JP2008225808A - Image forming apparatus and program for print preview - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To display a preview image for allowing a user to intuitively recognize both page sequence and sides of each page image as a result of duplex printing. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus is configured to specify the page of one page image to be formed on the front face of a recording material in duplex printing, and to display a turn-over image g1, as a print preview image, wherein the recording material on the uppermost face is partially turned over when a plurality of recording sheets are stacked as a print preview image, and to display a page image g12 formed at the front face section of the recording sheet on the uppermost face in a first region p1 corresponding to the front face section and a portion of images g22 and g32 extracted from the corresponding page images respectively in a second region p2 corresponding to the rear face section and a third region p3 corresponding to the front face section of the second recording sheet. The second region p2 and the third region p3 are colored according to the features (the occupancy rate of pattern image or character image) of the corresponding page image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a print preview display function and a print preview program for causing a computer to execute print preview processing.

An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine is based on printing data (image data, print job data, etc.) related to an image for one page or a plurality of pages (hereinafter referred to as a page image) read from an original. Some have a print preview function for displaying an image image (preview image) when a page image is output on a recording sheet (image formation) on a display unit such as a liquid crystal panel. This print preview function is an important function for preventing wasteful image formation against the user's will and suppressing wasteful consumption of recording paper and developer.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that when a print result when bookbinding is scheduled and duplex printing is performed is displayed as a preview, each page image is displayed side by side on a display unit.
Patent Document 2 discloses that a plurality of page images (reduced images) are displayed side by side on a display unit in a partially overlapped state.
On the other hand, as shown in Patent Literature 3 and Patent Literature 4, in order to obtain a discrimination index when performing processing (compression of image data or emphasis output of a pixel of interest) suitable for image contents in an image processing apparatus, It is known to perform region separation processing for discriminating regions of character images and design images (photographic images, etc.) included in
JP 2004-164105 A JP-A-4-373073 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-84482 JP 2006-31116 A

By the way, it is important that the printing result of double-sided printing can confirm both the page order and the front / back relation of each page image by a preview image before printing (image formation). In particular, if you plan to bind (bind) a plurality of recording sheets obtained by double-sided printing, both the page order of each page image and the front / back relationship, and the state of the actually bound recording sheet It is desirable that it can be intuitively confirmed by a preview image.
However, when previewing the printing result of double-sided printing, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, simply displaying a preview image in which the page images are arranged side-by-side, the page order of each page image and the relationship between the front and back sides of the page image are displayed. There was a problem that it was difficult to grasp both intuitively.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a preview image that makes it easy to intuitively grasp both the page order and the front / back relation of each page image for the double-sided printing result. Is to provide an image forming apparatus and a print preview program.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention uses a print preview image of a page image as a display unit based on print data relating to page images for a plurality of pages stored in a predetermined storage unit. It has a function to display, and further includes each component shown in the following (1) to (4).
(1) Based on information input through a predetermined operation unit, when a double-sided printing is performed based on the printing data, a page of one page image formed on the front surface of the recording material is specified Page identification means to do.
(2) Image feature detection means for detecting image features by executing predetermined image processing for each of the page images for the next two pages after the page specified by the page specifying means.
(3) Based on correspondence information between predetermined image feature and color, the color corresponding to the detection result of the image feature detecting unit is the next two pages after the page specified by the page specifying unit. Color determining means for determining each of the page images (4) The front surface of the recording material in a state in which a part of the recording material on the top surface is turned over from a state where a plurality of recording materials are stacked. A first region corresponding to the surface portion, a second region corresponding to the back surface portion of the uppermost recording material, and a third region corresponding to the front surface portion of the second recording material, A part of each of the page images for three pages from the page specified by the page specifying means is displayed and includes a repeated image, and each of the second area and the third area is determined by the color determining means. In different colors Preview output means for displaying the print preview image that is color on the display means.
More specifically, for example, the image feature detection means executes image processing for detecting the area of the pattern image or the character image for the page image, thereby determining the ratio of the image image area or the character image area to the image feature. It is conceivable to detect the ratio of the visible image as a feature of the image by executing image processing for detecting the visible image in the page image.

