JP2003101758A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To print images of a plurality of pages stored in a memory device on one recording paper intensively. SOLUTION: If the condensation of images of a plurality of pages is commanded by an operation unit 30, page information for condensing the images into a prescribed number of pages is set in a RAM 70. A memory controller 65 read image information out of an image memory 66 and condenses the read image information according to the page information set in the RAM 70 to generate condensed pages. Images are formed according to the image information of the generated condensed pages.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, and more specifically, an image forming method in which image data of a plurality of pages stored in a storage device can be aggregated and printed on one recording sheet. An apparatus and its method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital copying machine having a copy function and a printer function, a scaling process is performed to enlarge or reduce a read image for printing. JP-A-10
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 304110 relates to an image forming apparatus, and when a target file is selected from a plurality of files stored in a storage device and arbitrarily printed, or when the stored files are printed, The print information is displayed on the operation screen so that the operator can grasp the printing status. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-69938 relates to an image forming apparatus and a processing method thereof, which electrically scales an image signal to reduce the circuit scale for the scaling processing and storage processing. .

[0003]

The variable magnification processing in the conventional digital copying machine is performed when the original is read by the scanner.
The main scanning direction is performed by electrical scaling, and the sub-scanning direction is performed by mechanical scaling or electrical scaling. On the other hand, a digital copying machine equipped with a function of storing image information read by a scanner in a storage device such as a hard disk drive and reading out the image information from the storage device as needed and printing the image has also been developed.

However, when the image information on which the original image is scaled is stored in the storage means and read out from the storage means for printing, the scaling processing cannot be performed. Therefore, when the image information stored in the storage means is a plurality of pages, a scaling process is required to form an image of the entire image area even when printing arbitrary pages by consolidating them on one recording sheet. However, aggregation processing was not performed.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a method for reading and printing image information stored in a storage device or the like,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can print a plurality of pages collectively on one recording sheet. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of collecting and printing image information of a plurality of stored files when calling and printing the image information.
Further, when calling and printing the image information of a plurality of stored files, it is an object to provide a convenient image forming apparatus capable of selecting whether or not to collectively print the image information. And Further, the present invention is
Provided is an image forming method for collecting and printing a plurality of image information read from a storage device or the like.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes image storage means for storing image information, and page information for collecting a plurality of pages of image information stored in the image storage means into a predetermined number of pages. Aggregated page information setting unit configured to set the image information, and image information read from the image storage unit, and aggregated image information read according to the page information set by the aggregated page information setting unit to generate an aggregated page generation And an image forming unit for forming an image based on the image information of the aggregated page generated by the aggregated page generating unit.

In this way, the page information to be aggregated is set by the aggregate page information setting means, and the aggregate page generating means aggregates the image information from the image accumulating means to generate the aggregate page according to this setting. The image information accumulated in the accumulating unit can be processed again to perform aggregate printing according to the purpose of the user.

[0008] Preferably, the integrated page generation means has a selection means for selecting a plurality of image files from the image information stored in the image storage means, and the aggregated page generation means places the aggregated pages on the same page when the selected image files are different. It is good to generate it. Further, when the selected image files are different, the aggregate page may be generated on different pages.

Since a plurality of image files are selected from the image information of the image storage means in this manner, the user can easily select the image files to be aggregated appropriately.

Further, when the selected image files are different, there is provided means for switching whether or not the generated aggregated pages are the same page, and the aggregated page generating means selects the aggregated page according to the result of the switching means. It may be generated.

That is, when the selected image files are different, whether or not the generated aggregated pages are the same is switched, so that the user aggregates different image files on the same recording paper according to the purpose. It is possible to switch between printing and collective printing of different image files on different recording papers, and convenience is expanded.

According to the image forming method of the present invention, when the image information of a plurality of pages is aggregated into a predetermined number of pages to form an image, the image information of a plurality of pages accumulated in the storage device is aggregated into a predetermined number of pages. Setting page information, reading corresponding image information from the storage device according to the set page information, generating an aggregate page from the read image information, and performing image formation based on the image information of the aggregate page Is.

