JP2010142973A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the usability by enabling a user to immediately obtain a printed matter by making priority printing executed when image data to be printed are displayed for preview. <P>SOLUTION: A digital combination machine 1 as one example of the image forming apparatus has the priority printing function for making a specific printing job printed with priority even when there is a waiting printing job. The digital combination machine 1 also has the function whereby the image data read by a reading part (scanner) of itself, image data inputted from computers 2, 3 etc. and stored in an image memory part, image data received by a facsimile 5, or image data and the like received by the Internet is displayed for preview before printed and a finish state can be checked on a screen. When preview display is carried out before image formation for the image data provided for image formation, the digital combination machine 1 makes the image data printed with a priority by using the priority printing function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a function of preferentially processing a print job according to a predetermined condition.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals have a function of displaying a preview of image data as a target on a display unit before copying or printing. The preview allows the user to check the print status in advance, so if the settings are incorrect, it can be reconfigured before printing is performed, saving resources and reworking. It is.

  In such a preview display function, for example, after reading an image of a document, a final form of a printed matter that has been subjected to various types of image processing such as various finishing processing, addition of additional information, scaling processing, and frame erasing processing is performed. It can be displayed on a display screen such as an operation panel. Then, after confirming the previewed display screen, the user can execute printing by issuing a print instruction. If it is desired to change the state of finishing processing or image processing at the time of preview, arbitrary conditions can be changed during printing.

  As a preview function in the image forming apparatus, for example, in addition to a preview when printing (that is, copying) an image read by a scanner included in a multifunction peripheral, image data is filed by a preview when sending / receiving a fax or a document filing function. There is a preview function when you do.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus in which a recording sheet on which an image is recorded corresponding to an image forming mode is automatically discharged to a specified paper discharge unit. As a result, even when images are recorded in a plurality of image forming modes, the recording sheets can be automatically sorted and discharged, and as a result, specific recording sheets can be taken out immediately without being confused. ing.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228688 discloses a technique in which, when output requests for a plurality of image information processing devices are simultaneously generated, priorities are assigned to the plurality of image information processing devices, and the image information processing devices are operated according to the priorities. It is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 3, in an image forming apparatus having a xerographic copy function and a print function for outputting print data from a data input device to an image processing apparatus main body via a printer control device, a copy work command means A device provided with a work switching means for switching preferentially to a copy work when an output signal is input is disclosed.
JP-A-6-30185 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-155358 JP-A-3-154089

  As described above, some image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals have a preview function that allows a finish state and an image processing state to be checked in advance before printing image data to be printed. When previewing image data to be printed using the preview function of the image forming apparatus, the user normally operates the image forming apparatus near the image forming apparatus. After the preview display, if the user performs an operation to instruct printing, the previewed image data is printed, and the printed material can be immediately acquired by the user.

  However, when a plurality of print jobs are waiting in the image forming apparatus, even if the user issues a print instruction for the image data displayed as a preview, the user cannot obtain the printed matter immediately. In other words, in the image forming apparatus, there are a plurality of print jobs transmitted from an external device, and the print processing of the print job is not in time and is in a standby state, a print job of image data read by a scanner, a facsimile, A print job of image data received by mail may be in a standby state. In such a case, even if the user issues a print instruction for the image data displayed as a preview, the print job is arranged at the end of the waiting print job. If the printing process is not performed, there is a problem that a printed matter of the image data displayed as a preview cannot be obtained. Also, Patent Documents 1 to 3 do not mention any problems at the time of preview display as described above.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and when the image data to be printed is displayed as a preview, the printed matter obtained by the image formation can be immediately obtained, which is convenient for the user. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the performance.

  In order to solve the above problems, a first technical means of the present invention includes a display unit, an image forming unit that forms an image of image data on a recording medium, and a preview image that generates a preview image of the image data to be formed. An image that has a generation unit and a display control unit that displays the preview image generated by the preview image generation unit on the display unit, and that satisfies a predetermined condition when the image forming unit performs image formation of image data An image forming apparatus having a priority printing function for preferentially printing data, and when the image forming unit forms an image of the image data displayed on the display unit by the preview image control unit, the priority printing function is used. This is characterized in that image formation is performed with priority.

  A second technical means includes a reading unit that reads an image of a document to generate image data and an image receiving unit that receives image data transmitted from an external device, and reads the image by the reading unit. If image data to be image-formed is image data displayed on the display unit by the preview image control unit when the image forming unit forms an image with the image data or the image data received by the image receiving unit, priority is given. This is characterized in that image formation is preferentially performed by a printing function.

