JP2004177884A - Apparatus, method, and system for image processing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To use the toner saving function of a printer more effectively. <P>SOLUTION: The printer 2 which prints an image by using toner of one or more colors and has a toner saving mode in which toner used to print the image is saved more than in a normal print mode is equipped, as a processing function of a printer driver 6 of a host computer 1 supplying image data to be printed, with a counting means of counting pixels of a print using the toner, a calculating means of calculating the consumption of the toner used to print the image according to the number of pixels of the print counted by the counting means, and a setting means of setting the toner saving mode ON or OFF according to the consumption of the toner calculated by the calculating means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing system that are suitably applied when setting a save mode for saving use of an image forming material such as toner used for printing an image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In a printer (a laser printer or the like) that prints an image on a recording medium such as paper using an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a laser beam onto a photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic charge is developed. The toner image is visualized by the supply of toner by the machine to form a toner image, and the toner image is transferred and fixed on a recording medium. As this type of printer, there is known a printer that prints a color image using toner of a plurality of colors (for example, three colors of cyan, yellow, and magenta, and four colors obtained by adding black thereto).
[0003]
Some printers include a normal print mode in which the amount of toner is adjusted according to the density of print image data (hereinafter, also referred to as print data) as a print operation mode when printing an image using toner. In addition to (a mode in which the use of toner is not saved), there is a printer having a save mode (toner save mode) that saves the use of toner compared to the normal print mode. As a specific method of toner saving, a method of printing by thinning out print data, a method of reducing the laser beam diameter when writing an electrostatic latent image with a laser beam, or developing a toner adhesion amount by a developing machine A method of changing the rotational speed of the sleeve to reduce the rotational speed is known.
[0004]
In addition, as a facsimile apparatus that performs image recording using toner, a toner save recording and a non-toner save recording that save toner are automatically performed in accordance with the importance of the content represented by the recorded image data created based on the facsimile information. Is known (see Patent Document 1).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-298019 (first page, claim 1)
[0006]
When such a toner save function is installed in a printer, a control mode for selecting ON / OFF of the toner save depending on the importance of the recording image data as in the facsimile apparatus cannot be applied. Therefore, when the toner save function is installed in the printer, the user uses the input device to turn on / off the toner save mode on the function setting screen for each printer on a host computer in which driver software (printer driver) for controlling the printer is installed. In general, when printing, the printer performs printing in accordance with the on / off state of the toner save mode set on the host computer in advance.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when printing data recorded as electronic information on paper or the like with a printer, it is difficult for the user to accurately grasp how much toner is actually used. Therefore, it has been difficult for the user to appropriately determine what data should be printed in the toner save mode. As a result, even in a situation in which the setting (on / off) of the toner save mode should normally be changed and printed, the toner save mode is often fixedly handled with the setting being on or off. Therefore, for example, even for printing for layout confirmation, a large amount of toner is consumed without executing the toner save mode in the printer, or printing using a small amount of toner (for example, only text data is used). (Printing), the printer may execute the toner save mode, and may cause problems such as difficulty in viewing characters.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The image processing apparatus according to the present invention is an image printing apparatus that prints an image using one or more colors of the image forming material and has a save mode that saves the use of the image forming material when printing the image compared to the normal print mode. On the other hand, an image processing apparatus that supplies image data to be printed, a counting unit that counts the number of pixels of printing using the image forming material, and based on the number of pixels of printing counted by the counting unit, It comprises a calculating means for calculating the amount of the image forming material used for printing the image, and a setting means for setting the save mode on / off according to the amount of the image forming material calculated by the calculating means. is there.
[0009]
In this image processing apparatus, when supplying image data to be printed to the image printing apparatus, the number of pixels of printing using the image forming material is counted by the counting means, and the number of pixels of printing thus counted is calculated. Based on the calculated amount of the image forming material used for printing the image, the calculating unit calculates the used amount of the image forming material, and further sets the save mode on / off according to the calculated used amount of the image forming material. As a result, ON / OFF of the save mode is set according to the amount of the image forming material actually used for printing the image.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated image processing system includes a host computer 1 and a printer 2. The host computer 1 corresponds to the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and includes a personal computer, a workstation, and the like. The printer 2 corresponds to the image printing apparatus according to the present invention, and is configured by a laser printer or the like. The host computer 1 and the printer 2 are interconnected via a transmission path 3 using a network cable such as a parallel cable for data communication (Centronics interface cable or the like) or a LAN (Local Area Network). I have.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 1 includes an application program 4, an operating system 5, a printer driver 6, a host interface 7, a display device 8, an input device 9, and the like.
