JP5677822B2 - Image forming apparatus and image editing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a display unit that displays an original image and an image forming unit that forms an original image on a sheet, and relates to an image editing method in the image forming apparatus.

  In recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a printer, a user can make various settings such as the color and density of a document and the size of a sheet when printing. Furthermore, for the purpose of saving paper, it is possible to set an aggregate copy that prints a plurality of originals on a single sheet. In order to prevent a printing error when a user makes complicated settings, a technique for displaying a preview image of a finished result has been developed prior to printing.

  In collective copying, in order to improve user convenience, a technique for arranging a document selected by a user from a plurality of displayed documents at the top portion (for example, the upper left side) of a sheet has been studied (for example, (See Patent Document 1).

  Further, there has been proposed a method in which a plurality of arrangement order candidates for arranging originals on a sheet are presented in collective copying and selected by a user (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2006-166220 A JP 2008-228026 A

  However, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the selected original is only placed at the top of the sheet, and the user's request cannot be reflected on other originals. That is, there is a possibility that the originals placed on the same paper are placed on different papers. Further, since the same setting is applied to all sheets with respect to the number of documents placed on one sheet, and individual settings cannot be made for each sheet, there is a problem that the user cannot freely lay out.

  Further, in the image processing apparatus described in Patent Literature 2, the user can only select a document to be collected on a single sheet, by only allowing the user to select from a preset document order candidate. . Therefore, there is a problem similar to that of the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus and an image editing method in which the degree of freedom of layout with respect to a page (paper) is improved.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention receives a storage device that stores a document image, a display unit that displays the document image, an image forming unit that forms the document image on a sheet, and an instruction input from a user. an image forming apparatus comprising an input unit, a plurality of originals which are displayed a preview image consists of a preview instruction means for instructing the display on the display unit, before Symbol display unit at one or more pages Extracted image specifying means for extracting one or a plurality of document images selected by the user from the image and specifying them as an extracted image, and one page selected by the user among the preview images displayed on the display unit and pasting the page specifying means for specifying a patch page, affixed extracted image specified by the extracted image specifying means specified by the sticking page specifying means Bae Paste di, based on the number of pasted the extracted image to the pasting pages, to determine the size of the extracted image to said patch page, a preview editing means for editing the preview image, The image forming unit forms the preview image edited by the preview editing unit on a sheet.

  According to this configuration, by specifying an image required by the user and a page on which the image is pasted, the degree of freedom of layout for each page can be improved. That is, the number of images to be pasted on each page can be arbitrarily set.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a preview image processing unit that performs image processing on the extracted image pasted on the pasting page.

  According to this configuration, since image processing can be performed after an image is pasted, the degree of freedom in layout can be further improved.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the preview image processing means enlarges, reduces, moves, and rotates the extracted image as the image processing.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to perform image processing required by the user when performing layout.

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes preview storage instruction means for instructing the storage device to store the preview image edited by the preview image editing means .

  According to this configuration, the preview image edited by the user is stored, and can be repeatedly edited by reading it from the storage device.

  An image forming apparatus according to the present invention, based on the extracted image pasted on the pasted page, layout storage instruction means for instructing the storage device to store the layout of the pasted page as page layout information, Layout setting means for setting a page layout of the preview image based on the page layout information.

  According to this configuration, the trouble of performing the same operation can be omitted by applying the edited page layout to other pages.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the extracted image specifying unit specifies a newly extracted image that is newly extracted in addition to the extracted image, and the layout setting unit is configured based on the set page layout. The newly extracted image is pasted on the page of the preview image.

  According to this configuration, an image to be pasted with the same layout as the edited page can be specified.

An image editing method according to the present invention includes a storage device that stores a document image, a display unit that displays the document image, an image forming unit that forms the document image on a sheet, and an instruction input from a user. an image editing method in an image forming apparatus including an input unit, the preview instruction means, a preview instruction step of the preview image that is configured to indicate that to be displayed on the display unit at one or more pages, leaving extraction the image specifying means and extracts image specifying step of identified as an extraction image by extracting one or a plurality of document images selected by the user from a plurality of original images displayed on the display unit, the sticking page specifying means, said among the preview image displayed on the display unit, attached page specific stearyl to identify one of the pages selected by the user as a patch page And flop, the preview editing means, paste the extracted image specified by the extracted image specifying means to sticking page specified by the sticking page specifying means, the number of pasted the extracted image to the pasting pages based on, to determine the size of the extracted image to said patch page, and a preview editing step of editing the preview image, the image forming section, the paper said preview image edited by the preview editing means And forming an image.

  According to this configuration, the same functions and operations as those of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be realized.

