JP2013165417A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can prevent from creating an image forming result that a user does not desire.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus 1 forms an image in an output form corresponding to a user instruction from image information. The image forming apparatus includes: an image identification section (illustrated as an original identification processing section 17) for identifying a content of the image information; a comparison section (illustrated as an image processing comparison section 16) for comparing the output form corresponding to the user instruction with an output form predetermined for an identification result identified by the image identification section; and a warning section 15 for issuing a warning to a user when the forms are not matched as the result of comparison.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for forming an output image according to a user instruction with respect to input image information.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus that automatically controls an image forming operation such as determining an input image according to an input image and switching between a monochrome (monochrome) mode and a color mode has been proposed.

  In Patent Document 1, when a monochrome document appears during printing in the color mode, when switching to the monochrome mode, printing of the monochrome document in the color mode without switching the mode is performed. An image forming apparatus is disclosed that determines whether or not switching to the monochrome mode is performed based on a result of calculating a loss generated for each case and comparing the two. In this image forming apparatus, it is possible to extend the life of consumables such as a photosensitive drum and toner and increase the use efficiency irrespective of the mixed loading state of the monochrome original and the color original.

  In Patent Document 2, if it is determined that the multifunction device is set to the automatic color determination mode, it is determined whether or not a ground pattern is detected by the ground pattern processing unit. If a ground pattern is detected, the ground pattern is a chromatic color. If it is a ground pattern, the image forming unit performs a monochrome image forming operation, and when the ground pattern is not detected and when it is determined that the ground pattern is a monochrome ground pattern, the image forming operation according to the determination result An image forming apparatus that causes an image forming unit to perform the above is disclosed. In this image forming apparatus, it is possible to suppress the consumption of developer when copying a document on which a tint block which is a color mixture of at least two of the provided developers is formed.

JP 2000-29266 A JP 2010-206782 A

  However, when the control is performed as in the image forming apparatuses described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the control is forcibly performed even when the user intentionally switches the control, the output intended by the user An image may not be obtained. For example, it is desired to print a text document printed in a single blue color at a reduced cost by black and white printing as a record.

  In addition, since automatic determination is performed based on a preset reference value, it does not always match the determination standard of each user. Therefore, for a specific user, output paper and toner are wasted, and it is necessary to repeat a series of operations again, which causes a problem of greatly reducing costs and time.

On the other hand, if the above-mentioned inconvenience occurs, the above-mentioned forced control is eliminated, or the setting contents according to the user instruction are simply used without using the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2. It is conceivable to perform image formation based on this, but for a user with a low level of operation skill, depending on the original for which the image is to be formed, an output result that is actually intended by the user may not be obtained, or additional printing costs may be incurred. It may be only. Even in such a case, there is a problem that the cost and time are greatly reduced. For example, if the user setting is a color image even though it is a black and white document, an extra printing cost is required.
In addition, when using a function such as a preview function that allows the user to check before outputting an image, it is necessary to equip a large color display, which increases the cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of preventing an image formation result that is not desired by a user. It is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problem, the first technical means of the present invention identifies the content of the image information in an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image of the image information in an output format according to a user instruction. An image identification unit, a comparison unit that compares an output format according to the user instruction and a predetermined output format for the identification result identified by the image identification unit, and a comparison result in the comparison unit; And a warning unit that warns the user when there is a discrepancy.

  According to a second technical means of the present invention, in the first technical means, the image identification unit identifies the color of the image information as the content of the image information.

  According to a third technical means of the present invention, in the first or second technical means, the image identifying unit identifies whether the image information is text information or photographic information as the content of the image information. It is characterized by doing.

  According to a fourth technical means of the present invention, in the image forming method in which the image forming apparatus forms an image of the image information in an output format according to a user instruction, the image identifying unit identifies the content of the image information. The comparison unit compares the output format according to the user instruction and the output format predetermined for the identification result identified by the image identification unit, and the warning unit compares the comparison result in the comparison unit. As a result, there is a step of warning the user when there is a mismatch.

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus can prevent an image formation result that is not desired by the user.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart following FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of document identification processing in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a diagram for specifically explaining the document identification process of FIG. 4. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of the warning process of FIG.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus such as a copying machine, an MFP (Multi-function Printer), a printer, or a facsimile machine that reads and copies an image. explain. Of course, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to this configuration example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is an apparatus capable of forming an image of image information in an output format according to a user instruction. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a transmission / reception unit 10, a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, and display control. Unit 13, image display device 14, warning unit 15, comparison unit (hereinafter referred to as image processing comparison unit) 16, image identification unit (hereinafter referred to as document identification processing unit) 17, image input device 18, image output device 19, and image processing A device 20 is provided.