  According to the present invention, when the image data to be printed is displayed as a preview, the printed matter obtained by the image formation can be immediately obtained, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system constructed using a digital multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 4, 1 is a digital multifunction peripheral, 2 and 3 are external computers, 4 is an Internet facsimile machine (Internet FAX machine), and 5 is a facsimile machine.

  In addition to the print function and the copy function, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 has a function of transmitting / receiving image data by fax (facsimile function) and / or a function of transmitting / receiving image data by Internet FAX (Internet FAX function). Various external devices are connected to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via a communication network. For example, an external computer 2 such as a personal computer (PC) is connected to a communication network LN laid as a local communication network and connected to an Internet network IN connected via a gateway or the like not shown in the figure. Is connected to an external computer 3 and an Internet FAX apparatus 4.

  An external facsimile machine 5 is connected to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via a public telephone line network PN. As described above, only the case where the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 will be described. However, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral or a printer. The present invention can also be applied to devices such as the Internet FAX device 4 and the facsimile device 5.

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an external view illustrating an example of a touch panel and a key operation unit in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG.

  2 includes a touch panel 10, a panel control unit 11, a recording unit 12, a reading unit 13, a format conversion unit 14, an image storage unit 15, an image processing unit 16, an encoding / decoding unit 17, a main unit. Control unit 18, control memory 19, key operation unit 20, LAN (Local Area Network) control unit 21, control buffer 22, network control unit (NCU) 23, modem 24, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) ) Interface (I / F) 25 is provided. Further, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 may include a post-processing device as described above that performs punching (punching), stapling, and the like.

  The main control unit 18 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The control memory 19 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM). A program (firmware) and various setting data are stored in the control memory 19 so as to be readable from the main control unit 18. Among these, at least various setting data are stored in a rewritable memory. Further, these programs and various setting data may be stored in a hard disk as a configuration example of the image storage unit 15 described later. The control buffer 22 is composed of a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The above-mentioned program includes commands related to generation and display of preview images, commands related to generation / transmission / reception of facsimile images and e-mails, commands related to document reading, commands related to printing, document reading and This is for the main control unit 18 to issue commands relating to printing (that is, copying) to other parts. This program is developed on the control buffer 22 by the main control unit 18, and is executed while referring to various setting data as appropriate, with the control buffer 22 used as a data area for temporary storage (work).

  The reading unit 13 is a scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), reads a document as an RGB bitmap image with a predetermined resolution, and outputs the read RGB image data (dot image data) to the image processing unit 16. . The image processing unit 16 is configured by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or the like, and performs various image processing on target image data. Other parts such as the encoding / decoding unit 17 may be incorporated in the ASIC described above.

  The image storage unit 15 is configured by a hard disk or the like, and stores image data read by the reading unit 13 and passed through the image processing unit 16, image data received from the outside via the LAN control unit 21, the NCU 23, and the like. When image data is stored in the image storage unit 15, the data encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 17 can be stored. The image storage unit 15 may also temporarily store intermediate data generated during image processing in the image processing unit 16.

  The encoding / decoding unit 17 compresses the image data by encoding and decodes the encoded image data into the original image data. For example, the encoding / decoding unit 17 performs encoding of image data obtained by reading a document, decoding of the encoded data, decoding of encoded image data received from the outside, and the like. In the encoding / decoding unit 17, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) generally used in filing, MH (Modified Huffman), MR (Modified READ), and MMR (Modified READ) generally used in facsimile communication are used. (Modified READ) or the like can be used according to the application. As an encoding method, MH can be adopted in IP facsimile communication, and JPEG and JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image Experts Group) can be adopted in Internet facsimile communication in addition to MH, MR, and MMR.

  The format conversion unit 14 converts the read image data or image data received from the outside into a predetermined file format such as PDF (Portable Document Format), GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), or TIFF (Tag Image File Format). .

The recording unit 12 includes a printer device that employs a printing method such as an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method, and records (that is, prints) image data stored in the image storage unit 15 on an image forming medium such as recording paper. To do. The recording unit 12 corresponds to the image forming unit of the present invention.
The USB I / F 25 is an I / F for connecting to a USB device such as a USB memory, and outputs image data after reading a document stored in the image storage unit 15 to the USB device. Read a file from.

