JP5091834B2 - Image forming apparatus and preview display method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of previewing image data obtained by reading a document image before image formation, and a preview display method.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some image forming apparatuses such as copying machines have a function of displaying a preview of image data for image formation before image formation.
For example, when image data of a document read by a scanner or image data transmitted from an external device is formed (printed), the image data to be formed is displayed as a preview, and the user confirms the display. In some cases, image formation can be performed.

  Some image forming apparatuses can perform various finishing processes according to user settings when forming image data. For example, there is a process of performing a stapling process or punching holes on a sheet (recording sheet) on which image formation is performed. Alternatively, there are an interleaf process in which different types of paper are inserted into predetermined positions with respect to the paper on which image formation is performed, an OHP interleaf process in which paper is inserted between OHP sheets, and the like. In addition, there is a process of inserting different types of paper as a front cover at the first page position, and a process of inserting different types of paper as a back cover at the last page position, etc.

  In order to check such a finished state, a method has been proposed in which a preview display showing the finished state is performed in advance before image formation. For example, when a user sets a process for applying staples or punch holes as a finished state, the set finished state is displayed on a preview screen.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an image forming apparatus including a post-processing unit that performs post-processing on a sheet after image formation, and a post-processing selection unit that selects a type of post-processing. Image data reduction means for converting the image data stored in the image data into reduced-size image data, and a finished image that displays a finished image indicating a state when post-processing is performed on a sheet on which image formation is performed based on the image data before reduction Image display means is provided.

Further, in the preview display device disclosed in Patent Document 2, when a plurality of sheets are printed, a plurality of preview images showing each printed sheet is displayed. Then, the position of post-processing such as stapling, punching, and stamping performed on each sheet is displayed in the preview image to indicate to the user, and the post-processing position is printed according to the user operation or the like. Adjustments are made so as not to affect the image.
JP 2003-87560 A JP 2003-5471 A

As described above, a method of displaying thumbnails of image data on the display means and confirming the final finished state is widely used, and the post-processing position can be adjusted so as not to affect the printed image. . However, when the post-processing is staple, the recording paper is folded at the staple portion, so that a part of the second and subsequent images are not visible by the previous recording paper that has been bound. For example, as described in FIG. 8 of Patent Document 1, it is described that when double-sided copying is stapled, the preview display is displayed with a diagonal spread, and the user confirms this to indicate the staple position. If the output result is not intended, the relationship between the staple position and the direction of the output result can be adjusted.
In Patent Document 1, a double-sided staple is shown as an example, but such a problem is not limited to double-sided, but also occurs in single-sided copying.

However, when the post-processing is staple, the visible portion changes depending on the thickness of the original to be stapled. Specifically, in the second and 100th sheets of the stapled document, the portion that becomes invisible by the stapling process is larger on the 100th sheet. The reason is that the second and 100th staples have different thicknesses up to the previous page, so that the thickness of the crease portion is different, and the portion that cannot be seen is different.
In the prior art, since such consideration is not made, it is impossible to recognize a portion that is actually invisible by stapling.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and when displaying finishing information subjected to stapling processing in a preview image of image data, preview display for the second and subsequent sheets subjected to stapling processing is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a preview display method that allow a user to recognize a portion that is actually invisible by stapling processing by calculating and displaying an area that becomes invisible according to the number of sheets fed by the page. It is what.

In order to solve the above problems, a first technical means of the present invention sets a display unit, an image input unit for inputting image data, and processing contents for output of the image data input to the image input unit. In an image forming apparatus comprising: an operation input unit; an image forming unit that forms an image of image data; and a display control unit that displays a preview image of the image data on the display unit. The preview display of the second and subsequent preview images for which the stapling process has been set is characterized in that an invisible area is calculated and displayed in accordance with the number of sheets fed by the stapling process.

The second technical means is characterized in that, in the first technical means, an area which becomes invisible according to the number of sheets fed by the stapling process is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other areas.

It third technical means is the first or second technical means, wherein the preview image of the image data including a region made invisible depending on the number of sheets that feed the page by stapling is possible to reduce the display or magnifying It is characterized by.

According to a fourth technical means, in any one of the first to third technical means, the size of the region that is invisible according to the number of sheets that have been page-fed by the stapling process is set to the number of pages that have been page-fed. It is characterized in that it is calculated using the paper thickness.

According to a fifth technical means, in any one of the first to fourth technical means, the preview display for the second and subsequent sheets subjected to the stapling process is displayed on the image data area of the recording paper and the number of sheets fed by the stapling process. Only the page that overlaps the area that becomes invisible according to the display is selectively displayed according to the operation from the operation input unit.

The sixth technical means includes a display unit, an image input unit for inputting image data, an operation input unit for setting processing contents for output of the image data input to the image input unit, and image formation of the image data. A preview display method in an image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that performs a preview image; and a display control unit that displays a preview image of the image data on the display unit. Is characterized by calculating and displaying an invisible region in accordance with the number of sheets fed by the stapling process.

  According to the present invention, when the finishing information subjected to the stapling process is displayed in the preview image of the image data, the second and subsequent preview images subjected to the stapling process are displayed by the stapling process according to the number of pages fed. Since the area where the preview image becomes invisible is calculated and displayed, the user can recognize the part that is actually invisible by the stapling process. Therefore, the staple position can be adjusted before printing, and printing failure can be prevented. .

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital multi-function peripheral having a print function, a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and the like will be specifically described with reference to the drawings illustrating the embodiment.

<Configuration example of an image processing system using a digital multifunction machine>
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system constructed using a digital multi-function peripheral as an example of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, 1 is a digital multifunction peripheral, 2 and 3 are external computers, 4 is an Internet facsimile machine (Internet FAX machine), and 5 is a facsimile machine.

  In addition to the print function and the copy function, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 has a function of transmitting / receiving image data by fax (facsimile function) and / or a function of transmitting / receiving image data by Internet FAX (Internet FAX function). Various external devices are connected to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via a communication network. For example, an external computer 2 such as a personal computer (PC) is connected to a communication network LN laid as a local communication network and connected to an Internet network IN connected via a gateway or the like not shown in the figure. Is connected to an external computer 3 and an Internet FAX apparatus 4.

  An external facsimile machine 5 is connected to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 via a public telephone line network PN. As described above, only the case where the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the digital multifunction peripheral 1 will be described. However, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral or a printer. In addition, the present invention can be applied to image transmission apparatuses such as the Internet FAX apparatus 4 and the facsimile apparatus 5.

<Description of the overall configuration example of a digital multi-function peripheral to which the present invention is applicable>
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an apparatus to which the image processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied, and is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral having an inner finisher.
2 illustrates a configuration in which two paper feeding devices 400 and 500 are attached together with the post-processing device 300, but at least the post-processing device is attached to the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Just do it. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is a scanner that uses a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and the original document is RGB (R: red, G: green, B: blue) with a predetermined resolution. An image data input device having a reading unit for reading as a bitmap image is attached.

The digital multi-function peripheral 1 selectively performs multi-color and single-color image formation by electrophotography based on image information input via a network or the like, and records the formed image on paper (recording paper). is there. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 includes an image forming unit 106, a paper storage unit 107, and a paper transport unit 108.
The image forming unit 106 includes an exposure unit 110, an intermediate transfer belt 111, and a secondary transfer roller 114. The image forming stations 112A to 112D are arranged in a line between the intermediate transfer belt 111 and the exposure unit 110. ing.

