JP2012060234A - Image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image formation device which can execute an output by intensive printing in response to an output request for the number of printing smaller than the number of original images, while securing readability.SOLUTION: An image formation device temporarily determines aggregation rate based on the number of printed original images sought by reading manuscripts just in the same way as the conventional methods when deciding the printing condition of intensive printing (S201) and confirms readability depending on whether or not the printed character size in the temporarily determined aggregation rate is no less than the threshold defining the limit of readability (S203). If, the result of this confirmation is that the prescribed level of readability cannot be obtained, the temporarily determined aggregation rate is modified to the value which guarantees the prescribed level of readability (S204), and the aggregation rate set as the printing condition at the time of printing is determined (S205).

Description

  More specifically, the present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, and multi-function peripherals (MFPs) that have an integrated printing function. More specifically, the printing conditions for a plurality of original images to be output are more than the number of original images depending on user settings. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of performing setting for executing output by aggregate printing in response to an output request instructed by a small number of printed output sheets.

In image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, and MFPs, when it is desired to reduce the number of printed output (hereinafter simply referred to as “number of printed sheets”) for power saving and cost reduction, or within the desired number of printed sheets. For example, there are aggregate printing (Nin1 printing) and double-sided printing as a technique for printing by reducing the number of printed sheets from the actual number of pages. These printing functions are functions that are already installed in an actual machine and work according to instructions when the user performs setting operations such as aggregate printing and double-sided printing when printing is requested.
However, in many image forming apparatuses that have aggregate printing and double-sided printing functions, when a user performs a setting operation such as aggregate printing or double-sided printing when a print request is made, multiple original images to be printed are set. Printing conditions that satisfy the user's request to keep the print output within a predetermined number of prints must be confirmed by the user himself / herself by simply executing in accordance with Nin1 printing or double-sided printing instructions. There was a problem that the setting for obtaining the time was troublesome, and the setting according to this requirement could not be made immediately.

In order to solve the above problem, when a print request is made, the user designates the number of prints in advance, and the aggregate print setting (2 in 1, 4 in 1,. An image forming apparatus that automatically sets printing conditions has been proposed. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 483867, there are already known ones.
One example of the prior art for setting printing conditions in response to an output request instructed by a printing number smaller than the number of original images will be described with reference to FIGS.
The aggregation function assumed by this prior art is to aggregate two original page images into one page, that is, “2 in 1” aggregation (also referred to as “aggregation rate = 2”) is as shown in FIG. In addition, the area of the original page image is halved and each area is integrated into one page area. FIG. 9B shows an example of “4 in 1” in which the area of the original page image is reduced to ¼ and the area is integrated into one page area. Note that aggregating N original page images into one page is referred to as Nin1 (aggregation rate = N).
In the setting of the aggregate printing function, in general, many can be selected from a plurality of options such as “2 in 1, 4 in 1, 9 in 1. In the case of aggregation by Nin1, since the area of one page of the original image is reduced to 1 / N, the original page image is reduced and printed each time N increases.

The settings to be made when using the Nin1 consolidated printing function as described above include a method in which the user sets the aggregation rate on the operation panel or the like at the time of a print request, and the number of printed sheets (the number of printed sheets per copy is In some systems, the aggregation rate is automatically set by calculating the aggregation rate from the set number of images and setting the aggregation rate.
Here, the process of automatically setting the above-described aggregation rate will be described with reference to the process flowchart of FIG. Note that this processing example is an example of aggregate printing performed in accordance with a copy operation.
According to the processing flow of FIG. 10, since the number of prints is set together with an instruction for aggregate printing by the user at the time of a copy request, the setting is accepted (step S11). The number of prints for consolidated printing is the maximum number of prints desired by the user. If the number of original pages is larger than the number of printed sheets, the print conditions must be set so that they can be accommodated within the maximum number of printed sheets by consolidated printing. become. In the case of copying or the like, the setting of the number of sheets to be printed is performed from the operation panel. In the case of a print request using the printer function, it is performed from the printer driver.