  The modem 24 is composed of a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication. The modem 24 is connected to a telephone line and is directly connected to the NCU 23. The NCU 23 is connected to a telephone line and controls the line. That is, the NCU 23 is hardware that performs operations for closing and opening a line with an analog public telephone line network (PSTN), and connects the modem 24 to the public telephone line network as necessary. With this configuration, the image data stored in the image storage unit 15 is transmitted to the outside by facsimile, or the facsimile image data is received from the telephone line and stored in the image storage unit 15 or directly printed by the recording unit 12. It becomes possible to do.

  The LAN control unit 21 is connected to the LAN, and performs communication of electronic mail data and Internet FAX via the Internet. The Internet FAX transmits and receives e-mails via a computer network such as a LAN using a LAN interface or the like. The LAN control unit 21 is also configured to realize a printer function for directly connecting an external device such as a PC, receiving a print job instructed from the external device, and performing printing. Accordingly, the digital multifunction peripheral 1 can be used as a printer by transmitting a print job to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 using a printer driver such as a PC.

  Image reception according to the present invention is performed by the LAN control unit 21 or the modem 24 that enables image data input from an externally connected information processing apparatus such as a PC, image data input by facsimile, and image data input via the Internet. Part is realized. Image data received by the image receiving unit can be appropriately formed by the recording unit 12.

  When the touch panel 10 or the key operation unit 20 executes an operation for selecting a desired process from processes such as a document reading process, image data transmission, and printing, an operation for starting the process, and each process. An operation (selection operation or input operation) or the like for performing settings necessary for the operation is received. Examples of the setting include various settings such as setting of the number of prints at the time of printing, setting of punching (punching) and stapling, setting of destination information at the time of transmitting a facsimile image and an e-mail, and the like.

  The key operation unit 20 includes a group of keys necessary for operation. The touch panel 10 includes a display unit and an operation receiving unit such as a touch sensor. The touch panel 10 is subjected to display control and operation acceptance control by the panel control unit 11. That is, the panel control unit 11 performs display control of the display unit and operation reception control of the operation reception unit on the touch panel 10.

  The display unit of the touch panel 10 displays the current operation state, setting information (for example, transmission destination) and the like. This display is realized by the panel control unit 11 controlling so as to display a GUI (Graphical User Interface) image. With the GUI, the display and operation reception position can be changed according to a user operation. Each GUI and its image may be stored in the internal memory of the panel control unit 11 or the control memory 19 so as to be readable. As the display unit, various display formats such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display can be adopted.

  The user operation received on the touch panel 10 is interpreted by the panel control unit 11 and transmitted to the main control unit 18 as an operation signal. The user operation received by the key operation unit 20 is interpreted by the key operation unit 20 itself and transmitted to the main control unit 18 as an operation signal. The main control unit 18 issues a command according to the operation signal obtained in this manner to another part, thereby causing the other part to execute a process according to the user operation. Note that although the touch panel 10 in which the display device and the operation unit are integrated has been described, only the display device may be provided instead of the touch panel 10, and in this case, the user operation is accepted only by the key operation unit 20.

  The touch panel 10 and the key operation unit 20 may be configured as an operation panel 30 illustrated in FIG. 3, and the operation panel 30 includes a key operation unit 31 including various hardware keys (in the key operation unit 20 in FIG. 2). And a touch panel 32 (corresponding to the touch panel 10 in FIG. 2) including a liquid crystal display and a touch sensor.

  The key operation unit 31 includes, as hardware keys, a numeric keypad 31a for inputting a numerical value, a clear key 31b for clearing an input set value, an all cancel key 31c for canceling all input settings, a copy start, In addition to a start key 31d for receiving an instruction such as transmission start, function switching keys 31e, 31f, and 31g for switching a print function, a transmission function, and a copy function, and a system setting key 31h for receiving a setting by a user are provided.

An operation example in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 having the above-described configuration example will be described.
<Original scanning operation>
In the original reading operation, the image data of the read original is stored (filed) in the image storage unit 15, the image data of the read original is transmitted to the outside, or the image data of the read original is printed (that is, a copy). To be done).

  When a user operation for performing a process that requires reading of a document is received by the operation panel 30, the main control unit 18 reads the reading unit 13, the image storage unit 15, the image processing unit 16, and the encoding / decoding unit 17. Is instructed to execute processing as described below.

  The reading unit 13 optically reads an image of a document placed on a document table or an automatic document feeder, and passes RGB image data (RGB bitmap data) as a result of the reading to the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 performs various image processing such as A / D conversion, shading correction, and γ correction on the RGB image data. Here, the shading process is a process for removing various distortions generated in the illumination system, the imaging system, and the imaging system of the reading unit 13.

