Image forming apparatus, control program, and control method

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus, a control program, and a control method that can write scan data in an external memory even if the external memory is removed in the middle of execution of a scan job.SOLUTION: When an image reading device is attached with an external memory and starts a scan job, it records identification information on the external memory and identification information on the scan job as logs. When the external memory is removed in the middle of the scan job, the image reading device temporarily stores scan data together with the identification of the job. When the removed external memory is attached, for example, in a ready state, the image reading device refers to log data to determine whether the external memory is the external memory removed in the middle of the scan job and the scan data associated with the external memory is stored, and when determining that the corresponding scan data is stored, stores the scan data in the external memory.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus, a control program, and a control method that allow an external memory such as a USB memory to be detachably attached. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for executing a process (ScanToUSB) for directly saving image data scanned by a scanner (image reading device) in an external memory such as a USB memory.

[0003] This type of processing can take a long time to complete, and if the USB memory is removed midway through the process, the image data obtained by scanning cannot be written to the USB memory. Therefore, Patent Document 1 writes an identifier for the image data to the USB memory, so that the writing of the image data can be continued by reconnecting the USB memory. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-66470 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the technology of Patent Document 1, if the USB memory is removed midway and the identification information of the image data is lost for some reason, it becomes impossible to write the image data to the USB memory.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel image forming apparatus, a control program, and a control method.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a control program, and a control method that can reliably write scan data to an external memory even if the external memory is removed midway. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration: Note that the reference symbols and supplementary explanations in parentheses indicate the correspondence with the embodiments described to aid in understanding the present invention, and do not limit the present invention in any way.

[0009] A first embodiment is an image forming apparatus that has a scanner for scanning a document and executes a scan job to save scan data scanned by the scanner in an external memory, the image forming apparatus including: an external memory port to which the external memory is detachably attached; a log data storage unit that stores, as a log, identification information of the external memory attached to the external memory port and identification information of the scan job in association with each other; a first determination unit that determines whether the external memory has been removed from the external memory port during execution of the scan job; a selection screen display unit that displays a selection screen that accepts a user's selection of whether to continue or interrupt reading when the first determination unit determines that the external memory has been removed; a temporary storage unit that temporarily saves the scan data together with the identification information of the scan job when the user selects to continue the scan job on the selection screen; and a second determination unit that determines whether the scan data associated with the external memory has been saved in the temporary storage unit when the external memory is attached to the external memory port. 、 When the second determination unit determines that the associated scan data is stored in the temporary storage unit, the scan data stored in the temporary storage unit is stored in the external memory. No. 1 preservation department a third determination unit that determines whether the removed external memory is reattached to the external memory port before the scan job is completed, and a second storage unit that stores the scan data in the reattached external memory when the third determination unit determines that the external memory has been reattached. The image forming apparatus includes:

[0010] In the first embodiment, an image forming apparatus (10: reference numerals indicating corresponding parts in the embodiments, but not limiting, hereinafter) includes a scanner (12) for scanning documents and an external memory port (16) to which an external memory (18) is removably attached, and executes a scan job, such as ScanToUSB, for saving scan data obtained by scanning a document with the scanner in the external memory (18). When the scan job is started, a log data storage unit (30, S1) associates identification information of the external memory (18) attached to the external memory port (16) with identification information of the scan job and stores them as a log in a log data area (48d). A first determination unit (30, S5) determines whether the external memory (18) has been removed from the external memory port (16) during execution of the scan job, and when the first determination unit determines that the external memory has been removed, a selection screen display unit (30, S7, 50) displays a selection screen for accepting a user's selection of whether to continue or interrupt reading. When the user selects to continue the scan job on the selection screen, the temporary storage unit (30, S19, 48c) temporarily stores the scan data together with the scan job identification information. Thereafter, for example, when the image forming apparatus is in a ready state and the previously removed external memory (18) is attached to the external memory port (16), the second determination unit (30, S45) determines whether the scan data associated with the external memory is stored in the temporary storage unit. When the second determination unit determines that the scan data associated with the external memory is stored in the temporary storage unit, No. 1 The storage unit (30, S47) stores the scan data stored in the temporary storage unit in an external memory. Then, a third determination unit (30, S15, S25) determines whether the removed external memory (18) has been reattached to the external memory port (16) before the completion of the scan job, and when the third determination unit (30, S15, S25) determines that the external memory (18) has been reattached, a second storage unit (30, S29) stores the scan data in the reattached external memory.