  According to the present invention, by specifying an image required by a user and a page on which the image is pasted, the degree of freedom of layout for each page can be improved. That is, the number of images to be pasted on each page can be arbitrarily set.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic layout which has arrange | positioned 1 extraction image area | region. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic layout which has arrange | positioned the 2 extraction image area | regions. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic layout which has arrange | positioned 4 extraction image areas. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic layout which has arrange | positioned 8 extraction image area | regions. It is explanatory drawing which shows the basic layout which has arrange | positioned 16 extraction image area | regions. It is explanatory drawing which shows the image process which expands the extraction image affixed on the preview image. It is explanatory drawing which shows the image process which rotates the extraction image affixed on the preview image. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display screen 1 displayed on a display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display screen 2 displayed on a display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display screen 3 displayed on a display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display screen 4 displayed on a display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the message screen 1 displayed on a display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the message screen 2 displayed on a display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the edit screen 1 displayed on a display part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the edit screen 2 displayed on a display part. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when an image is formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a preview editing process flow when a preview image is edited in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an image editing process flow when a preview image is edited in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a storage device 7 that stores a document image GG, a display unit 5 that displays the document image GG, and an image forming unit 6 that forms the document image GG on a sheet. Is provided. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a preview instruction unit 21 that instructs the display unit 5 to display a preview image PG composed of one or a plurality of pages, and a preview edit that edits the preview image PG displayed on the display unit 5. Means 22, extracted image specifying means 23 that is extracted from the document image GG displayed on the display unit 5 and specified as an extracted image TG (see FIG. 12), and one page of the preview image PG is pasted to the pasting page TP (FIG. 12). And a pasting page specifying means 24 specified as a reference). The preview editing unit 22 pastes the extracted image TG on the pasted page TP, and determines the size of the extracted image TG for the pasted page TP based on the number of extracted images TG pasted on the pasted page TP. The image forming unit 6 forms an image of the preview image PG edited by the preview editing unit 22 on a sheet. The preview image PG will be described in detail based on the display screens 1 to 4 shown in FIGS. The extracted image TG and the pasted page TP will be described in detail based on the editing screen 2 shown in FIG.

  According to this configuration, by specifying an image required by the user and a page on which the image is pasted, the degree of freedom of layout for each page can be improved. That is, the number of images to be pasted on each page can be arbitrarily set.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a preview image processing unit 25 that performs image processing on the extracted image TG pasted on the pasting page TP. According to this configuration, since image processing can be performed after an image is pasted, the degree of freedom in layout can be further improved.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a preview storage instruction unit 26 that instructs to store the preview image PG in the storage device 7. According to this configuration, the preview image PG edited by the user can be stored and read from the storage device 7 for repeated editing.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a layout storage instructing unit 27 that instructs the storage device 7 to store the layout of the pasted page TP as page layout information PD based on the extracted image TG pasted on the pasted page TP, Layout setting means 28 is provided for setting the layout of the page of the preview image PG based on the layout information PD. According to this configuration, the trouble of performing the same operation can be omitted by applying the edited page layout to other pages. The page layout and page layout information PD will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The image forming apparatus 1 further includes an input unit 4, an image input unit 8, an input control unit 29, a display control unit 30, and an image formation control unit 31.

  The input unit 4 includes buttons, a keyboard, a touch panel, and the like for the user to input instructions. In the present embodiment, the input unit 4 is a touch panel formed integrally with the display unit 5. In addition, this invention is not limited to this, You may provide the keyboard etc. as the input part 4 separately from the display part 5. FIG.

  The image input unit 8 is, for example, an image reading device that reads a set document. The image input unit 8 stores the read document image in the storage device 7 as a document image GG. Further, the image input unit 8 stores the document image GG received via the network in the storage device 7.

  In the present embodiment, the image input unit 8 reads one or a plurality of originals collectively, and stores the original image GG as a job in the storage device 7. The document image GG stored as a job is given an order according to the reading order. The job is stored with a name for identifying each job.

  The input control unit 29 determines an instruction from the input unit 4 and controls the image forming apparatus 1. That is, the user's instruction is determined based on the position on the touch panel where the user's finger or the like touches, the time when the user touched the touch panel, or the like.

  The display control unit 30 controls an image displayed on the display unit 5 in response to an instruction from each unit.

  The image formation control unit 31 instructs the image forming unit 6 to form an image based on an instruction from each unit. Further, the image forming control unit 31 instructs setting of image forming conditions when the image forming unit 6 forms an image on a sheet based on the image forming conditions received from the input unit 4. Examples of image forming conditions include output color, output density, paper size, preview image enlargement / reduction, and duplex copying.

  The storage device 7 stores a document image GG, a preview image PG, and page layout information PD, and is, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

  The image forming unit 6 forms an image of one page of the preview image on one side of the paper. When double-sided copying is instructed, two pages of the preview image are formed on the front and back surfaces of the paper. Further, the image forming unit 6 may read the document image GG and the preview image PG from the storage device 7 based on an instruction from the image formation control unit 31 to form an image.

  The preview instruction unit 21 displays the newly generated preview image PG on the display unit 5 based on the instruction from the input unit 4. However, the preview image PG stored in the storage device 7 may be read and displayed. .

