Image forming apparatus, image control method for the same, and program

Abstract

To enable scanning of cards without tilting, thereby improving usability.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus having a scanning function to scan an object placed on a document platen includes printing means for printing a guide sheet containing guide information for placing the object on the document platen when the object is a card-shaped object.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] BACKGROUND ART There is known an image forming apparatus having an ID card copying function that scans the front and back of a card such as a driver's license and prints the two resulting scanned images on one sheet (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-100102 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Generally, it is not possible to scan up to the edge of the platen, so when scanning a card such as a driver's license, the card is often placed away from the edge of the platen. In this case, it is difficult for the user to place the card on the platen without tilting it, and for example, in the case of Patent Document 1, the card is output in a tilted state. The present disclosure has been made in consideration of this point. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The image forming apparatus according to the present disclosure is an image forming apparatus having a scanning function for scanning an object placed on a platen, and is characterized in that, when the object is a card-shaped object, it is equipped with a printing means for printing a guide sheet containing guide information for placing the object on the platen. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the technology of the present disclosure, cards can be scanned without tilting, improving usability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] 5 is a flowchart showing processing of the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a sheet with a card placement guide. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating how to use the card placement guide sheet. [Figure 7] 10 is a flowchart showing processing of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing processing of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present disclosure, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solutions of the present disclosure. Note that identical components will be described with the same reference numerals. Furthermore, each process (step) in a flowchart will be indicated with a reference numeral beginning with "S."

[0009] [First embodiment] In the following description, an ID card will be used as an example, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. The present disclosure can also be applied to card-like objects or objects such as sheets. In the following embodiment, an example of scanning the front and back of an ID card (object) will be described, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. Scanning only one of the front and back sides of an ID card (object) is also included in the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 has a controller unit 101. The controller unit 101 controls a scanner 111, a printer 112, an operation unit 107, and a communication unit 109. When a user uses the copy function, the controller unit 101 controls the scanner 111 to acquire image data of an original document and controls the printer 112 to print the image on a sheet. When a user uses the scan function, the controller unit 101 controls the scanner 111 to acquire image data of an original document, converts the image data into code data, and transmits the code data to an external device (not shown) via the communication unit 109. An instruction to execute a process for each of these functions is called a job, and the image forming apparatus 100 executes a predetermined process in accordance with the job corresponding to each function.

[0011] The controller unit 101 includes a CPU 102 , a RAM 103 , a ROM 104 , a HDD 105 , an operation unit I / F 106 , a network I / F 108 , and a device I / F 110 , which are connected by a system bus 120 .

[0012] The CPU 102 controls the entire system of the image forming apparatus 100. The RAM 103 is a system work memory for the operation of the CPU 102 and an image memory for temporarily storing image data. The RAM 103 also stores programs such as an operating system, system software, and application software, as well as various data. The RAM 103 also stores scanned image data read by the scanner 111 and print data received from the controller unit 101 via the network. The ROM 104 stores a system boot program. The hard disk drive (HDD) 105 stores the operating system, system software, application software, print data, setting data, and the like. The HDD 105 is merely an example and may be a solid state drive (SSD), flash memory, or the like.

[0013] The operation unit I / F 106 is an interface unit with the operation unit 107, and outputs information to be displayed on the operation unit 107 to the operation unit 107. It also accepts information input by the user from the operation unit 107. The operation unit 107 may be configured with a touch panel or the like, and displays received information and accepts user input.

[0014] The network I / F 108 is connected to a communication unit 109 and controls various communications between the image forming apparatus 100 and external devices. The device I / F 110 connects a scanner 111, which reads documents, and a printer 112, which prints image data, to the controller unit 101 and inputs and outputs image data. The scanner 111 has a document tray, detects the paper size of a document placed on the tray, reads the document placed on the tray, and generates image data. The printer 112 prints the image data received via the device I / F 110.

[0015] 2 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. Each block in FIG. 2 represents software stored in the ROM 104 or the HDD 105, and the CPU 102 reads it into the RAM 103 and executes it to realize the processing of the flowcharts described below.

