Patent Publication Number: US-2023147785-A1

Title: Image forming device and image forming method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-183454, filed on Nov. 10, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming device and an image forming method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Typically, image forming devices can apply information specified by a user to a sheet such as paper at the time of copying and printing. For example, there are image forming devices that can apply a stamp to a sheet by a stamp function. Examples of the image forming devices include devices such as copiers, printers, or multifunction peripherals (MFP). 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an external view showing an overall configuration of an image forming device of one embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration; 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control unit; 
         FIG.  4    is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an auxiliary storage device; 
         FIG.  5    is a diagram showing one example of an applying information file; 
         FIG.  6    is a diagram showing a first example of a selection screen displayed on a display; 
         FIG.  7    is a diagram showing a second example; 
         FIG.  8    is a diagram showing a third example; 
         FIG.  9    is a diagram showing one example of a sheet on which an image is formed; 
         FIG.  10    is a flowchart showing one example of acts; and 
         FIG.  11    is a flowchart showing one example of acts of a first embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the typical image forming devices, when plural copies of images of a manuscript are formed, only the same information can be applied to all copies. 
     One embodiment described herein provides an image forming device and an image forming method that can apply information different for each copy to a sheet on which an image is to be formed. 
     According to one embodiment, an image forming device includes a control unit or controller and an image forming unit or image forming processor. The control unit is configured to acquire image information showing an input image to be formed on a sheet and applying information associated with each copy when the input image is formed, and generate a composite image obtained by applying an applying image based on the applying information for each copy to the input image. The image forming unit is configured to form the composite image generated for each copy on the sheet for each copy. 
     Hereinafter, an image forming device and an image forming method according to one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     An overall configuration of an image forming device  100  of the embodiment will be described.  FIG.  1    is an external view showing an overall configuration example of the image forming device  100 . The image forming device  100  of the embodiment is an MFP. The image forming device  100  includes a display  110 , a control panel  120 , a printer unit or printer  130 , a sheet accommodating unit or sheet feeder  140 , and an image reading unit or image reader  200 . The image forming device  100  may be, for example, a copier or a printer instead of the MFP. 
     The display  110  (display unit) is a display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic electro luminescence (organic EL) display. The display  110  displays various pieces of information about the image forming device  100  under the control of the control unit or controller  101  described later. The display  110  may be an input and output device such as a touch panel integrated with the control panel  120  described below. 
     The control panel  120  is an input device that receives an input operation of a user. The control panel  120  includes, for example, a plurality of input buttons. When the control panel  120  is, for example, a touch panel integrated with the display  110 , the input buttons may be an image displayed on the display  110 . The control panel  120  outputs an operation signal corresponding to the input operation of the user to the control unit or controller  101 . 
     The printer unit  130  forms an image on a sheet based on an input image data file including image data generated by the image reading unit  200 . The printer unit  130  is one example of an image forming unit. The printer unit  130  may be a device that fixes a visible image such as a toner image on the sheet to form the image, or a device that forms the image by an inkjet method. The sheet is, for example, paper or label paper. Nevertheless, the sheet may be any material as long as the image forming device  100  can form the image on the surface of the sheet. The sheet may be a sheet accommodated in the sheet accommodating unit  140 , or may be a sheet manually inserted into the image forming device  100 . 
     The sheet accommodating unit  140  accommodates the sheet used for forming the image by the printer unit  130 . 
     The image reading unit  200  reads the image formed on a manuscript placed on a manuscript table based on the brightness and darkness of light, and generates the image data that is digital data. The image reading unit  200  outputs the generated image data to the control unit or controller  101 . The control unit or controller  101  stores the input image data file including the input image data in the auxiliary storage device or auxiliary storage  103  described later. The control unit  101  may output the input image data file to an external storage device or storage medium via, for example, a network. The control unit  101  may output the input image data file to the printer unit  130  without storing the input image data file in the storage device or the like. 
     Thereafter, the hardware configuration of the image forming device  100  of the embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG.  2   .  FIG.  2    is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming device  100 . 