The print preview image displayed by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image that collectively displays a part of each of at least three consecutive page images. In addition, the print preview image is an image representing an image when the actual recording material obtained by double-sided printing is turned over with a finger, and the image of the first area → the image of the second area → the third image. It is obvious at a glance that the order of the images in the region of (1) represents the page order of the page images. Accordingly, the print preview image displayed by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is intuitively (immediately) grasped at least at a glance, the contents of the page images for at least three consecutive pages and their page order. It is a possible image.
In the print preview image, part of the page images of the second and third pages is formed by turning over part of the recording material formed on the front surface of the page image of the first page. It is displayed on the part (the first area and the second area) that becomes dew. Therefore, the print preview image displayed by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be formed at a glance at which the page images from the first page to the third page are image-formed on the recording material. It is an image that can intuitively (immediately) know whether or not.
In addition, a repetitive portion (the second region and the third region) whose area is small and only a small part of the entire page image is displayed is a characteristic of the entire page image (such as a ratio occupied by the pattern image region). Accordingly, the print preview image is an image in which the characteristics of the entire page images of the second page and the third page can be intuitively and easily grasped.
In one recording material on which an image is formed by double-sided printing processing, a surface on which a page image having a relatively smaller page number is formed is a “front surface”, and the page number is relatively The surface on which the larger page image is formed is the “back surface”.

The preview output means causes the display means to display the print preview image in which the page image of the page immediately before the page specified by the page specifying means and the flipped image are arranged in a spread state. Can be considered.
As a result, a print preview image that allows intuitive understanding of the contents of the page images for four consecutive pages, the page order, and the front / back relationship of the recording material is displayed.
Further, the present invention is embodied as a print preview program for causing a computer to execute the process (process for displaying the print preview image on the display unit) executed by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention described above. May be.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to display a preview image that allows the user to intuitively grasp both the page order of each page image and the front / back relationship of the recording material for the printing result of double-sided printing.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the image forming apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of print preview display processing in the image forming apparatus X, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a print preview screen in the apparatus X, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second example of the print preview screen in the image forming apparatus X, and FIG. 5 is a third example of the print preview screen in the image forming apparatus X. It is a figure showing an example.

An image forming apparatus X according to an embodiment of the present invention is an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine, and prints a plurality of pages of page images stored in advance in a data storage unit such as a hard disk. A print preview function for displaying a print preview image of the page image on the display unit based on the data for use is provided.
First, the structure of the main part of the image forming apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.
The image forming apparatus X is a so-called multifunction machine having a scanner function, a print function, a copy function, and a facsimile function.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus X includes a main control unit 1, an operation / display unit 2, a data storage unit 3, an image processing calculation unit 4, a NIC 5, a scanner unit 6, a printing unit 7, a facsimile unit 8, and the like. They are connected in such a way that information can be exchanged through the bus 11.
The operation / display unit 2 includes an operation unit 2a for inputting information and a display unit 2b for displaying information (including images). The operation unit 2a is, for example, a touch panel or a sheet key provided on the surface of the liquid crystal display device. The display unit 2b is, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and is a color display device capable of displaying a color image. The operation / display unit 2 constitutes a man-machine interface for the user.
The data storage unit 3 is a readable / writable large-capacity non-volatile memory that stores processing data as necessary when processing image data obtained by reading from a document or printing processing of image data. .
The image processing arithmetic unit 4 is constituted by a dedicated signal processing circuit or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or the like, performs various image processing on the image data, and forms a print job described in a predetermined print job description language into an image. A process for converting to bitmap image data to be used, a process for generating image data to be transmitted to an external device (for example, image data subjected to predetermined encoding such as JPEG format), and the like are performed.