  The control unit 11 is a part that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. A CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory) as a work area, and a ROM (Read Only Memory) as a storage area for a control program. And a module including a storage device such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM). The control program includes a program for performing image forming processing (including warning processing) according to the present invention, and is distributed as a portable recording medium on which the program is recorded or distributed via a network such as the Internet. It can be mounted by storing it in the storage device in a state that can be executed from the CPU.

  The operation unit 12 is an input unit through which an operator inputs setting information for a job processed by the image forming apparatus 1, that is, user instruction information regarding an output format such as an image forming condition. That is, the operation unit 12 can be said to be an example of a format instruction unit that takes an output format instruction from a user. Image data to be subjected to image formation as a job can be acquired from the transmission / reception unit 10, the image input device 18, or the storage unit 24.

  The transmission / reception unit 10 transmits status information of the image forming apparatus 1 and image data output from the image processing apparatus 20 to an external PC or the like via a network, or print jobs including image data from an external PC or the like. The data is input and passed to the image processing apparatus 20.

  The image input device 18 includes a line sensor (not shown), has a function as a scanner, and optically reads an image formed on a document according to an instruction from the control unit 11 and converts the image into R, G, and B. Image data composed of color-separated electrical signals is generated. The image data is stored in the storage unit 24 via the units 21 to 23 described later.

  In this way, the image processing device 20 processes the image data acquired from the transmission / reception unit 10, the image input device 18, the storage unit 24, and the like, and outputs the processed image data to the image output device 19 and / or the image display device 14.

  The image output device 19 has a function as a printer, and prints image data processed by the image processing device 20 on a medium such as paper. Accordingly, the image output device 19 is a printing device that reproduces an image, such as an electrophotographic printer or an inkjet printer.

  The image display device 14 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display installed as an operation panel of the image forming apparatus 1. The image display device 14 displays the contents of processing (operation) performed in the image forming apparatus 1 or displays a warning text or the like for warning processing described later, which is a main feature of the present invention. This warning information will be briefly described. In the image processing comparison unit 16, when the processing identified by the document identification processing unit 17 and the processing set by the operation unit 12 by the operator are different, the warning is given to the operator. It is information to encourage.

  The image processing apparatus 20 includes an analog / digital conversion unit (hereinafter referred to as A / D conversion unit) 21, a shading correction unit 22, a target range image extraction unit 23, a storage unit 24, an input processing unit 25, an area separation processing unit 26, a color A correction unit 27, a black generation / undercolor removal unit 28, a spatial filter unit 29, and a halftone generation unit 30 are included.

  The A / D converter 21 converts the analog signal of the RGB digital signal input from the image input device 18 into a digital signal. The shading correction unit 22 removes various distortions generated in the illumination system, the imaging system, and the imaging system of the image input device 18 included in the digital signal. The target range image extraction unit 23 extracts a digital signal in a target range when a range is designated from the digital signals of the image output from the shading correction unit 22.

  The storage unit 24 is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores a digital signal. In addition to the digital signal from the target range image extraction unit 23, the storage unit 24 can also store the digital signal from the transmission / reception unit 10 described above and send it to the next processing.

  The input processing unit 25 performs γ correction on the digital signal output from the storage unit 24. In the following description, an image using a digital signal is referred to as an RGB image. The color correction unit 27 performs color space conversion of the γ-corrected RGB image into a CMY (C: cyan, M: magenta, Y: yellow) image, and further performs processing for improving color reproducibility.

  The region separation processing unit 26 is a pixel in which each pixel of the RGB image belongs to any one of a plurality of types of regions such as black characters, color characters, halftone dots, and photographic paper photographs (continuous tone regions). Determine whether. Further, the region separation processing unit 26 outputs the determined result to the black generation / undercolor removal unit 28, the spatial filter unit 29, and the halftone generation unit 30 as region separation data representing the type of region to which each pixel belongs. . In each unit 28, 29, and 30 to which the region separation data is input, processing corresponding to the type of region is executed.

  The black generation / under color removal unit 28 converts the CMY image output from the color correction unit 27 that can be expressed by three color toners into a CMYK (K: black) image that is expressed by four color toners. To do. The spatial filter unit performs enhancement processing and smoothing processing on the converted CMYK image. The halftone generation unit 30 performs gradation reproduction processing to print out the CMYK image, and outputs it to the image output device 19.

