JP2010118763A - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

When registering a job program, even an inexperienced user can easily determine a job program to be registered and make an appropriate selection.
When a user operates a preview display key when registering various settings according to the previous operations as a job program, a finish that has undergone processing based on the setting contents of the job program is displayed together with a preview image of the image data. Information indicating the state can be displayed as a preview. In the example shown in the figure, the preview image 421 displays image data 422, and staple setting information 423 and punch setting information 424 are also displayed.
[Selection] Figure 24

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method having a job program function in which settings of the apparatus are registered in advance and can be appropriately called and used.

Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus such as a multi-function device having multiple functions such as copying, printer, scanner, facsimile, and Internet communication, a preview is displayed before execution of the image data to be output for printing or transmission. Some of them have a function to perform.
In such an image processing apparatus, a job program function is widely used. The job program is a function in which various settings of the image processing apparatus are registered in advance, and the job program can be called and used when it is desired to use the settings. By using this function and registering settings frequently used by the user, there is no need to perform complicated function settings or troublesome settings each time the image processing apparatus is used, and a predetermined setting can be made with a simple operation. The operation by can be executed.

With regard to such setting content registration technology, for example, an image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a scanner unit that obtains image information, a page memory that temporarily stores image information, and a plurality of stored information. A basic unit for reading and displaying a combination of copy setting information and controlling to select and set a desired one is provided.
This image forming apparatus displays a list of setting contents registered in advance before setting functions and sets them in the apparatus. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1, when the user selects the memory 1 from the memory number display screen 202 of the mode memory, the mode is transferred to the mode memory setting list screen 203 and the settings stored in the memory 1 are stored. When the icon is displayed and the user selects the icon, the content read from the memory is set in the image forming apparatus.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-311923

  Conventionally, a job program is an effective function for registering complicated functions to save the trouble of registration for the second and subsequent times, and has been widely used by registering setting contents that require troublesome settings as a job program. . However, when first registering a job program that requires a lot of settings, after printing those setting conditions, perform printing to determine whether the set conditions are correct or incorrect, and make a copy. If the initial printing conditions were incorrect, it was necessary to change the settings and make a copy to check whether the settings were correct.

In particular, copiers have changed from monochrome to color machines, and have become multifunctional machines, enabling various operations such as copying, printing, filing, scanners and faxing, but the task of registering these functions as job programs is also complicated. It has become a difficult task.
Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, only the function icon registered by the user is displayed, and the function of the displayed icon is determined for the user without any difference from the normal function setting. It was difficult to do.
Therefore, there is a demand for a method capable of easily confirming the job program settings when registering the job program.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, when registering a job program, the present invention displays a preview image of the image data and a processing result based on the setting contents of the job program together with a preview image of the image data. To provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method in which a user can sensibly recognize a finished state, and a job program to be registered can be appropriately and easily determined even by an inexperienced user. It is the purpose.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the first technical means of the present invention includes a display unit, an image input unit for inputting image data, and an operation for setting the processing content of the image data input to the image input unit. A registered job, comprising: an input unit; a control unit that registers the setting content input to the operation input unit as a job program; and a display control unit that displays a preview image of the image data on the display unit. An image processing apparatus configured to execute a process based on a setting content of a job program by calling a program, wherein the display control unit registers a job program according to an operation input to the operation input unit , Information indicating the finished state after processing based on the content set for the output of the image data together with the preview image of the image data Is obtained is characterized in that a preview can be displayed on the display unit.

  The second technical means is characterized in that, in the first technical means, the information indicating the finished state displays the setting contents as characters and / or icons.

  According to a third technical means, in the second technical means, the control unit corresponds to the selected character or icon when an operation input for selecting the character or icon is performed on the operation input unit. It shifts to the setting screen of the function to perform.

  The fourth technical means includes an image input step for inputting image data to the image processing device, a setting step for setting the processing content of the image data input to the image processing device in accordance with an operation input to the image processing device, A registration step in which the control unit of the image processing apparatus stores and registers the setting contents set in the operation step as a job program in a storage unit, and the control unit calls the registered job program so that the job An image processing method for executing processing based on setting contents of a program, wherein the control unit performs processing based on contents set for output of the image data together with a preview image when registering the job program. The information indicating the finished state can be displayed on the display unit of the image processing apparatus. .

  According to the present invention, when a job program is registered, information indicating the finished state that has been processed based on the setting contents of the job program is displayed together with the preview image of the image data, so that the user can intuitively change the finished state. It is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method which can be recognized and an unfamiliar user can easily determine a job program and make an appropriate selection.

<Description of the overall configuration example of a digital multi-function peripheral to which the present invention is applicable>
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an apparatus to which the image processing apparatus of the present invention can be applied, and is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral having an inner finisher.
The digital multi-functional peripheral 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a post-processing device 300 and two paper feeding devices 400 and 500. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is a scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and the original is converted to RGB (R: red, G: green, B: blue) with a predetermined resolution. An image data input device having a reading unit for reading as a bitmap image is attached.

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

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

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

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

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

  When image information of only a part of the hues of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black is input, an electrostatic latent image is displayed in only part of the four image forming stations corresponding to the hue of the input image information. And a toner image are formed. For example, when a monochrome image is formed, an electrostatic latent image and a toner image are formed only at the black image forming station 112 A, and only the black developer image is transferred to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 111.

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

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

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

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

  The sheets supplied from the sheet storage unit 107 and the sheet feeders 400 and 500 are conveyed through the first sheet conveyance path 131 and receive the transfer of the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 111 when passing through the image forming position 130. . Further, when forming a double-sided image, the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed in a switchback manner by the reversal of the first discharge roller, and is conveyed again to the first sheet conveying path 131 via the third sheet conveying path 136. . When passing through the image forming position 130, the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 111 to the other surface. The registration rollers 132 arranged in the first paper transport path 131 are provided from the paper storage unit 107 (paper feed cassettes 116 </ b> A and 116 </ b> B, manual feed tray 117), the paper feeder 400, the paper feeder 500, or the third paper transport path 136. When the leading edge of the conveyed paper arrives, the rotation is stopped.

  The registration roller 132 rotates at the timing when the leading edge of the toner image attached to the intermediate transfer belt 111 reaches the image forming position 130 when the leading edge of the paper that has passed the registration roller 132 reaches the image forming position 130. To start. As a result, the sheet is conveyed through the first sheet conveyance path 131 by the registration roller 132 so that the leading end of the sheet faces the leading end of the toner image at the image forming position 130. Note that the registration roller 132 also has a function of correcting the oblique feeding of the paper by contacting the leading edge of the paper while the rotation is stopped.

  The sheet on which the toner image is transferred at the image forming position 130 is guided to the fixing unit 133. The fixing unit 133 includes a heating roller 113A that has been heated to the toner melting temperature, and a pressure roller 113B that is in pressure contact with the heating roller 113A with a predetermined nip pressure. The sheet is heated and pressurized when passing through the fixing unit 133, and is discharged to the post-processing apparatus 300 in a state where the toner image is fixed on the surface.

  At the image forming position 130, all of the toner image adhering to the peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 111 should be transferred to the sheet. However, a part may remain on the intermediate transfer belt 111. Further, the toner image attached to the peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 111 may pass through the image forming position 130 without being transferred to the paper by the processing described later. The toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 111 after passing through the image forming position 130 is collected by the cleaning unit 113.

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

<Description of inner finisher operation>
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the post-processing device 300. In the post-processing apparatus 300, as post-processing, a stapling process for stapling a sheet and a punching process for punching a sheet can be supported. The post-processing apparatus 300 includes an entrance roller 171, a stapler 172, a punch pin 178, an alignment processing unit 173, a paper discharge roller 174, a paper rear end detection sensor 176, a paper discharge tray 175, and the like. The paper discharged by the first paper discharge roller 134 of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 is conveyed to the alignment processing unit 173 by the entrance roller 171, and the alignment processing unit 173 sequentially aligns the paper on the processing table. . The alignment processing unit 173 includes an alignment plate, a paddle, a scraping belt, and the like.