Each of the image forming stations 112 </ b> A to 112 </ b> D forms an image based on the image information of each of the four hues including cyan, magenta, and yellow, which are three subtractive primary colors obtained by color separation of a color image. I do.
The black image forming station 112A includes a photosensitive drum 101A, a developing unit 102A, a charging roller 103, a primary transfer roller 104, a cleaning unit 105, and the like.

  The charging roller 103 is a contact-type charger that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 101A to a predetermined potential. Instead of the charging roller 103, a contact-type charger using a charging brush or a contact-type charger using a charging charger can be used. The exposure unit 110 includes a light source such as a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror, a reflection mirror, and the like. The photosensitive drum 101A is irradiated with image light based on the black image information from the exposure unit 110, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information of the black hue is formed.

The developing unit 102A supplies black toner to the surface of the photosensitive drum 101A on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. The cleaning unit 105 collects the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 101A.
The intermediate transfer belt 111 forms a loop-shaped movement path. The intermediate transfer belt 111 passes between the photosensitive drum 101A and the primary transfer roller 104 in the lower movement path. A primary transfer bias having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity is applied to the primary transfer roller 104 by constant voltage control, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 101 </ b> A is transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 111.

Each of the image forming stations 112B, 112C, and 112D for each hue of cyan, magenta, and yellow is configured in the same manner as the image forming station 112A. However, the image forming stations 112B, 112C, and 112D are irradiated from the exposure unit 110 with image light modulated by image information of each hue of cyan, magenta, and yellow. Each of the developing units 102B, 102C, and 102D supplies toners of cyan, magenta, and yellow hues to the photosensitive drums 101B, 101C, and 101D.
As a result, toner images of hues of cyan, magenta, and yellow are formed on the photosensitive drums 101B, 101C, and 101D, respectively.

  When image information of only a part of the hues of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is input, an electrostatic latent image is displayed in only part of the four image forming stations corresponding to the hue of the input image information. And a toner image are formed. For example, when forming a monochrome image, only the black image forming station 112 </ b> A forms an electrostatic latent image and a toner image, and only the black developer image is transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11.

  At the time of full-color image formation, electrostatic latent image formation and toner image formation are performed in all of the four image forming stations 112A, 112B, 112C, and 112D. Yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 111. The toner image transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 111 is conveyed to a position facing the secondary transfer roller 114 by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 111. The secondary transfer roller 114 is in pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 111 with a predetermined nip pressure. A position where the intermediate transfer belt 111 and the secondary transfer roller 114 face each other is an image forming position 130 where an image is formed on a sheet.

The paper storage unit 107 includes paper feed cassettes 116 </ b> A and 116 </ b> B and a manual feed tray 117 that each store a plurality of sheets of a single type. Further, the image forming apparatus 2 is optionally provided with paper feeding devices 400 and 500 as external paper storage units.
The paper feeding device 400 is disposed below the digital multifunction peripheral 1 and includes paper feeding cassettes 116C and 116D therein. The paper feeding device 500 is disposed on the side surface of the image forming apparatus 2 and stores a large amount of a single type of plural sheets.

In the paper transport unit 108, a first paper transport path 131 is formed from the paper feed cassettes 116 </ b> A and 116 </ b> B via the image forming position 130 to the post-processing device 300 installed on the upper surface of the digital multifunction peripheral 1. Pickup rollers 121A and 121B, paper feed rollers 122A and 122B, registration rollers 132, a fixing unit 133, a fourth transport roller, a first paper discharge roller 134, and the like are arranged in the first paper transport path 131.
In addition, a second paper transport path 135 that connects the manual feed tray 117 to the upstream side of the registration roller 132 in the paper transport direction of the first paper transport path 131 is formed in the paper transport unit 108.

Further, the sheet conveying unit 108 is connected to the upstream side of the registration roller 132 in the sheet conveying direction of the first sheet conveying path 131 between the fixing unit 133 of the first sheet conveying path 131 and the first paper discharge roller. A third sheet conveyance path 136 (double-side conveyance path) is formed. The third paper transport path 136 is for transporting a single-sided image-formed paper that is switched back and transported by reversing the first paper discharge roller during double-sided image formation for forming images on both sides of the paper.
In addition, a fifth paper transport path 137 that connects the paper feeding device 500 to the first paper transport path 131 is also formed in the paper transport unit 108. The paper feeding cassettes 116 </ b> C and 116 </ b> D in the paper feeding device 400 are connected to the first paper feeding path 131 via a sixth paper feeding path 138 provided in the paper feeding device 4.

  The sheets supplied from the sheet storage unit 7 and the sheet feeding devices 400 and 500 are conveyed through the first sheet conveyance path 131 and receive the transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 111 when passing through the image forming position 130. . Further, when forming a double-sided image, the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed in a switchback manner by the reversal of the first discharge roller, and is conveyed again to the first sheet conveying path 131 via the third sheet conveying path 136. . When passing through the image forming position 130, the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 111 to the other surface.

The registration rollers 132 arranged in the first paper transport path 31 are provided from the paper storage unit 107 (paper feed cassettes 116 </ b> A and 116 </ b> B, manual feed tray 117), the paper feeder 400, the paper feeder 500, or the third paper transport path 136. When the leading edge of the conveyed paper arrives, the rotation is stopped.
The registration roller 132 rotates at the timing when the leading edge of the toner image attached to the intermediate transfer belt 111 reaches the image forming position 130 when the leading edge of the paper that has passed the registration roller 132 reaches the image forming position 130. To start.

As a result, the sheet is conveyed through the first sheet conveyance path 131 by the registration roller 132 so that the leading end of the sheet faces the leading end of the toner image at the image forming position 130.
Note that the registration roller 132 also has a function of correcting the oblique feeding of the paper by contacting the leading edge of the paper while the rotation is stopped.

The sheet on which the toner image is transferred at the image forming position 130 is guided to the fixing unit 133. The fixing unit 133 includes a heating roller 33A that has been heated to the toner melting temperature, and a pressure roller 133B that is in pressure contact with the heating roller 33A with a predetermined nip pressure. The sheet is heated and pressurized when passing through the fixing unit 133, and is discharged to the post-processing apparatus 300 in a state where the toner image is fixed on the surface.
At the image forming position 130, all of the toner image adhering to the peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 111 should be transferred to the sheet. However. Some may remain on the intermediate transfer belt 111. Further, the toner image attached to the peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 111 may pass through the image forming position 130 without being transferred to the paper by the processing described later. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 111 after passing through the image forming position 30 is collected by the cleaning unit 113.

  On the other hand, the post-processing device 300 carries the paper discharged from the option delivery port of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 into the device, performs each post-processing, and stacks it on the paper discharge tray. Post-processing includes stapling the paper, discharging the paper to a designated paper discharge tray among a plurality of paper discharge trays, and offsetting the discharge position on the paper discharge tray.

<Description of inner finisher operation>
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the post-processing apparatus shown in FIG. In the post-processing apparatus 300, as post-processing, a stapling process for stapling a sheet and a punching process for punching a sheet can be supported.
The post-processing apparatus 300 includes an entrance roller 171, a stapler 172, a punch pin 178, an alignment processing unit 173, a paper discharge roller 174, a paper rear end detection sensor 176, a paper discharge tray 175, and the like. The sheet discharged by the first sheet discharge roller 34 of the image forming apparatus 2 is conveyed to the alignment processing unit 173 by the entrance roller 171, and the alignment processing unit 173 sequentially aligns the sheets on the processing table. . The alignment processing unit 173 includes an alignment plate, a paddle, a scraping belt, and the like.