Preferably, the page information is n pages.
It includes information for collecting (n is a natural number of 2 or more) image information on one page of recording paper.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention serves as image storage means for storing image information obtained from a read original or image information supplied from an external image input / output device. It has an image memory.
Image memory is preferably high speed DRAM or VRAM
To use.

Further, there is provided aggregated page information setting means for setting page information in order to aggregate the image information over a plurality of pages stored in the image memory into a predetermined number of pages, preferably one page. The number of pages is set by the user. For example, it is possible to set 2 pages to 1 page, 4 pages to 1 page, and 8 pages to 1 page. These plural pages may be in the same file stored in the image memory or between different files. The setting is performed by the user from the operation panel of the digital copying machine.

The aggregated page generating means is preferably realized by a memory controller for controlling the image memory, and when the page information is set by the aggregated page information setting means, the image information is read out from the image memory and the aggregated page is displayed. To generate. For example, when two pages are combined into one page, the stored image information is subjected to a scaling process (reduction process) so that it fits within the designated recording paper size. The image forming unit forms an image based on the generated image information of the aggregated page.

[0017]

1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image processing system using an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Image forming apparatus 3 having scanner and printer functions
00 is a system capable of outputting not only an image read by the apparatus main body but also print data from a host 310 such as a PC through a LAN and a parallel I / F 320.

In the image forming apparatus 300, as shown in the configuration diagram of FIG. 2, a document stack placed on a document table 2 in an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 1 with the image surface of the document upward is shown in FIG. When the start key 34 on the operation unit 30 shown in FIG. 3 is pressed, the lowermost original is fed to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feeding roller 3 and the feeding belt 4.
After the image data of the original document on the contact glass 6 is read by the reading unit 50, the original document that has been read is ejected by the feeding belt 4 and the ejection roller 5. Further, when the document set detection sensor 7 detects that there is a next document on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 like the previous document. The feeding roller 3, the feeding belt 4, and the discharging roller 5 are driven by a motor.

The transfer sheets stacked on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10 are fed by the first paper feeding device 11, the second paper feeding device 12, and the third paper feeding device 13, respectively. ,
It is conveyed by the vertical conveying unit 14 to a position where it abuts on the photoconductor 15. The image data read by the reading unit 50 is written on the photoconductor 15 by the laser from the writing unit 57, and passes through the developing unit 27 to form a toner image. And
While the transfer paper is conveyed by the conveyor belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15, the toner image on the photoconductor 15 is transferred. After that, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 17,
The finisher 10 of the post-processing device is provided by the paper discharge unit 18.
It is discharged to 0.

The finisher 100 of the post-processing apparatus can guide the transfer paper conveyed by the paper discharge rollers of the main body toward the normal paper discharge rollers 102 and toward the stapling section. By switching the switching plate 101 upward, paper can be discharged to the normal paper discharge tray 104 side via the transport roller 103. Further, by switching the switching plate 101 in the downward direction, it is possible to convey to the staple table 108 via the conveying rollers 105 and 107. The transfer sheets stacked on the stapling table 108 have their end faces aligned by the jogger 109 for aligning the sheets each time one sheet is ejected, and are bound by the stapler 106 when part of the copy is completed. The group of transfer sheets bound by the stapler 106 is stored in the staple-completed sheet discharge tray 110 by its own weight. On the other hand, the normal paper discharge tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can be moved back and forth. The paper discharge tray unit 104 that can be moved forward and backward is for sorting the copy paper that is moved forward and backward and is simply discharged for each document or for each copy unit sorted by the image memory.

When images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 and imaged is not guided to the paper discharge tray 104 side, but is branched for path switching. By setting the claw 112 on the upper side, the paper is temporarily stocked in the double-sided paper feeding unit 111. After that, the transfer paper stocked in the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is re-fed from the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 in order to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 15 again, and the branching claw 11 for switching the path.
2 is set on the lower side and is guided to the paper discharge tray 104. The double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is used when images are formed on both surfaces of the transfer paper in this manner.

