JP2013211708A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform printing in a POD system by automatically selecting a print sample.SOLUTION: An image forming device comprises: input/output means for receiving image data of an image as input, and outputting the input image data; unit calculation means for calculating the total number of units (unit composed of a plurality of pixels) of the input image data; image area information counting means for measuring an image area (character, and excluding character) of the input image data by units; chromatic color information counting means for measuring chromatic color/achromatic color of the input image data by units; search condition input means for inputting a condition for a candidate of a sample image; and determination means for determining an optimum sample image from image data by comparing the condition input by the search condition input means and values of the counting means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that reads a document, generates image data, and prints it, or an image forming apparatus that develops and prints PDL language and image data from the network.

  Conventionally, printing jobs that have been performed using offset printing have been developed in accordance with the development of digital technology capable of storing and processing image data at high speed and large capacity, and electrophotographic systems capable of high-precision printing. It has become common to carry out with a POD system using the system (see Patent Document 1). In particular, in light printing operations for printing a small number of copies, it has become common to use a POD system because of the labor and cost involved in checking the printed matter.

  There are the following methods for an operator to check a printed matter in such a POD system in a light printing operation.

1) When confirming at the start of printing Before the actual printing, the operator manually performs a partial printing, and compares it with the color sample to confirm the printing condition.

2) When confirming during printing The operator gives an instruction during printing and outputs the designated page to a tray different from the tray on which the printed material is stacked.

  In the POD system, as in 1) and 2), it is common for the operator to print a color sample to judge the color, or print a sample as appropriate to check the printing status and adjust the settings of the POD system. Is. Such work is similarly performed in light printing using offset printing which has been conventionally performed. Especially the work of 2) is very important. In both offset printing and electrophotographic printing, continuous printing causes temperature changes, printing member wear, and ink or toner density changes, which are adjusted in 1). This is because it is difficult to continue printing with high quality.

JP 2009-61612 A

  This is a case of checking during printing in 2). However, when all pages are printed, it takes a very long time to check the printed state. Therefore, it is efficient to print and confirm only a plurality of pages. However, there is a problem that it takes much time for the operator to extract a page suitable for the sample from a large number of pages.

  In order to solve such a problem, means for extracting a page (image data) suitable for the sample is provided. Specifically, when the operator inputs the extraction conditions for the character / photo ratio and color / black / white ratio and the printing form is copy, the image area information and color information (achromatic / chromatic) statistical information at the time of input Is added to the image data and stored in the image storage device. When all the image data to be printed is stored in the image storage device, image data that matches the extraction condition is determined as data for sample printing from all pages. If the print mode is printing using PDL, input the PDL data from the network I / F, determine the object to be drawn in the PDL in the interpreter, create the statistical information of the object for each page, and the image data And stored in the image storage device. When all the image data to be printed is stored in the image storage device, the image data that matches the extraction conditions set from all the pages is determined as data for sample printing.

  According to the present invention, the page suitable for the sample is automatically determined according to the operator settings inputted in advance, so that even if there are a large number of pages, the operator can select the page suitable for the sample without taking time and effort. It can be specified.

It is a figure explaining the whole system used as object in this form. It is a figure explaining the apparatus used as control object in this form. It is a figure explaining a system configuration by this form. It is a figure explaining the operation | movement flow in this form. It is a figure explaining the control at the time of document reading in this form. It is a figure explaining the process of image data by this form. It is a figure explaining the information on the memory of the image data in this form. It is a figure explaining the screen of the operation part for inputting the conditions in this form. It is a figure explaining the layout on the memory of the conditions input by the operation part by this form. It is a figure of another pattern explaining the screen of the operation part for inputting the conditions in this form. It is a figure explaining the operation | movement flow in this form.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail according to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First embodiment]
An overall configuration of an image input / output system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  A reader unit (image input device) 101 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data. The reader unit 101 includes a scanner unit 102 having a function for reading a document and a document feeding unit 103 having a function for transporting a document sheet.

  A printer unit (image output device) 107 conveys recording paper, prints image data as a visible image thereon, and discharges the recording paper outside the device. The printer unit 107 includes a paper feeding unit 110 having a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, a marking unit 108 having a function of transferring and fixing image data onto the recording paper, and sorting and stapling the printed recording papers. And a paper discharge unit 109 having a function of outputting to

  The control device 105 is electrically connected to the reader unit 101 and the printer unit 107, and is further connected to host computers 112 and 113 via the network 111.

