JP7293673B2 - Image forming apparatus, control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, control method, and program.

Conventionally, a technique has been used in which print data including print settings is transmitted from an external device (such as a PC) to an image forming apparatus (such as an MFP) to cause the image forming apparatus to perform printing based on the print settings. (See Patent Document 1 below, for example).

Further, conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, a technique has been used in which a print image based on print data acquired from an external device is previewed on a display unit provided in the image forming apparatus.

However, in the conventional technology, even if the print image previewed on the image forming apparatus is different from what the user intended, the image forming apparatus changes the print settings of the print data used for the preview display. Can not do it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to enable the image forming apparatus to change the print settings of print data used for preview display in the image forming apparatus in order to solve the above-described problems of the related art.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus capable of performing printing based on print data including print settings, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires print data from an external device; a display unit for displaying a preview of a print image based on print data; and a print setting for changing the print settings of the print data used for the preview-displayed print image according to a change operation from an operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus. and a display control unit that causes a display unit to preview a print image based on the print data after the print settings have been changed.

According to the present invention, print settings of print data used for preview display in an image forming apparatus can be changed from the image forming apparatus.

1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of processing by the MFP according to one embodiment of the present invention;

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(System configuration of printing system 10)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system configuration of a printing system 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 10 includes an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral/Product/Printer) 100 and a PC (Personal Computer) 20 . MFP 100 and PC 20 are connected to each other via network 30 (eg, LAN (Local Area Network), Internet, etc.).

The PC 20 is an example of an "external device" and is a terminal device operated by a user. The PC 20 has a printer driver corresponding to the MFP 100, and can display a print setting screen on the display of the PC 20, accept print settings from the user, and request the MFP 100 to execute printing.

PC 20 can cause MFP 100 to perform print processing based on the print data by transmitting a print execution request including print data to MFP 100 . The print data includes image data to be printed and print settings. The print settings indicate various print settings set from the print setting screen of the PC 20, such as paper size, aggregation, stapling, punching, and bookbinding. As a result, the MFP 100 can print an image based on the image data on a print sheet (an example of a “print medium”) with print settings based on the print settings.

MFP 100 is an example of an "image forming apparatus." The MFP 100 is a so-called multifunction device having a printer function, a scanner function, and the like. MFP 100 includes operation panel 140 , finisher 100 A, discharge tray 100 B, and electronic paper 160 . The operation panel 140 includes a panel display section 140a and an operation panel 140b. The panel display unit 140a is a touch panel or the like that displays current setting values, selection screens, and the like, and receives inputs from the operator. The operation panel 140b includes a numeric keypad for receiving setting values of conditions related to image formation such as density setting conditions, a start key for receiving a copy start instruction, and the like.

The finisher 100A performs shift processing, stapling processing, punch processing, bookbinding processing, and the like on printing paper on which printing is performed based on print settings included in the print data. The paper discharge tray 100B is provided in the finisher 100A, and the printed printing paper outputted from the finisher 100A is discharged. Electronic paper 160 is an example of a “display unit”. The electronic paper 160 is provided on the placement surface of the discharge tray 100B, and can display a print image based on print data. Note that the "display unit" is not limited to electronic paper, and other display devices (for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL display, etc.) may be used. Further, the place where the electronic paper 160 is installed is not limited to the placement surface of the paper discharge tray 100B.

(Hardware Configuration of MFP 100)
FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the MFP 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2 , MFP 100 includes controller 110 , near field communication circuit 120 , engine control section 130 , operation panel 140 , network I/F 150 and electronic paper 160 .

Among them, the controller 110 includes a CPU 101, a system memory (MEM-P) 102, a north bridge (NB) 103, a south bridge (SB) 104, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 106, a storage unit, which are the main parts of the computer. , a local memory (MEM-C) 107 , an HDD controller 108 , and an HD 109 as a storage unit. However, the configuration of the controller 110 is not limited to this. For example, two or more components such as the CPU 101, NB 103, and SB 104 may be realized by SoC (System on Chip). In this case, the SoC and ASIC 106 may be connected by a PCI-express (registered trademark) bus.

Among these, the CPU 101 is a control unit that performs overall control of the MFP 100 . The NB 103 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 101, the MEM-P 102, the SB 104, and the AGP bus 121. The NB 103 is a memory controller that controls reading and writing with respect to the MEM-P 102, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target. have

The MEM-P 102 is composed of a ROM 102a, which is a memory for storing programs and data for realizing each function of the controller 110, and a RAM 102b, which is used as a drawing memory for developing programs and data and for memory printing. The program stored in the RAM 102b is configured to be provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, etc. as a file in an installable format or an executable format. You may

SB 104 is a bridge for connecting NB 103 with PCI devices and peripheral devices. The ASIC 106 is an image processing IC (Integrated Circuit) having hardware elements for image processing, and serves as a bridge that connects the AGP bus 121, PCI bus 122, HDD controller 108, and MEM-C 107, respectively. This ASIC 106 includes a PCI target and AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC 106, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C 107, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data using hardware logic. , and a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 131 and the printer unit 132 via the PCI bus 122 . Note that the ASIC 106 may be connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface or an IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface.