  The preview image processing means 25 enlarges, reduces, moves, and rotates the extracted image TG as image processing. According to this configuration, it is possible to perform image processing required by the user when performing layout.

  The preview storage instruction unit 26 adds a name for identifying the preview image PG and stores it in the storage device 7. Note that the name assigned to the preview image PG can be appropriately changed according to a user instruction.

  The extracted image specifying means 23 specifies a newly extracted image newly extracted in addition to the extracted image TG. The layout setting unit 28 pastes the newly extracted image on the page of the preview image PG based on the set page layout. According to this configuration, an image to be pasted with the same layout as the edited page can be specified. Note that the original image GG that is the same as the extracted image TG may be extracted as a new extracted image. Further, the newly extracted image is pasted on other pages except the pasting page TP of the preview image PG.

  Preview instruction means 21, preview editing means 22, extracted image specifying means 23, pasted page specifying means 24, preview image processing means 25, preview storage instruction means 26, layout storage instruction means 27, layout setting means 28, input control means 29, The display control unit 30 and the image formation control unit 31 are realized by a computer program (computer) incorporated in advance in the CPU 2 (central processing unit) included in the image forming apparatus 1.

  The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an aggregation function that aggregates a plurality of extracted images TG onto one sheet to form an image. That is, the image forming apparatus 1 forms an image of one page of the preview image PG with the extracted image TG pasted on one sheet. The image forming apparatus 1 arranges the extracted image TG in the preview image PG based on a preset basic layout of the page, and determines the size of the extracted image TG based on the number of extracted images TG.

  Next, the size of the extracted image TG will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2E.

  2A to 2E, the page of the preview image PG is rectangular, and the long sides are arranged in parallel with the vertical direction. In the following, for the sake of explanation, the arrangement in which the long sides of the extracted image TG, the extracted image area TA, and the preview image PG are parallel to the vertical direction may be referred to as vertical orientation, and the extracted image TG, extracted image area TA, and preview image PG An arrangement in which the long side of the is parallel to the horizontal direction is sometimes referred to as horizontal. The extracted image area TA is an area to which an extracted image TG having a size equal to or smaller than the size of the extracted image area TA is pasted, and the extracted image area TA to which no extracted image TG is pasted is blank. Further, the size of the extracted image TG can be appropriately adjusted as long as it is within the range of the extracted image area TA.

  FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram showing a basic layout in which one extracted image region is arranged.

  A vertically extracted image area TA is arranged on one page of the preview image PG. The size of the extracted image area TA is almost the same size as the preview image PG, and this size is called “1 in 1”.

  FIG. 2B is an explanatory diagram showing a basic layout in which two extracted image regions are arranged.

  Two horizontal extracted image areas TA are arranged on one page of the preview image PG. The two extracted image areas TA are arranged side by side. The size of the extracted image area TA is substantially the same as the size obtained by dividing the preview image PG into two equal parts in the horizontal direction, and this size is referred to as “2 in 1”.

  FIG. 2C is an explanatory diagram showing a basic layout in which four extracted image areas are arranged.

  Four vertically extracted image areas TA are arranged on one page of the preview image PG. The preview image PG is divided into two equal parts in the vertical direction and two equal parts in the horizontal direction, and an extracted image area TA is arranged in each divided part. The size of the extracted image area TA is almost the same size as one part of the divided preview image PG, and this size is called “4 in 1”.

  FIG. 2D is an explanatory diagram showing a basic layout in which eight extracted image regions are arranged.

  Eight horizontal extracted image areas TA are arranged on one page of the preview image PG. The preview image PG is divided into two equal parts in the vertical direction and four equal parts in the horizontal direction, and an extracted image area TA is arranged in each divided part. The size of the extracted image area TA is almost the same size as one portion of the divided preview image PG, and this size is called “8 in 1”.

  FIG. 2E is an explanatory diagram showing a basic layout in which 16 extracted image areas are arranged.

  Sixteen vertically extracted image areas TA are arranged on one page of the preview image PG. The preview image PG is divided into four equal parts in the vertical direction and four equal parts in the horizontal direction, and an extracted image area TA is arranged in each divided part. The size of the extracted image area TA is almost the same size as one part of the divided preview image PG, and this size is called “16 in 1”.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to this, You may provide the basic layout which has arrange | positioned more than 16 extraction image areas TA. That is, it is possible to arrange more extracted images TG by reducing the size of the extracted image area TA.

  The preview editing means 22 selects a basic layout based on the number of extracted images TG. That is, when one extracted image TG is pasted on the preview image PG, the size of the extracted image TG is set to “1 in 1”. In addition, when an additional extracted image TG is pasted, the size of all the extracted images TG is “ 2in1 ". By changing the size of the extracted images TG, the extracted images TG can be prevented from overlapping. In addition, when another extracted image TG is pasted on the preview image PG on which the two extracted images TG are pasted, the size of the extracted image TG is set to “4 in 1”. As described above, when pasting more extracted images TG than the set number, the preview editing unit 22 selects an optimal basic layout and changes the size of the extracted images TG.