     The image forming device  100  includes the control unit or controller  101 , a network interface  102 , the auxiliary storage device  103 , a memory or memory circuitry  104 , the display  110 , the control panel  120 , the printer unit or printer  130 , the sheet accommodating unit or sheet feeder  140 , and the image reading unit or image reader  200 . These components included in the image forming device  100  are connected by an internal bus so that data can be exchanged. The functional units described with reference to  FIG.  1    are designated by the same reference numerals as those in  FIG.  1   , and the description thereof will be omitted. 
     The control unit  101  controls acts of each component of the image forming device  100 . The control unit  101  controls the components to execute various processes by executing a program. The program is stored in advance in, for example, the memory  104  or the auxiliary storage device  103 . The functional configuration of the control unit  101  will be described in detail later. 
     The network interface  102  transmits and receives data to and from an external device. The network interface  102  acts as an input interface and receives the data transmitted from the external device. The network interface  102  acts as an output interface and transmits data to the external device. 
     The auxiliary storage device  103  is a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The auxiliary storage device  103  stores various kinds of data. The various kinds of data include, for example, image data, image data files, and various setting data. The configuration of information recorded in the auxiliary storage device  103  will be described in detail later. 
     The memory  104  is a storage medium such as a random access memory (RAM). The memory  104  temporarily stores data and programs used by the components included in the image forming device  100 . In addition, the digital data such as the image data generated by the image reading unit  200  may be recorded in the memory  104  instead of the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     Hereinafter, the configuration of the control unit  101  and the configuration of the auxiliary storage device  103  of the image forming device  100  of the embodiment will be described.  FIG.  3    is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit or controller  101 . The control unit  101  includes an applying information acquisition unit or applying information receiver  1011 , an applying information selection unit or applying information selector  1012 , an input image acquisition unit or input image receiver  1013 , an applying image generating unit or applying image generator  1014 , an image composition unit or image aggregator  1015 , and an authentication unit or authenticator  1016 .  FIG.  4    is a block diagram showing the configuration of the auxiliary storage device  103 . The auxiliary storage device  103  stores an applying information file group  1031 , an input image data group  1032 , an applying image data group  1033 , a composite image data group  1034 , and authentication information  1035 . 
     The applying information acquisition unit  1011  acquires an applying information file from the external device. The applying information file is a file showing a list of information (hereinafter referred to as “applying information”) to be applied to the sheet for each copy at the time of copying or printing. The applying information file is, for example, text data in comma-separated values (CSV) format or tab-separated values (TSV) format. The applying information acquisition unit  1011  stores the acquired applying information file in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
       FIG.  5    is a diagram showing one example of the applying information file. As shown in  FIG.  5   , an applying information file fa is text data in CSV format. In the applying information file fa, names of persons may be associated with numbers from “1” to “6”. Each of the numbers from “1” to “6” in the applying information file fa may be associated with a copy at the time of copying or printing. Each of the six types of names in the applying information file fa is the applying information. That is, when the applying information file fa is specified at the time of copying or printing, for example, an image representing characters “TANAKA” is applied to an image to be formed on a sheet of a first copy. Alternatively, for example, an image representing characters “SUZUKI” is applied to an image to be formed on a sheet of a second copy. Hereinafter, an image showing the applying information is referred to as the “applying image”. 
     The applying information file is created, for example, on a PC of the user. The user creates the applying information file, and transmits the created applying information file from the PC to the image forming device  100  via a communication network. The applying information acquisition unit  1011  acquires the applying information file transmitted from the PC of the user via the network interface  102 . The configuration in which the applying information acquisition unit  1011  acquires the applying information file is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the applying information acquisition unit  1011  may acquire the applying information file created by inputting information by the user using the control panel  120 . 