MEM-C 107 is a local memory used as an image buffer for copying and an encoding buffer. The HD 109 is a storage for accumulating image data, accumulating font data used for printing, and accumulating forms. The HD 109 controls reading or writing of data to or from the HD 109 under the control of the CPU 101 . The AGP bus 121 is a bus interface for graphics accelerator cards proposed for speeding up graphics processing, and can speed up the graphics accelerator card by directly accessing the MEM-P 102 with high throughput. .

The near field communication circuit 120 also includes a near field communication circuit 120a. The short-range communication circuit 120 is a communication circuit for NFC, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like.

Furthermore, the engine control section 130 is configured by a scanner section 131 and a printer section 132 . The controller 110 controls the entire MFP 100 , for example, controls drawing, communication, input from the operation panel 140 , display of print images by the electronic paper 160 , and the like. The scanner unit 131 or printer unit 132 includes an image processing section such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

MFP 100 is capable of sequentially switching and selecting the document box function, the copy function, the printer function, and the facsimile function using an application switching key on operation panel 140 . The document box mode is set when the document box function is selected, the copy mode is set when the copy function is selected, the printer mode is set when the printer function is selected, and the facsimile mode is set when the facsimile mode is selected.

A network I/F 150 is an interface for data communication using a communication network. The short-range communication circuit 120 and network I/F 150 are electrically connected to the ASIC 106 via the PCI bus 122 .

(Functional configuration of MFP 100)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the MFP 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. Of the functions of MFP 100, general functions are omitted from illustration and explanation, and functions relating to display of print images by electronic paper 160 are shown and explained.

As shown in FIG. 3 , MFP 100 includes acquisition unit 301 , operation unit control unit 302 , operation unit 303 , print setting change unit 304 , display control unit 305 , display unit 306 , and print control unit 307 .

Acquisition unit 301 acquires print data transmitted from PC 20 . The print data acquired by the acquisition unit 301 includes image data to be printed and print settings (for example, paper size, aggregation, stapling, punching, bookbinding, etc.).

PC 20 may transmit the image data and the print settings to MFP 100 at different timings, or may transmit them to MFP 100 at the same time. Accordingly, the acquisition unit 301 may acquire the image data and the print settings at different timings, or at the same time.

Any method can be used as a method of associating the image data with the print settings. For example, the printer driver of PC 20 can attach the same identifier to each of the image data and print settings and transmit the image data and print settings to MFP 100 . In this case, the MFP 100 can grasp the correspondence relationship between the image data and the print settings by confirming the identifiers added to the image data and the print settings.

An operation unit control unit 302 controls display by the operation unit 303 . For example, the print data acquired by the acquisition unit 301 is input to the operation unit control unit 302 . The operation unit control unit 302 causes the operation unit 303 to changeably display print settings (for example, paper size, aggregation, stapling, punching, bookbinding, etc.) included in the input print data.

An operation unit 303 receives various operations from the user. For example, the operation unit 303 accepts a user's operation to change print settings (for example, paper size, aggregation, stapling, punching, bookbinding, etc.) for print data input to the operation unit control unit 302 . In this embodiment, the operation unit 303 is implemented by the operation panel 140 .

When the operation unit 303 performs an operation to change the print settings for the print data input to the operation unit control unit 302, the print setting change unit 304 inputs the print settings to the operation unit control unit 302 in response to the change operation. Change the print settings for the print data.

The display control unit 305 controls preview display of image data by the display unit 306 . For example, when print data acquired by the acquisition unit 301 is input to the operation unit control unit 302, the display control unit 305 generates a print image based on the input print data, and displays the print image on the display unit. A preview is displayed on 306 . Further, for example, when the print setting of the print data is changed by the print setting change unit 304, the display control unit 305 generates a print image based on the print data after the print setting is changed, and displays the print image. A preview is displayed on the unit 306 . Here, the display control unit 305 generates a full-size print image based on the print data both before and after changing the print settings, and causes the display unit 306 to preview the full-size print image. .

The display control unit 305 can change the size of the print image displayed on the display unit 306 according to the paper size included in the print settings. For example, if the paper size included in the print settings is "A4", the display control unit 305 can cause the display unit 306 to display a print image that is the same size as the A4 size print paper.

Further, the display control unit 305 can change the print image to be displayed on the display unit 306 according to post-processing settings such as stapling processing and punching processing. For example, the display control unit 305 may cause the display unit 306 to display a print image in which images simulating stapling or punching are displayed at positions where stapling processing or punching processing is performed. Further, for example, when the layout of the print image is changed by stapling or punching, the display control unit 305 may cause the display unit 306 to display the print image in the changed layout. good.