  The image forming apparatus 1 can set the page layout by performing image processing on the extracted image based on the basic layout.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing image processing for enlarging the extracted image pasted on the preview image.

  The preview image PG1 is pasted with an extracted image TGa1, an extracted image TGb1, and an extracted image TGc1 each having a size of “4 in 1,” and the lower right portion is blank.

  First, when the preview image processing means 25 enlarges the extracted image TGc1 arranged at the lower left toward the right, the preview image PG2 becomes an extracted image TGc2 having a size of “2 in 1”.

  Next, the extracted image TGc2 is enlarged upward. When the extracted image TGc2 is enlarged so as to overlap with the extracted image TGa1 and the extracted image TGb1, in the preview image PG3, the extracted image TGa1 and the extracted image TGb1 are reduced to the size of “8 in 1” by the preview image processing unit 25. The extracted image TGa2 and the extracted image TGb2 are used. By reducing the extracted image TGa2 and the extracted image TGb2, the extracted image TGc3 can have a layout that does not overlap with other images. The extracted image TGc3 is pasted on the extracted image area TA, which is a combination of the six “8 in 1” extracted image areas TA.

  Note that when the extracted image TG is moved so as to overlap with the other extracted image TG, the other extracted image TG may be reduced by the preview image processing means 25.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing image processing for rotating the extracted image pasted on the preview image.

  The preview image PG4 is pasted with an extracted image TGd, an extracted image TGe, an extracted image TGf, and an extracted image TGg1 each having a size of “4 in 1”.

  The extracted image TGg1 is rotated by 90 degrees by the preview image processing means 25. When the extracted image TGg1 rotates, the extracted image TGg1 becomes the extracted image TGg2 reduced to the size of “8in1” in the preview image PG5 because the size remains “4 in1” and overlaps with the extracted image TGf.

  FIG. 4 shows the case where the extracted image TGg1 is reduced. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the size of the extracted image TGg1 is rotated as “4 in 1” to reduce the extracted image TGf. May be.

  In the present embodiment, the layout storage instruction unit 27 causes the storage device 7 to store the number, size, orientation, and position of the extracted image TG in the preview image PG as page layout information PD. Such an arrangement of images on a sheet is called a page layout.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the display screen 1 displayed on the display unit.

  The display screen 1 is displayed on the display unit 5 and includes a preview image display area A1, a function setting key K1, an action panel key K2, a task trigger key K3, an action panel display key K4, a page selection key K5, and a preview mode switching key K6. Is provided. In the present embodiment, the display unit 5 functions as the input unit 4 because it is a touch panel. That is, the user can input an operation for the image forming apparatus 1 by selecting an item displayed on the display unit 5.

  In the preview image display area A1, the preview image PG is displayed when the preview instruction means 21 instructs the display of the preview image PG. On the display screen 1, one page of the preview image PG is displayed. The document image GG collected as a job may be displayed in the preview image display area A1. When displaying the document image GG, one document image GG corresponds to one page of the preview image PG.

  The function setting key K1 includes a plurality of image formation setting keys K1a, a preview editing key K1b, and a storage key K1c. The image formation setting key K1a accepts the input of the image formation conditions described above. The preview editing key K1b accepts an instruction to cause the preview editing means 22 to execute the editing process of the preview image PG, and the preview editing means 22 instructs the display control means 30 to display an editing screen 1 described later. The storage key K1c receives an instruction to the display control means 30, and changes the size of the function setting key K1 displayed on the display unit 5 (see FIG. 6). In other words, the enlargement / reduction display of the function setting key K1 is switched by selecting the storage key K1c. On the display screen 1, the function setting key K1 is in an enlarged display state.

  The action panel key K2 includes a page edit key K2a and an edit end key K2b, and receives an instruction for the preview image PG displayed in the preview image display area A1. By selecting the page editing key K2a, the preview editing means 22 is caused to execute the editing process of the preview image PG such as adding a page, deleting a page, and changing the order of pages. By selecting the edit end key K2b, the display control means 30 causes the display unit 5 to display a message screen 1 (see FIG. 9) described later.

  The task trigger key K3 includes an image formation key K3a, an image reading key K3b, and a preview instruction key K3c. When the image forming key K3a is selected, the image forming control means 31 instructs the image forming unit 6 to execute image forming based on the set image forming conditions. When the image reading key K3b is selected, the image input unit 8 reads a set original. When the preview instruction key K3c is selected, the preview instruction means 21 gives an instruction to display the preview image PG in the preview image display area A1.

  The action panel display key K4 receives an instruction to the display control means 30, and switches between display / non-display of the action panel key K2 and the task trigger key K3.

  The page selection key K5 receives an instruction to the display control means 30 and changes the page of the preview image PG displayed in the preview image display area A1. That is, by selecting one page of the preview image PG with the page selection key K5, the pasting page specifying unit 24 can specify the pasting page TP. The method for specifying the pasting page TP is not limited to this, and the pasting page TP may be specified by selecting one page from the preview image PG displayed in the preview image display area A1.