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

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

In addition, a registration sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the registration roller 132 disposed in the first paper transport path 131. The registration sensor detects whether the leading edge of the paper has reached the position where the registration roller 132 is disposed.
The first paper discharge roller (first discharge unit) 134 disposed in the first paper transport path 131 is configured to be driven forward and backward. The first paper discharge roller 134 is driven to rotate forward to convey the paper to the post-processing device 300 through the option delivery port. Further, the first paper discharge roller 134 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction with the trailing edge of the paper chucked, so that the paper is switched back and conveyed to the third paper conveyance path 136.

  A first sheet trailing edge detection sensor is disposed in the vicinity of the first paper discharge roller 134. The first paper trailing edge detection sensor detects whether or not the trailing edge of the paper conveyed to the post-processing device 300 has reached the first paper discharge roller 134. Before and after the switchback conveyance, the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet are switched.

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

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

<Other embodiments of the finisher>
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the post-processing apparatus. The post-processing device 301 in this example guides the paper discharged from the main body of the digital multifunction device 1 to the inside of the device by the entrance roller 311, and passes the inside of the device without processing the paper according to an instruction from the digital multifunction device 1. Or a stapling process in which sheets are bundled and stapled inside the apparatus.

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

When the interrupt tray discharge mode is selected in the operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the branching claw 321 rotates by a predetermined angle, the paper is transported to the interrupt tray transport path 332, and is discharged to the interrupt tray 342 by the paper discharge roller 313. Loaded.
When the staple mode is selected in the operation unit of the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the branching claw 322 is activated, the paper is carried into the staple conveyance path 333, and is further ejected to the staple tray 361 by the staple tray ejection roller 314 and stacked. Is done.

The paper discharged to the staple tray 361 is dropped downward on the staple tray 361 for each sheet by the tapping roller 315, pressed against the paper trailing edge reference fence 362, and the trailing edge is aligned.
The aligned sheets are subjected to binding processing at one or two positions at a predetermined position at the rear end of the sheet bundle by the end surface binding stapler 363. The sheet bundle subjected to the binding process is lifted up to the discharge roller 312 by a discharge claw (not shown) integrated with a discharge belt (not shown). The paper discharge roller 312 is pressurized by the paper discharge guide plate 351 and is discharged and stacked on the paper discharge tray 341 by the paper discharge roller 312.

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

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

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

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is an external view illustrating an example of a touch panel and a key operation unit in the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG.

  5 includes a touch panel 10, a panel control unit 11, a recording unit 12, a reading unit 13, a format conversion unit 14, an image storage unit 15, an image processing unit 16, an encoding / decoding unit 17, a main unit. Control unit 18, control memory 19, key operation unit 20, LAN (Local Area Network) control unit 21, control buffer 22, network control unit (NCU) 23, modem 24, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) ) Interface (I / F) 25 is provided. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 may be provided with a post-processing device as described above for performing punching (punching), stapling processing, and the like.

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

  The above-mentioned program includes commands related to generation and display of preview images, commands related to generation / transmission / reception of facsimile images and e-mails, commands related to document reading, commands related to printing, document reading and This is for the main control unit 18 to issue commands relating to printing (that is, copying) to other parts. This program is developed on the control buffer 22 by the main control unit 18, and is executed while referring to various setting data as appropriate, with the control buffer 22 used as a data area for temporary storage (work). The job program is also stored in a rewritable memory.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  When the touch panel 10 or the key operation unit 20 executes an operation for selecting a desired process from processes such as a document reading process, image data transmission, and printing, an operation for starting the process, and each process An operation (selection operation or input operation) or the like for performing settings necessary for the operation is received. Examples of the setting include various settings such as setting of the number of prints at the time of printing, setting of punching (punching) and stapling, setting of destination information at the time of transmitting a facsimile image and an e-mail, and the like. The touch panel 10 and the key operation unit 20 correspond to the operation input unit of the present invention.

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

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

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

  The touch panel 10 and the key operation unit 20 may be configured as an operation panel 30 illustrated in FIG. 6, and the operation panel 30 includes a key operation unit 31 (corresponding to the key operation unit 20) including various hardware keys. And a touch panel 32 (corresponding to the touch panel 10) including a liquid crystal display and a touch sensor. Hereinafter, the touch panel 32 and the key operation unit 31 are applied instead of the touch panel 10 and the key operation unit 20 in the configuration of FIG.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Further, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 can add additional information such as a fixed stamp, date (or date / time), and page number to the image data at the time of printing. The main control unit 18 controls the image processing unit 16. It can be said that the additional information added to the image data is an additional image. The additional information is stored in the control memory 19 and is read out as necessary. Of course, additional information may be originally stored as additional image data.

  A plurality of additional information may be stored in the control memory 19 and the additional setting information may be stored in the control memory 19. This additional setting information includes at least information indicating a position to be added to image data (hereinafter referred to as an additional position), and also includes information on which one to select when a plurality of additional information is stored. Shall be. When there is an instruction to execute punching or stapling processing in the post-processing device, the main control unit 18 also controls this post-processing device.

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

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

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

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

  As the scaling process, an image enlargement process or an image reduction process is performed on the CMYK data after the spatial filter process based on the print magnification set by the user operation on the operation panel 30. The printing magnification is the magnification of the image after printing with respect to the image indicated by the read and stored image data. Of course, the print magnification is not limited to the magnification obtained by the user operation, and is the default magnification when there is no operation for the print magnification. As output gradation correction processing, output γ correction processing for outputting to a recording medium such as recording paper is performed on the CMYK data. As halftone generation processing, tone reproduction processing for outputting an image is performed on the CMYK data after the output tone correction processing by error diffusion processing or dither processing. In the output tone correction process and the halftone generation process, for example, processing corresponding to the document type indicated by the document determination data may be performed, for example, processing contents are different between the character area and the other areas.

  The CMYK data after the halftone generation process is transferred to the recording unit 12. A case where additional information is added will be described. For additional information, there are a method of performing a scaling process according to the scaling ratio of the print data, and a method of not performing the scaling process for the additional information regardless of the scaling ratio of the print data. First, when the additional information is also scaled, the main control unit 18 reads the additional information and the information indicating the additional position, and the main control unit 18 or the image processing unit 16 converts it to image data as necessary. The image data of the additional information is transferred to the image processing unit 16 before the scaling process. This conversion is not necessary when the additional image data is originally stored. Subsequently, the image processing unit 16 may synthesize the image data of the additional information at the additional position with the image data of the addition destination that is the image data before the scaling process.

  When the additional information is not subjected to the scaling process, the main control unit 18 reads the additional information and information indicating the additional position, and the main control unit 18 or the image processing unit 16 converts the information into image data as necessary. In this example, CMYK data is obtained by conversion. This conversion is not necessary when the additional image data is originally stored. Subsequently, the image processing unit 16 adds the image data of the additional information to the addition destination image data that is the image data after the scaling process (the above-described CMYK data that is the target of the output gradation correction process or the halftone generation process). However, it may be synthesized at the additional position.

  In any case, the CMYK data after the halftone generation process with the additional information added by the image processing unit 16 can be output. In the digital multi-function peripheral 1, additional information and its additional position can be set by the user using the operation panel 30 while performing a preview display described below.

  The recording unit 12 receives the image data (in this example, CMYK image data) subjected to the image processing for printing by the image processing unit 16 in this way, and performs hard copy (printout) by an electrophotographic method or an inkjet method. To do. Then, the post-processing apparatus executes punching or stapling processing on the printed paper as necessary. Note that the print operation target data described here is not limited to the image data read by the reading unit 13, and is transferred in advance from an external recording medium such as a USB memory or a network-connected PC, for example. The same applies to image data (image file) stored in the image storage unit 15. The printing operation of the image data received by facsimile and stored in the image storage unit 15 will be described later.

<Preview display operation of image data to be printed>
Next, an operation (preview display operation) of previewing image data stored in the image storage unit 15 as a result of document reading on the touch panel 32 before printing will be described. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has a configuration that enables preview display for image data to be printed. This preview display operation is performed when a user operation for performing a process that requires a preview display is received by the operation panel 30. For example, the preview display operation is also performed when the image data after reading the document is set to be previewed first before printing. For example, after setting to perform the preview display, reading of the document may be started when the copy condition is set and the start key is pressed, and the preview image may be displayed on the touch panel 32 after the reading.

