JP2005303811A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus which is capable of excluding troublesome work of performing a copy operation from the beginning again and capable of preventing recording paper from being wasted, by notifying a user of the reduction of image quality or the like before executing print processing even if image data transfer processing is executed approximately in parallel with print-out processing. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus which includes a parallel control means for executing image data transfer processing approximately in parallel with print-out processing, comprises a resolution comparison means for comparing a set resolution with a printing resolution and an information output means for outputting information which is predetermined in accordance with the set resolution, onto a display means such as a liquid crystal display section provided in the image processing apparatus, before executing the print-out processing if the resolution comparison means determines that the set resolution is less than the printing resolution. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention stores the image data read at a preset resolution or transfers it to a predetermined terminal device, and prints out the image data read at the above resolution on a recording sheet with a printer having a predetermined print resolution. In particular, the image processing apparatus having a function of executing the processing to be executed in substantially parallel prints image data read at a resolution lower than the print resolution as a result of the execution of each of the processes in substantially parallel. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of preventing a deterioration in image quality of a printed image that may occur due to output.

Conventionally, multifunction peripherals (MFPs) equipped with a copy function (copy function), network scanner function, facsimile function, etc. have been widely distributed, and in recent years, they are widely used not only in offices but also at home. ing. In general, the network scanner function is a function for transferring image data of a document read at a resolution set by the user to a terminal device such as a personal computer via a network such as a LAN. The copying function is a function that prints out image data of a read document on recording paper at a fixed printing resolution (maximum resolution that can be printed by the image forming unit).
In such a multi-function peripheral, a well-known function (Patent Document 2) that transmits image data of a document read by a single reading process by facsimile and prints out (copys out) it onto a recording paper, or a single reading process. Some of them are provided with a function (hereinafter referred to as a transfer printing parallel function) for transferring scanned image data to a terminal device or the like connected to a network and printing it on a recording sheet.
JP-A-9-204515 JP-A-9-36998

By the way, when the network scanner function is used in the above-mentioned multifunction peripheral, the reading resolution of the reading apparatus is often set low in order to reduce the data size of the read image data and shorten the data transfer time. . Similarly, when using the transfer printing parallel function, the reading resolution of the reading device may be set low. In this case, when image data read at a low resolution (hereinafter referred to as the set resolution) is transferred and printed, when transferring the image data, an image having a desired data size is transferred in a short time. However, when image data read at the set resolution is printed out, there is a problem that the image quality of the printed image printed on the recording paper is deteriorated. For example, image data of an A4 size document read at a set resolution of 300 dpi (about 24800 × 35000 pixels converted to A4 size) is printed out at a print resolution of 600 dpi (about 49600 × 70000 pixels converted to A4 size). Then, as it is, a print image having a size of a quarter of the area ratio is output. Therefore, in general, in a multi-function peripheral, 300 dpi image data is enlarged 200% in length and width, that is, the print area is enlarged four times to print out the same size on a recording paper of the same size as the original. The printed image data is printed out. For this reason, there is a problem that the image quality of the printed image printed on the recording paper is extremely lowered.
Regardless of the fact that the user is aware that such a deterioration in image quality will occur and uses the transfer print parallel function to set the reading resolution low, the transfer print parallel processing is performed without knowing that the image quality has deteriorated. When transferring and printing image data read at a low resolution using the function, the desired print image cannot be obtained. Therefore, the copying operation (copying operation) must be performed again from the beginning. You have to do troublesome work. In addition, since printing is once performed on the recording paper, the recording paper is wasted.
Further, a large amount of document image data is read in advance by an automatic document feeder (ADF) or the like, and the read image data is compressed and stored in a large-capacity storage medium such as an HDD, and later stored in the HDD. A use example is considered in which data arbitrarily selected from the compressed data is transferred or printed out. In this case, when the compressed data to be printed out and stored in the HDD is selected, the size of the decompressed image data is difficult to understand from the compressed data, so the image quality of the printed image that is decompressed and then printed out is predicted. There is a problem that you can not.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to print to the user even when transferring and printing image data using the above-mentioned transfer printing parallel function. An image processing apparatus capable of eliminating the troublesome work of re-starting a copying operation from the beginning by notifying that the image quality is deteriorated before processing is performed, and preventing wasteful consumption of recording paper It is to provide.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image reading means for reading image data of a document, and an image data storage means for storing image data read at a set resolution set in advance to a desired value by the image reading means. Image data transfer processing for transferring the image data of the set resolution stored in the image data storage means to a terminal device connected so as to be capable of data communication via a predetermined communication medium, and the setting by the image reading means Parallel control means for executing substantially parallel print output processing for printing image data read at resolution or image data of the set resolution stored in the image data storage means on a recording paper at a predetermined print resolution; In the image processing apparatus provided, the resolution comparing means for comparing the set resolution with the print resolution, and the resolution comparing means If it is determined that the set resolution is less than the print resolution, before the print output process is executed, information predetermined according to the set resolution is displayed on the display unit provided in the image processing apparatus. And an information output means for outputting to the image processing apparatus.
Generally, when an original is copied in an image processing apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, if the set resolution is less than the print resolution, the original and the original are processed after enlargement processing is performed to match the set resolution to the print resolution. Since printing processing is performed on recording paper of the same size, the image quality of the printed image is inevitably deteriorated. According to the present invention, in such a case, some information can be displayed on the liquid crystal display unit or the like before the printing process is performed, so that the user can be notified that the image quality will be degraded. As a result, a user who does not expect a reduction in image quality, for example, interrupts the printing process and resets the printing conditions to the desired conditions. Thus, it is possible to perform print output without performing wasteful consumption of the recording paper.
Here, the information output by the information output means includes, for example, information indicating that it is less than the print resolution (Claim 5), or the image quality of the print image printed on the recording paper by the print output process. The information (Claim 6) etc. which shows that this falls is considered.

