than the xx folder 24. Here, it is assumed that the user touches the qq folder 26 in the lower hierarchy as the folder to be shortcutted, and touches the OK button 92 (YES in S5).

[0023] At this time, the control unit 111, in accordance with the shortcut creation instruction received by the input receiving unit 12 in response to each of the above touch operations, causes the display unit 121 to display the display screen shown in Fig. 7. This display screen displays a message to confirm that a shortcut to the qq folder in which image data to be scanned and acquired will be saved is to be created.

[0024] When the user touches the Yes button 93 on the display screen shown in Fig. 7 and the input accepting unit 12 accepts an instruction to confirm the creation of the shortcut, the control unit 111 causes the shortcut creating unit 112 to create a shortcut to the qq folder in the shortcut folder 153 of the storage unit 15 (S6). After this, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 121 to display the display screen shown in Fig. 8. The control unit 111 sets the folder associated with the shortcut as (i) a folder that is displayed preferentially with fewer operations when selecting a print target for the image forming unit 14, and further as (ii) a folder that stores image data acquired by the image reading unit 13 and print data printed by the image forming unit. This makes it possible to easily call up the folder even when, for example, image data obtained by scanning is to be stored in a folder deep in the hierarchy.

[0025] When the user touches button 94 in Fig. 8 and the input acceptance unit 12 accepts a screen switching instruction, control unit 111 causes display unit 121 to display a scan setting screen as shown in Fig. 9 (S7). Then, when the user operates each button shown on the scan setting screen and various settings are accepted by input acceptance unit 12, and then the user touches scan start button 95 and the input acceptance unit 12 accepts a scan execution instruction (YES in S8), control unit 111 causes image reading unit 13 to read the document and acquire image data (S9). After acquiring the image data, control unit 111 stores the image data in the qq folder (S10) and causes display unit 121 to display the display screen shown in Fig. 10. A message 27 indicating that the acquired image data has been stored in the qq folder is displayed on the display screen.

[0026] According to the above embodiment, before performing a scan, a shortcut to the folder in which the image data read by the scan will be stored can be easily created, thereby reducing the effort required by the user to set the storage destination.

[0027] After that, when scanning a document, if the input acceptance unit 12 accepts a scan start instruction by touching button 21 on the home screen (YES in S1), and control unit 111 is causing display unit 121 to display the folder designation screen shown in Fig. 4 (S2), when the user touches "Select from shortcut folder" button 28 and an instruction to display the contents of shortcut folder 153 is accepted by input acceptance unit 12, control unit 111 displays a display screen showing the contents stored in shortcut folder 153, rather than the display screen shown in Fig. 5. On this display screen, the user can easily specify a folder, even one deep in the hierarchy, as the storage destination for image data obtained by scanning.

[0028] <Embodiment 2> Next, a process for setting a folder in which to store print data after the print data has been printed will be described. Fig. 11A is a flowchart showing the process for setting a folder in which to store print data after the print data has been printed. Suppose that the user touches, for example, button 31 on the display screen shown in Fig. 3B. When a folder display instruction is received by input receiving unit 12 through this touch operation (YES in S11), control unit 111 causes display unit 121 to display a display screen showing folders and files stored in user folder 15A in storage unit 15 (S12).

[0029] Fig. 11B is a diagram showing an example of a display screen showing folders and files stored in user folder 15A. On the display screen shown in Fig. 11B, when the user touches, for example, yy folder 32, control unit 111 expands the folders stored in yy folder 32 in accordance with instructions input in response to this touch operation, and displays each folder in a lower hierarchy of yy folder 32.

