Abstract: An image forming apparatus 100 allowing insertion of an insert-sheet between discharged sheets of recording paper includes: an image forming unit 122 forming an image on the recording paper; an operation unit 130 designating an insertion position for inserting the insert-sheet; a discharge unit discharging the sheets of recording paper having images formed and the insert-sheet; and a control unit 102 controlling timing for inserting the insert-sheet. The insertion position is designated by a copy-by-copy basis with one copy being a set of sheets of recording paper having all images included in a job instructing image formation on the recording paper formed thereon. The control unit 102 controls the discharge unit such that the sheets of recording paper having the image formed thereon are discharged by the number determined from the insertion position and thereafter the insert-sheet is discharged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 100 allowing insertion of an insert-sheet between discharged sheets of recording paper includes: an image forming unit 122 forming an image on the recording paper; an operation unit 130 designating an insertion position for inserting the insert-sheet; a discharge unit discharging the sheets of recording paper having images formed and the insert-sheet; and a control unit 102 controlling timing for inserting the insert-sheet. The insertion position is designated by a copy-by-copy basis with one copy being a set of sheets of recording paper having all images included in a job instructing image formation on the recording paper formed thereon. The control unit 102 controls the discharge unit such that the sheets of recording paper having the image formed thereon are discharged by the number determined from the insertion position and thereafter the insert-sheet is discharged.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus 100 allowing insertion of an insert-sheet between discharged sheets of recording paper includes: an image forming unit 122 forming an image on the recording paper; an operation unit 130 designating an insertion position for inserting the insert-sheet; a discharge unit discharging the sheets of recording paper having images formed and the insert-sheet; and a control unit 102 controlling timing for inserting the insert-sheet. The insertion position is designated by a copy-by-copy basis with one copy being a set of sheets of recording paper having all images included in a job instructing image formation on the recording paper formed thereon. The control unit 102 controls the discharge unit such that the sheets of recording paper having the image formed thereon are discharged by the number determined from the insertion position and thereafter the insert-sheet is discharged.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image forming apparatus for performing color forming processing which forms a color image on one side or both sides of output paper, or performing monochrome forming processing which forms a monochrome image on one side or both sides of output paper, based on unit image data concerning a page. The image forming apparatus includes: a one-side determination unit for determining whether output data concerning a plurality of sheets are to be image-formed on one side or both sides; a color determination unit for determining whether the unit image data to be image-formed is color image data or monochrome image data based on the determination result by the one-side determination unit; and a forced forming unit for continuously forming images of unit image data concerning a specific number of sheets in the color forming processing based on the determination results by the one-side determination unit and the color determination unit.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus, which has reading means for reading images recorded on sheets and carries out predetermined processing for the images read using the reading means, comprising first extracting means for extracting a plurality of predetermined patterns from the images read using the reading means, second extracting means for extracting the combination information regarding the combination of the patterns from the images read using the reading means, and judging means for judging whether the combination of a plurality of the patterns extracted using the first extracting means coincides with the combination information extracted using the second extracting means or not, the predetermined processing being carried out on the basis of the result of the judgment made using the judging means.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an output control system in which an information processing apparatus instructs an image output apparatus to output image data, and in which the image output apparatus outputs the image data. The output control system is configured by an image output apparatus 1 and a plurality of information processing apparatuses 7. The information processing apparatus 7 includes an output data creation section 14 which generates output data from image data to be processed. When an image data file to be processed is opened, a control section 13 instructs the output data creation section 14 to generate output data of the first page of the image data to be processed without depending on an output instruction from a user, and transmits the output data to the image output apparatus 1. The image output apparatus 1 temporarily holds the received output data. When the output instruction is inputted from the user, the image output apparatus 1 outputs the temporarily held output data.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of reading images according to a plurality of reading methods, comprising a manuscript table on which manuscripts are placed, a reading section for reading images from the manuscripts placed on the manuscript table, and a plurality of detecting sections for detecting the manuscripts placed on the manuscript table, wherein an image reading method is determined according to the detection states of the respective detecting sections, and the images of the manuscripts are read using the reading section according to the determined reading method.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises: reading means for reading an image recorded on a sheet; detecting means for detecting plural kinds of patterns from the read image; storing means for storing processing information used in processing to be executed, in a manner corresponding to pattern information concerning a combination of patterns; means for acquiring information concerning a combination of detected patterns on the basis of a detection result when said detecting means detects a pattern from each of the images read from a plurality of sheets; means for searching for the acquired information in the pattern information stored in said storing means; means for reading from said storing means the processing information stored in a manner corresponding to the pattern information, when the pattern information has been found by the above-mentioned means; and means for executing said processing using the read processing information.

Abstract: An upper limit of allowed print count is set for each user requesting print jobs, and a multi function printer includes: (i) a schedule transmission requesting section for acquiring schedule information of the user; (ii) a print count predicting section for predicting, on the basis of the acquired schedule information, allowed print count assigned to the user, and the number of printed sheets, whether changing the upper limit of the allowed print count is required; and (iii) a settings change inquiry section for inquiring a manager terminal of whether the manager terminal authorizes changing the upper limit of the allowed print count. If having obtained from the manager terminal authorization of change of the upper limit of the allowed print count, the multi function printer performs a print job within a range of a new allowed print count.