<Printing action>
By the above-described original reading operation, filing of image data of the read original is completed. Next, a printing operation when printing image data of a read document (that is, when copying a document) will be described. When a user operation for performing processing that requires printing is received by the operation panel 30, the main control unit 18 includes the recording unit 12, the image storage unit 15, the image processing unit 16, the encoding / decoding unit 17, and the like. Is instructed to execute the printing process. Note that the main control unit 18 also gives an instruction to the reading unit 13 (original reading instruction) when, for example, a copy operation is performed.

  Further, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 can add additional information such as a standard stamp, date (or date / time), and page number to the image data at the time of printing. The main control unit 18 controls the image processing unit 16. It can be said that the additional information added to the image data is an additional image. The additional information is stored in the control memory 19 and is read out as necessary. Of course, additional information may be originally stored as additional image data.

  A plurality of additional information may be stored in the control memory 19 and the additional setting information may be stored in the control memory 19. This additional setting information includes at least information indicating a position to be added to image data (hereinafter referred to as an additional position), and also includes information on which one to select when a plurality of additional information is stored. Shall be. When there is an instruction to execute punching or stapling processing in the post-processing device, the main control unit 18 also controls this post-processing device.

  The encoding / decoding unit 17 reads out the image data to be printed and the corresponding document determination data and area separation data from the image storage unit 15, decodes them, and passes them to the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 performs various image processing (hereinafter referred to as printing image processing) on the decoded image data (RGB image data). Image processing for printing includes image quality adjustment processing, dichroic processing, color correction processing, black generation / undercolor removal processing, spatial filter processing, scaling processing, output tone correction processing, halftone generation processing, and the like. It is done. The black generation / under color removal process, the spatial filter process, and the halftone generation process are processes corresponding to various areas indicated by the area separation data.

  The recording unit 12 receives the image data (CMYK image data in this example) that has been subjected to image processing for printing by the image processing unit 16, and makes a hard copy (print out) by an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like. Then, the post-processing apparatus executes punching or stapling processing on the printed paper as necessary. Note that the print operation target data described here is not limited to the image data read by the reading unit 13, and is transferred in advance from an external recording medium such as a USB memory or a network-connected PC, for example. The same applies to image data (image file) stored in the image storage unit 15.

<Preview display operation of image data to be printed>
Next, an operation (preview display operation) of previewing image data stored in the image storage unit 15 as a result of document reading on the touch panel 32 before printing will be described. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has a configuration that enables preview display for image data to be printed. This preview display operation is performed when a user operation for performing a process that requires a preview display is received by the operation panel 30. For example, the preview display operation is also performed when the image data after reading the document is set to be previewed first before printing. For example, after setting to perform the preview display, reading of the document may be started when the copy condition is set and the start key is pressed, and the preview image may be displayed on the touch panel 32 after the reading.

The main control unit 18 gives an instruction to the image storage unit 15, the image processing unit 16, the encoding / decoding unit 17, the panel control unit 11, and the like. Note that the main control unit 18 also gives an instruction to the reading unit 13 (original reading instruction) when, for example, an operation for copying an original is performed.
The encoding / decoding unit 17 reads out the image data to be previewed and the corresponding document determination data and region separation data from the image storage unit 15, decodes them, and passes them to the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 performs various image processing (hereinafter referred to as preview image processing) on the decoded image data (RGB image data). Examples of the image processing for preview include image quality adjustment processing, dichroic processing, color correction processing, spatial filter processing, scaling processing, and output tone correction processing. Spatial filter processing and output tone correction processing are processing according to various regions indicated by the region separation data.
A preview image generation unit 16a provided in the image processing unit 16 generates an image for preview display (preview image) mainly by a scaling process for preview display.

  When adding additional information to image data, the preview display is executed by the panel control unit 11 performing control to display an image indicating the additional information. Therefore, the preview image generation unit 16a generates an image indicating such additional information and combines it with the preview image generated from the image data to be output, thereby generating a preview image with additional information. The panel control unit 11 displays this on the touch panel 32.

  The additional information can be output together with the image data to be printed by performing the scaling process according to the printing magnification, and added to the image data to be printed after the scaling process according to the printing magnification. It can also be output. First, when the additional information is also scaled and output, the main control unit 18 reads the additional information and its added position, and passes them to the image processing unit 16 before the scaling process. Subsequently, the preview image generation unit 16a generates R′G′B ′ data of an image indicating this additional information, and synthesizes it at the additional position with respect to the addition destination image data which is the image data before the scaling process. . Then, it is preferable to perform image enlargement processing / image reduction processing according to the print magnification on the R′G′B ′ data after the image of the additional information is added.