The photoconductor 15, the conveyor belt 16, the fixing unit 17, the paper discharge unit 18, and the developing unit 27 are driven by a main motor (not shown), and each paper feeding device 11 is driven.
Numerals 13 to 13 are driven to transmit the drive of the main motor by the paper feed clutch. The vertical transport unit 14 is driven to transmit the drive of the main motor by an intermediate clutch.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 30 has a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a ten-key pad 32, a clear / stop key 33, a start key 34, a mode clear key 35, and a test print key 200. The liquid crystal touch panel 31 has functions. A key 37 is provided to display a message indicating the number of copies to be formed and the state of the image forming apparatus. Test print key 2
A key 00 is for printing only one copy regardless of the set number of prints and confirming the print result. Also,
It has a switching key 39 for switching the copy function, the printer function, and the storage copy function. The copy function is a function of copying an image read by a scanner on a transfer sheet by a designated operation. The printer function is a function that is externally connected via a LAN, a parallel I / F, or the like, receives print image data and its instruction from the outside, and prints out. The storage copy function is a function that can store an image read by a scanner or image data from the outside and print it by operating a machine.

FIG. 4 shows the liquid crystal touch panel 3 of the operation unit 30.
The display example of 1 is shown. The operator touches the liquid crystal touch panel 31.
By touching the key displayed in, the key indicating the selected function is highlighted in black. Further, when the details of the function must be designated, for example, in the case of scaling, the scaling value or the like is touched by a key to display a detailed function setting screen. As described above, since the liquid crystal touch panel uses the dot display, it is possible to graphically perform the optimum display at that time.

FIG. 4 (a) is a screen for selecting and setting the copy function. In the upper left, a message area for displaying a message such as "You can copy" or "Please wait" is displayed. Number of copies to be displayed Display area, automatic density key that automatically adjusts the image density below it, automatic paper selection key that automatically selects transfer paper, sort key that specifies the process of arranging copies in page order, copy Stack key to specify the process to sort each page into pages, staple key to specify the process to bind sorted parts one by one, equal size key to set the magnification to the same size, automatically according to the transfer paper size. Magnify / reduce paper designated scaling key, scaling key to set scaling ratio, duplex key to set duplex mode, print multiple original images on one transfer sheet Aggregation key for setting the aggregation mode that is a print key to set the printing such as stamp, date and page. Keys are shaded in the selected mode. FIG. 4B is an operation screen for the printer function. An online / offline key to set permission for print requests, a forced eject key to forcibly eject images that have not been ejected in the data-in state, a data-in display showing the data input status of image data, and a display notifying the loading status of transfer paper are displayed. is there. 4C, 4D, and 4E are operation screens for the storage copy function, and FIG. 4C is a file list screen for each of the stored image data. The user name, file name, number of pages, and registration time of the transferred image are displayed. The shaded display area indicates the files designated for output, and the items in the order indicate the printing order. Multiple output specifications can be set individually, and output is performed in the order of settings. The print key is a key for shifting to the screen (d) for printing the set file. The read key is a key for shifting to a screen to store an image from the scanner.
The cancel key is a key for canceling the file selection set for output. The up and down keys are keys for scrolling the screen when the number of files exceeds the number of files that can be displayed at one time. The delete key is a key for deleting the selected file. (D) is an output setting screen for accumulated copy. You can set output conditions and start the copy operation with the print key. When multiple files are set, they are processed as a group of images connected in the order of setting. Therefore, when the stapling mode is set, not all files but all images are stapled.
(E) is a screen for executing the accumulation operation from the scanner. Set each mode and start the reading operation with the start key. The user name and file name of this file are automatically set as shown. When there are multiple files, they are named so that the file names can be distinguished. The read end key ends the read operation and closes the file.

FIG. 5A shows a screen for selecting a deleted file when deleting the file. The screen is shared with the file selection for printing, and after the selection, the process of the selected file is switched by pressing the print key or the delete key. When the delete key is pressed, the screen moves to the screen shown in FIG. FIG. 5B is a screen for confirming the deletion process after pressing the delete key. When the "YES" key is pressed on this screen, the image information of the specified file is deleted. At this time, the process moves to FIG. When the "NO" key is pressed, the deletion of the specified file is canceled and the screen (a) in which no file is selected is returned. FIG. 5C is a screen after the deletion process is executed. The information of the deleted file is lost and it is displayed as a revival key instead of the delete key as a key for canceling the deletion of the deleted file (image). When this key is pressed while the key is displayed, this revival key can revive the file deleted immediately before and return it to a state where it can be printed again. As a revival function,
By not deleting the actual image information at the time of deletion but storing the deletion, it is possible to facilitate the restoration. In this case, the restoration process can be performed without increasing the entire image storage capacity until the new file storage process. In order to be able to recover even after new accumulation, it is necessary to prepare a memory for recovery separately, or if it is not prepared, the image data will be overwritten at the time of new accumulation.