Next, the document is read using ARDF (automatic duplex document feeder) (step S12).
Further, as a result of reading the original, the number of original pages is obtained. The job management function acquires and stores the obtained number of document pages as job management information (step S13). When the document is double-sided, the document image read per document is two pages.
Next, the printing conditions including the setting of the aggregate printing are determined from the set number of the aggregate printing and the acquired number of document pages (step S14). Here, the aggregation rate as the printing condition is a quotient calculated by calculating the quotient of (number of original pages / number of printed aggregated prints) and calculating from the aggregate rate provided by the aggregate printing function of the image forming apparatus. The aggregation rate is determined by the procedure of selecting. For example, when the number of original pages = 5 and the number of consolidated prints = 2, (number of original pages / number of consolidated prints) = 2.5. When there are 2in1, 4in1, and 9in1 as options for the aggregation rate, the calculated (number of original pages / number of printed sheets for aggregation printing) = 4in1 that is an aggregation rate greater than 2.5 is selected, and the aggregation rate as a printing condition is selected. decide. Note that the example of the procedure for determining the aggregation rate is for single-sided printing. In the case of double-sided printing, the calculated value (number of original pages / number of prints of consolidated print) should be halved to select a higher consolidation rate than can be obtained. In the above example, 2 in 1 is selected.

Next, a processing condition or an operation condition according to the printing condition determined in the previous stage is set in the image processing unit that processes the page image data used for output by the printer engine and the printer engine (step S15).
After completing the setting in step S15, the image processing unit that processes page image data used for print output performs processing such as image aggregation processing according to the aggregation rate set based on a plurality of document images. The image data for subsequent print output is input to the printer engine (step S16).
Further, the printer engine uses image data for print output input from the image processing unit in accordance with instructions such as color / monochrome mode, single-sided / double-sided printing, recording medium (paper), number of prints, etc. set in the preceding stage. The plotter is output to the recording medium (paper), the printing process is executed (step S17), and the process according to this flow is terminated.

As described above, according to the conventional technique for automatically setting the aggregation rate, it is possible to perform the printing by the aggregation printing so that the user can specify the number of printing sheets for the aggregation printing only by specifying the printing number of the aggregation printing. However, since the image is reduced by the aggregate printing, there is a problem that it is difficult to read or read depending on the image or character size of the original image.
Until now, no solution has been proposed for the problems occurring in the prior art, and it has not been solved yet.
The present invention relates to an image having an aggregate printing function capable of executing output by aggregate printing in response to an output request in which a printing number smaller than the number of original images is designated as a printing condition for a plurality of original images to be output. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems occurring in the forming apparatus, and an object thereof is to make it possible to apply the aggregate printing function while maintaining legibility.

  The present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of executing output by aggregate printing in response to an output request instructing a printing number smaller than the number of original images as printing conditions for a plurality of original images to be output. A character image extracting unit that extracts an image including a character image from the original image to be output, and a character image included in the image extracted by the character image extracting unit is provisionally determined based on an output request instruction Depending on whether or not the character size obtained by the output character size obtaining means for obtaining the character size when output at the aggregation rate and the character size obtained by the output character size obtaining means is equal to or more than a threshold defined as a predetermined lower limit character size, Executability determination means for determining whether or not the provisionally determined aggregation rate is used as a printing condition set when the original image is output, and output by the execution permission determination means The printing condition set at the time of execution is determined by changing the temporarily determined aggregation ratio of the original image determined not to be set as the printing condition to be set at the line to the aggregation ratio at which the character size at the output becomes the lower limit character size. It has an execution condition determining means.

  According to the present invention, in response to an output request issued by instructing a number of prints smaller than the number of original images, the apparatus side performs setting of aggregate printing, and in an image forming apparatus that executes printing, legibility is set at the time of setting. By confirming and setting the necessary aggregation rate according to the confirmation result, the readability of the output image can be maintained and the performance of the device can be improved.

1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus (MFP) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a software configuration of an MFP controller unit of the image forming apparatus (MFP) in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart of the print output process accompanied by the aggregation print process which sets an aggregation rate automatically from the set number of sheets based on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example (Example 1) of a sub-sequence of a printing condition determination process in the process flow of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example (second embodiment) of a sub-sequence of a printing condition determination process in the processing flow of FIG. 3. It is a figure explaining the action | operation / non-operation of image rotation in aggregation of the image from which a printing direction differs. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example (embodiment 3) of a subsequence of a printing condition determination process in the processing flow of FIG. 3. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example (embodiment 4) of a sub-sequence of print condition determination processing in the processing flow of FIG. 3. It is a figure explaining the page image output obtained by carrying out collective printing from a plurality of original page images with two variations of 2 in 1 (A) and 4 in 1 (B). FIG. 10 is a flowchart of processing for automatically setting an aggregation rate from a set number in conventional aggregate printing.

Embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention generates image data for output based on an image of a page unit that is input by requesting print output, and uses the image data to print a recording medium (hereinafter referred to as a recording medium). For example, it can be implemented in the form of an apparatus such as a printer, a copier, or a multifunction peripheral (MFP) that outputs an image to “printing paper” or simply “paper”. However, the embodiment will be described below by taking an MFP as an example.
The image forming apparatus (MFP) according to the embodiment described below is configured to output by aggregate printing in response to an output request in which a printing number smaller than the number of original images is specified as a printing condition for a plurality of original images to be output. Has an integrated print function that can be executed.

[Schematic configuration of MFP]
First, the configuration of the MFP according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Here, the outline of the overall configuration will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 1 showing the schematic configuration of the MFP of the present embodiment. The composite functions of the MFP include a copy function, a printer function, a facsimile (hereinafter referred to as “FAX”) function, a document management function for performing print output based on an image stored in a storage medium, and the like. .
In addition to the main body 110 built in the exterior / frame, the MFP 100 includes an ARDF (Auto Reverse Document Feeder) 120 used as an accessory connected to the main body 110, a rear multi 130, and an additional tray 140. . The ARDF 120 automatically conveys a read document, the expansion tray is a paper tray that enables a large amount of paper feeding, and the rear multi is a means that can feed various types of paper that cannot be handled by the paper tray mainly manually. .

The main unit 110 includes a scanner unit 103, a FAX unit 107, a NIC (Network Interface Card) 108, and a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface (units and elements that function to input an image to be processed by the MFP 100. (Hereinafter referred to as “I / F”) 109 and SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) I / F 102. Scanner input is also performed by a sheet-through reading unit in the ARDF 120. In addition, the printer engine 104 is provided as a unit that functions to form an image on printing paper using image data used for print output in units of pages.
Further, the operation panel 106 is provided on the main body 110. The operation panel 106 includes an LCD (liquid crystal display unit), informs the user of information for informing the device state (status), and gives the device instructions such as start, stop, mode setting, and output conditions. And providing a function as a user interface.
A PSU (Power Supply Unit) 105 that supplies necessary power from an external power source to each part of the main body 110 is provided.

An MFP controller 101 is provided to control units and elements that function to input an image to be processed and a printer engine 104 that outputs the image.
The MFP controller 101 can be configured as a hardware as well as a control ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) having a required controller function. In the latter case, the program can be implemented by operating the installed computer with a program (software) for causing the MFP controller 101 to function.
The software configuration of the MFP controller 101 will be described later with reference to FIG. 2. While making full use of these software groups, the MFP controller 101 responds to an output request instructing a number of prints smaller than the number of original images. Accordingly, the operation is controlled by controlling the operation of a series of printing processes (processes according to the flows of FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a software configuration of the MFP controller 101 of the image forming apparatus (MFP) 100 of FIG.
Portal software 201, document management 202, scanner 203, FAX 204, printer 205, and SMU (System Management Unit) 210 are applications used when using functions such as copy, printer, and FAX that MFP 100 has as complex functions.
The portal software 201 performs management such as setting and deletion of the application software having the above-described composite function.
A TWAIN (Technology Without an Interesting Name) driver 206 is a module that converts image data obtained by converting an image reading signal input by the scanner 203 or the like into data that can be used on a PC (Personal computer). .
The PC-FAX driver 207 is a module that converts image data input / output from the FAX function into data in a format that can be used on the PC.

The RPCS driver 208 is a module that converts image data into data in a format that can be output by the printer engine 104.
A PDL (page description language) driver 209 is a module that converts print data in PDL format into a format that can be output by the printer engine 104.
An SMU (System Management Unit) 210 manages AIO (All In One) device information, which is information related to the composite functions of the MFP 100, and the data size of each of the drivers 206 to 209 and the MFP controller 101 (FIG. 1) can be used. Also stores and manages device information such as capacity information such as the SDRAM and flash ROM (Read Only Memory).
For this reason, the SMU 210 is connected to an MIB (Management Information Base) 214 that is a device information database and an LSD 212 that performs registration / change of device settings from a PC via a USB or the like.