  When the additional information is not subjected to the scaling process, the main control unit 18 reads out the additional information and the additional position and passes it to the image processing unit 16. Subsequently, the preview image generation unit 16a generates R'G'B 'data of an image indicating additional information from the additional information, and uses the R'G' data after image enlargement processing / image reduction processing according to the print magnification. The B ′ data is combined at the additional position and the number of pixels of the added R′G′B ′ data is converted to the number of pixels (display resolution) of the touch panel 32, and the image is displayed based on the preview display magnification. Enlargement processing and image reduction processing are performed.

  When punching or stapling is performed in the post-processing apparatus, post-processing image data such as punch holes or staples is added to the preview image generated from the image data to be printed (and image data indicating additional information). , It can be combined and output at the punch position or staple position. Alternatively, separately from the preview image generated from the image data to be printed (and image data indicating additional information), post-processing image data such as punch holes and staples may be output in the vicinity thereof. . In the latter case, since the synthesis process is unnecessary, the processing speed is increased. Any method can display the finished state of the sheet on which the image is formed when the preview of the image data is displayed.

  The R′G′B ′ data generated by the preview image generation unit 16 a and subjected to the output gradation correction processing is passed to the touch panel 32. The panel control unit 11 controls the touch panel 32 to display an image corresponding to the R′G′B ′ data in a GUI image, and displays the GUI image on the touch panel 32. The user confirms the preview-displayed image including the image indicating the additional information, and performs printing as it is, cancels the printing, deletes the additional information, or changes the additional position (or changes the additional information). It is possible to determine whether or not to execute the operation and perform an operation corresponding to the determination.

<Supplementary information about filing action>
As described in the document reading operation, the filing operation (document filing operation) stores the read image data (encoded as necessary) in the image storage unit 15 provided in the digital multi-function peripheral 1. Is the action. Even during filing, it is possible to store (filing) after adding additional information to the image data to be stored. The preview display operation of the image data filed in the image storage unit 15 is basically as described for the image data to be printed.

<Preview display operation of image data received by facsimile>
A preview display operation of image data received by facsimile communication will be briefly described based on the printing operation of the image data. This preview display operation is performed when there is a prior setting or a user operation for executing printing after confirming received image data in advance. In this preview display operation, when the image processing unit 16 adds additional information to the image data after being subjected to processing such as decompression, the image data of the additional information is combined and then further displayed on the touch panel 32. Conversion processing according to the number of pixels (display resolution) and scaling processing at the time of preview display are performed, and the image data after scaling processing is incorporated into the GUI image and displayed on the touch panel 32.
In this way, image data received by facsimile may be handled as a copy mode when a preview is displayed before printing. The user can confirm the preview-displayed image, determine whether to execute printing or discard it, and perform a printing or discarding operation. The preview display can also be executed for an image to be transmitted by facsimile.

<Description of preview display example>
As described above, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 appropriately displays a preview image when executing the printing operation of the read original image, performing filing by document filing, transmitting and receiving image data by facsimile, and transmitting and receiving image data by the Internet. A preview image generation unit 16a for generation is provided.
The preview image generated by the preview image generation unit 16 a is sent to the touch panel 32 under the control of the main control unit 18, and is controlled to be incorporated into the GUI image and displayed by the panel control unit 11 and displayed on the display unit of the touch panel 32. The Here, the touch panel 32 is an example of a display unit that previews image data to be formed.

Further, as described above, in the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the panel control unit 11 performs control for displaying information indicating the finished state on the touch panel 32 for the image data displayed as a preview based on the control of the main control unit 18. be able to. As an example, a preview image of image data is displayed as a reduced image for each page, and information indicating a finished state is displayed on the same screen separately from the image data. Further, as described above, information indicating the finished state may be displayed in an overlapping manner on the image data.
The preview image generating unit 16a generates a preview image from the information indicating the finished state and the image data to be image formed. The preview image generation unit 16a and the panel control unit 11 are an example of the display control unit of the present invention that performs preview display control.

  As information indicating the finished state, for example, information on staples and punch holes applied to a sheet on which image formation is performed, information on saddle stitching, information on double-sided printing, and different types of sheets with respect to sheets on which image formation is performed are specified. Information on the interleaving paper to be inserted into the position, information on the OHP interleaving paper in which different types of paper (address paper) are inserted between the OHP paper at this time, and different types of paper with respect to the paper for image formation There is information on the front cover inserted at the first page position, information on the back cover where the same type of paper is inserted at the last page position, and the like.