FIG. 6A shows a screen in which a printing operation can be restricted by attaching a password to the printing of the read image in order to restrict the printing of the read image during the original reading operation. It is possible to print the read image in order to store it once and perform the printing operation. In order to solve the security problem, the password is attached at the time of reading so that printing cannot be done without entering the password at the time of printing. FIG. 6B shows a screen that realizes the password input at the time of reading. If the password data is input before the printing operation is started, the password data becomes valid. If the read operation is executed without entering the password, the password will not be managed. FIG. 6B is a screen that prompts the user to enter a password when printing or deleting designation is selected for a file for which a password has been set during printing. When the password is entered, the screen returns to the selection screen and the file is highlighted and selected. If the password input does not match, do not select the file and return to the list screen. Regarding the password, if the password information is added even when the image is stored from the outside, the same process is performed at the time of printing. At this time, it is necessary to allow the password to be input by the driver or the like on the external host side.

Next, the operation of reading an image and forming an image on the recording surface in the present embodiment will be described.
The reading unit 50 is composed of a contact glass 6 on which a document is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 51, a first mirror 52, a lens 53, and C.
It is composed of a CD image sensor 54 and the like. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on the first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on the first carriage (not shown). When reading the original image, make sure that the optical path length does not change.
The carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The original image is read by the CCD image sensor 54, converted into an electric signal and processed. By moving the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction in FIG.
Image magnification changes. That is, the positions of the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 are set in the left-right direction corresponding to the designated magnification.

The writing unit 57 comprises a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. Inside the laser output unit 58, a rotary polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed at a high speed by a laser diode which is a laser light source and a motor. (Polygon mirror) is equipped. Laser light emitted from the laser output unit 58 is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through an imaging lens 59,
The light is folded back by the mirror 60, and a focused image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor.
The polarized laser beam is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor 15 rotates, and the line-by-line recording of the image signal output from the selector 64 of the image processing unit described later is performed. By repeating the main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed of the photoconductor 15 and the recording density,
An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the photoconductor 15. A beam sensor for generating a main-scanning synchronization signal is arranged at a position near the one end of the photoconductor 15 to be irradiated with the laser beam. Based on this main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting / outputting an image signal described later are performed.

The configuration of the image reading section and the image processing section 301 of the image writing section of the image forming apparatus 300 will be described with reference to FIG. The light emitted from the exposure lamp 51 illuminates the document surface, and the reflected light from the document surface is imaged on the CCD image sensor 54 by the imaging lens, received, and photoelectrically converted.
The digital signal is converted by the A / D converter 61. The shading correction unit 62 performs shading correction on the image signal converted into the digital signal, and then MTFγ
The correction unit 63 performs MTF correction, γ correction, and the like. The selector 64 switches the destination of the image signal to the scaling unit 71 or the memory controller 65. Variable magnification section 7
The image signal passing through 1 is scaled according to the scaling factor,
The image signal is sent to the selector 76, and the destination of the image signal is switched to the print combining unit 73 or the memory controller 65.

The image signal sent to the print synthesizing section 73 is sent to the writing unit 57. Memory controller 65
The image signals can be input / output bidirectionally between the selectors 64 and 76. The scaling process of the scaling unit 71 can store an image in the image memory 66 without scaling, and reads the image from the image memory 66 to perform scaling.
It is also possible to send it to the writing unit 57. Also,
It is also possible to scale the image from the image memory 66 and return it to the image memory 66 again.

The print image data supplied from the print image data generator (print unit) 74 can be output to the print synthesizing section 72 and synthesized with the read image. In addition to the image data input from the reading unit 50, the selector 76 is configured to process image data externally supplied through the external image input / output unit 75, for example, data output from a data processing device such as a personal computer. It has a function of selecting input / output of a plurality of data. Further, the print synthesizing unit 73 and the image supplied from the outside via the external image input / output unit 75 and the CCD 54
Combine the images read in.

