JP2013021645A - Image forming apparatus, and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus that allows a user to set a mode by an intuitive and simple operation.SOLUTION: An MFP includes an operation panel 15 that is a touch panel, and a CPU 10 for performing image processing in accordance with an instruction input to the operation panel 15. The CPU 10 includes: a display processing unit 101 for preview-displaying a document image on the operation panel 15; a setting unit 105 for, upon reception of an operation for specifying a line to divide the document image that has been preview-displayed on the operation panel 15, setting a processing mode including processing for dividing the document image depending on a position of the operation on the document image that has been preview-displayed; and an image processing unit 106 for performing image formation processing of image data based on the document image in the set processing mode.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image processing method, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having an operation panel and an image processing method in the image forming apparatus.

  For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2006-247873 (Patent Document 1) displays a preview image of a read original on the touch panel and receives a touch on the touch panel so as to connect two pages of the preview image of the original in the horizontal direction. Disclosed is a technique for printing a page as a two-page spread, and placing and printing the two pages on the front and back of a sheet of paper to accept a touch on the touch panel so as to vertically separate the preview images of the two-page document. doing.

  Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2010-041063 (Patent Document 2) discloses an image forming apparatus that can easily perform post-processing setting change or new setting such as punch and stable from the preview screen. .

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2007-280369 (Patent Document 3) makes it possible to set a processing condition for a read image by a user operating the previewed read image, and the processing condition is linked to the setting. An image processing apparatus is disclosed that displays an applied result on a display unit, thereby enabling operability close to that between the two.

  Here, setting “book division (2 in 1 division)” by a conventional key operation has many operation steps and is complicated.

  Therefore, when the above-described technique is adopted for this setting, the place (position) where the treatment is performed (determinable) is designated (for example, the end or the center is designated) as in the case of the stable or punch. It is conceivable to perform “book division (2 in 1) division” setting.

JP 2006-247873 A JP 2010-041063 A JP 2007-280369 A

  However, in the case of 2-in-1 division, the vicinity of the center of the image is operated. For this reason, if the center of the image is designated, it becomes the same as the center stable mode setting. As a result, there was a problem that the output result did not match the user's image.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image processing method capable of performing mode setting with an intuitive and easy operation.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus includes a touch panel and a processing unit for performing image processing according to an instruction input to the touch panel. When the processing unit receives a display process for previewing the document image to be processed on the touch panel and an operation for specifying a line for dividing the document image displayed on the touch panel, the processing unit displays the preview image on the preview displayed document image. In accordance with the operation position, a setting process for setting a processing mode including a process of dividing the document image and an image forming process of image data corresponding to the document image are executed in the set processing mode.

  Preferably, when the above operation is performed on an area on the preview-displayed document image that includes less than the threshold value, the processing unit divides the document image for one page in the setting process. Then, a book division mode, which is a processing mode for forming an image with each of the divided document images as one page, is set.

  Preferably, when the above operation is performed on an area on the preview-displayed document image in which the image is less than the threshold value, the processing unit divides the document image in the setting process and An enlarged continuous shooting mode is set, which is a processing mode for enlarging the original image and dividing each of the original images into a plurality of pages to form an image.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus divides the document image as a processing mode and a book division mode which is a processing mode in which an original image for one page is divided and each divided original image is formed as one page. An enlarged continuous shooting mode, which is a processing mode for enlarging the divided original image and dividing the original image into a plurality of pages to form an image. In the setting process, when the processing unit receives an operation for specifying a line for dividing the preview-displayed document image on the touch panel, the image forming process result when the document image is processed in the book division mode according to the operation; One of the modes is set as a processing mode by displaying a preview of the image formation processing result in the case of processing in the enlarged continuous shooting mode on the touch panel and accepting the selection.

  Preferably, the processing unit further executes a process of warning that the processing mode is not set when the line specified by the above operation is a curve.