  The document identification processing unit 17 determines whether the digital signal output from the storage unit 24, that is, the image information indicated by the image data to be image-formed, is an imageless document, an imaged document, A document type identification process such as whether the document is a color document, a text document, or a photo document is performed. The document identification processing unit 17 may identify the content of the image information read from the document as illustrated. However, it is sufficient that the content of the image information can be identified. For example, the document identification processing unit 17 is included in image data input from the outside. By making it possible to identify the contents of the image information, the image data can also be a determination target for warning processing described later.

  The image processing comparison unit 16 recognizes the output format according to the user instruction from the operation unit 12 (or the output format according to the user instruction included in the print job from the outside, the same applies hereinafter) and the document identification processing unit 17 The identification result is compared with a predetermined output format. As described above, another example of the above-described format instructing unit corresponds to a printer driver for performing print settings by an external PC or the like and an operation unit such as the external PC.

  Here, the output format predetermined for the identification result is that there is no output format when the image information indicated by the image data to be image-formed is a non-image original, and an output when the image information is an image original. It can be done as a form. In the case of a black and white document, a monochrome print format (black and white mode), in the case of a color document, a color print format (color mode), and in the case of a character document, a print format suitable for the character document (character document mode). In the case of a photo original, a print format (photo original mode) suitable for the photo original is an output format predetermined for each identification result. Since the output format according to the user instruction is an output format indicated by the setting content set by the user, the setting content predetermined in the identification result may be compared with the setting content.

  If it is determined as a result of the comparison that the warning unit 15 is different, the warning unit 15 generates a warning sound for alerting the operator and / or displays information on the display control unit 13 so as to display a message and an output image state. Execute the sending process.

  The display control unit 13 generates a GUI (Graphical User Interface) image to be displayed on the image display device 14 and controls the display operation of the image display device 14. The information displayed by the display control unit 13 includes information indicating the status of processing executed by the image processing apparatus 20, information indicating the setting contents for the processing, and the result of comparison by the image processing comparison unit 16 being different. , Information to alert the operator.

  In this way, the warning unit 15 warns the user when there is a mismatch as a result of the comparison by the image processing comparison unit 16. For example, although the document identification processing unit 17 detects that the document is a monochrome document (that is, the predetermined output format is the monochrome mode), the warning is issued when the output format according to the user instruction is a color image. I do. Even though the document identification processing unit 17 detects that the document is a photographic document (that is, the predetermined output format is the photographic document mode), the output format corresponding to the user instruction is the format for the text document. In some cases, a warning may be given. Further, for example, when an image is formed by enlarging a part of a document, the document identification processing unit 17 detects that the image information of the enlarged part is monochrome (that is, the predetermined output format is the monochrome mode). Despite this, a warning may be issued even when the output format according to the user instruction is the color mode.

  Further, as described above with respect to the simplest monochrome / color difference, it is preferable that the document identification processing unit 17 identifies the color of the image information as the content of the image information. At this time, the image processing comparison unit 16 may compare the color indicated by the output format corresponding to the user instruction with the color indicated by the output format predetermined for the identification result. That is, it is preferable that the information to be compared is identification information regarding the color. The identification information regarding the color is not limited to the information indicating color / monochrome as described above, and information that identifies whether there are more red, more blue, more yellow, etc. among colors may be adopted. Good. Thereby, for example, when automatic processing is performed to suppress reddish colors, and when the user instruction is set to emphasize reddish colors, a warning can be given.

  As described above, it is preferable that the document identification processing unit 17 identifies whether the image information is character information or photographic information as the content of the image information. At this time, the image processing comparison unit 16 determines whether the output format corresponding to the user instruction indicates the character document mode or the photographic document mode, and whether the output format predetermined for the identification result is It is only necessary to compare the character original mode / photo original mode shown. That is, it is preferable that the information to be compared is identification information related to characters / photos. Also, a plurality of types of identification and comparison such as color identification and comparison and character / photo identification and comparison may be used together. In this case, it is preferable to issue a warning if at least one comparison result is different.

  Next, a processing example of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. 2 and 3 are flowcharts for explaining a processing example of the image forming apparatus in FIG. In the following processing example, basically, the image processing comparison unit 16, the document identification processing unit 17, the display control unit 13, the warning unit 15 and the like execute processing based on the control of the control unit 11. Since the main body is as described above, its description is basically omitted. Further, in the following example, description will be made on the assumption that the object of image formation is data as a result of document reading.

