JP2021100210A - Image forming apparatus, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To make it easy to check a character image included in an image in preview display.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: a rectangular display that has long sides and short sides; rotating means that rotates the display between a first direction in which the short side becomes the upside and a second direction in which the long side becomes the upside; and rotation control means that controls the rotating means. While the image is displayed on the display as a preview, when the feature quantity of a character image included in an image satisfies a predetermined condition and there is a certain relative relationship between the direction of the display and the direction of the image, the rotation control means controls the rotating means such that the direction of the display becomes one of the first direction and the second direction based on the relative relationship.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

This disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, method and program, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus, method and program for previewing an image.

The image forming apparatus provides a function of previewing a finished image, for example, when printing an image on paper. As a preview display function, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-2908 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technique for rotating and enlarging a display image in a preview display area in a touch panel display.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-2908

In the image forming apparatus, there is a user request to confirm that the character image in the preview-displayed image is appropriate. For example, the user wants to confirm that the characteristics of the character image are appropriate, that is, the character image is not partially lost, the character image has an appropriate darkness, and the like. Regarding this point, in Patent Document 1, the image is rotated and enlarged in the preview display area in the horizontally long touch panel display, but when the size of the touch panel display is small, the image is visible even if it is enlarged. The size is limited to the size of the preview display area. Therefore, it may not be possible to sufficiently confirm the character image by overlooking a partial defect of the character image.

An object of the present disclosure is to make it easier for a user to confirm a character image included in an image in a preview display of the image.

The image forming apparatus according to this disclosure rotates a rectangular display having a long side and a short side between a first direction in which the short side is the upper side and a second direction in which the long side is the upper side. The rotation control means includes a rotation means and a rotation control means for controlling the rotation means, in which the feature amount of the character image included in the image satisfies a predetermined condition and is predetermined between the orientation of the display and the orientation of the image. It is determined whether or not the rotation condition that there is a relative relationship between the two is satisfied, and when the image is previewed on the display, when the rotation condition is satisfied, the rotation means is set on the display based on the predetermined relative relationship. The orientation is controlled to be one of the first orientation and the second orientation.

In the above disclosure, the image has a rectangular shape and the orientation of the image is either portrait orientation, where the short sides of the image correspond to the top edge of the image, or landscape orientation, where the long sides of the image correspond to the top edge of the image. Is.

In the above disclosure, the predetermined relative relationship is that the image is in portrait orientation and the display orientation when the image is displayed is second orientation, or the image is landscape orientation and the display orientation when the image is displayed. Includes the relationship with the first orientation.

In the above disclosure, the feature amount includes the size of the character image, and the predetermined condition includes the condition that the size of the character image is less than a predetermined value.

In the above disclosure, the feature amount includes the deletion of the character image, and the predetermined condition includes the condition that the character image at the end of the image is missing.

In the above disclosure, the feature amount includes the density of the character image, and the predetermined condition includes the condition that the density of the character image is equal to or less than the predetermined value.

In the above disclosure, the image forming apparatus further includes an image reading means for reading the conveyed document and acquiring an image, and when a plurality of documents are sequentially conveyed at intervals, the image reading means is conveyed. A real-time preview is performed in which a plurality of images are acquired by scanning the originals, and the images acquired for each original are preview-displayed in conjunction with the sequential transport of the plurality of originals.

In the above disclosure, the image forming apparatus further includes a printing means for printing an image on the paper and ejecting the printed paper, and the printing means prints a plurality of images on the paper and ejects the paper at intervals. Real-time preview is performed to display the image as a preview in conjunction with the operation.

In the above disclosure, the rotation control means has permission / prohibition means for permitting or prohibiting the rotation of the display from the rotation control means, and the permission / prohibition means satisfies the time condition based on the time related to the preview display in the real tom preview. When, the rotation control means is allowed to rotate the display, and when the time condition is not satisfied, the rotation control means is prohibited from rotating the display.

In the above disclosure, the time condition includes the condition that the time based on the above interval is at least longer than the time required to rotate the display.

In the above disclosure, if the time condition is not met, the rotation control means modifies the above interval so that the time condition is met.

In the above disclosure, the image forming apparatus assigns and rotates the interval changing process and the preview display process, respectively, to indicate the degree to which the process should be performed in preference to the other processes. When the time condition is not satisfied, the control means changes the interval so that the time condition is satisfied when the priority of the preview display process is lower than the priority of the process of changing the interval.

In the above disclosure, the permit / prohibition means further, in the case of real-time preview, if the time condition is not satisfied, a predetermined number of images to be displayed following the image being previewed among the plurality of images are displayed. When the orientation is the same and there is the above-mentioned predetermined relative relationship between the same orientation and the orientation of the display during preview display of the image, the rotation control means is allowed to rotate the display.

In the above disclosure, the image forming apparatus determines that the rotation condition is satisfied, and when the time condition is not satisfied, the enlarged portion including the character image extracted from the image is displayed on the display together with the image. Display the image.

In the above disclosure, the image forming apparatus previews the extracted partial image on the display after displaying the enlarged partial image including the character image extracted from the image together with the image, and rotates the image. When the preview display of the image from which the partial image is extracted, the control means displays the rotating means based on the orientation of the image when there is a predetermined relative relationship between the orientation of the image and the orientation of the display. Is controlled so that the orientation of is one of the first orientation and the second orientation.

In the above disclosure, the image forming apparatus processes an image for each job, the job has setting data including settings related to image processing, and the rotation control means is from a document in which the setting data are mixed in different sizes. When the mixed document mode setting for reading an image for each document is included, it is determined whether or not the character image included in the image has a feature amount satisfying a predetermined condition.

In the above disclosure, the image has a rectangular shape, and the image is a vertical image in which the short side of the image corresponds to the upper side of the image and a horizontal image in which the long side of the image corresponds to the upper side of the image. Including, the image forming apparatus classifies a plurality of images into a group of portrait images and a group of landscape images, performs a real-time preview on the image data of one group, and then performs an image data of the other group. Perform a real-time preview of.

The method according to this disclosure is a rotating means for rotating a rectangular display having a long side and a short side, and a display for rotating the display between a first direction in which the short side is the upper side and a second direction in which the long side is the upper side. This method is a method of controlling an image forming apparatus including, in which the character image included in the image has a feature amount satisfying a predetermined condition and is predetermined between the orientation of the display and the orientation of the image. The step of determining whether or not the rotation condition that there is a relative relationship is satisfied, and when the rotation condition is satisfied when the image is previewed on the display, the rotation means is displayed based on the predetermined relative relationship. It comprises a step of controlling so that the orientation of is one of the first orientation and the second orientation.

The program according to this disclosure is a rotating means for rotating a rectangular display having a long side and a short side and a first direction in which the short side is the upper side and a second direction in which the long side is the upper side. A program that causes a processor to execute a method of controlling an image forming apparatus including the above, wherein the character image included in the image has a feature amount satisfying a predetermined condition, and the orientation of the display and the image of the image. Based on the step of determining whether or not the rotation condition that there is a predetermined relative relationship between the orientations is satisfied, and when the rotation condition is satisfied when the image is previewed on the display, based on the predetermined relative relationship. The rotating means is provided with a step of controlling the orientation of the display to be one of the first orientation and the second orientation.

According to this disclosure, it becomes easy for the user to confirm the character image included in the image in the preview display of the image.