  Preferably, the processing unit warns that the processing mode is not set when the line specified by the above operation is not perpendicular to the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the document image previewed. Is executed further.

  Preferably, the processing unit sets the book division mode when the area ratio of the two regions of the original image divided by the above operation is smaller than a prescribed value in the setting process.

  More preferably, in the setting process, the processing unit further determines each magnification of the divided document image according to the area ratio of the two regions of the document image divided by the above operation.

  More preferably, in the setting process, the processing unit sets the size of the divided original image so that each of the divided original images has a size corresponding to the image size after image formation defined from the size of the original image. Determine the respective magnification.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an image processing method is a processing method in an image forming apparatus having a touch panel, the step of displaying a preview of a document image to be processed on the touch panel, and a preview-displayed document on the touch panel A step of accepting an operation for specifying a line for dividing the image, a step of setting a processing mode including a process of dividing the document image according to the position of the operation on the document image displayed in the preview, and the set And an image forming process of image data corresponding to the document image in a processing mode.

  According to the present invention, the mode can be set accurately with an intuitive and easy operation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent miscopying due to an incorrect mode setting.

2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) as an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a configuration of an operation panel of an MFP. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a specific example of a functional configuration of an MFP. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation flow for automatically setting a mode by an “OFF” operation in the MFP. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first example of an operation for determining whether or not the operation is a “cut” operation in step S105 of FIG. 4; It is a figure showing the specific example of drag. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second example of an operation for determining whether or not the operation is a “cut” operation in step S105 of FIG. 4; It is a figure showing the specific example of drag. It is a figure showing the specific example of drag. It is a figure showing the specific example of drag. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a display screen. It is a figure showing the specific example of drag. It is the figure which showed the specific example of discrimination | determination in step S109 of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a document preview display and an operation for the preview display. It is a figure showing the other specific example of operation with respect to a preview display. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a display screen. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a document preview display and an operation for the preview display. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a display screen. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a display screen. It is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation | movement for the mode setting in a 2nd modification. It is a figure showing the specific example of calculation in FIG.20 S112. It is a flowchart showing the flow of the operation | movement for the mode setting in a 3rd modification. It is a figure showing the specific example of the mode setting in a 3rd modification. It is a figure showing the specific example of the mode setting in a 3rd modification.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same.

<Device configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of a hardware configuration of an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) 100 as an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  The image processing apparatus is not limited to the MFP, and may be any other apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile transceiver, or a copier as long as it has an image processing function and further has an operation panel including a touch panel described later. May be. The MFP 100 is an image processing apparatus having a combination of these functions.

  Referring to FIG. 1, MFP 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 that is an arithmetic device for overall control, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 11 for storing a program executed by CPU 10, and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 12 for functioning as a work area when the CPU 10 executes the program, a scanner 13 for optically reading a document placed on a document table (not shown), and obtaining image data; A printer 14 for fixing image data on printing paper, an operation panel 15 including a touch panel for displaying information and receiving operation inputs to the MFP 100, and a memory 16 for storing image data including.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the configuration of the operation panel 15.
Referring to FIG. 2, operation panel 15 includes a touch panel 51 and an operation key group 52. The touch panel 51 is configured by overlapping a display device such as a liquid crystal display device and a position indicating device such as an optical touch panel or a capacitive touch panel, and displays an operation screen to specify an indicated position on the operation screen. The CPU 10 displays an operation screen on the touch panel 51 based on data for displaying a screen stored in advance.

  The operation key group 52 includes a numeric key 521, a start key 522 for instructing start of a job, and a mode selection key 523 for selecting a mode to be activated.

  The specified position (touched position) on the touch panel 51 and an operation signal indicating the pressed key are input to the CPU 10. The CPU 10 specifies the operation content from the pressed key or the displayed operation screen and the designated position, and executes processing based on the operation content.

<Overview of operation>
In MFP 100, the mode is set by a “cut” operation.