[0011] According to the first embodiment, the identification information of the external memory and the identification information of the scan job are stored in association with each other, so even if the external memory is removed during the process, the scan data can be reliably written to the external memory by reattaching the same external memory. Even if the external memory is removed, if it is re-attached before the end of the scan job, the scan data can be saved in the external memory as is.

[0012] Second Example The first Example An image forming apparatus that is subordinate to a selected screen In If the user selects to interrupt Ends a scan job when the scan job is canceled.

[0013] Second Example So, for example, if the user clicks the cancel button (56) on the continuation confirmation screen (50), Ki, Su Cancel scan job is selected, then the scan job is terminated.

[0014] Second Example According to this, the user can remove the external memory and cancel the scan job.

[0015] Third Example is the first or second Example 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second storage unit that stores the scan data in the external memory when the first determination unit does not determine that the external memory has been removed.

[0016] Third Example In this case, the second storage unit (30, S33) stores the scan data in the external memory (18) when the first determination unit (30, S5) does not determine that the external memory (18) has been removed.

[0017] Third Example According to the document, if the external memory is not removed, the scanned data is saved in the external memory as is.

[0018] Fourth Example is the first to third Example and a third determination unit that determines whether the removed external memory has been reattached to the external memory port by the time the scan job is completed, and a third storage unit that stores the scan data in the reattached external memory when the third determination unit determines that the external memory has been reattached.

[0019] Fourth Example Then, the third determination unit (30, S15, S25) determines whether the removed external memory (18) has been reattached to the external memory port (16) before the completion of the scan job, and when the third determination unit (30, S15, S25) determines that the external memory (18) has been reattached, the third storage unit (30, S29) stores the scan data in the reattached external memory.

[0020] Fourth Example According to the method, even if the external memory is once removed, if it is re-attached before the end of the scan job, the scan data can be saved in the external memory as is.

[0021] Fourth The embodiment of the present invention is a control program for an image forming apparatus that has a scanner for scanning a document and an external memory port to which an external memory is detachably attached, and that executes a scan job to save scan data scanned by the scanner in the external memory, the control program comprising: a log data storage unit that stores, as a log, identification information of the external memory attached to the external memory port and identification information of the scan job in association with each other; a first determination unit that determines whether the external memory has been removed from the external memory port during execution of the scan job; a selection screen display unit that displays a selection screen that accepts a user's selection of whether to continue or interrupt reading when the first determination unit determines that the external memory has been removed; a temporary storage unit that temporarily saves the scan data together with the identification information of the scan job when the user selects to continue the scan job on the selection screen; and a second determination unit that determines, when the external memory is attached to the external memory port, whether the scan data associated with the external memory has been saved in the temporary storage unit. 、 When the second determination unit determines that the associated scan data is stored in the temporary storage unit, the scan data stored in the temporary storage unit is stored in the external memory. No. 1 preservation department a third determination unit that determines whether the removed external memory is reattached to the external memory port before the scan job is completed, and a second storage unit that stores the scan data in the reattached external memory when the third determination unit determines that the external memory has been reattached. It is a control program that functions as a

[0022] No. 5The embodiment of the present invention is a control method for an image forming apparatus that has a scanner for scanning documents and an external memory port to which an external memory is detachably attached, and that executes a scan job to save scan data scanned by the scanner in the external memory, the method including a log data storage step of storing identification information of the external memory attached to the external memory port and identification information of the scan job in association with each other as a log, a first determination step of determining whether the external memory has been removed from the external memory port during execution of the scan job, a selection screen display step of displaying a selection screen that accepts a user's selection of whether to continue or interrupt reading when it is determined in the first determination step that the external memory has been removed, a temporary storage step of temporarily saving the scan data together with the identification information of the scan job when the user selects to continue the scan job on the selection screen, and a second determination step of determining whether the scan data associated with the external memory has been saved in the temporary storage step when the external memory is attached to the external memory port. 、 When it is determined in the second determination step that the associated scan data has been saved in the temporary saving step, the scan data saved in the temporary saving step is saved in the external memory. No. 1 Save step, a third determination step of determining whether the removed external memory has been reattached to the external memory port before the scan job is completed, and a second saving step of saving the scan data in the reattached external memory when it is determined in the third determination step that the external memory has been reattached; The control method includes:

[0023] Fourth Examples of the embodiment and No. 5 In this embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be expected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to this invention, the identification information of the external memory and the identification information of the scan job are stored in association with each other in the image forming device, so that even if the external memory is removed midway, the scan data can be reliably written to the external memory. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus in this embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing an example of a memory map of the RAM in the embodiment of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the main control unit (CPU) when image data is written to a USB memory in this embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing one example of the job continuation confirmation screen when the USB memory is removed midway in the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing one example of a background transition notification screen for notifying that post-processing will be transitioned to the background in the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an illustrative view showing one example of a processing notification screen for notifying that the job has not yet been completed in the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an illustrative view showing one example of a foreground processing notification screen that notifies that post-processing is being executed in the foreground in the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an illustrative view showing one example of a job completion notification screen for notifying that a job has been completed in the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the main control unit (CPU) when writing image data to a USB memory that has been removed midway in this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] 1, an image forming apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is, for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that has multiple functions such as a copy function, an image scanner function, a printer function, and a fax function. However, the present invention can be applied to any image forming apparatus that can scan an original and output scanned image data.

[0027] An image reading unit 12, which is an example of an image reading means (scanner), is provided at the top of image forming apparatus 10. This image reading unit or scanner 12 reads an image of an original (not shown) and outputs original image data. Image reading unit 12 includes a transparent document table 13 on which an original is placed. The original placed on document table 13 is held down by a document table cover 14. Document table cover 14 is provided above image reading unit 12, for example, on one side of document table 13 at the back side, using a hinge, so as to be able to open and close.

[0028] An external memory port 16 for detachably mounting an external memory 18 (FIG. 2) such as a USB memory is provided on the top of the image forming apparatus 10 in front of the image reading unit 12, and an operation unit 19 is also provided. On the operation surface of the operation unit 19, for example, a display (touch display) 20 with a touch panel is provided.

[0029] An image forming unit 22, which is an example of an image forming means, is provided below the image reading unit 12. The image forming unit 22 prints image processing performed by the image processing unit 28 (FIG. 2), such as an original image, onto a recording medium such as paper. This image formation processing is performed, for example, by a known electrophotographic method. For this reason, the image forming unit 22 includes components for image formation, such as a photosensitive drum, as is already well known.

[0030] A paper feed unit 24, which is an example of a paper feed means, is provided below the image forming unit 22. In this embodiment, the paper feed unit 24 has four paper feed cassettes 25. Each paper feed cassette 25 stores paper of a predetermined size in a predetermined orientation. Although not shown, a manual feed tray is provided on the right side of the image forming apparatus 10. The paper feed unit 24 supplies paper (sheets) to the image forming unit 22 one sheet at a time, using either one of the paper feed cassettes 25 or the manual feed tray as the paper feed source.

[0031] The paper fed from the paper feed unit 24 and having an image printed thereon by the image forming unit 22 is discharged to a paper discharge tray 26. In this embodiment, the paper discharge tray 26 is provided in the internal space between the image forming unit 22 and the image reading unit 12. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 further includes an image processing unit 28, a main control unit (computer) 30, a communication unit 38, an external memory interface (hereinafter referred to as "external memory I / F") 40, etc. These are connected by a common bus 32.

[0032] The main control unit 30 is essentially a computer and includes a CPU 34 and a memory 36. The memory 36 includes RAM, ROM, HDD (hard disk drive), etc., although details are not shown. The CPU 34 is connected to a bus 32, which is electrically connected to the RAM, ROM, HDD, etc. of the memory 36. The CPU 34 executes various computer programs in response to instructions from the operation unit 19, etc., thereby performing the operations of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10. The various computer programs described above are pre-stored in the ROM or HDD, and are loaded into the RAM and executed as needed.

[0033] The communication unit 38 controls data communication between the image forming apparatus 10 and an information processing apparatus or the like on the network via a network (not shown) in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 10 can receive command signals from the information processing apparatus via the communication unit 38 to instruct the execution of various processes such as a print job.