Abstract: An image reading unit reads a paper formed with a predetermined pattern in a state folded into a predetermined shape, and a recognizing unit detects the shape of the paper based on the obtained image data. The recognizing unit reads the process instructing information corresponding to the detected shape and the obtained image data from the information table, and provides the read process instructing information to an authenticating unit or a setting unit. The authenticating unit executes authenticating process based on the provided process instructing information, and the setting unit executes the setting process based on the process instructing information inputted from the recognizing unit. Therefore, the information necessary for various processes is inputted, and the processes based on the input information are executed by reading the document folded in advance into a predetermined shape without performing troublesome operation such as key operation.

Abstract: When multiple printing apparatuses which perform tandem printing have been decided, icons of the respective printing apparatuses are displayed on a screen and the number of print copies which has been allocated to each printing apparatus is displayed. A user can see the setting contents at a glance. When the user performs an operation of changing a size of the icons, the display of the number of print copies is changed. Depending on the size of the icons, the number of print copies is changed. In this way, the user does not need to perform operations many times for confirming and setting the tandem printing, and the user can confirm the setting in the tandem printing easily.

Abstract: A data processing device, such as a facsimile machine or a printer, sends setting information necessary for processing data to a storage device for a back-up purpose, etc., and the storage device stores the setting information of the data processing device. The storage device classifies the data processing device according to whether or not the data processing device has a data protection function for protecting data to be processed, and stores the setting information in association with a type in which the data processing device is classified. When sending the setting information to a data processing device, the storage device sends the setting information corresponding to the type in which the data processing device as a recipient is classified.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an output control system in which an information processing apparatus instructs an image output apparatus to output image data, and in which the image output apparatus outputs the image data. The output control system is configured by an image output apparatus 1 and a plurality of information processing apparatuses 7. The information processing apparatus 7 includes an output data creation section 14 which generates output data from image data to be processed. When an image data file to be processed is opened, a control section 13 instructs the output data creation section 14 to generate output data of the first page of the image data to be processed without depending on an output instruction from a user, and transmits the output data to the image output apparatus 1. The image output apparatus 1 temporarily holds the received output data. When the output instruction is inputted from the user, the image output apparatus 1 outputs the temporarily held output data.

Abstract: In order to enable a user to easily perform setting of tandem printing, icons 20 of multiple printing apparatuses 1 which execute the tandem printing are displayed on a screen of a monitor 3 of a printing control apparatus 2. The user performs an operation of drawing a line with respect to the icon 20 of one printing apparatus 1. In response to this operation, a line 21 is drawn on the screen, and the icon 20 of one printing apparatus 1 is isolated from the icons 20 of other printing apparatuses 1. The printing apparatus 1 displayed to be isolated is excluded from targets of the tandem printing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus having a liquid crystal touch panel and operation keys, the liquid crystal touch panel displaying display buttons, and the operation keys being outside of the liquid crystal touch panel, and the display buttons of the liquid crystal touch panel and the operation keys being operated together, in which the liquid crystal touch panel, on a screen, displays display contents that differ from each other such that the display contents can be viewed from two directions that differ from each other, and such that display buttons on the screen of the liquid crystal touch panel when viewed from one direction and operation keys used with the display buttons are near each other, the display buttons are disposed on the screen, or the operation keys are disposed relative to the liquid crystal touch panel.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus, which has reading means for reading images recorded on sheets and carries out predetermined processing for the images read using the reading means, comprising first extracting means for extracting a plurality of predetermined patterns from the images read using the reading means, second extracting means for extracting the combination information regarding the combination of the patterns from the images read using the reading means, and judging means for judging whether the combination of a plurality of the patterns extracted using the first extracting means coincides with the combination information extracted using the second extracting means or not, the predetermined processing being carried out on the basis of the result of the judgment made using the judging means.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of reading images according to a plurality of reading methods, comprising a manuscript table on which manuscripts are placed, a reading section for reading images from the manuscripts placed on the manuscript table, and a plurality of detecting sections for detecting the manuscripts placed on the manuscript table, wherein an image reading method is determined according to the detection states of the respective detecting sections, and the images of the manuscripts are read using the reading section according to the determined reading method.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises: reading means for reading an image recorded on a sheet; detecting means for detecting plural kinds of patterns from the read image; storing means for storing processing information used in processing to be executed, in a manner corresponding to pattern information concerning a combination of patterns; means for acquiring information concerning a combination of detected patterns on the basis of a detection result when said detecting means detects a pattern from each of the images read from a plurality of sheets; means for searching for the acquired information in the pattern information stored in said storing means; means for reading from said storing means the processing information stored in a manner corresponding to the pattern information, when the pattern information has been found by the above-mentioned means; and means for executing said processing using the read processing information.

Abstract: An image reading unit reads a paper formed with a predetermined pattern in a state folded into a predetermined shape, and a recognizing unit detects the shape of the paper based on the obtained image data. The recognizing unit reads the process instructing information corresponding to the detected shape and the obtained image data from the information table, and provides the read process instructing information to an authenticating unit or a setting unit. The authenticating unit executes authenticating process based on the provided process instructing information, and the setting unit executes the setting process based on the process instructing information inputted from the recognizing unit. Therefore, the information necessary for various processes is inputted, and the processes based on the input information are executed by reading the document folded in advance into a predetermined shape without performing troublesome operation such as key operation.

Abstract: In a multi function printer, an upper limit of printable sheets is set for each user requesting a print job. The multi function printer includes a settings change instructing section for making an inquiry to a manager terminal whether to authorize changing the upper limit as requested by a user, and an authorization confirming section for confirming a reply to the inquiry, and changing the upper limit if the manager terminal authorizes the change. This reduces the cost of print job, and enables a print job to be efficiently carried out by changing print restrictions as required by the print job.