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

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

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

  As the scaling processing, the R′G′B ′ data after the spatial filter processing is subjected to image enlargement processing / image reduction processing according to the print magnification, and the number of pixels of the R′G′B ′ data is set on the touch panel. A process of converting the number of pixels to 32 (display resolution) is performed, and an image enlargement process and an image reduction process are performed based on the preview display magnification. Note that the preview display magnification is, for example, a magnification of 2 times, 4 times, or the like, and is a magnification of an image at the time of preview display.

  The preview image generation unit 16a provided in the image processing unit 16 is for generating an image for preview display (preview image) mainly by such scaling processing for preview display, and the preview image of the present invention. Is equivalent to a display control unit for displaying on the display unit.

  Here, a preview image when additional information is added will be described. As described above, in the digital multi-function peripheral 1, it is possible to add and output additional information to the image data to be output. In the preview display, the panel control unit 11 displays an image indicating the additional information. It is executed by performing control. Therefore, the preview image generation unit 16a generates an image indicating such additional information and combines it with the preview image generated from the image data to be output, thereby generating a preview image with additional information. The panel control unit 11 displays this on the touch panel 32.

  The additional information can be output together with the image data to be printed by performing the scaling process according to the printing magnification, and added to the image data to be printed after the scaling process according to the printing magnification. It can also be output. First, when the additional information is also scaled and output, the main control unit 18 reads the additional information and its added position, and passes them to the image processing unit 16 before the scaling process. Subsequently, the preview image generation unit 16a generates R′G′B ′ data of an image indicating this additional information, and synthesizes it at the additional position with respect to the addition destination image data which is the image data before the scaling process. . Then, it is preferable to perform image enlargement processing / image reduction processing according to the print magnification on the R′G′B ′ data after the image of the additional information is added.

  When the additional information is not subjected to the scaling process, the main control unit 18 reads out the additional information and the additional position and passes it to the image processing unit 16. Subsequently, the preview image generation unit 16a generates R'G'B 'data of an image indicating additional information from the additional information, and uses the R'G' data after image enlargement processing / image reduction processing according to the print magnification. The B ′ data is combined at the additional position and the number of pixels of the added R′G′B ′ data is converted to the number of pixels (display resolution) of the touch panel 32, and the image is displayed based on the preview display magnification. Enlargement processing and image reduction processing are performed.

  When punching or stapling is performed in the post-processing apparatus, post-processing image data such as punch holes or staples is added to the preview image generated from the image data to be printed (and image data indicating additional information). , It can be combined and output at the punch position or staple position. Alternatively, separately from the preview image generated from the image data to be printed (and image data indicating additional information), post-processing image data such as punch holes and staples may be output in the vicinity thereof. . In the latter case, since the synthesis process is unnecessary, the processing speed is increased. Any method can display the finished state of the sheet on which the image is formed when the preview of the image data is displayed.

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

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

  The R′G′B ′ data generated by the preview image generation unit 16 a and subjected to the output gradation correction processing is passed to the touch panel 32. The panel control unit 11 controls the touch panel 32 to display an image corresponding to the R′G′B ′ data in a GUI image, and displays the GUI image on the touch panel 32. The user confirms the preview-displayed image including the image indicating the additional information, and performs printing as it is, cancels the printing, deletes the additional information, or changes the additional position (or changes the additional information). It is possible to determine whether or not to execute the operation and perform an operation corresponding to the determination.

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

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

<Supplementary information about filing action>
As described in the document reading operation, the filing operation (document filing operation) stores the read image data (encoded as necessary) in the image storage unit 15 provided in the digital multi-function peripheral 1. Is the action. Even during filing, it is possible to store (filing) after adding additional information to the image data to be stored. The preview display operation of the image data filed in the image storage unit 15 is basically as described for the image data to be printed.

<Printing operation of image data received by facsimile>
Next, a printing operation for image data received by facsimile communication will be described. When the main control unit 18 detects a facsimile communication request by the modem 24, the main control unit 18 instructs the recording unit 12, the image storage unit 15, the image processing unit 16, the NCU 23, the modem 24, and the like, and processes as described below. Is executed.

  First, the modem 24 and the NCU 23 sequentially receive image data (compressed image data) transmitted from the transmission source while performing a communication procedure, decompress the received compressed image data, and perform rotation processing (if necessary). Processing for rotating the transmission direction), resolution conversion processing, and the like are executed and passed to the image processing unit 16.

  Since the image data received by the facsimile communication is binary in black and white, the image processing unit 16 passes the image data (K data) that has been subjected to processing such as decompression to the recording unit 12 without performing any particular processing. It is. The recording unit 12 receives this image data, and executes printing by an electrophotographic method, an inkjet method, or the like. Also, image data received by facsimile communication can be printed after adding the above-described additional information.

  Although the facsimile reception with a monochrome image has been described, when a color facsimile image (RGB data) is received, the image processing unit 16 performs the facsimile reception image processing described here on the RGB data. do it.

<Preview display operation of image data received by facsimile>
A preview display operation of image data received by facsimile communication will be briefly described based on the printing operation of the image data. This preview display operation is performed when there is a prior setting or a user operation for executing printing after confirming received image data in advance. In this preview display operation, when the image processing unit 16 adds additional information to the image data after being subjected to processing such as decompression, the image data of the additional information is combined and then further displayed on the touch panel 32. Conversion processing according to the number of pixels (display resolution) and scaling processing at the time of preview display are performed, and the image data after scaling processing is incorporated into the GUI image and displayed on the touch panel 32.
In this way, image data received by facsimile may be handled as a copy mode when a preview is displayed before printing. The user can confirm the preview-displayed image, determine whether to execute printing or discard it, and perform a printing or discarding operation.

<Facsimile transmission operation>
Next, a transmission operation when the image data of the read original is transmitted by facsimile will be described. The facsimile image data is transmitted to the destination (transmission destination) information set by the user operation on the touch panel 32 or the key operation unit 31. The other party information (phone number in this example) is stored in the control memory 19 and is read out as necessary. Normally, the destination information is stored as address book data so that information on a plurality of destinations can be viewed and selected, or is directly input before transmission.

  When a user operation for executing facsimile transmission is accepted on the operation panel 30, the main control unit 18 instructs the image storage unit 15, the image processing unit 16, the encoding / decoding unit 17, the NCU 23, the modem 24, and the like. To execute processing as described below. Note that the main control unit 18 also gives an instruction (original reading instruction) to the reading unit 13 when an operation for facsimile transmission of the original is performed, for example. It is also possible to select image data to be transmitted while executing a preview display for the image data stored in the image storage unit 15 and start facsimile transmission for the image data.

  The encoding / decoding unit 17 reads out the image data to be printed and the corresponding document determination data and area separation data from the image storage unit 15, decodes them, and passes them to the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 performs various image processing (hereinafter referred to as image processing for facsimile transmission) on the decoded image data (RGB image data). The image processing for facsimile transmission includes image quality adjustment processing, spatial filter processing, scaling processing, output tone correction processing, halftone generation processing, and the like as will be described below. The spatial filter process and the halftone generation process may be processes corresponding to various areas indicated by the area separation data, but the area separation data may not be used. Further, in the document reading operation accompanying facsimile transmission, it is not necessary to execute the region separation process on the read image data and the encoding and storage of the region separation data.

  As the image quality adjustment process, the decoded image data is converted into K data using a matrix coefficient. At this time, a matrix coefficient corresponding to the document type indicated by the document determination data may be used. As the spatial filter processing, enhancement processing and smoothing processing are performed on the K data. As the scaling process, an image enlargement process or an image reduction process is performed on the K data after the spatial filter process according to the transmission resolution set on the operation panel 30 or the default transmission resolution.

  As the output tone correction process, an output γ correction process is performed on the K data after the scaling process for the purpose of outputting the data to a recording medium such as a recording sheet at the transmission destination. Actually, output γ correction for a general device may be performed instead of output γ correction in consideration of the transmission destination device. As the halftone generation process, the K data after the output tone correction process is binarized by, for example, an error diffusion process. In the output tone correction process and the halftone generation process, a process according to the document type indicated by the document determination data may be performed.

Although the facsimile transmission with a monochrome image has been described, in the facsimile transmission with a color image, the image processing unit 16 uses the matrix coefficient as the decoded image data as an image quality adjustment process in the above-described facsimile transmission image processing. May be used to perform processing for conversion to L ^* a ^* b ^* data for color transmission, and subsequent processing may be performed on the L ^* a ^* b ^* data.

