JP4968937B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, aggregates the image of the original of a plurality of pages on one page, relates to an image forming equipment such as an MFP having a reduced layout function of outputting placed to.

  In recent years, multifunctional image forming apparatuses called MFPs (Multi Function Printers) or digital multifunction peripherals that handle images as digital data and image forming apparatuses used as peripheral devices for personal computers have become widespread.

  In such a multi-function type image forming apparatus, by attaching accessories such as a document feeding device and an automatic collating device, not only copying and printing but also advanced editing functions are realized.

  As an example of the advanced editing function, there is an example in which applied printing such as 2 in 1 printing and 4 in 1 printing is performed. “2 in 1 printing” is a printing technique in which one side of a sheet of paper is divided into two regions, and the content for one page of the document is reduced and printed in one region. That is, two pages of content are reduced and printed on one side of one sheet.

  Similarly, “4-in-1 printing” is a printing technique in which one side of a sheet of paper is divided into four regions and the contents of four pages of the document are reduced.

  These are generally called “Nin1 printing” because N pages of content are printed on one side of a sheet of paper, or “reduced layout printing” for layout with reduced scaling. . Hereinafter, it is described as Nin1 printing (“N” is a natural number of 2 or more). Nin1 printing can be performed on only one side of the paper or on both sides.

  Here, it is relatively easy to copy a normal printed matter in which only one page of content is printed on one side of a sheet of paper in the form of Nin1 printing. The reason is as follows.

  That is, in such a normal printed matter, for example, in the case of double-sided printing, the front of the first sheet is usually the first page, the second is the second page, and the second sheet is the third sheet. The order of the pages is clear, such as the page, the fourth page behind it, and so on. Therefore, it is possible to easily specify the page number of each image obtained by scanning. Image forming apparatuses having such a copy function are already widely used.

  When performing such Nin1 printing, the user can select the Nin1 print setting according to the original when scanning the original whose contents are known in advance, but the user does not recognize the contents of the original. In some cases, the Nin1 print setting may be difficult.

  Therefore, for example, a technique has been proposed in which the orientation of a document is detected during scanning, scan data is rotated in the correct orientation, and Nin1 is arranged (Patent Document 1). Thus, the Nin1 print setting can be performed without the user aligning the orientation of the document.

In addition, a technique has been proposed in which original data scanned after an original is displayed, the user specifies a page to be separated according to the contents, and a blank page is inserted at an arbitrary designated position to perform Nin1 printing. (Patent Document 2). Thus, the user can set an Nin1 print setting by inserting an arbitrary separator page according to the content of the document.
JP-A-10-107964 (page 12, FIG. 5) JP 2006-166220 A (page 6, FIG. 2)

  However, when the user places a document on the document feeder and designates Nin1 printing without recognizing the content of the document such as the number of pages or content, an output (printing) result that conforms to the user's intention is not always obtained. Absent.

  For example, in the case of Nin1 printing, the value that N can take is generally an even number. Therefore, when the user's original is an odd page, as shown in FIG. A blank page is always laid out on the paper at the same time.

  When the user selects Nin1 printing and duplex printing, the content of the final page is reduced and laid out only in the 1 / N area of one side of duplex printing as shown in FIG. It may be output.

  Many users who use Nin1 printing aim to reduce the number of content pages by reducing layout, and the output as shown in FIG. 17 results in an extra page for the user.

  Also, if the user performs Nin1 printing without recognizing the content content of the document, there is a possibility that the characters of the reduced content become unreadable as a result of Nin1 printing.

  In addition, when the user performs Nin1 printing without recognizing the content content of the document, there is a possibility that a photograph, an illustration, or the like is unintentionally reduced and the visibility deteriorates.

An object of the present invention is that the user to provide an image forming apparatus capable and TURMERIC rows reduced layout intended by a user even if you specify a Nin1 printing without recognizing the contents of the document.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 reads an image of an original in an image forming apparatus having a reduced layout function that aggregates, arranges and outputs a plurality of pages of original images on one page. A reading unit; a counting unit that counts the number of pages of the document read by the reading unit; and a plurality of reduced layouts that differ in the number of document pages to be consolidated on one sheet based on the number of pages counted by the counting unit. display means for displaying a combination of candidates for the structure and the output number of sheets, from among the display means displays the candidate selecting means for selecting based on any of the reduced layout configuration of an instruction from the user, the selection An image of the document read by the reading unit is formed on the output paper so as to have a reduced layout configuration selected by the unit. Characterized by comprising an image forming means.