  The preview mode switching key K6 receives an instruction to the display control means 30, switches the display format of the preview image PG displayed in the preview image display area A1, and displays the display screens 2 to 4 shown in FIGS. This is displayed on part 5. In the present embodiment, a plurality of preview mode switching keys K6 are provided and the display screens corresponding to the preview mode switching keys K6 are displayed. However, the display screens may be sequentially switched by using one preview mode switching key K6. .

  Next, the display screen 2 to the display screen 4 in the display format of the preview image PG different from the display screen 1 will be described. Since the display screen 2 to the display screen 4 have the same configuration as the display screen 1, components having substantially the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the display screen 2 displayed on the display unit.

  On the display screen 2, the preview image PG is displayed three-dimensionally in the preview image display area A1, so that the user can visually grasp a plurality of pages. That is, two pages viewed obliquely are displayed facing each other like a magazine spread, and the other pages are displayed at positions that are slightly shifted and overlapped. On the display screen 2, the function setting key K1 is in a reduced display state. The action panel key K2 and the task trigger key K3 are displayed.

  FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the display screen 3 displayed on the display unit.

  On the display screen 3, a plurality of pages of the preview image PG are displayed as thumbnails in the preview image display area A1. When all the pages are not displayed, the page to be displayed can be switched by the page selection key K5. Here, the page selection key K5 is displayed differently from the display screen 1, but can be appropriately selected according to the display format of the preview image PG. On the display screen 3, the function setting key K1 is in a reduced display state. The action panel key K2 and the task trigger key K3 are displayed.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the display screen 4 displayed on the display unit.

  On the display screen 4, a plurality of pages of the preview image PG are displayed side by side in the preview image display area A1. When all the pages are not displayed, the page to be displayed can be switched by the page selection key K5. In the display screen 4, the function setting key K1 is in a reduced display state. Further, the action panel key K2 and the task trigger key K3 are not displayed.

  Note that the display screen 2 to the display screen 4 can be switched to the display screen 1 by selecting one page of the preview image PG displayed in the preview image display area A1. Further, the size of the preview image display area A1 is appropriately adjusted according to the format in which the function setting key K1, the action panel key K2, and the task trigger key K3 are displayed.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the message screen 1 displayed on the display unit.

  In the message screen 1, an instruction to end the preview editing process for the preview editing unit 22 is received. Note that the message screen 1 may be displayed over another screen. For example, the message screen 1 may be displayed on the display screen 1 to the display screen 4.

  In the present embodiment, when “Yes” and “No” are displayed on the message screen 1 and “Yes” is selected, the display control means 30 replaces the message screen 1 with the message screen 2 shown in FIG. Is displayed. When “No” is selected, the message screen 1 is not displayed so that the user can continue editing the preview image PG.

  FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the message screen 2 displayed on the display unit.

  In the message screen 2, an instruction for storage processing is received with respect to the preview storage instruction unit 26, and the preview storage instruction unit 26 stores the preview image PG in the storage device 7. Note that the message screen 2 may be displayed over another screen. For example, the message screen 2 may be displayed on the display screen 1 to the display screen 4.

  In the present embodiment, “Yes” and “No” are displayed on the message screen 2, and when “Yes” is selected, the storage process is executed by the preview storage instruction unit 26. Note that when either “Yes” or “No” is selected, the message screen 2 is not displayed.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an editing screen 1 displayed on the display unit.

  The editing screen 1 has the same configuration as the display screen 1 to the display screen 4 and further includes a job display area A2. In the editing screen 1, the function setting key K1 is enlarged. Further, the action panel key K2 and the task trigger key K3 are not displayed.

  In the job display area A2, names corresponding to the jobs are displayed as thumbnails as a list of jobs stored in the storage device 7. The first original image GG in the job may be displayed together with the name corresponding to the job. When a thumbnail-displayed job is selected, the display control unit 30 displays an editing screen 2 (see FIG. 12) described later.

  Further, the preview image PG stored in the storage device 7 is displayed as a thumbnail in the job display area A2. Here, as the preview image PG, for example, a corresponding name, the first page, and the like are displayed. When the preview image PG displayed as a thumbnail is selected, the display control means 30 displays the selected preview image PG in the preview image display area A1.

  Further, the edit screen 1 is provided with a scroll key K7. When all the jobs and the preview image PG are not displayed, the displayed job and the preview image PG can be switched by operating the scroll key K7.

  Although the preview image PG is displayed in the preview image display area A1 in the same display format as the display screen 1, it can be switched to the display format of the display screen 2 to the display screen 4 by the preview mode switching key K6. Further, the pasting page TP can be specified by the page selection key K5.

  FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an editing screen 2 displayed on the display unit.

  The edit screen 2 has the same configuration as the edit screen 1, and includes a document image display area A3 instead of the job display area A2. The edit screen 2 further includes a layout setting key K9 and a job display key K10.