  In this case, the user confirms the preview image on which the reduced image for each page of the image data and the information indicating the finished state are displayed, and executes or cancels the image formation as it is or changes the finish setting. It is possible to determine whether to execute the operation and perform an operation corresponding to the determination.

A specific example of preview display of image data will be described below. The following screen display example shows a display example of the touch panel 32 in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a standard screen of the digital multi-function peripheral 1. The standard screen 40 is displayed on the touch panel 32 of the digital multifunction device 1 when the power of the digital multifunction device 1 is turned on or reset. In the standard screen 40, the upper copy key 41 is selected as an initial state, and various conditions for copying can be set. On the standard screen 40, in addition to copying, by selecting the image transmission key 42 or the document filing key 43, an image transmission mode for performing image transmission such as FAX, or data storage and confirmation is performed. You can enter document filing mode. Further, on this standard screen 40, a double-sided copy key 44 for setting double-sided copying, a finishing key 45 for setting post-processing such as punching and stapling, or a preview confirmation for instructing preview display of image data A key 46 and the like are provided.

  For example, when the double-sided copy key 44 is operated (touched) on the standard screen of FIG. 4, a double-sided copy setting screen 50 as shown in FIG. 5 can be opened. Here, the user sets a “single side → single side” key 51 for setting automatic single-sided copying from a single-sided original, a “single side → double-sided” key 52 for setting automatic double-sided copying from a single-sided original, By operating a “double-sided → double-sided” key 53 for setting double-sided copying, a “double-sided → single-sided” key 54 for setting single-sided copying from a double-sided document, desired double-sided copying can be set. it can.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen for finishing displayed when the finishing key 45 is operated (touched) on the standard screen 40 of FIG.
On the finishing initial screen 60 of FIG. 6, the user instructs the sort key 61 for sorting and outputting the copies, the staple sort key 62 for performing setting for stapling the sorted copy outputs, and outputting for each identical copy. A group key 63 for carrying out, a saddle stitching key 64 for instructing saddle stitching after stapling in the middle of double-open copy output, a punch key 65 for setting punch holes, and paper folding By operating a paper folding key 66 or the like for performing the copy output, it is possible to perform a desired finish regarding the copy output.

On the initial finishing screen 60 shown in FIG. 6, for example, by selecting the staple sort key 62, a staple setting screen 60 ′ shown in FIG. 7 is displayed.
In the staple setting screen 60 ′ of FIG. 7, the staple sort key 62 itself is highlighted so that the user can confirm that the staple sort key 62 is selected. Then, when the reading direction of the copy original is read from the left side, a key 62A for giving an instruction for stapling one place on the upper left of the copy output, and an instruction for stapling two places on the left side of the copy output And a key 62C for instructing to staple at one place are displayed at the lower left of the copy output, and the user can arbitrarily select each of the keys 62A, 62B, and 62C.

The user who has set the finishing state of the copy output can display a preview of the image data by operating the preview confirmation key 46 displayed on the standard screen 40 in FIG. 4 using the touch panel 32.
Image data displayed as a preview at this time is image data of a document image read by the reading unit 13 and stored in the image storage unit 15. In addition, the image data received from an external device via a PC, facsimile, Internet FAX, or the like and stored in the image storage unit 15 can be used as a preview target. Alternatively, it may be input from a recording medium such as a memory. These image data are targeted when an image is formed by the recording unit 12, filed in the image storage unit 15 such as an HDD, or transmitted to an external device by facsimile, Internet FAX, Internet mail, or the like. It is possible to display a preview of the current image data.

  In this case, in the copy mode, a preview display of image data to be read and printed can be performed. Further, when transmitting image data in the image transmission mode, it is possible to execute transmission after confirming the image data to be transmitted by displaying a preview. Here, when data is transmitted by facsimile or Internet FAX, or image data read by a reading unit (scanner) is transmitted by e-mail or transferred to a USB memory or the like, the image data is displayed as a preview. Can be confirmed in advance. In the document filing mode, for example, when image data read by a reading unit (scanner) or image data received by a facsimile, Internet FAX, or the like is stored in the image storage unit 15 such as an HDD and stored, the image data is stored. It is possible to display the preview and execute the saving process after confirmation by the user.

  For example, when attempting to copy a document in the copy mode, the user sets the document on the reading unit 13 and first operates the preview confirmation key 46. Then, by pressing a start key 31d (FIG. 3) for starting copying, the original image is read, and the image data temporarily stored in the image storage unit 15 is displayed as a preview. Alternatively, when the image data received from the external device is printed, the image data can be preview-displayed by operating the preview confirmation key 46 and then pressing the start key 31d.