  The control device 105 controls the reader unit 101 to read image data of a document, and controls the printer unit 107 to output the image data to a recording sheet to provide a copy function. In addition, the scanner function that converts the image data read from the reader unit 101 into code data and transmits it to the host computer via the network 111, converts the code data received from the host computer via the network 111 into image data, A printer function for outputting to the printer unit 107 is provided.

  The operation unit 104 is connected to the control device 110, is configured with a liquid crystal touch panel, and provides a user I / F for operating the image input / output system.

  In FIG. 2, A is an overview diagram of the reader unit 101, and B is an overview diagram of the printer unit 107. The document feeding unit 250 of the reader unit feeds documents one by one on the platen glass 211 in order from the top, and discharges the documents on the platen glass 211 after the document reading operation is completed. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 211, the lamp 212 is turned on, and the movement of the optical unit 213 is started to expose and scan the document. Reflected light from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 218 by mirrors 214, 215, and 216 and a lens 217. In this way, the scanned image of the document is read by the CCD 218.

  A reader image processing circuit unit 222 performs predetermined processing on the image data output from the CCD 218 and outputs the processed image data to the control device 110 via the scanner I / F 140.

  A printer image processing circuit unit 352 outputs an image signal sent from the control device 110 via the printer I / F 145 to the laser driver.

  The laser driver 317 of the printer 423 drives the laser light emitting units 313, 314, 315, and 316, and the laser light corresponding to the image data output from the printer image processing unit 352 is emitted by the laser light emitting units 313, 314, 315, Make 316 emit light. This laser beam is irradiated to the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, 328 by mirrors 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, and the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, In 328, a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed. 321, 322, 323, and 324 are developing devices for developing a latent image with black (Bk), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and magenta (M) toners, respectively. The toner is transferred to a sheet and printed out in full color.

  A sheet fed from one of the sheet cassettes 360 and 361 and the manual feed tray 362 at a timing synchronized with the start of laser light irradiation is attracted onto the transfer belt 334 via the registration roller 333 and conveyed. Then, the developer attached to the photosensitive drums 325, 326, 327, and 328 is transferred to the recording paper. The recording paper on which the developer is placed is conveyed to the fixing unit 335, and the developer is fixed to the image recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 335. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 335 is discharged by the discharge roller 336, and the paper discharge unit 370 bundles the discharged recording paper and sorts the recording paper or staples the sorted recording paper.

  If double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 336, and then the rotation direction of the discharge roller 336 is reversed and guided to the refeed conveyance path 338 by the flapper 337. The recording sheet guided to the refeed conveyance path 338 is fed to the transfer belt 334 at the timing described above.

<Description of control device>
The function of the control device 110 will be described based on the block diagram shown in FIG.

  The CPU 401 and the bus controller 405 control the overall operation of the control device 110, and the CPU 401 operates based on a program read from the ROM 402. The operation of interpreting PDL (page description language) code data received from the host computer and developing it into raster image data is also described in this program and processed by software. The bus controller 405 controls data transfer input / output from each I / F, and performs arbitration at the time of bus contention and control of DMA data transfer.

  The DRAM 404 is connected to the CPU 401 by the bus controller 405, and is used as a work area for operating the CPU 401 and an area for storing image data.

  The Graphic Processor 403 performs image rotation, image scaling, color space conversion, and binarization processing on the raster image data stored in the DRAM 404, respectively. The Graphic Processor 403 is connected to the DRAM 404 via the bus controller 405, and data transfer to and from the DRAM 404 is performed by DMA transfer controlled by the bus controller 405.

  The network controller 431 is connected to the CPU 401 by the bus controller 405 and is connected to an external network by the connector 432. The network is generally Ethernet (registered trademark).

  The I / O control unit 424 is equipped with two channels of a CPU 420 of the reader unit and a serial communication controller 425 for transmitting and receiving control commands to and from the CPU of the printer 423.

  The operation unit I / F 427 includes a liquid crystal display unit, a touch panel input device attached to the liquid crystal display unit, and a plurality of hard keys. A signal input by the touch panel or the hard key is transmitted to the CPU 401 via the I / O control unit 424, and the liquid crystal display unit displays the image data sent from the I / O control unit 424. The liquid crystal display unit displays function display, image data, and the like in the operation of the image forming apparatus.

  The HD drive 429 connected to the I / O control unit 424 is for connecting an external storage device. In this embodiment, the HD 430 is connected via this I / F, and image data is stored in the hard disk 162 or image data is read from the hard disk 162.

