JP2008304709A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device, capable of comparing two or more kinds of output images corresponding to two or more kinds of different setting contents, in a manner such that a user can easily recognize the differences among setting contents. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device, having a preview display function for preview-displaying an output image, is equipped with a means for displaying a plurality of preview display screens on a display, in order to simultaneously display output images for a plurality of different setting contents; a setting content change means, provided for each of the preview-display screens to change the setting content, corresponding to the preview-display screen concerned; and a means for changing, when the change in the setting content is performed by an optional setting content change means; the output image to be displayed on the preview-display screen corresponding to this setting content change means to an output image, according to the changed setting content. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine.

  In recent years, digital copying machines have been equipped with various functions, and thus various image processing functions are installed, and it is becoming difficult to predict an output image before printing. However, when printing is actually performed for the purpose of confirming the output image, paper is wasted. Therefore, a function (preview display function) that displays the output image on a large liquid crystal panel so that the output image can be confirmed before printing is provided. Techniques for realizing this have been proposed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-87560 discloses a method of displaying a finished image indicating a state when the set post-processing is performed when post-processing such as stapling or punching is set. Yes. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-260347 discloses a method for reducing the user's page turning operation regarding a preview display when a desired document is selected from documents stored in a BOX or the like such as a folder and printed out. ing.
JP 2003-87560 A JP 2006-260347 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can compare a plurality of types of output images corresponding to a plurality of types of different setting contents, and that allows the user to easily recognize the difference in the setting contents.

  In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to compare a plurality of types of output images corresponding to a plurality of different types of setting contents, and to easily select a plurality of types of different setting contents to be used for printing. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus having a preview display function for previewing an output image, a plurality of preview display screens are displayed on a display unit in order to simultaneously display output images for a plurality of different setting contents. When the setting contents are changed by the means for displaying, the setting contents changing means for changing the setting contents corresponding to each preview display screen, and the arbitrary setting contents changing means. The apparatus further comprises means for changing the output image displayed on the preview display screen corresponding to the setting content changing means to an output image corresponding to the changed setting contents.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, a print command is provided for each preview display screen and for starting a printing process with a setting content corresponding to the preview display screen. An input means is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, each print command input means is a print button provided corresponding to a corresponding preview display screen.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, after the print processing is started by an arbitrary print command input unit, the setting content corresponding to the preview display screen of another print command input unit Is changed to the same setting contents as the setting contents corresponding to the preview display screen of the print command input means.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to compare a plurality of types of output images corresponding to a plurality of different types of setting contents, and the difference between the setting contents can be easily recognized by the user.

  In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to compare a plurality of types of output images corresponding to a plurality of types of different setting contents, and to easily select a plurality of types of different setting contents to be used for printing. become.

  Embodiments in the case where the present invention is applied to a digital copying machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a portion related to a preview display function in a digital copying machine.

  The digital copying machine includes a CPU 1, a ROM 2, a RAM 3, a message ROM 4, a VRAM 5, an image storage memory 6, an LCD controller 7, an LCD 8 with a touch panel, and the like.

  The CPU 1 controls the entire digital copying machine. The ROM 2 stores a program of the CPU 1 and the like. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory. The message ROM 4 stores messages displayed on the LCD 8. An image displayed on the LCD 8 is developed in the VRAM 5. The LCD controller 7 controls the LCD 8 with a touch panel. A document image read by a document reading unit (not shown) is temporarily stored in the image storage memory 6.

  This digital copying machine has a function of displaying an output image for two different settings.

  FIG. 2 shows a preview display screen displayed on the LCD 8.

  The preview display screen includes a first preview display screen 100 and a second preview display screen 200.

  The first preview display screen 100 includes a preview image display unit 110, three types of display page changing buttons 111 to 113 displayed on the right side of the preview image display unit 110, and a lower side of the preview image display unit 110. A plurality of displayed setting content changing buttons 121 and 122; a setting button 131 for displaying a setting screen displayed below the setting content changing buttons 121 and 122 and for changing other settings; A print button 141 (hereinafter referred to as a first print button) 141 that is displayed below the setting content change buttons 121 and 122 and for inputting a print command is provided.