[0030] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen showing folders in a hierarchy below the yy folder 32. On the display screen shown in FIG. 12, let us assume that the user performs a touch operation to select the mm folder 32 and the file name "rrr.doc" 33, and then touches the OK button 96. When the input acceptance unit 12 accepts a file selection instruction based on the touch operation (YES in S13), the control unit 111 causes the display unit 121 to display a print setting screen such as that shown in FIG. 13 (S14). When the print settings are input to the input acceptance unit 12 by operating the buttons shown on the print setting screen, and when the input acceptance unit 12 accepts a print execution instruction by the user touching the print button 97 (YES in S15), the control unit 111 causes the image forming unit 14 to print the selected print data (rrr.doc) (S16). In this way, when print data is selected, control unit 111 immediately displays the print setting screen on display unit 121, so the user does not need to perform a separate operation to display the print setting screen in addition to the operation to select the print data, thereby reducing the effort required to set print settings when printing print data.

[0031] After the printing, control unit 111 causes display unit 121 to display a message for confirming the creation of a shortcut to mm folder 32 in which the print data was stored. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen after image forming unit 14 has executed printing. When the user touches Yes button 98 on the display screen shown in FIG. 14 and the input accepting unit 12 accepts a shortcut creation instruction, in S13, the shortcut creating unit 112 creates a shortcut to mm folder 32 in shortcut folder 153 of storage unit 15 for the folder that stores the file "rrr.doc" 33, which was selected along with the file to be printed (mm folder 32 in this example) (S17). Then, control unit 111 causes display unit 121 to display the display screen shown in FIG. 15. This allows the user to easily call up mm folder 32, which is located deep within the hierarchy, when they want to reprint rrr.doc, which is stored in mm folder 32 located deep within the hierarchy.

[0032] Furthermore, after a shortcut is stored in the first and second embodiments as described above, when a folder display instruction is input to the input receiving unit 12 and the display unit 121 displays a display screen showing folders and files stored in the user folder 15A, the control unit 111 causes the display unit 121 to display the shortcut folder 153 on the display screen, as shown in the example of Fig. 16. The control unit 111 displays the shortcut folder 153 only if a shortcut is stored in the shortcut folder 153. Then, when the user performs a touch operation on the display screen to select the shortcut folder 153 and the input receiving unit 12 receives an instruction to display the contents of the shortcut folder 153, the control unit 111 causes the contents stored in the shortcut folder 153 to be displayed.

[0033] Then, folders for which shortcuts have been created that are stored in shortcut folder 153 are displayed, and when the user performs a touch operation to select one of the folders for which shortcuts have been created and an instruction to select that folder is received by input receiving unit 12, the folder that is the target of the shortcut is set as the storage destination for image data read by scanning or as the source of data to be printed. As a result, even if image data obtained by scanning is stored in a folder deep in the hierarchy, by creating a shortcut to that folder, it becomes possible to easily call up that folder and store or read the data.

[0034] As explained above, a shortcut to the folder in which print data is stored can be easily created, saving the user time and effort. Creating a folder shortcut also makes it easy to call up that folder. Furthermore, when print data is selected, control unit 111 immediately displays the print setting screen on display unit 121, eliminating the need for the user to go to the trouble of displaying the print setting screen, thereby reducing the user's time and effort. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1. Image forming device 11 Control Unit 111 Control Unit 112 Shortcut Creation Section 12 Input reception section 121 Display section 13 Image reading unit 14 Image forming unit 15 Storage section 16 Communications Department

Claims

1. a storage unit for storing a folder containing data and a shortcut folder; an input receiving unit that receives instruction input from a user; an image reading unit that reads an image of a document and acquires image data; an image forming unit that prints an image on paper based on print data; a shortcut creation unit that creates a shortcut to the folder that stores the image data acquired by the image reading unit and a shortcut to the folder that stores the print data printed by the image forming unit, in accordance with the instruction input received by the input reception unit; a control unit that stores image data acquired by the image reading unit and print data printed by the image forming unit in a shortcut folder stored in the shortcut folder.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit causes the image forming unit to print the data stored in the shortcut folder in accordance with an instruction input received by the input receiving unit.

3. Further comprising a display unit for displaying an image, The image forming apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein when the control unit is displaying a list of the print data on the display unit and the input accepting unit accepts a selection of the print data from the list, the control unit displays a print setting screen on the display unit.

Images