[Consolidated printing]
The MFP 100 of the present embodiment whose configuration has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 can perform aggregate printing.
The aggregate printing uses a copy function, a printer function, and the like, and when an output request is made by aggregate printing, the number of prints is instructed and output is performed with the instructed number. That is, it has a function of executing output by aggregate printing in response to an output request instructing a print output number smaller than the number of original images input by reading a document or the like.
However, in the prior art having this aggregate printing function (see the description of the processing flow of FIG. 10 in the above [Background Art]), as described in [Problems to be Solved by the Invention], the image is obtained by the aggregate printing. By reducing the size of the image, there is a problem that it may be difficult to read or read depending on the image or character size of the original image.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when setting for executing print output using this aggregate printing function, the legibility in the page images to be aggregated is confirmed, and the necessary aggregation rate is set based on the confirmation result. This makes it possible to apply the aggregate printing function under printing conditions that can maintain the legibility of the output image.
Examples of print output processing performed using the aggregate printing function of the present embodiment are shown as <Example 1> to <Example 4> below. <Embodiment 1> shows a basic processing example that requires a legibility check focusing on a character image, and <Embodiment 2> to <Embodiment 4> are based on <Embodiment 1>. Furthermore, the performance of the function is improved in consideration of other conditions.

<Example 1>
This embodiment shows an example of a basic print output process that requires a legibility check focusing on a character image.
3 and 4 are flowcharts of a print output process involving an aggregation print process for automatically setting an aggregation rate from a set number of sheets according to the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a main flow, and FIG. 4 is a main flow (FIG. 3). It is a subsequence of a printing condition determination process. This flow of print output processing is executed by the MFP controller 101 in response to a user output request made by designating aggregate printing. Here, an example of processing at the time of a copy request is shown.
According to the processing flow of FIG. 3, since the number of prints is set together with the instruction for aggregate printing in the setting of the copy processing conditions performed by the user through the operation panel 106 at the time of a copy request, the setting is accepted (step S101). ). The number of prints set under the instruction for aggregate print is the maximum number of prints desired by the user. If the number of pages of the original image read from the original is larger than the number of prints, the maximum number of prints The printing conditions are set so as to be within the range. Note that in the case of a print request using the printer function, the instruction for aggregate printing and the setting of the number of prints are made through the printer driver.

Next, the document is read using the ARDF 120 or the scanner unit 103 (step S102).
In addition to the original image read from the original, original image information is acquired as a result obtained by performing the original reading. The original image information includes the number of document pages, the character size of the character document, the presence / absence of an image on each page, the direction of each page (relationship between the images and pages), and the like. The SMU 210 that manages the job acquires and stores the acquired original image information as job management information (step S103). When the original is double-sided, the original image read per sheet is two pages.
Next, the printing condition is determined based on the setting of the copy processing condition by the user and the acquired original image information (step S104). Here, as one of the print conditions, the print condition of the aggregate print is also determined from the set number of prints of the aggregate print and the acquired number of original pages.

With reference to FIG. 4, the procedure for determining the printing conditions for the aggregate printing in step S <b> 104 will be described. In this determination procedure, the aggregation rate is provisionally determined in the same manner as in the conventional method, and the legibility of the character image is checked for the provisionally determined aggregation rate. If this confirmation results in a confirmation that predetermined readability cannot be obtained, the provisionally determined aggregation rate is changed to a value that guarantees the predetermined readability, and is set as a print condition when printing is performed. Determine the aggregation rate.
According to the processing flow of FIG. 4, first, the provisionally determined aggregation rate is calculated (step S201).
The tentatively determined aggregation rate is a calculation procedure in which a quotient of (number of original pages / number of prints of aggregate print) is obtained, and a larger one than the obtained quotient is selected from the aggregate rates provided in the aggregate print function of the MFP 100 Get by. For example, when the number of original pages = 5 and the number of consolidated prints = 2, (number of original pages / number of consolidated prints) = 2.5. When there are 2in1, 4in1, and 9in1 as options for the aggregation rate, 4in1 that is calculated (the number of original pages / the number of prints for aggregated printing) = 2.5 is selected, and the required aggregation rate is obtained. Note that the above example of the aggregation rate calculation procedure is for single-sided printing. In the case of double-sided printing, the obtained (number of original pages / number of sheets to be printed in aggregate) is multiplied by 1/2 and an aggregation rate larger than that obtained can be selected. In the above example, 2 in 1 is selected.

Next, when the aggregation rate calculated in step S201 is applied as the temporarily determined aggregation rate, the legibility of the character image obtained after the aggregation is confirmed. In this embodiment, for the character size (that is, the print character size) in the character image obtained after the confirmation of the legibility of the character image is aggregated, it is provisionally determined depending on whether the size is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value. It is determined whether or not the aggregation rate is to be output.
As a procedure for checking the legibility, the character size in the character image obtained after the aggregation to be checked, that is, the print character size is calculated (step S202). In a copy output request, a method for calculating a character size can be implemented by applying a method used in OCR (Optical Character Reader) to an original image. In this method, for example, a character image region is extracted from an original image, a character image included in this region is recognized, and a character size (referred to as “original character size”) is obtained based on the size of a rectangular region surrounding the character image. It is. Further, the calculated value of the target print character size can be obtained by multiplying the original character size obtained by the OCR technique by a coefficient corresponding to the aggregation rate. Note that the character size is calculated when the printer function is used, because the print data created by the printer driver specifies the character size, and this character size (corresponding to the original character size) depends on the aggregation rate. By multiplying the coefficient, it is possible to obtain a calculated value of the desired print character size.