  Similarly, on the second preview display screen 200, the preview image display unit 210, three types of display page changing buttons 211 to 213 displayed on the right side of the preview image display unit 210, and the preview image display unit 210 are displayed. A plurality of setting content changing buttons 221 and 222 displayed on the lower side, and a setting button for displaying a setting screen displayed on the lower side of the setting content changing buttons 221 and 222 and for changing other settings 231 and a print button (hereinafter referred to as a second print button) 241 that is displayed below the setting content change buttons 221 and 222 and for inputting a print command.

  In this example, the setting content changing buttons 121 and 221 are buttons for setting whether or not to perform stapling and the number of staples when stapling is performed. The setting content changing buttons 122 and 222 are buttons for setting whether or not to perform punching. When the setting buttons 131 and 231 are pressed, a setting screen for changing other settings is displayed. The user can change other settings on the setting screen.

  The display page changing buttons 111 and 211 are buttons (page number designation buttons) for designating the page to be previewed by the number of pages. When the page number designation buttons 111 and 211 are pressed, a page number input screen is displayed. When the user inputs the page number on the page number input screen, the input page is displayed as a preview. The display page changing buttons 112 and 212 are buttons (previous page buttons) for displaying a preview of the previous page of the currently previewed page. The display page changing buttons 113 and 213 are buttons (next page buttons) for displaying a preview of the next page of the page currently being previewed.

  The preview image display unit 110 of the first preview display screen 100 corresponds to the page specified by the display page changing buttons 111 to 113 in the first preview display screen 100 and is also the first preview display screen 100. An output image corresponding to the setting content set on the setting screen displayed by pressing the setting content changing buttons 121 and 122 or the setting button 131 is displayed as a preview. The setting content set on the setting screen displayed by pressing the setting content changing buttons 121 and 122 or the setting button 131 in the first preview display screen 100 is referred to as setting content corresponding to the first preview display screen. I will decide. The setting contents corresponding to the first preview display screen are stored in a first setting contents storage table (not shown) provided in the RAM 3. When the first print button 141 in the first preview display screen 100 is pressed, print processing is performed using the setting contents corresponding to the first preview display screen.

  The preview image display unit 210 of the second preview display screen 200 corresponds to the page specified by the display page change buttons 211 to 213 in the second preview display screen 200 and is also the second preview display screen 200. An output image corresponding to the setting content set on the setting screen displayed by pressing the setting content changing buttons 221 and 222 or the setting button 231 is displayed as a preview. The setting content set on the setting screen displayed by pressing the setting content changing buttons 221 and 222 or the setting button 231 in the second preview display screen 200 is referred to as setting content corresponding to the second preview display screen. I will decide. The setting content corresponding to the second preview display screen is stored in a second setting content storage table (not shown) provided in the RAM 3. When the second print button 241 in the second preview display screen 200 is pressed, print processing is performed using the setting contents corresponding to the second preview display screen.

  FIG. 3 shows a copy processing procedure by the digital copying machine.

  When the start key is depressed (step S1), the document reading is executed for one page (step S2). Then, after the read document is stored in the image storage memory 6 (step S3), it is determined whether or not there is a document to be read next (step S4). If there is a document to be read next, the process returns to step S2.

  If it is determined in step S4 that there is no document to be read next, the first preview display screen 100 and the second preview display screen 200 are displayed on the LCD 8 (step S5). At this time, a preview of the print image of the page selected by the user from the images stored in the image storage memory 6 is displayed on the preview display screens 100 and 200. Initially, the print image of the first page image is displayed as a preview image. Also, output images corresponding to the setting contents stored in the corresponding setting contents storage table are displayed on the preview image display sections 110 and 210 of the preview display screens 100 and 200, respectively. Further, the setting content changing buttons 121, 122, 221, 222 on the preview display screens 100, 200 are displayed in a state corresponding to the setting content stored in the corresponding setting content storage table. The contents of each setting content storage table are the same by default.

