Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus capable of overwriting a new image at a position corresponding to an image on a recording material even when a user sets the recording material on a loading part without considering the setting direction of the recording material when reading the image.SOLUTION: When the overlap printing mode is executed, a plurality of "candidate images" relating to the setting direction of the document to be set in the cassette or the manual feed tray are displayed on the display. The user can easily select the "candidate image" having the same setting direction as that of the document actually set in the cassette or the manual feed tray. Then, the superimposition image converted in accordance with the document setting direction in the "candidate image" selected by the user is superimposed on the image of the document. In this way, the user can overwrite the superimposition image on the image on the document only by setting the document on the cassette or the manual feed tray and selecting the "candidate image" without considering the setting state of the document when the image is read.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been an increasing need for image forming devices that form images on recording materials to form new images (called superimposed images) on images on original documents. As an example, a device has been proposed that reads images (including handwritten images) of answer sheets for tests conducted at schools, cram schools, etc., generates images (called superimposed images) indicating correct and incorrect answers, and forms the read images and superimposed images on recording materials separate from the answer sheets (original documents) (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-186672 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of the device described in Patent Document 1, waste occurs in that the document from which the image was read is not reused but a new recording material is used. Therefore, in order to reuse the document from which the image was read, it is conceivable to form an overlaid image on the document. However, in this case, in order to form the overlaid image at a position corresponding to the image on the document, the user must consider the setting state of the document when the image was read and set the document in a cassette or manual feed tray, which is cumbersome.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an image forming apparatus that can form an overlaid image at a position corresponding to the image on the original even if the original is set in a cassette or manual feed tray without considering the setting state of the original when the user reads the image. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an image reading unit that reads an image formed on a recording material, a loading unit that loads the recording material, an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording material transported from the loading unit, a control unit capable of executing an image formation mode that generates a second image to be overwritten on a first image of the recording material read by the image reading unit, and when the recording material on which the first image has been formed is transported from the loading unit, the image forming unit overwrites the second image on the first image, a display unit that, when an instruction to execute the image formation mode is given, displays a plurality of candidate images relating to the setting orientation of the recording material loaded on the loading unit, and a selection unit that allows an arbitrary candidate image to be selected from the plurality of candidate images displayed on the display unit, and when the image formation mode is executed, the control unit converts the second image based on the candidate image selected by the selection unit, and overwrites the converted second image on the first image on the recording material transported from the loading unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, an image forming device can be provided that can overwrite a new image at a position corresponding to the image on the recording material, even if the recording material is set in the stacking section without considering the orientation of the recording material when the user read the image. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram showing a control system related to image formation. [Figure 3] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of images, in which (a) is an image on an original, (b) is an overlaid image, and (c) is a case where an overlaid image is formed on the image on the original. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image in which it is difficult to determine up, down, left, and right. [Figure 5]10 is a flowchart showing the steps performed by a user in an overprinting mode and a normal printing mode. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart showing an image forming process according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing how an original is set in an ADF, in which (a) the left edge of the original is facing the leading edge in the transport direction, and (b) the right edge of the original is facing the leading edge in the transport direction. [Figure 8] A figure showing an example of a read image read by the document reading unit, where (a) the document is set in the ADF with its left edge facing the front edge in the transport direction, and (b) the document is set in the ADF with its right edge facing the front edge in the transport direction. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B show examples of overlapping images generated based on scanned images, where (a) the left edge of the document is set in the ADF facing the leading edge in the transport direction, and (b) the right edge of the document is set in the ADF facing the leading edge in the transport direction. [Figure 10] When a document is read into the ADF with its left edge facing the leading edge in the transport direction, (a) the correct orientation of the document set in the cassette, and (b) the incorrect orientation of the document set in the cassette. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating image defects that occur when a document is set in a cassette in an incorrect orientation. [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the correct orientation of a document set on the manual feed tray when the document is read by the ADF with its left edge facing the leading edge in the transport direction. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a "manuscript set input screen." [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing examples of superimposed images after conversion, in which (a) candidate image 1 and candidate image 4 are selected, and (b) candidate image 2 and candidate image 3 are selected. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a "document set input screen" on which candidate images are displayed using mark images. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] <Image forming device> The present embodiment will be described below. First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment is a so-called intermediate transfer type full-color printer in which four color image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged facing an intermediate transfer belt 7. As shown in FIG. 1, an original reading unit 160 that reads an image of an original is disposed above a housing 1A of the image forming apparatus 1, and a post-processing device 150 that performs post-processing, such as stapling, on recording material S discharged from the housing 1A is also disposed in the housing 1A. Furthermore, although not shown here, the housing 1A is also provided with an operation unit 450 (see FIG. 2) that has a display that can display various information and keys that can input various information in response to user operation.

[0010] The document reading unit 160 includes a reader 165 and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 170. The ADF 170, which serves as a transport unit, can continuously transport a plurality of documents D set in advance to the reader 165. The reader 165, which serves as an image reading unit, has a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or a CIS (Contact Image Sensor), and reads images of the documents D supplied by the ADF 170. The image data of the documents read by the reader 165 (hereinafter referred to as read image data) is transmitted to the control unit 400. The control unit 400 stores the read image data transmitted from the document reading unit 160 in a RAM or the like. When the control unit 400 continuously transports a plurality of documents using the ADF 170 and reads images on each document (on a recording material) using the reader 165, the control unit 400 associates page numbers corresponding to the order in which the documents were read with the plurality of documents.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 1 has image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK that form yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images, respectively. The image forming apparatus 1 forms a toner image on a recording material S based on read image data transmitted from a document reading unit 160 or superimposed image data, which will be described later. Examples of the recording material S include sheet materials such as paper, plastic film, and cloth.