It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the system which includes the MFP 100 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the MFP 100 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the rotation control part 700 which concerns on this embodiment in association with the peripheral part. It is a figure which shows typically the display process based on the orientation of the image and the display which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the process which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of the process which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the document spacing table 600 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the discharge interval table 605 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the priority table 610 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the setting table 620 which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which enlarges and displays the partial image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of rotation and display of the display 300 which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are designated by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are the same. Therefore, these explanations will not be repeated.

First, the terms of the present embodiment are defined.
"Vertical image" and "horizontal image" indicate the orientation of the image. An image has a rectangular shape, an image in which the short side of the image corresponds to the top side of the image is "portrait", that is, a "vertical image", and an image in which the long side of the image corresponds to the top side of the image is "landscape". That is, "horizontal image".

Further, the display has a rectangular shape having a long side and a short side. The display is rotatable between "first orientation" and "second orientation". The "first orientation" is the orientation in which the short side of the display is the upper side, and the "second orientation" is the orientation in which the long side of the display is the upper side.

Further, "preview display" means displaying the image on a display for the user to check the image, for example, before printing the image based on the image data.

<1. Summary of disclosure>
The outline of the disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of rotation and display of the display 300 according to the present embodiment. An MFP (abbreviation for Multifunction Peripheral), which is an example of an image forming apparatus, includes a rectangular display 300 having a long side 301 and a short side 302. The MFP may rotate the display 300 between a first orientation (FIG. 12 (B)) in which the short side 302 is the upper side and a second orientation (FIG. 12 (A)) in which the long side 301 is the upper side. it can. The MFP determines whether the rotation condition that the character image included in the image 310 has a feature amount satisfying a predetermined condition and that there is a predetermined relative relationship between the orientation of the display 300 and the orientation of the image 310 is satisfied. To do. When the rotation condition is satisfied when the image 310 is previewed on the display 300, the MFP sets the display 300 in one of the first orientation and the second orientation based on a predetermined relative relationship. Rotate. This predetermined relative relationship includes the relationship that the image 310 is in portrait orientation and the orientation of the display 300 is in the second orientation, or that the image 310 is in landscape orientation and the orientation of the display 300 is in the first orientation. ..

The image 310 has a rectangular shape, and the orientation of the image 310 is such that the short side 312 of the image 310 corresponds to the upper side of the image and the long side 311 of the image 310 corresponds to the upper side of the image 310. Either. In FIG. 12A, the relative relationship between the image 310 in portrait orientation and the orientation of the display 300 in preview display being the second orientation is satisfied, and the character image of image 310 is a feature amount satisfying a predetermined condition ( For example, the size of the character image is equal to or less than a predetermined value), so that the above rotation condition is satisfied. Therefore, the MFP rotates the display 300 of FIG. 11 (A) from the second orientation to the first orientation (FIG. 12 (B)).

With reference to FIG. 12, when the image 310 is displayed on the display 300 so that the long side 311 is located on the short side 302 side (FIG. 12 (A)), the condition (long side 311> short side 302). When is satisfied, the image 310 is enlarged so that the upper end or the lower end portion protrudes from the frame of the display 300, and if there is a character image at the end of the image located outside the frame, the user displays the character image. I can't confirm. Further, when the image 310 is reduced and displayed so as to avoid the protrusion (FIG. 12 (A)), the user can confirm the entire image 310 in the display 300, but also the character image in the image. As a result of the reduction, the visibility of the character image is impaired, and it becomes difficult for the user to check the character image.

On the other hand, when the display 300 is rotated so as to be in the first orientation (FIG. 12B), the portrait image 310, that is, the portrait image 310 is displayed in the first orientation (portrait) display 300. Can be previewed. Therefore, in the preview display of FIG. 12B, it is possible to avoid the above-mentioned protrusion of the image 310 out of the frame and reduction of the image. As a result, the user can easily confirm the character image in the image in the preview display of the image 310.

<2. Appearance and system configuration of MFP>
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a system including the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 1, the system includes a server 50, a PC (abbreviation for personal computer) 200, and an MFP 100, which correspond to general-purpose computers. They communicate with each other via the network 40. The server 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a memory 52, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 53 which is an example of a non-volatile storage device, and a network I / F (Interface) 54 for communicating with the network 40. .. The MFP 100 can process images on a job-by-job basis. The job includes image data and settings related to image data. The MFP 100 processes the image data according to the setting by executing the job. Jobs include jobs such as printing and copying. The MFP 100 can receive a job from the server 50 or the personal computer 200 via the network 40. The network 40 may include various wired or wireless networks.

In this embodiment, the MFP 100 will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, the present embodiment is not limited to the MFP 100, and the present embodiment can be applied to other image forming devices such as a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a printer device, and the like that preview-display a printed image. The MFP 100 executes various processes on images such as a scanner function, a facsimile function, a copy function, a printer function, a data communication function, and a server function. In the present embodiment, the image data is mainly read. , And the process focusing on the function of printing image data will be described.

With reference to FIG. 1, the MFP 100 includes an image reading unit 102 that optically reads a document to obtain image data, and an image forming unit 106 that prints an image on paper based on the image data. The MFP 100 includes a feeder 104 on the upper surface of the main body for sending a document to the image reading unit 102. The MFP 100 includes a plurality of paper feeding units 109 for supplying printing paper to the image forming unit 106 at the lower part. The MFP 100 includes a tray 105 in the center of which the printing paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 106 is discharged. The image reading unit 102 is an embodiment of the “image reading means”.

The operation panel 107, to which the operation panel 107 is mounted on the front side of the upper part of the main body of the MFP 100, displays information and accepts an information input operation. Specifically, the operation panel 107 includes a display 300 and a hard key 350 including keys or buttons operated by the user. The hard key 350 corresponds to an operation reception unit that receives an operation on the MFP 100 by the user. The display 300 may be composed of a touch panel in which a display and a position input device such as a touch pad are combined.

Although the MFP 100 includes a hard key 350 on the operation panel 107, the hard key 350 may be arranged at a position different from that of the operation panel 107, for example, on the upper surface of the housing of the MFP 100.

(Rotating mechanism)
The MFP 100 includes a rotation mechanism 108 for rotating the display 300 between the first orientation and the second orientation, and a rotation driver 512 described later. The rotation mechanism 108 and the rotation driver 512 are examples of the "rotation means". In the present embodiment, only the display 300 is rotated by the rotation mechanism 108, but the object of rotation is not limited to the display 300, and the operation panel 107 including the display 300 may be rotated.

The rotation mechanism 108 and the rotation driver 512 rotate the display 300 from the first direction to the second direction, or from the second direction to the first direction. Specifically, the rotation mechanism 108 includes, but is not limited to, a turntable (not shown) provided on the back surface of the display 300, and the display 300 is placed on the turntable. The rotary driver 512 includes a motor whose axis of rotation is connected to a turntable. When the rotation driver 512 receives the control command 119 that controls the rotation of the display 300 from the system controller 500, the rotation driver 512 converts the received control command 119 into a drive signal of the current or voltage that drives the motor, and converts the converted drive signal into the motor. Output to. The motor rotates in a direction or speed according to a drive signal, the turntable rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the motor, and the display 300 mounted on the turntable rotates. In this way, the system controller 500 can switch the rotation of the display 300 from the first direction to the second direction or from the second direction to the first direction by the control command 119. The mechanism for rotating the display 300 carried by the "rotation means" is not limited to the configuration using the rotation mechanism 108 and the rotation driver 512.