[0016] The display control unit 211 controls the operation unit 107 via the operation unit I / F 106. The display control unit 211 accepts information input by the user via the operation unit 107 and generates a screen to be displayed on the operation unit 107. The scanner control unit 212 controls the scanner 111 via the device I / F 110 to read a document placed on a document platen and generate image data. The printer control unit 213 controls the printer 112 via the device I / F 110 to print the image data on a sheet. The ID card copy processing unit 214 performs processing to realize the ID card copy function. The ID card copy processing unit 214 generates print data from the front and back image data of an ID card based on the ID card copy settings and determines the type of ID card placement guide to be printed.

[0017] The specific method for determining the type of ID card placement guide to be printed is as follows. The ID card copy processing unit 214 determines layout information (layout information) that indicates how the front and back image data of an ID card are to be laid out on a sheet. The ID card copy processing unit 214 also determines the ID card placement guide to be printed based on the information about the type of ID card placement guide to be printed. Therefore, the ID card copy processing unit 214 also sets the layout of the front and back image data of the ID card to a sheet (layout setting). Furthermore, when scanning an ID card, the ID card copy processing unit 214 also selects whether to print a sheet with an ID card placement guide that includes guide information for placing the ID card on the platen. Here, the guide information for placing the ID card on the platen includes multiple different pieces of guide information. If printing a sheet with an ID card placement guide is selected, the sheet with an ID card placement guide is printed, and then the front and back image data of the ID card are printed on the sheet. If it is selected not to print the sheet with ID card placement guide, the process of creating the sheet with ID card placement guide is terminated without printing the sheet with ID card placement guide.

[0018] 3 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the ID card copy function executed by the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment. The processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is realized by the CPU 102 of the image forming apparatus 100 reading into the RAM 103 and executing the programs for implementing each software module stored in the ROM 104 or HDD 105. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the ID card copy function is configured as an independent application, but this is not limiting. The ID card copy function may also be provided as one function of a copy application.

[0019] In S301, the display control unit 211 receives an instruction from the user, launches the ID card copy application, and displays an ID card copy screen. FIG. 4(a) is an example of an ID card copy screen displayed on the operation unit 107. The ID card copy screen 410 has a number of copies setting area 411, a paper size setting area 412, an allocation setting area 413, a guide display area 414, an execute button 415, and a guide print button 416. The number of copies setting area 411 is a component for displaying and setting the number of copies to be printed. The user changes the number of copies using the "+" button or the "-" button. The paper size setting area 412 is a component for displaying and setting the print paper size. The paper size setting area 412 is a button, and when the user presses this button, a screen (not shown) for selecting the print paper size is displayed. The allocation setting area 413 is a component for displaying and setting the layout of the front and back sides of the ID card on the print paper. The allocation setting area 413 is a button, and when the user presses this button, a screen (see FIG. 4(b)) for selecting the allocation setting is displayed. The guide display area 414 is a display area for explaining where on the platen the ID card should be placed. The guide display area 414 updates the position of the ID card to an appropriate position according to each setting. The relationship between each setting and the position of the ID card on the platen will be described later with reference to FIG. 4(b). The execute button 415 is a button for instructing the start of execution of the ID card copy function. The guide print button 416 is a button for instructing the printing of a sheet with an ID card placement guide used for placing the ID card on the platen.

[0020] FIG. 4B shows an example of an allocation setting screen. The allocation setting screen 420 is displayed on the operation unit 107 when the user presses the allocation setting area 413 in FIG. 4A. In this embodiment, there are four types of allocation settings: "Full," "Half Left / Right," "Half Top / Bottom," and "A5 Left / Right." The position on the platen where the ID card is placed is determined according to the allocation setting. In the case of "Full," the ID card needs to be placed in the center of both the left and right sides and the top and bottom of the left half of the platen (hereinafter referred to as "left center"). In other settings, the ID card needs to be placed in a position several millimeters away from the top left of the platen (hereinafter referred to as "top left"). The allocation settings and the positions where the ID card is placed for the allocation settings are merely examples and are not limited to these.