[0012] 1, the image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK are arranged in a row within the housing 1A along the direction of movement of the intermediate transfer belt 7. The intermediate transfer belt 7 is rotated while being stretched around multiple rollers, and carries and transports a toner image that is to be primarily transferred as described below. A secondary transfer outer roller 341 is arranged at a position opposite to the inner secondary transfer roller 342 that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 7, with the intermediate transfer belt 7 sandwiched therebetween, forming a secondary transfer unit T2 that performs secondarily transferring the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 7 to the recording material S.

[0013] The image forming apparatus 1 has cassettes 4 that can hold recording materials S. The recording materials S are supplied from the cassettes 4 by supply units 5 and transported toward registration rollers 6. The registration rollers 6 then begin to rotate in synchronization with the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 7, transporting the recording materials S to the secondary transfer portion T2. ​​Multiple cassettes 4 may be arranged so that recording materials S of different sizes and thicknesses can be set therein. In this case, a recording material S selected by a user is supplied from one of the multiple cassettes 4. The image forming apparatus 1 also has a manual feed tray 50 that can hold recording materials S, and the recording material S can be supplied from the manual feed tray 50. By setting a document D, the image of which has been read by a document reading unit 160, as the recording material S in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, the user can overwrite the document D with a new image, as described below, on the document D.

[0014] In this embodiment, the recording material S set (stacked) in the cassette 4 serving as the first stacking unit is inverted and conveyed toward the registration rollers 6. That is, the recording material S supplied from the cassette 4 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2 with its back side facing the intermediate transfer belt 7, rather than the front side when set in the cassette 4, and the toner image is secondarily transferred to the back side. On the other hand, the recording material S set (stacked) in the manual feed tray 50 serving as the second stacking unit is conveyed toward the registration rollers 6 without being inverted. That is, the recording material S supplied from the manual feed tray 50 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2 with its front side facing the intermediate transfer belt 7 when set in the manual feed tray 50, and the toner image is secondarily transferred to the front side.

[0015] The image forming apparatus 1 may also be configured so that the recording material S set in the cassette 4 is conveyed without being turned over, and the recording material S set in the manual feed tray 50 is conveyed with being turned over. For example, this is the case with an image forming apparatus of a vertical conveyance type, rather than the image forming apparatus 1 of a horizontal conveyance type as in this embodiment.

[0016] The four image forming units PY, PM, PC, and PK included in the image forming apparatus 1 have substantially the same configuration, except for the different developing colors. Therefore, the yellow image forming unit PY will be described here as a representative, and descriptions of the other image forming units PM, PC, and PK will be omitted. The image forming unit PY is provided with a cylindrical photosensitive drum 3Y as a photosensitive member. The photosensitive drum 3Y is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction. A charger 10Y, an exposure unit 2Y, a developer 20Y, and a primary transfer roller 30Y are arranged around the photosensitive drum 3Y.

[0017] The process of forming, for example, a full-color image using the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. First, when the image forming operation starts, the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 3Y is uniformly charged by the charger 10Y. The charger 10Y is, for example, a corona charger that irradiates charged particles associated with corona discharge to charge the photosensitive drum 3Y to a uniform negative dark potential. Next, the photosensitive drum 3Y is scanned and exposed by a laser beam corresponding to an image signal emitted from the exposure device 2Y. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image signal is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3Y.

[0018] The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3Y is developed into a toner image by a developer containing toner and carrier contained in a developing unit 20Y. The developing unit 20Y has a developing sleeve 20aY. The developing unit 20Y stirs and transports the toner in a developer container, charging it, and causes the toner to adhere to the photosensitive drum 3Y by an electric field generated between the developing sleeve 20aY and the photosensitive drum 3Y. During development, a secondary transfer voltage is applied to the developing sleeve 20aY by a power supply (not shown), which generates an electric field between the developing sleeve 20aY and the photosensitive drum 3Y.

[0019] The toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3Y is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 7 at a primary transfer section formed between the photosensitive drum 3Y and a primary transfer roller 30Y arranged across the intermediate transfer belt 7. At this time, a primary transfer voltage is applied to the primary transfer roller 30Y by a power supply (not shown). An electric field generated between the primary transfer roller 30Y and the photosensitive drum 3Y by the application of the primary transfer voltage moves the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 3Y to the intermediate transfer belt 7.

[0020] This operation is performed sequentially at the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black image forming stations PY to PK, and four color toner images are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 7. Thereafter, in synchronization with the formation of the toner images, the recording material S set in the cassette 4 or manual feed tray 50 is conveyed to the secondary transfer station T2. ​​A secondary transfer voltage is applied to the outer secondary transfer roller 341 by a power supply (not shown), and the full-color toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 7 are secondarily transferred all at once to the recording material S. An electric field between the outer secondary transfer roller 341 and the inner secondary transfer roller 342, which is generated by the application of the secondary transfer voltage, moves the toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 7 to the recording material S. In this embodiment, the image forming stations PY to PK, the intermediate transfer belt 7, the inner secondary transfer roller 342, the outer secondary transfer roller 341, and other tension rollers constitute an image forming unit 900 capable of forming toner images on the recording material S.

[0021] The recording material S onto which the toner image has been transferred is transported to the fixing device 8. The fixing device 8 has a rotating fixing belt and a pressure belt, and by nipping and transporting the recording material S onto which the toner image has been formed in a fixing nip formed by these belts, heat and pressure are applied to the recording material S, thereby fixing the toner image onto the recording material S.

[0022] The image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment can operate in a single-sided mode, in which a toner image is formed and fixed on one side of the recording material S, and a double-sided mode, in which toner images are formed and fixed on both sides of the recording material S. In the single-sided mode, the recording material S, on which the toner image is fixed on one side by the fixing device 8, is discharged to the post-processing device 150. On the other hand, in the double-sided mode, after the toner image is fixed on one side, the recording material S, on which the toner image is fixed on one side, is conveyed to the reverse conveying section 9. The reverse conveying section 9 reverses the recording material S so that its leading edge and trailing edge in the conveying direction are swapped, and the recording material S is conveyed again toward the registration rollers 6. The recording material S is then conveyed to the secondary transfer section T2 by the registration rollers 6 with the second side, on which an image is not printed, facing the intermediate transfer belt 7. In the secondary transfer section T2, the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 7 is secondarily transferred to both sides of the recording material S all at once. Thereafter, the toner images are fixed on the recording material S by the fixing device 8, and the recording material S with the toner images formed on both sides is discharged to the post-processing device 150.

