JP6175695B2 - Image forming apparatus, sample printing method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a sample printing method, and a program.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral, it is possible to print a plurality of sets of many pages. In order to confirm the deterioration of the printing function when performing such printing, an image forming apparatus having a function of performing sample printing is also distributed.

  To check the deterioration of the printing function, if one sample of printed matter is printed, the printing time required for sample printing and the resources of materials such as paper are wasted. Therefore, only arbitrary pages are sampled. It is necessary to confirm the deterioration of the printing function by printing. Therefore, the user can specify the sample print target page from multiple pages, or set a predetermined page interval by the user or default, and specify the sample print target page at that page interval, etc. Is running.

  Regarding the specification of a predetermined page interval, Patent Document 1 discloses that a sample interval is automatically set based on the use state of each imaging function component in order to confirm deterioration of the printing function of the image forming apparatus. Techniques for performing sample printing are described.

JP 2010-72022 A

  However, in the prior art including the technique described in Patent Document 1, the user designates an arbitrary page number from a plurality of pages as a sample print target, or designates an arbitrary page number at a certain page interval. For this reason, there are many cases where a sample printed material such as a monochrome page, a page with little color, or a page with little specific color is output as a sample.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described situation, and its purpose is to automatically determine an appropriate sample print target page without a user's designation when printing a plurality of sets of pages. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing sample printing, a sample printing method, and a program for causing a computer of a control unit of the image forming apparatus to execute the program.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a first technical means of the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets each including a plurality of pages, and is obtained from image information of each page in the set. A sample page determination unit that determines a sample print target page based on a coverage; and a sample print control unit that performs control to sample print the page determined by the sample page determination unit for each predetermined number of sets, the sample page determination unit Has a calculation unit that calculates the coverage for each page from the image information of each page in the set, and determines that the page with the largest value calculated by the calculation unit is included in the sample print target page. It is characterized by that.

According to a second technical means of the present invention, in the first technical means, the calculation unit calculates, for each page, an average value obtained by averaging the coverage of each color or a total value obtained by summing the coverage of each color, and the sample page determination unit Is characterized in that the page having the largest average value or the total value calculated by the calculation unit is determined to be included in the sample print target page.

According to a third technical means of the present invention, in the first or second technical means, the calculation unit calculates a coverage for each color for each page, and the sample page determination unit is calculated by the calculation unit for each color. The page with the largest value is determined to be included in the sample print target page.

A fourth technical means of the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets each consisting of a plurality of pages, and determines a sample print target page based on coverage obtained from image information of each page in the set. A sample page determination unit, and a sample print control unit that performs control to sample print the pages determined by the sample page determination unit for each predetermined number of sets, and the sample page determination unit includes at least each page in the set a calculation unit for calculating the coverage two or more divided for each divided region, from the pages of a predetermined value or more values have been calculated for all of the divided regions, determining the sample printed page It is characterized by.

According to a fifth technical means of the present invention, in the technical means according to any one of the first to fourth technical means, when the set includes a color page, the sample page determination unit prints the sample from the color page. The target page is determined.

According to a sixth technical means of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth technical means, the sample page determining unit includes a page in which a predetermined type or more of a predetermined type of image is included from the image information of each page in the set. A determination unit that determines whether or not the page is determined to include in the sample print target page a page that is determined by the determination unit to include the predetermined type of image in the predetermined ratio or more. It is a feature.

According to a seventh technical means of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth technical means, the sample page determining unit detects a clear coat page for performing clear coat printing from image information of each page in the set. A detection unit is included, and the clear coat page detected by the detection unit is determined to be included in the sample print target page.

