Image forming apparatus and image forming method

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes, a sheet transporting unit, a scanner, a print unit, an input device, a counter, and a control unit. The sheet transporting unit transports a predetermined number of sheets among a plurality of the sheets. The scanner reads the sheets which are transported by the sheet transporting unit as image data. The print unit prints the image data which is read by the scanner. The input device receives an input from a user. The counter counts the number of the transported sheets. The control unit controls the sheet transporting unit and the print unit depending on the number of the transported sheets and the number of sheets which are input by the user.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

BACKGROUND

A multifunction peripheral (MFP) has a document feeder that transports the document one by one to a scanner. Some MFPs also have a counter that counts the total number of documents transported by the feeder.

When there is a bundle of printed sheets whose total number is unknown, the MFP can count the number of the printed sheets in the bundle and can show the counted number to the user. However, when the user wants to prepare a predetermined number of printed sheets using this bundle of sheets, another action of the user may be necessary due to shortage. For example, suppose the user wants to prepare 100 printed sheets and the counter shows 80 as the counted number, 20 sheets are short from the target number. Therefore, the user would need to make additional 20 copies or prints. To make the additional prints, the user would have to operate the MFP or PCs again. A more efficient method is desired to prepare a predetermined number of printed sheets.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An object to be achieved by an exemplary embodiment is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method which can easily align a certain number of sheets from a plurality of sheets.

In general, according to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a sheet transporting unit, a scanner, a print unit, an input device, a counter, and a control unit. The sheet transporting unit transports a predetermined number of sheets among a plurality of the sheets. The scanner reads the sheets which are transported by the sheet transporting unit as image data. The print unit prints the image data which is read by the scanner. The input device receives an input from a user. The counter counts the number of the transported sheets. The control unit controls the sheet transporting unit and the print unit depending on the number of the transported sheets and the number of sheets which are input by the user.

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus and an image forming method according to embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1is an external view illustrating the entire configuration example of an image forming apparatus100according to an embodiment. The image forming apparatus100is, for example, a multifunction peripheral. The image forming apparatus100includes a display110, a control panel120, a printer130, a sheet containing unit140, and an image reading unit200. The printer130of the image forming apparatus100may be an apparatus that fixes a toner image or may be an apparatus of an ink jet type.

The image forming apparatus100forms an image on a sheet using a developer such as toner. The sheet is, for example, paper or label paper. The sheet may be anything as long as the image forming apparatus100can form an image on a surface thereof.

The display110is an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electro luminescence (EL) display. The display110displays various types of information relating to the image forming apparatus100.

The control panel120includes a plurality of buttons. The control panel120receives an input corresponding to an operation performed by a user. The control panel120outputs a signal corresponding to the operation performed by the user to a control unit of the image forming apparatus100. The display110and the control panel120may be configured as an integral touch panel.

The printer130forms an image on a sheet, based on image information generated by the image reading unit200or image information received via a communication path. The printer130forms an image through, for example, the following processing. An image forming unit of the printer130forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductive drum, based on the image information. The image forming unit of the printer130forms a visible image by attaching the developer to the electrostatic latent image. A specific example of the developer is toner. A transfer unit of the printer130transfers the visible image onto the sheet. A fixing unit of the printer130fixes the visible image on the sheet by heating and pressurizing the sheet. The sheet on which an image is formed may be a sheet contained in the sheet containing unit140or may be a sheet held by hand. The printer130is an aspect of a print unit.

The sheet containing unit140contains a sheet used for image formation in the printer130.

The image reading unit200reads image information of a read target as light and shade of light. The image reading unit200records the read image information. The recorded image information may be transmitted to another information processing apparatus via a network. An image may be formed on a sheet by the printer130, according to the recorded image information. The image reading unit200may include an original document table.

FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating functions of the image forming apparatus100according to the embodiment. The image forming apparatus100includes a control panel120, a printer130, an image reading unit200, a storage unit300, and a control unit500. The description on the control panel120and the printer130which are previously described with reference toFIG. 1will be omitted.

The image reading unit200includes a sheet transporting unit210and a sensor220. In the present embodiment, the image reading unit200is a predetermined place for placing an original document and will be described below as unit including an original document table.

The sheet transporting unit210automatically transports an original document placed on the original document table. At this time, for example, the sheet transporting unit210scans a first sheet (first copy) when transporting the original document. The sheet transporting unit210stores the scanned image data in the storage unit300.

The sensor220is a weight sensor included in the original document table and is a sensor such as an optical sensor included in the sheet transporting unit210. For example, the sheet transporting unit210determines whether or not an original document is placed on the sheet transporting unit210by using the weight sensor of the original document table and sends a determination result to a determination unit540. For example, the optical sensor sends data on the number of original documents transported by the sheet transporting unit210to a sheet number counter530.