  The image data after the halftone generation process is subjected to a rotation process as necessary, and is compressed and encoded in the compression format at the time of facsimile transmission by the encoding / decoding unit 17 and temporarily stored in the image storage unit 15. The The modem 24 performs a transmission procedure with the transmission destination set via the NCU 23, and at the stage where communication with the transmission destination is established (when transmission is possible), this temporarily stored encoding is performed. The read K data is read, and after necessary processing such as changing the compression format, it is sequentially transmitted to the transmission destination via the public line network.

  The digital multi-function peripheral 1 can transmit the image data to be transmitted with additional information added thereto. When transmitting image data to the outside as in this example, in addition to the stamp, date (date and time), and page number, additional information can be added to the sender information (sender information) as additional information. It has become. Here, the sender information added at the time of image data transmission may include one or more of sender name information, sender telephone number information, and sender email address information. Further, as the additional information, information on the transmission destination (information on the other party) may be added at the time of image data transmission.

When facsimile transmission is performed with additional information added, the following composition processing may be performed. The main control unit 18 reads the additional information and the information indicating the additional position, the main control unit 18 or the image processing unit 16 converts it into image data, and the image processing unit 16 converts the converted image data (image data of the additional information). ) May be combined at the addition position with the addition destination image data which is the image data after the scaling process.
In the digital multi-function peripheral 1, the position to which the image data of the additional information is added can be set by the user using the operation panel 30 while performing a preview display described below. The combined image data is transmitted to the transmission destination after being subjected to the above-described output tone correction processing, rotation processing, compression processing, and the like.

<Preview display operation for image data to be sent by facsimile>
The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has a configuration that enables preview display of image data that is to be transmitted by facsimile transmission or the like. This preview display operation is performed when there is a prior setting or a user operation for performing transmission after confirming in advance the image data before transmission. A preview display operation of image data to be transmitted by facsimile will be described based on a facsimile transmission operation of the image data. In the preview display operation, the main control unit 18 also instructs the panel control unit 11.

In this preview display operation, the image processing unit 16 performs the same processing as that during facsimile transmission until image quality adjustment processing and spatial filter processing (and scaling processing), and executes preview image generation processing by the preview image generation unit 16a. Then, output γ correction processing for displaying image data may be performed as output gradation correction processing. As the preview image generation process, the preview image generation unit 16a performs a conversion process according to the number of pixels (display resolution) of the touch panel 32 on the image data subjected to the image enlargement process / image reduction process according to the transmission resolution. Then, preview image data is generated by performing scaling processing according to the reduction / enlargement ratio at the time of preview display.
In this preview display operation, the spatial filter process does not have to be executed, and the halftone generation process is not executed. Here, the data transmission mode is a mode for transmitting image data to the outside (external device) such as a facsimile transmission mode, an Internet FAX transmission mode, and a file transfer mode, and is also referred to as an image transmission mode.

  The R′G′B ′ data generated by the preview image generation unit 16 a and subjected to the output gradation correction processing is passed to the touch panel 32. The panel control unit 11 controls the touch panel 32 to display an image corresponding to the R′G′B ′ data in a GUI image, and displays the GUI image on the touch panel 32.

  A preview image when additional information is added and transmitted will be described. The additional information is output after being added to the image data after the scaling process corresponding to the transmission resolution. More specifically, the main control unit 18 reads the additional information and the additional position and passes it to the image processing unit 16. Subsequently, the preview image generation unit 16a generates R′G′B ′ data of an image indicating additional information from the additional information, and R′G′B ′ after image enlargement processing / image reduction processing according to the transmission resolution. What is necessary is just to synthesize | combine with the said additional position with respect to data. Then, processing for converting the number of pixels of the added R′G′B ′ data into the number of pixels (display resolution) of the touch panel 32 is performed, and image enlargement processing and image reduction processing are performed based on the preview display magnification.

  The image data obtained by synthesizing the image of the additional information in this way is subjected to the above-described output tone correction processing (output γ correction processing for displaying image data) at the time of preview display, and then the panel control unit 11. Thus, it is incorporated into the GUI image and displayed on the touch panel 32. The user confirms the preview-displayed image including the image of the additional information, and executes or stops the facsimile transmission as it is, deletes the additional information, or changes the additional position (or changes the additional information). It is possible to determine whether or not to execute the operation and perform an operation corresponding to the determination.

<Image data transmission operation via the Internet>
Next, a transmission operation in a case where image data of a read original is transmitted by electronic mail or Internet FAX via the Internet will be described. Also for the image data that is the target for transmission via the Internet, transmission destination information (e-mail address in this example) set by a user operation on the touch panel 32 or the key operation unit 31 and stored in the control memory 19 ).

  When a user operation related to transmission via the Internet is accepted by the operation panel 30, the main control unit 18 includes a format conversion unit 14, an image storage unit 15, an image processing unit 16, an encoding / decoding unit 17, and a LAN control unit. 21 is instructed to execute transmission processing via the Internet as described below. Note that the main control unit 18 also gives an instruction to the reading unit 13 (original reading instruction) when an operation for transmitting the original via the Internet is performed, for example.

  The encoding / decoding unit 17 reads out the image data to be printed and the corresponding document determination data and area separation data from the image storage unit 15, decodes them, and passes them to the image processing unit 16. The image processing unit 16 executes various types of image processing (hereinafter referred to as Internet transmission image processing) on the decoded image data (RGB image data). Examples of the image processing for Internet transmission include image quality adjustment processing, spatial filter processing, scaling processing, output tone correction processing, and halftone generation processing described in the facsimile transmission image processing.

Further, the image processing at the time of transmission with a color image is the same as the image processing for facsimile transmission, and the image processing unit 16 uses the matrix coefficient as the image data after decoding as image quality adjustment processing in the image processing for Internet transmission. It is possible to perform processing for conversion into L ^* a ^* b ^* data for color transmission and perform subsequent processing on the L ^* a ^* b ^* data.

  The encoding / decoding unit 17 encodes (compresses) the image data after the image processing for Internet transmission to obtain a compressed file. This compression is performed for each page of the document. Next, the format conversion unit 14 converts these compressed files into one file, and attaches the file to the multipart mail according to, for example, MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension). Through the processing so far, the read image data is converted into an e-mail format. This e-mail is transmitted to the transmission destination via the Internet by the LAN control unit 21 via the LAN interface using a mail transfer protocol such as SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).

  Here, in the case of Internet facsimile transmission, the encoding / decoding unit 17 compresses in a compression format dedicated to facsimile, such as MH, and the format conversion unit 14 obtains a compressed file in page units into, for example, one TIFF file. Convert it. Further, in the case of transmission that is simply attached as an attached file to an e-mail (in the case of transmission by so-called scan to e-mail), the encoding / decoding unit 17 compresses it in a compression format such as JPEG and the format conversion unit 14 For example, the page-by-page compressed file obtained may be converted into one PDF file.

  Also, even if the image data to be transmitted is image data transmitted via the Internet, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 can transmit it with additional information as in the case of facsimile transmission image data. Yes. As the additional information adding process, it is only necessary to execute the synthesizing process described in the facsimile transmission. After the above-described output tone correction process, compression process, format conversion process, and the like are performed, the address of the transmission destination is sent as an e-mail. Will be sent to.

<Preview display operation for image data sent via the Internet>
Similarly to the description of the preview display at the time of facsimile transmission, the digital multi-function peripheral 1 can be configured so that preview data can be displayed on the touch panel 32 for image data to be transmitted via the Internet.

  In this preview display operation, the image processing unit 16 performs the same processing as the image processing for Internet transmission until the image quality adjustment processing and the spatial filter processing (and scaling processing), as described for the preview display at the time of facsimile transmission. The preview image generation processing by the preview image generation unit 16a is executed, and output γ correction processing for displaying image data is performed as output gradation correction processing. The R′G′B ′ data generated by the preview image generation unit 16 a and subjected to the output tone correction processing is transferred to the touch panel 32, incorporated into the GUI image by the panel control unit 11, and displayed on the touch panel 32. Become. The description of the preview display at the time of facsimile transmission can also be used for the preview display to which an image indicating additional information is added.