In the case of stapling, the stapler 172 performs stapling at a designated location on the aligned bundle of sheets. The stapled sheet bundle is discharged onto a discharge tray 175 by a discharge roller 174.
In the punching process, when the sheet trailing edge detection sensor 176 detects the trailing edge of the sheet, the sheet conveyance is temporarily stopped and the punch pin 178 punches a hole at the trailing edge of the sheet. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the alignment processing unit 173 and aligned, and then discharged onto the discharge tray 175 by the discharge roller 174.

As described above, the first paper transport path 131 is formed in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 from the paper storage unit 107 to the post-processing device 300 via the image forming position 130 of the image forming unit 106. Yes. In the first sheet conveyance path 131, sheets are fed from the sheet storage unit 7 and the sheet feeding cassettes of the sheet feeding devices 400 and 500. Whether or not a sheet is fed from each sheet feeding cassette is detected by a sheet feeding sensor provided corresponding to each sheet feeding cassette.
In addition, a registration sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the registration roller 132 disposed in the first paper transport path 131. The registration sensor detects whether the leading edge of the paper has reached the arrangement position of the registration roller 32.

The first paper discharge roller (first discharge unit) 134 disposed in the first paper transport path 131 is configured to be driven forward and backward. The first paper discharge roller 134 is driven to rotate forward to convey the paper to the post-processing device 300 through the option delivery port. Further, the first paper discharge roller 134 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction with the trailing edge of the paper chucked, so that the paper is switched back and conveyed to the third paper conveyance path 136.
A first sheet trailing edge detection sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the first paper discharge roller 134. The first paper trailing edge detection sensor detects whether or not the trailing edge of the paper conveyed to the post-processing device 300 has reached the first paper discharge roller 134. In the present specification, the trailing edge and the leading edge of the paper are referred to the paper conveyance direction. Therefore, the front end and the rear end are switched before and after the switchback conveyance.

  The third paper transport path 136 branched from the first paper transport path 131 is a fixing unit for the first transport roller 81 disposed between the fixing unit 133 and the first paper discharge roller 134 in the first paper transport path 131. Branches on the 33 side. Similarly to the first paper discharge roller 134, the first transport roller 161 is configured to be driven forward and backward. The first transport roller 161 transports the paper to the first paper discharge roller 134 by being driven forward. In addition, the first transport roller 161 transports the paper that is switchback transported by being driven in the reverse direction to the third paper transport path 136.

  Second and third transport rollers 162 and 163 are further arranged on the third paper transport path 136. These second and third transport rollers 162 and 163 rotate only in one direction and transport the paper to the registration roller 132 again.

<Other embodiments of the finisher>
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the post-processing device in the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG.
The post-processing device 301 guides the paper discharged from the device main body to the inside of the device by the entrance roller 311, and passes the inside of the device without processing the paper according to an instruction from the digital multi-function peripheral 1, or passes the paper inside the device. A stapling process for bundling and fixing the needle is performed.

  In the post-processing device 301, when the non-staple mode is selected according to an instruction from the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the sheet is introduced into the device by the entrance roller 311 and passes through the branching claws 321 and 322 (normally branching). The claws 321 and 322 are positioned in the direction of the non-staple conveyance path 331) and are discharged and stacked on a discharge tray 341 that can be moved up and down by a discharge roller 312. At this time, the paper discharge guide plate 351 is in a closed state.

When the interrupt tray discharge mode is selected in the operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the branching claw 321 rotates by a predetermined angle, the paper is transported to the interrupt tray transport path 332, and is discharged to the interrupt tray 342 by the paper discharge roller 313. Loaded.
When the staple mode is selected in the operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the branching claw 322 is activated, the paper is carried into the staple conveyance path 333, and is further ejected to the staple tray 361 by the staple tray ejection roller 314 and stacked. Is done.
The paper discharged to the staple tray 361 is dropped downward on the staple tray 361 for each sheet by the tapping roller 315, pressed against the paper trailing edge reference fence 362, and the trailing edge is aligned.

The aligned sheets are subjected to binding processing at one or two positions at a predetermined position at the rear end of the sheet bundle by the end surface binding stapler 363. The sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is lifted up to the discharge roller 312 by a discharge claw (not shown) integrated with a discharge belt (not shown). The paper discharge roller 312 is pressurized by the paper discharge guide plate 361 and is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 341 by the paper discharge roller 312 and stacked.
The stapler has a binding capacity of about several tens of sheets of plain paper and more than several hundreds of large ones.

Hereinafter, functions, configurations, and operations of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG.
FIG. 6 is an external view showing an example of a touch panel and a key operation unit in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG.

5 includes a touch panel 10, a panel control unit 11, a recording unit 12, a reading unit 13, a format conversion unit 14, an image storage unit 15, an image processing unit 16, an encoding / decoding unit 17, a main unit. Control unit 18, control memory 19, key operation unit 20, LAN (Local Area Network) control unit 21, control buffer 22, network control unit (NCU) 23, modem 24 and USB (Universal Serial Bus) An interface (I / F) 25 is provided.
Although not shown in FIG. 5, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 includes a post-processing device that performs the above-described punching (punching) and stapling processing.

  The main control unit 18 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The control memory 19 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM). In the control memory 19, a program (firmware) and various setting data are stored so that they can be read from the main control unit 18. Among these, at least various setting data are stored in a rewritable memory. These programs and various setting data may be stored in the image storage unit 15. The control buffer 22 is composed of a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The above-described program includes instructions related to generation and display of a preview image, which will be described later, according to the present invention, instructions related to generation / transmission / reception of facsimile images and e-mails, instructions related to document reading, and printing. This is for the main control unit 18 to issue commands, commands related to reading and printing (that is, copying), etc., to other parts. This program is developed on the control buffer 22 by the main control unit 18, and is executed while referring to various setting data described later as appropriate, with the control buffer 22 used as a data area for temporary storage (work).

  The reading unit 13 is a scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), reads a document as a bitmap image of RGB (R: red, G: green, B: blue) having a predetermined resolution, and reads the read RGB image data. (Dot image data) is output to the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 is configured by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or the like, and performs various image processing on target image data. Other parts such as the encoding / decoding unit 17 may be incorporated in the ASIC described above.

  The image storage unit 15 is configured by a hard disk or the like, and stores image data read by the reading unit 13 and passed through the image processing unit 16, image data received from the outside via the LAN control unit 21, the NCU 23, and the like. When image data is stored in the image storage unit 15, the data encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 17 can be stored. The image storage unit 15 may also temporarily store intermediate data generated during image processing in the image processing unit 16.

  The encoding / decoding unit 17 compresses the image data by encoding and decodes (decompresses) the encoded image data into the original image data. For example, the encoding / decoding unit 17 performs encoding of image data obtained by reading a document, decoding of the encoded data, decoding of encoded image data received from the outside, and the like. In the encoding / decoding unit 17, JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) generally used in filing, MH (Modified Huffman), MR (Modified READ), and MMR (Modified READ) generally used in facsimile communication are used. (Modified READ) or the like can be used according to the application. As an encoding method, MH can be adopted in IP facsimile communication, and JPEG and JBIG (Joint Bi-level Image Experts Group) can be adopted in Internet facsimile communication in addition to MH, MR, and MMR.

  The format conversion unit 14 converts the read image data or image data received from the outside into a predetermined file format such as PDF (Portable Document Format), GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), or TIFF (Tag Image File Format). .

The recording unit 12 includes a printer apparatus that employs a printing method such as an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method, and functions as an image forming unit that records (that is, prints) image data stored in the image storage unit 15 on recording paper. To do.
The USB I / F 25 is an I / F for connecting to a USB device such as a USB memory, and outputs image data after reading a document stored in the image storage device 15 to the USB device. Read a file from.