Next, the legibility is confirmed based on whether or not the print character size that changes according to the provisionally determined aggregation rate is equal to or greater than a threshold value determined as a predetermined lower limit character size (step S203). Note that the lower limit character size is the minimum character size that is the limit of legibility, for example, 5 points. This threshold value is set to a fixed size such as the exemplified 5 points, for example, a setting screen is prepared on the LCD of the operation panel 106, and the lower limit character size can be variably set to a desired value by a user operation. It should be adaptable to the usage situation.
If the print character size at the provisionally determined aggregation rate is equal to or greater than the lower limit character size determined as a threshold in the confirmation of readability in step S203 (step S203-YES), the print character size is readable by the provisionally determined aggregation rate. Based on the determination that there is no problem, the tentatively determined aggregation rate is determined as a printing condition to be set at the time of output execution (step S205).

On the other hand, if the print character size at the temporarily determined aggregation rate does not satisfy the lower limit character size set as the threshold in the confirmation of the legibility in step S203 (step S203-NO), the temporarily determined aggregation rate has a problem with readability. This is not suitable as a printing condition to be set at the time of output execution, and must be changed.
In this case, in order to obtain legibility, it is necessary to change to an aggregation rate that can secure the minimum character size that is the limit of legibility, and therefore, based on the original character size and the minimum character size that limits the legibility. Then, the aggregation rate at which legibility is obtained is recalculated (step S204). In this aggregation rate calculation method, a quotient of (original character size / lower limit character size) is calculated, and an aggregation rate equal to or lower than the quotient is selected from the aggregation rates of the image forming apparatus. When there are a plurality of aggregation rates below the quotient, the maximum aggregation effect can be achieved by selecting the largest aggregation rate among them.
Thereafter, the aggregation rate calculated in step S204 is changed to the previously determined aggregation rate and determined as a printing condition set at the time of output execution (step S205).
After the determination in step S205 is made, this subsequence is exited.

In this way, by performing the process for determining the print condition of the aggregate printing according to the procedure shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to prevent the character size from being excessively reduced due to the aggregation and setting the aggregation rate exceeding the limit of legibility. .
At this time, the number of prints may exceed the aggregate printing condition provisionally determined by the aggregation rate based on the number of prints set by the user, but the number of prints is set to the minimum number that maintains the readability of the characters even in this case. be able to.

Returning to the processing flow of FIG. 3, after determining the printing conditions set at the time of execution in step S <b> 104 (subsequence of FIG. 3), the printer engine 104 processes the page image data used for output, and the printer engine 104. In step S105, processing conditions or operation conditions according to the printing conditions determined in the previous stage are set.
After completing the setting in step S105, the image processing unit that processes the page image data used for print output performs processing such as image aggregation processing according to the aggregation rate set based on a plurality of document images. The image data for subsequent print output is input to the printer engine 104 (step S106).
The printer engine 104 uses the image data for print output input from the image processing unit in accordance with the instructions set in the preceding stage, such as color mode, single-sided / double-sided printing, recording medium (paper), and the number of prints. A plotter is output to a recording medium (paper), a printing process is executed (step S107), and the process according to this flow is terminated.

<Example 2>
This embodiment is intended to improve the performance of the aggregate printing function based on the basic print output processing example described in the above <Embodiment 1> that requires the confirmation of legibility that focuses on a character image. It is. In this embodiment, the original image to be output is narrowed down to an image including only a character image, and is subjected to aggregation printing. For an image including an image other than the character image, the image quality of the original image is maintained without performing aggregation. I am doing so. In the following example, if even part of the original image has an image, it is excluded from the aggregate printing, and the original image including the character image excluding the image that is not the target is an image including only the character image. To do.
The flowchart of the print output process involving the aggregate print process for automatically setting the aggregation rate from the set number of sheets according to the present embodiment is the same as the above-mentioned <Example 1> and is based on the process flow of FIG. This flow of print output processing is executed by the MFP controller 101 in response to a user output request made by designating aggregate printing. Here, an example of processing at the time of a copy request is shown.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a sub-sequence of the printing condition determination process (step S104) in the main flow (FIG. 3) according to the present embodiment.

