JP2010081064A - Image forming apparatus and print setting program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus or the like capable of easily forming a printed matter in which the same contents are printed on both surfaces of a sheet of paper. <P>SOLUTION: An operation panel 10 of an image forming apparatus 100 accepts an instruction of printing an original document read by an image reading section 16, and an input of print setting information. A system control section 11 causes the image reading section 16 to acquire image data based on the print instruction and the print setting information inputted from the operation panel 10, and converts image data into print image data. In that case, if the print setting information includes "collective print" and "same contents on both sides", the system control section 11 causes an integrated data generating section 1a to generate print image data in which a plurality of pages of image data are integrated in a single page so that both sides include the same contents. The system control section 11 causes a paper transfer section 14 to transfer paper, and an image writing section 15 to form an image on a sheet of paper based on the print image data and the print setting information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, a printer, a copier, and a multifunction machine, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus capable of performing aggregate printing on both sides of a sheet.

  Conventionally, for the purpose of paper reduction, a double-sided printing function for printing image data consisting of two pages on both sides of one sheet of paper, or reducing and assigning image data consisting of a plurality of pages to the same side of one sheet of paper. An image forming apparatus having an aggregate printing function for printing is known (see Patent Document 1).

  Due to the widespread use of such image forming apparatuses, stores such as retail stores may print advertisements such as POP cards themselves and use them for sales promotion without requesting a specialized printing company.

Some advertisements post the same content on both sides of the paper in order to increase the advertising effectiveness. For example, a small POP card that describes the price of a product. By listing the price of the product on both sides of the POP card, the price of the product can be posted to consumers on both sides of the POP card.
JP 08-324063 A

  However, the technique of Patent Document 1 is premised on printing different image data on both sides of a sheet. For this reason, in order to print the same content on both sides of the paper, it is necessary to print the same content twice on one side of the paper and to bond the two printed paper surfaces together. It was useless and cumbersome.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus and a print setting program that can easily create a printed matter in which the same content is printed on both sides of a sheet.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus that prints on both sides of a sheet based on print image data, the input unit accepting input of print setting information, and the both sides of the sheet based on the print setting information. An aggregate data generation unit that aggregates a plurality of pages of image data so that the images have the same content and generates the print image data is provided.
The aggregated data generation unit may aggregate the image on one side of the paper so that the image on the other side is reversed left and right.
The aggregated data generation unit may aggregate the image on one side of the paper so that the image on the other side is rotated.
The aggregated data generation unit may aggregate the characters in the image on one side of the paper so that the characters in the image on the other side are reversed left and right.
The aggregated data generation unit may aggregate the characters in the image on one side of the paper so that the characters in the image on the other side are rotated.
Further, the aggregated data generation unit may aggregate the image data by reducing the density value when the density value of the image data is equal to or higher than a predetermined density value that shows-through on the paper.
A print setting program according to the present invention is a print setting program stored in a host computer connected to an image forming apparatus via a telecommunication line, based on an input procedure for receiving input of print setting information and the print setting information. An aggregate data generation procedure for generating print image data by aggregating a plurality of pages of image data so that the images on both sides of the paper have the same content, and the print image data generated by the aggregate data generation procedure And a transmission procedure for transmitting a message to the image forming apparatus.

  The present invention can easily create a printed matter in which the same content is printed on both sides of a sheet.

<First Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus performs printing in such a manner that the images on both sides have the same contents with respect to the image data acquired from the image reading unit based on the print setting information acquired from the operation panel. It is. In the category where the images on both sides are the same, the image on one side or the text in the image on both sides of the paper is the same as the image on the other side or the text in the image. The above characters are reversed, rotated, and adjusted in density.

"Configuration and operation of image forming apparatus"
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an input screen in the case where detailed settings for “collective printing” are input on the operation panel. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for generating aggregated data having the same contents on both sides. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a printed material aggregated with the same contents on both sides.

First, the system configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation panel 10, an image reading unit 16, an image writing unit 15, a paper transport unit 14, a system control unit 11, an image information memory 13, and a setting information memory 12.

  The operation panel 10 is an input interface (input unit) composed of a liquid crystal touch panel or the like, and displays an input screen for accepting input of a print instruction and print setting information for image data read by the image reading unit 16. The operation panel 10 outputs the print instruction and print setting information input on the input screen to the system control unit 11. The print setting information is a printing condition in the printing process of the image forming apparatus 100 such as setting of a printing mode such as “double-sided printing” and “combined printing”, the number of copies, print density, and paper type.

