JP6921933B2 - Printing equipment, printing methods, and programs - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device capable of adding different number information for each copy and user information indicating a printer to an image to be printed.

Conventionally, it is known that when printing a plurality of copies, different number information is added to the image to be printed for each copy (for example, Patent Document 1). By adding different number information to each copy, if the distribution destination of the printed matter (for example, the participants of the conference) and the number of the printed matter are recorded in association with each other, the printed matter after distribution can be tracked. ..

On the other hand, in recent years, it is known to add user information indicating a printer (a user who has instructed printing, a user of a printing device, etc.) to an image to be printed. This is to allow the printed matter to identify who printed it later.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-305671

As described above, "number information different for each copy" and "user information indicating the printer" are known to be added to the image to be printed, but both of them added for different purposes are added. Conventionally, it has not been assumed that the image is added to one image.

When the number information and the user information are added to one image, it is possible that the respective information is added to the same position. For example, among a plurality of areas including the upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left of the image, the upper right may be selected as the area to which the number information is added, and the upper right may be selected as the area to add the user information. In such a case, the number information and the user information overlap at a predetermined position in the selected area, and it becomes impossible to discriminate any of the information. In particular, when the user of the printing device sets the addition of number information and the administrator of the printing device sets the addition of user information, and so on, when different people make settings related to the addition of each information, each information is added. It is more likely that the same area will be selected as the area to which.

The printing device of the present invention is, for example, a printing device that prints an image and user instruction information based on an instruction from a user on a sheet, and prints an administrator instruction information based on an instruction from an administrator on the sheet. Based on the determination means for determining whether or not the printing position is determined by the determination means to print the administrator instruction information, the print position of the user instruction information is fixed in the same area as the administrator instruction information, and the same area is used. Among them, it is characterized by having a determination means for determining to print at a position different from the administrator instruction information.

According to the present invention, information can be added at an appropriate position.

Overall view of the system including the printing apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. External view and transport path diagram of the printing apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. External view of the operation unit 104 of the printing device 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. An example of a screen displayed on the display unit 103 of the printing apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. An example of a screen displayed on the display unit 103 of the printing apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the region which can add the identification information in embodiment of this invention. An example of a screen displayed on the display unit 103 of the printing apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. An example of a screen displayed on the display unit 103 of the printing apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the area which can add the number information in embodiment of this invention. A flowchart illustrating the operation of the printing apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows the additional position of the identification information and the number information in embodiment of this invention. A flowchart illustrating the operation of the printing apparatus 101 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the means for solving the invention.

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a system including a printing device 101, which is an example of a printing device to which the present invention is applied. The printing device 101 includes a controller unit 102, a display unit 103, an operation unit 104, a printer unit 105, and a scanner unit 106. The display unit 103 includes an LED and a liquid crystal display, and displays the operation contents of the user and the internal state of the device. The operation unit 104 accepts a user's operation via the hard key group or the touch panel function of the display unit 103.

The printer unit 105 receives a print instruction from the controller unit 102, and prints an image on the sheet based on the image data transmitted from the controller unit 102. The scanner unit 106 receives a reading instruction from the controller unit 102, reads an image on the document, and transmits the obtained image data to the controller unit 102. The printer unit 105 can also print based on the image data generated by the scanner unit 106 (copy job).

The controller unit 102 is composed of a CPU 107, a ROM 108, a RAM 109, an HDD 110, and an EEPROM 111. The CPU 107 is an execution medium for a control program built in the printing device 101, and controls the operation of a device connected to the controller unit 102 via each I / F, a memory of a storage medium, or the like. The ROM 108 is a read-only memory and stores a boot program and the like necessary for booting the system. The RAM 109 is a volatile memory and is used as a work memory when executing a control program.

The HDD 110 is a storage medium such as a magnetic disk, and stores a control program, image data, and the like. The EEPROM 111 is a non-volatile memory and stores setting values and the like required when the control program is executed.

The CPU 107 can receive PDL data from the PC 113, which is an external device, via the LAN / WAN 112, and cause the printer unit 105 to execute printing based on the received PDL data (PDL job). The PDL data is generated by the printer driver installed in the host computer PC113.

FIG. 2A is an external view of the printing apparatus 101. In the printing apparatus 101, the lower part of the housing corresponds to the printer unit 105, and the upper part of the housing corresponds to the scanner unit 106. A manual feed tray 201 and a cassette 202 are provided as a source of sheets used for printing. Further, a discharge tray 203 is provided as a discharge destination of the sheet on which the image is printed.

FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a sheet transfer path inside the printer unit 105. The photosensitive drum 207 is charged to a specific polar potential and then exposed by an exposed portion (not shown). As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 207. Then, the image is developed by adhering the toner on the photosensitive drum 207 using the developing device 204.

