JP2014220560A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate print setting by preparing a print sample document, reading print setting information by a scanner and the like and allowing a user to perform addition/correction on the print setting.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus including a document reading section includes: standby means for making a print job stand by; recognition means for recognizing a character and a graphic of a document; reading means for reading print setting of the document by using the recognition means; and setting means for performing print setting again in response to the print setting which is read.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In an image forming apparatus, it is well known that print settings may be set from a personal computer using a printer driver and may be set from an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. Further, a technique for leaving the setting in the print result, reading the remaining information with an image reading apparatus such as a scanner, and performing print setting is considered and already known.

  However, with the conventional print setting methods, it is difficult to visualize the print result, and it is necessary for the user to individually remember the setting name and setting content unique to the image forming apparatus. In addition, it is necessary to leave setting information such as a barcode in the print result, which causes a problem of narrowing a user's print area.

For this reason, various proposals have been made to solve these problems (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
Patent Document 1 discloses a method of reading settings using a scanner for the purpose of easily performing print settings.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a method of reading settings using a scanner while leaving print condition information in a print result for the purpose of easily performing print settings.

  However, the inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 cannot solve the problem that the user has to remember and set print settings unique to the image forming apparatus.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to prepare a print sample document, read print setting information with a scanner or the like, and make the print settings easy by adding / modifying the print settings.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus having a document reading unit, a standby unit for waiting a print job, a recognition unit for recognizing characters and figures of a document, and the recognition And a setting unit configured to read again the print setting of the original using the setting unit and to set the print again based on the read print setting.

  According to the present invention, according to the present invention, a print sample document is prepared, print setting information is read by a scanner or the like, and the user can add or modify the print settings to facilitate print settings. it can.

1 is an example of a hardware configuration diagram for describing an image forming apparatus. 3 is an example of a flowchart for explaining a printing process of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 2 is an example of an operation unit for describing an operation unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is another example of an operation unit for explaining a setting confirmation screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing of the setting of the setting confirmation screen shown in FIG. (A)-(f) is an example of the explanatory view for demonstrating the aggregation setting of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. (A), (b) is explanatory drawing about the color setting example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing about the example of a setting of the punch number and punch location of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing about the example of a setting of the number of staples and a staple location of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing about the example of single side / double side setting of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing about the example of a paper size / paper direction setting of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. (A)-(c) is explanatory drawing about the example of print quality setting of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. (A)-(d) is explanatory drawing about the page arrangement / bookbinding setting example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a print magnification setting example of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. 6 is an example of a confirmation screen for explaining an example of emphasizing setting items that could not be read by the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described.
<Overview>
The present invention is configured to be able to wait for a job in an image forming apparatus equipped with a scanner, and has the following characteristics when setting printing conditions of the image forming apparatus.
In short, by scanning a printed material, the print settings for outputting the printed material are read out, set under the read setting conditions, checked by the user, and printed.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[Constitution]
FIG. 1 is an example of a hardware configuration diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus.
The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a memory 102, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 103, an external storage device 104, an input unit 105, a display unit 106, a communication unit 107, a printing unit 108, a document. A reading unit 109 and a bus line 110 are included.

  An example of the memory 102 is a flash memory. An example of the external storage device 104 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). Examples of the input unit 105 include a hard key and a touch panel. An example of the printing unit 108 is a laser printer. An example of the document reading unit 109 is a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) line sensor.

In the image forming apparatus, the CPU 101 performs overall control processing of the image forming apparatus, and stores a processing program in the ROM 103. The processing program is expanded in the memory 102, and the CPU 101 executes the program. A print job from the communication unit 107 and the document reading unit 109 is printed by the printing unit 108. The print job is temporarily stored in the memory 102 or the external storage device 104, and is printed by performing operations necessary for printing such as print settings from the input unit 105 and the display unit 106.
Settings include re-print settings based on the read print settings, aggregation settings, color settings, ink consumption saving settings, punch hole count and punch location settings, staple count and staple location settings, single-sided / double-sided print settings, print orientation settings , Paper size setting, and magnification.
These print settings are also stored in the memory 102 and the external storage device 104. These are communicated via the bus line 110.