  The scanner I / F 406 and the printer I / F 421 are each connected to the bus controller 405.

  The scanner I / F 406 is connected to the CPU 420 of the reader unit via the connector 409, and is also connected to the scanner bus 410, and has a function of performing predetermined processing on the image received from the reader unit 101. Also, it has a function of outputting a control signal generated based on the video control signal sent from the reader unit 101 to the scanner bus 410. Data transfer from the scanner bus 410 to the DRAM 404 is controlled by the bus controller 405.

  The printer I / F 421 is connected to the printer 423 via the connector 422 and has a function of performing predetermined processing on the image data output from the DRAM 404 and outputting the image data to the printer 423.

  Transfer of raster image data developed on the DRAM 404 to the printer unit is controlled by the bus controller 405 and DMA-transferred to the printer 423 via the printer I / F 421.

  The flowchart of FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing a copying operation until image data read from the reader unit 101 is printed by the printer unit 107 in the above-described configuration.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a circuit configuration of a scanner I / F that performs image area determination (character determination) and color determination on image data read by the reader image processing unit 222 of FIG. 2 and converted into RGB signals. The digital image data is read by the reader unit 602 and sent to the scanner I / F 601 via the image data signal line 603.

  The digital image data sent with the image data signal 603 is input to the image area separation (character determination) unit 609 through the image data signal line 603 while synchronizing with the control signal line 606 from the reader unit 602. Here, the image area separation (character determination) unit 609 determines whether the image data input via the image data signal line 603 is read from a character portion of a document, or a photo or picture portion. In the case of image data of the character portion of the document, the image area separation (character determination) unit 609 sets the character determination signal line 616 to true.

  The image data input through the image data signal line 603 at the same time as the above processing is subjected to correction processing by the connection & MTF correction unit 604 and then subjected to enhancement processing by the input masking unit 605 and simultaneously through the filter 607. Are input to the color determination unit 608, and the ACS determination region detection circuit 614 performs the ACS determination region according to the ACS determination region set in the register 1 (610), the register 2 (611), the register 3 (612), and the register 4 (613). The color of the area determined to be is determined. When it is determined that the pixel input by the color determination unit 608 is a chromatic color, the color determination unit 608 counts up the ACS counter 615 and simultaneously makes the color determination signal line 617 true.

  Information on the character determination signal line 616 and the color determination signal line 617 is processed as image area information for an image input through the image data signal line 603.

  6 shows image data read by the reader image processing unit 222 of FIG. 2 and converted into RGB signals, character determination signal lines 616 generated by the image area separation unit 609, and color determination signal lines generated by the color determination unit 608. The process of compressing the information 617 as image area information and storing it in the DRAM 404 of FIG. 3 is illustrated.

  The image data input from the reader unit 602 is subjected to image area determination (character determination) by the image area separation unit 609 of the scanner I / F 601 and then the image area separation unit 609 via the bus controller unit 618. Information on the character determination signal line 616 and the color determination signal line 617 as a result of the processing is input to the image compression / decompression unit 705 together with the control signal 619. Image data is input to the image data buffer 718 while synchronizing with the control signal 619, and information on the character determination signal line 616 and the color determination signal line 617 is input to the image area data buffer 717. Here, when the image data and image area information for n lines are accumulated in the image data buffer 718 and the image area data buffer 717, the image data and the image area information are compressed using the SRAM 704 by the compression circuit 706, and the bus Temporarily stored in the DRAM 703 via the controller 726, sent to the I / O control unit 727 via the bus controller 726 by the CPU 701, and connected to the I / O control unit 727 via the connector 728. Transferred to and stored.

  FIG. 11 shows a characteristic operation flow of this patent. The operation of the present invention will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  By operating the character area ratio setting bar 903, the black and white image area ratio setting bar 905, and the color image area ratio setting bar 906 from the sample image search condition screen 901 of FIG. 8 displayed on the operation unit I / F 427 of FIG. The set values are displayed on a character area ratio setting value display 902, a monochrome image area ratio setting value display 904, and a color image area ratio setting value display 906.

  The set values are stored as a search condition table 1000 on the DRAM 703 in FIG. The values displayed in the character area ratio setting value display 902, the monochrome image area ratio setting value display 904, and the color image area ratio setting value display 906. Accordingly, the pattern of the image to be searched according to the set rate is displayed on the preview display 908 (S1202).