[0034] The communication unit 38 also provides a connection to a public line (not shown) for FAX communication.

[0035] The external memory I / F 40 reads and writes information (data) from and to an external memory 18, such as a USB memory, attached to the external memory port 16 (FIG. 1).

[0036] The bus 32 is further electrically connected to the image reading unit 12, the image processing unit 28, the image forming unit 22, the operation unit 19, the paper feeding unit 24, and the like.

[0037] As described above, image reading unit 12 reads image information from a document placed on document placing table 14 (FIG. 1) and outputs the image data to image processing unit 28. Image reading unit 12 also detects the paper size of the document placed on document placing table 14 and outputs the detected size to main control unit 30.

[0038] As described above, the image forming unit 22 prints an image represented by image data onto paper, and as is well known, includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, a laser scanning unit (LSU), a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, a fixing device, a de-electrification device, etc.

[0039] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory map of the RAM of the memory 36 in the embodiment of Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the RAM includes a program storage area 42 and a data storage area 44. The program storage area 42 stores a control program for the image forming apparatus 10.

[0040] The control programs of the image forming apparatus 10 include a display control program 46a, an operation detection program 46b, an image reading program 46c, an image processing program 46d, an image forming program 46e, and a scan job program 46f.

[0041] The display control program 46a is a program that generates the display screen data required to display various screens on the screen of the touch display 20 based on the display image generation data in the display image generation data memory area 48a described below, and uses that display screen data to display images on the touch display 20.

[0042] The operation detection program 46b is a program for detecting operation data corresponding to operations on the operation unit 19 and storing the operation data in an operation data storage area 48b, which will be described later. For example, when a touch panel (not shown) is touched, the main control unit (computer) 30 acquires touch coordinate data output from the touch panel as operation data in accordance with the operation detection program 46b and stores the data in the operation data storage area 48b. When a hardware button or key (not shown) provided on the operation unit 19 is pressed or operated, the main control unit 30 acquires operation data resulting from the pressing or operation of the button or key in accordance with the operation detection program 46b and stores the data in the operation data storage area 48b.

[0043] The image reading program 46c controls an automatic document feeder (not shown) and an image reading unit (scanner) 12 to read a document placed on a document tray (not shown) or document table 14, and stores the data of the read document image in a temporary storage area 48c.

[0044] The image processing program 46d mainly executes preprocessing for image formation by the image forming unit 22, such as cropping, on the image data read in accordance with the image reading program 46c.

[0045] The image forming program 46 e is a program that controls the image forming unit 22 to print image data on recording paper supplied from the paper feed unit 24 .

[0046] The scan job program 46f is a program for controlling a job (sometimes referred to as a "scan job" in this specification) that directly saves image data (scan data) read by the image reading unit (sometimes referred to as a "scanner" in this specification) 12 of the image forming device 10 in an external memory 18 (Figure 2) such as a USB memory, for example, such as ScanToUSB.

[0047] Although not shown, the program storage area 42 also stores other programs necessary for controlling the image forming apparatus 10.

[0048] In the data storage area 44, a display image generation data storage area 48a, an operation data storage area 48b, a temporary storage area 48c, a log data area 48d, and the like are set.

[0049] The display image generation data in the display image generation data storage area 48a is data including polygon data and texture data for generating a display image, etc. The display image generation data also includes image data corresponding to software keys, image generation data for displaying each screen, etc.

[0050] The operation data in the operation data storage area 48b is operation data detected in accordance with the operation detection program 46b and stored in chronological order. Note that the operation data is deleted after being used in processing by the main control unit 30.

[0051] The temporary storage area 48c temporarily stores image data read by the image reading unit 12, for example, for image processing by the image processing program 46d.

[0052] The log data area 48d stores data (log) that is recorded by linking (associating) the identification information of the external memory 18 with the identification information of the job when the above scan job is executed in accordance with the scan job program 46f.

[0053] The data storage area 44 stores other data required for the execution of the control program of the image forming apparatus 10, and also includes flags and other counters (timers) required for the execution of the control program.

[0054] Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the operation of the embodiment executed mainly in accordance with the scan job program 46f and the like will be described.