     The applying information selection unit  1012  acquires information showing a selection result as to whether to apply an applying image to an input image at the time of copying or printing. The applying information selection unit  1012  acquires information showing a selection result as to the type of the applying image to be applied to the input image. The applying information selection unit  1012  acquires information showing a selection result as to whether the same applying image is applied to all pages or an applying image different for each copy is applied. When an applying image different for each copy is applied, the applying information selection unit  1012  acquires information showing the applying information file selected from the applying information file group  1031 . 
     For example, the applying information selection unit  1012  generates an image (hereinafter, referred to as “selection screen”) for the user to make the above selection, and displays the image on the display  110 . The user refers to the selection screen displayed on the display  110  and performs an input operation for making the above selection using the control panel  120 . The applying information selection unit  1012  acquires information showing the content of the input operation performed by the user from the control panel  120 . As a result, the applying information selection unit  1012  can acquire information showing various selection results based on the input operation from the user. 
       FIGS.  6  to  8    are diagrams showing examples of the selection screen. A selection screen sa (second selection screen) shown in  FIG.  6    is a selection screen for the user to select whether to apply an applying image to the input image. The selection screen sa is also a selection screen for the user to select the type of the applying image to be applied to the input image. On the selection screen sa, the user can select three types of applying images including an applying image showing the number of pages, an applying image showing the date, and an applying image specified by the user. On the selection screen sa, the user can select one or more applying images among these three types of applying images, and may not select any of the images. For example, when all the three types of applying images are selected, all the three types of applying images are applied to the image to be formed on each sheet at the time of copying or printing. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG.  6   , the applying information selection unit  1012  controls the selection screen sa such that a button image showing the selected type of the applying image is surrounded by a thick frame. As a result, the user can confirm which type of the applying image is in a selected state on the selection screen sa. For example,  FIG.  6    shows a selection screen sa in a state where only the applying image specified by the user is selected. When the user wants to apply an applying image different for each copy to the sheet at the time of copying or printing, the user may select the applying image specified by the user. 
     A selection screen sb shown in  FIG.  7    is one example of a transitioning selection screen when the applying image specified by the user is selected on the selection screen sa shown in  FIG.  6   . The selection screen sb (third selection screen) is a selection screen for the user to select whether to apply the same applying image to all pages or to apply an applying image different for each copy. For example,  FIG.  7    shows the selection screen sb in a state in which a selection is made to apply an applying image different for each copy. 
     A selection screen sc shown in  FIG.  8    is one example of a transitioning screen when the selection is made to apply an applying image different for each copy on the selection screen sb shown in  FIG.  7   . The selection screen sc (first selection screen) is a selection screen for the user to select the applying information file to be used at the time of copying or printing. For example, in  FIG.  8   , “name.csv”, “name 2.csv”, and “distribution destination company name.csv” are all examples of the applying information file included in the applying information file group  1031 .  FIG.  8    shows the selection screen sc in which at least one applying information file can be selected from these three applying information files. 
     On the selection screen sb shown in  FIG.  7   , when a selection is made to give the same applying image to all pages, for example, the screen transitions to a selection screen for the user to specify one applying image. 
     At the time of copying, the input image acquisition unit  1013  acquires the image data (image information) showing the image read by the image reading unit  200  from the image reading unit  200 . At the time of printing, the input image acquisition unit  1013  acquires, for example, the image data (image information) transmitted from the PC of the user via the network interface  102 . The input image acquisition unit  1013  stores the input image data file including the acquired image data in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     The applying image generating unit  1014  converts the applying information selected by the applying information selection unit  1012  into the image data. The applying image generating unit  1014  refers to the applying information file selected by the applying information selection unit  1012 , and generates applying image data showing the applying image to be applied for each copy. For example, the applying image generating unit  1014  converts the applying information, which is text format data included in the applying information file, into postscript format data. Furthermore, the applying image generating unit  1014  converts the postscript format data into raster data by a raster image processor (RIP) process used in the printing. The applying image generating unit  1014  stores the generated applying image data in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     The image composition unit  1015  performs image composition when the applying information selection unit  1012  makes a selection to apply the applying image to the input image at the time of copying or printing. The image composition unit  1015  performs the image composition for compositing the input image based on the input image data and the applying image based on the applying image data, and generates the composite image data. The image composition unit  1015  generates composite image data based on the applying information file when the applying information selection unit  1012  makes a selection to apply an applying image different for each copy. As a result, composite image data different for each copy is generated. The image composition unit  1015  stores the generated composite image data in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     The control unit  101  outputs the composite image data group  1034  stored in the auxiliary storage device  103  to the printer unit  130  when the applying information selection unit  1012  makes a selection to apply the applying image to the input image. As a result, the printer unit  130  forms a composite image on the sheet on which the applying image is combined with the input image based on the acquired composite image data group  1034 . The control unit  101  outputs the input image data group  1032  stored in the auxiliary storage device  103  to the printer unit  130  when the applying information selection unit  1012  makes a selection to not apply the applying image to the input image. As a result, the printer unit  130  forms an input image on the sheet on which the applying image is not composited based on the acquired input image data group  1032 . 