The image developed on the photosensitive drum 207 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 205 and then transferred from the manual feed tray 201 or the cassette 202 to the sheet transferred to the transfer path 210. The sheet on which the image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 206, and is fixed by heating and pressurizing. In the case of single-sided printing, the fixed sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 203 via the transport path 208 with the print side facing down. In the case of double-sided printing, it is inverted in the transport path 208 and resupplied to the transport path 210 via the transport path 209. In double-sided printing, printing on the back side of the sheet is performed first, and the sheet is carried out with the front side facing down.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the operation unit 104 including the display unit 103. The main menu key 301 is a key for displaying the main menu (FIG. 4A) on the display unit 103. The numeric keypad 302 is a key for the user to input a numerical value (for example, a printing start number described later). The setting key 303 is a key to be pressed when making various settings for the entire device of the printing device 101. The start key 304 is a key to be pressed when instructing the execution of processing such as printing.

FIG. 4A is an operation screen displayed on the display unit 103 when the main menu key 301 is pressed. As shown in the figure, the printing device 101 has a plurality of functions such as "copy" and "print". FIG. 4B is an operation screen displayed on the display unit 103 when the setting key 303 is pressed. The user can make various settings via each screen that further transitions from this screen.

FIG. 5A is an operation screen displayed on the display unit 103 when the item 402 named “function setting” is selected on the operation screen shown in FIG. 4B. This screen includes an item 501 of "forced printing of identification information". Since the item 501 is an item that can be set only by the administrator of the printing apparatus 101, it is grayed out when being operated by a general user. If you want to set item 501, you need to be authenticated as an administrator by pressing the login key 403 in FIG. 4B.

FIG. 5B is an operation screen displayed on the display unit 103 when the item 501 of FIG. 5A is selected. On this screen, settings related to forced printing of identification information can be made. The identification information here includes user information indicating a printing person (a user who has instructed printing, a user of the printing device 101, etc.), and in addition to the user information, the printing date and time and the printing device 101. The IP address and the serial number of the printing apparatus 101 are included. By forcibly adding (printing) user information indicating the printer, it is possible to identify who printed the print later from the printed matter. The user (user of the printing device 101) indicated by the user information is a user who is logged in to the printing device 101 when executing the copy job. Further, when executing the PDL job, the user is logged in to the PC 113 which is the host computer.

If you want to print the identification information, press the ON key 502. The key group 503 is a key for setting whether or not to print the identification information for each function. The key group 504 is a key (area selection key) for selecting an area for printing identification information. There are four areas in which the identification information can be printed: the upper right, the lower right, the upper left, and the lower left of the image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which identification information is added to the image. FIG. 6A shows a case where the upper left is selected as the additional area of the identification information. The solid line in the figure indicates the edge of the sheet, and the dotted line in the figure indicates the area where the image can be printed. When the identification information is added to the upper left, the upper left point of a rectangle having a size corresponding to the additional information is arranged so as to coincide with the upper left point of the printable area. It should be noted that the printable area may be arranged with a margin slightly inside from the edge, or the width of this margin may be set by the user. Similarly, FIGS. 6B, 6C, and 6D show cases where the upper right, lower left, and lower right are selected as additional areas for the identification information, respectively.

FIG. 7A is an operation screen displayed on the display unit 103 when the copy key 401 is pressed in the operation screen shown in FIG. 4A. On this screen, a user who intends to execute a copy job can make various settings related to the copy job (color / monochrome selection, single-sided / double-sided selection, number of copies, density, etc.). The contents set on this screen are cleared when the main menu key 301 or the setting key 303 is pressed.

FIG. 7B is an operation screen displayed on the display unit 103 when the “other function” key 701 is pressed on the operation screen shown in FIG. 7A. This screen includes a number of copies printing key 702 for setting the number of copies to be printed. The number of copies printing is a function of adding different number information to the image to be printed when printing a plurality of copies. By adding different number information to each copy, if the distribution destination of the printed matter (for example, the participants of the conference) and the number of the printed matter are recorded in association with each other, the printed matter after distribution can be tracked. ..

8 (a) and 8 (b) are operation screens displayed on the display unit 103 when the number of copies print key 702 is pressed in the operation screen shown in FIG. 7 (b). In FIG. 8A, the key group 801 is a key (area selection key) for selecting an area for printing number information. In addition to the four areas where the identification information can be printed, the upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left of the image, there are a total of six areas, "5 locations" and "entire surface".