According to the processing flow of FIG. 5, first, whether each page of the original image to be output is an image including an image image or a character image is stored as one of the original image information in the previous step S103. A determination is made based on the information indicating the presence or absence of an image on the page, and the target of the aggregate printing is determined based on the determination result (step S301). As a target of aggregation printing, even if a part of a page image has an image, an image including a character image is excluded, and an image including only a character image is determined as an aggregation processing target.
Next, an aggregation rate to be provisionally determined is calculated using the image determined in the previous stage as an object of the aggregation process (step S302). The calculation method of the aggregation rate is basically the same as the method used in the above <Example 1>. Therefore, for the calculation method of the aggregation rate, the previous explanation is referred to and the description is omitted here. However, in this embodiment, the numerical value corresponding to the number of manuscript pages in the above description is the number of page images targeted for aggregation processing, and the number of pages for aggregation printing is the page that is not subject to aggregation processing from the set number of prints. The number of images is reduced by the number of images (each one page is printed). In principle, when aggregate printing is performed in the order of pages at the calculated aggregation rate, when blanks occur in the pages after aggregation, the aggregate printing is applied within a range where no blanks are generated.

After calculating the tentatively determined aggregation rate in step S302, when the calculated aggregation rate is applied, the legibility of the character image obtained after the aggregation is confirmed (steps S303 and S304), and the predetermined legibility cannot be obtained. In this case, the aggregation rate is recalculated (step S305), the calculated aggregation rate is changed to the provisionally determined aggregation rate, and the print condition set at the time of output execution is determined (step S306). The processing flow of steps S303 to S306 is the same as the processing flow of steps S202 to S205 in the subsequence of FIG. Therefore, for details, refer to the above description.
As described above, according to this embodiment, the image including only the character image from the output target original image is subjected to the aggregate printing, so that the image image is prevented from being reduced by the aggregation and the image is difficult to see. Can be prevented. In some cases, the number of printed sheets may exceed the aggregate printing condition temporarily determined by the aggregation rate based on the number of prints set by the user. However, even in this case, the number of printed sheets should be set to the minimum number that maintains the readability of characters. Can do.

<Example 3>
This embodiment is intended to improve the performance of the aggregate printing function based on the basic print output processing example described in the above <Embodiment 1> that requires the confirmation of legibility that focuses on a character image. It is. In this embodiment, there are images with different print directions in the original images to be output, and the inconvenience that occurs when these images are aggregated is intended to be improved by unifying the print directions by image rotation. It is a thing.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation / non-operation of image rotation when images having different printing directions are collected on the aggregated image plane.
FIG. 6A is an example of a page image in which the printing direction is a vertical direction, and FIG. 6B is an example of a page image in which the printing direction is a horizontal direction.
FIG. 6C shows a printing result when the two pages (A) and (B) are integrated into one page without matching the printing directions.
In the case of FIG. 6C, when (A) and (B) are reduced and aggregated at the same ratio, the partial images corresponding to (A) in the aggregated page images are oriented in the original printing direction. However, since the partial image corresponding to (B) is not suitable for the original printing direction, when reading this portion, it is difficult to read, and it is necessary to rotate the page image after aggregation.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6D, when a part of the target image to be aggregated is read by integrating the target images (A) and (B) in the original printing direction. In addition, it is not necessary to rotate the page image after the aggregation. In order to make the images (A) and (B) coincide with the original printing direction, it is necessary to rotate the image (B) in the example of FIG. 6 using the image rotation function. .
However, in order to perform image rotation on the image (B) and consolidate it into one page as shown in FIG. 6 (D), the image is further reduced and printed as compared with the consolidated image of (C). Will be. For this reason, in this embodiment, the process flow shown in FIG. 7 is executed as a process for determining the print condition to be applied when image rotation is involved. By executing this processing, it is possible to realize the legibility guarantee that is further required when image rotation is involved in aggregation.

The flowchart of the print output process involving the aggregate print process for automatically setting the aggregation rate from the set number of sheets according to the present embodiment is the same as the above-mentioned <Example 1> and is based on the process flow of FIG. This flow of print output processing is executed by the MFP controller 101 in response to a user output request made by designating aggregate printing. Here, an example of processing at the time of a copy request is shown.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sub-sequence of the printing condition determination process (step S104) in the main flow (FIG. 3) according to the present embodiment.