The display control unit 305 may cause the display unit 306 to display the print image as a still image, or may cause the display unit 306 to display the print image as a moving image. For example, when the print data includes a plurality of print pages, or when double-sided printing is set in the print settings, the display control unit 305 causes the display unit 306 to display an animation in which the document is turned over. You can let it run. At this time, the display unit 306 can change the display according to the binding direction or the opening direction included in the print settings. That is, when the print setting is right-open, the display is displayed so that it can be turned right, and when the print setting is left-open, it is displayed so that it can be turned over left. Further, for example, the display control unit 305 may express the operation of ejecting the print paper from the ejection port of the finisher 100A by scrolling the print image displayed on the display unit 306. FIG. At this time, the display unit 306 displays the print image so as to scroll from the discharge port of the finisher 100A in the direction opposite to the discharge port. As a result, the user's operation of turning over the printing paper and the operation of ejecting the printing paper can be virtually represented on the display unit 306, so that the user can intuitively grasp the print result.

A display unit 306 displays a preview of a print image based on print data input to the operation unit control unit 302 under the control of the display control unit 305 . Under the control of the display control unit 305, the display unit 306 also displays a preview of a print image based on the print data after the print settings have been changed. In this embodiment, display unit 306 is implemented by electronic paper 160 provided on the mounting surface of discharge tray 100</b>B of MFP 100 . Further, in the present embodiment, the display unit 306 is provided on the discharge tray 100B of the finisher 100A, but the display unit 306 may be provided on the discharge tray of the main body of the MFP 100. FIG. Note that the display unit 306 may have a screen size equal to or larger than the maximum printable paper size in the MFP 100 . In this case, the display unit 306 can display the print image based on the print data in actual size even when the print data is printed using the maximum paper size.

When a predetermined print execution instruction operation is performed by the operation unit 303, the print control unit 307 acquires print data from the operation unit control unit 302 and causes the printer unit 132 to execute printing based on the print data. That is, when the print settings of the print data input to the operation unit control unit 302 are changed by the print setting change unit 304, the print control unit 307 performs printing based on the print data after the print settings have been changed. conduct. On the other hand, if the print settings of the print data input to the operation unit control unit 302 have not been changed by the print setting change unit 304, the print control unit 307 converts the print data to the print data whose print settings have not been changed. print based on

For example, each function of the above-described embodiment is implemented by CPU 101 (computer) executing programs stored in various storage devices (ROM 102a, RAM 102b, etc.) in MFP 100. FIG. This program may be provided with being installed in MFP 100 in advance, or may be provided externally and installed in MFP 100 . In the latter case, the program may be provided by an external storage medium (e.g., USB memory, memory card, CD-ROM, etc.) or provided by downloading from a server on a network (e.g., Internet, etc.). You may do so.

It should be noted that each function of the above-described embodiment may be realized at least in the MFP 100, and the hardware to be realized does not matter. For example, the operation unit control unit 302 may be implemented by hardware provided in the operation unit 303 or by hardware provided in the main body of the MFP 100 . Further, the display control unit 305 may be realized by hardware provided in the finisher 100A of the MFP 100, or by hardware provided in the main body of the MFP 100 or the operation unit 303. FIG.

Also, each function of the embodiments described above can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the "processing circuit" in this specification means a processor programmed by software to perform each function, such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, or a processor designed to perform each function described above. devices such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), DSPs (digital signal processors), FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) and conventional circuit modules.

(Procedure of processing by MFP 100)
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the procedure of processing by the MFP 100 according to one embodiment of the invention.

First, the acquisition unit 301 acquires print data transmitted from the PC 20 (step S401). Next, the display control unit 305 generates a print image based on the print data acquired in step S401 (step S402). Then, the display control unit 305 causes the display unit 306 to display a preview of the print image generated in step S402 (step S403). The display control unit 305 may start preview display of the print image, for example, at the timing when the user logs in to the MFP 100 or when the MFP 100 returns from the power saving state or power off state to the normal power state. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and preview display may be started in response to receiving an operation for instructing preview display from the operation unit 303 .

Next, the operation unit control unit 302 determines whether or not an operation to change the print settings has been performed using the operation unit 303 (step S404).

If it is determined in step S404 that a print setting change operation has been performed (step S404: Yes), the print setting change unit 304 changes the print settings of the print data used for the preview-displayed print image (step S405). Then, MFP 100 returns the process to step S402. In this case, the display control unit 305 generates a print image based on the print data whose print settings have been changed in step S405 (step S402), and causes the display unit 306 to preview the print image (step S403).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S404 that a print setting change operation has not been performed (step S404: No), the operation unit control unit 302 determines whether a predetermined print execution instruction operation has been performed by the operation unit 303. It judges (step S406).