  Also, when transferring or copying a large amount of original image data, the image data of the read original is large, so the read image data is temporarily compressed and stored in an image memory. There may be a case where transfer processing or print processing is performed based on image data obtained by reading and decompressing data. Therefore, the image data storage means in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention stores the compressed image data compressed by the data compression means for compressing the image data of the set resolution read by the image reading means. The print output process is to print out the image data of the set resolution expanded by the data expansion means for expanding the compressed image data stored in the image data storage means on a recording paper with a predetermined print resolution. (Claim 2).

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention may be configured to further include a setting resolution correspondence aggregating unit that aggregates and assigns the image data of the setting resolution based on an aggregation condition corresponding to the setting resolution. (Claim 3) Thus, for example, when image data of a plurality of originals read at a set resolution of 300 dpi is printed out at a print resolution of 600 dpi, the 300 dpi image data is not expanded to four times (area ratio), and processing of 300 dpi is performed. The image data can be collected as 4 in 1 and printed on recording paper. Further, the image data read at about 424 dpi (600 / √2 dpi) can be integrated into 2 in 1 and printed out. As a result, it is possible to print out image data of 300 dpi, 424 dpi, etc. read at a set resolution lower than the print resolution without degrading the print image quality, and to save recording paper. . The set resolution correspondence aggregating means may automatically aggregate image data under an aggregation condition corresponding to the set resolution.
Preferably, the set resolution correspondence aggregating means aggregates the image data of the set resolution by reducing the image data in accordance with the set resolution. For example, when printing image data having a resolution of 500 dpi, which is lower than the printing resolution, a process of enlarging the same size as the original may be performed, and the image quality of the printed image may deteriorate. On the other hand, the image data of 500 dpi cannot be aggregated into 2 in 1, and if it is aggregated, the image data of 500 dpi must be reduced to image data of about 424 dpi (600 / √2 dpi). In such a case, the number of pixels of the printed image is reduced rather than the deterioration of the image quality due to enlargement, but the image quality is prevented from being deteriorated by giving priority to the reduction and aggregation in which the image quality does not deteriorate so much. Paper can be saved.
In this case, the information displayed on the display means is, for example, information indicating that the image quality of the printed image printed on the recording paper does not deteriorate when printed at a reduction rate corresponding to the set resolution. (Claim 7) Or, it is an aggregation condition in which the image data of the set resolution is aggregated by the aggregation means corresponding to the set resolution, and the aggregation condition according to the set resolution (for example, 4 in 1 for 300 dpi image data) ) (Claim 8).