[0023] <Control unit> As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 400 that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 400 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a control block diagram showing a control system related to image formation in the image forming apparatus 1. Note that various devices such as motors and power supplies for operating the image forming apparatus 1 are connected to the control unit 400, but illustration and description thereof are omitted here as they are not the main focus of the invention.

[0024] 2, the control unit 400 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 420, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 421, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 422. The ROM 421 stores various programs such as an "image forming process," while the RAM 422 stores various data such as scanned image data transmitted from the document reading unit 160, overlaid image data (described later) generated based on the scanned image data, and overlaid image conversion data obtained by converting the overlaid image data. The CPU 420 executes the "image forming process (program)" stored in the ROM 421 to control the image forming unit 900 to form an image on the recording material S based on the various image data. The RAM 428 can also temporarily store the results of calculations performed in conjunction with the execution of the various programs.

[0025] The operation unit 450, which serves as a selection unit or input unit, accepts various inputs from the user and operation instructions for the image forming apparatus 1 (for example, a read start instruction or an image formation start instruction, which will be described later). The operation unit 450 also has a display 450a as a display unit capable of displaying various screens, and various screens (for example, a "document set input screen," which will be described later) are displayed on the display 450a in response to a display instruction from the CPU 420. The operation unit 450 may be a touch panel that enables the user to execute various operations that have been assigned in advance to software keys, etc., that are operated by touching the software keys displayed on the display 450a.

[0026] In the document reading unit 160, when an instruction to start reading the document D is received from the CPU 420, the reader 165 reads the image of the document D transported by the ADF 170. Read image data of the image read by the reader 165 is sent to the CPU 420, and the CPU 420 stores the read image data in the RAM 422. The control unit 400 has an overlaid image generation unit 460, which analyzes the read image data and generates new overlaid image data to store in the RAM 422.

[0027] In accordance with the execution of the "image forming process (program)", the CPU 420 sends an image formation start instruction and image data to the image forming unit 900, and the image forming unit 900 then forms an image on the recording material S. In this embodiment, the user can operate the operation unit 450 to set the operating mode to either the "normal printing mode" or the "overprinting mode". When the operating mode is the "normal printing mode", the image data sent to the image forming unit 900 is the read image data sent from the reader 165, and the read image is formed on a recording material S separate from the original D. That is, in the "normal printing mode", the image on the original D is copied directly onto the separate recording material S.

[0028] On the other hand, the "overlap printing mode" is an image forming mode in which new overlaid image data is generated as additional information corresponding to the read image data of the original D, the image of which has been read by the reader 165, and an overlaid image is formed based on the generated overlaid image data. In the "overlaid printing mode," an overlaid image (second image) is written over the read image (first image) on the original D. Therefore, in the "overlaid printing mode," the original D, the image of which has been read by the reader 165, is set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 and used as the recording material S on which the overlaid image is formed.

[0029] In this embodiment, when the operating mode is the "overlap printing mode," the image data sent to the image forming unit 900 is data obtained by converting the overlaid image data (referred to as overlaid image conversion data). As will be described in detail later, the control unit 400 has an overlaid image conversion unit 462, which converts the overlaid image data generated by the overlaid image generation unit 460 in accordance with the setting location and setting orientation of the document D input by the user, and stores the converted overlaid image conversion data in RAM 422. The control unit 400 has a candidate image generation unit 461, which generates "candidate images" (see FIG. 13 described later) for the user to input the setting location (cassette 4 or manual feed tray 50) of the document D and the setting orientation of the document D.

[0030] A specific example of overlaid image data will be described using Figures 3(a) to 3(c). Figure 3(a) shows an image on document D, i.e., a scanned image, Figure 3(b) shows an overlaid image, and Figure 3(c) shows a case where an overlaid image is formed by overlaying an image formed on document D. Document D is, for example, an answer sheet for a test that is widely administered in general educational institutions, and in this case, the right-hand sides of each equation (2, 6, 7) among the images on document D are images in which the answers are handwritten.

[0031] When the overlap printing mode is executed, the reader 165 reads the image of the document D shown in FIG. 3(a), and the overlap image generation unit 460 generates overlap image data of circles and check marks shown in FIG. 3(b). Here, if the answer on the right side is correct, overlap image data of circles is generated, and if the answer on the right side is incorrect, overlap image data of check marks is generated. As various methods for generating overlap image data according to the read image data of the document D are known depending on the purpose, a description thereof will be omitted here. By forming the overlap image on the document D, the image on the document D becomes an image obtained by overlapping the overlap image shown in FIG. 3(b) on the image on the document D shown in FIG. 3(a), as shown in FIG. 3(c).

[0032] In the above-mentioned "overlap printing mode," in order to form an overlapping image on the document D at a desired position, conventionally, the user has had to set the document D in the appropriate setting orientation in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50. However, it is difficult for the user to remember and apply the appropriate setting orientation in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50. The setting orientation referred to here includes the feeding direction of the document D supplied from the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, and the front and back orientation of the document D when set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50.

[0033] Furthermore, even if a user knows the proper orientation of the document D in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, the user may forget the state of the document D when it was set in the ADF 170. In particular, if a long time passes between removing the document D from the ADF 170 and setting it in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, the user is likely to forget the state of the document D when it was set in the ADF 170. Furthermore, if the image on the document D is difficult to consciously determine the up, down, left, and right directions, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, it is difficult for the user to remember the state of the document D when it was set in the ADF 170. In this case, the user will not know the proper orientation of the document D in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50. This is because the proper orientation of the document D in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 is determined by the state of the document D in the ADF 170. That is, the orientation of the scanned image changes depending on the orientation of the document D transported to the reader 165, in other words, the state of the document D set in the ADF 170. If the orientation of the scanned image changes, the orientation of the superimposed image generated according to the scanned image also changes. In other words, the orientation of the superimposed image also changes depending on the setting state of the document D set in the ADF 170.