<3. MFP hardware configuration>
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the MFP 100 according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 2, the MFP 100 includes a system controller 500, a memory 503 such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a storage device 504, an image pickup unit 505 including a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and an automatic read drive unit 506. , Data reader / writer 508, network I / F 510, communication I / F 511, rotation driver 512 that drives the rotation mechanism 108, output image processing unit 514, printer engine 515, input image processing unit 513, and so on. Includes operation panel 107. The system controller 500 is connected to the memory 503, the storage device 504, the image pickup unit 505, the automatic read drive unit 506, the network I / F 510, the communication I / F 511, the rotation driver 512, and the operation panel 107, for example, via an internal bus. Has been done.

The image pickup unit 505 and the automatic reading drive unit 506 are provided in the image reading unit 102. When the document is automatically conveyed by the feeder 104, the automatic reading drive unit 506 drives the image pickup unit 505 provided in the transfer path so as to optically read the conveyed document. The image pickup unit 505 stores the job 90 in the memory 503 by reading the automatically conveyed document. Job 90 includes bitmap data 94 and setting data 95, which are image data for each manuscript. Specifically, the system controller 500 stores the bitmap data 94 acquired by the imaging unit 505 in the memory 503, and stores the setting data 95 received from the user, for example, via the hard key 350 when reading the document, in the memory 503. Store. The setting data 95 includes settings related to aspect ratio 92 and image processing. The aspect ratio 92 indicates the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image. For example, when the image is an image scanned by the imaging unit 505 and read from the document, the aspect ratio 92 of the image is determined from the size of the region where the image capturing unit 505 scans the document.

The system controller 500 controls the entire MFP 100 for various jobs such as a scan job, a copy job, an email transmission job, and a print job. The system controller 500 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501 corresponding to a processor, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a display driver 516 that drives a display 300 to display an image, and a display memory 517. The display driver 516 generates display control data from the image data stored in the display memory 517, and outputs the generated display control data 518 to the display 300. The display 300 is driven according to the display control data 518. As a result, the image is displayed on the display 300. The CPU 501 may include one or more cores.

The ROM 502 is an OS (Operating System) and a program executed under the OS, and can store various programs for controlling the MFP 100 and various data. These programs or data may be installed from the storage device 504 to the ROM 502.

The memory 503 includes a volatile storage medium such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). The memory 503 is used, for example, to temporarily store data or image data required when the CPU 501 executes a program.

The data reader / writer 508 is detachably attached to the storage medium 509, and under the control of the CPU 500, reads / writes data or a program including an image to the attached storage medium 509.

The network I / F 510 communicates with an external device (including the server 50 or the PC 200) via the network 40 according to the instruction from the system controller 500. Various wired or wireless standards can be applied to the communication of the network I / F 510. The standard is not limited, but for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wifi (registered trademark), IEEE 802.11 standard, and the like can be applied.

The communication I / F 511 communicates with an external device such as a smartphone carried by the user. The communication I / F 511 can apply a communication standard different from that of the network I / F 510. The standard is not limited, but a short-range wireless communication standard such as NFC (Near Field Communication) can be applied.

The input image processing unit 513 converts a data format such as image data into a predetermined format. This image data includes image data acquired by the image reading unit 102 reading the original, image data received from an external device, image data read from the storage medium 509, and the like. The input image processing unit 513 stores (expands) such converted image data in the memory 503 as bitmap data 94.

The output image processing unit 514 acquires and acquires print data by reading image data from the memory 503 and converting the read image data format into a print data format, for example, when printing an image. Print data is output. The printer engine 515 prints on paper based on the print data from the output image processing unit 514, and performs printing processing such as discharging the paper on which the image is printed to the tray 105. The printer engine 515 is an embodiment of the "printing means".

The storage device 504 includes a non-volatile storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). The storage device 504 stores various data and programs including images related to the operation of the MFP 100.

With reference to FIG. 2, the storage device 504 includes a job 90, a preview program 400 for displaying an image on the display 300 as a preview, a rotation control program 800 for outputting a control command 119 to the rotation driver 512, a document spacing table 600, and an ejection. Includes interval table 605, priority table 610 and setting table 620. Details of these tables will be described later.

Job 90 includes PDL data 91 representing image data and setting data 95. The job 90 has PDL data 91 for each image data of the manuscript. Therefore, when the job 90 is a job for printing images of a plurality of originals, the PDL data 91 is included corresponding to the images of each original. The PDL data 91 can be expanded in the memory 503 as bitmap data 94 to which the print settings of the image data are applied to the original image data. The setting data 95 of the PDL data 91 includes the print magnification of the image, the image quality, the paper size, the aspect ratio of the image 92, and the like. The aspect ratio 92 indicates the aspect ratio of the image, and the MFP 100 detects whether the image is a portrait (portrait) portrait image or a landscape (landscape) landscape image based on the aspect ratio 92. can do. For example, if the aspect ratio 92 is vertical: horizontal = 4: 3, the image is detected as a vertical image, and if vertical: horizontal = 3: 4, the image is detected as a horizontal image. When the bitmap data 94 of the PDL data 91 of the job 90 is expanded in the memory 503, the setting data 95 of the job 90 is also stored in the memory 503. When the MFP 100 executes the job 90, the printer engine 515 executes the printing process on the printing paper according to the bitmap data 94 and the setting data 95 read from the memory 503 via the output image processing unit 514. At this time, the printer engine 515 can also execute a predetermined function (staple, punch, etc.) on the printing paper or the like.

The preview program 400 includes a real-time preview program 401 for performing a preview display of the image in real time in conjunction with an operation of printing the image or reading the image from the original.

The rotation control program 800 includes a rotation condition detection program 801 for determining whether the rotation condition for the rotation of the display 300 is satisfied, and a permission / prohibition program 804 for permitting or prohibiting the rotation of the display 300. The rotation control program 800 further includes a character feature detection program 802 that detects the features of the character image in the image and a relative relationship detection program 803 that detects whether or not there is a relative relationship described above between the display 300 and the image. Including.

In the MFP 100, the operation of the MFP 100 is realized by the CPU 501 executing an appropriate program. The storage medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 501 includes, for example, a ROM 502, a storage device 504, a storage medium 509, and the like. The storage medium in which the program is stored is, for example, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc --Read Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk --Read Only Memory), a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, a memory card, or an FD (Flexible). Disk), hard disk, SSD (Solid State Drive), magnetic tape, cassette tape, MO (Magnetic Optical Disc), MD (Mini Disc), IC (Integrated Circuit) card (excluding memory card), optical card, mask ROM, It is a non-volatile storage medium such as EPROM and EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory). Further, the program can be provided to the MFP 100 by downloading via various networks such as the network 40.

The program according to the present disclosure may be a program module provided as a part of the OS, which calls necessary modules in a predetermined array at a predetermined timing to execute processing. In that case, the program itself does not include the above module and the process is executed in cooperation with the OS. A program that does not include such a module may also be included in the program according to the present disclosure.

The program according to the present disclosure may be provided by being incorporated into a part of another program. Even in that case, the program itself does not include the modules included in the other programs, and the processing is executed in cooperation with the other programs. Programs incorporated into such other programs may also be included in the programs of this disclosure.