[Operation]
FIG. 2 is an example of a flowchart for explaining the printing process of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
In step 201, a print job is received, and in step 202, the print job is temporarily held.
In Step 203, it is determined whether or not to perform sample setting as print setting from the document reading unit 109.
When the sample is set (Step 203 / Yes), the original is read (Step 204), when the sample is not set (Step 203 / No), that is, when the original is not read, it is determined whether or not to print in Step 207.
The original is read in Step 204, and it is determined whether or not the print settings read in Step 205 are changed, that is, whether the settings are confirmed or corrected.
If there is setting confirmation / correction (Step 205 / Yes), the print setting is changed (Step 206), and the process proceeds to Step 207. If there is no setting confirmation / correction (Step 205 / No), the process proceeds directly to Step 207.
When not printing (Step 207 / No), the process returns to Step 202 to wait for the print job, and when printing (Step 207 / Yes), printing is completed and the process is finished (Step 208).

FIG. 3 is an example of an operation unit for explaining the operation unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) touch panel 301, a start button 302 including hard keys, and a numeric keypad 303 are provided on the operation unit 300.
The job 304 that has been waiting in Step 202 of FIG. 2 is displayed on the LCD touch panel 301. When a sample document is placed on the document reading unit 109 and the sample setting button 306 is pressed, the print setting of the sample document is read from the document reading unit 109. When the “stored setting button” 305 is pressed, the print settings previously saved with the sample setting button 306 can be set again.
When the print button 307 is pressed, normal printing is performed.

FIG. 4 is another example of the operation unit for explaining the setting confirmation screen of the operation unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of settings on the setting confirmation screen shown in FIG.
400 shown in FIG. 4 is an example of a setting confirmation screen that is reflected after the sample original is read in Step 205. Further, the list box 501 shown in FIG. 5 is an example in which other settings that can be set are displayed and can be changed by clicking a setting content such as 401 on the confirmation screen of FIG.
In FIG. 4, 401 indicates aggregation, 402 indicates monochrome / color, 403 indicates paper size / direction, 404 indicates the number of punches / location, 405 indicates the number of staples / location, 406 indicates the setting conditions for the read print such as single side / double side. By reflecting in the window, the user can confirm.
By specifying a setting to be changed on the confirmation screen, for example, by touching in the case of a touch screen, the list box 501 can be changed to a desired setting. The reflection of the change can be confirmed on the preview screen 400.
In addition, the user can save and print the setting by pressing a “save setting button” 407 or a “print setting button” 408. By pressing a “save setting button” 407, the setting content is saved in the memory 102 or the external storage device 104. When the sample setting button 306 is pressed and the “print setting button” 408 is pressed, the set print sample is printed, and when the sample setting button 306 is pressed, the setting is made from the sample.

FIGS. 6A to 6F are examples of explanatory diagrams for explaining the aggregation setting of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
601 in FIG. 6A is an example in the case of not consolidating, and 602 in FIG. 6B is an example in which the print area for two pages is consolidated into the print area for one page. 603 in FIG. 6C is an example when the print area for four pages is integrated into the print area for one page.
In FIG. 6B, the “page divider line” 604 when the print area for two pages is integrated into the print area for one page is read and divided into print areas of a plurality of pages. The page division number can be identified by this page partition line.
In FIG. 6C, the case where the print area 603 for four pages is integrated into the print area for one page is the same as the case where the print area for two pages is integrated into the print area for one page. 606, the print area of the read page is divided. When the dividing lines 605 and 606 cannot be recognized, it is set when the lines are not aggregated.
The dividing line 604 of the printing area 602 for two pages in FIG. 6B is added by a crease or a user. For example, the line 604 may be a straight line written or the like, and is read by the page reading unit 109 and determined by performing graphic recognition processing. To do.
In FIG. 6D, 611 confirms the number of the same header and footer by the character recognition process, and divides the print area into a plurality of pages.
Reference numeral 612 in FIG. 6E recognizes the distance between pages at the center of the document, that is, the distance in the horizontal direction of the blank sheet, by character recognition processing and graphic recognition processing, and divides the print area into a plurality of pages.
Reference numeral 613 in FIG. 6F reads the page number at the footer position by character recognition processing and divides it into print areas of a plurality of pages.
611 is the same header and footer, 612 is the distance between pages, 613 is a method of determining and setting the page number by graphic recognition processing or character recognition processing, etc., even when there is no partition line, but misrecognition increases. For this reason, in the case of erroneous recognition, it is necessary to have the user correct it on the confirmation screen of FIG. Therefore, the case where there is a dividing line is considered to be the best mode.