  The modem 24 is composed of a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication, and is connected to a telephone line and directly connected to the NCU 23. The NCU 23 is connected to a telephone line and controls the line. That is, the NCU 23 is hardware that performs operations for closing and opening a line with an analog public telephone line network (PSTN), and connects the modem 24 to the public telephone line network as necessary. With this configuration, the image data stored in the image storage unit 15 is transmitted to the outside by facsimile, or the facsimile image data is received from the telephone line and stored in the image storage unit 15 or directly printed by the recording unit 12. It becomes possible to do.

  The LAN control unit 21 is connected to the LAN, and performs communication of electronic mail data and Internet FAX via the Internet. The Internet FAX transmits and receives electronic mails via a computer network such as a LAN using a LAN interface or the like.

  When the touch panel 10 or the key operation unit 20 executes an operation for selecting a desired process from processes such as a document reading process, image data transmission, and printing, an operation for starting the process, and each process. This is an operation input unit that receives an operation (selection operation or input operation) for performing settings necessary for the operation.

  The key operation unit 20 includes a group of keys necessary for operation. The touch panel 10 includes a display unit and an operation receiving unit such as a touch sensor. The touch panel 10 is subjected to display control and operation acceptance control by the panel control unit 11. That is, the panel control unit 11 performs display control of the display unit and operation reception control of the operation reception unit on the touch panel 10.

  The display unit of the touch panel 10 displays the current operation state, setting information, and the like. This display is realized by the panel control unit 11 controlling so as to display a GUI (Graphical User Interface) image. With the GUI, the display and operation reception position can be changed according to a user operation. Each GUI and its image may be stored in the internal memory of the panel control unit 11 or the control memory 19 so as to be readable. As the display unit, various display formats such as a liquid crystal display and an organic EL (Electroluminescence) display can be adopted.

  The user operation received on the touch panel 10 is interpreted by the panel control unit 11 and transmitted to the main control unit 18 as an operation signal. The user operation received by the key operation unit 20 is interpreted by the key operation unit 20 itself and transmitted to the main control unit 18 as an operation signal. The main control unit 18 issues a command according to the operation signal obtained in this manner to another part, thereby causing the other part to execute a process according to the user operation. Although the touch panel 10 in which the display device and the operation unit are integrated has been described, only the display device may be provided instead of the touch panel 10, and in this case, the user operation is accepted only by the key operation unit 20.

  The touch panel 10 and the key operation unit 20 are configured as an operation panel 30 as illustrated in FIG. In this example, the operation panel 30 includes a key operation unit 31 (corresponding to the key operation unit 20) having various hardware keys, and a touch panel 32 (corresponding to the touch panel 10) including a liquid crystal display and a touch sensor. Is done. Hereinafter, the touch panel 32 and the key operation unit 31 are applied instead of the touch panel 10 and the key operation unit 20 in the configuration of FIG.

  The key operation unit 31 includes, as hardware keys, a numeric keypad 31a for inputting a numerical value, a clear key 31b for clearing an input set value, an all cancel key 31c for canceling all input settings, a copy start, In addition to a start key 31d for receiving an instruction such as transmission start, function switching keys 31e, 31f, and 31g for switching a print function, a transmission function, and a copy function, and a system setting key 31h for receiving a setting by a user are provided.

  Input of image data to the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is performed by reading a document image by the reading unit 13, transmitted by facsimile or the Internet, or transferred from a recording medium such as a memory. The interface unit of these image data input paths corresponds to the image input unit of the present invention, and image data to be processed can be input from each image input unit. In one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to display a preview image based on the setting content of a job program in which the processing content of image data input to the input unit is registered. At this time, when the image data read by the reading unit 13 is used, the image data read and output by the reading unit 13 is processed as image data input to the image input unit.

An operation example in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 having the above-described configuration example will be described.
<Original scanning operation>
In the original reading operation, the image data of the read original is stored (filed) in the image storage unit 15, the image data of the read original is transmitted to the outside, or the image data of the read original is printed (that is, a copy). To be done).

  When a user operation for performing a process that requires reading of a document is received by the operation panel 30, the main control unit 18 reads the reading unit 13, the image storage unit 15, the image processing unit 16, and the encoding / decoding unit 17. Is instructed to execute processing as described below.

  The reading unit 13 optically reads an image of a document placed on a document table or an automatic document feeder, and passes RGB image data (RGB bitmap data) as a result of the reading to the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 executes various types of image processing (hereinafter referred to as document image processing) such as A / D conversion, shading correction, and γ correction on the RGB image data. Here, the shading process is a process for removing various distortions generated in the illumination system, the imaging system, and the imaging system of the reading unit 13.

  As document image processing, document discrimination processing and region separation processing may be executed following A / D conversion, shading correction, and γ correction. The document determination processing includes processing for determining the type of document from input image data (here, image data after γ correction) and processing for determining whether the document is a color document or a monochrome document. Examples of the type of document include a character document, a printed photo document, and a character printed photo document in which they are mixed.

The image processing unit 16 outputs a determination signal (hereinafter referred to as document determination data) as a result of these document determination processing and monochrome / color document determination processing.
The area separation process is a process of determining what kind of area each pixel of input image data (here, image data after γ correction) belongs to. For example, each pixel is a black character area, This is a process of determining which region belongs to, such as a color character region or a halftone dot region. The image processing unit 16 outputs region separation data as the determination result. Note that this region separation processing may be executed based on the results of the document discrimination processing and the monochrome / color discrimination processing described above.

  The document determination data and the area separation data are stored in the image storage unit 15 in association with corresponding image data (image data after document image processing). At this time, after the original determination data and the region separation data are encoded by the encoding / decoding unit 17, each encoded data is stored in the image storage unit 15 in association with the corresponding image data. It should be noted that encoding at the time of storing in the image storage unit 15 is not essential, but in the following description, it is assumed that image data is stored in an encoded state. The same applies to operations other than the document reading operation.

<Printing action>
By the above-described original reading operation, filing of image data of the read original is completed. Next, a description will be given of a printing operation when printing (image forming) the image data of the read original (that is, when copying the original). When a user operation for performing processing that requires printing is received by the operation panel 30, the main control unit 18 includes the recording unit 12, the image storage unit 15, the image processing unit 16, the encoding / decoding unit 17, and the like. Is instructed to execute processing as described below. Note that the main control unit 18 also gives an instruction to the reading unit 13 (original reading instruction) when, for example, a copy operation is performed.

  The encoding / decoding unit 17 reads out the image data to be printed and the corresponding document determination data and area separation data from the image storage unit 15, decodes them, and passes them to the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 performs various image processing (hereinafter referred to as printing image processing) on the decoded image data (RGB image data). Image processing for printing, as outlined below, image quality adjustment processing, dichroic processing, color correction processing, black generation / under color removal processing, spatial filter processing, scaling processing, output tone correction Processing, halftone generation processing, and the like. The black generation / under color removal process, the spatial filter process, and the halftone generation process are processes corresponding to various areas indicated by the area separation data.

  As the image quality adjustment processing, the background is detected by detecting the background from the decoded image data. Further, as image quality adjustment processing, RGB adjustment (overall color adjustment such as color adjustment and reddish bluishness), brightness adjustment, and image data after background removal based on setting information set by the user through the operation panel 30. Also adjust the vividness. At this time, adjustment may be performed according to the document type indicated by the document determination data.

  As color correction processing, CMY data having CMY (C: cyan, M: magenta, Y: yellow), which are complementary colors of RGB, is generated from RGB data after image quality adjustment processing to improve color reproducibility. Process. Black generation / under color removal processing includes black generation processing for generating black (K) data from color-corrected CMY data, and new CMY data by subtracting K data obtained by black generation from the original CMY data. The undercolor removal process to be generated is performed.