[0021] Furthermore, the placement position of the ID card is uniquely determined by the processing method used to layout the front and back sides of the ID card into a single image after scanning them, but it does not necessarily depend solely on the layout settings. For example, the placement position of the ID card may differ depending on the paper settings. The layout setting screen 420 has buttons 421 to 424 corresponding to each layout setting value, a cancel button 425, and an OK button 426. Buttons 421 to 424 are buttons for changing the layout settings, and the pressed button indicates the selected layout. The cancel button 425 is a button for returning to the ID card copy screen 410 without changing the layout settings. The OK button 426 is a button for confirming the layout setting currently selected among buttons 421 to 424 and returning to the ID card copy screen 410.

[0022] Returning to the description of the flowchart in Fig. 3, in S302, the ID card copy processing unit 214 waits for a user operation via the display control unit 211. In S303, the ID card copy processing unit 214 performs processing according to the type of user operation detected. If the type of user operation detected is "setting," the process proceeds to S320. If the type of user operation detected is "guide printing," the process proceeds to S330. If the type of user operation detected is "execute," the process proceeds to S304.

[0023] The type of user operation "setting" refers to an operation for making settings for the ID card copy function. For example, this includes increasing or decreasing the number of copies to print in the number of copies setting area 411, or changing the allocation settings on the allocation setting screen 420. In S320, the ID card copy processing unit 214 saves the setting values ​​set by the user operation in the HDD 105 or RAM 103, etc., and reflects the set setting values ​​on the screen. The ID card copy processing unit 214 acquires the allocation setting information, and the process returns to S302.

[0024] The type of user operation "Guide Print" refers to an operation equivalent to pressing the Guide Print button 416 in FIG. 4(a). In S330, the ID card copy processing unit 214 reads the layout setting acquired in S320 and determines whether the layout setting is Full. If the layout setting is Full, the process proceeds to S331. If the layout setting is other than Full, the process proceeds to S332. In S331, guide data for "Full" is printed by the printer 112 via the printer control unit 213. In S332, guide data for "Half Left / Right," "Half Top / Bottom," and "A5 Left / Right" are printed by the printer 112 via the printer control unit 213. When the printer 112 has printed the sheet with ID card placement guide, the process returns to S302.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows an example of a sheet with an ID card placement guide to be printed. The sheet with an ID card placement guide 510 shown in FIG. 5 shows an example in which the layout setting is Full (the correct card position is the center left). Dotted line 511 indicates a folding line. The dotted line 511 is printed across the width of the sheet and defines the vertical placement position of the ID card. The user folds the sheet with an ID card placement guide 510 along the dotted line 511 and places the ID card on the platen so that it aligns with the marking line 512. The marking line 512 includes multiple lines spaced apart at a predetermined interval and defines the horizontal placement position of the ID card. The lines at both ends of the marking line 512 may be longer than the other lines. In other words, information including the dotted line 511 and the marking line 512 serves as guide information. The layout setting type 513 indicates the type of layout setting for the sheet with an ID card placement guide 510. On the sheet with ID card placement guide 510, dotted lines 511 and memory lines 512 are printed at appropriate positions according to each setting, and layout setting type 513 is printed in appropriate wording.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows how to use the ID card placement guide sheet 510. As shown in FIG. 6(a), the ID card placement guide sheet 510 is folded along the fold line. Next, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the ID card placement guide sheet 510 is placed on the platen so that the upper right corner of the ID card placement guide sheet 510 is aligned with the upper right corner of the platen and the scale line is on the left side. The ID card placement guide sheet 510 is then placed so that it is aligned with the scale line 512. Then, as shown in FIG. 6(c), the ID card placement guide sheet 510 is removed from the platen. The ID card placement guide sheet 510 shown in FIG. 6 can be used in the following ways. The printed ID card placement guide sheet 510 may be placed in a predetermined position on the platen as described above. Furthermore, when printing of the ID card placement guide sheet 510 is completed, the ID card placement guide sheet 510 may be displayed on the operation unit 107. The width and number of the marking lines on the sheet with ID card placement guide 510 are merely examples and are not limited to these.