In items 802 to 804, the character attribute of the number information to be printed can be selected (character attribute selection key). Specifically, in item 802, the size of the number information can be selected, in item 803, the character color of the number information can be selected, and in item 804, the density of the number information can be selected. In item 805, a printing start number is input. For example, when "101" is input to the item 805, "00101" is added to the printed matter of the first copy, and "00102" is added to the printed matter of the second copy.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which number information is added to the image. FIG. 9A shows a case where the upper left is selected as the additional area of the number information. Similar to FIG. 6, the solid line in the figure indicates the edge of the sheet, and the dotted line in the figure indicates the area where the image can be printed. When the number information is added to the upper left, the upper left point of a rectangle having a size corresponding to the additional information is arranged so as to coincide with the upper left point of the printable area. It should be noted that the printable area may be arranged with a margin slightly inside from the edge, or the width of this margin may be set by the user. Similarly, FIGS. 6B, 6C, and 6D show cases where the upper right, lower left, and lower right are selected as additional areas for number information, respectively.

In the copy printing function, "5 locations" and "whole surface", which are options that are not available for printing identification information, can be selected as additional areas. FIG. 9E shows a case where "5 locations" are selected as the additional area for the number information. When "5 places" is selected, number information is added to four places, upper right, lower right, upper left, lower left, and one place in the center part. FIG. 9 (f) shows a case where "whole surface" is selected as the additional area of the number information. When "Full" is selected, a large amount of number information is added over the entire printable area.

By the way, in the copy printing function, the area to which the number information is added and the character attribute of the number information can be selected, but these cannot be selected when the above-mentioned printing of the identification information is turned on. I am trying to do it. This is because if the addition of the number information and the addition of the identification information can be set independently, the addition to the same area may be set and printing may occur at overlapping positions.

Therefore, in the printing device 101, when the printing of the identification information is turned on, the area to which the number information is added is intentionally fixed to the same area as the area to which the identification information is added, and the character attribute of the number information is also identified. It is fixed to the same character attribute of the information. Then, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 11, by dynamically changing the addition position of the number information or the identification information within the area, it is possible to prevent the information from overlapping and to add the information in a good-looking manner. I have to.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a setting operation for printing the number of copies. Each operation (step) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 10 is realized by executing the control program stored in the ROM 108 by the CPU 107 of the printing apparatus 101.

In step S1001, it is determined whether or not the setting for printing the number of copies is instructed. Here, when the number-of-copy printing key 702 shown in FIG. 7B is pressed, it is determined that the setting for printing the number of copies has been instructed, and the process proceeds to step S1002.

In step S1002, it is determined whether or not the printing of the identification information is turned on. This determination is made by referring to the information set in the screen of FIG. 5B and stored in the EEPROM 111. If the printing of the identification information is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S1004, and a screen (FIG. 8A) in which the print area and the character attribute can be selected is displayed. On the other hand, when the printing of the identification information is turned on, the process proceeds to step S1003, and a screen (FIG. 8B) in which the print area and the character attribute cannot be selected is displayed. Although the print area and character attributes cannot be selected on the screen here, the same screen as in step S1004 is displayed in step S1003, and a setting error is displayed when the OK key is pressed. You may.

In step S1005, the setting via the screen of FIG. 8A or FIG. 8B is accepted. Subsequently, if it is determined in step S1006 that the OK key has been pressed, the process ends.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing in detail the positions of the information (identification information and number information described above) added to the image. 11 (a) to 11 (c) show the case where the additional region is the upper right or the upper left, and FIGS. 11 (d) to 11 (f) show the case where the additional region is the lower right or the lower left. If the additional area is in the upper right or upper left, the first line, second line, etc. are counted in order from the top, and if the additional area is in the lower right or lower left, the first line, second line, etc. are counted in order from the bottom.・ Count as.

FIG. 11A shows a case where the printing of the identification information is off and the printing of the number of copies is on. In this case, the number information is added to the first line. FIG. 11B shows a case where the printing of the identification information is on and the printing of the number of copies is off. In this case, the identification information is added to the 1st to 4th lines. FIG. 11C shows a case where the printing of the identification information is on and the printing of the number of copies is also on. In this case, the number information is added to the first line, and the identification information is added to the 2nd to 5th lines.

Here, by comparing FIGS. 11B and 11C, it can be seen that the position to which the identification information is added is determined (changed) based on whether or not the number information is added. This makes it possible to prevent the number information and the identification information from overlapping at the same position when the additional area is in the upper right or upper left.

FIG. 11D shows a case where the printing of the identification information is off and the printing of the number of copies is on. In this case, the number information is added to the first line. FIG. 11E shows a case where the printing of the identification information is on and the printing of the number of copies is off. In this case, the identification information is added to the 1st to 4th lines. FIG. 11F shows a case where the printing of the identification information is on and the printing of the number of copies is also on. In this case, the identification information is added to the 1st to 4th lines, and the number information is added to the 5th line.

Here, by comparing FIGS. 11 (d) and 11 (f), it can be seen that the position to which the number information is added is determined (changed) based on whether or not the identification information is added. Thereby, when the additional area is the lower right or the lower left, it is possible to prevent the number information and the identification information from overlapping at the same position.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the operation when the execution of printing is instructed. Each operation (step) shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12 is realized by executing the control program stored in the ROM 108 by the CPU 107 of the printing apparatus 101.