As the spatial filter processing, enhancement processing and smoothing processing are performed on the CMYK data that is the data of these four colors. When a two-color mode for outputting image data in two colors (for example, red and black) is selected, a dichroic process is executed.
As the dichroic processing, processing for converting the RGB data into CMY data that expresses the specified two colors (in this case, red and black) is performed. In the two-color mode, the black generation / under color removal process is performed on the CMY data after the two-color process, and the spatial filter process is also performed, but the color correction process is not performed.

  As the scaling process, an image enlargement process or an image reduction process is performed on the CMYK data after the spatial filter process based on the print magnification set by the user operation on the operation panel 30. The printing magnification is the magnification of the image after printing with respect to the image indicated by the read and stored image data. Of course, the print magnification is not limited to the magnification obtained by the user operation, and is the default magnification when there is no operation for the print magnification.

  As the output tone correction processing, output γ correction processing for outputting to the recording medium such as recording paper is performed on the CMYK data. As halftone generation processing, tone reproduction processing for outputting an image is performed on the CMYK data after the output tone correction processing by error diffusion processing or dither processing. In the output tone correction process and the halftone generation process, for example, processing corresponding to the document type indicated by the document determination data may be performed, for example, processing contents are different between the character area and the other areas.

  The CMYK data after the halftone generation process is transferred to the recording unit 12. The recording unit 12 receives the image data (in this example, CMYK image data) subjected to the image processing for printing by the image processing unit 16 in this way, and performs hard copy (printout) by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. To do. Note that the target data of the printing operation described here is not limited to the image data read by the reading unit 13, and is, for example, transferred in advance from an external recording medium or a network-connected PC or the like, and the image storage unit 15. The same applies to the image data (image file) stored in.

<Preview display operation of image data to be printed>
Next, an operation (preview display operation) of previewing image data stored in the image storage unit 15 as a result of document reading on the touch panel 32 before printing will be described.
The preview display operation is performed when a user operation for performing a process that requires a preview display is received by the operation panel 30. For example, the preview display operation is also performed when the image data after reading the document is set to be previewed first before printing.
In the embodiment according to the present invention, when previewing image data to be printed on the touch panel 32, it is possible to accept an operation input for displaying finishing information of a sheet on which image formation is to be performed, and the image data is displayed as a preview. When the operation input for displaying the finished state is performed on the screen, the information indicating the finished state is displayed on the preview image of the image data in accordance with the finished condition set in the digital multifunction peripheral.

  In the preview display operation, the main control unit 18 instructs the image storage unit 15, the image processing unit 16, the encoding / decoding unit 17, the panel control unit 11, and the like to execute processing as described below. Note that the main control unit 18 also gives an instruction to the reading unit 13 (original reading instruction) when, for example, an operation for copying an original is performed.

The encoding / decoding unit 17 reads out the image data to be previewed and the corresponding document determination data and region separation data from the image storage unit 15, decodes them, and passes them to the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 performs various image processing (hereinafter referred to as preview image processing) on the decoded image data (RGB image data).
Image processing for preview includes image quality adjustment processing, dichroic processing, color correction processing, spatial filter processing, scaling processing, output tone correction processing, and the like, as will be described below in outline. Spatial filter processing and output tone correction processing are processing corresponding to various regions indicated by the region separation data.

  The image quality adjustment process here is the same as the image quality adjustment process in the image processing for printing. As the color correction processing, processing for converting the image data (RGB data) after the image quality adjustment processing into R′G′B ′ data is performed based on the display characteristics of the touch panel 32. As the spatial filter processing, enhancement processing and smoothing processing are performed on the R′G′B ′ data.

  As the scaling processing, the R′G′B ′ data after the spatial filter processing is subjected to image enlargement processing / image reduction processing according to the print magnification, and the number of pixels of the R′G′B ′ data is set on the touch panel. In addition to performing conversion to the number of pixels (display resolution) of 32, image enlargement processing and image reduction processing are performed based on the preview display magnification set by the user operation on the operation panel 30. The preview display magnification is a fixed magnification such as 2 times or 4 times, for example, and is a magnification of an image at the time of preview display. Of course, the preview display magnification is not limited to the magnification obtained by the user operation, and becomes the default magnification when there is no operation for the preview display magnification.

The preview image generation unit 16a provided in the image processing unit 16 is for generating a preview display image (preview image) mainly by such a scaling process for preview display, and the preview image of the present invention. Is equivalent to a display control unit for displaying on the display unit.
When performing a stapling process in the post-processing device, an image of staple finishing information is combined with a preview image generated from image data to be printed and output and displayed. Further, when the finishing information subjected to the stapling process is displayed in the preview image of the image data, the preview display for the second and subsequent sheets subjected to the stapling process is performed by the stapling process according to the number of pages as will be described later. The invisible area of the preview image is changed.

  As the output tone correction processing, output γ correction processing for displaying image data on the touch panel 32 is performed on the R′G′B ′ data of the preview image. In the output tone correction process, for example, a process corresponding to the document type indicated by the document determination data may be performed, for example, the processing content is different between the character area and the other.

The dichroic processing is executed only when a two-color mode that outputs image data in two colors, for example, red and black, is selected. As the dichroic processing, processing for converting the RGB data after the image quality adjustment processing into CMY data expressing the specified two colors (in this case, red and black) is performed.
The generated CMYK is converted into R′G′B ′ data based on the display characteristics of the touch panel 32 in the subsequent color correction processing.

The R′G′B ′ data generated by the preview image generation unit 16 a and subjected to the output gradation correction processing is passed to the touch panel 32. The panel control unit 11 controls the touch panel 32 to display an image corresponding to the R′G′B ′ data in a GUI image, and displays the GUI image on the touch panel 32.
Note that the target data for the preview display operation described here is not limited to the image data read by the reading unit 13, and is, for example, an image storage unit that is transferred in advance from an external recording medium or a network-connected PC. The same applies to the image data (image file) stored in 15.

<Supplementary information on document reading, preview display, and printing>
Although the preview display operation has been described separately from the print operation, first, image data (CMYK data) that has been subjected to output gradation correction processing as the print operation is converted into R′G′B ′ data based on the display characteristics of the touch panel 32. May be displayed on the touch panel 32 by performing conversion processing according to the number of pixels (display resolution) of the touch panel 32 and scaling processing according to the reduction / enlargement ratio at the time of preview display. Since the printing operation is completed to some extent and the printing operation after the preview display can be completed quickly, it is useful when, for example, the preview display is set in advance when a copy operation is performed.

  Further, as an example of a document reading operation, an example in which encoded image data, document type data, and area separation data are associated with each other and stored in the image storage unit 15 will be described. Based on this example, a printing operation and a preview display operation will also be described. did. As an alternative method, only the image data read by the reading unit 13 may be encoded and stored in the image storage unit 15 once. In this case, at the time of printing operation or preview display operation, the image processing unit 16 performs document type determination processing or region separation processing on the image data read from the image storage unit 15 and decoded by the encoding / decoding unit 17. What is necessary is just to comprise. Such an alternative method can also be applied to image data transmission such as facsimile transmission and Internet FAX transmission.

<Description of Preview Display According to the Present Invention>
The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has a preview image generation unit 16a that reads out image data for image formation from the image storage unit 15 and generates a preview image thereof. The preview image generated by the preview image generation unit 16a is sent to the touch panel 32 under the control of the main control unit 18, and is controlled to be incorporated into the GUI image and displayed by the panel control unit 11, and the display of the touch panel 32 shown in FIG. Displayed in the section. Here, the touch panel 32 is an example of a display unit that previews image data to be formed.