The program product provided by the present disclosure includes the program itself and a storage medium in which the program is stored.

<4. Functional configuration>
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the rotation control unit 700 according to the present embodiment in association with the peripheral unit. The peripheral portion includes a preview processing unit 900 realized by the CPU 501 executing the preview program 400. The preview processing unit 900 includes a real-time preview processing unit 901 realized by executing the real-time preview program 401.

The CPU 501 realizes the rotation control unit 700 by executing the rotation control program 800. The rotation control unit 700 is realized by the CPU 501 executing each of the rotation condition detection program 801 and the character feature detection program 802, the relative relationship detection program 803, and the permission / prohibition program 804. The rotation condition detection unit 701 and the character feature The detection unit 702, the relative relationship detection unit 708, and the permission / prohibition unit 709 are included. The character feature detection unit 702 detects the features of the character image included in the preview-displayed image. Specifically, the character image includes a size detection unit 703 that detects the size, a density detection unit 704 that detects the density, and a defect detection unit 705 that detects a defect in the character image. In this disclosure, size, density, and defects are illustrated as the characteristics of the character image, but the characteristics are not limited to these. The rotation condition detection unit 701 outputs a control command 119 for controlling the rotation of the display 300 to the rotation driver 512, and outputs an enlargement command 110 to the display driver 516. Details of the expansion command 110 will be described later. The rotation control unit 700 further includes an ejection interval detecting unit 706 that detects the ejection interval of the paper to the tray 105 and a document spacing detecting unit 707 that detects the interval of the documents conveyed by the feeder 104. Although the permission / prohibition unit 709 is provided inside the rotation control unit 700, it may be provided outside the rotation control unit 700.

In FIG. 3, a configuration example in which necessary processing is realized by executing a program by the CPU 501 is shown, but a part or all of the provided processing is provided by a dedicated hardware circuit (for example, ASIC (Application)). It may be mounted using a dedicated circuit such as a Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

<5. Display processing based on image and display orientation>
FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing display processing based on the orientation of the image and the display according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 4, when the preview processing is performed by the preview processing unit 900, the display driver 516 reads the bitmap data 94 of the image expanded in the memory 503, and reads the read bitmap data 94. According to the aspect ratio 92 corresponding to the image, the vertical image 941 or the horizontal image 942 is expanded in the display memory 517, and the display control data 518 is generated based on the expanded data. In this case, the display driver 516 generates display control data 518 that enlarges and displays the image on the display 300 to the size of the display area. The generation of the display control data 518 is similarly performed even when the real-time preview is performed by the real-time preview process 901.

A vertical image 941 or a horizontal image 942 is expanded in the display memory 517 of FIG. In the vertical image 941, the short side 312 of the image corresponds to the upper side of the image, and in the horizontal image 942, the long side 311 of the image corresponds to the upper side of the image.

In the present embodiment, when displaying the vertical image 941, the rotation control unit 700 is directed to the vertically long display 300-1 having the first orientation (that is, the orientation in which the short side 302 of the display 300 is the upper side). Horizontal to display 300-2 so that the vertical image 941 is displayed and when the horizontal image 942 is displayed, the orientation is the second orientation (that is, the orientation in which the long side 301 of the display 300 is the upper side). A control command 119 for rotating the display 300 is output so that the image 942 is displayed.

As a result, when the display 300 displays an image according to the display control data 518, the upper side (short side) of the vertical image 941 is the display 300- in the state of the vertically long (first-direction) display 300-1. It can be displayed so as to correspond (match) to the upper side (short side) of 1. Further, when the display 300 is in the state of the horizontally long (second direction) display 300-2, the upper side (long side) of the horizontally long horizontal image 942 corresponds to the upper side (long side) of the display 300-2 ( Can be displayed to match). In this way, the vertically long vertical image 941 can be displayed on the first-oriented vertically long display 300-1, and the horizontally long horizontal image 942 can be displayed on the second-oriented horizontally long display 300-2. As shown in FIG. 4, displaying a preview by matching the orientations of both the image and the display is also referred to as "orientation matching display" below.

In the present embodiment, the preview display is performed according to the "orientation matching display", so that the edge of the image protrudes out of the frame of the display 300 as described above, or the image is displayed in order to avoid the protrusion. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the visibility of the image is impaired, such as reduction.

<6. Flowchart>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the process according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 5, the process related to the rotation of the display when the preview processing unit 900 preview-displays an image of, for example, one sheet of original material will be described.

With reference to FIG. 5, the input image processing unit 513 reads the image data read from the document by the image reading unit 102 (step S2). Specifically, the input image processing unit 513 expands the image data output by the image reading unit 102 into the bitmap data 94, and stores the expanded bitmap data 94 in the memory 503. At this time, the input image processing unit 513 also stores the setting data 95 including the aspect ratio 92 of the image in the memory 503.

The character feature detection unit 702 determines whether the image contains characters (step S3). Specifically, the character feature detection unit 702 processes the bitmap data 94 using, for example, OCR (Optical Character Recognition / Reader), and when the character can be recognized based on the processing result, the image displays the character. When it is determined that the image contains characters and the characters cannot be recognized, it is determined that the image does not contain the characters. When it is determined that the image does not contain characters (NO in step S3), the process ends. The determination method in step S3 is not limited to the method using OCR.

When the character feature detection unit 702 determines that the image contains characters (YES in step S3), the rotation condition detection unit 701 determines the feature amount of the character image included in the image based on the output of the character feature detection unit 702. It is determined whether or not the conditions are satisfied, and whether or not the predetermined conditions are satisfied and the rotation condition that there is a predetermined relative relationship between the orientation of the display 300 and the orientation of the image is satisfied (steps S5a and S5b). , S5c and S7).

Specifically, the size detection unit 703 detects the size from the character image, and determines whether the condition that the detected size is less than the predetermined value, that is, smaller than the predetermined value is satisfied as a predetermined condition (step S5a). ). This predetermined value is a value based on the resolution of the display 300, the size of the display 300, or the like, and is, for example, 10 dots. Further, the defect detection unit 705 detects the defect of the contour of the character image from the bitmap data 94, and determines whether the condition that the character image at the end of the image is defective is satisfied as a predetermined condition (step). S5b). For example, pattern matching can be used to detect this contour. Further, the density detection unit 704 detects the density of the character image based on the gradation value included in the bitmap data 94, and determines whether the condition that the density is equal to or less than the predetermined value and is thin is satisfied as a predetermined condition. (Step S5c).

As described above, the size of the character image, the defect of the character image, the density of the character image, and the like are exemplified as the feature amount, but the feature amount is not limited to these.

When it is determined that none of these feature amounts satisfy the predetermined conditions for the character image (NO in all of steps S5a, S5b and S5c), the process ends, but any of the feature amounts of the character image is predetermined. If it is determined that the condition is satisfied (YES in at least one of steps S5a, S5b and S5c), the process proceeds to step S7.