<Description of Preview Display According to the Present Invention>
The digital multi-function peripheral 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention has a job program function. The job program function is a function in which various settings of the digital multi-function peripheral 1 are registered in advance and a desired job program can be called and used when the user wants to use it.
By using this job program function to register settings that are frequently used by users, it is not necessary to perform complicated function settings or troublesome settings each time the digital multifunction device 1 is used. With this, an operation with a predetermined setting can be executed.

  In the digital multifunction machine 1, in the job program registration mode, the setting contents actually set by the user from the operation input unit of the digital multifunction machine 1 can be registered as a series of job programs. Then, by calling the registered job program later, it is possible to execute image data printing or transmission processing using the setting contents registered in the job program. In the embodiment of the present invention, when registering a job program, information indicating a finished state in which processing based on setting contents is performed on output such as printing or transmission of image data together with a preview image of image data, for example, Various additional information and post-processing information such as staples and punch holes can be previewed on the touch panel 32.

  In the preview display, the setting contents can be displayed as characters or icons together with a preview image to which information indicating the finished state is added. When an operation input for selecting a character or icon is performed, the screen can be shifted to a function setting screen corresponding to the selected character or icon.

By providing the functions as described above, the user can easily confirm the setting contents of the job program to be registered, so that the convenience is improved and the registration error of the job program can be prevented. Furthermore, it becomes possible to confirm the details of the final finished state by the preview display, and the convenience for the user can be improved.
Also, by displaying the setting contents as characters or icons together with a preview image of image data to which information indicating the finished state is added, for example, a paper cassette, density, original reading (both sides, single side), original type (character, Information that cannot be displayed by preview display using a preview image, such as a photograph or a mixed image, can be displayed.

Further, in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 according to the present embodiment, even when a setting change is required from the job program to be registered, the setting can be easily changed because the user can directly shift to the corresponding setting screen. This reduces the number of operations and makes it possible to suppress erroneous settings.
Hereinafter, the preview display, which is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described more specifically.

<Specific example of preview display>
Hereinafter, the flow of the preview display of the finished state at the time of job program registration will be described with a specific example. The following screen display example shows a display example of the touch panel 32 in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a standard screen of the digital multifunction peripheral. The standard screen 40 is displayed on the touch panel 32 of the digital multifunction device 1 when the power of the digital multifunction device 1 is turned on or reset. In the standard screen 40, the upper copy key 41 is selected as an initial state, and various conditions for copying can be set.
On the standard screen 40, in addition to copying, by selecting the image transmission key 42 or the document filing key 43, an image transmission mode for performing image transmission such as FAX, or data storage and confirmation is performed. You can enter document filing mode.

In the copy mode standard screen 40, a mode switching key 50 for switching the color mode, a copy density key 51 for changing the copy density and image quality, a magnification key 52 for changing the copy magnification, and the document size manually. A document key 53 and a paper key 54 for changing the paper to be used are also displayed for input.
Further, on this standard screen 40, special function keys 44 for using special functions such as margin, frame erasure, one set and two copies, double-sided copy key 45 for setting double-sided copying, sorting, group, and offset , Staple sort, saddle stitching, finishing key 46 for using predetermined finishing functions, filing key 47 for filing image data, and automatic temporary saving key for automatically saving image data 48, a job program key 49 for registering various copy settings, calling and using the registration, and a preview confirmation key 55 for instructing to display a preview of image data are displayed.

For example, when the double-sided copy key 45 is operated (touched) on the standard screen of FIG. 7, a double-sided copy setting screen 60 as shown in FIG. 8 can be opened. Here, the user selects “single-sided → single-sided” key 61 for setting automatic single-sided copying from a single-sided original, “single-sided → double-sided” key 62 for setting automatic double-sided copying from a single-sided original, By operating a “double-sided → double-sided” key 63 for setting double-sided copying and a “double-sided → single-sided” key 64 for setting single-sided copying from a double-sided document, desired double-sided copying can be set. it can.
By operating the “OK” key at the upper right of the setting screen 60, it is possible to return to the standard screen of FIG. 7 which is usually the previous screen, and in other setting screens described later. It is the same.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an initial screen for finishing displayed when the finishing key 46 is operated (touched) on the standard screen 40 of FIG.
In the finishing initial screen 70 shown in FIG. 9, the user instructs a sort key 71 for sorting and outputting copies, a staple sort key 72 for performing setting for stapling the sorted copy output, and outputting for each identical copy. A group key 73 for carrying out, a saddle stitching key 74 for instructing saddle stitching after stapling in the middle of double-open copy output, a punch key 75 for setting punch holes, and paper folding. By operating the paper folding key 76 or the like for the purpose, it is possible to perform a desired finish regarding the copy output.

In the finishing initial screen 70 of FIG. 9, for example, by selecting the staple sort key 72, a staple setting screen 70 ′ shown in FIG. 10 is displayed.
In the staple setting screen 70 ′ of FIG. 10, the staple sort key 72 itself is highlighted so that the user can confirm that the staple sort key 72 is selected. When the reading direction of the copy original is read from the left side, a key 72A for giving an instruction for applying a staple at one place on the upper left of the copy output, and an instruction for applying a staple at two places on the left side of the copy output And a key 72C for instructing to staple at one place are displayed at the lower left of the copy output, and the user can arbitrarily select each of the keys 72A, 72B, and 72C.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the copy density key 51 is selected on the standard screen of FIG. On the copy density setting screen 80, the density setting of the print image and the type of document to be read can be set.
Here, an automatic setting key 81 for automatically setting the copy density, a density setting key 82 for manually setting the density of the print image, and a document type setting key 83 for manually setting the type of the document image are displayed. .

  With the density setting key 82, the density of the print image can be variably set. For example, here, the density is set in a plurality of levels (for example, 9 levels), and the user can manually select and set an arbitrary density. In addition, “Text”, “Text / Print Photo”, “Text / Photo Paper Photo”, “Print Photo”, “Photo Paper Photo”, “Map”, “Light Document”, etc. are set as the document type. When the user manually selects and sets an arbitrary type, printing is executed using a set value corresponding to the type of the original image.

12 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the paper key 54 is selected on the standard screen of FIG. In the paper setting screen 90, a paper feed tray (paper feed cassette) used at the time of printing, a paper size and a paper type to be accumulated in the paper feed tray can be set.
Here, a main body paper feed tray setting key 91, a manual feed tray setting key 92, and a large capacity paper feed tray setting key 93 are displayed. For example, the size and type of each of the four paper feed trays (paper feed cassettes) provided in the digital multi-function peripheral can be set with the setting key 91 of the main body paper feed tray. The type of paper to be placed on the manual feed tray can be set by the manual feed tray setting key 92. Furthermore, the size and type of paper can be set for a large capacity paper feed tray.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the magnification key 52 is selected on the standard screen of FIG. On the magnification setting screen 200, an enlargement magnification or reduction magnification of image data at the time of printing can be set. Here, the magnification can be set in units of 1%, and a predetermined scaling button for scaling and printing from a standard size document to a standard size recording paper is set.