An eighth technical means of the present invention is a sample printing method in an image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets each consisting of a plurality of pages, wherein the sample page determination unit obtains the image information from each page in the set. A determination step of determining a sample print target page based on coverage , wherein the determination step calculates the coverage for each page from the image information of each page in the set, and determines the page with the largest calculated value as A determination step for determining to include in a sample print target page, and a step for performing control to cause the sample print control unit to perform sample printing of the page determined in the determination step for each predetermined number of sets. It is a thing.
According to a ninth technical means of the present invention, there is provided a sample printing method in an image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets each consisting of a plurality of pages, wherein the sample page determination unit is obtained from image information of each page in the set Determining a sample print target page based on coverage, wherein the determining step calculates the coverage for each divided region obtained by dividing each page in the set into at least two, A determination step for determining the sample print target page from the pages for which a value equal to or greater than a predetermined value is calculated, and a sample print control unit causes the pages determined in the determination step to be sample printed for each predetermined number of sets. And a step of performing control.

According to a tenth technical means of the present invention, sample printing is performed on a computer of a control unit in an image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets consisting of a plurality of pages based on coverage calculated from image information of each page in the set. A determination step of determining a target page , wherein the determination step calculates a coverage for each page from image information of each page in the set, and includes the page having the largest calculated value in the sample print target page And a step of performing control to print the pages determined in the determination step for each predetermined number of sets.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of sets of a plurality of pages are printed in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to automatically determine an appropriate sample print target page and perform sample printing without specifying the user.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the image forming apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a coverage value calculated in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of sample printing processing executed in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of a sample printing process executed in an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets each having a plurality of pages. Examples of the image forming apparatus include a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine. Examples of the multi-function device include devices equipped with a plurality of functions such as a document reading function from a scanner, a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function, and at least a printing function needs to be installed. Hereinafter, various embodiments of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of coverage values calculated in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an example of sample printing processing executed in the image forming apparatus in FIG. FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an image input unit 11, an image processing unit 12, a storage unit 13, a printing unit 14, an operation unit 15, and a control unit 16.

  The image input unit 11 is a part for inputting image information, and includes a document reading device (scanner device) that optically reads image information of a document composed of a charge-coupled device (CCD), an external general-purpose computer ( A receiving apparatus that receives image information as a print job from a PC) via a network or the like. The image input unit 11 transfers the input image information to the image processing unit 12. If the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is a printer, a document reading device is unnecessary, and if it is a copier, a receiving device is not required.

  The image processing unit 12 temporarily stores the image information data transmitted from the image input unit 11 in the storage unit 13, or takes out the temporarily stored data in the order instructed by the control unit 16 from the storage unit 13 and prints it. Or develop it into image data for use. The storage unit 13 is a storage device such as an EEPROM or a hard disk, and is a module that temporarily stores image data and various settings.

  The printing unit 14 is configured by a laser printer, an inkjet printer, or the like, and is a module that prints image data for printing generated by the image processing unit 12. The printing unit 14 can print a plurality of sets composed of a plurality of pages.

  The operation unit 15 includes operation keys that accept user operations such as various setting operations and processing execution operations in the image forming apparatus 1, and hardware or software keyboards. In the case of a software keyboard, the operation unit 15 uses a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic electroluminescence panel mounted with a touch panel.

  The control unit 16 is a part for controlling the entire image forming apparatus 1, and includes a central processing unit (CPU) or a micro processing unit (MPU), a random access memory (RAM) as a work area, control programs, and various types. It consists of a control device such as a storage device that stores the settings. Examples of the storage device include a flash ROM (Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable ROM), a hard disk, and the like, and the storage unit 13 can also be used. Of course, a part or all of the control unit 16 may be configured by dedicated hardware.

  The control unit 16 includes, as main features of the present invention, a sample page determination unit 17 and a sample print control unit 18 for executing the sample print processing. Therefore, the control program includes a program for executing the sample print processing according to the present invention. The control program includes a program for performing display control of the user interface image on the display device of the operation unit 15, input control of image information data by user operation, and normal printing control.

  The sample page determination unit 17 determines a sample print target page based on the image information of each page in the set. In the present invention, when image information data (print job) received from the outside by the receiving device is set as a print target, a sample print target page is determined from the data, and an image optically read from the document by the document reading device When the information data is to be printed, a sample print target page is determined from the data. The sample print target page can be determined at a stage when at least all pages in the set are developed into image data for printing.