7A and 7B are explanatory diagrams of color setting examples of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
After the color is read by the page reading unit 109, the color setting is performed by identifying and setting a monochrome page print area 701 or a color page print area 702 by graphic recognition processing or character recognition processing. In the case of a mode in which the sample saves toner / ink and prints thinly, for example, level color, the color is set to a level color that can be set by the image forming apparatus from the brightness of the color. This mode is an ink consumption saving setting mode.

FIGS. 8A to 8D are explanatory diagrams for setting examples of the number of punches and punch locations of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
801 in FIG. 8A shows the case where the number of punch holes and the punch location are set to one on the upper left, and 802 in FIG. 8B shows two sets of punch holes and the punch location on the left side. The case where it was done is shown. 803 in FIG. 8 (c) shows a case where the number of punch holes and punch positions are set to three on the left side, and 804 in FIG. 8 (d) shows one punch hole and punch positions in the left center. Indicates the case where it is set.
The number of punches / punch locations are set by reading the page reading unit 109 and then converting the number of punches and the punch position into settings that can be set by the image forming apparatus by graphic recognition processing.
For example, when the image forming apparatus can set only one punch hole at the upper left as shown by 801 in FIG. 8A, the sample is set at the left center as shown by 804 in FIG. 8D. In the setting, priority is given to the number of holes, and the upper left is set as 801 in FIG.

FIGS. 9A to 9D are explanatory diagrams of setting examples of the number of staples and the staple location of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
An ellipse 901 in FIG. 9A shows a case where the number of staples and the staple position are set to one on the upper left of the paper, and an ellipse 902 in FIG. 9B sets two staples and the staple position on the left side of the paper. The case where it was done is shown. An ellipse 903 in FIG. 9C shows the case where the number of staples and the staple position are set so that the center of the paper has two needles on the back. An ellipse 904 in FIG. 9D shows a case where the number of staples and the staple position are set so that two needle legs are arranged in the center of the paper.

  The number of staples and the stapling location are set by reading the page reading unit 109 and then converting the number of staples and the staple position into a state that can be set by the image forming apparatus by graphic recognition processing.

Similar to the number of punch holes and the number of punch locations, when the number of staples is one, a setting that can be set by the image forming apparatus, for example, in the case of FIG.
Further, when the document reading unit 109 uses an openable / closable lid, the staple may be attached as it is. However, when the document reading unit 109 is an ADF (Automatic Draft Feeder), the user writes it on the left side of the document in FIGS. 9A and 9B or the center of the document in FIGS. 9C and 9D. The thick line is also set by the figure recognition process.

FIGS. 10A to 10D are explanatory diagrams of a single-side / double-side setting example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
The single-sided / double-sided setting is a setting when the page reading unit 109 can simultaneously read both-side originals.
1001 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B is an example of one side, and 1002 shown in FIGS. 10C and 10D is an example of double-sided setting.
One side is set when one side, particularly the back side is blank, and both sides are set when both sides are recognized by graphic recognition processing or character recognition processing.

11A to 11D are explanatory diagrams of an example of setting the paper size / paper direction of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 11A shows a case in which the page reading unit 109 uses an openable / closable lid, in which 1100 indicates the outer shape of the openable / closable lid, 1101 indicates the vertical direction in the paper direction, and 1102 indicates the horizontal direction in the paper direction.
In the image forming apparatus, when the document reading unit uses an openable / closable lid, the orientation of the document is read and reflected in the paper print direction setting condition.
FIG. 11B shows a case where the page reading unit 109 is an ADF. 1111 is vertical in the paper direction and 1112 is horizontal in the paper direction. Whether the paper direction is vertical 1111 or horizontal in the paper direction is determined by character recognition processing. Identify the direction of the characters and determine the direction of the paper.
The paper size is determined by the paper size input to the page reading unit 109.

12A to 12C are explanatory diagrams of print quality setting examples of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
In FIG. 12A, 1101 is an example of the print quality setting of “clean mode”, 1102 of FIG. 12B is “standard mode”, and 1103 of FIG. 12C is “fast mode”.
The print quality that can be set by the image forming apparatus is set by the page reading unit 109 and character recognition processing.

