JP2011059609A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To compare images according to setting values of the same image quality setting without wasting recording paper. <P>SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: a display unit; and a control means that simultaneously displays on the display unit a plurality of preview images indicating a state of formed images for each setting value included in the same image quality setting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording sheet based on document image data based on a document image read by an image reading sensor as disclosed in Patent Document 1 described below or image data input from the outside. The image forming apparatus can make various settings for image formation. Among such image forming apparatuses, there are apparatuses that can confirm in advance the degree of image formation according to the set values of each setting.

For example, in Patent Document 2 below, an image that has been processed according to a plurality of image quality mode settings is formed at different positions on the same sheet so that the user can see the image for each mode at a glance. An image forming apparatus is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes image forming means for generating monitor image data having different setting values for different image quality mode settings and forming monitor images at different positions on the same transfer material based on the monitor image data.
Patent Document 3 below discloses an image forming apparatus that displays preview images corresponding to different settings. The image forming apparatus displays a preview image corresponding to various different settings on the display, and changes the preview image in accordance with the change of the setting when the setting is changed.

Japanese Patent Application No. 11-112711 Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-60830 Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-304709

  By the way, in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, it is possible to confirm in advance the degree of image formation according to the set value. However, in Patent Document 2, an image corresponding to the set value of the image quality mode setting is formed on a recording sheet in order to confirm the finish of image formation, so that one recording sheet is wasted. Moreover, although the said patent document 3 is displaying the output image according to various various settings on a screen, many each setting value contained in one image quality setting (for example, sharpness setting, lightness / darkness setting, resolution setting, etc.). It is inconvenient to compare images according to the.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable comparison of images according to setting values of the same image quality setting without wasting recording paper.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, as a first solving means related to an image forming apparatus, a display unit and a plurality of preview images indicating image forming states for each set value included in the same image quality setting are simultaneously displayed. The control means for displaying on the display unit is used.

  According to the present invention, as the second solving means related to the image forming apparatus, the first solving means includes an operation unit, and the control unit issues an instruction to select the preview image on the display unit. Is accepted, means for executing image formation based on the setting value of the selected preview image is adopted.

  In the present invention, as the third solving means relating to the image forming apparatus, in the first or second solving means, the image quality setting is a sharpness setting, a shading setting or a resolution setting.

  According to the present invention, the preview image for each setting value included in the same image quality setting is simultaneously displayed on the display unit, so that the user can compare images corresponding to the setting value of the same image quality setting before printing on the recording paper. Can do. Then, the user can compare the preview images for each resolution and select an appropriate resolution. Further, according to the present invention, since the preview image is displayed on the display unit without forming the preview image on the recording sheet, no unnecessary recording sheet is generated.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the multifunction peripheral A according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the "resolution setting screen" of the multifunctional machine A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the "resolution setting preview screen" of the multifunctional machine A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the "enlarged preview screen" of the multifunctional machine A which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) A according to the present embodiment has a copy function, a print function, a scan function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and an e-mail transmission function. As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device A includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 3, various sensor groups 4, an image reading unit 5, and an image data storage unit. 6, a paper conveyance / image forming unit 7, a communication I / F unit 8, and an operation display unit 9 are provided. Note that the CPU 1, the ROM 2, and the RAM 3 constitute a control unit of the present embodiment. The operation display unit 9 is an operation unit and a display unit of the present embodiment.

The CPU 1 includes a control program stored in the ROM 2, various detection signals received from the various sensor groups 4, document image data, print image data and facsimile image data stored in the image data storage unit 6, and a communication I / F unit. The overall operation of the multifunction peripheral A is controlled based on various instructions input from a client computer (not shown) and a public network (not shown) via 8 and operation instructions input from the operation display unit 9. The details of the control process of the CPU 1 will be described below as the operation of the multifunction device A. The public network is a public telephone network and the public Internet.
The ROM 2 is a non-volatile memory that stores a control program executed by the CPU 1 and other data.

The RAM 3 is a volatile memory used as a working area serving as a temporary storage destination of data when the CPU 1 executes a control program and performs various operations.
The various sensor groups 4 are necessary for image forming operations such as a document set detection sensor, a paper out detection sensor, a paper jam detection sensor, a paper position detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and a cover open / close detection sensor of a housing (not shown). It is various sensors, and outputs various information detected by each sensor to the CPU 1 as detection signals.