  The sample print control unit 18 controls the print unit 14 to perform sample printing of the pages determined by the sample page determination unit 17 for each predetermined number (one or a plurality) of sets. The predetermined number may be a default value or may be settable by the user.

  Note that the sample printing process according to the present invention is configured only when the mode (mass printing mode) for executing printing of a large number of sets from the operation unit 15 is set and the mass printing mode is selected. Is preferably executed.

  In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 preferably includes a large-capacity stacker 23 in which a document reading device 22 is installed on the upper portion of the main body 21 and accommodates printing paper for mass printing. . The image forming apparatus 1 also has a final processing unit 24 for performing sorting processing and stapling processing. The final processing unit 24 uses sample printing in addition to a paper discharge tray 25 that discharges printed materials during normal printing. A sample printing paper discharge tray 26 for discharging printed matter is provided. As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 includes at least two or more paper discharge trays.

The image forming apparatus 1 has the above-described configuration, and executes the following sample printing process.
When the operation unit 15 is operated to perform printing with the setting to perform sample printing, the control unit 16 accumulates image information of all pages in the sample page determination unit 17 (the storage unit 13 may be used). The sample page determination unit 17 determines an optimum sample print target page from the image information of all pages, and notifies the sample print control unit 18 of the page number of the sample print target page.

  If the user setting or default setting is to perform sample printing in the Xth (Xth) set among all the sets, the sample print control unit 18 selects the corresponding page (sample printing target page) when printing the Xth set. ) To the printing unit 14 to print two copies. The page printed in the first copy is discharged to the same discharge tray 25 as the other pages, and the page printed in the second copy is discharged to the discharge tray 26 for sample printing. Of course, the first copy may be discharged to the discharge tray 26 for sample printing, and the second copy may be discharged to the same discharge tray 25 as other pages.

  The user picks up the sample printed matter discharged to the paper output tray 26 for sample printing, confirms the image state, and if there is a problem in the image state, executes printing stop from the operation unit 15, and then Maintenance may be performed by itself or by calling a service provider. Note that the printing is continued until printing is stopped by the operation unit 15 or printing of all sets is completed.

  With such a configuration, the image forming apparatus 1 can automatically determine an appropriate sample print target page and perform sample printing without specifying the user when printing a plurality of sets of pages. Functional degradation can be confirmed without problems. As a sample print target page, for example, a page with a large number of printed areas in the page is determined from the image information, or a page including various colors based on color information in the image information (that is, not biased to a certain color) Page), so that the color state can be confirmed with a sample.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the sample page determination part 17 has a calculation part which calculates a coverage for every page from the image information of each page in a set. At that time, the sample page determination unit 17 determines to include the page having the largest value calculated by the calculation unit in the sample print target page.

  Of course, not only the page having the largest calculated value but also a page having a value greater than or equal to a predetermined value may be determined as the sample print target page. The predetermined value may be a default value, but is preferably settable by the user. In that case, naturally, the sample print target page may be a plurality of pages.

  Further, not only the page with the largest calculated value but also the page set by the user or the page set by default (for example, two pages) can be set as the sample print target page. In that case, pages corresponding to the number of pages from the largest calculated value may be determined as sample print target pages. When the set page is two pages, the page with the largest calculated value and the second largest page are determined as the sample print target pages.

  As the coverage value calculated by the calculation unit, the total value of the coverage of each color can be adopted. Taking the case where the image forming apparatus 1 is a device that executes printing with four colors of YMCK as an example, the total value is, for example, 4 × 100% = 400% at the maximum. However, 400% is the maximum density in principle, but in reality, inconveniences such as show-through occur, so the maximum density is generally set to about 350% to 300% or less. In this case, the predetermined value is naturally set smaller than that.

  As the coverage value calculated by the calculation unit, an average value of the coverage of each color can be adopted. In the device that performs printing with the above four colors, for example, 400% / 4 = 100% is the maximum of the average value.