[0027] The type of user operation "execute" refers to an operation equivalent to pressing the execute button 415 in FIG. 4(a). In S304, the ID card copy processing unit 214 executes a first scan with the scanner 111 via the scanner control unit 212 to generate first scanned image data. In S305, the ID card copy processing unit 214 displays a card flip instruction screen on the operation unit 107 via the display control unit 211. FIG. 4(c) shows an example of the card flip instruction screen. The card flip instruction screen 430 includes a message area 431, a guide display area 432, a cancel button 433, and a continue button 434. The message area 431 displays a message indicating that the card needs to be flipped over and an operation procedure for continuing the process. The guide display area 432 displays an explanation of where on the platen the ID card should be placed. Like the other guide display areas, the guide display area 432 appropriately switches the position of the ID card according to the allocation setting. 4(c) shows an example of the case where the allocation setting is other than "Full" (the correct card position is the upper left). The stop button 433 is a button for instructing to stop the ID card copy process. The continue button 434 is a button for instructing to continue the ID card copy process.

[0028] In S306, the ID card copy processing unit 214 waits for a user operation via the display control unit 211. In S307, the ID card copy processing unit 214 performs processing according to the button pressed by the user. If the pressed button is "Cancel," the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 ends. If the pressed button is "Continue," the processing proceeds to S308.

[0029] In S308, the ID card copy processing unit 214 executes a second scan with the scanner 111 via the scanner control unit 212 to generate second scanned image data. In S309, the ID card copy processing unit 214 generates print data using the first scanned image data and the second scanned image data. At that time, it determines where on the sheet to lay out the two scanned image data according to the layout setting. In S310, the ID card copy processing unit 214 prints the print data generated in S309 on a sheet using the printer 112 via the printer control unit 213. When printing on the sheet is completed, the processing of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 ends.

[0030] In this embodiment, the image data of the front and back sides of one ID card has been described as being printed on a single sheet of paper, but it may also be used to print image data of each side of two ID cards on a single sheet of paper, for example. Furthermore, while this embodiment illustrates an example of printing a scanned image, this is not limiting. An output unit (not shown) may output the scanned image to a file such as a PDF file in which the scanned image is arranged in a predetermined layout. Therefore, the technology according to this embodiment makes it possible to scan a card without tilting it, improving usability.

[0031] [Second embodiment] In the first embodiment, the guide data to be printed was determined according to the layout setting selected on the layout setting screen 420. In this embodiment, the user can select the sheet with ID card placement guide to be printed regardless of the layout setting selected on the layout setting screen. In other words, an embodiment will be described in which the ID card placement guide to be printed can be selected while the process of printing the sheet with ID card placement guide is being executed. Since this embodiment is a modified example of the first embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0032] Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the ID card copy function executed by image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment. Only the differences from the flowchart in Fig. 3 will be explained below. The processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7 is realized by CPU 102 of image forming apparatus 100 reading into RAM 103 and executing programs for implementing each software module stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105.

[0033] In S303, the ID card copy processing unit 214 executes processing according to the type of the detected user operation. If the detected user operation is "guide printing," the processing proceeds to S701. In S701, the ID card copy processing unit 214 displays a guide selection screen on the operation unit 107 via the display control unit 211. FIG. 4(d) shows an example of the ID card placement guide selection screen. The guide selection screen 440 has a message area 441, selection buttons 442 and 443, a cancel button 444, and a print button 445. The message area 441 is an area for displaying a message indicating the selection of the type of ID card placement guide to be printed. The selection buttons 442 and 443 are buttons for selecting the type of ID card placement guide to be printed. When the type of ID card placement guide is selected by the user operation in S701, the ID card copy processing unit 214 acquires information about the selected ID card placement guide type.

[0034] In S702, the ID card copy processing unit 214 waits for a user operation via the display control unit 211. In S703, the ID card copy processing unit 214 performs processing according to the type of the detected user operation. If the type of the detected user operation is "cancel," the processing returns to S302 without printing the sheet with ID card placement guide. If the type of the user operation is "print," the processing proceeds to S704. In S704, the ID card copy processing unit 214 reads the information about the type of ID card placement guide acquired in S701 and determines whether the type of ID card placement guide is Full. If the type of the selected ID card placement guide is Full, the processing proceeds to S705. If the type of the selected ID card placement guide is other than Full, the processing proceeds to S706.