[0034] In view of the above, in this embodiment, in the overlap printing mode, the user is prompted to input the setting location and setting orientation of the document D, so that an overlapping image can be formed at a position corresponding to the image on the document D according to the setting location and setting orientation of the document D. Below, the image forming process of this embodiment that realizes this will be described, but before that, the work steps that the user performs to obtain deliverables in the overlap printing mode and the normal printing mode will be described using Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the work steps that the user performs in the "overlap printing mode" or "normal printing mode".

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, the user sets whether to implement the "overlap printing mode" or the "normal printing mode" as the operating mode (K1). When implementing the "overlap printing mode" (YES in K1), the user can obtain the finished product by going through the overlap printing steps (K10 to K16). On the other hand, when implementing the "normal printing mode" (NO in K1), the user can obtain the finished product by going through the normal printing steps (K20 to K22).

[0036] The overlap printing process (K10 to K16) will be described. The user sets the original D in the ADF 170 (K10). In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when the original reading unit 160 reads the image of the original D, the user inputs the binding direction of the original D from the operation unit 450 (K11). The user inputs the binding direction, indicating whether the back side of the original D is long-side bound or short-side bound relative to the front side. After setting the original D in the ADF 170 and inputting the binding direction, the user inputs an instruction to start reading the original D from the operation unit 450 (K12). This causes the image forming apparatus 1 to read the originals D set in the ADF 170. The user waits until reading of all the originals D is completed (NO in K13).

[0037] When the reading of the original D is completed (YES in K13), the user sets the original D from which the image has been read in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 (K14). Then, the user inputs the location where the original D is set (cassette 4 or manual feed tray 50) and the setting orientation of the original D (K15). In the present embodiment, the user can input the setting location and setting orientation of the original D by selecting any "candidate image" corresponding to the location where the user set the original D (cassette 4 or manual feed tray 50) and the setting orientation of the original D from the "original setting input screen" displayed on the display 450a. The "original setting input screen" displayed on the display 450a will be described later (see FIG. 13).

[0038] The user selects a "candidate image" and inputs the setting location and setting orientation of the document D, and then inputs an image formation start command from the operation unit 450 (K16). As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 forms an overlay image on the document D whose image has been read, and the user can obtain the document D in which the overlay image is overwritten on the original image (read image) as a deliverable.

[0039] The normal printing process (K20 to K22) will be described. The user sets an original D in the ADF 170 (K20). The user also sets a recording material S (e.g., unused paper) separate from the original D in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 (K21). At this time, the user inputs, via the operation unit 450, whether the recording material S is set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50. After the user has finished setting the original D in the ADF 170 and has finished setting another recording material S in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, the user inputs, via the operation unit 450, an instruction to start reading the original D (K22). This causes the image forming apparatus 1 to read the original D set in the ADF 170 and form a read image on the recording material S set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, allowing the user to obtain a recording material S on which the image of the original D has been copied as a finished product.

[0040] <Image formation process> Next, the image forming process of this embodiment will be described using Fig. 6 with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the image forming process of this embodiment. The image forming process shown in Fig. 6 is started by the control unit 400 (more specifically, the CPU 420) in response to, for example, a user selecting an operation mode from the operation unit 450.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 400 determines whether the operating mode selected by the user is the "overlap printing mode" or the "normal printing mode" (S1). If the operating mode is the "normal printing mode" (NO in S1), the control unit 400 determines whether or not a reading start instruction (K22) for the original D input by the user from the operation unit 450 has been received (S20). The control unit 400 waits for processing until the reading start instruction for the original D is received (NO in S20). If the reading start instruction for the original D has been received (YES in S20), the control unit 400 causes the original reading unit 160 to read the image of the original D (K20) set in the ADF 170 (S21), and stores the read image data transmitted from the original reading unit 160 in the RAM 422.

[0042] After the document reading unit 160 has finished reading the document D, the control unit 400 causes the image forming unit 900 to start forming an image of the read image on the document D on the recording material S (K21) set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 (S22). In this case, after the control unit 400 has finished reading the document D, it automatically sends an image formation start instruction to the image forming unit 900 to cause the image forming unit 900 to start image formation. In addition, the control unit 400 appropriately sends the read image data stored in the RAM 422 to the image forming unit 900.

[0043] On the other hand, if the operating mode is the "overlap printing mode" (YES in S1), the control unit 400 acquires the binding direction (K11) of the document D input by the user from the operation unit 450 (S2). Then, the control unit 400 determines whether or not a reading start instruction (K12) of the document D input by the user from the operation unit 450 has been received (S3). The control unit 400 waits for the process to be completed until the reading start instruction of the document D is received (NO in S3). If the reading start instruction of the document D has been received (YES in S3), the control unit 400 causes the document reading unit 160 to read the image of the document D (K10) set in the ADF 170 (S4, S5), and stores the read image data transmitted from the document reading unit 160 in the RAM 422. At this time, the control unit 400 determines the orientation of the read image based on the binding direction of the document D acquired in the process of step S2. When multiple originals D are set, the binding direction of all the originals D is the same, that is, the orientation of all the originals D set in the ADF 170 is the same. By making the orientation of all the originals D the same and inputting the correct binding direction, all images are read in the same orientation.

[0044] After the control unit 400 has finished reading the original D (YES in S5), it analyzes the read image data stored in RAM 422, generates superimposed image data corresponding to the read image (S6), and stores the generated superimposed image data in RAM 422. The method of generating superimposed image data is well known, so a description thereof will be omitted. After the control unit 400 has finished reading the original D, it notifies the user that the reading of the original D has been completed, for example by displaying a message on the display 450a.