  In the document image display area A3, the document image GG corresponding to the job selected in the job display area A2 is displayed as a thumbnail. Here, the document image GG is displayed according to the order of attachment.

  The edit screen 2 is provided with a scroll key K8. When all the document images GG are not displayed, the displayed document image GG can be switched by operating the scroll key K8.

  The layout setting key K9 accepts instructions for the layout storage instruction unit 27 and the layout setting unit 28.

  The job display key K10 instructs the display control unit 30 to display a job, and the display control unit 30 displays the job display area A2 instead of the document image display area A3. That is, when the job display key K10 is selected, the editing screen 1 is displayed on the display unit 5 instead of the editing screen 2.

  In the editing screen 1 and the editing screen 2, an instruction to edit the preview image PG is received by a user input.

  In the preview image display area A1, image processing for the extracted image TG pasted on the preview image PG is received. As described above, by selecting the extracted image TG pasted on the preview image PG, the preview image processing means 25 performs image processing on the extracted image TG (see, for example, FIGS. 3 and 4). .

  In the document image display area A3, when the document image GG displayed as a thumbnail is selected, the extracted image specifying means 23 specifies the selected document image GG as the extracted image TG. Then, when the pasted page TP is identified by the pasted page identifying unit 24, the extracted image TG is pasted on the pasted page TP. Here, the user may select a page to which the extracted image TG is to be pasted using the page selection key K5. Further, the pasted page specifying unit 24 may specify the pasted page TP when the user selects one page of the preview image PG displayed in the preview image display area A1.

  The extracted image specifying means 23 specifies the selected document image GG as a new extracted image when a plurality of document images GG are selected. Here, the user may select all of the plurality of document images GG. Alternatively, the user may select two document images GG, and the extracted image specifying unit 23 may select a plurality of document images GG based on the order given to the document images GG.

  When the layout setting key K9 is selected, the layout storage instruction unit 27 instructs to store the page layout information PD of the pasting page TP displayed in the preview image display area A1, and the layout setting unit 28 sets the page layout. The layout of the preview image PG is set based on the information PD. That is, the newly extracted image is pasted on a page other than the pasted page TP with the same layout as the pasted page TP. Note that when there are not enough blank pages in the preview image PG, the preview editing unit 22 adds a blank page to the preview image PG.

  When the layout setting key K9 is selected when a new extracted image is not specified, the extracted image specifying unit 23 specifies the original image GG displayed in the original image display area A3 as a new extracted image, and the new extracted image is specified. The extracted image is pasted on the preview image PG.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when an image is formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S <b> 101, the document image GG received by the image input unit 8 is stored in the storage device 7. It should be noted that step S101 can be omitted when the original image GG and the preview image PG previously stored in the storage device 7 are formed.

  In step S102, it is determined whether or not the preview instruction means 21 has instructed display of the preview image PG. When the display of the preview image PG is instructed (step S102: Yes), the process proceeds to step S103. When the display of the preview image PG is not instructed (step S102: No), the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S103, the preview instruction means 21 causes the preview image PG to be displayed in the preview image display area A1 (see, for example, FIG. 5). Here, the preview instruction means 21 generates a preview image PG based on the document image GG stored in step S101. If step S101 is omitted, the user is caused to select a preview image PG to be displayed.

  In step S104, it is determined whether or not the preview editing unit 22 has instructed editing of the preview image PG. When instructed to edit the preview image PG (step S104: Yes), a preview editing process (see FIG. 14) described later is executed, and the process proceeds to step S105. When the editing of the preview image PG is not instructed (step S104: No), the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S105, the display controller 30 causes the display unit 5 to display the message screen 2 (see FIG. 10).

  In step S106, it is determined whether the preview storage instruction unit 26 has instructed storage processing of the preview image PG. When the storage process of the preview image PG is instructed (step S106: Yes), the process proceeds to step S107. When the storage process of the preview image PG is not instructed (step S106: No), the process proceeds to step S108.

  In step S <b> 107, the preview image PG is stored in the storage device 7 by the preview storage instruction unit 26.

  In step S108, it is determined whether or not the image formation control unit 31 has instructed execution of image formation. When execution of image formation is instructed (step S108: Yes), the process proceeds to step S109. When the execution of image formation is not instructed (step S108: No), the process is terminated.

  In step S109, image formation on the paper is executed by the image forming unit 6, and the process is terminated. When no preview image storage process is instructed in step S107, the image forming unit 6 forms an image of the preview image PG edited by the preview editing unit 22 on a sheet.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a preview editing process flow when the preview image is edited in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S201, the display control means 30 displays a list of jobs in the job display area A2 (see FIG. 11 described above).

  In step S202, the input control unit 29 determines whether a job is selected from the job display area A2. That is, it waits until a user selects a job. When a job is selected (step S202: Yes), the process proceeds to step S203. When no job is selected (step S202: No), when the edit end key K2b is selected, the process may proceed to step S209 described later.