As described above, according to the present invention, when image data read at a set resolution less than the print resolution is printed at the print resolution, the set resolution is less than the print resolution before being printed out. Information indicating that the image quality is degraded when printed at the set resolution, information indicating that the image quality is not degraded if printing is performed at a reduction rate corresponding to the set resolution, and information indicating the aggregation condition for aggregation Are displayed on the display means such as the operation display panel, so that the user can recognize or predict in advance that the image quality will deteriorate before printing out. As a result, a user who does not expect a decrease in image quality can obtain a print image with a desired image quality, for example, by interrupting the print process and resetting the print conditions to the desired conditions. There is no need to perform the complicated and troublesome work of performing the copy operation from the beginning later, and wasteful consumption of the recording paper can be prevented.
Even when the compressed data stored in the HDD or the like is arbitrarily selected and printed out, it is determined that the compressed data is less than the set resolution, for example, based on the resolution of the image data after the compressed data is expanded. In this case, since the information such as the information indicating that the image quality is deteriorated is displayed on the display means such as the operation display panel, the user recognizes in advance that the image quality is deteriorated before printing. Or can be predicted.
In addition, since the image data is aggregated based on the aggregation condition corresponding to the set resolution, image data less than the print resolution can be printed out without degrading the image quality, and recording paper can be further saved. It becomes possible.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings for understanding of the present invention. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multi-function device X according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control unit of the multi-function device X, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the procedure of the automatic aggregation processing executed by the control unit of the multifunction device X, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the notification screen which is an example of the information displayed on a liquid crystal display part.
First, a schematic configuration of the multifunction machine X according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the overall schematic diagram of FIG. 1 and the block diagram of FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the multifunction machine X, and FIG. 1B is a plan view taken along the line AA in FIG. Here, the multifunction device X has a network scanner function and a copy function (copy function) for transferring the read image data to a terminal device such as a personal computer connected via a network such as a LAN. It is a digital multi-function peripheral (MFP) having both, and is an example of an image processing apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP X is roughly divided into an image reading unit 20 that reads a document image, and an automatic document feeder 10 (hereinafter referred to as “ADF 10”) disposed above the image reading unit 20. ), The image forming unit 15 disposed below the image reading unit 20, and further disposed below the image forming unit 15, and accommodates a plurality of recording sheets and sequentially feeds the recording sheets to the conveyance path. The sheet feeding device 16, an operation display panel 40 provided on the front side of the multifunction machine X, and a control unit 30 that performs overall control of each device are configured.

  The ADF 10 sequentially conveys the document S set on the document setting unit 11 one by one through a plurality of conveyance rollers R. The document S transported by the ADF 10 is transported in the sub-scanning direction through a predetermined reading position on the contact glass 12, and is then discharged to the document discharge unit 13.

  The image reading unit 20 includes an exposure device 21 for irradiating light on the document S moving in a sub-scanning direction at a predetermined reading position on the contact glass 12, and reflected light from the document S through the contact glass 12. A carriage 22 composed of a mirror for receiving light, the light guide mirrors 23a and 23b for guiding the reflected light received by the carriage 22 to the optical lens 24, and the reflected light guided through the light guide mirrors 23a and 23b. And a CCD 25 on which the reflected light collected by the optical lens 24 is incident. In the CCD 25, image information included in the incident reflected light is read at a preset reading resolution (hereinafter referred to as set resolution) and converted into an electrical signal that can be recognized by the control unit 30 described later. When the document S is placed on the contact glass 12 and the document S is pressed between the contact glass 12 and the ADF 10, the carriage 22 and the exposure device 21 expose the light in the sub-scanning direction. By moving, the reflected light of the document S is received by the carriage 22, and image information included in the reflected light is read by the CCD 25.