The rotation condition detection unit 701 detects the orientation of the image and also detects the orientation of the current display 300, and based on the detection result, there is a relative relationship described above between the orientation of the image and the orientation of the display 300. (Step S7). Specifically, the rotation condition detection unit 701 determines whether the image is in portrait orientation (vertical image 941 in FIG. 4) or landscape orientation (horizontal image 942 in FIG. 4) based on the aspect ratio 92 of the image. It is determined whether the current orientation of the display 300 is the vertically long first orientation (display 300 in FIG. 4) or the horizontally long second orientation (display 300 in FIG. 4). Based on the results of these determinations, the rotation condition detection unit 701 determines a predetermined relative relationship (that is, the image is in the vertical orientation and the display 300 is in the second orientation) between the orientation of the image and the orientation of the display 300. , Or the relationship that the image is in landscape orientation and the display 300 is in first orientation) (step S7).

If it is determined that there is no predetermined relative relationship (NO in step S7), that is, if the rotation condition detection unit 701 determines that the rotation condition is not satisfied, the process ends, but there is a predetermined relative relationship, that is, the rotation condition. When the detection unit 701 determines that the rotation condition is satisfied (YES in step S7), the rotation control unit 700 rotates the display 300 (step S13). Specifically, the rotation condition detection unit 701 outputs a control command 119 for rotating the display 300 to the rotation driver 512 based on the detected predetermined relative relationship. The rotation driver 512 rotates the display 300 in a direction different from the current direction by driving the rotation mechanism 108 in accordance with the control command 119. As a result, the display 300 is rotated so as to be in the second orientation when it is in the first orientation, and the display 300 is rotated so as to be in the first orientation when it is in the second orientation. To do. The orientation of the display 300 can be detected, for example, from the output of an angle sensor (not shown) provided on the display 300 or a sensor (not shown) that measures the amount of rotation of the motor of the rotation driver 512.

When the display 300 is rotated, the display driver 516 then drives the display 300 using the display control data 518 based on the image in the display memory 517, and the display 300 displays the image. As a result, the MFP 100 can realize the "orientation matching display" (FIG. 4) described above.

Although FIG. 5 illustrates a case where the image read from the original is processed by the image reading unit 102, the image may be an image acquired from an external device or a storage medium 509, for example, an image possessed by the job 90. , The process of FIG. 5 can be applied in the same manner.

<7. Other examples of flowcharts>
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of the process according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 6, the rotation processing of the display 300 in the real tom preview display performed by the real-time preview processing unit 901 will be described. When a plurality of documents are sequentially conveyed by the feeder 104 at predetermined document intervals, the MFP 100 acquires and acquires a plurality of images by scanning each of the conveyed documents by the image pickup unit 505. Each image is printed on paper by the printer engine 515, and the printed paper is ejected to the tray 105 at predetermined ejection intervals. In the real-time preview, the image of each document is preview-displayed on the display 300 in conjunction with the operations of the sequential transfer of the originals by the feeder 104 and the sequential ejection of the papers to the tray 105. In the process of FIG. 6, the aspect ratio of the image is set to 92 for each image read from each of the plurality of documents.

With reference to FIG. 6, when the real-time preview is performed, the image reading unit 102 reads an image for each document sequentially conveyed by the feeder 104 (step S1). The MFP 100 performs the processes of steps S2 to S7 on the images read from each of the plurality of documents conveyed at predetermined document intervals by the image reading unit 102. Since the processes of steps S2 to S7 are the same as the processes described with reference to FIG. 5, the description will not be repeated.

If it is determined in step S7 that there is no predetermined relative relationship between the orientation of the image and the orientation of the display 300 (NO in step S7), the process proceeds to step S14, which will be described later, but there is the predetermined relative relationship. If it is determined (YES in step S7), the permission / prohibition unit 709 permits or prohibits the rotation of the display 300 based on the time condition regarding the preview display of the image (steps S9 and S11).

Specifically, the permission / prohibition unit 709 determines whether the time condition that the time based on the predetermined document interval is at least longer than the time required for the rotation of the display 300 is satisfied (step S9), and the time If it is determined that the condition is satisfied (YES in step S9), the rotation of the display 300 is permitted, but if it is determined that the time condition is not satisfied (NO in step S9), the rotation of the display 300 is prohibited.

Further, in the permission / prohibition unit 709, when the printer engine 515 prints a plurality of images on paper and the printed paper is discharged to the tray 105, the time based on the discharge interval is at least the rotation of the display 300. When it is determined whether the time condition that the required time is longer than the required time condition is satisfied (step S11) and the time condition is satisfied (YES in step S11), the display 300 is allowed to rotate, but the time condition is If it is determined that the condition is not satisfied (NO in step S11), the rotation of the display 300 is prohibited.

The time condition in step S9 may be, for example, at least (time based on the document interval)> (time required for rotation), and more preferably the time condition is (time based on the document interval)> ((rotation). Required time) + preview display display time)). The time required for rotation includes an image processing time for detecting a character image from the image and determining the feature amount thereof. When the time condition of step S9 shows, for example, (3000ms> 1000ms + 2000ms), the time condition is satisfied, and when the time condition shows, for example, (1500ms <1000ms + 2000ms), the time condition is not satisfied.

The time condition in step S11 may be, for example, at least (time based on the discharge interval)> (time required for rotation), and more preferably the time condition is (time based on the discharge interval)> ((rotation). Required time) + preview display display time)). When the time condition of step S11 indicates, for example, (3500ms> 1000ms + 2000ms), the time condition is satisfied, and when, for example, (2000ms <1000ms + 2000ms), the time condition is not satisfied.

The determination result of the permission / prohibition unit 709 acts to allow or prohibit the rotation control unit 700 to rotate the display 300. Specifically, the permission / prohibition unit 709 outputs the determination result to the rotation condition detection unit 701. The rotation condition detection unit 701 rotates when the rotation condition is satisfied (YES in step S7) and the output of the permission / prohibition unit 709 indicates “permission” (YES in step S9 and YES in step S11). The condition detection unit 701 outputs a control command 119 for rotating the display 300 based on a predetermined relative relationship. As a result, the display 300 rotates (step S13). Since the process of step S13 is the same as that of FIG. 5, the description will not be repeated. On the other hand, even when the rotation condition is satisfied (YES in step S7), the rotation condition detection unit 701 indicates "NO" in the output of the permission / prohibition unit 709 (NO in step S9 or step S11). NO), the rotation condition detection unit 701 does not output the control command 119, so that the display 300 does not rotate (step S13). If NO in step S9 or NO in step S11, the process proceeds to step S8 and the process proceeds to step S14. The details of step S8 will be described later.

In FIG. 6, the image does not include the character image (NO in step S3), the character image does not have a predetermined feature amount (NO in steps S5a, S5b and S5c), or the rotation condition is not satisfied (NO in step S7). ), Or when the permission / prohibition unit 709 outputs "prohibition" (NO in step S7 or S9), in step S14, the rotation control unit 700 determines whether or not the reading of the image is completed. .. When the rotation control unit 700 determines that it has finished (YES in step S14), the process of FIG. 6 ends, but when it determines that it has not finished (NO in step S14), it returns to step S2 and returns to the next document. The processing of the image read from is repeated in the same manner as described above.

According to FIG. 6, when the rotation condition is satisfied during the real-time preview, the display 300 can be rotated only when the rotation of the display 300 is permitted based on the time condition related to the preview display of the image. ..

The rotation time required in the time conditions of steps S9 and S11 of FIG. 6 includes an image processing time for detecting a character image from the image and determining a feature amount of the character image. The display time of the preview display is, for example, the time required for the user to visually recognize the image previewed on the display 300. Each time constituting these time conditions is, for example, a predetermined value.