According to the processing flow of FIG. 7, first, an aggregation rate that is provisionally determined is calculated (step S401). The calculation method of the aggregation rate is basically the same as the method used in the above <Example 1>. Therefore, for the calculation method of the aggregation rate, the previous explanation is referred to and the description is omitted here.
After calculating the tentatively determined aggregation rate in step S401, when the calculated aggregation rate is applied, the legibility of the character image obtained after the aggregation is confirmed (steps S402 and S403), and the predetermined legibility cannot be obtained. In this case (step S403-NO), the aggregation rate is recalculated (step S404), and the calculated aggregation rate is changed to the provisionally determined aggregation rate and determined as a printing condition set at the time of output execution (step S404). S410), the process of this sub-sequence is exited.
Note that the processing flow of steps S402 to S404 and S410 is the same as the processing flow of steps S202 to S205 of the subsequence of FIG. Therefore, for details, refer to the above description. In the embodiment according to the processing flow of FIG. 7, when the aggregation rate is recalculated in step S404 and the processing flow for ensuring legibility is passed, the aggregation printing processing to which the image rotation function described later is applied is not performed. .

On the other hand, the legibility of the character image is confirmed (steps S402 and S403), and if a predetermined legibility is obtained (step S403-YES), the page orientation of each original image to be subjected to aggregate printing is one. Whether or not it has been confirmed is confirmed based on the direction of the page stored as one of the original image information in the previous step S103 (step S405). When the original image is a scanner input image, the page direction can be determined based on the size of the original scanned by the scanner, whether or not there is a standard document having a prescribed size, and the page direction. The information includes such information.
In step S405, the page direction is confirmed to match, and if there is no mismatch in the direction of all pages (step S405-YES), the application of the image rotation function is unnecessary, so the aggregation rate temporarily determined in the previous step S401 is used. The printing condition to be set at the time of output execution is determined (step S410), and the processing of this subsequence is exited.

On the other hand, as a result of the confirmation in step S405, if there is a page direction mismatch in any page (step S405-NO), the image of the corresponding page is rotated to unify the page direction (description of FIG. (See), a reduction ratio generated in the page image with this image rotation is calculated (step S406). In the example of FIG. 6D, this reduction ratio is obtained as a reduction ratio for converting the vertical size into the horizontal size.
Next, the print character size when the image is scaled by the reduction ratio obtained in the previous stage is calculated (step S407). Here, a size as a print character size that varies depending on the aggregation rate that is provisionally determined for the original image and further varies depending on the reduction rate that is applied by image rotation is obtained.
Next, it is confirmed whether or not the calculated print character size is equal to or larger than a threshold set as a predetermined lower limit character size, that is, whether or not the desired readability is obtained (step S408). Note that the lower limit character size is the minimum character size that is the limit of legibility, for example, 5 points. This threshold value is set to a fixed size such as the exemplified 5 points, for example, a setting screen is prepared on the LCD of the operation panel 106, and the lower limit character size can be variably set to a desired value by a user operation. It should be adaptable to the usage situation.

If the print character size is equal to or larger than the lower limit character size set as the threshold value in the readability check in step S408 (step S408-YES), the print character size can be added even if the image rotation is applied based on the provisionally determined aggregation rate. It is determined that there is no problem in the legibility of the image, and based on this determination, the image rotation scheduled for unifying the page direction in step S406 is determined as an operation condition to be set at the time of printing (step S409). Further, the aggregation rate provisionally determined in step S401 is determined as a printing condition to be set at the time of output execution (step S410).
On the other hand, in the confirmation of legibility in step S408, the print character size does not reach the lower limit character size set as the threshold (step S408-NO), and if the above image rotation is applied based on the provisionally determined aggregation rate, the print character size In this case, based on this determination, the image rotation scheduled to unify the page direction in step S406 is not performed at the time of printing, but is temporarily determined in step S401. The aggregation rate is determined as a printing condition set at the time of output execution (step S410).
As described above, according to this embodiment, when aggregate printing is performed based on an original image whose page directions do not match, the character size is reduced against the reduction in character size caused by image rotation performed to unify the page direction. Therefore, it is possible to improve the readability of such aggregated images.