A CPU for setting the memory controller 65 and controlling the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57.
68 and ROM 69 for storing the program and data
And a RAM 70. The CPU 68 writes and reads data in the image memory 66 via the memory controller 65. The RAM 70 stores page information for aggregation when it is set by the operation unit 30 that image data of a plurality of pages accumulated in the image memory 66 is aggregated into a predetermined number of pages.

Next, the image signal for one page in the selector 64 will be described with reference to FIG. The frame gate signal (/ FGATE) represents the effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. Main scanning sync signal (/
LSYNC) is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and the image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. The line gate signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid is / LGATE. These signals are synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK and
Data for one pixel is sent for one cycle of LK. The image processing unit 301 uses separate / FGATE, / LSYNC, / LGATE, and VC for image input and output.
It has an LK generation mechanism, and various image input / output combinations can be realized.

The structures of the memory controller 65 and the image memory 66 are shown in FIG. The memory controller 65 has blocks of an input data selector 201, an image synthesizing unit 202, a primary compression / expansion unit 203, an output data selector 204, and a secondary compression / expansion unit 205. The control data is set in each block by the CPU 68. The image synthesizing unit 202 may aggregate the image data of a plurality of pages stored in the image memory 66 into a predetermined number of pages.
When set to M70, the image data read from the image memory 66 is aggregated according to the set page information to generate an aggregated page.

The image memory 66 comprises primary and secondary storage devices 206 and 207. The primary storage device 206 is capable of high-speed access such as a DRAM so that data writing to the memory or data reading from the memory at the time of image output can be performed at high speed substantially in synchronization with the transfer rate of input image data. Use memory. In addition, the primary storage device 206 has a configuration in which it can be divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of image data to be processed and input / output of image data can be simultaneously executed, that is, an interface with the memory controller 65. Two sets of address and data lines for reading and writing are connected to the interface with the memory controller 65 so that image data can be input and output in parallel in each divided area. This enables an operation of outputting (reading) an image from the other area while inputting (writing) the image to one area. The secondary storage device 207 is a large-capacity memory that stores data for combining and sorting input images. If high-speed accessible elements are used for both the primary and secondary storage devices 206 and 207, data processing can be performed without distinction between the primary and secondary storage devices 206 and 207, and control is relatively simple. D
Since an element such as a RAM is expensive, the access speed to the secondary storage device 207 is not so fast, but it is inexpensive and uses a large-capacity recording medium, and processing of input / output data is performed via the primary storage device. It has become. By adopting the configuration of the image memory as described above, it becomes possible to realize an image forming apparatus capable of inputting / outputting, storing, and processing a large amount of image data with a low cost and a relatively simple configuration. Become.

Next, the image input / output operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the input data selector 201 stores the image input in the primary storage device 2 from among the plurality of data.
Image data to be written in 06 is selected. The image data input and selected by the selector 201 is
The data is supplied to the image composition unit 202 and already stored in the primary storage device 206
Combines with the data stored in. Image synthesizer 2
The image data processed by 02 is compressed by the primary compression / decompression unit 203, and the compressed data is written in the primary storage device 206. The data written in the primary storage device 206 is stored in the secondary compression / decompression unit 20 as necessary.
After further compression in step 5, it is stored in the secondary storage device 207.

The output image is read out from the primary storage device 20.
The image data stored in 6 is read. When the image to be output is stored in the primary storage device 206, the primary compression / decompression unit 203 stores the primary storage device 20.
The image data of No. 6 is decompressed, and the decompressed data or the data after decompressing the decompressed data and the input data is selected by the output data selector 204 and output. The image synthesizing unit 202 performs phase adjustment of the data in the primary storage device 206 and the input data and synthesizes them, and selects an output destination of the synthesized data, that is, image output or primary storage device 20.
Processing such as write back to 6 and simultaneous output to both output destinations is performed. When the image to be output is not stored in the primary storage device 206, the output target image data stored in the secondary storage device 207 is converted into the secondary compression / decompression unit 20.
5 is used for decompression, and the decompressed data is stored in the secondary storage device 206.
Then, the above-mentioned image output operation is performed.