13A to 13D are explanatory diagrams of a page arrangement / bookbinding setting example of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.
In the setting in which the sample original is read by the page reading unit 109, when the aggregation setting sets the print area for two pages as the print area for one page or the print area for four pages as the print area for one page, In the “print setting confirmation screen” 1300 in FIG. 13A, the “page arrangement” 1302 can be specified. The arrangement of pages can be selected as shown in the designation list of “Aggregate 2 pages into 1 page” 1311 and “Aggregate 4 pages into 1 page” 1312 in FIG.
When the single-side / double-side setting is the double-side setting, the bookbinding direction can be selected by designating an icon shown in the designation list in the frame 1321 in FIG.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a print magnification setting example of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG.
1400 is an example of a confirmation screen when there is a difference between the “size setting for job paper” 1401 and the “size setting for paper read from the sample” 1402. Zoom ratio "(enlargement / reduction ratio) 1403.
The image surrounded by the broken line 1404 reflects the set magnification, and the image surrounded by the solid line 1405 is an image of the preview screen of the entire print image. The preview image 1404 can be arranged in the preview screen 1405 by a hard key capable of setting the print direction or a touch operation.

FIG. 15 is an example of a confirmation screen for explaining an example of emphasizing a setting that could not be read by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
1500 is a confirmation screen as a means of emphasizing the setting items that could not be read, and could not be read by the user, such as zooming in on the setting 1505 that could not be read, polarizing the color, or writing a caution note 1502 And let the user set on the confirmation screen.

<Effect>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the already printed result is read by the scanner, the character / image recognition and the paper orientation setting are recognized, the settings unique to the image forming apparatus are applied, and the addition / correction confirmation of the user is confirmed. Do. As a result, if there is a print result, there is no need to memorize individual settings, and the user can easily set the print settings by reading the print settings without printing a pattern specific to the print area.

  The above-described embodiment shows an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. is there.

101 CPU
102 memory 103 ROM
104 External storage device 105 Input unit 106 Display unit 107 Communication unit 108 Printing unit 109 Document reading unit 110 Bus line

JP 2011-191801 A JP 2009-033589 A

Claims (26)

An image forming apparatus having a document reading unit,
A waiting means for waiting for a print job;
Recognizing means for recognizing characters and figures of the manuscript;
Reading means for reading the print setting of the document using the recognition means;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a setting unit configured to perform print setting again based on the read print setting.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising confirmation means for confirming the read print setting. Correction means for correcting the print settings;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a confirmation unit configured to confirm reflection of the modification by the modification unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the aggregate setting is read from the document and reflected in a print setting condition.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an identification unit that identifies the number of page divisions by a page dividing line in the aggregation setting.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an identification unit that identifies the number of page divisions based on the number of headers and footers in the aggregation setting.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an identification unit that identifies the number of page divisions based on a distance between a print area of a page and a print area of a next page in the aggregation setting.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an identification unit that identifies the number of page divisions based on the number of pages described in the footer in the aggregation setting.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein color settings are read from a document and reflected in setting conditions.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein in the color setting, the lightness of the color is read to reflect the toner and ink consumption saving setting in the setting condition.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of punch holes and the position setting are read from the document and reflected in the setting conditions.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of staples / location setting is read from the document and reflected in the setting condition. When reading the number of punch holes and the number of staples from the document and reflecting them in the setting conditions,
The number of punch holes, punch positions, and staple positions that can be formed by the image forming apparatus are designated with priority given to the number of punches / staples of the document.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the original reading unit is capable of simultaneously reading a double-sided original, a single-sided / double-sided printing setting is read from the original and reflected in setting conditions.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the document reading unit uses an openable / closable lid, the orientation of the document is read and reflected in a paper print direction setting condition.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the original reading unit reads an original with an ADF, the direction of characters of the original is read and reflected in a paper print direction setting condition.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size of the original is read and reflected in a paper size setting condition.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print quality of the original is read and reflected in the setting condition.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for designating an arrangement of pages when the aggregation setting is read in the correction of the print setting and the aggregation setting from the document.   The document reading unit includes means for designating a bookbinding direction when the duplex setting can be read in the correction of the print setting and the single-sided / double-sided print setting when the double-sided original can be read simultaneously. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 1.   When setting the paper size by reading the print setting correction and the document size, the paper size setting of the print job and the paper size read from the sample or the paper size corrected by the user 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting a magnification when there is a difference in the setting.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for setting a magnification by operating a preview screen in the magnification setting.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for emphasizing a setting item when the setting cannot be read in the correction of the print setting.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for emphasizing the setting item by changing a color of the setting item.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for emphasizing the setting item by changing a character size of the setting item.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for emphasizing the setting item by writing a note on the setting item.

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