  FIG. 10 shows how the preview display 908 changes when the ratio of each area on the DRAM 703 is changed by operating the character area ratio setting bar 903, the monochrome image area ratio setting bar 905, and the color image area ratio setting bar 906. It is illustrated.

  After setting the print settings (number of copies, enlargement ratio, etc.) from the operation unit I / F 427, by pressing the start key provided on the operation unit I / F 427, the document feed unit 250 is set as described above. Is read by the CCD 218, the image data is compressed by the image data buffer 718, the image area data of the image is compressed by the image area data buffer 717, and the image data and the image area information are compressed by the SRAM 704 by the compression circuit 706. The HD drive 729 is temporarily stored in the DRAM 703 via the bus controller 726, sent to the I / O control unit 727 via the bus controller 726 by the CPU 701, and connected to the I / O control unit 727 with the connector 728. And transferred to the HD 730 and stored (S1206).

  At this time, the CPU 701 accumulates information in the image area data buffer 717 in units of n lines, and creates an image information table 800 having a data structure as shown in FIG. In the data structure of FIG. 7, the page number 801 of which reading has been completed, the main scanning direction size 802 and the sub-scanning direction size 803 of the image data created by detection by the document feeding unit 250 at the time of reading, and the image area by the CPU 701 A character area ratio 804, a color image area ratio 805, a black and white image area ratio 806, and a white area 807 calculated based on the area information per page accumulated in units of n lines in the data buffer 717 are calculated on the DRAM 703. Are stored in the image information table 800 (S1207, S1208, S1209, S1210, S1211). The following is a method for calculating the area ratio.

Formula 1: Effective image area = ((Main scanning direction size / 600dpi x Sub scanning direction size / 600dpi) / n lines)-White area Formula 2: Character area ratio = ((Character area + Achromatic) / Effective image area) × 100
Formula 3: Color image area ratio = ((non-character area + chromatic color) / effective image area) x 100
Formula 4: Black and white image area ratio = ((non-character area + achromatic color) / effective image area) x 100
The CPU 701 determines whether there is a document to be read on the document feed unit 250. If there is a document, the CPU 701 repeats the reading operation and registration in the image information table 800 (S1212).

  When the CPU 701 determines that all the originals have been read, it searches the image information table 800 of the DRAM 703 for the character area ratio 804, color image area ratio 805, monochrome image area ratio 806, and white area 807 of the first page. Comparison is made with the values in the condition table 1000 (S1214, S1215, S1216).

  In the process of performing the search, it is not necessary to completely match the search condition table 1000, and a search that matches within a predetermined error range is detected. If the detected result is within the error range, the character area ratio 812, the color image area ratio 813, and the black and white image area ratio 814 of the temporary storage area 808 in the DRAM 703 are compared, and the values in the search condition table 1000 are compared. If they are close, the contents of the temporary storage area 808 in the DRAM 703 are rewritten with the values read from the searched image information table 800 (S1218).

  The processes in S1213 to S1218 are performed on all images registered in the image information table 800 (S1219).

  When the search is completed, a page matching the page number stored in the temporary storage area 808 is expanded from the HD 730 to the DRAM 703 via the HD drive 729 and the IO control unit 727, and then the image is compressed via the compression / decompression circuit 706. After decompressing the data and storing it in the DRAM 703, printing is performed by transferring it to the printer 423 via the bus controller 726 via the printer I / F 421.

  As described above, input the ratio of the character area, monochrome image area, and color image area to search for image data suitable for the sample in advance, determine the area of the image data, and automatically select the sample from multiple pages By detecting a suitable page, even when there are a large number of pages, the operator can specify a suitable page for the sample without taking time and effort.

101 Reader (image input device)
102 Scanner unit 103 Document feeding unit

Claims (1)

An image input / output device having input means for inputting an image of a document as image data, storage means for storing image data, and image output means for printing the stored image data on a print medium ,
The image input / output device divides the image data input from the image input means into units each consisting of a plurality of predetermined pixels, and calculates a total number of the units;
Image area information counting means for measuring the image area (characters, other than characters) of the image data input from the image input means in units;
Chromatic color information counting means for measuring the chromatic color / achromatic color of the image data input from the image input means in units;
Search condition input means for inputting a condition as to which image data is selected as a sample image among the image data input from the image input means;
The condition input by the search condition input means is compared with the values of the measuring means, the image area information counting means, and the chromatic color information counting means, and a predetermined sample is selected from the image data stored in the storage means. An image forming apparatus comprising sample image selection means for determining an image.