The storage unit300is configured by using a storage device such as a magnetic hard disk device or a semiconductor memory device. The storage unit300stores a program for operating the image reading unit200that represents mode setting (hereinafter referred to as an “operation mode”) of an operation of the sheet transporting unit210. For example, in the present embodiment, three types of processing of print processing, scan processing, and count processing are set as the operation mode performed by the image reading unit200. For example, the storage unit300stores a program of operating the print processing, the scan processing, and the count processing. The storage unit300stores the image data scanned by the sheet transporting unit210and the image reading unit200.

The control unit500is configured by using a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU). As the processor executes a program, the control unit500functions as an input acquisition unit510, a mode determination unit520, the sheet number counter530, the determination unit540, and an operation control unit550.

The input acquisition unit510acquires a signal according to an operation performed by a user notified from the control panel120. The input acquisition unit510sends the acquired signal to the mode determination unit520and the determination unit540. For example, the input acquisition unit510receives the number of sheets the user wants to count (hereinafter, referred to as “the number of counted sheets”).

The mode determination unit520determines whether or not the operation mode received from a user is count processing. If the operation mode is not the count processing, the mode determination unit520causes the image reading unit200to perform the operation mode received from the user. For example, the mode determination unit520reads a program of the received operation mode from the storage unit300and causes the image reading unit200to execute the program. If the operation mode is the count processing, the mode determination unit520causes the image reading unit200to perform the count processing.

The sheet number counter530counts the number of sheets (hereinafter, referred to as “the number of transported sheets”) of original documents transported by the sheet transporting unit210, based on a value received from the optical sensor of the sensor220. The sheet number counter530increments the count of the number of transported sheets each time the original document is transported.

The sheet number counter530resets the sheet number counter530if the original documents of the number corresponding to the counted sheet number are transported among the original documents placed in the automatic document feeder (ADF). The sheet number counter530sends the number of sheets transported by the sheet transporting unit210to the determination unit540.

The determination unit540determines whether or not the number of transported sheets is less than the number of counted sheets, based on the number of transported sheets and the number of counted sheets. The determination unit540sends the determination result to the operation control unit550.

The operation control unit550controls the sheet transporting unit210, based on the determination result of the determination unit540. For example, if the number of transported sheets is less than the number of counted sheets, the operation control unit550causes the sheet transporting unit210to transport the original documents. For example, if the number of transported sheets and the number of counted sheets are equal to each other, the operation control unit550causes the sheet transporting unit210to stop transporting the original document.

The operation control unit550controls the sheet transporting unit210and the printer130, based on the determination result of the sheet transporting unit210and the determination result of the determination unit540. For example, if an original document is placed in the ADF and if the number of transported sheets is less than the counted sheet number, the operation control unit550causes the sheet transporting unit210to transport the original document. For example, if the original document is placed in the ADF and if the number of transported sheets is less than the number of counted sheets, the operation control unit550causes the sheet transporting unit210to stop transporting the original document.

For example, if the original document is not placed in the ADF and if the number of transported sheets and the number of counted sheets are equal to each other, the operation control unit550causes the sheet transporting unit210to stop transporting the original document. For example, if the original document is not placed in the ADF and if the number of transported sheets is less than the number of counted sheets, the operation control unit550causes the printer130to print a difference between the number of counted sheets and the number of transported sheets.

FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating a display example of a sheet number count according to the embodiment.

InFIG. 3, a keypad KP, the number of counted sheets input by a user, the number of transported sheets counted by the sheet number counter530, a cancel button, and a start button are displayed on the control panel120as an example. As the user presses the keypad KP, the control panel120notifies the input acquisition unit510of a predetermined counted sheet number.

For example, if the user presses the keypad KP in the order of “2” and “5”, the control panel120notifies the input acquisition unit510that the number of counted sheets is 25. If the user presses the “cancel” button, the control panel120notifies the input acquisition unit510of an instruction to end the processing. If the user presses the “start” button, the control panel120notifies the input acquisition unit510of an instruction to start processing.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating a display example when the sheet number count according to the embodiment is completed. InFIG. 4, for example, when the number of transported sheets counted by the sheet number counter530is 25, the determination unit540sends a stop instruction to the sheet transporting unit210. Then, the control panel120displays the display example ofFIG. 4, and if the user presses the “end” button, the control panel120ends the processing.

FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating a display example when a sheet number count according to the embodiment fails. InFIG. 5, when the number of transported sheets is 15, the determination unit540determines that the original document is not placed. Accordingly, the determination unit540calculates a difference between the number of transported sheets and the number of counted sheets as ten sheets. The control panel120displays the display example ofFIG. 5and waits for input from the user. If the user presses a “print” button, the control panel120notifies the input acquisition unit510of a printing instruction. The determination unit540sends the calculated difference to the operation control unit550. The operation control unit550sends a printing instruction to the printer130, based on the difference (10 sheets) received from the determination unit540. If the user presses the “end” button, the control panel120ends the processing.

FIG. 6is a flowchart illustrating a print flow of the image forming apparatus100according to an embodiment.

The input acquisition unit510receives an operation mode from a user (ACT101). The mode determination unit520determines whether or not the operation mode received from the user is count processing (ACT102).

If the operation mode is not the count processing (ACT102—NO), the image forming apparatus100performs the selected operation mode (ACT103). If the operation mode is the count processing (ACT102—YES), the control panel120receives the number of counted sheets from the user (ACT104). The control panel120notifies the input acquisition unit510of the number of counted sheets which are received. The ADF determines whether or not the original document is placed on the ADF, based on the data received from the sensor220(ACT105).

If the original document is placed on the ADF (ACT105—YES), the sheet transporting unit210transports the original document (ACT106). In the processing of the ACT106, the ADF scans the first original document or the first copy. The sheet number counter530counts the number of transported sheets (ACT107). The control panel120displays the number of transported sheets (ACT108).

The determination unit540determines whether or not the number of transported sheets and the number of counted sheets are equal to each other (ACT109). If the number of transported sheets is equal to the number of counted sheets (ACT109—NO), the processing returns to ACT104. If the number of transported sheets is equal to the number of counted sheets (ACT109—YES), the operation control unit550causes the sheet transporting unit210to stop transporting the original document (ACT110). As the processing result, the control panel120displays, for example, the results of the number of counted sheets and the number of transported sheets (ACT111).

If the original document is not placed on the ADF (ACT105—NO), the number of transported sheets does not increase any more, and thus, it is confirmed that the number of transported sheets does not reach the number of counted sheets. In this case, the display of the number of transported sheets on the control panel120remains as displayed in the ACT107just before. The operation control unit550calculates a difference between the number of transported sheets and the number of counted sheets (ACT112). The operation control unit550causes the control panel120to display a screen asking the user whether or not to perform an additional print for the number of sheets of the calculated difference. In response to the operation onto the screen, the control panel120receives an instruction as to whether or not to perform the additional print from the user (ACT113). If the instruction to perform the additional print is not received (ACT113—NO), the operation control unit550ends the processing.

If the instruction to perform the additional print is received (ACT113—YES), the operation control unit550causes the printer130to print the number of sheets of the difference (ACT114).

According to the image forming apparatus100of the embodiment configured as described above, the operation control unit550that controls the sheet transporting unit210and the printer130is included, and thereby, even if the number of transported sheets is less than the number of counted sheets, it is possible to equalize the number of counted sheets to the total number of the number of transported sheets and the number of printed sheets by printing the numbers using the printer130. Thereby, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method which can easily align a certain number of sheets from a plurality of sheets.

Modification Example

The input acquisition unit510may receive an instruction from a user via the control panel120or may receive the instruction from an external device via a network or the like.

An original document may be a sheet on which an image is formed or a sheet on which an image is not formed.

If the original document is not placed and if the number of transported sheets is less than the number of counted sheets, the operation control unit550may display a difference between the number of counted sheets and the number of transported sheets on the control panel120. Then, if there is no instruction to perform an additional print from the user, the operation control unit550may end the processing.

The sheet transporting unit210does not scan the first sheet (first copy). If the original document is insufficient, the sheet transporting unit210may notify the control panel120as to whether or not to perform the scan, as output information. The control panel120presents the received output information to the user. For example, if the user selects to perform the scan, the sheet transporting unit210may notify the control panel120of a notification for placing the original document to be scanned as the output information. In addition, for example, if the user selects not to perform the scan, the printer130may read and print the same image data as the original document transported from the storage unit300. In addition, for example, if the user selects not to perform the scan, the printer130may acquire and print the same image data as the original document transported via the network.

FIG. 7is a diagram illustrating a display example of the sheet number count according to the embodiment. The input acquisition unit510may receive a plurality of instructions from a user as illustrated inFIG. 7. As illustrated inFIG. 7. For example, the control panel120displays the display example ofFIG. 7and waits for an input from the user.FIG. 7illustrates a state where the number of counted sheets A is 35, the number of counted sheets B is 31, and the number of counted sheets C is 36, which are input from the user, as an example. If the user presses a “count addition” button, the control panel120receives an input of the number of counted sheets from the user as the number of counted sheets D. Description on the items described with reference toFIG. 3toFIG. 5will be omitted.

The storage unit300may store the number of transported sheets which are received.