The process of FIG. 6 can also be applied to a case where only images are read from the documents sequentially conveyed by the feeder 104 and printing is not performed. In that case, the rotation control unit 700 omits the time condition determination process based on the discharge interval in step S11. Further, the process of FIG. 6 can be applied to a case where the job 90 of the storage device 504 is a job of printing a plurality of original images and the job is executed. In this case, the feeder 104 does not transport the originals and read the images, the images of the plurality of originals are sequentially printed on the paper by the printer engine 515, and the paper is ejected to the tray 105. In that case, the rotation control unit 700 omits the process of determining the time condition based on the document interval in step S9.

The preview display process of FIG. 5 or 6 may be performed when the MFP 100 receives an instruction from the user via the hard key 350 or the like.

(Example of document interval and ejection interval)
FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the document spacing table 600 according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 7, the document spacing table 600 has two sets 601 consisting of a document size 602 and a document spacing 603. The document size 602 includes "A4LEF" and "A3SEF". "A4LEF" indicates that the feeder 104 conveys an A4 size document according to LEF (abbreviation of Long Edge Feed). LEF indicates a state in which the long side of the document (paper) is positioned perpendicular to the paper transport direction. "A3SEF" indicates that the feeder 104 conveys an A3 size document according to "SEF (abbreviation of Short Edge Feed)". SEF indicates a state in which the short side of the document (paper) is positioned perpendicular to the paper transport direction.

The document spacing table 600 has two sets 601 composed of a document size 602 and a document spacing 603. The document size 602 includes "A4LEF" and "A3SEF". "A4LEF" indicates that the feeder 104 conveys an A4 size document according to LEF (abbreviation of Long Edge Feed). LEF indicates a state in which the long side of the document (paper) is positioned perpendicular to the paper transport direction. "A3SEF" indicates that the feeder 104 conveys an A3 size document according to "SEF (abbreviation of Short Edge Feed)". SEF indicates a state in which the short side of the document (paper) is positioned perpendicular to the paper transport direction.

The feeder 104 includes a sensor (not shown) for detecting the paper size and the transport direction of the document set in the feeder 104. The document spacing detection unit 707 detects whether the document size is "A4LEF" or "A3SEF" based on the output of the sensor. The document spacing detection unit 707 searches the document spacing table 600 based on the detected document size, and based on the search result, reads the document spacing 603 included in the set 601 of the document size 602 that matches the determined document size. put out. The rotation condition detection unit 701 can use the document spacing 603 read by the document spacing detection unit 707 as the time condition in step S9 (FIG. 6). The type of document size 602 is not limited to "A4LEF" and "A3SEF".

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the discharge interval table 605 according to the present embodiment. The ejection interval table 605 has two sets 601 composed of a document size 602 and an ejection interval 604.

Further, the tray 105 includes a sensor (not shown) for detecting the size and the ejection direction of the paper ejected to the tray 105. Therefore, the ejection interval detection unit 706 detects whether the paper size is "A4LEF" or "A3SEF" based on the output of the sensor. The ejection interval detection unit 706 searches the ejection interval table 605 based on the detected document size, and reads the ejection interval 604 that matches the determined document size from the ejection interval table 605 based on the search result. The rotation condition detection unit 701 can use the discharge interval 604 read by the discharge interval detection unit 706 as the time condition in step S11 (FIG. 6).

<8. Change document interval or ejection interval>
When the time condition of step S9 of FIG. 6 is not satisfied, the rotation control unit 700 may change the document interval so that the time condition is satisfied, and when the time condition of step S11 of FIG. 6 is not satisfied. , The discharge interval may be changed so that the time condition is satisfied. For example, when the rotation control unit 700 changes the document spacing, the document spacing 603 of the document spacing table 600 is changed to be extended by a predetermined extension time, and when the ejection interval is changed, the ejection interval 604 of the ejection interval table 605 is changed. May be changed to extend by a predetermined extension time.

(Change of document interval or ejection interval according to priority)
The manuscript spacing changes described above may be carried out according to the processing priority. Specifically, the CPU 501 assigns a priority to each of the document interval change process, the ejection interval change process, and the preview display process, indicating the degree to which the process should be performed with priority over the other processes. .. This priority can be set by user operation via the hard key 350.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the priority table 610 according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 9, in the priority table 610, the document size 612, the document interval 613 when the priority of the preview display process is lower than the priority of the document interval change process, and the priority of the preview display process are It has two sets 611 composed of the document spacing 614 when the priority of the document spacing change process is higher than that of the document spacing change process. As shown, the manuscript spacing 614 of the set 611 is longer than the manuscript spacing 613 of the set. The original size 612 includes the above-mentioned "A4LEF" and "A3SEF".

When the rotation control unit 700 detects that the priority of the preview display processing is higher than the priority of the document spacing change processing, the rotation control unit 700 searches the priority table 610 based on the detection result and the detected document size 612. Based on the search result, the document interval 614 is read out. The rotation control unit 700 sets the read document interval 614 as the document interval of the time condition in step S9. On the other hand, when it is detected that the priority of the preview display process is lower than the priority of the document interval change process, the priority table 610 is searched based on the detection result and the detected document size 612, and the search result is obtained. Based on this, the document interval 613 is read out. The rotation control unit 700 sets the read document interval 613 as the document interval of the time condition in step S9.

Therefore, if the user wishes to perform the preview display even if the reading speed of the document is slow, the priority of the preview display process may be set higher than the priority of the document interval change process. On the other hand, if it is desired to read the document at high speed even if the preview is not displayed, the user may set the priority of the preview display process to be lower than the priority of the document interval change process.

Although the priority of the document spacing has been described above, the same priority can be applied to the ejection interval. Specifically, the rotation control unit 700 changes the discharge interval so that the time condition of step S11 is satisfied when the priority of the preview display process is higher than the priority of the discharge interval change process. Therefore, if the user wishes to perform the preview display even if the printing speed is slow, the priority of the preview display process may be set higher than the priority of the ejection interval change process, and the preview display may be performed. If high-speed printing is desired even if the printing is not performed, the priority of the preview display processing may be set lower than the priority of the ejection interval change processing.

As described above, when the time condition of step S9 or step S11 is not satisfied, the rotation control unit 700 has a lower priority of the preview display process than the process of changing the interval (original interval or ejection interval). In addition, the interval can be changed so that the time condition is satisfied.

<9. Judgment of permission / prohibition of rotation for each of multiple images>
When it is determined in the above real-time preview that the time condition of step S9 or step S11 is not satisfied, the permission / prohibition unit 709 rotates the output that permits the rotation of the display 300 as follows. Output to the condition detection unit 701.

Specifically, the permission / prohibition unit 709 is displayed following the currently displayed image among the plurality of images read from the plurality of documents by the image reading unit 102 in the sequential transfer of the documents by the feeder 104. When the orientation of the images for a predetermined number of powers is the same and there is the predetermined relative relationship described above between the same orientation and the orientation of the display 300 currently displaying the image, the rotation driver 512 and the rotation An output that allows the display 300 to rotate by the mechanism 108 is output to the rotation condition detection unit 701.

As a result, when the orientations of the above-mentioned predetermined number of images to be previewed are different from each other, the rotation of the display 300 is prohibited, so that the situation where the display 300 frequently rotates can be avoided. ..