The NIC 5 receives data (including data of an image read by the scanner unit 6) with an external device such as an information processing terminal or an e-mail server through a network including a LAN and the Internet conforming to the standard IEEE 802.3, for example. It is a communication interface which transmits / receives.
The scanner unit 6 converts an image formed on a document from a document placed on a glass document table (not shown) or a document conveyed by an ADF (not shown) to a color (R, G, B). ) Is a color scanner that distinguishes and reads.
The print unit 7 is a so-called print engine controlled by the main control unit 1, and sequentially feeds recording sheets stored in a sheet feeding cassette (not shown) one by one, and passes through a predetermined image forming position to a sheet discharge tray. Recording paper (recording paper) based on the image data of the original read from the original by the scanner unit 6 and the image data for printing generated by the image processing calculation unit 4 at the image forming position. It is a set of components such as a device that forms (outputs) an image on an example) and an MPU that controls the device. The printing unit 7 has a function of executing double-sided printing processing for forming an image on both the front surface and the back surface of the recording paper.
The facsimile unit 8 includes communication means such as an NCU (Network Control Unit) and a modem, and performs dial-up and negotiation processing for determining a communication method with a communication partner (partner station). It transmits and receives facsimile data (image data read by the scanner unit 6) with the facsimile apparatus.

The main control unit 1 controls each of the scanner unit 6, the print unit 7, the facsimile unit 8, the operation / display unit 2, the data storage unit 3, and the image processing calculation unit 4.
For example, the main control unit 1 causes the printing unit 7 to execute a printing process (image forming process) based on a print job received through the NIC 5. Further, the main control unit 1 causes the facsimile unit 8 to execute a facsimile transmission process for calling a designated transmission destination telephone number and transmitting image data to be transmitted. Further, the main control unit 1 causes the scanner unit 6 to execute a scanning process for reading an image formed on the original from the original.
Further, the main control unit 1 is based on printing data (image data, print job data, etc.) relating to an image for one page or a plurality of pages (hereinafter referred to as page image) read from the document by the scanner unit 6. Print preview processing is also executed for causing the display unit 2b to display an image image (preview image) when the page image is output (image formation) to the recording paper.

Next, the procedure of the print preview process executed by the image processing apparatus X will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and the print preview screen examples shown in FIGS.
It is assumed that printing data is stored in advance in the data storage unit 3 before the processing shown in FIG. As described above, the print data is a print job input from the external device through the NIC 5 or image data read by the scanner unit 6. S1, S2,... Shown below represent identification symbols of processing procedures (steps).

[Steps S1 to S5]
First, the main control unit 1 displays a predetermined initial menu screen on the display unit 2b (S1), and monitors whether or not an operation for selecting a processing item in the initial menu has been performed through the operation unit 2a (S2). ).
When the main control unit 1 detects that an operation for selecting any processing item is performed during the display of the initial menu, the main control unit 1 executes a process corresponding to the operation.
That is, when the operation for the initial menu is an operation for requesting print preview display processing (print preview operation), the main control unit 1 sets an initial value (= 1) for a variable i representing a page number. Above (S3), it is determined whether or not the printing data stored as a processing target in the data storage unit 3 is data for double-sided printing that has been selected in advance as a target for double-sided printing (S4). .
The double-sided printing data is print job data or read image data relating to page images for a plurality of pages.
The variable i represents a page of one page image formed on the front surface of the recording paper when double-sided printing based on double-sided printing data described later is performed. In this embodiment, the value of the variable i is an odd value of 1 or more. In addition, the main controller 1 that executes the process of step S3 specifies the value of the variable i based on information (information requesting print preview display) input through the operation unit 2a. It is an example.
When the main control unit 1 determines in step S4 that the printing data is double-sided printing data, the main control unit 1 selects pages (i-1) to (i + 2) based on the double-sided printing data. Data of page images for four pages is generated (S5). In step S5, it is needless to say that image data relating to pages not included in the double-sided printing data among the page images for four pages from the (i-1) page to the (i + 2) page is not generated. .