  As described above, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 can display the preview of the image data. However, the preview image can be displayed before the final processing of the input image data is executed. Final processing includes image formation processing for image formation (printing) of image data on an image forming medium such as recording paper, transmission processing for transmitting image data to an external device via facsimile or the Internet, or digital processing of image data. This corresponds to the process of storing and holding (document filing) in the image storage unit 15 built in the multifunction device 1. Here, instead of the image storage unit 15, an external storage device or recording medium accessible by the digital multi-function peripheral 1 may be used.

  In the embodiment according to the present invention, the preview image generation unit 16a (FIG. 5) of the image processing unit 16 generates a preview image using the image data to be subjected to final processing as described above. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a preview screen. The preview image 81 in this example is displayed for each page, and the user can display a preview image of an arbitrary page by appropriately operating the page switching key 82. The page of the image data that is currently displayed can be confirmed by the page display 83 to be the first (first page) of the total 125 sheets.

  In addition, a setting confirmation key 84, an enlargement / reduction key 85, a display rotation key 86, and the like are displayed on the preview screen 80 shown in FIG. 8, and the user can set the preview image 81 by appropriately operating these. Can be confirmed, or the preview image 81 can be confirmed by enlarging, reducing, or rotating. For example, the preview screen 80 shown in FIG. 9 shows a display example when an operation for enlarging the preview image 81 with the enlargement / reduction key 85 is performed on the preview screen 80 of FIG.

Further, when it is necessary to reset the printing conditions by checking the preview image 81, the user can open a screen for resetting the printing conditions by operating the reset key 87. Then, the print condition can be reset using the reset screen, and the preview image 81 based on the reset print condition can be displayed.
The preview screen 80 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 displays a copy start key 88. When the user operates the copy start key 88, the previewed image data is formed (printed). be able to.

<Description of Priority Printing Process at Preview Display According to the Present Invention>
In the embodiment according to the present invention, when the preview display as described above is executed in the image forming apparatus, the print (image forming) process is preferentially executed by using the priority print processing function provided in the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen for the priority printing function provided in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has a priority print function for performing print processing with priority on a specific print job even when there is a print job on standby. The setting of the priority printing function can be performed on a screen 100 as shown in FIG. 10, for example. A screen 100 in FIG. 10 is displayed by performing a predetermined operation on the display unit of the digital multifunction device 1 (the display unit of the touch panel 10 in the configuration of FIG. 2). It shows the state.

  In the screen 100 of FIG. 10, the current print jobs 101 instructed to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 are displayed in a list, the user / mode 102 of each print job, the number of copies set and the number of copies 103, copying, and waiting A situation 104 such as In the user / mode display, a print job transmitted as a print instruction from an information processing apparatus such as a PC, a print job of image data read by a scanner of a multifunction machine (that is, copy processing), or printing of image data received by facsimile A job, a print job of image data received by Internet FAX, and the like can be discriminated.

  With this screen 100, it is possible to determine a print job that is currently being printed, a print job in which print processing is in a standby state, and the standby order. If the user wants to print a specific print job with priority, the user operates the print button 105 from the screen 100 in FIG. 10 to switch the print job status mode 106 to reservation / execution and give priority. Select the printed print job 101 and touch the priority key 107. As a result, the selected print job can be executed with priority over other print jobs.

  In the embodiment according to the present invention, when the above-described preview display processing is performed in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 using the priority printing function as described above, the print job is automatically priority-printed. Treat as a print job. Therefore, even if there is another print job that is on standby, when a preview display is performed and an operation for instructing printing is subsequently executed, print processing is performed with priority on the print job.

In this case, the image data to be preferentially printed is image data for image formation by the digital multi-function peripheral 1. That is, even if the image data is to be preview-displayed, in the case of preview display performed when the image data is transmitted to an external device via facsimile or the Internet, it is not necessary to perform priority printing without printing with the digital multi-function peripheral 1. .
Here, the image data read by the reading unit (scanner), the image data input from a PC or the like and stored in the image storage unit, the image data received by facsimile, the image data received via the Internet, etc. are displayed in preview, If preview display is performed before image formation for image data to be formed by its own image forming unit (recording unit), the image data is preferentially printed using the priority printing function.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of image processing in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and shows print processing at the time of preview in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 as an example of the image forming apparatus. When the digital multifunction peripheral 1 is operated by the user and an image data print instruction operation is performed (step S1-Yes), the digital multifunction peripheral 1 determines whether there is a waiting print job (step S2). ). If there is a waiting print job, as shown in the screen example of FIG. 10, one or more print jobs are held as a waiting job before print processing.