<10. Selectively execute the process based on the setting data>
The process of detecting the feature amount of the character image (steps S5a, S5b, S5b) may be selectively performed based on the setting data 95 relating to the image processing. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the setting table 620 according to the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 10, the setting table 620 includes a plurality of types of job settings 621 and a rotation factor 622 in association with each job setting 621. The job setting 621 shows various settings that can be included in the setting data 95. The rotation factor 622 indicates a factor that rotates the display 300 with respect to the image data having the setting indicated by the corresponding job setting 621.

Specifically, the character feature detection unit 702 is set based on the "mixed original mode" when the setting data 95 includes the setting of the "mixed original mode" for reading an image for each original from the originals in which different sizes are mixed. The table 620 is searched, and based on the search result, the rotation factor 622 (that is, "the orientation changes") corresponding to the job setting 621 (that is, "mixed loading") that matches the "manuscript mixed loading mode" is read and the said. According to the rotation factor 622, a detection process for detecting a predetermined feature amount from the character image included in the image is performed. That is, in the mixed original mode, there is a high possibility that the orientation of the image read from the original is different for each original, that is, depending on the relationship between the orientations of both the display 300 and the image, the displayed characters become smaller and the visibility becomes smaller. (FIG. 12A), it is necessary to detect the feature amount of the character image for determining the rotation condition.

In such a mixed document loading mode, that is, when detection of a feature amount of a character image is required, the feature amount detection is selectively performed. Specifically, when the setting data 95 includes the setting of "original erase" for printing by deleting a part of the original, the character feature detection unit 702 searches the setting table 620 based on the "original erase" and searches the setting table 620. Based on the search result, the rotation factor 622 corresponding to the job setting 621 matching the "manuscript erase" (that is, "character loss at the edge of the image") is read, and the defect detection unit 705 is set according to the read rotation factor 622. to start. The activated defect detection unit 705 detects the defect of the character image only at the edge of the image according to the rotation factor 622 (step S5b).

Further, when the setting data 95 includes the density setting of "thin", the character feature detection unit 702 searches the setting table 620 based on "thin", and based on the search result, the job setting that matches the "thin". The rotation factor 622 corresponding to 621 (that is, "character density") is read out, and the density detection unit 704 is activated according to the read rotation factor 622. The activated density detection unit 704 detects the density of the character image (step S5c).

Further, the character feature detection unit 702 searches the setting table 620 based on the "image quality" when the setting data 95 includes the "image quality" setting of the character or the photograph, and matches the "image quality" based on the search result. The rotation factor 622 (that is, "character size") corresponding to the job setting 621 is read, and the size detection unit 703 is started according to the read rotation factor 622. When the size detection unit 703 is activated, it detects the size of the character image (step S5a). In this way, the character feature detection unit 702 selectively performs one or more of the processes of steps S5a, S5b, and S5c for detecting the feature amount according to the setting content of the setting data 95, thereby performing the feature amount from the character image. The time required for the process of detecting whether or not the detected feature amount satisfies a predetermined condition can be shortened, and the time required for determining whether or not the rotation condition is satisfied can be shortened.

<11. Enlarged display of partial image>
The process of step S8 of FIG. 6 will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of an enlarged screen for displaying a partial image according to the present embodiment.

In step S8, when the rotation condition including the relative relationship is satisfied (YES in step S7) and the time condition is not satisfied (that is, when the output of the permission / prohibition unit 709 indicates "prohibition" (in step S9). NO, or NO in step S11), in step S8, the display 300 displays an enlarged image of a partial image including a character image extracted from the image together with the image.

Specifically, the rotation condition detection unit 701 outputs an enlargement command 110 to the display driver 516 in step S8. The display driver 516 generates and outputs display control data 518 based on the image data of the display memory 517 in response to the enlargement command 110. With this display control data 518, the display 300 enlarges the partial image 320 of the entire image 310 so that the enlarged partial image 320 is displayed as the pop-up 330 of the entire image 310, as shown in FIG. Driven. The partial image 320 includes a character image whose feature amount is determined to satisfy a predetermined condition in steps S5a, S5b, S5c, and the like.

In FIG. 11, since the rotation of the display 300 (step S13) has not been performed, the vertically long image 310 is displayed on the horizontally long display 300. Therefore, the image 310 is compressed in the longitudinal direction, and as a result, the character image in the partial image 320 is reduced to make it difficult to see (read the characters), but the character image enlarged by the pop-up 330 causes the image 310 to be compressed. , The user can easily read the characters.

(Display rotation in preview display after pause)
Further, the display of the image including the image 310 and the pop-up 330 of FIG. 11 can be performed with the real-time preview paused. When the image 310 of FIG. 11 is displayed after the pause, the rotation control unit 700 controls the orientation of the display 300 to be one of the first orientation and the second orientation based on the orientation of the image 310 of FIG. The control command 119 is output. As a result, when the image 310 is in portrait orientation, the orientation of the display 300 is in the first orientation, or when the image 310 is in landscape orientation, the orientation of the display 300 is in the second orientation. The image 310 is displayed on the rotated display 300 after rotation. As a result, for example, the image 310 of FIG. 11 is preview-displayed according to the “orientation matching display” as shown in FIG. 12 (B), and the user can easily visually recognize the image 310.

<12. Sort images by orientation>
The real-time preview processing unit 901 classifies a plurality of image data into a group of vertical images and a group of horizontal images, performs real-time preview of the image data of one group, and then performs real-time preview of the image data of the other group. A preview may be performed.

Specifically, the real-time preview processing unit 901, for example, when displaying a preview of a plurality of image data read from a plurality of originals and an image of each image data, a plurality of image data based on the aspect ratio 92 of each image data. The image data is classified into a vertical image group and a horizontal image group, and a real-time preview of the image data is performed for each group. As a result, at the time of real-time preview, for example, an image of a group of vertical images can be previewed in real time, and then an image of a group of horizontal images can be previewed in real time. As a result, in the real-time preview, the number of times the display 300 is rotated can be reduced according to the control command 119 output by the rotation condition detection unit 701.

<13. Advantages of the embodiment>
Generally, the screen of the display installed in the MFP 100 is horizontally long. Therefore, in the preview display, the horizontally long image read by the SEF is easy to see, but the vertically long image read by the LEF is reduced and displayed based on the size of the short side of the display so as not to protrude from the display. The visibility of the image is impaired. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the orientation of the image (vertical image or horizontal image) is determined from the aspect ratio 92 of the image data, and the display 300 is rotated so as to match the orientation of the determined image. Then, "orientation matching display" is realized.

When the image read by the LEF is displayed in the preview display by performing the "orientation matching display" in this way, the rotation control unit 700 changes the screen from the horizontally long to the vertically long display 300. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the vertically long image read by the LEF protrudes from the screen of the display 300, and the above reduction is not necessary, so that the visibility of the preview display image is improved.