Next, the processing operation when a command is received from the host side is as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
First, when a printer file registration start command is received, initialization processing for accumulating printer image information is performed, and the printer file registration state is entered. When a user name registration command / file name registration command / time registration command is received in the printer file registration state, the received information is stored as file attribute information. When the input of image information is completed and the last printer file registration end command is received, file registration processing is performed,
Cancel the printer file registration status.

When reading a document with a scanner, in the scanner registration mode, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 11, when the reading key is pressed, initialization processing for accumulating scanner image information is performed, and scanner file registration is performed. Transition to the state. When reading of all originals is completed and the end key is pressed, file registration processing is performed and the scanner file registration state is canceled.

When the original image is read by the scanner, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, if the scanner file is registered when the start key is pressed and the original exists, the image memory is first read. Check if the memory storing is not full. If the memory is full, a memory full alert is displayed as shown in FIG. If the [Yes] key is pressed here, the original image read until the memory becomes full is retained as it is, so the file registration processing is performed and the scanner file registration state is canceled. If the [No] key is pressed, the document image information read up to that point is discarded and the scanner file registration state is canceled. If the memory is not full, the document is scanned and the obtained image information is stored in the memory. If the next original exists in the ADF use mode, the same process is repeated for the next original.

Next, the operation of setting the aggregation mode on the output setting screen for accumulated copy shown in FIG. 4D will be described. Figure 4
In (d), by pressing the aggregation key, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4A, an aggregation screen for setting one-sided aggregation or two-sided aggregation is displayed. By pressing the single-sided integration key on this screen, the single-sided integration screen shown in FIG. 14B is displayed, and by pressing the double-sided integration key, the double-sided integration screen shown in FIG. 14C is displayed. Set the number of aggregated pages on each of the single-sided and double-sided aggregate screens. Press the setting key on the screen to set the selected aggregation mode and close the screen. When the release key is pressed, the aggregation mode is released and the screen is closed. FIG. 14C is a screen in which single-sided aggregation (every two pages) is set. In addition to this, it is also possible to set the aggregated page number for every 4 pages that aggregates 4 pages into 1 page, and similarly for every 8 pages. Further, in the case of double-sided aggregation, it is possible to further set every 16 pages. Then, by pressing the OK key on the combination screen, the combination screen is closed, and the screen shown in FIG. 14D is displayed when the OK key is pressed. Note that FIG.
(D) is an example of a screen in which the paper designation scaling is set.
This is a key for calculating and printing the optimum magnification from the accumulated screen size and the paper size of the selected paper feed tray when the paper designation variable magnification is set.

When the aggregation mode is set, the paper designation variable magnification mode is automatically set. By setting the paper designation variable magnification mode, it is possible to automatically calculate an appropriate magnification without a margin from the accumulated image size, the number of combined sheets, and the paper size, and perform aggregate printing. In addition, a rotation process is also performed if necessary. For example, as shown in FIG.
If each page is set and the accumulated image is A4R size and the print paper size is A4, each accumulated image for two pages is reduced to 71% (A5 size),
Printing is performed by combining paper sizes. Paper size is A
In the case of the 4R size, after the magnification is changed to 71%, the rotation processing is performed and the data is aggregated and printed. In addition, FIG.
The key "Do not aggregate files" in (c) is displayed in reverse when selected by the toggle key. The setting of "Do not aggregate between files" is effective when multiple files are selected.
When not selected, aggregation is performed across files. When setting not to combine, the next file is controlled to be printed on a separate sheet regardless of whether there is an area to be combined.

Further, the automatic paper selection key in FIG. 4 (d) is for automatically selecting and printing the tray of the optimum paper size from the stored screen size at the time of setting.
When the automatic paper selection is set and the magnification is set, the tray having the optimum paper size is automatically selected from the size obtained by multiplying the image size by the specified magnification and printing is performed. If the image size does not exactly match the transfer paper, select the paper with the smallest margins and no image defects.