The electrical signal read and converted by the CCD 25 is input to the control unit 30 that controls the multifunction machine X in an integrated manner. As shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the control unit 30 includes a CPU 31 as an example of a central processing unit, and a RAM 32 (image data storage) used as a main memory (main storage device) of the CPU 31 in a calculation work area. An example of means), a data memory 33 for storing predetermined data used in the multifunction machine X, a control program, and the like, and a hard disk drive for storing image data such as document image data read by the image reading unit 20 HDD 50 (an example of image data storage means) and a network 50 (communication medium) such as a LAN between the multifunction machine X and a terminal device such as a personal computer (for example, PCs 51, 52, and 53 in FIG. 2). A network communication unit 37 connected so as to be capable of data communication via the network, the image reading unit 20, the ADF 10, and the image forming unit 1. , Sheet feeding apparatus 16, the operation display panel 40 to be described later, and the I / F 36 for connecting the driving system device and the control unit 30 (not shown) of the other motor or the like is configured by connecting to each other.
In the control unit 30 configured as described above, various types of image processing are executed on the image data of the set resolution input from the CCD 25. For example, when the multifunction machine X operates in accordance with the network scanner function, an image data transfer process for transferring the image data of the set resolution input from the CCD 25 to the PCs 51 to 53 connected via the network 50 is executed. When the multifunction machine X operates in accordance with the copying function, the image forming unit 15 prints the image data of the set resolution input from the CCD 25 or the image data of the set resolution stored in the RAM 32 or the HDD 34. Print data that is converted to print data that can be output (for example, resolution (print resolution) data that can be printed by the image forming unit 15), and the print data having the converted print resolution is printed by the image forming unit 15 Output processing is executed. Further, when the multifunction machine X operates according to the transfer print parallel function described later, the transfer print parallel process (process achieved by the parallel control means) that executes the image data transfer process and the print output process substantially in parallel. Is executed. The transfer print parallel processing will be described in detail later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The data memory 33 stores various setting information set by the user on the operation display panel 40. For example, the printing resolution setting value (the set scanning resolution is the setting resolution) of the image reading unit 20 (the CCD 25), the number of printing units, or the printing conditions such as the aggregation condition and the expansion condition in the image forming unit 15 Is stored. The data memory 33 stores in advance various programs such as destination information (email address, PC address, etc.) of image data transferred by the network scanner function and a control program executed by the control unit 30. Yes. Of course, the setting for operating the multifunction machine X as the network scanner function, the setting for operating as the copying function, the presence / absence of the setting for operating as the transfer printing parallel function, and the like are also stored in the data memory 33.

  The CPU 31 reads a control program stored in the data memory 33 and executes a predetermined calculation process according to the read control program. When the CPU 31 performs the predetermined calculation process, various image processes such as the above-described image data transfer process, print output process, and transfer print parallel process are executed. The control unit 30 is not limited to the one configured as described above. For example, the control unit 30 may be a microcomputer such as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or an LSI in which each component of the control unit 30 is integrated. It doesn't matter.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 15 includes a photosensitive drum 151 that carries an electrostatic latent image, a charging device 152 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 151 to a predetermined potential, and the photosensitive drum. A developing device 153 that develops the toner by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image on the image 151, a transfer device 154 that transfers the developed toner image onto the recording paper conveyed from the paper supply unit 16, and after the transfer by the transfer device 154 The apparatus includes a cleaning device 155 for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 151, and various known devices such as a fixing device 156 for fixing an image on a recording sheet on which a toner image is transferred.

  On the front side of the multifunction machine X, a touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 41 (an example of display means) capable of touch key input, a numeric keypad, a start push button for instructing the start of a copying operation (copying operation), the above composite An operation display panel 40 configured with an operation unit 42 having a stop / clear push button for clearing (erasing) the function setting of the machine X, input data, etc., and interrupting or canceling the copy processing operation is provided. Is provided. On the operation display panel 40, setting of the reading resolution of the image reading unit 20, setting of functions of the image forming unit 15, setting of printing conditions, etc., or designation of a transmission destination address of the read image data, etc. Alternatively, a predetermined operation such as an input operation is performed, and screen information for setting each function of the multi-function device X and various types of information for calling or alerting the user are displayed.

Next, an example of the procedure of the transfer print parallel process executed by the control unit 30 (CPU 31) of the multifunction machine X according to the control program will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, to simplify the description, it is assumed that the A4 document is read at a set resolution of 300 dpi, and the image forming unit 15 outputs a print image at a print resolution of 600 dpi. In the figure, S10, S20,... Indicate processing procedure (step) numbers. The process starts from step S10.
In the multifunction machine X, the transfer printing parallel function is set (enabled) from the operation display panel 40, and the reading resolution of the image reading unit 20 is set to 300 dpi, and then the operation display panel 40 is not shown. When the start button is pressed, the image reading unit 20 reads the image data of the document (S10). The image data read at this time is image data with the above-mentioned setting resolution of 300 dpi. Thereafter, the 300 dpi image data is stored in the RAM 32 (S20).