If it is determined in step S406 that a predetermined print execution instruction operation has been performed (step S406: Yes), the print control unit 307 causes the printer unit 132 to perform printing based on the print data used for the preview-displayed print image. is executed (step S407). Then, MFP 100 ends the series of processes shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S406 that the predetermined print execution instruction operation has not been performed (step S406: No), the MFP 100 returns the process to step S404.

By the series of processes shown in FIG. 4, the MFP 100 of the present embodiment can display a print image on the electronic paper 160 (display unit 306) provided on the discharge tray 100B of the finisher 100A. After confirming the print image displayed on the electronic paper 160, the user can change the print settings from the operation unit 303, and the change in the print settings is immediately reflected in the print image displayed on the display unit 306. can be made Then, when the user finally determines that there is no problem with the print image, the MFP 100 of the present embodiment performs a predetermined print execution instruction operation (for example, pressing the start button) through the operation unit 303 to perform printing. Printing similar to images can be done on printing paper.

As described above, the MFP 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the acquisition unit 301 that acquires print data from the PC 20, the display unit 306 that displays a preview of a print image based on the print data, and the operation unit 303. In response to an operation, a print setting change unit 304 changes the print settings of print data used for the print image displayed in preview, and a display unit 306 displays a preview of the print image based on the print data after the print settings have been changed. and a display control unit 305 .

As a result, the MFP 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can change the print settings of the print data used for preview display on the MFP 100 from the MFP 100 .

Further, in the MFP 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the display unit 306 is provided on the mounting surface of the discharge tray 100B provided in the MFP 100. FIG.

As a result, the MFP 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention allows the user to intuitively grasp how the print paper is actually printed and output.

In addition, in the MFP 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the display unit 306 can display a full-size print image of a print medium on which printing is performed based on print data.

As a result, the MFP 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention allows the user to intuitively grasp how the print paper is actually printed and output.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications or Change is possible.

For example, when the size of the display area of the display unit 306 is smaller than the size of the print paper included in the print settings, the display control unit 305 generates a print image of a size smaller than the print paper, The image may be displayed on the display unit 306 .

Further, for example, when the size of the display area of the display unit 306 is smaller than the size of the print paper included in the print settings, the display control unit 305 generates a print image that is the same size as the print paper, A part of the print image may be displayed on the display unit 306 .

In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an MFP has been described. , and other image forming apparatuses (for example, printers, scanners, etc.).

10 printing system 20 PC
30 network 100 MFP (image forming device)
100A finisher 100B discharge tray 301 acquisition unit 302 operation unit control unit 303 operation unit 304 print setting change unit 305 display control unit 306 display unit 307 print control unit

JP 2014-005241 A

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus capable of printing based on print data including print settings,
an acquisition unit that acquires the print data from an external device;
a display unit for displaying a preview of a print image based on the print data;
a print setting changing unit that changes the print settings of the print data used for the previewed print image in response to a change operation from an operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus;
a display control unit that causes the display unit to display a preview of a print image based on the print data after the print settings have been changed,
The display control unit
displaying a preview of the print image as a moving image on the display unit ;
The display unit
Provided on the mounting surface of the discharge tray of the finisher provided in the image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus characterized by: The display control unit
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print image is preview-displayed on the display unit as the moving image that virtually expresses a motion of turning over the printing paper. The display control unit
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print image is preview-displayed on the display unit as the moving image that virtually expresses an operation of ejecting the printing paper from the ejection port. The display unit
4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the print image of a print medium on which printing is performed based on the print data is displayed in full size. A control method for an image forming apparatus capable of printing based on print data including print settings, comprising:
an acquisition step of acquiring the print data from an external device;
a display step in which a display unit previews a print image based on the print data;
a print setting changing step of changing the print settings of the print data used for the previewed print image in response to a change operation from an operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus;
a display control step of preview-displaying on the display unit a print image based on the print data after the print settings have been changed;
In the display control step,
displaying a preview of the print image as a moving image on the display unit ;
The display unit
Provided on the mounting surface of the discharge tray of the finisher provided in the image forming apparatus
A control method characterized by: A program for an image forming apparatus capable of printing based on print data including print settings,
the computer,
an acquisition unit that acquires the print data from an external device;
After the print image based on the print data is preview-displayed on the display unit, the print data used for the preview-displayed print image is changed according to a change operation from the operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus. a print setting change unit for changing print settings; and
functioning as a display control unit for displaying a preview of a print image based on the print data after the print settings have been changed on the display unit;
The display control unit
displaying a preview of the print image as a moving image on the display unit ;
The display unit
Provided on the mounting surface of the discharge tray of the finisher provided in the image forming apparatus
program.

Images