  For example, the magnification setting screen 200 shown in FIG. 13 is provided with a standard size scaling key 201 for setting a scaling by a standard size document such as A3, A4, B4, B5. As a result, the user can set the scaling ratio simply by selecting the corresponding scaling key from the relationship between the document size and the target print paper size. The zoom setting key 202 can be used to set a variable magnification (enlargement / reduction) of an arbitrary size.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the document key 53 is selected on the standard screen of FIG. On the document setting screen 210, the size of the document at the time of document reading can be set. Here, the AB / inch selection key 212 can be used to select a standard document size AB or inch system, and the document size selection key 211 can be used to select a desired document size accordingly. Further, it is possible to set an irregular document size by using the size input key 213. A registered size key 214 can be used to display a registered size list.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the special function key 44 is selected on the standard screen of FIG. On the special function setting screen 220, other functions that are less frequently used can be set. In this example, the special function menu screen is composed of two screens. For example, when the special function key 44 is selected on the standard screen 40 of FIG. 7, the special function setting first screen 220 as shown in FIG. Is displayed. Here, as a special function menu, there are a plurality of selectable special function selection keys 221 such as “binding margin”, “frame erasure”, “saddle stitching”, “book original”, “one set two copies”, etc. Is displayed.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 16, the second special function setting screen 230 also has a plurality of selectable special function selection keys 231 such as “print menu”, “image editing”, “color adjustment”, etc. Is displayed. The screen switching in FIGS. 15 and 16 can be appropriately executed by operating the screen switching key 222.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the print menu key is selected on the special function setting screen of FIG. When the user selects the “print menu” key from the special function selection key 231 displayed on the second special function setting screen 230 in FIG. 16, a print menu screen 240 as shown in FIG. 17 is displayed.
On the print menu screen 240, the date, stamp, number of pages, characters, etc. can be printed on paper and copied. Here, a date key 241 for printing a date on a sheet, a stamp key 242 for printing a stamp, a page number key 243 for printing the number of pages, and a character key 244 for printing characters are displayed. ing. Also, a print position setting key 245 for setting the print position of these dates and stamps is displayed. The user can use these to set a desired print type and its print position.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when a stamp is selected on the print menu screen of FIG. When the user selects the stamp key 242 on the print menu screen 240 in FIG. 17, a stamp setting screen 250 as shown in FIG. 18 is displayed.
On the stamp setting screen 250, a print information selection key 251 for selecting print information to be added to the image information as a stamp such as “confidential”, “circulation”, “urgent”, “collection”, etc., and printing of the selected print information Color setting key 252 for setting color, size setting key 253 for setting the printing size of the selected print information, and print page setting for setting whether the print information is printed on the previous page or only at the top Key 254 is displayed. Using these keys, the user can set desired print information, its color, size, print page, and the like.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when a date is selected on the print menu screen of FIG. When the user selects the date key 241 on the print menu screen 240 in FIG. 17, a date setting screen 260 as shown in FIG. 19 is displayed.
On the date setting screen 260, a display format setting key 261 for setting the display format (display order) of the year, month, day, a separator setting key 262 for setting a display method of the separator between the year, month, and day, and a print color of date information A color setting key 263 for setting date, a size setting key 264 for setting the printing size of date information, and a printing page setting key 265 for setting whether date information is printed on the previous page or only at the top. Is displayed. Using these keys, the user can set date information in a desired format and its color, size, print page, and the like.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the number of pages is selected on the print menu screen of FIG. When the user selects the page number key 243 on the print menu screen 240 in FIG. 17, a page number setting screen 270 as shown in FIG. 20 is displayed.
On the page number setting screen 270, a display format setting key 271 for setting a page display format, a color setting key 272 for setting a print color of page information, a setting status of the total number of pages set, and a start page A setting display section 273 for displaying the number and a page number setting key 274 for designating the page number to be printed are displayed. Here, it is shown that printing starts from page number “1”.

As in the above example, the user who has set the processing content related to the finishing state of the copy output uses the touch panel 32 and operates the preview confirmation key 55 displayed on the standard screen 40 in FIG. A preview can be displayed.
Image data displayed as a preview at this time is image data of a document image read by the reading unit 13 and stored in the image storage unit 15. In addition, the image data received from an external device by facsimile, Internet FAX, or the like and stored in the image storage unit 15 can be used as a preview target. Alternatively, it may be input from a recording medium such as a memory. These image data are targeted when an image is formed by the recording unit 12, filed in the image storage unit 15 such as an HDD, or transmitted to an external device by facsimile, Internet FAX, Internet mail, or the like. It is possible to display a preview of the current image data.

  The preview display at this time is, for example, each time image data processed based on various setting contents set by the user using the touch panel 32 with respect to image data that the user has read the document by the reading unit 13. Although preview display is possible, this preview display is also possible when a job program is registered.

Next, a specific example of preview display when registering a job program, which is a feature of the embodiment according to the present invention, will be described.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the job program key 49 is selected on the standard screen of FIG. When the user selects the job program key 49 on the standard screen 40 in FIG. 7, a job program menu screen 280 as shown in FIG. 21 is displayed.
As described above, the job program function is a function in which various settings of the image processing apparatus (here, the digital multifunction peripheral 1) are registered in advance and can be called and used when desired. On the job program menu screen 280, a registration key 281 for registering a job program, a call key 282 for calling a registered job program, and a delete key 283 for deleting a registered job program, Is displayed.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when a registration key is selected on the job program menu screen of FIG. When the user selects the registration key 281 on the job program menu screen 280 in FIG. 21, a job program registration screen 290 as shown in FIG. 22 is displayed.
On the job program registration screen 290, a user name setting key 291, a file name setting key 292, and a storage destination setting key 293 are displayed, and the user can set “user name”, “file name”, and “storage destination”. It is possible. When registering a job program, default values are set. By using these keys, a name, a storage destination, and the like according to a user's request can be set.

  Also, confidential setting is possible in the job program. By using the confidential setting key 294 and the password setting key 295, confidential processing that prohibits the use of other users by password authentication can be set. In this case, the user selects the confidential setting key 294 to turn on the confidential function, and inputs the password with the password setting key 295, so that the user can use the job program without using the password. Can be prohibited.

  In other words, a job program for which the confidential function is set is not displayed unless a password, which is one of user identification information, is entered. As will be described later, a list of registered job programs is provided. The job program can be displayed for each user who has entered a password.

In the job program registration screen 290 shown in FIG. 22, after the user inputs a file name or the like, the job program registration start key 296 is selected to move to the standard screen 40 in FIG. It becomes.
Specifically, all operations from when the user selects the job program registration start key 296 on the job program registration screen 290 to when the job program registration end key 297 is selected are stored as job programs. Even if a simple setting is made, it can be registered as one job program. If the cancel key 31c is pressed after the job program registration start key 296 is selected and before the job program registration start key 297 is selected, the job program registration work is canceled.

For example, when the user inputs a file name or the like on the job program registration screen 290 and presses the job program registration start key 296, the screen shifts to the standard screen 40 in FIG. From the standard screen 40, for example, the double-sided copy setting as described above, finishing settings such as sorting and stapling, copy density, magnification, paper setting, etc. are executed as appropriate, and the job program registration screen 290 is called again to execute the job. By selecting the program registration start key 296, the settings made up to that point are registered as a job program.
This registration process is controlled by the main control unit 18, and a job program to be registered is stored and held in the image storage unit 15 or other internal memory.
In addition, by selecting the preview display key 298 on the job program registration screen 290, information indicating the finished state in which the processing based on the contents set so far is performed on the output of the image data together with the preview image of the image data. It is displayed on the touch panel 32.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a job program call screen for calling and setting a previously registered job program from the memory.
When the user selects the call key 282 on the job program menu screen 280 of FIG. 21, a job program call screen 410 as shown in FIG. 23 is displayed.
On the job program call screen 410, registered job programs are displayed in a list, and a file name 411, a user name 412, and a date (registration date) 413 are displayed for each job program. If the number of registered job programs is large, the number of job program screens 414 is displayed on the right side of the screen. Here, it is shown that there are six pages of job programs and the screen of the first page is currently displayed. Further, the arrow keys 415 can be used to move between pages.

24 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when the preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or the preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. 7 during job program registration work. is there.
In this example, when the user selects the preview display key 298 on the job program registration screen 290 in FIG. 22 or selects the preview confirmation key 55 on the standard screen 40 in FIG. It is assumed that a preview confirmation screen 420 as shown is displayed.

  In the preview confirmation screen 420, in order to register a predetermined job program, the job program registration start key 296 is selected on the job program registration screen 290 in FIG. The finished state of is displayed in the preview display. Here, the preview image 421 displays a preview image 422 of image data, and also displays staple setting information 423 and punch setting information 424.

With this preview image 421, as a result of the user performing various settings up to that point, stapling is performed at the apex position, and 2-hole punching is performed on the side (long side) of the paper. Can be recognized.
For this preview image 421, for example, the user sets a document on the reading unit 13, selects the job program key 49 on the standard screen 40 of FIG. 7, and selects the registration key 281 on the job program menu screen 280 of the screen 21. Then, after a predetermined input is made on the job program registration screen 290 in FIG. 22, the job program registration start key 296 is selected, and then the standard screen 40 in FIG. 7 is returned to and the finishing key 46 is selected. 9 is selected on the initial screen 70 for finishing, the key 72A for instructing to place one staple on the upper left of the copy output is selected on the staple setting screen 70 ', and the initial of finishing shown in FIG. Returning to the screen 70, the punch key 75 is selected, the 2-hole punching process is selected on the punch setting screen (not shown), and the standard shown in FIG. Returning to the surface 40 is displayed when selecting a preview confirmation key 55.