  Here, the “cut” operation refers to an operation such as cutting on the touch panel. Specifically, the touch position on the touch panel, such as from top to bottom, from bottom to top, from right to left, or from left to right, It refers to an operation of moving to a straight line or a substantially straight line while keeping the touch state and tracing the straight line or the substantially straight line. That is, it refers to an operation of dragging to a straight line or a substantially straight line.

  The MFP 100 automatically sets a mode for dividing the document image by detecting a “cut” operation on the document image previewed on the operation panel 15.

  Note that the MFP may have a plurality of modes as processing modes that involve document image division. As an example, MFP 100 has a “book division” function (also referred to as a 2-in-1 division function) and an “enlarged continuous shooting” function. The “book division” function refers to a function of dividing image data for one page and forming an image of each divided image data one page at a time. The original document image is generated in 2in1. It is sometimes used when each image is divided and printed one by one. The “enlarged continuous shooting” function refers to a function of dividing and enlarging a document image into a certain size and dividing it into a plurality of pages to form an image.

  In either mode, the original image is divided, and the MFP 100 automatically selects a mode for executing the corresponding function by designating the position to be divided with respect to the preview display of the original image by the “cut” operation. Can be set automatically.

  However, if the user simply performs a “cut” operation on the document image displayed in the preview, the operation specifies the division position in the “book division” function or the division position in the “enlarged continuous shooting” function. The MFP 100 cannot completely specify what is to be specified, and it is not specified which function is to be set.

  However, the position where the document image is divided differs depending on the difference in these functions as described above. Therefore, in MFP 100, a mode to be set is determined according to the position to be separated, which is designated by the “cut” operation, and the mode is automatically set.

<Functional configuration>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific example of a functional configuration of MFP 100 for realizing the above operation. Each function shown in FIG. 3 is a function mainly formed on the CPU 10 when the CPU 10 reads a program stored in the ROM 11 and executes it on the RAM 12. However, at least a part of the functions may be formed by the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 3, as a function for realizing the above-described operation, MFP 100 has a display processing unit 101 for performing processing for displaying a document image to be subjected to image processing on operation panel 15, and an operation panel that is a touch panel. Whether the “cut” operation has been performed based on the relationship between the input unit 102 for receiving the operation input on the control panel 15, the operation position on the operation panel 15 and the drag trajectory, and the display area of the original image on the operation panel 15. If the first determination unit 103 for determining whether or not a “cut” operation is performed, whether the “book division” mode is selected or “enlarged continuous shooting” is determined based on the relationship between the operation position and the preview display of the document image. A second determination unit 104 for determining whether the mode is set, a setting unit 105 for setting the mode according to the determination result, and the instruction input in the set mode. It executes image processing on the image data corresponding to the original image in accordance with, and an image processing unit 106 for passing the image data after the processing to the printer 14 execute the printing operation.

<Operation flow>
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation flow for automatically setting the mode by the “cut” operation in MFP 100. The operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is realized by the CPU 10 reading a program stored in the ROM 11 and executing it on the RAM 12.

  Referring to FIG. 4, in step S <b> 101, CPU 101 displays a document image designated as an image processing target on touch panel 51 of operation panel 15.

  When the CPU 101 monitors an operation input on the touch panel 51 of the operation panel 15 and accepts a touch on an area where mode setting is possible (YES in step S103), the type of operation is determined based on the touch operation in step S105. The process to do is performed. The determination in step S105 will be further described in detail using a flowchart.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a first example of the operation for determining whether or not the operation is “cut” in step S105.

  Referring to FIG. 5, CPU 101 monitors operation input on touch panel 51 of operation panel 15, and when a drag operation is detected, compares the trajectory with the document image displayed in preview. As a result, when it is detected that the drag trajectory has passed the edge (end) of the document image preview-displayed in the direction from the outside of the region to the inside of the region (YES in step S201), in step S203, the CPU 101 The information (coordinates) for specifying the edge of the document image that has passed is stored.