  FIG. 2 is an example of an input screen of the operation panel 10 and is a detailed setting screen of “aggregate printing” displayed when “aggregate printing” is selected in the print mode. On this detailed setting screen, <collected number> and <option> can be set, and the result of the setting is displayed in <layout>. In <Aggregate Number>, it is possible to select “2 in 1” for consolidating image data for two pages into one page, “4 in 1” for consolidating image data for four pages into one page, or the like. In <Option>, it is possible to select whether or not to consolidate by “same content on both sides”. <Layout> displays a print layout when printing is performed based on the settings selected in <Aggregate number> and <Option>. In FIG. 2, “4 in 1” is selected as the “combined number” and “same content on both sides” is selected as the <option>, so that the image data for four pages is consolidated into one page in the <layout>. A schematic diagram of both front and back surfaces is displayed. The schematic diagram showing the back of the paper is a state in which the long side of the paper is rotated 180 ° about the axis.

  The image reading unit 16 is a scanner or the like, and acquires image data by reading a document set on the image reading unit 16 in accordance with an instruction from the system control unit 11. The image reading unit 16 outputs the acquired image data to the system control unit 11. Note that the image reading unit 16 may be externally connected, or may be a recording device such as a flash memory that stores image data.

  The image writing unit 15 is based on print image data and print setting information input from the system control unit 11 in response to an instruction from the system control unit 11, a known electrophotographic method, thermal type, thermal transfer type, inkjet Using a method or the like, printing (image formation) is performed on the sheet conveyed from the sheet conveying unit 14.

  In response to an instruction from the system control unit 11, the paper transport unit 14 transports the paper to a position where the image writing unit 15 can form an image.

  The image information memory 13 is a storage device such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and stores print image data.

  The setting information memory 12 is a storage device such as a DRAM, and stores print setting information such as a print mode.

  The system control unit 11 includes an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU 2 (Central Processing Unit), a storage device such as a ROM 3 (Read Only Memory) storing a control program executed by the CPU 2, and a RAM 4 (Random Access) used as a work memory. Memory). The system control unit 11 controls the overall processing in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the control program stored in the ROM 3.

The system control unit 11 causes the image reading unit 16 to acquire image data in accordance with a print instruction input from the operation panel 10, and converts the image data acquired from the image reading unit 16 into print image data in a format suitable for printing. Convert. The system control unit 11 stores the print setting information acquired from the operation panel 10 in the setting information memory 12 and stores the print image data in the image information memory 13. It is assumed that the print image data and the print setting information are associated with the print instruction. Then, the system control unit 11 outputs a print instruction to the image writing unit 15 and determines whether the image writing unit 15 is ready to write an image. When the system control unit 11 determines that the image can be written, the system control unit 11 causes the paper transport unit 14 to transport the paper. At the same time, the system control unit 11 reads out print image data and print setting information corresponding to the print instruction from the image information memory 13 and the setting information memory 12 respectively, and passes them to the image writing unit 15 for printing.
On the other hand, when the system control unit 11 determines that the image writing is impossible, the system control unit 11 displays an error message on the operation panel 10 and prompts the user to change the print setting information.

  In addition, the system control unit 11 includes an aggregate data generation unit 1a. The aggregated data generation unit 1a generates print image data aggregated with the same content on both sides when “aggregate printing” and “both sides same content” are set in the print setting information. That is, when “aggregate printing” and “both sides identical contents” are set in the print setting information, the print image data stored in the image information memory 13 is the print image data generated by the aggregate data generation unit 1a.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the processing flow of the aggregated data generation unit 1a will be described. In the following processing, it is assumed that “collective printing” and “same content on both sides” are set in the print setting information. Further, in the print setting information, it is assumed that image data composed of S pages is aggregated into one page by N pages (Nin1; S and N are natural numbers).

  First, in step A1, according to a predetermined calculation method, the number of aggregated columns and the number of aggregated rows when N pages are aggregated into one page are calculated. Next, proceeding to step A2, based on the calculation result of step A1, set the number of aggregated columns per page to x and the total number of aggregated rows when the total pages of image data (S pages) are aggregated to y. (X and y are integers). In step A3, the page number z of the image data to be aggregated on the surface of the paper and the counter j of the aggregated row number are initialized with 1, and the variable i holding the aggregated column number per page is initialized with x. (Z, j and i are integers). x is a page number of image data to be collected on the back side of the paper.