  Subsequently, in step S30, it is determined whether or not the transfer printing parallel function is set. Such a determination is made, for example, by referring to the presence / absence of the setting of the transfer printing parallel function stored in the data memory 33. Here, if it is determined that the transfer print parallel function is set, an image data transfer process for transferring the image data to a predetermined destination (for example, PC 51) is executed (S40). Advances to step S50. If it is determined that the transfer print parallel function is not set, the process proceeds to step S31, and image processing (for example, print output process or image data transfer process) based on the function set in advance by the user is performed. After that, a series of processing ends.

  When the process proceeds to step S50, the set resolution preset by the user is compared with the print resolution printed out by the image forming unit 15 (resolution comparison process). By this comparison, it is determined whether or not the set resolution is less than the print resolution. Now, since the set resolution is set to 300 dpi and the print resolution of the image forming unit 15 is 600 dpi, the process proceeds to step S60 based on the determination in step S50. If it is determined in step S50 that the set resolution is not less than the print resolution, that is, the set resolution is equal to or higher than the print resolution, the processes in steps S60 to S100 described later are not performed. In step S110, which will be described later, a process for printing out image data at the set resolution is executed.

If it is determined in step S50 that the set resolution is less than the print resolution, then in step S60, information predetermined according to the set resolution is stored in the operation before print output processing is executed. Processing (information output processing) for displaying on the liquid crystal display unit 41 of the display panel 40 is performed. Specifically, a notification screen 60 (see FIG. 5) indicating that the image quality of the printed image is deteriorated by printing out the read image data is displayed. Such information is displayed when, for example, image data of an A4 original document with a set resolution of 300 dpi is printed out by the image forming unit 15 with a print resolution of 600 dpi, a print image of a quarter size is printed, or depending on the model In this case, the image data of 300 dpi may be enlarged to 200% (enlarged by an area ratio of 4) in order to print out on a recording paper of the same size as the document size A4, and the image quality of the printed image may deteriorate. This is to advise the user that such a printout is to be made. The notification screen 60 is stored in advance in the data memory 33 (FIG. 2), and the notification screen 60 is read from the data memory 33 and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 41.
The notification screen 60 includes a print key 61 for inputting a command for printing out the read 300 dpi image data as it is, a function setting key 62 for performing various settings such as print conditions, and a read 300 dpi image. An automatic aggregation key 63 for automatically collecting and printing out data is appropriately arranged. These keys are all touch keys formed on the touch panel of the liquid crystal display unit 41.

The information output to the liquid crystal display unit 41 is not limited to the notification screen 61, and may be information indicating that the read image data is less than the printing resolution. If at least such information is notified to the user, the user can recognize that the image quality is degraded.
In addition, in an apparatus having a function of automatically enlarging and printing on a recording paper of the same size as the original size, for example, when printing output is performed at a reduction rate corresponding to the set resolution, the print image It may indicate that the image quality does not deteriorate. In other words, as described above, when the image data of an A4 document having a set resolution of 300 dpi is converted to a print resolution of 600 dpi, the image ratio is one-fourth the size of A4 recording paper. By setting it to ¼ according to 300 dpi, it is possible to print out while maintaining the image quality without enlarging the image data of 300 dpi. Therefore, in this case, it is desirable to notify the user that “the print image quality does not deteriorate when printing is output at a reduction ratio of ¼”.

When the notification screen 60 is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 41 in step S60, it is subsequently determined in step S70 whether the print key 61 has been input. If it is determined that the print key 61 has been input, the image data (print image having a size of a quarter of an A4 document) with the set resolution of 300 dpi is printed out.
If it is determined that the function setting key 62 has been input without the print key 61 being input (Yes in S80), the print condition setting screen (screen information for setting the print condition) of the multifunction machine X, etc. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 41. By displaying this print condition setting screen, it is possible to prompt the user to reset the print conditions before print output is performed. If the print conditions are reset here, print output corresponding to the new print settings is executed in step S110.
If it is determined that the print key 61 and the function setting key 62 are not input and the automatic aggregation key 63 is input (S90 Yes), the process proceeds to step S100, and the image data with the setting resolution of 300 dpi is set as the setting data. An automatic aggregation process (aggregated by setting resolution correspondence aggregation means) described later that executes aggregation and allocation based on the aggregation condition according to the resolution is executed. Thereafter, in step S110, print output is executed based on the aggregated image data aggregated by the automatic aggregation process.