[0045] Then, the control unit 400 displays on the display 450a a "document set input screen" for inputting the set location and set orientation of the document D whose image has been read by the document reading unit 160 (S7). When the control unit 400 acquires the set location and set orientation of the document D (K15) input by the user (S8), it converts the overlaid image data generated in the processing of step S6 to generate overlaid image conversion data so as to change the image orientation and image formation position by rotating or inverting the overlaid image according to the set location and set orientation of the document D input by the user (S9). The generated overlaid image conversion data is saved in the RAM 422.

[0046] Thereafter, the control unit 400 determines whether or not an image formation start instruction (K16) input by the user from the operation unit 450 has been received (S10). The control unit 400 waits for processing until the image formation start instruction for the original D is received (NO in S10). If the image formation start instruction for the original D is received (YES in S10), the control unit 400 starts image formation of an overlapping image on the original D by the image forming unit 900 (S11). Upon receiving the image formation start instruction from the control unit 400, the image forming unit 900 starts image formation on the recording material S, and forms an overlapping image on the original D set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 according to the overlapping image conversion data received from the control unit 400. In this way, a new overlapping image is formed on the original D, superimposed on the original image (corresponding to the read image).

[0047] <About the setting direction> In image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, when a user sets document D in ADF 170, there are two possible states in which document D can be set: for example, either the right edge or the left edge of document D in Fig. 3(a) becomes the leading edge in the transport direction of document D from ADF 170. Figs. 7(a) and 7(b) are diagrams showing the set states of document D in ADF 170, with Fig. 7(a) showing the set state in which the left edge of document D faces the leading edge in the transport direction, and Fig. 7(b) showing the set state in which the right edge of document D faces the leading edge in the transport direction. Note that in Figs. 7(a) and 7(b), the transport direction of document D transported from ADF 170 is the direction of arrow Z.

[0048] In this case, the scanned images of Figures 7(a) and 7(b) are as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b). Figures 8(a) and 8(b) are diagrams showing examples of scanned images scanned by the document scanning unit 160, with Figure 8(a) showing a case where the document D is set in the ADF 170 with its left edge facing the leading edge in the transport direction, and Figure 8(b) showing a case where the document D is set in the ADF 170 with its right edge facing the leading edge in the transport direction. The orientation of the scanned images is the same as the state in which the document D is set in the ADF 170. Furthermore, the superimposed images generated according to the scanned images of Figures 8(a) and 8(b) are as shown in Figures 9(a) and 9(b). Figures 9(a) and 9(b) show examples of an overlaid image generated based on a read image, where Figure 9(a) shows the case where original D is set in ADF 170 with its left edge facing the leading edge in the transport direction, and Figure 9(b) shows the case where original D is set in ADF 170 with its right edge facing the leading edge in the transport direction.

[0049] For example, in Fig. 9(a), the left overlapping image "circle" corresponds to the scanned image of "1+1=2" in Fig. 8(a), the right overlapping image "circle" corresponds to the scanned image of "3+4=7" in Fig. 8(a), and the middle overlapping image "check mark" sandwiched between them corresponds to "2+3=6" in Fig. 8(a). In this case, "1+1=2" and "3+4=7" are correct, so overlapping image "circle" is generated, and "2+3=6" is incorrect, so overlapping image "check mark" is generated.

[0050] Next, the appropriate setting orientation of the original D in the cassette 4 will be described using as an example the case where the original D is set in the ADF 170 in the state shown in Fig. 7(a). As described above, in the case of the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the original D set in the cassette 4 is inverted before being transported to the secondary transfer unit T2, and therefore the toner image is secondarily transferred to the back side, not the front side, of the original D set in the cassette 4. Therefore, conventionally, the user had to set the original D in the cassette 4 with the front side reversed from the set state in the document reading unit 160.

[0051] There are two orientations in which document D can be set in cassette 4, with the document D facing upside down relative to the setting state in document reading unit 160. The first orientation is shown in FIG. 10(a), and the second orientation is shown in FIG. 10(b). FIG. 10(a) shows the correct setting orientation of document D in cassette 4 when document D is read by ADF 170 with its left edge facing the leading edge in the transport direction. FIG. 10(b) shows the incorrect setting orientation of document D in cassette 4 when document D is read by ADF 170 with its left edge facing the leading edge in the transport direction.

[0052] In FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), the direction of the arrow X indicates the direction of the original D conveyed from the cassette 4. In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the left-hand overlapping image shown in FIG. 9(a) is formed on the original D set in the cassette 4, followed by the middle overlapping image and the right-hand overlapping image. To achieve this, the original D must pass through the secondary transfer unit T2 from the left edge to the right edge of FIG. 3(a) so that the three overlapping images shown in FIG. 9(a) are sequentially secondarily transferred from the left edge to the right edge of the original D. Therefore, in the past, in the case of the original D shown in FIG. 3(a), the user had to set the original D in the cassette 4 so that the left edge of the original D was the leading edge in the feed direction of the original D supplied from the cassette 4. In other words, when the user scans the original D in the ADF 170 set state shown in FIG. 7(a), it is correct to set the original D in the cassette 4 in the set orientation shown in FIG. 10(a). In the past, if a user accidentally set document D in cassette 4 in the orientation shown in Figure 10(b), an image defect occurred in which the overlaid image (circle, check mark) was shifted from the position corresponding to the image on document D (here, the right side of each equation) as shown in Figure 11.

[0053] Next, the appropriate setting orientation of the document D on the manual feed tray 50 will be described using as an example the case where the document D is set on the ADF 170 in the state shown in Fig. 7(a). As described above, in the case of the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the document D set on the manual feed tray 50 is transported to the secondary transfer unit T2 without being turned over, and therefore the toner image is secondarily transferred onto the front side of the document D when it is set on the manual feed tray 50. Therefore, conventionally, the user has had to set the document D on the manual feed tray 50 with the front and back sides the same as when it is set on the document reading unit 160.