Further, in real-time preview and the like, the user needs to confirm the image and the characters in the image in a short time because sufficient time is not provided for the user to confirm the characters of the image to be previewed. Furthermore, when the orientation of the image and the orientation of the display do not match, that is, there is a relative relationship, such as when the SEF and LEF of the original are mixed due to mixed loading, the previewed image is reduced as described above. The characters in the image also become smaller, making it difficult to read the characters. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the orientation of the image is determined from the aspect ratio 92 of the image data, and the display 300 is rotated so as to match the orientation of the determined image to obtain "orientation matching display". Therefore, even in the real-time preview, the visibility of the image displayed in the preview and the characters in the preview can be improved.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are exemplary in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the description of the embodiment described above, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

90 Jobs, 92 Aspect Ratio, 94 Bitmap Data, 95 Setting Data, 104 Feeder, 105 Tray, 106 Image Forming Unit, 107 Operation Panel, 108 Rotating Mechanism, 109 Feeding Unit, 110 Enlargement Command, 119 Control Command, 300 Display , 301,311 long side, 302,312 short side, 310 image, 320 partial image, 330 pop-up, 350 hard key, 400 preview program, 401 real-time preview program, 500 system controller, 501 CPU, 512 rotation driver, 513 input image Processing unit, 514 output image processing unit, 515 printer engine, 516 display driver, 517 display memory, 518 display control data, 600 document spacing table, 603,613,614 document spacing, 604 ejection interval, 605 ejection interval table, 610 Priority table, 620 setting table, 621 job setting, 622 rotation factor, 700 rotation control unit, 701 rotation condition detection unit, 702 character feature detection unit, 703 size detection unit, 704 concentration detection unit, 705 defect detection unit, 706 discharge Spacing detection unit, 707 manuscript spacing detection unit, 708 relative relationship detection unit, 709 permission / prohibition unit, 800 rotation control program, 801 rotation condition detection program, 802 character feature detection program, 803 relative relationship detection program, 804 permission / prohibition program , 900 preview processing unit, 901 real-time preview processing unit, 941 vertical image, 942 horizontal image.

Claims (19)

A rectangular display with long and short sides,
A rotating means for rotating the display between a first orientation in which the short side is the upper side and a second orientation in which the long side is the upper side.
A rotation control means for controlling the rotation means is provided.
The rotation control means
It is determined whether or not the feature amount of the character image included in the image satisfies the predetermined condition and the rotation condition that there is a predetermined relative relationship between the orientation of the display and the orientation of the image is satisfied.
When the rotation condition is satisfied when the image is previewed on the display, the rotation means is mounted on the rotation means based on the predetermined relative relationship, and the orientation of the display is one of the first orientation and the second orientation. An image forming device that controls to be one of them. The image has a rectangular shape and has a rectangular shape.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the orientation of the image is either a vertical orientation in which the short side of the image corresponds to the upper side of the image and a horizontal orientation in which the long side of the image corresponds to the upper side of the image. The predetermined relative relationship is that the image is in portrait orientation and the orientation of the display when the image is displayed is the second orientation, or the image is in landscape orientation and the orientation of the display when the image is displayed is The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, which includes the relationship with the first orientation. The feature amount includes the size of the character image.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that the size of the character image is less than a predetermined value. The feature amount includes a defect of a character image.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that the character image at the end of the image is missing. The feature amount includes the density of the character image.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the predetermined condition includes a condition that the density of the character image is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The image forming apparatus
Further provided with an image reading means for reading the conveyed document and acquiring the image,
When a plurality of the originals are sequentially conveyed at intervals, the image reading means acquires the plurality of the images by scanning each of the conveyed originals.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a real-time preview is performed in which an image acquired for each document is preview-displayed in conjunction with the sequential transfer of the plurality of documents. The image forming apparatus
A printing means for printing the image on paper and ejecting the printed paper is further provided.
Any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the printing means performs real-time preview of displaying the image as a preview while interlocking with the operation of printing the plurality of images on the paper and ejecting the paper at intervals. The image forming apparatus according to the section. The rotation control means
The rotation control means has a permission / prohibition means for permitting or prohibiting the rotation of the display.
The permission / prohibition means
When the time condition based on the time related to the preview display in the real tom preview is satisfied, the rotation control means is allowed to rotate the display, and when the time condition is not satisfied, the rotation control means is prohibited from rotating the display. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7 or 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the time condition includes a condition that the time based on the interval is at least longer than the time required for the rotation of the display. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the rotation control means changes the interval so that the time condition is satisfied when the time condition is not satisfied. The image forming apparatus assigns priority to the process of changing the interval and the process of preview display, respectively, indicating the degree to which the process should be performed in preference to the other processes.
The rotation control means
11. If the time condition is not satisfied and the priority of the preview display process is lower than the priority of the process of changing the interval, the interval is changed so that the time condition is satisfied. The image forming apparatus described. The permission / prohibition means further
If the time condition is not satisfied during the real-time preview, the predetermined number of images to be displayed following the image being previewed among the plurality of images have the same orientation and are the same. The invention according to any one of claims 9 to 12, which allows the rotation control means to rotate the display when there is the predetermined relative relationship between the orientation and the orientation of the display during preview display of the image. The image forming apparatus according to the description. The image forming apparatus
When it is determined that the rotation condition is satisfied and the time condition is not satisfied, an enlarged partial image including the character image extracted from the image is displayed on the display together with the image. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 13. The image forming apparatus previews the extracted partial image on the display after displaying the enlarged partial image including the character image extracted from the image together with the image.
The rotation control means
When the preview display of the image from which the partial image is extracted shows the predetermined relative relationship between the orientation of the image and the orientation of the display, the rotating means is used based on the orientation of the image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the orientation of the display is controlled to be one of the first orientation and the second orientation. The image forming apparatus processes an image for each job, and the image forming apparatus processes the image for each job.
The job is
It has setting data including settings related to the image processing.
In the rotation control means, when the setting data includes a mixed document mode setting for reading an image for each document from a document in which different sizes are mixed, whether or not the character image included in the image has a feature amount satisfying a predetermined condition. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 15, which determines whether or not the image is formed. The image has a rectangular shape and has a rectangular shape.
The image includes a portrait image in which the short side of the image corresponds to the top edge of the image and a landscape image in which the long side of the image corresponds to the top edge of the image.
The image forming apparatus
The plurality of images are classified into a group of portrait images and a group of landscape images, the real-time preview of the image data of one group is performed, and then the real-time preview of the image data of the other group is performed. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 16, which is carried out. A rectangular display with long and short sides,
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus including a rotating means for rotating the display between a first direction in which the short side is the upper side and a second direction in which the long side is the upper side.
The method is
A step of determining whether or not the rotation condition that the character image included in the image has a feature amount satisfying a predetermined condition and that there is a predetermined relative relationship between the orientation of the display and the orientation of the image is satisfied. When,
When the rotation condition is satisfied when the image is previewed on the display, the rotation means is used based on the predetermined relative relationship, and the orientation of the display is one of the first orientation and the second orientation. A method comprising a step of controlling to be one. A rectangular display with long and short sides,
Have the processor execute a method of controlling an image forming apparatus comprising a rotating means for rotating the display between a first orientation with the short side as the upper side and a second orientation with the long side as the upper side. It ’s a program
The method is
A step of determining whether or not the rotation condition that the character image included in the image has a feature amount satisfying a predetermined condition and that there is a predetermined relative relationship between the orientation of the display and the orientation of the image is satisfied. When,
When the rotation condition is satisfied when the image is previewed on the display, the rotation means is used based on the predetermined relative relationship, and the orientation of the display is one of the first orientation and the second orientation. A program that includes steps to control it to be one.

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