According to the present invention, even if the user has specified a Nin1 printing without recognizing the contents of the document (page number and Contents of the document), it can be performed reduced layout intended by a user Rutotomoni, the user output sheets according to the intention Ru can perform image formation with. Therefore, convenience for the user is improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment has a reduced layout function that scans and reads a plurality of pages of documents, aggregates, arranges, and outputs the plurality of pages of documents on one page.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a scanner 101 for scanning a document, a document feeder 102 provided on the scanner 101, and an operation panel 103. The operation panel 103 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel and an operation unit such as a transparent touch panel and a numeric keypad superimposed thereon.

  A document placed on a document table on the upper surface of the scanner 101 is read by the scanner 101. The document feeder 102 has a function of automatically feeding one page or a plurality of pages of the document to the scanner 101 in order.

  The document feeder 102 corresponds to a so-called double-sided document. After one side of each page of the document is read by the scanner 101, it is reversed and sent to the scanner 101 again. The surface can be read.

  The user gives a command to start or stop the processing to the image forming apparatus by pressing a key on the operation unit of the operation panel 103 or touching the touch panel, and designates various other items. Can do. As described above, the operation panel 103 serves as a user interface for a user who operates the image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus includes a scanner 101, a document feeder 102, an operation panel 103, a CPU 201, a counter (counting unit) 202, an image processing circuit 203, a layout configuration circuit 204, a printer 205, a driver 206, and a communication I / F 207. Prepare.

  The operation of each unit will be described in conjunction with the following flowchart.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the first embodiment of the Nin1 printing process executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG.

  This process is executed under the control of the CPU 201 in FIG.

  A specific operation will be described by taking as an example a case where a plurality of pages of documents are placed on the document feeder 102 and the user designates 2-in-1 duplex printing.

  In step S <b> 301, the user performs Nin1 print settings from the operation panel 103. Here, FIG. 4 shows an example of the operation panel 103. When the user selects the Nin1 print setting, the display unit on the operation panel 103 displays the Nin1 print setting as shown in FIG. 4, and the user selects the desired Nin1 print setting by touching the touch panel. . Here, as an example, assume that 2-in-1 duplex printing is selected.

  When the document reading button 401 is touched after selecting the setting for Nin1 printing, a plurality of pages of documents placed on the document feeder 102 are automatically and sequentially sent to the scanner 101 by the document feeder 102 in step S302. It is done.

  In step S303, the counter 202 detects the number of document pages by counting the number of document pages (counting unit).

  When the scan of the original is completed, in step S304, the image processing circuit 203 and the layout configuration circuit 204 determine whether or not the layout configuration of the Nin1 print setting initially specified by the user with respect to the counted number of original pages is optimal. Do.

  If it is determined that the optimization is necessary, in step S305, whether or not to optimize the layout is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 103 as shown in FIG.

  Here, the layout optimization will be described in detail.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing pages printed on each sheet when the counted number of original pages is 21 and the Nin1 print setting initially selected by the user is 2-in-1 duplex.

  The feature of this embodiment is this layout optimization. In this example, as shown in FIG. 6, five 2-in-1 double-sided outputs (five printed sheets) and one page are arranged in two-in-one layout, and the rest is one blank sheet, for a total of six output sheets. It becomes a sheet.

  However, many users who select reduced layout printing such as Nin1 printing are considered to be users who want to reduce the number of output sheets with respect to the original document, and when such users are output in the layout shown in this example, There is a high possibility that it will not follow.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the number of document pages is counted during document scanning, and it is determined whether or not the layout configuration needs to be optimized based on the obtained number of pages and the Nin1 print setting selected by the user.

  If it is determined that there is no need for optimization, output is performed with the layout setting designated by the user. As in the above example, if it is determined that the Nin1 print setting designated by the user with respect to the number of pages of the document needs to be optimized, whether or not to optimize the layout as shown in FIG. Is displayed on the display unit on the operation panel 103, and the selection of the user is awaited.

  If the user desires to optimize the layout in step S305, the following combinations are displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 103 as shown in FIG. 7 in step S306.