  Thereafter, the CPU 101 continues to monitor the operation input on the touch panel 51, and as long as the drag continues (NO in step S205), information (coordinates) specifying the touch position is acquired in step S207 and dragging is performed. The process of comparing the locus with the area of the document image displayed in the preview (S221) is repeated.

  As a result, when it is detected that the drag trajectory has passed the edge of the document image previewed again (YES in step S221), in step S223, the CPU 101 performs a “cut” operation on the drag operation. Judge that there is.

  On the other hand, when it is detected that dragging has ended before the drag trajectory passes through the edge of the document image previewed again, that is, the touch on touch panel 51 has been canceled ( In step S205, YES), in step S225, the CPU 101 determines that the drag operation is not a “cut” operation.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the drag that is determined not to be the “cut” operation in the first example of the determination method. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, it is detected that the edge (edge) of the document image previewed in step S201 is dragged in the direction from the outside of the region to the inside of the region. After the coordinates (x0, y0) of the edge are stored, if the finger is released in the middle of the document image, the drag is canceled again before passing the edge again. In this case, in step S225, the CPU 101 determines that the detected drag operation is not a “cut” operation.

  The determination method shown in FIG. 5 determines whether or not the operation is a “cut” operation, depending on whether or not the trajectory passes through the preview-displayed document image when the drag ends. To do. However, the determination of whether or not the operation is “cut” is not limited to the method shown in FIG. As another example, FIG. 7 shows a second example. That is, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second example of the operation for determining whether or not the operation is “cut” in step S105.

  Referring to FIG. 7, after it is detected in step S203 that the drag trajectory has passed the edge (edge) of the document image previewed in the direction from the outside to the inside of the region, the trajectory is monitored. (Steps S205 and S207).

  In the second example, the CPU 101 compares the touch position representing the drag trajectory with the position of the edge (end) of the document image through which the drag has passed, in the vertical direction (y coordinate) and the horizontal direction (x coordinate). It is determined whether or not the difference is within a predetermined threshold value. That is, if at least one of the x-coordinate fluctuation width and the y-coordinate fluctuation width of the drag trajectory exceeds the threshold value (YES in step S209), the CPU 101 determines in step S225 that the operation is not “cut”.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the drag that is determined not to be the “cut” operation in the second example of the determination method. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the touch position from the coordinates (x0, y0) of the edge of the document image displayed in the preview and passed in the direction from the outside to the inside of the area stored in step S203 is stored. When the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value in both the vertical direction (y coordinate) and the horizontal direction (x coordinate), the CPU 101 determines in step S225 that the detected drag operation is not a “cut” operation. To do.

  This is because the drag trajectory draws a curve as shown in FIG. 9 or is tilted with respect to the side of the preview-displayed image as shown in FIG. Applicable.

  When such a drag is detected, CPU 101 preferably displays on operation panel 15 that it has been determined that the operation is not a “cut” operation, as shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 11, a message indicating that the mode set by the “cut” operation (here, “enlarged continuous shooting” mode) cannot be set is displayed, indicating that it is determined that the mode is not the “cut” operation. ing.

  Neither the x-coordinate fluctuation width nor the y-coordinate fluctuation width of the drag trajectory exceeds the threshold (NO in step S209), and the drag trajectory passes again through the edge (edge) of the document image on which the preview is displayed. When it is detected (YES in step S221), the CPU 101 further compares the coordinates representing the position of the passed edge with the coordinates stored in step S203, so that the edge that has passed again becomes the above-described edge. It is confirmed whether or not the edge is the opposite side of the edge detected to have passed in step S201. As a result, when it is confirmed that the edge opposite to the edge detected in step S201 has passed (YES in step S222), in step S223, the CPU 101 performs an operation of “cutting” the drag operation. It is determined that If the edge that has passed again is not the edge opposite to the edge that has been detected to have passed in step S201, the CPU 101 determines in step S225 that the operation is not a “cut” operation.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the drag that is determined not to be the “cut” operation in the second example of the determination method. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, in step S222, if the edge that has passed again is an edge that is different from the edge that was first passed in step S201 and the opposite edge, in step S225, the CPU 101 It is determined that the detected drag operation is not a “cut” operation.