[0055] The operation shown in FIG. 4 is started by placing the document from which image data (scan data) is to be obtained by a scan job on the automatic document feeder (not shown) provided on the document table 13 or the document table cover 14, and by inserting an external memory (here, a USB memory) 18 into the external memory port 16 (FIG. 1).

[0056] In the first step S1 of FIG. 4, the main control unit or computer 30 (FIG. 2) associates the identification information of the external memory 18 (device-specific information) with the identification information of the scan job (for example, something like a file number assigned for each date) and records them in the log data area 48d.

[0057] Thereafter, in step S3, the scanner 12 starts reading the document, and the obtained scan data (image data) is stored in the temporary storage area 48c together with the above-mentioned scan job identification information.

[0058] The identification information of the external memory 18 includes a vendor ID that indicates the manufacturer of the USB memory, which can be obtained from WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation), a product ID that indicates the product type, and a string that indicates a serial number (called iSerialNumber), which is a unique number for each individual product.In this step S1, all or part of these are recorded in a log as identification information of the external memory 18.

[0059] In step S5, the computer 30 determines whether the external memory 18 has been removed from the external memory port 16, for example, based on a signal from the external memory I / F 40.

[0060] If the answer to this question in step S5 is "YES," that is, if the answer to this question is that the external memory 18 has been removed from the external memory port 16, the computer 30 displays the continuation confirmation screen 50 shown in FIG. 5 on the display 20 (FIG. 1) in the next step S7.

[0061] The continuation confirmation screen 50 displays a message in a message field 52, such as "The USB memory has been removed. Do you want to continue the reading process?", asking the user to confirm whether or not to continue the scan job, and also displays a continuation instruction button 54 and a cancel button 56 as software keys. Therefore, the user operates (touches) either button to decide whether or not to continue the scan job.

[0062] If the confirmation screen 50 responds with "NO" in step S9, that is, if the cancel button 56 is pressed, the scan job ends. Therefore, the user can remove the external memory and cancel the scan job at their own will.

[0063] If the determination in step S9 is "YES," that is, if the user selects to continue the scan job, the computer 30 switches the scan job to background processing in order to continue the scan job with the external memory 18 removed. Then, the computer 30 displays a background transition notification screen 58, shown in FIG. 6, on the display 20.

[0064] Background transition notification screen 58 is a screen for notifying the user that the scan job will continue in the background because external memory 18 has been removed, and displays a message in message field 60 such as "Post-processing of the scan data will be moved to the background. After processing is complete, you can retrieve the scan data by inserting a USB memory stick," thereby notifying the user that the scan job instructed by the user is continuing. All the user needs to do to display background transition notification screen 58 is to operate OK button 62.

[0065] Then, in step S13, post-processing is performed in the background. This post-processing, like step S23, is assumed to include relatively time-consuming OCR processing, high-compression PDF conversion processing (processing that separates an image into text information and a background image), virus scanning, and the like.

[0066] In the next step S15, the computer 30 determines whether the external memory 18 has been attached to the external memory port 16, for example, based on a signal from the external memory I / F 40. At this time, the computer 30 compares the identification information of the attached external memory with the identification information of the external memory recorded as a log in the previous step S1, and if the two match, determines "YES." In other words, in step S15, it determines whether the same external memory that was removed in step S5 has been attached. Therefore, even if an external memory with different identification information is operated, the determination in this step S15 is "NO."

[0067] If "NO" is determined in step S15, that is, if the external memory 18 has not been re-attached to the external memory port 16, post-processing in step S13 continues until "YES" is determined in step S17, that is, until the end of post-processing is detected, and if "YES" is determined in step S17, the post-processed scan data (image data) is saved in the temporary storage area 48c of RAM in the next step S19, and the scan job is ended. In other words, in this case, the scan job is ended with the external memory 18 still removed midway.

[0068] In this case, however, the scan data file is stored with the identification information of the scan job set in step S1 attached.

[0069] On the other hand, when "YES" is determined in step S15, that is, when the external memory 18 is re-attached, the processing notification screen 64 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed in step S21.