  That is, the display unit of the operation panel 103 displays a combination of the Nin1 print setting that the user first selected and the Nin1 print setting that the layout configuration circuit 204 has selected as a candidate and the single-sided / double-sided print setting.

  In this example, combinations of Nin1 print settings A to E and single-sided / double-sided print settings are displayed. B surrounded by a thick frame is the Nin1 print setting selected first by the user. Here, another feature of the present embodiment is that a mixture of Nin1 layouts as shown in C can be selected as a setting.

  In this example, by setting 2 in 1 print settings for up to 18 pages and setting 4 in 1 print settings from 19 pages to 21 pages, which is the final page, the total number of sheets can be changed to 5 for duplex printing. Thus, as described above, the user who designates Nin1 printing to reduce the number of output sheets does not need to output an extra sheet of blank pages unnecessarily, and the layout is optimally reduced. Is possible.

  After an optimum layout is designated by the user in step S307, image formation (printing) is performed in accordance with the setting in step S308, and this process ends.

  In the present embodiment, the counter 202 functions as a counting unit that detects the number of pages of a scanned document. The operation panel 103 functions as a display unit that displays scanned document data and a plurality of reduced layout configurations, and further functions as a selection unit that selects reduced layout configurations with different numbers of document pages to be collected on one sheet.

  The operation panel 103 serving as a selection unit selects a reduced layout configuration based on content information detected from scanned document data.

  The operation panel 103 as a display unit displays a plurality of reduced layout configuration candidates obtained based on scanned document data as thumbnails, and the operation panel 103 as a selection unit displays an arbitrary reduced layout configuration from the thumbnail display. select.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the reduced layout format can be changed according to the user's intention even when the user specifies Nin1 printing without recognizing the number of pages of the document. It becomes possible to obtain a layout configuration according to preference.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the case where the user designates Nin1 printing without recognizing the number of pages of the document is taken as an example. However, in this embodiment, the user does not recognize the content content of the document. The operation when the Nin1 print setting is performed will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second embodiment of the Nin1 printing process executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG.

  A specific operation will be described with reference to FIG. 9 by taking as an example a case where a 10-page document is placed on the document feeder 102 and the user designates 2-in-1 single-sided printing.

  The operations from step S801 to S803 are the same as in the first embodiment. When scanning of the document is completed in step S802, the number of document pages counted in step S803 and the layout configuration of the Nin1 print setting initially specified by the user are displayed on the display unit on the operation panel 103 in step S804. Preview).

  FIG. 9 shows the display portion displayed as a preview. Here, in the present embodiment, the user can optimize the layout while looking at the display portion displayed as a preview. In order to optimize the layout, the user selects a page having the following contents.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the user selects a page (10 pages) that has many small-point characters and may be difficult to read when scaled down. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the user selects pages (pages 1, 6, and 7) that are desired to be displayed at an arbitrary magnification such as photographs and charts.

  Next, when the same size setting button 901 is touched, the selected page is changed from the layout of the Nin1 print setting to the same size layout as shown in FIG. In this embodiment, out of a total of 10 pages, the first page as the cover, the 6th and 7th pages including the photo, and the 10th page of the contract using small point characters are selected at the same magnification. The layout was set.

  As described above, after the user arbitrarily optimizes the layout using the preview display on the display unit in step S805, input is performed by the user in step S806, and image formation (printing) is performed according to the setting in step S807. Is called. Then, this process ends.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, even when the user designates Nin1 printing without recognizing the content of the document, the reduced layout format can be changed according to the user's intention. It becomes possible to obtain a layout configuration according to preference.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 13 is a network configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is connected to a terminal device via a network, and aggregates, arranges, and outputs a plurality of document files on one page from a terminal device application software (program) via a driver. Has a reduced layout function.

  The image forming apparatus 100 is connected to one or a plurality of terminal devices 1302 via a communication line 1301.

  As the communication line 1301, the Internet, an intranet, a public line, a dedicated line, or the like is used. Application programs and drivers corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100 are installed in the terminal device 1302. As the terminal device 1302, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) or a workstation (hereinafter referred to as WS) is used.

  As described above, the network-connected image forming apparatus 100 is installed in an office such as a government office or company, a public facility such as a school or a library, a store such as a convenience store, and other various places, and is shared by a plurality of users. It is possible.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the third embodiment of the Nin1 printing process executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG.