  Referring to FIG. 4 again, if the received operation is a “cut” operation as a result of the determination as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7 (YES in step S107), CPU 101 determines in step S109. Then, by comparing the content of the preview display with the drag trajectory, it is determined whether or not there is an image around a line (referred to as a cut line) for dividing the document image designated by the “cut” operation.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a specific example of the determination in step S109. Referring to FIG. 13, when it is determined that the “cut” operation has been performed, a straight line that passes through the position (coordinates) that first passes through the edge is identified as a cut line, and n defined in advance with the cut line interposed therebetween. Check the percentage of dots other than white in the dot area. In the example of FIG. 13, since the cut line is set horizontally with respect to the document image, the number of dots other than white is confirmed in the upper and lower n-dot regions. When the ratio is less than a preset threshold value (for example, 5%), the CPU 101 determines that there is no image, and when the ratio is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the CPU 101 determines that there is an image.

  As a result of the determination in step S109, when it is determined that there is an image around the cut line (YES in step S111), the CPU 101 determines that the mode to be set is the “enlarged continuous shooting” mode, and in step S113 Set the mode.

  If it is determined that there is no image around the cut line (NO in step S111), the CPU 101 determines that the mode to be set is the “book division” mode (2 in 1 division mode), and sets the mode in step S115.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 14, when a “cut” operation is performed on a portion having no image on the preview display, the CPU 101 determines that the mode to be set is the “book division” mode (2 in 1 division mode). In step S115, the mode is set.

  In the example of FIG. 14, in the preview display of a document image in which two images are arranged vertically, an example in which a “cut” operation is performed in the horizontal direction between the two images is shown. As another operation example, for example, as shown in FIG. 15A, in the preview display of a document image in which two images are arranged on the left and right, an operation of “cutting” in the vertical direction between the two images is performed. However, it is similarly determined that the mode is the “book division” mode (2 in 1 division mode).

  In the preview display, two images do not necessarily have to be displayed side by side. As shown in FIG. 15B, dots other than white (for example, black characters such as letters and pictures) in one image. Even if a “cut” operation is performed on a portion without (pixels), it is similarly determined that the mode is “book division” mode (2 in 1 division mode). Further, it does not necessarily have to be a portion having no dots other than white, and as shown in FIG. 15C, for example, in a portion having dots other than white other than a threshold, such as a dividing line. On the other hand, even if the “cut” operation is performed, it is similarly determined that the “book split” mode (2 in 1 split mode) is set.

  By operating as shown in FIG. 14, the “book division” mode (2-in-1 division mode) is set in step S115. At this time, as shown in FIG. 16, the processing result in the mode may be displayed on the operation panel 15. That is, in the example of FIG. 14, since the “cut” operation is performed in the horizontal direction for the preview display in which an A4 size document is placed vertically, when image processing is performed in the “book division” mode, A5 is performed. The upper half and the lower half of the original and the respective images are developed on the size paper. Therefore, the screen of FIG. 16 shows a state where an image that is the upper half of the original and an image that is the lower half of the original are each developed on A5 size paper. For example, when an execution button (not shown) or the like is pressed on this screen, the MFP 100 may perform printing in the “book division” mode.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 17, when a “cut” operation is performed on a certain part of the image on the preview display, the CPU 101 determines that the mode to be set is the “enlarged continuous shooting” mode, and step S113. To set the mode.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 18, the processing result in the mode may be displayed on the operation panel 15. That is, in the example of FIG. 17, for example, when a “cut” operation is performed in the horizontal direction on the preview display in which an “A4” size document is placed vertically, as shown in FIG. When the image processing is performed in the “copy” mode, the image is developed on the A3 sheet of paper placed in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction and arranged in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the screen of FIG. 18 shows a state in which an image that is the upper half of the original and an image that is the lower half of the original image are respectively developed horizontally on a vertically oriented A3 size sheet. Yes. For example, printing may be performed in the “enlarged continuous shooting” mode in the MFP 100 by pressing an execution button (not shown) on this screen.