FIG. 16 shows the processing for printing the image stored in the memory. When there is a print operation instruction and aggregate page information is input and set in the RAM 70 to enter the aggregate mode, the image combining unit 202 of the memory controller 65 reads an image from the corresponding memory and the number of images corresponding to the set aggregate page number. Generate aggregate page with. If the final page is reached before reaching the aggregated page count, aggregation is performed using the number of pages read so far. The empty area becomes blank. After the aggregate page is generated, the printing operation is executed, and the printing is repeated until all the pages in the file have been printed.

FIG. 17 shows the print processing of the accumulated image in the case of accumulating settings between files. When there is a print operation instruction and aggregate page information is input and set in the RAM 70 to enter the aggregate mode, the image combining unit 202 of the memory controller 65 reads an image from the corresponding memory and the number of images corresponding to the set aggregate page number. Generate aggregate page of. When the final page is reached before the number of aggregated pages is reached, if aggregation between files is set, the image of the next file, if any, is called to generate the aggregated page. When it is set not to aggregate files, aggregation is performed with the number of pages read so far. The empty area becomes blank. After the aggregate page is generated, the printing operation is executed, and the printing operation is repeated until the printing of all pages of the selected file is completed.

In this way, the image information stored in the image memory is read out, and the read-out image information is subjected to a scaling process or the like according to the number of aggregated pages set by the user to perform aggregate printing. it can.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The page information to be aggregated is set by the aggregated page information setting means, and the aggregated page generating means aggregates the image information from the image accumulating means to generate the aggregated page according to this setting. It is possible to process the image information again and perform aggregate printing according to the purpose of the user.

Moreover, since a plurality of image files are selected from the image information of the image storage means, the user can easily select the image files to be aggregated appropriately.

Further, when the selected image files are different, whether to generate the aggregated page on the same page is switched, so that the user aggregates different image files on the same recording paper according to the purpose. It is possible to select whether to print or to collectively print different image files on different recording papers, which increases convenience.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system using an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a display diagram showing a first display example of a liquid crystal touch panel of an operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a display diagram showing a second display example of the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit.

FIG. 6 is a display diagram showing a third display example of the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing unit.

FIG. 8 is a time chart explaining the operation of the selector.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing internal configurations of a memory controller and an image memory.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing when a command is received from the host side.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a scanner registration mode transition process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a process when a document image is read by a scanner.

FIG. 13 is a display diagram showing an alert screen when the memory of the liquid crystal touch panel is full.

FIG. 14 is a display diagram showing an integrated screen on a liquid crystal touch panel.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of combined printing when two single-sided pages are set.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a print process of an image stored in a memory.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a print process of an accumulated image at the time of consolidating files.

[Explanation of symbols]

30; operation unit, 50; reading unit, 57; writing unit, 64; selector, 65; memory controller, 66; image memory, 68; CPU, 69; RO
M, 70; RAM, 71: variable magnification section, 202; image combining section, 300; image forming apparatus.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image storage unit for storing image information, an aggregate page information setting unit for setting page information for aggregating a plurality of pages of image information stored in the image storage unit into a predetermined number of pages, and an image storage unit. And an aggregate page generation unit that aggregates the image information read according to the page information set by the aggregate page information setting unit to generate an aggregate page, and is generated by the aggregate page generating unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image information of the aggregated page. 2. A selection means for selecting a plurality of image files from the image information stored in the image storage means, wherein the aggregated page generation means sets the aggregated page to the same page when the selected image files are different. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is generated above. 3. A selection unit that selects a plurality of image files from the image information stored in the image storage unit, and the aggregate page generation unit sets different aggregate pages to different pages when the selected image files are different. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is generated above. 4. When the selected image files are different, it has means for switching whether or not the generated aggregated pages are the same page, and the aggregated page generating means has the aggregated page according to the result of the switching means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus generates an image. 5. An image forming method for forming an image by consolidating a plurality of pages of image information into a predetermined number of pages, which is a page for consolidating a plurality of pages of image information accumulated in a storage device into a predetermined number of pages. Information is set, corresponding image information is read from the storage device according to the set page information, an aggregate page is generated from the read image information, and image formation is performed based on the image information of the aggregate page. Image forming method. 6. The number of pages in the page information is n (n is 2).
6. The image forming method according to claim 5, further comprising information for collecting image information of the above natural number on one page of recording paper.