[Step S6]
Next, in response to a command from the main control unit 1, the image processing calculation unit 4 corresponds to the next two pages of the i-th page set (specified) by the process of step S3 described above or step S11 described later ( For each of the page images of (i + 1) page and (i + 2) page), a feature amount of the entire image is detected by executing predetermined image processing (S6, an example of the image feature detecting means). At this time, the image processing calculation unit 4 delivers the detected feature amount of the page image to the main control unit 1.
For example, in step S6, the image processing calculation unit 4 executes a well-known region separation process as shown in Patent Document 3 or Patent Document 4 for each of the page images of the (i + 1) page and the (i + 2) page. Thus, the proportions of the pattern image area (including the photographic image area) and the character image area in the entire page image are detected as image feature amounts. As an example of the region separation processing, for each pixel forming a page image (hereinafter referred to as a target pixel), a difference between the density of the target pixel and the average density of pixels around the target pixel is determined in advance. For example, a process for discriminating a character image area when the threshold value is exceeded, and a pattern image area otherwise.
In addition, in step S6, the image processing calculation unit 4 detects, for each of the page images of the (i + 1) page and the (i + 2) page, a visible image (a set of pixels having a density equal to or higher than a predetermined level). It is also conceivable to detect the proportion of the visible image in the entire page image as the feature amount of the page image by executing image processing.

[Step S7]
Next, the main control unit 1, based on the correspondence information between the feature amount and the color of the image stored in advance in the data storage unit 3, (i + 1) pages and (i + 2) pages for two pages. For each page image, a color (display color) corresponding to the feature amount of the page image, which is the processing result of step S6, is determined (S7, an example of the color determining means).
The correspondence information includes, for example, different colors for each combination of a pattern area rank in which the ratio of the pattern area is divided (ranked) and a character area rank in which the ratio of the character area is divided into a plurality. Table information that has been set. Thus, for example, the main control unit 1 determines a display color such that the larger the proportion of the character area is, the closer the color is to blue, and the more the proportion of the pattern area is, the closer the color is to red.

[Step S8]
Next, the main control unit 1 converts the page image data for four pages from the (i-1) page to the (i + 2) page generated in step S5 and the color (display color) determined in step S7. Based on this, print preview image data is generated, and the print preview image is displayed on the display unit 2b.
3 and 4 show examples of the print preview image display screen. FIG. 3 shows an example in which there is no page image of (i−1) page because page variable i = 1, and FIG. 4 shows that page variable i = 3 and (i−1) from page (i + 2). ) This is an example in the case where there are four page images up to (2 to 5 pages).
As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the print preview image displayed on the display unit 2b by the main control unit 1 (an example of the preview output means) It includes an image (hereinafter referred to as a flipped image g1) representing a state in which a part of the recording paper (for example, i-th page) is turned over (for example, the lower right portion). Accordingly, the flipped image g1 includes the first area p1 corresponding to the front surface (i-th page) portion of the uppermost recording paper, and the back surface (i + 1-th page) portion of the uppermost recording material. And a third region p3 corresponding to the front surface (i + 2 page) portion of the second recording material.
Then, the main control unit 1 starts from the i page set (specified) by the process of step S3 described above or step S9 described later in each of the first to third regions p1 to p3 in the flipped image g1. A part g12, g22, g32 of each of the page images for three pages is displayed.