       FIG.  9    is a diagram showing one example of a sheet on which an image is formed. Each sheet shown in  FIG.  9    shows a sheet for each copy on which an image is formed when the applying information file fa shown in  FIG.  5    is selected. As shown in  FIG.  9   , according to the applying information file fa, for example, a composite image in which an applying image showing a character string of “SATO” is composited is formed on a first sheet. According to the applying information file fa, for example, on a second sheet, a composite image in which the applying image showing a character string of “SUZUKI” is composited is formed. 
     The authentication unit  1016  authenticates the user who uses the image forming device  100 . For example, the authentication unit  1016  performs user authentication by using the authentication information  1035  stored in advance in the auxiliary storage device  103 . The authentication unit  1016  may perform the user authentication by using an external authentication server. The authentication unit  1016  may control authority or authorization such as to limit users who can execute references, new registrations, editions, deletions, and the like of the applying information file based on the result of the user authentication, for example. 
     Hereinafter, acts at the time of new registrations of the applying information file of the image forming device  100  will be described.  FIG.  10    is a flowchart showing one example of the acts at the time of new registrations of the applying information file of the image forming device  100  of the embodiment. 
     The applying information acquisition unit  1011  acquires the applying information file. For example, the applying information acquisition unit  1011  acquires an applying information file transmitted from the external device such as the PC of the user via the network interface  102  (ACT 001 ). The applying information acquisition unit  1011  stores the acquired applying information file in the auxiliary storage device  103  (ACT 002 ). With the above-described acts, the acts of the image forming device  100  shown in the flowchart of  FIG.  10    are completed. 
     Hereinafter, acts of the image forming device  100  at the time of copying will be described.  FIG.  11    is a flowchart showing one example of the acts of the image forming device  100  of the embodiment at the time of copying. The acts of the image forming device  100  shown in this flowchart are started when a manuscript is set in the image reading unit  200  and the user inputs a copy execution instruction by the control panel  120 . 
     When the applying information selection unit  1012  acquires information showing the copy execution instruction from the control panel  120 , various selection screens are displayed on the display  110 . The applying information selection unit  1012  acquires information showing the content of the input operation performed by the user from the control panel  120 . The applying information selection unit  1012  determines whether to apply information to a sheet for forming an image based on the selection result of the user shown by the acquired information (ACT 102 ). 
     When the applying information selection unit  1012  determines that the information is to be applied (ACT 102 : YES), the applying information selection unit  1012  determines whether the applying information file is specified based on the acquired information (ACT 103 ). 