In step S1201, it is determined whether or not the execution of printing is instructed. Here, it is determined that the execution of printing is instructed when the start key 304 is pressed, and the process proceeds to step S1202. In step S1202, it is determined whether or not the number of copies printing is turned on. This determination is made by referring to the information set in the screens of FIGS. 8A and 8B and stored in the EEPROM 111. If the number of copies printing is turned on, the process proceeds to step S1203, and if it is not turned on (turned off), the process proceeds to step S1204.

In step S1203, it is determined whether or not the printing of the identification information is turned on. This determination is made by referring to the information set in the screen of FIG. 5B and stored in the EEPROM 111. If the printing of the identification information is turned on, the process proceeds to step S1205, and if it is not turned on (turned off), the process proceeds to step S1208.

In step S1205, the additional area of the identification information and the number information is determined. As described above, when both the identification information and the number information are added, each information is added to the same area. If the additional area is in the upper right or upper left, the process proceeds to step S1206, and if the additional area is in the lower right or lower left, the process proceeds to step S1207.

In step S1206, in the predetermined area on the upper right or upper left of the image, the number information is added to the first line and the identification information is added to the second to fifth lines as shown in FIG. 11C. In step S1207, identification information is added to the 1st to 4th lines and number information is added to the 5th line in a predetermined area at the lower right or lower left of the image, as shown in FIG. 11 (f).

In step S1208, as shown in FIGS. 11A or 11D, number information is added to the first line in the predetermined areas of the upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left of the image.

In step S1204, it is determined whether or not the printing of the identification information is turned on. Similar to step S1203, this determination is made by referring to the information set in the screen of FIG. 5B and stored in the EEPROM 111. If the printing of the identification information is turned on, the process proceeds to step S1209, and as shown in FIGS. 11B or 11E, lines 1 to 4 in the predetermined areas of the upper right, upper left, lower right, and lower left of the image. Identification information is added to the eyes. As a result of the determination in step S1204, if the printing of the identification information is not turned on, the process proceeds to step S1210 without adding any of the identification information and the number information.

In step S1210, an image to which identification information and / or number information is added or to which no information is added is printed. If there are a plurality of pages to be printed, the process returns to step S1202 after step S1210 and the process is repeated.

Although the description has been made on the premise of a copy job, the present invention can also be applied to the case of executing a PDL job. When the PDL job is executed, the operation screen corresponding to the screens of FIGS. 8A and 8B is displayed on the PC113 side, and the setting is made by the user on the PC113 side.

As described above, the printing apparatus 101 determines whether or not to add identification information (user information indicating the printer) to the image to be printed, and based on the result of this determination, a different number is used for each copy. Determine where to add the information. Further, the printing device 101 determines whether or not to add different number information for each copy to the image to be printed, and determines the position to add the user information indicating the printer based on the result of this determination. .. As a result, different number information and user information indicating the printer can be added to appropriate positions for each copy.

<Other Embodiments>
Furthermore, the object of the present invention is also achieved by performing the following processing. That is, a storage medium in which the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment is recorded is supplied to the system or device, and the computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or device stores the program code in the storage medium. Is the process of reading.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the program code and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

Claims (9)

A printing device that prints an image and user instruction information based on instructions from the user on a sheet.
A determination means for determining whether to print the administrator instruction information based on the instruction from the administrator on the sheet, and
Based on the determination by the determination means to print the administrator instruction information, the print position of the user instruction information is fixed in the same area as the administrator instruction information, and the administrator instruction is given in the same area. A printing apparatus comprising a deciding means for deciding to print at a position different from information. The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, when it is determined that the administrator instruction information is to be printed, the determination means determines to print the user instruction information at a position different from that in the case where the determination is not made. The printing device described. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area is a part of a sheet. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the area is any one of an upper right, a lower right, an upper left, a lower left, and a central area of the sheet. It is a control method of a printing device that prints an image and user instruction information based on an instruction from a user on a sheet.
A determination process for determining whether to print the administrator instruction information based on the instruction from the administrator on the sheet, and
Based on the determination in the determination step that the administrator instruction information is to be printed, the print position of the user instruction information is fixed in the same area as the administrator instruction information, and the administrator instruction is given in the same area. A method of controlling a printing apparatus, which comprises a determination step of determining to print at a position different from information. The fifth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, when it is determined to print the administrator instruction information, the determination step determines to print the user instruction information at a position different from the case where the determination is not made. The method of controlling the printing apparatus described. The method for controlling a printing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the area is a part of the area in the sheet. The method for controlling a printing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the area is any one of an upper right, a lower right, an upper left, a lower left, and a central area of the sheet. A program for causing a printing apparatus to execute the control method according to any one of claims 5 to 8.

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