<Modification 1>
In the above example, it is assumed that the “book division” mode or the “enlarged continuous shooting” mode is determined in the determination processing in steps S109 to S111. However, the mode selection from the user may be accepted without performing the determination processing in steps S109 to S111 in FIG. In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, the CPU 101 may display the processing results in both modes on the operation panel 15 and accept a selection from them. At this time, the user may set the paper size.

  By doing in this way, the user can select while confirming the completion, so that the wrong mode is not selected.

<Modification 2>
In the above example, when it is determined in the determination processing in steps S109 to S111 that the “cut” operation is performed at a position where there is no image in the document image, the “book division” mode is set, but there is no image. The “book division” mode may be set when the “cut” operation is performed on the position and at the center of the document image displayed in the preview.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an operation flow for mode setting in the second modification.

  Referring to FIG. 20, in the second modified example, when it is determined that there is no image around the cut line as a result of the determination in step S109 (NO in step S111), CPU 101 further displays in FIG. As indicated, the ratio of the area of the image on both sides of the cut line is calculated. If the ratio is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value (YES in step S112), the “book division” mode is set. If not, no mode is set.

  As the threshold value here, for example, the ratio of the large area to the small area can be 120%.

  Normally, when “book division” is performed, the target image is divided into two equal parts. Therefore, when the cut line is designated by the “cut” operation, the “cut” operation is performed on almost the center of the original image. It is thought that will be made. Therefore, by determining in this way, the “book split” mode is set when the “cut” operation is performed on the vicinity of the center, and the wrong mode is not selected.

<Modification 3>
In the second modified example, the “book split” mode is set when the cut line for dividing the original image into substantially equal parts is specified. However, in the “book split” mode, the cut line is set. The magnification of each divided image may be set in accordance with the ratio of the images divided by.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an operation flow for mode setting in the third modification.

  Referring to FIG. 22, in the third modification, after setting the “book division” mode in step S115, CPU 101 further calculates the ratio of the area of the image on both sides of the cut line. If the ratio is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value (YES in step S117), the fixed magnification determined according to the paper size specified in advance from the document size in step S121 is set as the magnification for the document image. Set.

  On the other hand, if the ratio is larger than a predetermined threshold value (NO in step S117), the area of the divided image so that the original document image divided in step S123 fits in the size of each sheet. And the magnification for the document image are set according to the paper size specified in advance from the document size.

  In the example of FIG. 23, the target image is divided into approximately equal parts. Therefore, the area ratio of the divided image is less than a threshold value of 120%, for example. If the document size is A4, the paper size is A5. Therefore, in the case of such division, the standard magnification defined by these sizes is set to 1.414 times as the magnification for the document image.

  On the other hand, in the case of the example of FIG. 24, the image is divided at a biased position of the target image. Therefore, the ratio of the area of the large area after the division to the area of the small area is equal to or higher than a threshold value of 120%, for example. In the case of such division, a magnification that falls within the paper size specified from the document size is set for each of the divided images, and enlargement or reduction processing is performed.

  In this way, it is possible to perform “book division” with a beautiful finish with an intuitive and easy operation.

<Effect of Embodiment>
By performing the above operations in MFP 100, an operation mode with division such as “book division” and “enlarged speed shooting” can be set on the preview screen by an intuitive and easy operation of “cut”. . Even when there are a plurality of operation modes with division, such as “book division” and “enlarged speed shooting”, the mode is automatically set with or without an image in the operation portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent miscopying due to mode setting mistakes.