[0070] Processing notification screen 64 is a screen for notifying the user that the scan job is incomplete, and displays a message such as "No jobs have been completed yet" in message field 66. The user only needs to operate OK button 68 on processing notification screen 64. Therefore, at the time of step S21, the scan job has not yet been completed and is still being executed.

[0071] Thereafter, in step S23, the computer 30 executes post-processing in the foreground and displays the post-processing (foreground) screen 70 shown in Fig. 8. This is because the external memory 18 was reinserted in step S15, and the user is now near the image processing device 10, so there is no need to process in the background.

[0072] This post-processing (foreground) screen 70 informs the user that post-processing of scan data is being performed in the foreground. That is, this post-processing (foreground) screen 70 includes a message area 72, which informs the user that post-processing is being performed in the foreground and that the current page is page ####, for example, by displaying a message such as "Scan data post-processing in the foreground (page ####)." On this post-processing (foreground) screen 70, the user simply operates the OK button 74.

[0073] Then, in step S25, the computer 30 again determines whether the external memory 18 has been removed.

[0074] If the determination in step S25 is "NO," that is, if it is determined that the external memory 18 has not been removed, then in the following step S27, it is determined whether the post-processing in step S23 has ended. That is, the post-processing in step S23 continues until the determination in step S27 is "YES."

[0075] If "YES" is determined in step S27, then in the next step S29, the computer 30 writes the scan data after post-processing to the external memory 18 that is currently attached to the image forming apparatus 10, and ends the scan job. That is, if it is detected in step S5 that the external memory 18 has been temporarily removed, and then it is detected in step S15 that the external memory 18 has been reattached, and then the scan job is completed, that is, when "YES" is determined in step S27, then in step S29 the scan data can be saved as is in the reattached external memory 18.

[0076] If "YES" is determined in step S25, that is, if the external memory 18 is removed, the job completion notification screen 76 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed in step S31.

[0077] This job completion notification screen 76 includes a message area 78, which notifies the user that the scan job has been completed and that the scanned data can be saved in the USB memory by inserting the USB memory, for example, by displaying a message such as "You can obtain the scanned data by inserting the USB memory." On the job completion notification screen 76, the user only needs to press the OK button 80.

[0078] After step S31, the process returns to step S17, where it is determined whether post-processing in the background has finished. Therefore, with external memory 18 still removed, in step S19, the post-processed scan data (image data) is saved in temporary storage area 48c of RAM, and the scan job is terminated. In other words, in this case too, the scan job is terminated with external memory 18 still removed midway.

[0079] If the previous step S5 determines "NO," that is, if it determines that the external memory 18 has not been removed from the external memory port 16, the computer 30 saves the scan data in the external memory 18 that remains attached in the next step S33. In other words, if the external memory 18 is not removed until the end of the scan job, the scan data is saved in the external memory 18 as is.

[0080] On the other hand, if the post-processed scan data is saved in the temporary storage area 48c of RAM in step S19 and the scan job is completed, the scan data is not yet saved in the external memory 18. Therefore, the external memory 18 is attached and the scan data is written to the external memory 18 according to FIG.

[0081] When the image forming device 10 is in a ready state in the first step S41 of FIG. 10, that is, when the image forming device 10 is not in use, that is, when the image forming device 10 is in a "waiting" state, in step S43 the computer 30 determines whether the external memory 18 has been attached to the external memory port 16, for example, based on a signal from the external memory I / F 40.

[0082] If the determination in step S43 is "YES," the next step S45 determines whether a scan job linked to the external memory 18 whose attachment was detected in step S43 is saved in the temporary storage area 48c of the RAM. That is, in step S1 of Fig. 4, at the start of the scan job, the unique identification information of the external memory 18 and the identification information of the scan job to be executed are recorded in the log data area 48d of the RAM of the memory 36 of the computer 30. Therefore, in step S45, the computer 30 reads the identification information of the external memory 18 detected in step S43 based on the log record, and determines whether there is scan data with identification information corresponding to that identification information.

[0083] When the determination in step S45 is "YES", that is, when there is corresponding scan data in the attached external memory 18, the computer 30 writes and saves the scan data in the external memory 18 in step S47.

[0084] Thereafter, in step S49, the computer 30 deletes the identification information of the external memory 18, the job identification information, and the scan data temporarily stored in the temporary storage area 48c, and then ends the process.