  If there is no waiting print job, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 performs print processing of the image data instructed to be printed (step S7). On the other hand, if there is a waiting print job (step S2-Yes), it is determined whether the image data to be printed instructed to be printed has been previewed (step S3). As described above, the preview is displayed on the screen so that the user can check the finished state before printing the image data (image formation). Here, if the image data to be printed is previewed, the priority printing process using the priority printing function of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is performed.

  In the priority printing process, the print job of the previewed image data is set to the head of the waiting print job (step S4). In other words, the print priority is set to be the highest priority. Then, print processing is performed in the order of priority of the print jobs (step S5). Here, since the print job of the previewed image data is set at the head of the print job, the print process is performed with the highest priority. At this time, if there is a print job being printed, the print processing of the image data previewed with the highest priority is performed after printing of the print job is completed.

  When a print instruction is issued without previewing image data to be printed (step S3-No), normal print processing is performed. Here, the print job of the previewed image data is set at the end of the waiting print job (step S6). Print processing is performed in the order of priority of the print jobs (step S7). In other words, even if a print instruction is issued, if there is a print job on standby, the print processing of the image data for which the print instruction is made this time is performed after the print job has been printed.

  With the above-described processing, when the image data to be printed is displayed as a preview, the priority printing processing is executed so that the user can obtain the printed material immediately, thereby improving convenience.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system constructed using a digital multifunction peripheral as an example of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an external view illustrating an example of a touch panel and a key operation unit in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the example of the standard screen of a digital multi-function peripheral. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen when a double-sided copy key is operated on the standard screen of FIG. 4. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an initial screen for finishing displayed when a finishing key is operated on the standard screen of FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen when staple sorting is selected on the initial screen of FIG. 6. It is a figure which shows an example of a preview screen. It is a figure which shows the other example of a preview screen. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for a priority printing function provided in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an image processing example in the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital compound machine, 2 ... External computer, 3 ... External computer, 4 ... Internet FAX apparatus, 5 ... Facsimile apparatus, 10 ... Touch panel, 11 ... Panel control part, 12 ... Recording part, 13 ... Reading part, 14 ... Format Conversion unit, 15 ... Image storage unit, 16 ... Image processing unit, 16a ... Preview image generation unit, 17 ... Decoding unit, 18 ... Main control unit, 19 ... Control memory, 20 ... Key operation unit, 21 ... LAN control unit 22 ... Control buffer, 23 ... NCU, 24 ... Modem, 25 ... USB interface, 30 ... Operation panel, 31 ... Key operation unit, 31a ... Numeric keypad, 31b ... Clear key, 31c ... All release key, 31d ... Start key , 31e, 31f, 31g ... function switching key, 31h ... system setting key, 32 ... touch panel, 100 ... screen, 101 Print job 102 ... User / mode 103 ... End copy 104 ... Status 105 ... Print button 106 ... Status mode 107 ... Priority key 40 ... Standard screen 41 ... Copy key 42 ... Image transmission key 43 Document filing key, 44 Duplex copy key, 45 Key, 46 Preview confirmation key, 61 Sort key, 62 Staple sort key, 63 Group key, 64 Staple key, 65 Punch key, 66 Fold key, 80 ... Preview screen, 81 ... Preview image, 82 ... Page switching key, 83 ... Page display, 84 ... Setting confirmation key, 85 ... Reduction key, 86 ... Rotation key, 87 ... Reset key, 88 ... Copy start key.

Claims (2)

A display unit; an image forming unit that forms image data on a recording medium; a preview image generating unit that generates a preview image of image data to be image-formed; and the preview image generated by the preview image generating unit And an image forming apparatus having a priority printing function that preferentially prints image data corresponding to a predetermined condition when the image forming unit performs image formation of image data. Because
When the image forming unit forms an image of the image data generated by the preview image generation unit and displayed on the display unit by the display control unit, the image formation is performed with priority by the priority printing function. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a reading unit that reads an image of a document to generate image data; and an image receiving unit that receives image data transmitted from an external device, and the image data read by the reading unit. Alternatively, when image data received by the image receiving unit is formed by the image forming unit, the image data to be formed is generated by the preview image generating unit and displayed on the display unit by the display control unit. In the case of the image data, the image forming apparatus performs image formation with priority by the priority printing function.