  Furthermore, a program for causing MFP 100 to execute the above-described operation can be provided. Such a program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk attached to the computer, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Read Only Memory), a ROM, a RAM, and a memory card, and provided as a program product. You can also. Alternatively, the program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. A program can also be provided by downloading via a network.

  The program according to the present invention is a program module that is provided as a part of a computer operating system (OS) and calls necessary modules in a predetermined arrangement at a predetermined timing to execute processing. Also good. In that case, the program itself does not include the module, and the process is executed in cooperation with the OS. A program that does not include such a module can also be included in the program according to the present invention.

  The program according to the present invention may be provided by being incorporated in a part of another program. Even in this case, the program itself does not include the module included in the other program, and the process is executed in cooperation with the other program. Such a program incorporated in another program can also be included in the program according to the present invention.

  The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed. The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  10 CPU, 11 ROM, 12 RAM, 13 Scanner, 14 Printer, 15 Operation panel, 16 Memory, 51 Touch panel, 52 Operation key group, 100 MFP, 101 Display processing unit, 102 Input unit, 103 First determination unit, 104 First 2 determination unit, 105 setting unit, 106 image processing unit, 521 numeric keypad, 522 start key, 523 mode selection key.

Claims (10)

A touch panel;
A processing unit for performing image processing in accordance with an instruction input to the touch panel,
The processor is
A display process for previewing a document image to be processed on the touch panel;
When an operation for specifying a line for dividing the document image displayed on the preview is received on the touch panel, the document image is divided according to the position of the operation on the document image displayed on the preview. A setting process for setting a processing mode including a process to be performed,
An image forming apparatus that executes an image forming process of image data corresponding to the document image in the set processing mode.   When the operation is performed on an area on the preview-displayed original image that includes an image that is less than a threshold value, the processing unit displays the original image for one page in the setting process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a book division mode is set, which is a processing mode in which an image is formed by dividing each divided original image as one page.   When the operation is performed on an area on the preview-displayed original image that includes an image that is less than a threshold value, the processing unit divides the original image and divides the original image in the setting process. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an enlarged continuous shooting mode is set, which is a processing mode for enlarging a subsequent document image and dividing each of them into a plurality of pages to form an image. As the processing mode, a book division mode, which is a processing mode for dividing an original image for one page and forming each divided original image as one page, and an original image after dividing the original image An enlarged continuous shooting mode which is a processing mode for enlarging and dividing each of them into a plurality of pages to form an image;
In the setting process, when the processing unit receives an operation for specifying a line for dividing the document image displayed on the touch panel on the touch panel, the processing unit processes the document image in the book division mode according to the operation. The image forming process result and the image forming process result when processed in the enlarged continuous shooting mode are previewed on the touch panel, and one of the modes is set as the processing mode by accepting the selection. The image forming apparatus according to 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the line specified by the operation is a curve, the processing unit further executes a process of warning that the processing mode is not set.   The processing unit warns that the processing mode is not set when the line specified by the operation is not perpendicular to the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction of the document image previewed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further executing the above.   The image forming according to claim 2, wherein the processing unit sets the book division mode when the area ratio of the two regions of the document image divided by the operation is smaller than a prescribed value in the setting process. apparatus.   8. The processing unit according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit further determines a magnification of each of the divided document images according to an area ratio of two regions of the document image divided by the operation in the setting process. The image forming apparatus described.   In the setting process, the processing unit is configured so that each of the divided document images has a size corresponding to the image size after image formation defined by the size of the document image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each of the magnifications is determined. A processing method in an image forming apparatus having a touch panel,
A preview display of a document image to be processed on the touch panel;
Receiving an operation for specifying a line for dividing the document image displayed on the touch panel on the touch panel;
Setting a processing mode including a process of dividing the document image according to the position of the operation on the document image displayed in the preview;
And an image forming process of image data corresponding to the document image in the set processing mode.

Images