[0085] However, if "NO" is determined in step S43 or step S45, the operation of FIG. 10 ends immediately.

[0086] The specific configurations and the like described in the above embodiments are merely examples and can be modified as appropriate depending on the actual product. Furthermore, the order in which the steps in the flow charts described in the above embodiments are processed can be changed as appropriate, provided that the same results are obtained. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 10...Image forming device 12...Image reading unit (scanner) 16...External memory port 18...External memory 30...Main control unit (computer) 36...Memory 40...External memory I / F 46f ...Scan job program 48c...Temporary storage area 48d ... Log data area

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus including a scanner for scanning an original, and executing a scan job for storing scan data scanned by the scanner in an external memory, an external memory port to which the external memory is detachably attached; a log data storage unit that stores, as a log, identification information of the external memory attached to the external memory port and identification information of the scan job in association with each other; a first determination unit that determines whether the external memory is removed from the external memory port during execution of the scan job; a selection screen display unit that displays a selection screen for accepting a user's selection as to whether to continue or interrupt reading when the first determination unit determines that the external memory has been removed; a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores the scan data together with identification information of the scan job when the user selects to continue the scan job on the selection screen; a second determination unit that determines, when an external memory is attached to the external memory port, whether or not scan data associated with the external memory is stored in the temporary storage unit; a first storage unit that stores the scan data stored in the temporary storage unit in the external memory when the second determination unit determines that the associated scan data is stored in the temporary storage unit; a third determination unit that determines whether the removed external memory is reattached to the external memory port by the time the scan job is completed; and an image forming apparatus comprising: a second storage unit configured to store the scan data in the reattached external memory when the third determination unit determines that the external memory has been reattached;

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the scan job is terminated when the user selects the interruption on the selection screen and the scan job is canceled.

3. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second storage unit that stores the scan data in the external memory when the first determination unit does not determine that the external memory has been removed.

4. 1. A control program for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a scanner for scanning an original; and an external memory port to which an external memory is detachably attached, the control program executing a scan job for saving scan data scanned by the scanner in the external memory, the control program comprising: a computer of the image forming apparatus, a log data storage unit that stores, as a log, identification information of the external memory attached to the external memory port and identification information of the scan job in association with each other; a first determination unit that determines whether the external memory is removed from the external memory port during execution of the scan job; a selection screen display unit that displays a selection screen for accepting a user's selection as to whether to continue or interrupt reading when the first determination unit determines that the external memory has been removed; a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores the scan data together with identification information of the scan job when the user selects to continue the scan job on the selection screen; a second determination unit that determines, when an external memory is attached to the external memory port, whether or not scan data associated with the external memory is stored in the temporary storage unit; a first storage unit that stores the scan data stored in the temporary storage unit in the external memory when the second determination unit determines that the associated scan data is stored in the temporary storage unit; a third determination unit that determines whether the removed external memory is reattached to the external memory port by the time the scan job is completed; and a control program that causes the control program to function as a second storage unit that stores the scan data in the reattached external memory when the third determination unit determines that the external memory has been reattached;

5. 1. A control method for an image forming apparatus that is equipped with a scanner that scans a document and an external memory port to which an external memory is detachably attached, and that executes a scan job to store scan data scanned by the scanner in the external memory, comprising: a log data storage step of storing identification information of the external memory attached to the external memory port and identification information of the scan job in association with each other as a log; a first determination step of determining whether the external memory is removed from the external memory port during execution of the scan job; a selection screen display step of displaying a selection screen for accepting a user's selection as to whether to continue or interrupt reading when it is determined in the first determination step that the external memory has been removed; a temporary storage step of temporarily storing the scan data together with identification information of the scan job when the user selects to continue the scan job on the selection screen; a second determination step of determining whether or not scan data associated with the external memory has been saved in the temporary saving step when the external memory is attached to the external memory port; a first storage step of storing the scan data stored in the temporary storage step in the external memory when it is determined in the second determination step that the associated scan data has been stored in the temporary storage step; a third determination step of determining whether the removed external memory has been reinserted into the external memory port by the time the scan job is completed; and The control method further includes a second saving step of saving the scan data in the re-attached external memory when the re-attachment is determined in the third determining step.

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