  The image data 422 of the preview image 421 is displayed for each page of the image, and the user can display a preview image of an arbitrary page by appropriately operating the page switching key 425. The page of the image data currently displayed can be confirmed by the page display 426 to be the first page out of the total of 10 pages.

  Further, a setting confirmation key 427, an enlargement / reduction key 428, a display rotation key 429, and the like are displayed on the preview confirmation screen 420, and the user can confirm the setting of the preview image 421 by appropriately operating these. The preview image 421 can be confirmed by enlarging, reducing, or rotating the preview image 421.

  Further, the preview confirmation screen 420 displays a job program registration key 430 for shifting to the job program registration screen 290 shown in FIG. 22, and the user selects the job program registration key 430 to select the job program. A new job program can be registered by calling the registration screen 290 and selecting the job program registration end key 297 on the job program registration screen 290.

FIG. 25 shows another example of the display screen when the preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or when the preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. FIG.
In this example, when the user selects the preview display key 298 on the job program registration screen 290 in FIG. 22 or selects the preview confirmation key 55 on the standard screen 40 in FIG. It is assumed that a preview confirmation screen 420 as shown is displayed.
In this case, the preview image 421 displays a preview image 422 of image data, and at the same time, punch setting information 424 is displayed. Here, unlike the example of FIG. 24, the user can recognize that the position of the 2-hole punch processing is on the upper side (short side) of the paper. Further, it can be recognized from the display method of the preview image 421 that double-sided printing is set.

  The preview image 421 allows the user to recognize that double-sided printing is performed and punch processing is performed at the position indicated by the preview image 421 when various settings are performed so far. Also in this case, the preview confirmation screen 420 displays a job program registration key 430 for shifting to the job program registration screen 290 shown in FIG. 22, and the display can be switched as appropriate.

FIG. 26 shows still another example of the display screen when the preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or when the preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. FIG.
In this example, when the user selects the preview display key 298 on the job program registration screen 290 of FIG. 22 or selects the preview confirmation key 55 on the standard screen 40 of FIG. It is assumed that a preview confirmation screen 420 as shown is displayed.
In this case, the preview image 421 displays image data 422 together with saddle stitch setting information 431 indicating that saddle stitching is performed. Thus, the user can recognize that the saddle stitching process is performed when various settings are executed by the operations performed so far. Also in this case, the preview confirmation screen 420 displays a job program registration key 430 for shifting to the job program registration screen 290 shown in FIG. 22, and the display can be switched as appropriate.

  However, for example, there is information that cannot be displayed only by the preview image 421, such as a paper feed cassette (paper feed tray), print density, document reading (both sides, single side), document type (character, photo, mixed). In addition, when saddle stitch printing is set, there are conditions that are determined by specifications and cannot be fully understood by the user, such as double-sided printing always being performed on recording paper. For this reason, as shown in other embodiments below, when previewing the setting contents at the time of job program registration, the setting contents may be displayed by characters and icons in addition to the preview image 421.

FIG. 27 shows still another example of the display screen when the preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or when the preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. It is a figure shown, and the other example of a display in the setting content corresponding to the preview display of FIG. 24 is shown.
In this example, on the preview confirmation screen 420, not only the preview image 421 but also the character margin indicating the setting contents is displayed using the margin of the screen.

When the user selects the preview display key 298 on the job program registration screen 290 of FIG. 22 or selects the preview confirmation key 55 on the standard screen 40 of FIG. 7 during job program registration work, a preview as shown in FIG. It is assumed that a confirmation screen 420 is displayed.
Here, image data 422 is displayed in the preview image 421, and staple setting information 423 and punch setting information 424 are displayed together with the image data 422.
Further, “color”, “single-sided printing”, “two-hole punch”, and “vertex staple” are displayed as the setting content information 432 by characters. Although the user can surely recognize various setting contents from the setting contents information 432, in this example, all the setting contents shown in the setting contents information 432 can be confirmed also by the preview image 421. Is.

FIG. 28 shows still another example of the display screen when the preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or when the preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. FIG. 26 shows another display example of the setting contents corresponding to the preview display of FIG.
When the user selects the preview display key 298 on the job program registration screen 290 in FIG. 22 or selects the preview confirmation key 55 on the standard screen 40 in FIG. 7 during job program registration work, a preview as shown in FIG. It is assumed that a confirmation screen 420 is displayed.
Here, image data 422 is displayed in the preview image 421, and punch setting information 424 is displayed together with the image data 422. Further, unlike the example of FIG. 24, the user can recognize that the position of the two-hole punching process is on the upper side (short side) of the paper. Further, it can be recognized from the display method of the preview image 421 that double-sided printing is set.

  In this example as well, on the preview confirmation screen 420, not only the preview image 421 but also the character display indicating the setting content using the margin of the screen is performed. Here, “single-sided reading”, “character / photo mixed original”, and “two-hole punch” are displayed as the setting content information 432 by characters. Various setting contents can be reliably recognized by the setting contents information 432. In this example, the setting content information 432 allows the user to reliably recognize that “single-sided reading” and “character / photo mixed document” that cannot be recognized only by the preview image 421 are set.

FIG. 29 shows still another example of the display screen when the preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or when the preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. FIG. 27 shows another display example when the setting content corresponds to the preview display of FIG.
When the user selects the preview display key 298 on the job program registration screen 290 in FIG. 22 or selects the preview confirmation key 55 on the standard screen 40 in FIG. 7 during job program registration work, a preview as shown in FIG. A confirmation screen 420 is displayed. Here, image data 422 is displayed in the preview image 421, and saddle stitch setting information 431 is displayed together with the image data 422.

In this example as well, on the preview confirmation screen 420, not only the preview image 421 but also the character display indicating the setting content using the margin of the screen is performed. Here, “double-sided reading”, “81% reduction”, and “saddle stitching (double-sided)” are displayed as the setting content information 432 by characters. Various setting contents can be reliably recognized by the setting contents information 432. In this example, the setting content information 432 allows the user to reliably recognize that “double-sided reading”, “81% reduction”, and “saddle stitching” that cannot be recognized only by the preview image 421 are set. .
Furthermore, even in the case of “81% reduction”, since there are a plurality of combinations of the read original and the printing paper, for example, “B4 → A4” is displayed, or “Saddle Stapling” is “double-sided printing”. By displaying what is done with characters, it is possible to provide a highly convenient user interface in consideration of the user.

  In the above example, information is displayed as characters as the setting content information 432, but the setting content information 432 may be displayed using icons in addition to characters. In this case, a predetermined icon is prepared in advance according to the image data and the content of processing performed at the time of output, and is stored in the memory of the digital multi-function peripheral 1. When the preview confirmation screen 420 is displayed, the preview image 421 is displayed. At the same time, an icon corresponding to the setting contents of the job program is displayed. Further, the setting content information 432 at this time may be a combination of characters and icons.

At this time, when a user operation for selecting a specific character or icon is performed from the setting content information 432 displayed by the character or icon on the preview confirmation screen 420, the selected character or icon is displayed. The corresponding function setting screen is displayed, and the user can change the setting.
For example, in the preview confirmation screen 420 of FIG. 27, it is assumed that the user performs an operation of selecting “single-sided printing” from the setting content information 432 using characters. In this case, the screen is shifted to the double-sided copy setting screen 60 shown in FIG. As a result, the user can easily perform setting for changing “single-sided printing” in the setting content information 432 to double-sided printing.