  Proceeding to step A4, the image data of the z-th page is aggregated in order from the left side on the aggregation line on the surface of the paper. Next, proceeding to step A5, the image data of the x-th page is collected in order from the left side in the aggregation row on the back side of the sheet. Next, proceeding to step A6, 1 is subtracted from x. Next, proceeding to step A7, 1 is added to z. In step A8, it is determined whether i * (j-1) = x, that is, whether it is the end of one line to be aggregated. If No in step A8, the processes in steps A4 to A8 are repeated. That is, the paper per page is divided into N pieces, and image data of a predetermined page is collected in each divided area in order.

  If Yes in step A8, the process proceeds to step A9 and 1 is added to j. Next, proceeding to step A10, i * j = x, and x is the rightmost page number of the next aggregated line on the back side of the paper. In step A11, it is determined whether j> y, that is, whether the final row of the image data to be aggregated has been reached. If No in step A11, the processes in steps A4 to A11 are repeated. In the case of Yes in step A11, that is, when the aggregation of the total pages of the image data is finished, the processing is finished.

  As a result of the above processing, as shown in FIG. 4, image data having the same content on the front surface Ga of the paper and the back surface Gb of the paper is created. That is, for example, in 4-in-1 consolidated printing that consolidates image data for four pages arranged in the order of A, B, C, and D into one page, A and B from the upper left to the upper right of the surface, and C and C from the lower left to the lower right. D, and B, A from the upper left to the upper right, and D, C from the lower left to the lower right. In the processing of steps A4 to A11, “(1) A on the front surface” → “(2) B on the back surface” → “(3) B on the front surface” → “(4) A on the back surface” → “(5) Image data is collected in the order of “C” → “(6) D on the back surface” → “(7) D on the front surface” → “(8) C on the back surface”. By printing this print image data and cutting each image that has been consolidated and printed, a printed matter on which images having the same contents are printed on both sides of the paper can be obtained. The above process is an example and may be changed as appropriate.

  As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment, print image data is generated so as to be the same image on both sides of the paper, so that a printed matter having the same content is obtained on both sides of the paper. In addition, paper cost and labor can be saved by performing double-sided single-sided printing and pasting the paper together.

  Further, the print setting information may be selected by the user so that the image data to be aggregated on the back side can be aggregated by being reversed horizontally or rotated by 90 ° or 180 ° to the left or right. In this case, the aggregated data generation unit 1a aggregates the image data to be aggregated on the back side based on the print setting information by horizontally flipping it or rotating it to the left or right by 90 °, 180 °, or the like. Note that the aggregate data generation unit 1a may be reversed or rotated on both sides.

  When the back side image data is reversed left and right, the back side image data becomes a mirror image of the front side image data. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the appearance of the printed matter from being deteriorated by printing the mirror image of the image data of the front surface on the back surface so that the image on the front surface is seen through the back surface by single-sided printing. In addition, by rotating the image data on the back side by 180 °, the images such as arrows can be easily differentiated on both sides of the paper. By placing it in the center of the passageway, it is possible to easily create a signboard for road guidance that encourages the flow of people facing you. Needless to say, image data may be aggregated by combining left-right reversal and rotation.

  The print setting information may be selected by the user so that characters in the image data to be aggregated on the back side can be aggregated by being reversed or rotated horizontally. In this case, it is assumed that the image reading unit 16 has an OCR (optical character reader) function, and a font object of the image data is transferred to the system control unit 11 together with the read image data. Based on the font object, the aggregate data generation unit 1 a of the system control unit 11 generates print image data by inverting or rotating the characters of the acquired image data to generate print image data, and stores the print image data in the image information memory 13. By reversing or rotating the characters, the design of the printed material can be easily improved. Needless to say, the characters may be combined by combining left-right reversal and rotation. Further, the image data itself may be combined by combining the horizontal reversal or rotation of the image data and the horizontal reversal or rotation of the characters.

  In addition, if the contents are the same on both sides, there is a possibility that the printed characters appear darker than the print density desired by the user due to the so-called show-through in which the characters and pictures on the back surface show through the front surface. In particular, this phenomenon becomes significant when the image data on the back surface is a mirror image of the front surface. Furthermore, since the difference between a portion with a high printing density and a thin portion on both sides of the front and back becomes large due to the show-through, there is a possibility that the apparent density of the printed matter becomes non-uniform. For this reason, when making the same content on both sides, it is necessary to make the portion having a predetermined density or more thinner and print.