  As described above, it is preferable that the calculation unit calculates an average value obtained by averaging the coverage of each color or a total value obtained by adding the coverage of each color for each page after calculating the coverage for each color for each page. In that case, the sample page determination unit 17 may determine to include the page having the largest average value or total value calculated by the calculation unit in the sample print target page.

  A page with a large total value or average value of the coverage of each color is a page with a large coverage of the entire color, but in fact, in such a page determined as a sample print target page, the coverage of one color is abnormally small. Is extremely rare. Therefore, in this example, the sample print page can be determined so as not to be biased to a certain color from the color density of each page, and the change in the color of each color can be confirmed with the sample printed matter.

  Further, the average value or the total value may be obtained from the coverage of only the color (in the case of YMCK, only YMC), or may be obtained including black. For example, when the user specifies that the document (or document file) has many characters when performing copy (or print), or when the image forming apparatus 1 automatically determines that, black is also included. Then, the average value or the total value may be calculated, and in other cases, the total value or the average value may be calculated without black.

An example of determination processing in the sample page determination unit 17 will be described with reference to FIG.
A table 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 is a table in which coverage is calculated when a certain document having N pages is printed. In this example, average values for colors (YMC) other than black (K) are obtained. For example, in the case of the first page, C coverage, M coverage, and Y coverage are 1% and 5%, respectively. 7%, and the average value is 4.3%.

  In the range illustrated in Table 30, the page having the largest average value among the 1 to N pages is the third page, and as a result, the sample page determining unit 17 determines the third page as the sample print target page. Since the larger the coverage, the more toner is used, the color change can be confirmed more, so that an optimal printed material can be printed as sample printing.

Next, an example of sample print processing executed in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when the mass print mode is selected by a user operation or execution of sample printing is designated, the control unit 16 is set to execute sample printing, that is, to enable sample printing. (Step S1). Of course, the setting may be such that sample printing is executed by default.

  In addition, sample printing may be executed for each default value (for example, 50 sets) of the number of sets. However, in step S1, it is possible to set how many sets of sample printing are executed. It is desirable.

  Further, for example, whether or not to consider black (or whether to consider a clear coat page, a divided area in the page, a predetermined type of image, a color page / monochrome page, etc., which will be described later) It is preferable to be able to set whether to determine a print page.

  When a user operation for executing a printing process is performed after the setting in step S1, the control unit 16 first causes the printing unit 14 to print the first set (step S2). Then, the sample page determination unit 17 calculates the coverage for each page based on the image information (image information after being developed into image data for printing) for all pages in the first set (step S3), and selects the sample print target page. Determine (step S4). An example of calculating the coverage is as described above with reference to FIG.

  The sample print control unit 18 obtains the number of the sample print target page from the sample page determination unit 17 (the third page in the case of the example in FIG. 3), and is the set set to execute the sample print in step S1? It is determined whether it is a sample print target set (step S5). If NO in step S5, the sample print control unit 18 instructs the printing unit 14 to print the print target set as usual (step S6).

  If YES in step S5, the sample print control unit 18 compares the page number obtained from the sample page determination unit 17 with the current print target page to determine whether the page is a sample print target page (step). S7).

  If YES in step S7, the sample printing control unit 18 causes the printing unit 14 to execute sample printing for the page (step S8), and discharges the sample to the sample printing paper discharge tray 26 (step S9). Then, the normal printing is performed on the page by the printing unit 14 (step S10), and the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 25. If NO in step S7, the sample print control unit 18 causes normal printing to be executed in step S10 without passing through steps S8 and S9.

  After (or before) step S10, the sample print control unit 18 determines whether or not there has been a print stop instruction by a user operation (step S11). If YES, the sample print control unit 18 stops printing (step S15). . If NO in step S11, the sample print control unit 18 determines whether printing of all pages for the set has been completed (step S12). If NO, the sample print control unit 18 continues printing (step S14). The process returns to step S7 to perform the process of printing the page.