  In step S203, the display control means 30 displays the document image GG in the document image display area A3 (see FIG. 12 described above).

  In step S204, the input control means 29 determines whether or not the action panel key K2 has been selected. When the action panel key K2 is selected (step S204: Yes), the process proceeds to step S206. When the action panel key K2 is not selected (step S204: No), the process proceeds to step S205.

  In step S205, it is determined whether or not the input control unit 29 has instructed display of the job. When the job display is instructed, that is, when the job display key K10 is selected (step S205: Yes), the process returns to step S201. When the job display is not instructed, an image editing process (see FIG. 15) described later is performed, and the process returns to step S204.

  In step S206, the input control means 29 determines whether or not the page edit key K2a has been selected. When the page edit key K2a is selected (step S206: Yes), the process proceeds to step S207. When the page edit key K2a is not selected (step S206: No), the process proceeds to step S208.

  In step S207, the preview editing unit 22 executes a page editing process for the preview image PG.

  In step S208, the input control means 29 determines whether or not the edit end key K2b has been selected. When the edit end key K2b is selected (step S208: Yes), the process proceeds to step S209. When the edit end key K2b is not selected (step S208: No), the process returns to step S204.

  In step S209, the message screen 1 is displayed on the display unit 5 by the display control means 30 (see FIG. 9 described above).

  In step S210, it is determined whether or not the input control means 29 has instructed the end of the preview editing process. When instructed to end the preview editing process (step S210: Yes), the preview editing process ends and the process proceeds to step S105 described above. When the end of the preview editing process is not instructed (step S210: No), the message screen 1 is not displayed, and the process returns to step S201.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an image editing process flow when a preview image is edited by the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S301, it is determined by the input control means 29 whether or not the document image GG in the document image display area A3 has been selected. When the document image GG is selected (step S301: Yes), the process proceeds to step S302. When the document image GG is not selected (step S301: No), the process proceeds to step S310.

  In step S302, the extracted image specifying unit 23 specifies the document image GG selected in step S301 as the extracted image TG.

  In step S303, it is determined whether or not the pasting page TP of the preview image PG has been selected by the pasting page specifying means 24. That is, it is determined whether or not one page of the preview image PG is selected by the page selection key K5 or user input. When the pasting page TP is selected (step S303: Yes), the process proceeds to step S304. When the pasting page TP is not selected (step S303: No), the process proceeds to step S305.

  In step S304, the extracted image TG is pasted on the pasting page TP of the preview image PG by the preview editing means 22, and the process proceeds to step S310.

  In step S305, the input control unit 29 determines whether another document image GG is selected in the document image display area A3. That is, it is determined whether or not the document image GG is selected in addition to the extracted image TG specified in step S302. When another document image GG is selected (step S305: Yes), the process proceeds to step S306. When no other document image GG is selected (step S305: No), the process returns to step S303.

  In step S306, the extracted image specifying unit 23 specifies a new extracted image. That is, the extracted image TG specified in step S302 and the selected other document image GG are combined and specified as a new extracted image.

  In step S307, the input control means 29 determines whether or not the layout setting key K9 has been selected. That is, the process waits until the layout setting key K9 is selected by the user. When the layout setting key K9 is selected (step S307: Yes), the process proceeds to step S308. When the layout setting key K9 is not selected (step S307: No), the process may return to the above-described step S305 and allow the user to select a new document image GG. That is, by repeating the process, the user can select a plurality of document images GG.

  In step S 308, the page storage information PD is stored in the storage device 7 by the layout storage instruction unit 27.

  In step S309, the layout setting unit 28 pastes the newly extracted image on the preview image PG, and the process proceeds to step S310.

  In step S310, the input control means 29 determines whether or not the layout setting key K9 has been selected. When the layout setting key K9 is selected (step S310: Yes), the process proceeds to step S311. When the layout setting key K9 is not selected (step S310: No), the process proceeds to step S313.

  In step S 311, the page storage information PD is stored in the storage device 7 by the layout storage instruction unit 27.

  In step S312, a newly extracted image is specified by the extracted image specifying unit 23, and the newly extracted image is pasted on the preview image PG by the layout setting unit 28. That is, the document image GG displayed in the document image display area A3 is specified as a newly extracted image.

  In step S313, it is determined by the input control means 29 whether or not the extracted image TG in the preview image display area A1 has been selected. When the extracted image TG is selected (step S313: Yes), the process proceeds to step S314. When the extracted image TG is not selected (step S313: No), the image editing process is ended and the process returns to the above-described step S204.

  In step S314, the preview image processing unit 25 performs image processing on the extracted image TG (see, for example, FIGS. 3 and 4), ends the image editing process, and returns to step S204 described above.

  Although not shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, an image formation setting key K1a, a storage key K1c, an action panel display key K4, a page selection key K5, a preview mode switching key K6, a scroll key K7, and a scroll key K8 are provided. By selecting, a corresponding instruction can be given.