  In this case, the aggregated data generation unit 1a inspects the pixels of the image data, and if the aggregated data generation unit 1a is equal to or higher than a predetermined density value for show-through, the aggregated data generation unit 1a may aggregate the image data by reducing the density value. The predetermined density value for show-through and to what value the density is lowered are greatly affected by the transparency of the paper. Therefore, the show-through with respect to the print density is measured in advance for each paper type, and the measurement result regarding the show-through is stored in the ROM 3 of the system control unit 11 or the like. When examining the density value of the pixel, the aggregate data generation unit 1a refers to the measurement result regarding the show-through stored in the ROM 3 or the like, and determines the predetermined density value to show-through and to what value the density is reduced. do it. Note that the aggregate data generation unit 1a may reduce the density value of either the front surface image data or the back surface image data, or may decrease both density values. Further, the density setting relating to the show-through may be set by the user using the print setting information. As a result, it is possible to prevent deterioration in print quality due to show-through when both contents are the same.

  More preferably, the aggregate data generation unit 1a may adjust the density of the image data only at the portions where the images overlap on the front and back of the paper when duplex printing is performed. According to this, only the print density of the portion where the print density is increased due to the show-through is lowered. As a result, the print density is close to the basic setting (default) print density of the image forming apparatus, and a printed matter having a print density desired by the user (assumed) can be obtained.

  Also, in the case of image data such as a solid logo mark, the aggregate data generation unit 1a does not lower the density value of the entire image data or the entire area where the images overlap on the front and back of the paper, but does not reduce the density value above the predetermined density value. The density value may be lowered only for pixels having the same color value as the pixels. This is because such an image does not have a gradation portion, so that even if only a specific color is changed, there is little possibility that the color balance of the entire image is lost.

  Needless to say, the image writing unit 15 may perform the processing of the aggregate data generation unit 1a. In this case, the image information memory 13 stores the image data before reflecting the print setting information instead of the print image data.

<Second Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the host computer 200 transmits a print instruction, print setting information, and print image data based on the print setting information to the image forming apparatus 101. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that the system control unit does not have an aggregate data generation unit. Instead, the printer driver of the host computer has an aggregate data generation unit. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The image forming system X of the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 101 and a host computer 200 that are connected to each other via a communication line.

"Host computer configuration and operation"
The host computer 200 is a personal computer or the like, and has a printer driver 20 as a print setting program. The host computer 200 has image data created by application software (not shown) included in the host computer, or image data stored in a computer-readable recording medium or acquired through a network. .

  The printer driver 20 is software that controls printing processing (image forming processing) of the image forming apparatus 101, and is stored as a printer driver program in a ROM (not shown) provided in the host computer 200. The printer driver program stored in the ROM or the like is read and executed by a CPU (not shown) provided in the host computer 200, thereby realizing the function as the printer driver 20. The printer driver 20 may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium or provided to the host computer 200 via a network.

The printer driver 20 provides the host computer 200 with a screen that accepts an input of a print instruction and print setting information for image data in accordance with a user operation. When a print instruction and print setting information for image data are input on the screen by a user operation, the printer driver 20 converts the image data into print image data in a format suitable for printing. Then, the printer driver 20 causes the host computer 200 to transmit a print instruction, print setting information, and print image data to the system control unit 11a of the image forming apparatus 101.
Here, each of the host computer 200 and the image forming apparatus 101 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card), and both NICs exchange print instructions, print setting information, and print image data via the network.

  The printer driver 20 includes an aggregate data generation unit 2a. The aggregated data generation unit 2a generates print image data aggregated with the same content on both sides when “aggregate printing” and “both sides same content” are set in the print setting information of the printer driver. That is, when “aggregated printing” and “both sides identical contents” are set in the print setting information, the host computer 200 transmits the print image data generated by the aggregated data generation unit 2 a to the image forming apparatus 101. The other processes of the aggregated data generation unit 2a are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

"Configuration and operation of image forming apparatus"
The image forming apparatus 101 includes an operation panel 10, an image reading unit 16, an image writing unit 15, a paper transport unit 14, a system control unit 11a, an image information memory 13, and a setting information memory 12.

  The system control unit 11a includes an arithmetic processing device such as a CPU 2 (Central Processing Unit), a storage device such as a ROM 3 (Read Only Memory) storing a control program executed by the CPU 2, and a RAM 4 (Random Access) used as a work memory. Memory). The system control unit 11a comprehensively controls the overall processing in the image forming apparatus 101 in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 3.