Next, an example of the procedure of the automatic aggregation process executed by the control unit 30 (CPU 31) of the multifunction machine X will be described using the flowchart of FIG. The process starts from step S210. In this embodiment, by the above-described automatic aggregation processing, image data of A4 size originals for two pages or four pages is aggregated and allocated on a single A4 size recording sheet (that is, 2-in-1 aggregation). Processing, 4in1 aggregation processing) will be described. In the automatic aggregation processing, for example, an arbitrary number of document images such as 3 pages, 8 pages, and the like are aggregated and assigned to one recording sheet (that is, 3in1, 8in1). ) Is also applicable.
When the automatic aggregation key 63 is input in step S100 (see FIG. 3), it is determined in step S210 whether the set resolution is 600 / √2 (about 424) dpi. When the image data read at the setting resolution of 600 / √2 dpi is converted into the printing resolution of 600 dpi of the image forming unit 15, the recording data of the same size as the original becomes half the printing data in the area ratio. Therefore, the determination in step S210 is a process for determining whether the read image data meets the 2in1 aggregation condition. This determination is made by referring to the setting value of the setting resolution that is input by the user from the operation display panel 40 and stored in the data memory 33. If it is determined that the set resolution is 600 / √2 (about 424) dpi, a so-called 2-in-1 aggregation process for aggregating image data of two pages of originals into one page is executed in step S261. . In the present embodiment, since the set resolution is set to 300 dpi, the process does not proceed to step S261 but proceeds to step S220.

  In step S220, it is determined whether the set resolution is 300 dpi or less. This determination is a process for determining whether or not the read image data conforms to the 4-in-1 aggregation condition, and is set and input by the user from the operation display panel 40 in the same manner as in step S210. This is determined by referring to the set resolution setting value stored in the data memory 33. As described above, in the present embodiment, since the set resolution is set to 300 dpi, the process proceeds to step S260 according to the determination in step S220. Thereafter, in step S260, a so-called 4-in-1 aggregation process is performed in which the image data of the originals for four pages are aggregated into one page. At this time, an aggregation condition when the 4in1 aggregation process is performed (aggregating four pages of images into one page), that is, an aggregation condition corresponding to the set resolution of 300 dpi is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 41. It is desirable to notify the user. Since the multifunction machine X cannot aggregate more page images than 4in1, even if the set resolution is less than 300 dpi, the 4in1 aggregation process is executed without performing the reduction process described later.