[0035] In S705, the guide data for "Full" is printed on a sheet using the printer 112 via the printer control unit 213. In S706, the guide data for "Half left / right," "Half top / bottom," and "A5 left / right" is printed on a sheet using the printer 112 via the printer control unit 213. Once the sheet with the ID card placement guide has been printed, the process returns to S302.

[0036] As described above, the process of this embodiment allows the user to select the ID card placement guide to be printed, regardless of the allocation setting selected on the allocation setting screen.

[0037] [Third embodiment] In the first and second embodiments, the sheet with the ID card placement guide was printed by pressing the guide print button. In this embodiment, the user selects whether or not to print the guide when copying the ID card, rather than by operating the guide print button. Since this embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0038] Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the processing of the ID card copy function executed by image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment. Only the differences from the flowchart in Fig. 3 will be explained below. The processing of the flowchart shown in Fig. 8 is realized by CPU 102 of image forming apparatus 100 reading into RAM 103 and executing programs for implementing each software module stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105.

[0039] In S303, the ID card copy processing unit 214 executes processing according to the type of the detected user operation. If the detected user operation is "execute," the process proceeds to S801. In S801, the ID card copy processing unit 214 displays a guide printing execution confirmation screen on the operation unit 107 via the display control unit 211. FIG. 4E shows an example of the guide printing execution confirmation screen. The guide printing execution confirmation screen 450 has a message area 451, a "No" button 452, and a "Yes" button 453. The message area 451 is an area where a message is displayed to confirm printing of a sheet with an ID card placement guide. The "No" button 452 is a button for executing ID card copying without printing a sheet with an ID card placement guide. The "Yes" button 453 is a button for printing a sheet with an ID card placement guide according to the layout settings.

[0040] In S802, the ID card copy processing unit 214 waits for a user operation via the display control unit 211. In S803, the ID card copy processing unit 214 performs processing according to the type of user operation detected. If "No" is selected in the type of user operation detected, the processing proceeds to S304. If "Yes" is selected in the type of user operation detected, the processing proceeds to S804.

[0041] The type of user operation "No" refers to an operation equivalent to pressing the "No" button 452 in Figure 4(e). In S304, the ID card copy processing unit 214 executes a first scan with the scanner 111 via the scanner control unit 212, and generates first scanned image data.

[0042] The type of user operation "Yes" refers to an operation equivalent to pressing the "Yes" button 452 in FIG. 4(e). In S804, the ID card copy processing unit 214 determines whether the allocation setting acquired in S320 is Full. If the acquired allocation setting is Full, the process proceeds to S805. If the acquired allocation setting is other than Full, the process proceeds to S806. In S805, guide data for "Full" is printed on a sheet using the printer 112 via the printer control unit 213. In S806, guide data for "Half left / right," "Half top / bottom," and "A5 left / right" are printed on a sheet using the printer 112 via the printer control unit 213. Once the ID card placement guide has been printed on the sheet in S806 or S807, the process proceeds to S807. In S807, the ID card copy processing unit 214 displays an ID card copy continuation screen on the operation unit 107 via the display control unit 211.

[0043] 4(f) shows an example of an ID card copy continuation confirmation screen. The ID card copy continuation screen 460 has a message area 461 and a continue button 462. The message area 461 is an area that displays a message asking whether the ID card has been placed. When the continue button 462 is pressed, the ID card copy process continues.

[0044] In S808, the ID card copy processing unit 214 waits for the user to press the continue button 462 in FIG. 4(f) via the display control unit 211. When the user presses the continue button 462, the process proceeds to S304. In S304, the ID card copy processing unit 214 executes a first scan with the scanner 111 via the scanner control unit 212. The process from S304 onwards is the same as the process in the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0045] As described above, in this embodiment, instead of a guide printing operation, the user can select whether or not to print a sheet with an ID card placement guide when executing ID card copying, which is useful when executing the ID card copying function for the same type of card repeatedly.

[0046] [Other embodiments] The present disclosure can also be realized by providing a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0047] The disclosure of the above-described embodiment includes the following configurations.

[0048] (Configuration 1) An image forming apparatus having a scanning function for scanning an object placed on a platen, characterized in that it comprises a printing means for printing a guide sheet containing guide information for placing the object on the platen when the object is a card-shaped object.