  Here, the image data to be output is obtained from any one of the scanner device exemplified by the reading unit 13, the removable storage device exemplified by the USB memory connected to the USB I / F 25, and the communication line exemplified by the LAN or the line. It may be input image data. Alternatively, the output target image data may be image data read from a storage device indicated by the image storage unit 15 provided in the digital multi-function peripheral 1.

<Specific example of preview display>
Hereinafter, a method for displaying an area that is displayed together with the preview image of the image data and becomes invisible from the preview image by the stapling process, and a flow of the preview display will be described with a specific example. The following screen display example shows a display example on the touch panel 32 in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a standard screen of the digital multifunction peripheral. The standard screen 40 is displayed on the touch panel 32 of the digital multifunction device 1 when the power of the digital multifunction device 1 is turned on or reset. On this standard screen 40, the upper copy key 41 is selected, and various conditions for copying can be set.
On the standard screen 40, in addition to copying, by selecting the image transmission key 42 or the document filing key 43, an image transmission mode for performing image transmission such as FAX, or data storage and confirmation is performed. You can enter document filing mode.
The standard screen 40 further includes a double-sided copy key 44 for setting double-sided copying, a finishing key 45 for setting post-processing of punching and stapling, or a preview confirmation key 46 described later.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a double-sided copy setting screen in the digital multifunction peripheral. For example, when the double-sided copy key 44 is operated (touched) on the standard screen 40 of FIG. The copy setting screen 50 can be opened. Here, the user sets a “single side → single side” key 51 for setting automatic single-sided copying from a single-sided original, a “single side → double-sided” key 52 for setting automatic double-sided copying from a single-sided original, A desired copy can be set by operating a “double-sided → double-sided” key 53 for setting double-sided copying, a “double-sided → single-sided” key 54 for setting single-sided copying from a double-sided document, and the like. .

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen for finishing displayed when the finishing key 45 is operated (touched) on the standard screen 40 of FIG.
In the finishing initial screen 60 of FIG. 9, the user sorts and outputs the printed paper (recording paper), the staple sort key 62 for setting staples on the sorted recording paper, and the same. A group key 63 for instructing output for each copy, a saddle-stapling key 64 for instructing saddle stitching after performing staple processing in the middle of double-sided copy output for two pages, and for punching holes By operating the punch key 65 for setting, the paper folding key 66 for setting paper folding, and the like, it is possible to perform a desired finish regarding copy output.

Then, by selecting the staple sort key 62 on the finishing initial screen 60 of FIG. 9, a staple setting screen 60A shown in FIG. 10 is displayed.
On the stable setting screen 60A of FIG. 10, the stable sort key 62 itself is highlighted so that the user can confirm that the stable sort key 62 has been selected. When a copy document is placed in the direction indicated by the keys 62A to 62C when the document is set on the key 62A, a key 62A for giving an instruction for performing stapling processing at one place is displayed on the upper left of the copy output, and 2 on the left side of the copy output. A key 62B for instructing to perform a place stapling process and a key 62C for instructing to perform a one-point stapling process at the lower left of the copy output can be selected.
Further, by selecting the punch key 65, it is possible to make a setting for forming a predetermined punch hole in the printed paper. By selecting the paper folding key 66, various folding methods for the printed paper can be selected. It can be set.

Then, the user can display a preview image of the image data by operating the preview confirmation key 46 displayed on the standard screen 40 of FIG. 7 using the touch panel 32.
The image data displayed as a preview at this time is image data of a document image read by the reading unit 13 (FIG. 5) and stored in the image storage unit 15. In addition, the image data received from an external device by facsimile, Internet FAX, or the like and stored in the image storage unit 15 can be used as a preview target.
For example, when the user attempts to copy a document, the user sets the document in the reading unit 13 and first operates the preview confirmation key 46. Then, by pressing the start key 31d (FIG. 6) for starting copying, the original image is read, and the image data stored in the image storage unit 15 is displayed as a preview. Alternatively, when the image data received from the external device is printed, the image data can be preview-displayed by operating the preview confirmation key 46 and then pressing the start key 31d.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a preview screen displayed when the preview confirmation key is operated on the standard screen of FIG. When the user operates the preview confirmation key 46 on the standard screen 40, a preview screen 70 as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. On the preview screen 70, a preview image 71 of image data to be printed is displayed. This preview image 71 is displayed by performing image processing for preview as described above on the image data, and shows the reduced image data for each page. The preview image 71 is thus displayed for each page, and the user can display a preview image of an arbitrary page by appropriately operating the page switching key 72. The page of the image data currently displayed can also be confirmed by the page display 79.

Further, a setting confirmation key 73, an enlargement / reduction key 74, a display rotation key 75, and the like are displayed on the preview screen 70 shown in FIG. 11, and the user appropriately sets these to set the preview image 71. Can be confirmed, or the preview image 71 can be confirmed by enlarging, reducing, or rotating. Further, when it becomes necessary to reset the printing conditions by checking the preview image 71, the user can open a screen for resetting the printing conditions by operating the reset key 76. Then, the print condition can be reset using the reset screen, and the preview image 71 based on the reset print condition can be displayed.
Further, a copy start key 77 is displayed on the preview screen 70 shown in FIG. 11. When the user operates the copy start key 77, a process of forming (printing) the preview-displayed image data is performed. Be started.

For example, by operating the enlargement / reduction key 74 on the preview screen 70 of FIG. 11, it is possible to display an enlarged preview image 71A on the touch panel as shown in FIG.
Note that the enlargement / reduction key 74 can select enlargement / reduction in four stages. When the enlargement / reduction key is reduced most, the entire copy document is displayed. In the enlarged preview image 71A, only a part of the document is displayed, but other parts can be displayed by operating the scroll bar 71B.

Next, on the preview screen 70 shown in FIG. 11, a finish display key 78 for displaying the finish state, which is a feature of the embodiment according to the present invention, is displayed.
The user can confirm the finished state after printing as a preview by operating the finish display key 78 in a state where the preview image 71 of the image data is displayed on the preview screen 70. The finished preview information is displayed in the preview image 71 of the image data.

The digital multi-function peripheral 1 displays the finish display key 78 in an active state only when a predetermined finishing process is set for the image data copy job (image forming job) on the preview screen 70. As the predetermined finishing process, the stapling process, the punching process, the paper folding process and the like as described above can be set.
In this case, for example, the selection operation by the user is possible in the active state, and when it is inactive, the display can be identified by graying out or erasing it. can do.

Further, after the user operates the finished display key 78 in the active state to display information indicating the finished state, the original preview as shown in FIG. 11 is operated by operating the finished display key 78 again. The screen 40 can be returned.
That is, the display control unit (preview image generation unit 16a, panel control unit 11) of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 again displays information indicating the finished state together with the preview image of the image data on the display unit of the touch panel 32. When an operation for selecting the finish display key 78 is performed, control is performed to return to a display state in which a preview image of image data is displayed and information indicating the finish state is not displayed.

  Alternatively, the display control unit displays the finished state displayed on the display unit of the touch panel 10 when an operation for selecting the finished display key 78 is performed again while the display indicating the finished state is displayed on the display unit. It is also possible to perform a control to at least erase the display indicating this.