  If YES in step S12, the sample print control unit 18 determines whether or not printing of all sets has been completed (step S13), and ends the printing process if completed (YES). If NO in step S13, the process returns to step S5. With this process, if there is no print stop instruction, printing of all sets (number of copies specified by the user) is executed, and the determined sample print target page is also printed for each set set. Become. Although not shown in the figure, it may be configured that a print stop instruction can be accepted even during normal printing in step S6, and printing is stopped when accepted.

<Second Embodiment>
The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention has basically the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the processing of the sample page determination unit 17 including the processing of the calculation unit is different. Note that a description of the same points as in the first embodiment will be omitted.

  The calculation part in this embodiment presupposes calculating the coverage for every color for every page. Then, the sample page determination unit 17 according to the present embodiment determines to include, in the sample print target page, a page having the largest value (coverage of each color) calculated by the calculation unit for each color.

  For example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is a device that performs printing with four colors of YMCK, the largest page is selected for each of the four colors (or three colors excluding black), resulting in four pages (or three pages). This is determined as a sample print target page.

  Also in this embodiment, not only a page having the largest calculated value but also a page having a value equal to or larger than a predetermined value may be determined as a sample print target page. The predetermined value may be a default value, but is preferably settable by the user. In that case, naturally, the sample print target pages determined for one color may be a plurality of pages.

  Further, not only the page having the largest calculated value but also the page set by the user for one color or the page set by default for one color (for example, two pages) can be set as the sample print target page. In that case, pages corresponding to the number of pages from the largest calculated value may be determined as sample print target pages. When the set pages are two pages, for each color, the page with the largest calculated value and the second largest page are determined as the sample print target pages.

  Further, the present embodiment and the first embodiment can be applied simultaneously. That is, the sample page determination unit 17 calculates the coverage for each color and its average value or total value for each page in the calculation unit. Then, the sample page determination unit 17 has the largest value for each color (or a predetermined value or more, or the number of pages set from a larger value), and the average value or the total value is the largest (or a predetermined value or more). Both the pages that are equal to or larger than the set number of pages) may be determined as sample print target pages.

<Third Embodiment>
The image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a configuration basically similar to that of the first or second embodiment, and is added to the processing of the sample page determination unit 17 including the processing of the calculation unit described above. Processing is added. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5, but the description of the same points as in the first and second embodiments will be omitted. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of the sample printing process executed in the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and shows an example of a plurality of pages included in the set.

  The calculation unit in the present embodiment calculates the coverage for each divided region obtained by dividing each page into at least two or more. As the coverage, an average value or a total value may be calculated as in the first and second embodiments, or a value for each color may be calculated.

  Then, the sample page determination unit 17 in the present embodiment determines a sample print target page from the pages in which values equal to or greater than a predetermined value are calculated in all the divided areas. Note that the predetermined value used here may be a default value, but is preferably settable by the user. However, it is necessary to determine the predetermined value so that such a page candidate does not become zero.

  More specifically, the sample page determination unit 17 in the present embodiment has the largest value for each color (or the predetermined value or more, or Sample print target pages (for the number of pages set from the largest) and / or pages for which the average value or total value is the largest (or for the number of pages set to a value greater than or equal to the predetermined value) Determine as a page.

  In the example of FIG. 5, there are four pages of image information 51 to 54 in one set. Here, the image information 51, 53, 54 includes image areas (areas where print images exist) 51a, 53a, 54a, respectively, and the image area 52 includes three image areas 52a, 52b, 52c. Shall. On the first and third pages, there is an image area in the upper middle, and no image area in the lower area. On the second page, there are image areas at the top, middle, and bottom. The fourth page has image areas in the middle and bottom.

  In the case of such a set, a case will be described in which the calculation unit calculates the coverage for each of the three divided regions in which each page indicates a boundary with a broken line. Here, an example in which the total value is used as the coverage value is given.

  As a result of measuring the coverage of each page, even when the image information 53 on the third page shows the largest total value, the page indicated by the image information 53 does not have an image area in the lower part, and the entire page is obtained by sample printing. Even when it is desired to check the image, there is no image to be checked.