  First, as a default setting, the color mode is set to “monochrome mode” and the document mode is set to “character document mode” (step S1). In addition to this setting, the target range is set for the entire area of the document. These settings may be executed by the control unit 11 based on the default settings.

  Next, it is determined whether or not there has been an instruction to change the setting by the user (step S2). If there is a change, the “color mode”, “black and white mode”, “character original mode”, “photo original” are sequentially changed. It is determined whether or not “mode” and “range designation operation” (steps S6, S8, S10, S12, and S14, respectively), and settings are made according to the detected modes (steps S7, S9, S11, and respectively). S13, S15). After the processes of steps S7, S9, S11, S13, and S15, the process returns to step S2, and waits for other settings and correction of settings.

  If the setting change instruction by the user is not detected (NO in step S2), it is next determined whether or not the document has been read (step S3). Since the original is not read at the very beginning, the process proceeds to the next step. In the next step, it is determined whether or not the conditions for reading the document are met, that is, whether or not the document can be read (step S4). As this condition, for example, a button operation for starting reading by the user may be performed, or the cover of the document table may be closed. At the stage where the reading conditions are satisfied (the stage where the answer is YES in step S4), the contents of the image data as a result of reading the document are identified (step S5). Details of the process in step S5 will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  Subsequent to step S5, as shown in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the document is plain, such as a blank sheet (step S16). The setting contents indicated by the output format) are determined not to match, and a warning is given to the user (step S21). The user setting content is determined by how the user sets, and indicates the content set in one or more of steps S1, S7, S9, S11, S13, and S15.

  If the document is not plain (NO in step S16), the output format (monochrome / black / color) among the output formats according to the user instruction and the output format (monochrome / black / white) determined in advance for the identification result relating to the color of the document. Mode or color mode), that is, whether or not the color mode (monochrome mode / color mode) is the same (step S17). If they do not match (NO in step S17), the process proceeds to step S21 to give a warning.

  If YES in step S17, that is, if both color modes match, the mode indicating a photo or text document in the output format according to the user instruction and the identification indicating whether the document is a photograph or a character It is determined whether or not the result matches a predetermined output format (that is, the photo original mode or the character original mode) (step S18). If they do not match (NO in step S18), the process proceeds to step S21 to give a warning.

  If YES in step S18 and after warning the user in step S21, it is determined whether an instruction to start copying has been received from the operation unit 12 (step S19). In this way, when a copy start instruction is received with or without a warning (YES in step S19), copying according to the setting is started (step S20).

  If NO in step S19, it is determined whether or not the user setting is corrected (step S22). If there is no correction (NO), an instruction to start copying is waited in step S19. In this way, when the user is instructed to change the setting contents related to the image formation to be executed by the user instruction (in the case of YES in step S22), the process returns to step S2 again to set the user setting. I do. However, since the original is read once thereafter, steps S3 and S4 relating to the original reading and step S5 of the original identification process can be skipped unless the original is changed.

  Next, the details of the document identification processing in step S5 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the document identification processing in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a diagram for specifically explaining the document identification processing in FIG. As described above, the following processing is mainly executed by the document identification processing unit 17 and each of the preceding stages, but the processing main body is as described above, and thus the description thereof is basically omitted.

  First, the original is read and converted into RGB signals (step S31). Next, when the range is set, a signal in the target range is extracted (step S32).

  Next, in order to detect whether or not the document is a plain document, it is determined whether or not the density difference between adjacent pixels of the RGB signal is within a predetermined range (for example, a predetermined value a) (step S33). ). If YES in step S33, this means that there is no density difference between adjacent pixels and there is no change in the document as in the density difference 51 illustrated in FIG. 5A. It can be detected. Therefore, in this case, it is stored as an imageless original (step S34). On the other hand, in the case of NO in step S33, since there is a change exceeding the predetermined value a in the document as in the density difference 52 illustrated in FIG. Therefore, in this case, it is stored as an image original (step S35). In FIGS. 5A and 5B, u is the upper limit value of the density difference.

  Next, in order to detect the color mode of the document, it is determined whether or not the amplitude difference of each of the RGB signals is within a predetermined range (for example, a predetermined value b) (step S36). In the case of NO in step S36, that is, when all of the RGB signals become signals having the same shape as in the respective lines shown in FIG. 5C, it can be detected that the document is a black and white document. Therefore, in this case, it is stored as a black and white document (step S37). For example, when the image is drawn in various colors on a white background, all signals are not in the same shape as each line shown in FIG. 5D (the width of each line is widened). It becomes. Therefore, in this case, it is detected as a color document and stored as a color document (step S38).