Example 1
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first example of a preview screen displaying finishing information when one staple is provided in the upper left of the recording paper.
In the preview screen 210 displaying the finishing information shown in FIG. 13, the preview image 81 is displayed in the direction in which the document is read by the reading unit 13. On the preview screen 210, the staple 82, which is finishing information, is displayed at the upper left in the recording paper area of the preview image 81. This is because, in the stable setting screen 60A shown in FIG. 10, when the original is set on the reading unit 13 when the copy original is read, the direction in which the copy original is shown on the left side of the key 62A, that is, the short side of the original is the reading direction. The preview screen is shown when the original 62 is set in the same direction as that of the key 62A and the key 62A for instructing the stapling process at one place is selected at the lower left of the printed sheet.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the preview image displaying the finishing information is displayed while maintaining the positional relationship (direction) read by the reading unit 13 which is an input unit of the document.
For this reason, the user can see the preview screen in a state where the document is set on the reading unit 13, so that there is no sense of incongruity.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a preview screen when the preview screen shown in FIG. 13 is enlarged.
By operating the enlargement / reduction key 74 on the preview screen 210 shown in FIG. 13, the enlarged preview image 81A can be displayed as shown in the preview screen 211 shown in FIG.
The staple 82A, which is finishing information, is displayed in the recording paper area of the preview image 81A, and the actual recording paper and the staple can be displayed in an actual size ratio. Accordingly, since the actual size and arrangement relationship of punch holes provided on the recording paper and staples on the recording paper can be recognized, the user can accurately grasp the final state at the time of printing.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a second example of the preview screen displaying finishing information when one staple is provided at the upper left of the recording paper. The page switching key 72 is operated on the preview screen of FIG. As a result, the preview screen 212 of the second page (second page in the case of single-sided printing) shown in FIG. 15 is displayed.
When the staple is provided at the upper left of the document, the upper left portion of the second document is hidden by the first one of the stapled documents and is not visible. In the preview screen 211 of FIG. 15, in order to show this state to the user, an area 83 that cannot be seen by stapling is displayed at the upper left of the preview image 81 of the image data.
The display of the invisible portion 83 is desirably displayed so as to be distinguishable from the peripheral region by employing various methods such as shading display, hatching display, or painting with a darker color than the periphery.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the 100th preview screen displaying finishing information when one place of staples is provided on the upper left of the recording paper. From the preview screen of FIG. By operating, the preview screen 213 of the 100th sheet (the 100th page in the case of single-sided printing) shown in FIG. 16 is displayed.

  Here, in the second and 100th sheets of the stapled document, the portion that becomes invisible by the stapling process is larger in the 100th sheet. The reason is that the second and 100th staples have different thicknesses up to the previous page, resulting in a difference in the thickness of the crease portion, which makes the portion that cannot be seen different. For this reason, in the preview screen 212 of FIG. 16, an area 83 that cannot be seen by stapling is displayed at the upper left of the preview image 81, but the size of the area 83 is larger than the area 83 in the preview screen of FIG. 15. Yes.

  Further, the preview screen 213 displays the position of the staple 82 so as to be understood, but the staple 82 may be displayed as necessary. Then, the size of the region 83 that cannot be seen by the stapling process can be obtained by a method described later.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a preview screen in which the preview image of FIG. 16 is enlarged. As shown in the preview screen 214 of FIG. 17 by operating the enlargement / reduction key 74 on the preview screen 213 of FIG. The enlarged preview image 81A can be displayed on the touch panel.
In this case, the staple 82A is displayed in the recording paper area of the preview image 81A, and the recording paper and the staple are displayed in the relationship of the actual size ratio. Is displayed. For this reason, the user can surely understand how much the invisible region 83A affects the actual image region.

(Example 2)
FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a first example of a preview screen on which finishing information is displayed when staples are provided at two positions on the left side of the recording paper.
The preview image 215 shown in FIG. 18 is displayed on the stable setting screen 60A shown in FIG. 10 when the original is set on the reading unit 13 when the copy original is read. A preview screen when the finished image is displayed when the original 62 is set in the direction in which the short side is the same as the reading direction and the key 62B for instructing the two places on the left side of the printed paper is selected. Is shown.
In the preview screen 215, since it is the first sheet, the staple 82 is displayed in the preview image 81 of the image data.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a second example of a preview screen displaying finishing information when two places of staples are provided on the left side of the recording paper. In the preview screen of FIG. 18, the page switching key 72 is operated. As a result, the preview screen 216 of the second page (second page in the case of single-sided printing) shown in FIG. 19 is displayed.
When two staples are provided on the left side of the document, the upper left part of the second document is hidden by the first stapled document, as in the case of providing one staple on the upper left. So it disappears. On the preview screen 216 in FIG. 19, an area 83 that is invisible due to stapling is displayed on the left side of the preview image 81 in order to show this state to the user.

  FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of the 100th preview screen displaying finishing information when two staples are provided on the left side of the recording paper. From the preview screen of FIG. By operating, a preview screen 217 when the 100th sheet (100th page in the case of single-sided printing) is displayed is displayed.

  Here, in the second and the 100th sheets of the stapled document, the area 83 that becomes invisible by the stapling process is larger in the 100th sheet. The reason is the same as the reason described with reference to FIG. In addition, the preview screen 217 displays the position of the staple 82 so that it can be seen, but the staple 82 may be displayed as necessary. Then, the size of the region 83 that cannot be seen by this stapling process can be obtained as follows.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram for obtaining the size of an area that cannot be seen by stapling, and shows a case where staples are provided at one upper left position of the recording paper.
In FIG. 21, the staple 83 is applied at a distance a from the top left upper portion of the recording paper, and the recording paper is bent along a straight line L <b> 1 including the staple 83. The portion that disappears due to the stapling process by page feed increases due to the paper thickness up to the previous page, but the upper left portion of the line L2 becomes invisible when the nth sheet is displayed. Then, the line L2 is parallel to the line L1, and the distance X from the top left top of the recording paper of the line L2 is as follows.
X = a + b = a + k · (n−1) · d (1)
Here, a is the distance from the top left top of the recording paper to the staple, d is the thickness per recording paper, and k is a proportional constant determined by the waist or deflection of the recording paper. Note that the proportionality constant k can be determined by using a recording paper bundle that has been subjected to actual stapling.

  Further, regarding the thickness per recording sheet, various settings may be made on the assumption that plain paper is used for printing or thick paper is used using the manual feed tray 117.

FIG. 22 is another explanatory diagram for obtaining a region that cannot be seen by stapling, and shows a case where staples are provided at two positions on the left side of the recording paper.
In FIG. 22, the staple 83 is provided at two positions, a distance a from the left side of the recording paper, and the recording paper is bent along a straight line L1 including the staple 83 (the upper side in FIG. 22). Only staples are shown.) The portion that cannot be seen by stapling by page feed increases due to the paper thickness up to the previous page, but the left portion of the line L2 becomes invisible when the nth sheet is displayed. For example, the line L2 is parallel to the line L1, and the distance X of the line L2 from the left side of the recording paper is expressed by the following equation.
X = a + b = a + k · (n−1) · d (2)
Here, a is the distance from the left side of the recording paper to the staple, d is the thickness per recording paper, and k is a proportional constant determined by the waist or deflection of the recording paper. Note that the proportionality constant k can be determined by using a recording paper bundle that has been subjected to actual stapling.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the finishing information subjected to the stapling process is displayed in the preview image of the image data, the preview display of the second and subsequent sheets subjected to the stapling process becomes invisible due to the stapling process. Since the area is displayed, the user can recognize a portion that is actually invisible by the stapling process. However, the user can read a large number of copy originals from the reading unit 13 and perform a preview display to display the image data area of the recording paper. Adjusting the staple position and image while confirming whether or not the image becomes invisible is an operation that requires a lot of time and labor.