  Even in such a case, the sample page determination unit 17 according to the present embodiment divides each page into three upper, middle, and lower divided areas, calculates a total coverage value for each divided area, and determines the predetermined value for the three divided areas. In order to determine a sample print target page from pages having a value greater than or equal to the value (in other words, a page in which an image area having a predetermined area or more exists), the page (second page) indicated by the image information 52 is the sample print target page. It becomes. On the second page, the image areas 52a, 52b, and 52c can be confirmed on the entire page, so it can be said that the second page is suitable as a sample print target.

  Also, when printing in the order of the image information 54, 53, 52, 51, there may be image unevenness in the upper, middle, and lower areas. In this embodiment, in this embodiment, for example, the upper, middle, and lower areas of the printed matter. Since the page printed uniformly is determined as the sample print target page, a change in the color in the transport direction (when transported in the vertical direction) can also be confirmed.

<Fourth Embodiment>
The image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has basically the same configuration as that of any one of the first to third embodiments, and includes a sample page determination unit 17 including the processing of the calculation unit. Additional processing is added to the processing. The description of the same points as in the first to third embodiments is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the sample page determination unit 17 determines a sample print target page from the color pages when the set includes a color page. This determination may be performed by the method of any one of the first to third embodiments. If it is not included, a sample print target page may be determined from all pages (all monochrome pages).

  For example, whether or not the page is a color page is provided with a calculation unit that calculates the coverage of each color for each page in the sample page determination unit 17 and determines whether or not the coverage value of a color other than black is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. You can get it. Note that the predetermined value used here may be a default value, but is preferably settable by the user. When such a page candidate becomes zero, that is, when a color page does not exist, the sample printing process as in any one of the first to third embodiments is executed.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the processing of the sample page determination unit 17 is different depending on whether or not a color page exists. As an alternative, when there is no color page, the first page of the set may be simply determined as the sample print target page.

  In this embodiment, in a set in which a color image and a monochrome image are mixed, the sample print target page is determined only for the color page, and by such processing, the color change on the color page can be confirmed, The color state can be confirmed more.

<Fifth Embodiment>
An image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention has basically the same configuration as that of any one of the first to fourth embodiments, and includes a sample page determination unit 17 including the processing of the calculation unit. Processing is different (or additional processing is added to the processing). The description of the same points as in the first to fourth embodiments is omitted.

  The sample page determination unit 17 in the present embodiment includes a determination unit that determines whether or not a page includes a predetermined type or more of a predetermined type of image from image information of each page in the set. Then, the sample page determination unit 17 determines to include, in the sample print target page, a page that is determined by the determination unit to include the predetermined type of image in the predetermined ratio or more.

  The predetermined type of image is a type of image designated in advance, and examples thereof include a photographic image and a character image. For example, the determination unit determines whether or not a photographic image is included in 1/5 or more of the entire page after separating the region indicating the photograph or the region indicating the character.

  As described above, the present embodiment can be applied at the same time as the processing of the calculation unit (and the processing of the sample page determination unit 17 associated therewith) in any of the first to fourth embodiments, or can be not applied. it can. If not applied, only pages that include a predetermined percentage or more of a predetermined type of image are set as sample print target pages.

  When applying, a page including a predetermined type or more of a predetermined type of image is set as a sample print target page, and a page with a large coverage is also set as a sample print target. As another method in the case of applying, when there is a page in which the determination unit determines that a predetermined type of image is included in the predetermined ratio or more, the sample page determination unit 17 selects the first or first The processing of the second embodiment may be applied to obtain a page with large coverage, and the page may be determined as a sample print target page. Also in this case, the third and fourth embodiments can be applied simultaneously.

  According to the present embodiment, even when the user wants to confirm a predetermined type of image (for example, a photographic image), the image can be sample-printed.

<Sixth Embodiment>
An image forming apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention has basically the same configuration as that of any one of the first to fifth embodiments, and includes a sample page determination unit 17 including the processing of the calculation unit. Processing is different (or additional processing is added to the processing). The description of the same points as in the first to fifth embodiments is omitted.