[0054] Furthermore, the document D must pass through the secondary transfer unit T2 from the left edge to the right edge of FIG. 3A so that the three superimposed images shown in FIG. 9A are sequentially secondarily transferred from the left edge to the right edge of the document D at the secondary transfer unit T2. Therefore, in the past, in the case of the document D shown in FIG. 3A, the user had to set the document D on the manual feed tray 50 so that the left edge of the document D was the leading edge in the feeding direction of the document D supplied from the manual feed tray 50. FIG. 12 shows the correct setting orientation of the document D on the manual feed tray 50 when the document D is read with the image facing the same direction relative to the feeding direction to the ADF 170. When the user reads the document D set in the ADF 170 as shown in FIG. 7A, the correct setting orientation of the document D on the manual feed tray 50 is shown in FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, the feeding direction of the document D supplied from the manual feed tray 50 is the direction of arrow Y.

[0055] As described above, in the past, the user had to set the document D in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 while taking into consideration the setting state of the document reading unit 160, which was troublesome. Therefore, in this embodiment, in the overlap printing mode, even if the user sets the document D in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 without taking into consideration the setting state of the document reading unit 160, an overlapping image can be formed at a position corresponding to the image on the document D. To do this, in this embodiment, an "original setting input screen" is displayed on the display 450a (see S7 in FIG. 6), and the overlapping image is converted according to the setting location and setting orientation of the document D input by the user from the "original setting input screen" (see S9 in FIG. 6).

[0056] <Manuscript set input screen> FIG. 13 shows the "Document Setting Input Screen." The arrow in FIG. 13 indicates the feeding direction of the document D. In this embodiment, the user can set the document D in either the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, and therefore "candidate images 1 to 8" for both the cassette 4 and the manual feed tray 50 are displayed on the "Document Setting Input Screen." The "candidate images 1 to 8" include an external image of the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, and a plurality of document images in which the scanned image on the document D has a different orientation relative to the transport direction of the document D transported from the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50. If the user can input in advance from the operation unit 450 whether to set the document D in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, the "candidate images 1 to 4" or "candidate images 5 to 8" for either the input cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 may be displayed on the "Document Setting Input Screen."

[0057] As shown in the upper part of Fig. 13, the "original setting input screen" displays four "candidate images 1 to 4" that represent the setting orientation of the original D to be set in the cassette 4. Also, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 13, the "original setting input screen" displays four "candidate images 5 to 8" that represent the setting orientation of the original D to be set in the manual feed tray 50. The "original setting input screen" is a screen for the user to input the setting orientation of the original D that has actually been set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, and the "original setting input screen" displays multiple "candidate images 1 to 8" that relate to the setting orientations of the original D that the user can actually set. The "candidate images 1 to 8" include multiple images in which the scanned images are inverted and the scanned images have different orientations.

[0058] "Candidate image 1" is an image representing a case where the user sets the original D in the cassette 4 with the side on which the overlapping image is to be formed facing downwards (printed side down) and the left edge of the original D facing the leading edge of the cassette 4 in the supply direction (left leading edge). "Candidate image 2" is an image representing a case where the user sets the original D in the cassette 4 with the side on which the overlapping image is to be formed facing downwards (printed side down) and the right edge of the original D facing the leading edge of the cassette 4 in the supply direction (right leading edge). "Candidate image 3" is an image representing a case where the user sets the original D in the cassette 4 with the side on which the overlapping image is to be formed facing upwards (printed side up) and the left edge of the original D facing the leading edge of the cassette 4 in the supply direction (left leading edge). "Candidate image 4" is an image representing a case where the user sets the original D in the cassette 4 with the side on which the overlapping image is to be formed facing upwards (printed side up) and the right edge of the original D facing the leading edge of the cassette 4 in the supply direction (right leading edge).

[0059] "Candidate image 5" is an image representing a case where a user sets document D on the manual feed tray 50 with the side on which the overlapping image is to be formed facing up (printed side up) and with the left edge of document D at the leading edge in the feeding direction of the manual feed tray 50 (left leading edge). "Candidate image 6" is an image representing a case where a user sets document D on the manual feed tray 50 with the side on which the overlapping image is to be formed facing up (printed side up) and with the right edge of document D at the leading edge in the feeding direction of the manual feed tray 50 (right leading edge). "Candidate image 7" is an image representing a case where a user sets document D on the manual feed tray 50 with the side on which the overlapping image is to be formed facing down (printed side down) and with the left edge of document D at the leading edge in the feeding direction of the manual feed tray 50 (left leading edge). "Candidate image 8" is an image representing a case where a user sets document D on the manual feed tray 50 with the side on which the overlapping image is to be formed facing down (printed side down) and with the right edge of document D at the leading edge in the feeding direction of the manual feed tray 50 (right leading edge).

[0060] These "candidate images 1-8" display scanned images of the original D. This is to allow the user to understand the orientation of the original D that was actually set from "candidate images 1-8." The scanned images of the original D are displayed in "candidate images 1-8" after being rotated or flipped as shown in the figure. Note that the user may input any page of multiple originals D whose images have been successively scanned from the operation unit 450, and the scanned image of the original D for the input page may be displayed in "candidate images 1-8." For example, even if a scanned image in which it is difficult to determine the top, bottom, left, and right, as shown in FIG. 4, is displayed in "candidate images 1-8," it is difficult for the user to determine the orientation of the original D. Therefore, the user may input any page number other than the page number of the original D for which it is difficult to determine the top, bottom, left, and right, so that the image (scanned image) on the original D for the input page number can be displayed in "candidate images 1-8." In this way, by displaying the scanned image in "candidate images 1 to 8" so that it is easy to determine the top, bottom, left, right and front and back even if the image is rotated or inverted, the user can easily understand "candidate images 1 to 8" which represent the setting orientation of the document D that has actually been set, thereby improving user convenience.