[0049] (Configuration 2) The image forming apparatus according to configuration 1, wherein the guide information is determined based on a layout selected by a user operation from among a plurality of different layouts.

[0050] (Configuration 3) The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 2, wherein the layout is selected during the process of printing the guided sheet.

[0051] (Configuration 4) The image forming apparatus according to configuration 2 or 3, characterized in that the printing means prints an image obtained by scanning at least one side of the card-like object using the guided sheet and arranging the image in the selected layout.

[0052] (Configuration 5) The image forming apparatus according to configuration 2 or 3, further comprising an output means for outputting an image obtained by scanning at least one side of the card-like object using the guided sheet and arranging the image in the selected layout to a file.

[0053] (Configuration 6) The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 4 further comprises a selection means for selecting whether or not to print the guided sheet, and when the selection means selects to print the guided sheet, the printing means prints an image in which an image obtained by scanning at least one side of the card-like object placed on the platen using the guided sheet is arranged in the selected layout.

[0054] (Configuration 7) An image forming apparatus as described in Configuration 6, characterized in that when the selection means selects not to print the guided sheet, the printing means does not print the guided sheet, but instead prints an image in which an image of at least one side of the card-shaped object placed on the platen is scanned using the guided sheet and arranged in the selected layout.

[0055] (Configuration 8) The image forming device described in Configuration 1, characterized in that the guide information has a first line indicating the vertical position of the sheet on which the card-shaped object is placed and a second line indicating the horizontal position of the sheet on which the card-shaped object is placed.

[0056] (Configuration 9) The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 8, wherein the first line is printed as a dotted line.

[0057] (Configuration 10) The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 8 or 9, wherein the second line includes a plurality of lines.

[0058] (Configuration 11) The image forming apparatus according to Configuration 10, wherein the plurality of lines are arranged at predetermined intervals.

[0059] (Configuration 12) The image forming apparatus according to configuration 10 or 11, wherein the lines at both ends of the plurality of lines are longer than the other lines.

[0060] (Configuration 13) A control method for an image forming device having a scanning function for scanning an object placed on a platen, the control method for an image forming device comprising the step of printing a guide sheet containing guide information for placing the object on the platen when the object is a card-shaped object.

[0061] (Configuration 14) A program for causing a computer to function as the image forming apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 12.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus having a scanning function for scanning an object placed on a document table, a printing means for printing a guide sheet including guide information for placing the object on the document table when the object is a card-shaped object; Equipped with An image forming apparatus characterized by:

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide information is determined based on a layout selected by a user operation from among a plurality of different layouts.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the layout is selected during the process of printing the guided sheet.

4. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing means prints an image obtained by scanning at least one side of the card-like object using the guide sheet and arranging the image in the selected layout.

5. further comprising an output means for outputting an image, obtained by scanning at least one side of the card-like object using the guide sheet, arranged in the selected layout, to a file; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

6. Further, a selection means for selecting whether or not to print the guide sheet is provided, 5. The image forming apparatus of claim 4, wherein, when the selection means selects to print the guided sheet, the printing means prints an image in which an image obtained by scanning at least one side of the card-like object placed on the document table using the guided sheet is arranged in the selected layout.

7. The image forming apparatus of claim 6, characterized in that when the selection means selects not to print the guided sheet, the printing means does not print the guided sheet, but instead prints an image in which an image of at least one side of the card-shaped object placed on the document table using the guided sheet is scanned and arranged in the selected layout.

8. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide information has a first line indicating the vertical position of the sheet on which the card-shaped object is placed and a second line indicating the horizontal position of the sheet on which the card-shaped object is placed.

9. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the first line is printed as a dotted line.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the second line includes a plurality of lines.

11. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of lines are arranged at predetermined intervals.

12. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the lines at both ends of the plurality of lines are longer than the other lines.

13. 1. A control method for an image forming apparatus having a scanning function for scanning an object placed on a document table, comprising: a step of printing a guide sheet including guide information for placing the object on the document table when the object is a card-shaped object; Equipped with 2. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus comprising:

14. A program for causing a computer to function as the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

Images