     When the applying information selection unit  1012  determines that the applying information file is specified (ACT 103 : YES), the image reading unit  200  starts reading the set manuscript (ACT 104 ). The image reading unit  200  reads the manuscript to generate image data showing the image formed on the manuscript (ACT 105 ). The input image acquisition unit  1013  acquires the image data from the image reading unit  200 . The input image acquisition unit  1013  stores the input image data file including the acquired image data in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     The applying image generating unit  1014  refers to the applying information file selected by the applying information selection unit  1012 , and generates applying image data showing the applying image to be applied for each copy (ACT 106 ). The applying image generating unit  1014  stores the generated applying image data in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     The printer unit  130  starts an image forming act (ACT 107 ). The image composition unit  1015  performs the image composition for compositing or aggregating the applying image based on the applying image data with the input image based on the input image data file, and generates the composite image data (ACT 108 ). The image composition unit  1015  generates composite image data different for each copy based on the applying information file. The control unit  101  outputs the composite image data generated for each copy to the printer unit  130 . As a result, the printer unit  130  forms the composite image, in which an applying image different for each copy is composited with the input image, on the sheet of each copy. 
     When the image forming act by the printer unit  130  is completed (ACT 109 ), the acts of the image forming device  100  shown in the flowchart of  FIG.  11    are completed. 
     Alternatively or optionally, when the applying information selection unit  1012  determines that the applying information file is not specified (ACT 103 : NO), the image reading unit  200  starts reading the set manuscript (ACT 110 ). Here, the case where the applying information file is determined to be not specified is the case where the same applying image is specified to be applied to all pages. The image reading unit  200  reads the manuscript to generate the image data showing the image formed on the manuscript (ACT 111 ). The input image acquisition unit  1013  acquires image data from the image reading unit  200 . The input image acquisition unit  1013  stores the input image data file including the acquired image data in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     The applying image generating unit  1014  generates applying image data showing a specific applying image to be commonly applied to all pages selected by the applying information selection unit  1012  (ACT 112 ). The applying image generating unit  1014  stores the generated applying image data in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     The printer unit  130  starts the image forming act (ACT 113 ). The image composition unit  1015  performs the image composition for compositing the commonly applying image based on the applying image data with all the input image based on the input image data file, and generates the composite image data (ACT 114 ). The control unit  101  outputs the generated composite image data to the printer unit  130 . As a result, the printer unit  130  forms a composite image, in which the commonly applying image is composited for all the input images, on the sheet of each copy. 
     When the image forming act of the printer unit  130  is completed (ACT 115 ), the acts of the image forming device  100  shown in the flowchart of  FIG.  11    are completed. 
     Alternatively or optionally, when the applying information selection unit  1012  determines that the information is not to be applied (ACT 102 : NO), the image reading unit  200  starts reading the set manuscript (ACT 116 ). The image reading unit  200  reads the manuscript to generate the image data showing the image formed on the manuscript (ACT 117 ). The input image acquisition unit  1013  acquires image data from the image reading unit  200 . The input image acquisition unit  1013  stores the input image data file including the acquired image data in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     The printer unit  130  starts the image forming act (ACT 118 ). The image composition unit  1015  forms all the input images based on the input image data file on the sheet of each copy. When the image forming act of the printer unit  130  is completed (ACT 119 ), the acts of the image forming device  100  shown in the flowchart of  FIG.  11    are completed. 
       FIG.  11    shows, as one example, the acts of the image forming device  100  at the time of copying. Alternatively or optionally, in the acts at the time of printing, the image forming device  100  acquires image data showing an input image from, for example, the PC of the user, instead of reading the manuscript. In this case, for example, the user may select the applying information file on his own PC using a printer driver. Other acts are the same at the time of copying and at the time of printing. 
     As described above, the image forming device  100  of the embodiment acquires the applying information file. The applying information file is a list in which the copies and the applying information are associated with each other. The image forming device  100  generates the composite image in which an applying image different for each copy is composited or aggregated with the input image based on the applying information file. The image forming device  100  forms the composite image that is different for each copy on the sheet. 
     By providing such a configuration, the image forming device  100  of the embodiment can apply information different for each copy to a sheet on which an image is to be formed. For example, when it is desired to clarify to whom the printed matter is distributed from the viewpoint of security, it is conceivable to use the applying information file in which the copy and a member name to be distributed are associated with each other. For example, the applying information file is an applying information file in which the applying information is names of persons, such as the applying information file fa shown in  FIG.  5   . In this case, since a member name different for each copy is applied to the printed matter, it is possible to easily associate the printed matter with the member to be distributed when the printed matter is distributed. 