[0061] The user selects an image from among the multiple "candidate images 1 to 8" displayed on the "document setting input screen" that matches the setting orientation of the document D set in the cassette 4 or manual feed tray 50. As a result, the setting location (cassette 4 or manual feed tray 50) of the document D and the setting orientation of the document D, which are assigned in advance to each of the "candidate images 1 to 8," are input to the control unit 400 (see FIG. 2). The control unit 400 converts the overlaid image data according to the setting location and setting orientation of the document D that have been input (see S9 in FIG. 6).

[0062] Here, an example will be described in which the user sets document D in ADF 170 in the setting state shown in Fig. 7(a) and causes the image to be read, and then the user actually sets document D in cassette 4. In this case, the read image is an image oriented as shown in Fig. 8(a), and the overlaid image generated in accordance with the read image is an image oriented as shown in Fig. 9(a). Figs. 14(a) and 14(b) show an example of an overlaid image (overlaid image conversion data) generated by converting the overlaid image (overlaid image data) shown in Fig. 9(a).

[0063] When the user selects "candidate image 1" (bottom of print surface, left leading edge) from the "Document Setting Input Screen," the control unit 400 converts the superimposed image shown in FIG. 9A to generate the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14A. In this case, however, the superimposed image before conversion and the superimposed image after conversion are substantially the same. The document D set in the cassette 4 is inverted and transported to the secondary transfer unit T2. If the user sets the document D in the cassette 4 in the same orientation as the candidate image 1, the document D is transported from right to left as viewed from the intermediate transfer belt 7 side, for example, in the orientation shown in FIG. 8A, as it passes through the secondary transfer unit T2. Therefore, the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14A is generated according to the setting location and setting orientation of the document D according to the candidate image 1 selected by the user.

[0064] When the user selects "candidate image 2" (bottom of print surface, right edge) from the "Document Setting Input Screen," the control unit 400 converts the superimposed image shown in FIG. 9(a) to generate the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14(b). In this case, the superimposed image shown in FIG. 9(a) is rotated 180 degrees to generate the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14(b), which is the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14(b) in which the superimposed image shown in FIG. 9(a) is rotated 180 degrees. As described above, the document D set in the cassette 4 is inverted and transported to the secondary transfer unit T2. If the user sets the document D in the cassette 4 in the same orientation as the candidate image 2, the document D is transported from right to left as viewed from the intermediate transfer belt 7 side as it passes through the secondary transfer unit T2, for example, in the orientation shown in FIG. 8(b). Therefore, the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14(b) is generated according to the setting location and setting orientation of the document D according to the candidate image 2 selected by the user.

[0065] When the user selects "candidate image 3" (top left edge of the print surface) from the "Document Setting Input Screen," the control unit 400 converts the superimposed image shown in FIG. 9A to generate the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14B. In this case, the superimposed image shown in FIG. 9A is rotated 180° to generate the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14B, which is the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14B. However, when candidate image 3 is selected, the superimposed image is formed (see S11 in FIG. 6) by passing the document D through the reverse conveying unit 9 once before the superimposed image is formed. That is, as described above, the document D set in the cassette 4 is reversed and conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2. If the user sets the document D in the cassette 4 in the same orientation as candidate image 3, the document D will not be oriented as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B when viewed from the intermediate transfer belt 7 side when passing through the secondary transfer unit T2. Therefore, the document D is passed through the secondary transfer unit T2 without forming a superimposed image, and is sent to the reverse conveying unit 9. Then, the document D is inverted by the reversing conveying unit 9 and then sent again to the secondary transfer unit T2, so that when it passes through the secondary transfer unit T2 again, it is conveyed from right to left in the direction shown in Fig. 8(b) when viewed from the intermediate transfer belt 7. Therefore, when the user selects candidate image 3, the superimposed image shown in Fig. 14(b) is generated according to the setting location and setting orientation of the document D.

[0066] When the user selects "candidate image 4" (the right edge of the print surface) from the "Document Setting Input Screen," the control unit 400 converts the superimposed image shown in FIG. 9(a) to generate the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14(a). In this case, the superimposed image shown in FIG. 9(a) is rotated 180 degrees to generate the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14(b), which is the superimposed image shown in FIG. 14(b). However, when candidate image 4 is selected, as with the case where candidate image 3 is selected, the document D is passed through the reverse conveying unit 9 once during the formation of the superimposed image (see S11 in FIG. 6) before the superimposed image is formed. That is, as described above, the document D set in the cassette 4 is reversed and conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2. If the user sets the document D in the cassette 4 in the same orientation as candidate image 4, the document D will not be oriented as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) when viewed from the intermediate transfer belt 7 side as it passes through the secondary transfer unit T2. Therefore, the document D is passed through the secondary transfer unit T2 and sent to the reverse conveying unit 9 without forming a superimposed image on it. Then, the document D is inverted by the reversing conveying unit 9 and then sent again to the secondary transfer unit T2, so that when it passes through the secondary transfer unit T2 again, it is conveyed from right to left in the direction shown in Fig. 8(a) when viewed from the intermediate transfer belt 7. Therefore, when the user selects candidate image 3, the superimposed image shown in Fig. 14(a) is generated according to the setting location and setting orientation of the document D.

[0067] As described above, in this embodiment, when the "overlap printing mode" is executed, a plurality of "candidate images" relating to the setting orientation of the original D to be set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 are displayed based on the scanned image of the original D. The user can easily select a "candidate image" from the displayed plurality of "candidate images" that matches the setting orientation of the original D that the user actually set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50. Then, in response to the user's selection of a "candidate image," the overlay image is converted according to the setting location and setting orientation of the original D that are pre-assigned to the selected "candidate image," and the converted overlay image is overwritten on the scanned image of the original D. As a result, the overlay image can be formed in the correct position on the image on the original D simply by setting the original D in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50 and selecting a "candidate image," without the user having to consider the setting state of the original D when the image was read.