The system control unit 11a receives a print instruction, print setting information, and print image data from the host computer 200. The system control unit 11 a stores the received print setting information in the setting information memory 12 and stores the print image data in the image information memory 13. Then, the system control unit 11a outputs a print instruction to the image writing unit 15, and determines whether the image writing unit 15 is ready to write an image. When determining that the image can be written, the system control unit 11a reads the print image data and the print setting information corresponding to the print instruction from the image information memory 13 and the setting information memory 12, respectively, and passes them to the image writing unit 15. Print.

  With the above processing, according to the image forming system X of the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 101 receives print image data aggregated so as to be the same image on both sides of the sheet from the host computer 200, and the received print image Since printing is performed based on the data, it is possible to save paper cost and labor by performing single-sided printing twice and bonding the papers together.

  In the present embodiment, the aggregate data generation unit 2a aggregates the image data so that both sides have the same content and generates print image data. However, when printing the image data created by the application of the host computer 200 or the like, Alternatively, print image data for the back side may be created and passed to the printer driver 20 so that both sides are automatically the same.

  In the present embodiment, the host computer 200 is configured to transmit print image data that has been aggregated to the same content on both sides in advance by the aggregated data generation unit 2 a of the printer driver 20 to the image forming apparatus 101. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the host computer 200 may be configured to transmit to the image forming apparatus 101 image data before being aggregated to the same content on both sides (that is, image data before reflecting the print setting information). In this case, the system control unit 11a of the image forming apparatus 101 needs to include an aggregate data generation unit. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the aggregate data generation unit included in the system control unit 1a may generate print image data that is aggregated to the same content on both sides based on the received print setting information.

Further, in the present embodiment, when performing the process of horizontally flipping or rotating the characters in the image data to be aggregated on the back side of the paper, the aggregated data generation unit 2a can start from the application if it is image data created by the application. What is necessary is just to acquire a font object. Further, if the image data is stored in a computer-readable recording medium or acquired through a network, the aggregate data generation unit 2a needs to perform OCR processing on the image data to acquire a font object. . In this case, it is assumed that the aggregate data generation unit 2a has an OCR function. The aggregated data generation unit 2a may generate print image data by using the font object acquired by any one of the processes described above and aggregating the characters of the image data by horizontally reversing the characters.
In the present embodiment, the host computer 200 and the image forming apparatus 100 are connected via a network. However, connection via a telephone line or local connection such as local connection may be used. Good.

  As described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, it is needless to say that a modification example in which printing is performed with the same content on both sides without aggregation is included.

  The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile, a printer, a copier, and a multifunction machine.

1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an input screen when inputting detailed settings of “collective printing” on the operation panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the process aggregated by the same content of both surfaces of the aggregated data generation part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a printed matter that is aggregated with the same content on both sides in the image forming apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of an image forming system concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1a, 2a,... Aggregated data generation unit 10 ... Operation panel 11, 11a ... System control unit 12 ... Setting information memory 13 ... Image information memory 14 ... Paper transport unit 15 ... Image Writing unit 16... Image reading unit 100, 101... Image forming apparatus 2.
3 ... ROM
4 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Printer driver 200 ... Host computer Ga ... Paper front surface Gb ... Paper back surface X ... Image forming system

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus that prints on both sides of a sheet based on print image data,
An input unit for receiving print setting information;
An aggregated data generation unit configured to aggregate the pages of image data including a plurality of pages so that the images on both sides of the paper have the same content based on the print setting information, and generate the print image data. Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aggregated data generation unit aggregates the image on one side of the sheet so that the image on the other side is reversed left and right.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aggregate data generation unit aggregates the image on one side of the sheet so that the image on the other side is rotated.   The aggregate data generation unit aggregates the characters in the image on one side of the paper so that the characters in the image on the other side are reversed left and right. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above.   The aggregated data generation unit aggregates the characters in the image on one side of the paper so that the characters in the image on the other side are rotated. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   6. The aggregate data generation unit, when the density value of the image data is equal to or higher than a predetermined density value that shows-through on the paper, lowers the density value of the image data and aggregates the image data. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. A print setting program stored in a host computer connected to the image forming apparatus via a telecommunication line,
An input procedure for accepting input of print setting information;
An aggregate data generation procedure for generating print image data by aggregating a plurality of pages of image data so that the images on both sides of the paper have the same content based on the print setting information;
A print setting program for causing the host computer to execute a transmission procedure for transmitting the print image data generated by the aggregate data generation procedure to the image forming apparatus.

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