     The applying information file may be stored in the external device that can be accessed by the image forming device  100  if necessary. The external device is, for example, a file server on the cloud or a PC of the user. 
     In the present embodiment, one applying information file is created for each set of applying information patterns, and the embodiment disclosed herein is not limited to this configuration. For example, a plurality of sets of applying information patterns may be combined in one file. In this case, for example, a selection screen is displayed on the display  110  such that the user can select one pattern from the plurality of sets of applying information patterns. 
     The applying information file fa shown in  FIG.  5    contains information for associating a copy number with the applying information, and the information described in the applying information file is not limited to this configuration. For example, the applying information file may be configured such that only the applying information (the names of the persons in  FIG.  5   ) is described by separating the applying information with commas or by inserting line breaks. In this case, for example, the applying image generating unit  1014  generates applying image data showing the applying image to be applied for each copy in order from the applying information at the beginning. 
     The number of copies or prints specified by the user is not the same as the number of applying information included in the applying information file, and for example, there may be cases in which the number of copies or prints is larger than the number of applying information. In this case, for example, the control unit  101  may form an input image in which the applying image is not composited for the sheets exceeding the number of the applying information. On the contrary, it is also conceivable that the number of copies of the specified copy or print by the user is less than the number of applying information included in the applying information file. In this case, for example, the applying image generating unit  1014  may generate the applying image only for the specified number of copies of the applying information. 
     The applying information selection unit  1012  may display on the display  110  a selection screen on which the user can select any applying information from a plurality of pieces of applying information included in one applying information file. In this case, the applying image generating unit  1014  generates the applying image only for the selected applying information. For example, when the applying information file fa shown in  FIG.  5    is specified, the user selects only “SATO” and “TANAKA”. In this case, the applying image generating unit  1014  converts only the text data of “SATO” and “TANAKA” into image data, respectively. 
     In the present embodiment, the applying information file is stored in the auxiliary storage device  103 , and the applying information is converted into image data as needed at the time of copying or printing. Alternatively or optionally, the embodiment disclosed herein is not limited to this configuration. For example, when the applying information file is acquired by the applying information acquisition unit  1011 , the applying image generating unit  1014  may convert the applying information into image data and store the applying image data in the auxiliary storage device  103 . 
     In the present embodiment, although the applying information acquisition unit  1011  acquires the applying information file that is text data, the embodiment disclosed herein is not limited to this configuration. For example, the control unit  101  may acquire the applying image data. In this case, for example, the user gathers or bundles one set of the applying image data for each copy and transmits the applying image data from the PC to the image forming device  100 . That is, the applying information is not limited to text data. 
     In the present embodiment, although the control unit  101  included in the image forming device  100  composites the input image and the applying image, the embodiment disclosed herein is not limited to this configuration. For example, the external device such as the PC of the user may perform image composition or the like. 
     In  FIG.  9   , although the applying image is formed at the upper right position of all the sheet, and the position on the sheet on which the applying image is to be formed may be any position. For example, the user may specify the position on the sheet on which the applying image is to be formed on the selection screen. 
     The functions of the image forming device in the above embodiments may be implemented by a computer. In this case, a program for implementing these functions may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read and executed by a computer system. The “computer system” mentioned here includes an OS and hardware such as peripheral devices. The “computer-readable recording medium” refers to a storage device such as a portable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, and a CD-ROM, and a hard disk built in the computer system. The “computer-readable recording medium” may also include a recording medium that retains a program dynamically in a short time, such as a communication line for transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, or a recording medium that retains a program for a predetermined time, such as a volatile memory in a computer system serving as a server or a client in this case. The program may be used to implement a part of the above functions, and combine with a program that is already recorded in the computer system to implement the above functions. 
     While certain embodiments have been described, the embodiments have been presented by way of examples only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the disclosure. These embodiments and modifications thereof fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure and are included in the scope of the disclosure recited in the claims and the equivalent thereof.