<Example 4>
This embodiment is intended to improve the performance of the aggregate printing function based on the basic print output processing example described in the above <Embodiment 1> that requires the confirmation of legibility that focuses on a character image. It is. In this embodiment, when output can be performed in the image quality of the designated mode from among different image quality modes that can be set from high image quality to low image quality (high-speed printing), readability is ensured according to the designated image quality mode. It is intended to improve the aggregate printing function by enabling the maximum aggregation rate that can be set.
The flowchart of the print output process involving the aggregate print process for automatically setting the aggregation rate from the set number of sheets according to the present embodiment is the same as the above-mentioned <Example 1> and is based on the process flow of FIG. This flow of print output processing is executed by the MFP controller 101 in response to a user output request made by designating aggregate printing. Here, an example of processing at the time of a copy request is shown.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a sub-sequence of the printing condition determination process (step S104) in the main flow (FIG. 3) according to the present embodiment.

According to the processing flow of FIG. 8, first, an aggregation rate that is provisionally determined is calculated (step S501). The calculation method of the aggregation rate is basically the same as the method used in the above <Example 1>. Therefore, for the calculation method of the aggregation rate, the previous explanation is referred to and the description is omitted here.
After calculating the tentatively determined aggregation rate in step S501, it is checked whether or not the calculated aggregation rate is less than the aggregation rate predetermined as the maximum aggregation rate corresponding to the image quality mode designated by the user (step S501). S502).
If the calculated aggregation rate is less than the maximum aggregation rate of the designated image quality mode (step S502-YES), the calculated aggregation rate is not corrected, but the calculated aggregation rate is greater than or equal to the maximum aggregation rate of the designated image quality mode. In this case (step S502-NO), it is highly possible that the image on the sheet that has been consolidated and printed will be difficult to read, so the maximum aggregation rate in the designated image quality mode is reduced (step S503) and the next character image is read. Move to the step to confirm the sex.

Next, the legibility of the character image obtained with the aggregation rate provisionally determined by passing through steps S501 to S503 is confirmed. In the confirmation of the legibility, when a provisionally determined aggregation rate is applied, the legibility of the character image obtained after the aggregation is confirmed based on the print character size (steps S504 and S505), and a predetermined legibility is obtained. If it is not possible (step S505-NO), the aggregation rate is recalculated (step S506), the calculated aggregation rate is changed to the temporarily determined aggregation rate, and it is determined as a printing condition set at the time of output execution. (Step S507), the process of this sub-sequence is exited.
Note that the processing flow of steps S504 to S507 is the same as the processing flow of steps S202 to S205 of the subsequence of FIG. Therefore, for details, refer to the above description.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when output can be performed with the image quality of a designated mode from among a plurality of image quality modes, the maximum aggregation rate that can ensure legibility is set according to the designated image quality mode. By making it possible to set, it is possible to prevent the characters from being crushed and becoming unreadable, even if they are aggregated at a higher aggregation rate, and increase the maximum aggregation effect be able to.

  100 ·· MFP, 101 ·· MFP controller, 103 ·· Scanner unit, 104 ·· Printer engine, 106 ·· Operation panel, 108 ·· NIC, 109 ·· USB I / F, 120 ·· ARDF (automatic duplex document feeding) apparatus).

Japanese Patent No. 483867

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus capable of executing output by aggregate printing in response to an output request instructing a number of prints smaller than the number of original images as print conditions for a plurality of original images to be output,
Character image extraction means for extracting an image including a character image from the original image to be output;
An output character size acquisition unit that acquires a character size when a character image included in the image extracted by the character image extraction unit is output at an aggregation rate temporarily determined based on an instruction of an output request;
Depending on whether or not the character size obtained by the output character size acquisition means is equal to or larger than a threshold value determined as a predetermined lower limit character size, the provisionally determined aggregation rate is set as a printing condition to be set when the original image is output. Execution feasibility judging means for judging whether or not,
Execution is performed by changing the tentatively determined aggregation rate of the original image determined not to be the printing condition set at the time of output execution by the execution determination unit to an aggregation rate at which the character size at the time of output is greater than or equal to the lower limit character size An image forming apparatus comprising execution condition determining means for determining printing conditions to be set at times. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The character image extraction means extracts an image including only the character image from the original image to be output,
The execution condition determination unit determines a printing condition that is set by reducing an aggregation rate for an image including only a character image among a plurality of original images to be output. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The aggregate printing includes an image rotation function that unifies the printing direction by rotating the images when the images having different printing directions are aggregated,
The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the image rotation function is applied on condition that a character size does not become a threshold value or less due to scaling when an image rotated by this function is rotated. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The aggregate printing can output an image quality mode that can be changed by setting,
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that a threshold used by the execution determination unit is adjusted according to a set image quality mode. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that a threshold used by the execution determination unit can be changed by a user instruction.

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