For this reason, in the present invention, the image forming apparatus automatically determines whether or not the image data area of the recording paper and the area that cannot be seen by stapling overlap, and the corresponding page can be selectively displayed. .
FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a case where the image data area of the recording paper overlaps with an area that cannot be seen by stapling processing. The position information of the bitmap image in the image data area 84 read from the reading unit 13 and the above-described formula ( The main control unit 18 or the panel control unit 11 determines whether or not they overlap with the position information on the upper left of the line L2 indicated by 1).

Then, for example, the user selectively operates only the pages in which the image data area of the recording paper and the area that cannot be seen by stapling overlap by operating the skip keys on the left and right sides of the page switching key 72 in FIG. Can be displayed.
For this reason, the user can adjust only the page where the image data area of the recording paper overlaps the area that cannot be seen by stapling, and can adjust the position of the staple and the position and scale of the image data. It becomes.

  The image data to be output has been described by taking the example read from the scanner device exemplified by the reading unit 13, but the removable storage device exemplified by the USB memory connected to the USB I / F 25, the LAN Or image data input from any of the communication lines indicated by the lines. Further, although the case of single-sided printing is shown as the preview image, it goes without saying that an area that cannot be seen by stapling can be displayed in the case of double-sided printing as well.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system constructed using a digital multifunction peripheral as an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration when a post-processing device is included in the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating a post-processing apparatus of the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a post-processing device in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is an external view illustrating an example of a touch panel and a key operation unit in the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG. 5. It is a figure which shows the example of the standard screen of a digital multi-function peripheral. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a double-sided copy setting screen in a digital multifunction peripheral. It is a figure which shows the example of the initial screen of finishing displayed when a finishing key is operated in the standard screen of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a staple setting screen displayed when a staple sort key is selected on the finishing initial screen of FIG. 9. It is a figure which shows the example of a preview screen when the preview confirmation key is operated in the standard screen of FIG. 12 is an example of a preview screen displayed by operating an enlargement / reduction key 74 on the preview screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the preview screen in image transmission mode. FIG. 14 is an example of a preview screen displayed by operating an enlargement / reduction key on the preview screen of FIG. 13. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a preview screen displaying finishing information when one staple is provided at the upper left of the recording paper. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a 100th preview screen on which finishing information is displayed when one staple is provided on the upper left of a recording sheet. It is a figure which shows the preview screen which expanded and displayed the preview image of FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a preview screen displaying finishing information when staples are provided at two positions on the left side of a recording sheet. 6 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a preview screen displaying finishing information when two staples are provided on the left side of a recording sheet. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a 100th preview screen on which finishing information is displayed when two staples are provided on the left side of a recording sheet. It is explanatory drawing for calculating | requiring the magnitude | size of the area | region which becomes invisible by a staple process. It is another explanatory drawing for calculating | requiring the area | region which becomes invisible by a staple process. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a case where an image data area of a recording sheet overlaps with an area that cannot be seen by stapling.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital compound machine, 2, 3 ... External computer (PC), 4 ... Internet FAX apparatus, 5 ... Facsimile apparatus, 10, 32 ... Touch panel, 11 ... Panel control part, 12 ... Recording part, 13 ... Reading part, 14 ... Format conversion unit, 15 ... Image storage unit, 16a ... Preview image generation unit, 17 ... Encoding / decoding unit, 18 ... Main control unit, 19 ... Control memory, 20, 31 ... Key operation unit, 21 ... LAN control , 22 ... control buffer, 23 ... NCU, 24 ... modem, 25 ... USB I / F, 30 ... operation panel, 31 ... key operation unit, 31a ... numeric keypad, 31b ... clear key, 31c ... all release key, 31d ... Start key, 31e, 31f, 31g ... function switching key, 31h ... system setting key, 32 ... touch panel, 40 ... standard screen, 41 ... copy key, 4 ... Image transmission key, 43 ... Document filing key, 44 ... Double-sided copy key, 45 ... Finishing key, 46 ... Preview confirmation key, 51 ... "Single-sided to single-sided" key, 52 ... "Single-sided to double-sided" key, 53 ... "Double-sided → double-sided key, 54 ... double-sided / single-sided key, 62 ... staple sort key, 65 ... punch key, 66 ... paper folding key, 71, 71A, 81, 81A ... preview image, 71B ... scroll bar, 72 ... page switch key 73 ... Setting confirmation key, 74 ... Enlarge / reduce key, 75 ... Display rotation key, 76 ... Reset key, 77 ... Copy start key, 78 ... Finish display key, 79 ... Page display, 82, 82A ... Staple, 83, 83A ... Area that cannot be seen, 84 ... Image data area, 101A ... Photosensitive drum, 102A ... Development unit, 103 ... Charging 104, primary transfer roller, 105, cleaning unit, 106, image forming unit, 107, paper storage unit, 108, paper transport unit, 110, exposure unit, 111, intermediate transfer belt, 112A to 112D, image forming station , 114 ... secondary transfer roller, 117 ... manual feed tray, 116A to 116D ... paper feed cassette, 121A and 121B ... pickup roller, 130 ... image forming position, 131 ... first paper conveyance path, 132 ... registration roller, 133 ... fixing Unit 134... First discharge roller 135 135 Second paper transport path 136. Third paper transport path 137 Fifth paper transport path 138 Sixth paper transport path 161 161 First transport roller 162 ... second transport roller, 163 ... third transport roller, 171 ... entrance roller, 172 ... stapler, 173 ... alignment Management unit, 174 ... discharge roller, 175 ... discharge tray, 176 ... paper trailing edge detection sensor, 178 ... punch pin, 201 ... CPU, 202 ... display, 203 ... operation input unit, 204 ... storage device, 205 ... communication I / F, 206, network, 300, 301, post-processing device, 311, inlet roller, 312, 313, paper discharge roller, 314, staple tray discharge roller, 321, 322, branch claw, 332, interrupt tray conveyance path, 333: Staple transport path, 341: Paper discharge tray, 342 ... Interrupt tray, 361 ... Paper discharge guide, 362 ... Paper rear end reference fence, 363 ... Stapler, 400, 500 ... Paper feed device.

Claims (6)

A display unit, an image input unit for inputting image data, an operation input unit for setting processing contents for output of the image data input to the image input unit, an image forming unit for forming an image of the image data, In an image forming apparatus comprising a display control unit that displays a preview image of image data on the display unit,
The preview display of the second and subsequent preview images for which stapling processing has been set by operation of the operation input unit calculates and displays an invisible area according to the number of sheets that have been paged by stapling processing. An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an area that becomes invisible according to the number of sheets fed by the stapling process is displayed so as to be distinguishable from other areas. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a preview image of image data including an area that becomes invisible according to the number of sheets fed by the stapling process can be reduced or enlarged. 4. The size of an area that becomes invisible according to the number of sheets fed by the stapling process is calculated by using the number of pages fed and the set paper thickness. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. The preview display for the second and subsequent sheets subjected to the stapling operation is performed only on pages where the image data area of the recording paper overlaps with the area that becomes invisible according to the number of sheets fed by the stapling operation from the operation input unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is selectively displayed in accordance with the image forming apparatus. A display unit, an image input unit for inputting image data, an operation input unit for setting processing contents for output of the image data input to the image input unit, an image forming unit for forming an image of the image data, A preview display method in an image forming apparatus comprising: a display control unit that displays a preview image of image data on the display unit;
The preview display method for the second and subsequent sheets subjected to the stapling process calculates and displays an area that becomes invisible according to the number of sheets fed by the stapling process.

Images