[0068] <Other embodiments> After the reading of the original D is completed (see K13 in FIG. 5), the user can input a command to display a preview image from the operation unit 450, causing the preview image to be displayed on the display 450a. When a command to display a preview image is input, the control unit 400 displays a preview image (composite image) on the display 450a, which is a composite image obtained by superimposing the read image and the superimposed image. For example, if the read image is the image shown in FIG. 8(a) and the superimposed image is the image shown in FIG. 9(a), the image shown in FIG. 3(c) is displayed as the preview image on the display 450a.

[0069] In the above-described embodiment, the scanned image of the document D is used to display the "candidate image" (see FIG. 13) so that the user can grasp the setting orientation of the document D actually set in the cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 50, but this is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 400 may use a predetermined mark image instead of a scanned image when displaying the "candidate image." FIG. 15 shows the "document setting input screen" when the "candidate image" is displayed using a mark image. Note that FIG. 15 shows four "candidate images 1 to 4" as an example, which represent the setting orientation of the document D set in the cassette 4.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 15, "candidate images 1 to 4" are multiple images in which the positions of mark images (P, Q) corresponding to the orientation of the document D transported from the ADF 170 to the reader 165 are different relative to the transport direction of the document D transported from the ADF 170. The mark images (P, Q) attached to "candidate images 1 to 4" are not images actually formed on the document D, but images displayed on "candidate images 1 to 4." This is to enable the user to understand the setting orientation of the document D actually set in the cassette 4 from the candidate images 1 to 4. "Candidate images 1 to 4" include multiple images in which the positions of the mark images (P, Q) are reversed and the orientations of the position of the mark images (P, Q) are different. That is, the mark images (P, Q) are displayed in candidate images 1 to 4 after being rotated or reversed as shown. Candidate images 1 to 4 to which the mark images (P, Q) are attached are stored in advance in the ROM 421 (see FIG. 2).

[0071] In this case, the user memorizes the positions corresponding to the mark images (P, Q) on the document D set in the ADF 170 when the image of the document D is read, and can input the setting orientation of the document D in the cassette 4 by selecting one of the "candidate images 1 to 4" using the mark images (P, Q). The control unit 400 converts the overlaid image data according to the input setting location and setting orientation of the document D (see S9 in FIG. 6).

[0072] In this case, the document image generated based on the scanned image of document D is not displayed. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the amount of RAM 422 (see FIG. 2) used. This is because, after the overlaid image data is generated from the scanned image data of document D, only the overlaid image data needs to be stored. Note that the effect of reducing the amount of RAM 422 used becomes greater as the number of documents D increases.

[0073] The above-described embodiment is not limited to electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, but may also be applied to other image forming apparatuses, such as inkjet image forming apparatuses. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1...image forming apparatus, 4...loading section (first loading section, cassette), 9...reversing conveying section, 50...loading section (second loading section, manual feed tray), 165...image reading section (reader), 170...conveying section (ADF), 400...control section, 450...selecting section (input section, operation section), 450a...display section (display), 900...image forming unit, S...recording material

Claims

1. an image reading unit that reads an image formed on a recording material; a loading section for loading recording materials; an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording material conveyed from the stacking section; a control unit that is capable of executing an image forming mode in which a second image is generated to be overwritten on a first image of a recording material read by the image reading unit, and when the recording material on which the first image has been formed is conveyed from the stacking unit, the image forming unit overwrites the second image on the first image; a display unit capable of displaying a plurality of candidate images relating to the setting orientation of the recording material to be loaded on the loading unit when an instruction to execute the image forming mode is given; a selection unit that allows an arbitrary candidate image to be selected from the plurality of candidate images displayed on the display unit, the control unit, when executing the image forming mode, converts the second image based on the candidate image selected by the selection unit, and overwrites the converted second image on the first image on the recording material conveyed from the stacking unit. An image forming apparatus characterized by:

2. the plurality of candidate images include a plurality of images in which the orientation of the first image on the recording material is different with respect to the conveying direction of the recording material conveyed from the stacking unit; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

3. the image forming unit has a reversing conveying section that reverses the recording material conveyed from the stacking section and conveys it, and is capable of forming an image on the recording material reversed by the reversing conveying section; the plurality of candidate images include a plurality of images in which the first image is inverted and the orientation of the first image is different; 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

4. a conveying unit that conveys a recording material to the image reading unit; An input unit into which information can be input, when the conveying unit conveys a plurality of recording materials continuously and the image reading unit reads the images on the respective recording materials, the control unit associates numbers corresponding to the order in which the recording materials are read with the plurality of recording materials; the input unit is capable of inputting any number from among the numbers associated with the plurality of recording materials, The display unit is capable of displaying the plurality of candidate images, with the image on the recording material having the number input by the input unit as the first image.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

5. the display unit is capable of displaying a composite image in which the first image and the second image are superimposed.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

6. a conveying unit that conveys a recording material to the image reading unit, the plurality of candidate images are a plurality of images in which the positions of marks corresponding to the orientation of the recording material conveyed from the conveying unit relative to the image reading unit are different with respect to the conveying direction of the recording material conveyed from the stacking unit; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

7. the image forming unit has a reversing conveying section that reverses the recording material conveyed from the stacking section and conveys it, and is capable of forming an image on the recording material reversed by the reversing conveying section; The plurality of candidate images include a plurality of images in which the position of the mark is inverted and the orientation of the position of the mark is different.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

8. the loading section is a first loading section, Further provided is a second stacking section capable of stacking recording materials, the display unit is capable of displaying, when an instruction to execute the image forming mode is given, a plurality of first candidate images relating to the setting orientation of the recording materials to be loaded on the first stacking unit and a plurality of second candidate images relating to the setting orientation of the recording materials to be loaded on the second stacking unit, as the plurality of candidate images.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a recording medium.

Images