  Next, in order to detect the type of information drawn on the document, the number of rectangular shapes in the document is extracted (step S39), and it is determined whether or not the number of extracted rectangles is a predetermined number or more. (Step S40). If YES in step S40, that is, as shown in FIG. 5E, it is determined that the document is a character document and stored as a character document (step S41). On the other hand, if NO in step S40, that is, as shown in FIG. 5F, it is determined to be a photographic document and stored as a photographic document (step S42).

  In this way, the document identification process is executed. The storage in steps S34, S35, S37, S38, S41, and S42 may be performed for a memory provided inside or outside the document identification processing unit 17.

  Next, the warning process in step S21 in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the warning process of FIG.

  A GUI image 61 shown in FIG. 6A is displayed on the image display device 14 of FIG. 1 and displays a warning text 61a such as “Is the setting correct?” As a pop-up image. The pop-up image of the warning text 61a may be stored in the warning unit 15 or the display control unit 13 so as to be readable. In addition to such a warning message, for example, a detailed inquiry may be made such as "A color document is about to be printed in black and white by automatic setting of the apparatus. Are you sure?"

  A GUI image 62 shown in FIG. 6B is displayed on the image display device 14 of FIG. 1 and displays a preview image 62a as a pop-up image. The preview image 62 a itself may be read out from the storage unit 24 by the cooperation of the warning unit 15 and the display control unit 13, generate a thumbnail image, and displayed on the image display device 14.

  Without being limited to these examples, the user may select a separately provided OK button if printing can be performed as it is. On the other hand, if user settings made by the user are utilized, printing can be performed by selecting a cancel button provided separately and changing the settings to user settings. Note that instead of the separately provided OK button or cancel button, an OK button or cancel button included in a selectable state beside the warning text or preview image may be employed.

  As described above, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when it is determined that the function set by the user cannot effectively use the function for which the output image is set and image formation is performed, To warn. This makes it possible to prevent an image formation result (output result itself or high-cost output) that is not desired by the user regardless of the user instruction. Therefore, regardless of the user's level of functional understanding and operational skill, it is possible to use output paper and toner wastefully and repeat a series of operations again while minimizing the loss of operator usability. Therefore, it is possible to prevent waste of cost and time.

  Although the image forming apparatus according to the present invention has been described above, as described in the processing procedure thereof, the present invention describes an image forming method in which the image forming apparatus forms an image with image information in an output format according to a user instruction. The form as can also be taken. In this image forming method, the image identification unit identifies the content of the image information, and the comparison unit determines in advance the output format according to the user instruction and the identification result identified by the image identification unit. And a step of warning the user when the warning unit does not match as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit. Other application examples are the same as those described for the image forming apparatus, and a description thereof will be omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Transmission / reception part, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Operation part, 13 ... Display control part, 14 ... Image display apparatus, 15 ... Warning part, 16 ... Image processing comparison part, 17 ... Document identification process , 18 ... Image input device, 19 ... Image output device, 20 ... Image processing device, 21 ... A / D conversion unit, 22 ... Shading correction unit, 23 ... Target range image extraction unit, 24 ... Storage unit, 25 ... Input Processing unit, 26 ... area separation processing unit, 27 ... color correction unit, 28 ... black generation / under color removal unit, 29 ... spatial filter unit, 30 ... halftone generation unit, 51, 52 ... density difference, 61, 62 ... GUI image, 61a ... warning text, 62a ... preview image.

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus capable of forming image information in an output format according to a user instruction,
An image identification unit for identifying the content of the image information, a comparison unit for comparing an output format according to the user instruction and an output format predetermined for the identification result identified by the image identification unit, An image forming apparatus comprising: a warning unit that warns a user when the comparison results in a comparison result in mismatching.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image identification unit identifies a color of the image information as a content of the image information.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image identification unit identifies whether the image information is text information or photographic information as the content of the image information. In an image forming method in which an image forming apparatus forms an image in an output format according to a user instruction,
The step of identifying the content of the image information by the image identification unit, and the output format according to the user instruction and the output format predetermined for the identification result identified by the image identification unit. An image forming method comprising: a step of comparing; and a step of warning a user when the warning unit does not match as a result of comparison in the comparison unit.

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