More specifically, the main control unit 1 includes a portion corresponding to the first region p1 by double-sided printing processing based on the double-sided printing data, in the first region p1 in the flipped image g1. That is, the image g12 (a part of the page image) formed on the remaining portion of the i-th page image excluding the portion hidden by turning over the recording paper is displayed as it is.
Further, the main control unit 1 applies the second region p2 and the second region p2 to the second region p2 and the third region p3 in the flipped image g1 by double-sided printing based on the double-sided printing data. The part g22, g32 of the page image formed in the portion corresponding to each of the three regions p3 is displayed. At this time, the background (region without a visible image) of each of the second region p2 and the third region p3 is colored with the display color determined in step S7.
Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the image g22 at the lower left corner of the page image of the (i + 1) th page is in the second area p2, and the (i + 2) th page is in the third area p3. The image g32 in the lower right corner of the page image is displayed with the color determined in step S7 as the background color. In FIG. 4, the background color is represented by halftone dots.
Thus, the repetitive portions (the second region and the third region) whose area is small and only a small part of the entire page image is displayed are the characteristics of the entire page image (the proportion of the pattern image region, etc.) ), The print preview image is an image in which the features of the entire page image of the (i + 1) th page and the (i + 2) page can be easily and intuitively grasped.
Further, the main control unit 1 also displays page number information g11, g21, g31 corresponding to each region in each of the first to third regions p1 to p3.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the main control unit 1 displays the print preview image in which the page image g0 of the (i-1) page immediately before the i page and the flipped image g1 are arranged in a spread state. Is displayed on the display unit 2b (S8).
The main control unit 1 displays the display preview page change operation button g4 and the end button g6 together with the print preview image on the display unit 2b which is also used as the operation unit 2a (S8). .

[Steps S9 and S10]
Then, after the process of step S8 is completed, the main control unit 1 monitors whether or not any of the operation buttons g4 and g6 has been operated through the operation unit 2a (S9), and processes according to the operation content Execute.
That is, when the operation button g4 for changing the display target page (page change operation) is performed, the main control unit 1 changes the value of the variable i (page number) according to the operation (S10), and newly For the set page i, the processes of steps S5 to S8 described above are executed.
For example, when the main control unit 1 detects the operation of the previous page button or the next page button among the change operation buttons g4 for the display target page in step S10, the main control unit 1 subtracts the value of the variable i (−2) or Add (+2). Further, when detecting the operation of the first page button or the last page button, the main control unit 1 sets the value of the variable to 1 or the value of the last odd page in the duplex printing data. In addition, when a page is directly designated by the operation of a numerical key (not shown), the main control unit 1 specifies the value of the designated page if the designated page is an odd number, and designates the value if the designated page is an even number. A value obtained by adding 1 to the page is set as a variable i.
As described above, the main control unit 1 sets the front side of the recording paper when double-sided printing is performed based on the double-sided printing data based on the information input through the operation unit 2a in step S10. A page of one page image formed on the surface is set (specified) (an example of the page specifying unit).
In addition, when the end button g6 is operated (end operation), the main control unit 1 returns the processing to step S1 described above.
On the other hand, when the main control unit 1 detects an operation other than the print preview operation during the display of the initial menu in step S2, the main control unit 1 executes other processing according to the operation content (S20). , The process returns to step S1 described above.
Further, in step S4, the main control unit 1 is the single-sided printing data in which the printing data stored as the processing target in the data storage unit 3 is selected in advance as a single-sided printing target (see above). If it is determined that the data is not double-sided printing data, print preview processing of the single-sided printing data is executed (S21), and then the process returns to step S1 described above. Note that the processing in step S21 is not particularly related to the processing according to the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

The image forming apparatus X described above displays, for example, a print preview image including the flipped image g1 as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 on the display unit 2b. It is easy to intuitively grasp both the page order and the front / back relationship of the recording paper.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the main control unit 1 responds to an input of an operation button (for example, button g7 in FIG. 5) for selecting whether or not to display the flipped image g1. It is also conceivable to switch between the print preview image including the flipped image g1 and the print preview image not including the flipped image g1 as shown in FIG. The example shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which a print preview image in which the page image g0 of page (i-1) and the page image g1 ′ of page i are arranged in a spread state is displayed on the display unit 2b.