  In a state where the preview display screens 100 and 200 are displayed on the LCD 8, the user can operate the display page change buttons 111 to 113 and 211 to 213 to switch the page to be displayed for preview. This process is omitted.

  When the preview display screens 100 and 200 are displayed on the LCD 8, whether or not a setting change operation corresponding to the first preview display screen 100 has been performed (step S6), and a setting corresponding to the second preview display screen 200. Whether the change operation has been performed (step S7), whether the first print button 141 has been pressed (step S8), whether the second print button 241 has been pressed (step S9), and the start key is It is monitored whether or not it has been depressed (step S1).

  When a setting change operation corresponding to the first preview display screen 100 is performed (YES in step S6), the contents of the first setting contents storage table are changed to the changed setting contents, and the first preview display is performed. The output image previewed on the preview image display unit 110 in the screen 100 is changed to an output image corresponding to the changed setting content (step S10). Then, the process returns to step S6.

  When a setting change operation corresponding to the second preview display screen 200 is performed (YES in step S7), the content of the second setting content storage table is changed to the changed setting content and the second preview display is performed. The output image displayed on the preview image display unit 210 in the screen 200 is changed to an output image corresponding to the changed setting content (step S11). Then, the process returns to step S6.

  When the first print button 141 is pressed (YES in step S8), the first print button 141 is displayed in black to clearly indicate that the first print button 141 has been pressed (step S12). Print processing is performed with the setting contents stored in the first setting contents storage table (step S13). Further, the content of the second setting content storage table is set to the same content as the content of the first setting content storage table (step S14). Then, the current copying process is terminated.

  If the second print button 241 is pressed (YES in step S9), the second print button 241 is displayed in black to clearly indicate that the second print button 241 has been pressed (step S15). Printing processing is performed with the setting contents stored in the second setting contents storage table (step S16). Further, the content of the first setting content storage table is set to the same content as the content of the second setting content storage table (step S17). Then, the current copying process is terminated.

  If the start key is depressed (YES in step S1), the processing from step S2 is performed.

  Note that the contents of the first setting content storage table and the second setting content storage table may be automatically set to default values when a certain time has elapsed after the copying process is completed.

  According to the above embodiment, output images corresponding to two different types of setting contents can be displayed in preview, so that it becomes easy to recognize the difference in output images due to the difference in setting contents. Since the print buttons 141 and 241 are provided for each of the two types of preview display screens 100 and 200, it is possible to easily select one to be used for printing from two types of different setting contents. When the print processing is executed based on the setting content stored in one setting content storage table, the content of the other setting content storage table is changed to the content of the setting content used for the printing processing. When printing is performed continuously using image data of the same document, the setting can be changed based on the setting contents used for the printing process.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a portion related to a preview display function in a digital copying machine. A preview display screen displayed on the LCD 8 is shown. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the copy process by a digital copying machine.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 ROM
3 RAM
4 Message ROM
5 VRAM
6 Image storage memory 7 LCD controller 8 LCD with touch panel

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus having a preview display function for previewing an output image,
Means for displaying a plurality of preview display screens on a display unit in order to simultaneously display output images for a plurality of different setting contents;
A setting content change means that is provided for each preview display screen and that changes the setting content corresponding to the preview display screen, and when the setting content is changed by any setting content change means, the setting content Means for changing the output image displayed on the preview display screen corresponding to the changing means to an output image corresponding to the changed setting content;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a print command input unit that is provided for each preview display screen and starts print processing with setting contents corresponding to the preview display screen. . The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each print command input unit is a print button provided corresponding to a corresponding preview display screen. After print processing is started by an arbitrary print command input unit, the setting content corresponding to the preview display screen of the other print command input unit is the same as the setting content corresponding to the preview display screen of the print command input unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising means for changing to the above.

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