  The sample page determination unit 17 in the present embodiment has a detection unit that detects a clear coat page that performs clear coat printing (partially or on the entire page) from the image information of each page in the set, and is detected by the detection unit. The clear coat page is determined to be included in the sample print target page.

  Here, the clear coat page gives glossiness by printing toner (or ink) different from the toner (or ink) of each color, or by attaching a film to all pages or a part of the page. Refers to the page printed on. Examples of the clear coat ink include chroma optimizer (CO) ink. Moreover, as a film, it can also form by apply | coating an ultraviolet curable resin and irradiating an ultraviolet-ray.

  Further, if there is a clear coat page, the user may be able to set whether to use it as a sample print target page, or when the clear coat page is detected, the user may set it as a sample print target page. You may contact us.

  As described above, the present embodiment can be applied at the same time as the processing of the calculation unit (and the processing of the sample page determination unit 17 associated therewith) in any of the first to fifth embodiments, or can be not applied. it can.

  If not applied, only the clear coat page is set as a sample print target page, and if there is no clear coat page, the sample print target page is set as a predetermined page such as none or the first page. Here, the clear coat page is preferentially determined as the sample print target page regardless of whether the page has a large coverage. That is, if the image information is a page on which clear coating is performed, the sample print target page can be used regardless of whether the coverage is large or small. Also in this case, the fifth embodiment can be applied at the same time.

  When applying, a clear coat page can be a sample print target page, and a page with a large coverage can also be a sample print target. As another method for applying, the sample page determination unit 17 applies the processing of the first or second embodiment from among the clear coat pages when the detection unit detects the clear coat page. A large page may be obtained and the page may be determined as a sample print target page. On the other hand, when the clear coat page is not detected, the process of the first or second embodiment is applied from all the pages to obtain a page with large coverage, and the page is determined as the sample print target page. That's fine. Here, by calculating the coverage after searching the clear coat page, the coverage calculation processing can be reduced.

  As still another method, when the clear coat page is detected by the detection unit, the sample page determining unit 17 determines the clear coat page as a sample print target page, and only when the clear coat page is not detected, The processing of the second embodiment may be applied to obtain a page with large coverage, and the page may be determined as a sample print target page. For any method to be applied, any one of the third to fifth embodiments can be applied simultaneously.

  According to this embodiment, even when the user wants to confirm the clear coat page, the page can be sample-printed. In particular, since the clear coat page is a page that is required to be finely printed, this embodiment is useful.

<Configuration example common to the first to sixth embodiments>
The control unit 16 and the image processing unit 12 in the image forming apparatus 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 include, for example, hardware such as a peripheral device such as a microprocessor (or DSP: Digital Signal Processor), a memory, a bus, an interface, and the like. It can be realized by software (control program described above) that can be executed on the hardware. A part of the hardware can be mounted as an integrated circuit / IC chip set, in which case the software may be stored in this memory. In addition, all the components of the present invention may be configured by hardware, and in that case, a part of the hardware can also be mounted as an integrated circuit / IC chip set.

  In addition, a recording medium in which a program code of software for realizing the functions in the various embodiments described above is recorded is supplied to the image forming apparatus, and the program code is executed by a computer such as a microprocessor or a DSP in the image forming apparatus. This also achieves the object of the present invention.

  In this case, the software program code itself realizes the functions of the various embodiments described above, and even if this program code itself or a recording medium (external recording medium or internal storage device) on which the program code is recorded is recorded. The present invention can be configured by the control side reading and executing the code. Examples of the external recording medium include various media such as an optical disk such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM and a non-volatile semiconductor memory such as a memory card. Examples of the internal storage device include various devices such as a hard disk and a semiconductor memory. The program code can be downloaded from the Internet and executed, or received from a broadcast wave and executed.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention has been described above. As described in the processing procedure, the present invention is a sample printing method in an image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets of pages. Forms can also be taken. In this sample printing method, the sample page determining unit determines the sample print target page based on the image information of each page in the set, and the sample print control unit is determined in the determining step for each predetermined number of sets. And a step of performing control to print a sample page. Other application examples are the same as those described for the image forming apparatus, and a description thereof will be omitted.