[0013]
The application program 4 has a function of instructing the operating system 5 to draw data such as characters (text), graphics (graphics), and images (images) generated or obtained by itself. The operating system 5 has a function of transmitting a drawing processing instruction received from the application program 4 to the printer driver 6.
[0014]
The printer driver 6 performs a process based on the drawing process command received from the operating system 5, thereby converting the drawing data subjected to the drawing process into print data (print image data) that can be interpreted by the printer 2. A function of requesting the host interface 7 to transmit the converted print data is provided. The host interface 7 has a function of transmitting print data to the printer 2 through the transmission path 3 according to a request from the printer driver 6.
[0015]
The display device 8 is used to display various types of information to a user, and includes a CRT (cathode ray tube), an LCD (liquid crystal display), and the like. The input device 9 is used by a user to input various types of information, and includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like.
[0016]
On the other hand, the printer 2 has a function of interpreting print data received from the host computer 1 via the runway 3 and printing out an image on a predetermined recording medium (paper or the like) according to the print data. The printer 2 prints an image using toner serving as an image forming material. For example, a color image forming a color image or a monochrome image using four color toners of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black is used. It is constituted by a laser printer or the like. Further, when printing an image using toner, the printer 2 may use a save mode (e.g., a print mode in which the amount of toner is adjusted in accordance with the density of print data) and a save mode (e.g., save more toner use than in the normal print mode). (A toner save mode). As a specific method of the toner save, the above-described known technology can be appropriately adopted.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram conceptually showing the processing contents of the printer driver. In FIG. 3, the drawing processing unit 61 in the printer driver 6 receives a drawing processing command sent from the application program 4 and performs drawing processing (rasterization) to print the drawing data to be subjected to the drawing processing in page units. Convert to data (raster data). At this time, the drawing processing unit 61 converts the print data of each page into print data for cyan (hereinafter, cyan data) C, print data for yellow (hereinafter, yellow data) Y, and print data for magenta (hereinafter, yellow). Magenta data) M, print data for black (hereinafter, black data) K, etc. are drawn separately for each color, and when a page end notification is received, one page of print data C, M corresponding to each color is given. , Y, and K are output to the printer 2 via the host interface 7.
[0018]
At this time, as a print operation mode for printing an image on the printer 2, printer control data for instructing whether or not to execute the toner save mode is transmitted from the printer driver 6 together with the print data C, M, Y, and K for each color. 2 is output. Thus, the printer 2 prints out an image based on the print data C, M, Y, and K on a recording medium in the normal print mode or the toner save mode in accordance with the printer control data from the printer driver 6. That is, if the setting of the toner save mode is set to the ON state in the printer driver 6, the printer 2 prints an image in the toner save mode in accordance with the printer control data instructing that, and the printer driver 6 sets the toner save mode. Is set to the OFF state, the printer 2 prints an image in the normal print mode in accordance with the printer control data instructing the setting.
[0019]
Next, the processing functions of the printer driver 6 will be described with the processing procedure (image processing method) actually executed by the printer driver 6.
[0020]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure performed by the printer driver. First, a drawing processing command sent from the application program 4 via the operating system 5 is input (step S1). The drawing processing command input at this time includes a drawing command for instructing drawing of drawing data and a control command for controlling drawing of drawing data. The drawing commands include, for example, commands for instructing drawing of text data, graphics data, image data, and the like. The control commands include, for example, commands for instructing job start, job end, page start, page end, and the like.
[0021]
Next, it is determined whether or not the input drawing processing command is a command (control command) for instructing the end of the page (step S2). If the command is not a command for instructing the end of the page (No in step S2), Then, it is determined whether or not the drawing processing command is a drawing command (step S3). If the command is a drawing command (Yes in step S3), the drawing process is performed in accordance with the drawing command (step S4), and the process returns to step S1. If the command is not a drawing command (No in step S3). ) Returns to step S1 as it is. If the drawing processing command input in step S1 is a command for instructing the end of the page (Yes in step S2), the process proceeds to step S5, where the toner save mode setting process is performed. In step S6, one page of print image data (page image) is output to the printer 2, and the process returns to step S1. In step S6, one page of print image data corresponding to each color of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black is output to the printer 2 together with printer control data for instructing whether or not to execute the toner save mode for each color. I do.
[0022]
FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing an example of the toner save mode setting process executed by the printer driver. First, after counting the number of pixels for printing one page of cyan data (the number of dots for printing) generated in the drawing process (step S101), the counted number of pixels for printing indicates the amount of toner used per pixel ( The amount of cyan toner used for printing a page image is calculated by multiplying the amount of toner used for printing one dot (the amount of toner used for printing one dot) (step S102).