  The specific operation of this embodiment will be described by taking as an example the case where the user designates 2-in-1 printing for a data file of a plurality of pages from a terminal device 1302 such as a PC in FIG.

  In step S1401, the user performs Nin1 print settings from the PC. FIG. 15 shows an example of a printer driver screen on the PC.

  When the user selects the Nin1 print setting, the Nin1 print setting as shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the printer driver screen 1501 on the PC, and the user selects the desired Nin1 print setting.

  When the user selects (instructs) layout optimization in step S1402, a reduced image (hereinafter, preview) as shown in FIG. 16 is displayed on the printer driver screen in step S1403.

  In this embodiment, the user can optimize the layout while viewing the preview display displayed on the printer driver. The layout optimization here is mainly the same as the contents described in the second embodiment.

  Next, in step S1404, the user arbitrarily performs layout optimization using a preview display on the printer driver. When the user clicks the print button, in step S1405, the file data is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100 through the communication line 1301 via the printer driver according to the setting.

  In step S1406, the image forming apparatus 100 performs image formation (printing) based on the received file data, and the process ends.

  As described above, the present embodiment is based on the image forming apparatus 100 connected to the network.

  When the user outputs a plurality of pages of file data from a terminal device 1302 such as a PC, the reduced layout format is changed in accordance with the user's intention even when Nin1 printing is specified without recognizing the content contents in the file data. can do. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a layout configuration according to the user's preference.

1 is an external view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a first embodiment of Nin1 print processing executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in FIG. (2). FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating pages printed on each sheet when the number of counted document pages is 21 and the Nin1 print setting first selected by the user is 2-in-1 duplex. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in FIG. 1 (3). 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a second embodiment of Nin1 print processing executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in FIG. (4). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of the operation panel in FIG. 1 (5). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in FIG. (6). It is a figure which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in FIG. (7). FIG. 2 is a network configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a third embodiment of Nin1 printing processing executed by the image forming apparatus of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the printer driver screen on PC in FIG. 13 (1). It is a figure which shows the printer driver screen on PC in FIG. 13 (2). It is a figure which shows the page printed on each paper in Nin1 printing.

Explanation of symbols

101 Scanner 102 Document Feeder 103 Operation Panel 201 CPU
202 Counter 203 Image Processing Circuit 204 Layout Configuration Circuit 205 Printer 206 Driver 207 Communication I / F

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus having a reduced layout function that aggregates, arranges and outputs a plurality of pages of original images on one page,
Reading means for reading an image of a document;
Counting means for counting the number of pages of the document read by the reading means;
Display means for displaying candidates for combinations of a plurality of reduced layout configurations with different numbers of document pages to be collected on one sheet and the number of output sheets based on the number of pages counted by the counting means;
From among the display means displays the candidate selecting means for selecting based on any of the reduced layout configuration to an instruction from the user,
Image forming means for forming an image of the document read by the reading means on output paper so as to have a reduced layout configuration selected by the selecting means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The display means displays a combination of a reduced layout configuration, single-sided printing / double-sided printing setting, and the number of output sheets,
The selection unit selects, based on an instruction from a user, a combination of an arbitrary reduced layout configuration and a single-sided printing / double-sided printing setting from candidates displayed on the display unit.
The image forming unit forms an image of a document read by the reading unit on an output sheet with a reduced layout configuration selected by the selecting unit and a setting for single-sided printing / double-sided printing. The image forming apparatus described. The display means displays a combination of a reduced layout configuration for each page, single-sided printing / double-sided printing setting for each page, and the number of output sheets,
The selection unit selects a combination of a reduced layout configuration for each arbitrary page and a single-sided printing / double-sided printing setting for each page from candidates displayed on the display unit based on an instruction from a user. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. In an image forming apparatus connected to a terminal device via a network and having a reduced layout function for collecting, arranging, and outputting a plurality of document files on one page.
Counting means for counting the number of pages of the document file received from the terminal device;
Display means for displaying, on the terminal device, candidates for combinations of a plurality of reduced layout configurations with different number of document pages to be aggregated on one sheet and the number of output sheets based on the number of pages counted by the counting means;
From among the candidates said display means has displayed, selecting means for selecting based on an instruction from the previous SL terminal device any reduction layout configuration,
Image forming means for forming an image of the original file on output paper so as to have a reduced layout configuration selected by the selection means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images