  In other words, the program code itself is for causing the computer of the control unit of the image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets of a plurality of pages to perform the processing in the sample printing method (sample printing processing). It is a program. Here, the sample printing process includes a determination step for determining a sample print target page based on image information of each page in the set, and a control for sample printing the pages determined in the determination step for each predetermined number of sets. Performing. Other application examples are the same as those described for the image forming apparatus, and a description thereof will be omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 11 ... Image input part, 12 ... Image processing part, 13 ... Storage part, 14 ... Printing part, 15 ... Operation part, 16 ... Control part, 17 ... Sample page determination part, 18 ... Sample print control part , 21... Main body of the image forming apparatus, 22... Document reading device, 23... Large-capacity stacker, 24.

Claims (10)

An image forming apparatus capable of printing multiple sets of multiple pages,
A sample page determination unit that determines a sample print target page based on coverage obtained from image information of each page in the set, and sample printing that performs control to perform sample printing of the pages determined by the sample page determination unit for each predetermined number of sets A control unit ,
The sample page determination unit includes a calculation unit that calculates the coverage for each page from image information of each page in the set, and includes the page having the largest value calculated by the calculation unit in the sample print target page The image forming apparatus is characterized in that it is determined as follows . The calculation unit calculates, for each page, an average value that averages the coverage of each color or a total value that totals the coverage of each color,
The sample page determination section, the image formation according to claim 1, characterized in that to determine the largest page calculated the average value or the total value by the calculation unit, to be included in the sample printed page apparatus. The calculation unit calculates the coverage for each color for each page,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sample page determination unit determines to include, in the sample print target page, a page having the largest value calculated by the calculation unit for each color. An image forming apparatus capable of printing multiple sets of multiple pages,
A sample page determination unit that determines a sample print target page based on coverage obtained from image information of each page in the set, and sample printing that performs control to perform sample printing of the pages determined by the sample page determination unit for each predetermined number of sets A control unit,
The sample page determination section includes a calculation section for calculating the coverage of each page at least two or more divided for each divided region in the set, the value of a predetermined value or more in all of the divided regions are calculated page An image forming apparatus, wherein the sample print target page is determined. The image according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the sample page determination unit determines the sample print target page from among color pages when a color page is included in the set. Forming equipment. The sample page determination unit has a determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined type of image is included in a predetermined ratio or more from image information of each page in the set, and the predetermined type of image is determined by the determination unit. the page that is determined to contain the predetermined ratio or more, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the determining to be included in the sample printed page. The sample page determination unit includes a detection unit that detects a clear coat page for performing clear coat printing from image information of each page in the set, and includes the clear coat page detected by the detection unit in the sample print target page the image forming apparatus according determined that any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein as. A sample printing method in an image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets of multiple pages,
A sample page determining unit that determines a sample print target page based on the coverage obtained from the image information of each page in the set , the determining step including, for each page, the image information of each page in the set; A determination step of calculating a coverage and determining to include a page having the largest calculated value in the sample print target page ;
A step in which a sample printing control unit performs control to sample print the page determined in the determining step for each predetermined number of sets;
A sample printing method characterized by comprising: A sample printing method in an image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets of multiple pages,
The sample page determining unit determines a sample print target page based on coverage obtained from image information of each page in the set, and the determination step divides each page in the set into at least two or more. A step of calculating the coverage for each divided area, and determining the sample print target page from among the pages in which a value equal to or greater than a predetermined value is calculated in all the divided areas;
A step in which a sample printing control unit performs control to sample print the page determined in the determining step for each predetermined number of sets;
A sample printing method characterized by comprising: In the computer of the control unit in the image forming apparatus capable of printing a plurality of sets of pages,
Determining a sample print target page based on image information of each page in the set , wherein the determining step calculates a coverage for each page from the image information of each page in the set, and the calculated value is A decision step of deciding to include the largest page in the sample print target page;
Performing control to sample print the pages determined in the determination step for each predetermined number of sets;
A program for running

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