Here, for example, if the set resolution is neither 600 / √2 dpi nor 300 dpi, the process proceeds to step S230 to determine whether the set resolution is greater than 600 / √2 dpi. When the set resolution is set to a value larger than 600 / √2 dpi, the print data after converting the set resolution into the print resolution is larger than half of the recording paper in terms of area ratio. If such an image is printed as it is, an image that does not deteriorate the image quality but does not conform to the recording paper size is printed, so the layout of the printed image on the entire recording paper is poor and looks bad. Also, if the image is enlarged to fit the recording paper size, the image quality will be extremely lowered. Therefore, if it is determined in step S230 that the set resolution is greater than 600 / √2 dpi, the read image data is temporarily reduced to 600 / √2 dpi (S251), and then in step S261. By performing the 2-in-1 process, the image quality is less deteriorated than when the image is enlarged, and a print image suitable for the recording paper size is output.
In step S240, it is determined whether the set resolution is greater than 300 dpi and less than 600 / √2 dpi. When the set resolution is set in this range, the print data after converting the set resolution into the print resolution is smaller than half of the recording paper and larger than one quarter of the recording paper in the area ratio. Even in such a case, for the same reason as described above, the read image data is reduced to 300 dpi (S250), and then the 4-in-1 process in step S260 is performed, so that the image quality is higher than the case of enlarging the image. The print image is output in a manner suitable for the recording paper size.
As described above, by reducing the image data of the set resolution in accordance with the set resolution and aggregating the read image data, print output can be performed without significantly reducing the image quality of the print image. In addition, since the images are collected and printed out, recording paper can be saved.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of processing that reads image data of a document and handles the read image data itself has been described. However, when scanning multiple originals, the data size of the image data to be handled becomes very large, which may cause problems such as extremely slow processing speed of image data transfer processing and print output processing. Become. Therefore, usually, a large amount of image data read is temporarily compressed and stored in the HDD 34 (FIG. 2) of the control unit 30, and then all the compressed data is expanded and printed out. In some cases, first, only the image data of a document is read and compressed image data is stored in the HDD 34, and only data arbitrarily selected by the user is printed out. In any case, an embodiment in which the compressed data stored in the HDD 34 is later decompressed and the decompressed image data of the set resolution is printed out on a recording sheet at a predetermined print resolution is conceivable. In such a case, for example, even if the user refers to the compressed data, since the size of the decompressed image data is difficult to understand from the compressed data, the resolution of the image data cannot be predicted. That is, it cannot be predicted whether the set resolution and the resolution of the image data match. Therefore, even in such a case, if it is determined that the resolution is lower than the set resolution, for example, based on the resolution of the decompressed image data, the processing in the flowchart described above is performed, so that the image quality is reduced. Since each information such as the above information is displayed on a display means such as an operation display panel, the user can recognize or predict in advance that the image quality will deteriorate before printing out. The compression / decompression may be performed by a reversible compression method that can completely restore the compressed data. However, in order to achieve a higher data compression rate and improve processing speed, The compression / decompression is preferably performed by a known irreversible compression method such as JPEG or GIF. Note that a program, device, or the like that realizes compression / decompression by the irreversible compression method corresponds to the data compression unit and the data decompression unit.

1 is an overall schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multifunction machine X according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control unit of the multifunction machine X. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a procedure of parallel transfer printing processing executed by the control unit of the multifunction machine X. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a procedure of automatic aggregation processing executed by the control unit of the multifunction machine X. The figure which shows the notification screen which is an example of the information displayed on a liquid crystal display part.

Explanation of symbols

10. Automatic document feeder (ADF)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 ... Image forming part 16 ... Paper feeder 20 ... Image reading part (image reading means)
30 ... Control unit 40 ... Operation display panel 41 ... Liquid crystal display unit (display means)
42. Operation unit

Claims (8)

Image reading means for reading image data of a document;
Image data storage means for storing image data read by the image reading means at a preset resolution set to a desired value in advance;
Image data transfer processing for transferring the image data of the set resolution stored in the image data storage means to a terminal device connected so as to be capable of data communication via a predetermined communication medium, and the image reading means at the set resolution. Parallel control means for executing substantially parallel print output processing for printing the read image data or the image data of the set resolution stored in the image data storage means on a recording paper at a predetermined print resolution. In an image processing device,
Resolution comparison means for comparing the set resolution and the print resolution;
When the resolution comparison unit determines that the set resolution is less than the print resolution, information predetermined according to the set resolution is provided in the image processing apparatus before the print output process is executed. An image processing apparatus comprising: information output means for outputting to the displayed display means. The image data storage means stores compressed image data compressed by a data compression means for compressing the image data of the set resolution read by the image reading means;
The print output processing is to print out the image data of the set resolution expanded by the data expansion means for expanding the compressed image data stored in the image data storage means on a recording paper at a predetermined print resolution. The image processing apparatus according to 1.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting resolution correspondence aggregating unit that aggregates and assigns the image data of the setting resolution based on an aggregation condition corresponding to the setting resolution.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the set resolution correspondence aggregating unit aggregates the image data having the set resolution by reducing the image data in accordance with the set resolution.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information output by the information output means indicates that the information is less than the print resolution.   5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information output by the information output means indicates that the image quality of a print image printed on the recording paper is lowered by the print output process. .   2. The information output by the information output means indicates that the image quality of a printed image printed on the recording paper does not deteriorate when the information is printed out at a reduction rate corresponding to the set resolution. The image processing apparatus in any one of -4.   2. The information output by the information output means is an aggregation condition in which image data of the set resolution is aggregated by the set resolution corresponding aggregation means, and indicates an aggregation condition according to the set resolution. The image processing apparatus in any one of -4.

Images