  The image editing method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a storage device 7 that stores a document image GG, a display unit 5 that displays the document image GG, and an image forming unit 6 that forms the document image GG on a sheet. An image editing method in the image forming apparatus 1 comprising: a preview instruction step for instructing the preview instruction unit 21 to display a preview image PG composed of one or a plurality of pages on the display unit 5; 22 is a preview editing step for editing the preview image PG displayed on the display unit 5; and an extracted image for causing the extracted image specifying unit 23 to extract the original image GG displayed on the display unit 5 and specify the extracted image TG. A pasting page that causes the pasting page identifying unit 24 to identify one page of the preview image PG as the pasting page TP. The preview editing step causes the preview editing means 22 to paste the extracted image TG on the pasted page TP, and based on the number of extracted images TG pasted on the pasted page TP, the pasted page TP The size of the extracted image TG is determined, and the image forming unit 6 causes the preview image PG edited by the preview editing unit 22 to form an image on a sheet. According to this configuration, the same functions and operations as those of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention can be realized.

  The image editing method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a preview image processing step that causes the preview image processing means 25 to perform image processing on the extracted image TG pasted on the pasting page TP. .

  The image editing method according to the embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the preview image processing step causes the preview image processing means 25 to enlarge, reduce, move and rotate the extracted image TG as image processing.

  The image editing method according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a preview storage instruction step for instructing the preview storage instruction unit 26 to store the preview image PG in the storage device 7.

  In the image editing method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the layout storage instructing unit 27 stores the layout of the pasted page TP in the storage device 7 as page layout information PD based on the extracted image TG pasted on the pasted page TP. A layout storage instruction step for instructing storage is provided, and a layout setting step for causing the layout setting means 28 to set the layout of the page of the preview image PG based on the page layout information PD.

  In the image editing method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the extracted image specifying step causes the extracted image specifying means 23 to specify a newly extracted image newly extracted in addition to the extracted image TG, and the layout setting step includes the layout setting step. The setting means 28 is characterized in that the newly extracted image is pasted on the page of the preview image PG based on the set page layout.

1 Image forming apparatus 2 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Preview instruction means 22 Preview edit means 23 Extracted image specification means 24 Paste page specification means 25 Preview image processing means 26 Preview storage instruction means 27 Layout storage instruction means 28 Layout setting means 29 Input control means 30 Display control means 31 Image formation control means 31 4 Input unit 5 Display unit 6 Image forming unit 7 Storage device 8 Image input unit GG Document image PG Preview image TG Extracted image TP Paste page PD Page layout information

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus comprising: a storage device that stores a document image; a display unit that displays the document image; an image forming unit that forms an image of the document image on a sheet; and an input unit that receives an instruction input from a user. There,
Preview instruction means for instructing display of a preview image composed of one or a plurality of pages on the display unit ;
And extracting an image specifying means for specifying as an extraction image by extracting one or a plurality of original images selected from a plurality of original images displayed on the front Symbol display unit to the user,
Pasting page specifying means for specifying one page selected by the user as the pasting page among the preview images displayed on the display unit ;
The extracted image pasted extracted image specified by the specifying means to the patch page specified by the sticking page specifying means, based on the number of pasted the extracted image to the pasting pages, the extract to said patch page Preview editing means for determining the size of the image and editing the preview image ;
The image forming apparatus forms the preview image edited by the preview editing unit on a sheet. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a preview image processing unit that performs image processing on the extracted image pasted on the pasting page. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,
The preview image processing means enlarges, reduces, moves, and rotates the extracted image as the image processing. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
An image forming apparatus comprising: a preview storage instruction unit that instructs to store the preview image edited by the preview image editing unit in the storage device. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
Layout storage instruction means for instructing the storage device to store the layout of the pasted page as page layout information based on the extracted image pasted on the pasted page;
An image forming apparatus comprising: a layout setting unit that sets a page layout of the preview image based on the page layout information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
The extracted image specifying means specifies a newly extracted image newly extracted in addition to the extracted image,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the layout setting unit pastes the newly extracted image on the page of the preview image based on the set page layout. An image forming apparatus comprising: a storage device that stores a document image; a display unit that displays the document image; an image forming unit that forms an image of the document image on a sheet; and an input unit that receives an instruction input from a user . An image editing method,
A preview instruction step for instructing a preview instruction means to display a preview image composed of one or a plurality of pages on the display unit ;
The Extraction image specifying unit, an extraction image specifying step of identified as an extraction image by extracting one or a plurality of document images selected by the user from a plurality of original images displayed on the display unit,
A pasting page identifying step for causing the pasting page identifying means to identify, as a pasting page, one page selected by the user among the preview images displayed on the display unit ;
The preview editing means, paste the extracted image specified by the extracted image specifying means to sticking page specified by the sticking page specifying means, based on the number of pasted the extracted image to the pasting pages, determines the size of the extracted image to said patch page, and a preview editing step of editing the preview image,
An image editing method comprising causing the image forming unit to form the preview image edited by the preview editing unit on a sheet.

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