In the example shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the flip image g1 shows a state in which the lower right portion of the recording paper is turned over. It is also conceivable to display the turn-up image representing the state in which the upper right portion of the recording paper or the recording paper is turned over, in a print preview image.
Further, the present invention may be realized as a print preview program that causes a computer such as a personal computer to execute the process shown in FIG. 2 executed by the image forming apparatus X described above.
For example, before the computer transmits a print job to the printer, the computer executes the print preview program, so that a print preview image as shown in FIGS. 3 to 4 is displayed on the graphic display (display unit). It is conceivable to display.

  The present invention can be used for an image forming apparatus and a program for causing a computer to execute print preview display processing.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a main part of an image forming apparatus X according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of print preview display processing in the image forming apparatus X. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a print preview screen in the image forming apparatus X. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a print preview screen in the image forming apparatus X. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a third example of a print preview screen in the image forming apparatus X.

X: image forming apparatus 1: main control unit 2: operation / display unit 2a: operation unit 2b: display unit 3: data storage unit 4: image processing calculation unit 5: NIC (network interface card)
6: Scanner unit 7: Print unit 8: Facsimile unit 11: Buses S1, S2,...: Processing procedure (step) identification symbol g1: Repeated image

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus for displaying a print preview image of the page image on a display unit based on print data relating to page images for a plurality of pages stored in a predetermined storage unit,
A page specification that specifies a page of the one page image formed on the front surface of the recording material when double-sided printing is performed based on the printing data based on information input through a predetermined operation unit Means,
Image feature detecting means for detecting image features by executing predetermined image processing for each of the page images for the next two pages of the page specified by the page specifying means;
The page image for the next two pages of the page specified by the page specifying means based on the information on the correspondence between the image features and colors determined in advance, and the color corresponding to the detection result of the image feature detecting means. Color determining means for determining each;
A first region corresponding to a front surface portion of the uppermost recording material in a state in which a part of the uppermost recording material is turned over from a state in which a plurality of recording materials are stacked; 3 pages from the page specified by the page specifying means in each of the second region corresponding to the back surface portion of the recording material and the third region corresponding to the front surface portion of the second recording material. A part of each of the page images is displayed and includes a repeated image, and the print preview image in which each of the second area and the third area is colored with a color determined by the color determining means is displayed. Preview output means to be displayed on the means;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   The image feature detection means detects the proportion of the pattern image region or the character image region as an image feature by executing image processing for detecting the region of the pattern image or the character image for the page image, or in the page image The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image occupying ratio is detected as a feature of the image by executing image processing for detecting the visible image.   The preview output unit causes the display unit to display the print preview image in which the page image of the page immediately before the page specified by the page specifying unit and the flipped image are arranged in a spread state. Item 3. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1 or 2. A print preview program for causing a computer to execute a process of displaying a print preview image of a page image on a display unit based on print data relating to page images for a plurality of pages stored in a predetermined storage unit. ,
A page specification that specifies a page of the one page image formed on the front surface of the recording material when double-sided printing is performed based on the printing data based on information input through a predetermined operation unit Procedure,
An image feature detection procedure for detecting image features by executing predetermined image processing for each of the page images for the next two pages of the page specified by the page specifying means;
The page image for the next two pages of the page specified by the page specifying procedure based on the information on the correspondence between the image feature and color determined in advance, and the color corresponding to the detection result of the image feature detecting procedure. A color determination procedure to be determined for each;
A first region corresponding to a front surface portion of the uppermost recording material in a state in which a part of the uppermost recording material is turned over from a state in which a plurality of recording materials are stacked; 3 pages from the page specified by the page specifying means in each of the second region corresponding to the back surface portion of the recording material and the third region corresponding to the front surface portion of the second recording material. A part of each of the page images is displayed and includes a repeated image, and the display of the print preview image in which the second region and the third region are each colored with the color determined by the color determination procedure A preview output procedure to be displayed on the means;
A program for print preview that causes a computer to execute.

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