[0023]
Next, by comparing the cyan toner usage amount calculated previously with a preset cyan threshold value, it is determined whether the cyan toner usage amount (calculated value) is larger than the threshold value (step S103). If it is larger, the toner save mode corresponding to the cyan toner is set to on (step S104). If not larger (the amount of cyan toner used is equal to or less than the threshold), the toner save mode corresponding to the cyan toner is turned off. Is set (step S105).
[0024]
Thereafter, the on / off setting process is also performed for the toner save modes of the respective colors of yellow, magenta, and black in the same procedure as in the case of the cyan toner (steps S106 to S120). That is, in steps S106 to S110, an on / off setting process of the toner save mode corresponding to the yellow toner is performed, in steps S111 to S115, an on / off setting process of the toner save mode corresponding to the magenta toner is performed, and in steps S116 to S120, the black toner is set. A corresponding toner save mode on / off setting process is performed.
[0025]
As described above, for each of the toners of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black, the amount of toner used for printing the page image is calculated, and the toner save mode is set on / off according to the calculated amount of toner used. The on / off state of the toner save mode can be automatically set (switched) in accordance with the amount of toner used to actually print an image of one page (page image).
[0026]
In addition, by performing a process of counting the number of pixels for printing, a process of calculating the amount of toner used, and a process of setting the toner save mode on / off for each color, for example, the amount of toner used when printing a page image Set the toner save mode to off for toner with a relatively small amount of toner, and set the toner save mode to on for toner with a relatively large amount of toner. The save mode can be turned on and off individually.
[0027]
Further, the printer driver 6 has a configuration in which a user can arbitrarily input a value for setting a threshold value for each color with the input device 9, and changes the threshold value for each color in accordance with the value input from the input device 9. With such a configuration, it is possible to freely change the setting conditions of the toner save mode according to the user's preference, the usage environment of the printer 2, and the like.
[0028]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the toner save mode setting process executed by the printer driver. First, after the number of printing pixels (number of printing dots) of cyan data generated in the drawing process is counted (step S201), the counted number of printing pixels is multiplied by the amount of toner used per pixel. Then, the used amount of the cyan toner used for printing the page image is calculated (step S202). Thereafter, the amount of toner used for printing the page image is calculated for each color of yellow, magenta, and black in the same procedure (steps S203 to S208). That is, in steps S203 and S204, the used amount of yellow toner is obtained, in steps S205 and S206, the used amount of magenta toner is obtained, and in steps S207 and S208, the used amount of black toner is obtained.
[0029]
Thereafter, information including the toner usage for each color (cyan, yellow, magenta, black) calculated in steps S201 to S208 is displayed on the display device 8 as a setting screen for setting the toner save mode on / off. (Step S209). FIG. 8 shows a specific display example of the setting screen. In the illustrated setting screen, there are a notification box for notifying the toner usage amount for each color, a selection box for selecting on / off (with or without toner saving) of the toner save mode for each color, and a toner save mode. An "OK" button for confirming the ON / OFF of the printer and a "Print stop" button for instructing stop of printing are provided. In the notification box, the amount of toner used for printing the page image is displayed in a unit of mg for each color. In the display example of FIG. 8, the used amount of the cyan toner is 1 mg, the used amount of the yellow toner is 20 mg, the used amount of the magenta toner is 10 mg, and the used amount of the black toner is 50 mg. In the selection box, on / off (on / off) of the toner save mode for each color toner can be arbitrarily selected using the input device 9 such as a mouse.
[0030]
On the other hand, the user selects on / off of the toner save mode for the toner of each color with the input device 9 while viewing the setting screen displayed on the display device 8 (step S210), and presses an “OK” button on the screen. push. Then, the setting of the toner save mode ON / OFF is determined at that time (step S211). For example, on the setting screen shown in FIG. 8, the toner save mode corresponding to cyan toner is turned off (not set), the toner save mode corresponding to yellow toner is set on (set), and the toner save mode corresponding to magenta toner is set. When the toner save mode corresponding to the black toner is turned off (not performed) and the toner save mode corresponding to the black toner is selected (turned on), the toner save mode is set on or off according to the selection result.