In the above example, the job program display function in the copy mode has been described. However, the same job program can be used when transmitting data in the image transmission mode or printing image data read from the storage device. Is possible.
That is, in the digital multi-function peripheral 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the job program function can be used in operations such as copying, printing, and image transmission. When registering a job program, output of image data (printing, It is possible to display and confirm the finished state after processing based on the setting contents of the job program for image transmission) before actual data output.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an apparatus to which an image processing apparatus of the present invention is applicable, and is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital multi-function peripheral having an inner finisher. It is a figure which shows an example of the post-processing apparatus of a digital multi-function peripheral. It is a figure which shows the other example of the post-processing apparatus of a digital multi-function peripheral. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image processing system constructed using a digital multifunction peripheral as an example of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the digital multifunction peripheral of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is an external view illustrating an example of a touch panel and a key operation unit in the digital multi-function peripheral of FIG. 5. It is a figure which shows the example of the standard screen of a digital multi-function peripheral. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of a double-sided copy when a double-sided copy key is operated on a standard screen. It is a figure which shows an example which is an initial screen of the finishing displayed when a finishing key is operated in the standard screen of FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a staple setting screen when a staple sort key is selected on the finishing initial screen of FIG. 9. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when a copy density key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. 7. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when a paper key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when a magnification key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen when a document key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. 7. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when a special function key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows the other example of a display screen when a special function key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when the print menu key is selected in the special function setting screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when a stamp is selected on the print menu screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when the date is selected on the print menu screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when the number of pages is selected in the print menu screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when the job program key is selected in the standard screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of a display screen when a registration key is selected in the job program menu screen of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the job program call screen for calling and setting the registered job program from memory. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen when a preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or when a preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. 7 during job program registration work. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing another example of a display screen when a preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or when a preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. 7 during job program registration work. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing still another example of a display screen when a preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or a preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. 7 during job program registration work. . FIG. 23 is a diagram showing still another example of a display screen when a preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or a preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. 7 during job program registration work. . FIG. 23 is a diagram showing still another example of a display screen when a preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or a preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. 7 during job program registration work. . FIG. 23 is a diagram showing another example of a display screen when a preview display key is selected on the job program registration screen of FIG. 22 or when a preview confirmation key is selected on the standard screen of FIG. 7 during job program registration work.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital multifunction device, 2 ... External computer, 3 ... External computer, 4 ... Internet FAX apparatus, 5 ... Facsimile apparatus, 7 ... Paper storage part, 10 ... Touch panel, 11 ... Panel control part, 12 ... Recording part, 13 ... Reading unit, 14 ... format conversion unit, 15 ... image storage unit, 16 ... image processing unit, 16a ... preview image generation unit, 17 ... decoding unit, 18 ... main control unit, 19 ... control memory, 20 ... key operation unit , 21 ... LAN control section, 22 ... control buffer, 23 ... NCU, 24 ... modem, 25 ... USB I / F, 30 ... operation panel, 31 ... key operation section, 31a ... numeric keypad, 31b ... clear key, 31c ... Cancel key, 31d ... Start key, 31e, 31f, 31g ... Function switching key, 31h ... System setting key, 32 ... Touch panel, 40 ... Sub-screen, 41 ... copy key, 42 ... image transmission key, 43 ... document filing key, 44 ... special function key, 45 ... double-sided copy key, 46 ... finishing key, 47 ... filing key, 48 ... automatic temporary save key, 49 ... Job program key, 50 ... Mode switching key, 51 ... Copy density key, 52 ... Magnification key, 53 ... Original key, 54 ... Paper key, 55 ... Preview confirmation key, 61 ... "Single side to single side" key, 62 ... Single side → double side key, 63 ... Double side → double side key, 64 ... Double side → single side key, 71 ... Sort key, 72 ... Staple sort key, 73 ... Group key, 74 ... Staple key, 75 ... Punch key, 76 ... Paper Fold key, 80 ... copy density setting screen, 81 ... automatic setting key, 82 ... density setting key, 83 ... original type setting key, 90 ... Paper setting screen, 91 ... Main body paper feed tray setting key, 92 ... Manual feed tray setting key, 93 ... Large capacity paper feeding tray setting key, 101A, 101B, 101C, 101D ... Photosensitive drum, 102A, 102B, 102C , 102D ... development unit, 103 ... charge roller, 104 ... primary transfer roller, 105 ... cleaning unit, 106 ... image forming unit, 107 ... paper storage unit, 108 ... paper transport unit, 110 ... exposure unit, 111 ... intermediate transfer belt 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D ... image forming station, 113 ... cleaning unit, 113A ... heating roller, 113B ... pressure roller, 114 ... secondary transfer roller, 116A, 116B, 116C, 116D ... paper feed cassette, 116F ... Large-capacity paper feed cassette, 117 ... manual feed tray, 12 A, 121B ... pickup roller, 122A, 122B ... paper feed roller, 130 ... image forming position, 131 ... paper transport path, 132 ... registration roller, 133 ... fixing unit, 134 ... paper discharge roller, 135 ... paper transport path, 136 ... paper transport path, 137 ... paper transport path, 138 ... paper transport path, 161, 162, 163 ... transport rollers, 171 ... entrance roller, 172 ... stapler, 173 ... alignment processing unit, 174 ... paper discharge roller, 175 ... discharge Paper tray, 176 ... Paper trailing edge detection sensor, 178 ... Punch pin, 200 ... Magnification setting screen, 201 ... Standard size scaling key, 202 ... Zoom setting key, 203 ... Mode memory setting list screen, 210 ... Document setting screen, 211 ... Document size selection key, 212 ... Inch selection key, 213 ... Size input key, 214 ... Registered size key 220 ... Special function setting screen, 221 ... Special function selection key, 222 ... Screen switching key, 230 ... Special function setting screen, 231 ... Special function selection key, 240 ... Print menu screen, 241 ... Date key, 242 ... Stamp key 243 ... Page number key, 244 ... Character key, 245 ... Print position setting key, 250 ... Stamp setting screen, 251 ... Print information selection key, 252 ... Color setting key, 253 ... Size setting key, 254 ... Print page setting key , 260 ... Date setting screen, 261 ... Display format setting key, 262 ... Separation setting key, 263 ... Color setting key, 264 ... Size setting key, 265 ... Print page setting key, 270 ... Page number setting screen, 271 ... Display format Setting key, 272 ... Color setting key, 273 ... Setting display section, 274 ... Page number setting key, 280 ... job program menu screen, 281 ... registration key, 282 ... call key, 283 ... delete key, 290 ... job program registration screen, 291 ... user name setting key, 292 ... file name setting key, 293 ... save destination setting key, 294 ... confidential setting key, 295 ... password setting key, 296 ... job program registration start key, 297 ... job program registration end key, 298 ... preview display key, 300 ... post-processing device, 301 ... post-processing device, 311 ... entrance roller, 312... Discharge roller 313. ... Discharge tray, 342 ... Interrupt tray, 351 ... Paper guide plate, 361 ... Staple tray, 362 ... Paper trailing edge reference fence, 363 ... Stapler, 400, 500 ... Paper feeder, 410 ... Job program call screen, 411 ... File name, 412 ... User name, 414 ... Number of screens 415 ... Arrow key, 420 ... Preview confirmation screen, 421 ... Preview image, 422 ... Image data, 423 ... Staple setting information, 424 ... Punch setting information, 425 ... Page switching key, 426 ... Page display, 427 ... Setting confirmation key 428 ... Reduction key, 429 ... Rotation key, 430 ... Job program registration key, 431 ... Saddle stitch setting information, 432 ... Setting content information, 440 ... Thumbnail screen, 500 ... Paper feeder.

Claims (4)

A display unit; an image input unit for inputting image data; an operation input unit for setting processing content of the image data input to the image input unit; and the setting content input to the operation input unit as a job program And a display control unit for displaying a preview image of the image data on the display unit, and by executing the registered job program, processing based on the setting contents of the job program can be executed. An image processing apparatus configured as described above,
When the display control unit registers a job program in accordance with an operation input to the operation input unit, the display control unit displays a finished state obtained by performing processing based on the content set for the output of the image data together with the preview image of the image data. An image processing apparatus characterized in that preview information can be displayed on the display unit.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information indicating the finished state displays the setting contents with characters and / or icons.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit has a function corresponding to the selected character or icon when an operation input for selecting the character or icon is performed on the operation input unit. An image forming apparatus that shifts to a setting screen. An image input step of inputting image data to the image processing apparatus;
A setting step for setting the processing content of the image data input to the image processing device according to an operation input to the image processing device;
A registration step in which the control unit of the image processing apparatus stores and registers the setting content set in the operation step as a job program in a storage unit;
The control unit is an image processing method for executing processing based on setting contents of a job program by calling the registered job program,
When registering the job program, the control unit can display on the display unit of the image processing apparatus information indicating a finished state that has been processed based on the content set for the output of the image data together with the preview image An image processing method characterized by that.

Images