[0031]
As described above, for each of the toners of cyan, yellow, magenta, and black, the amount of toner used for printing the page image is calculated, and the calculated amount of toner used is notified in the notification box of the setting screen. By accepting the selection of the toner save mode on / off in the selection box and finalizing (setting) the toner save mode on / off, the user can accurately grasp the toner usage actually used for printing. Whether the toner save mode can be executed or not can be determined, and ON / OFF of the toner save mode can be selected. Thus, the operability of the user in setting the toner save mode is improved, and the consumption of toner can be suppressed by executing the toner save mode as intended by the user.
[0032]
In the above-described embodiment, a color printer that prints an image using four color toners has been described as an example of a target for instructing the setting of the toner save mode. However, other than this, for example, cyan, A color printer that prints an image using three color toners of yellow and magenta, and a black and white printer that prints an image using only black toner may be used. Further, an ink jet printer that forms an image using ink as an image forming material or a printer that forms an image using other image forming materials may be used. Further, the image printing apparatus may be, for example, a digital copying machine or a facsimile machine, or a digital multifunction machine having a combination of these functions, in addition to the printer.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the process of counting the number of pixels for printing, the process of calculating the amount of toner used, and the process of setting the toner save mode on / off are performed on a page-by-page basis. The processing may be performed for each print job. In addition to calculating the amount of image forming material used such as toner for each color, the total amount of toner used is calculated by adding up the amount of toner used for each color in page units or job units. On / off of the toner save may be set accordingly.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention as described above, upon printing an image by supplying image data to be printed from the image processing apparatus to the image printing apparatus, counting the number of pixels of printing using the image forming material, Based on the counted number of pixels for printing, the amount of image forming material used for printing an image is calculated, and the save mode is set on / off according to the calculated amount of image forming material used. On / off of the save mode can be appropriately set according to the amount of the image forming material actually used for printing an image. This makes it possible to more effectively utilize the save mode function provided in the image printing apparatus.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a host computer.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram conceptually showing processing contents of a printer driver.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure performed by a printer driver.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart (part 1) illustrating an example of a toner save mode setting process executed by the printer driver.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) illustrating an example of a toner save mode setting process executed by the printer driver.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a toner save mode setting process executed by the printer driver.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of a setting screen.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host computer, 2 ... Printer, 3 ... Transmission path, 3 ... Application program, 5 ... Operating system, 6 ... Printer driver, 7 ... Host interface, 8 ... Display device, 9 ... Input device, 61 ... Drawing processing part

Claims (8)

An image is printed using an image forming material of one or more colors, and is printed on an image printing apparatus having a save mode that saves the use of the image forming material in printing the image compared to a normal print mode. An image processing apparatus for supplying image data,
Counting means for counting the number of pixels of printing using the image forming material,
Calculation means for calculating the amount of the image forming material used for printing the image, based on the number of pixels of the print counted by the counting means,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a setting unit that sets the save mode on / off according to the usage amount of the image forming material calculated by the calculation unit. The counting means counts the number of pixels of the print for each color,
The calculating means calculates the usage amount of the image forming material for each color,
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets on / off of the save mode for each color. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit calculates the usage amount of the image forming material on a page basis or a job basis. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit compares the usage amount of the image forming material calculated by the calculating unit with a preset threshold value, and sets ON / OFF of the save mode based on the comparison result. 2. The image processing device according to 1. Display means for displaying a setting screen including a notification box for notifying the usage amount of the image forming material calculated by the calculation means and a selection box capable of selecting ON and OFF of the save mode,
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets on / off of the save mode according to a selection result selected by the user using the selection box on the setting screen displayed by the display unit. 3. apparatus. Input means for inputting a value for setting the threshold,
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a changing unit configured to change the threshold according to the value input by the input unit. An image is printed using an image forming material of one or more colors, and is printed on an image printing apparatus having a save mode that saves the use of the image forming material in printing the image compared to a normal print mode. An image processing method for supplying image data,
Count processing for counting the number of pixels of printing using the image forming material,
Based on the number of pixels of the print counted in the counting process, a calculation process of calculating the amount of the image forming material used for printing the image,
A setting process for setting ON / OFF of the save mode in accordance with the used amount of the image forming material calculated in the calculation process. An image printing apparatus that prints an image using one or more colors of the image forming material and has a save mode that saves the use of the image forming material in printing the image compared to a normal print mode, and prints on the image printing apparatus. An image processing system comprising: an image processing apparatus that supplies target image data;
The image processing device includes:
Counting means for counting the number of pixels of printing using the image forming material,
Calculation means for calculating the amount of the image forming material used for printing the image, based on the number of pixels of the print counted by the counting means,
An image processing system comprising: a setting unit configured to set the save mode on and off according to the usage amount of the image forming material calculated by the calculation unit.

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