  The image reading unit 5 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder), a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, and the like. Under the control of the CPU 1, the image of the document sequentially fed by the ADF is read by the CCD sensor. Document image data based on is output. The image reading unit 5 outputs the document image data to the CPU 1, while the CPU 1 stores the document image data in the image data storage unit 6.

  The image data storage unit 6 is, for example, a flash memory or a hard disk. Under the instruction of the CPU 1, original image data, print image data received by the communication I / F unit 8 from a client computer (not shown), and a communication I / F unit. 8 stores facsimile image data received from a public network (not shown).

The paper transport / image forming unit 7 includes a print engine (photosensitive drum, charger, developing device, fixing roller, and the like), a paper feed roller, a paper discharge roller, and the like. This paper transport / image forming unit 7 transports a recording paper in a paper tray (not shown) under the control of the CPU 1, and an image (image made of toner) based on the image data in the image data storage unit 6 is used as the recording paper. The recording paper is transferred and conveyed to a paper discharge tray (not shown).
The communication I / F unit 8 is connected to an external client computer and a public network, and transmits and receives various signals between the client computer and the public network.

  The operation display unit 9 includes a copy function switching key, a print function switching key, a scan function switching key, a facsimile function switching key, a start key, a stop / clear key, a power key, a numeric keypad (numeric input key), a touch panel 9a, and other various types. Operation keys are provided, and operation instructions for the respective keys are output to the CPU 1 and various screens are displayed on the touch panel 9a under the control of the CPU 1. Note that the copy function switch key, print function switch key, scan function switch key, and facsimile function switch key are keys for the user to switch to the operation mode of each function.

Next, the operation of the MFP A according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
First, a user who wants to copy a document with the multifunction peripheral A sets the document on the ADF of the image reading unit 5. Then, the user operates the operation display unit 9 to set various copy settings for copy processing.

When the operation display unit 9 receives a resolution setting screen display instruction, the CPU 1 displays a “resolution setting screen” on the touch panel 9a (step S1).
The “resolution setting screen” will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the resolution setting is for allowing the user to select an image formation resolution (200 dpi, 300 dpi, or 600 dpi).

 As shown in FIG. 3, a “200 dpi” button, a “300 dpi” button, a “600 dpi” button, an “OK” button, and a “Cancel” button are displayed on the “resolution setting screen”. When the “200 dpi” button, “300 dpi” button, and “600 dpi” button are pressed, the setting value of the pressed button is selected. When the “OK” button is pressed after the “200 dpi” button, the “300 dpi” button, or the “600 dpi” button is pressed, a setting value corresponding to the pressed button is set, and the resolution setting ends. . When the “Cancel” button is pressed, the setting of the resolution is not performed and the resolution setting is completed.

 Further, a “Preview” button is displayed on the “Resolution setting screen”. When the “Preview” button is pressed, preview images indicating the image formation states of 200 dpi, 300 dpi, and 600 dpi are displayed. Details of processing when the “preview” button is pressed will be described later.

  Returning to FIG. 2, after step S <b> 1, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the “preview” button has been pressed (step S <b> 2). If it is determined “NO” in step S <b> 2, that is, the “preview” button is pressed. If it is determined that the “Preview” button is pressed, the process waits. If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S 2, that is, if it is determined that the “preview” button is pressed, the CPU 1 causes the image reading unit 5 to read the document, and the document image created by the image reading unit 5. Data is stored in the image data storage unit 6 (step S3).

After step S <b> 3, the CPU 1 displays a “resolution setting preview screen” on the touch panel 9 a based on the document image data in the image data storage unit 6.
The “resolution setting preview screen” will be described with reference to FIG.
On the “resolution setting preview screen”, preview images having resolutions of 200 dpi, 300 dpi, and 600 dpi are displayed as shown in FIG. These preview images are created based on the document image data. These preview images are buttons for the user to select a resolution. Details of processing when the preview image is pressed will be described later.

 Returning to FIG. 2, after step S4, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the character portion (“Aiueo”) of the preview image on the “resolution setting preview screen” has been pressed for a long time (step S5), and “YES” in step S5. In other words, if the character portion of the preview image is pressed for a long time, an “enlarged preview screen” is displayed on the touch panel 9a (step S6).

 On the “enlarged preview screen”, as shown in FIG. 5, enlarged preview images (enlarged preview images) for every 200 dpi, 300 dpi, and 600 dpi are displayed. The user can check the resolution for each set value in more detail by browsing these enlarged preview images. These enlarged preview images are buttons for the user to select a resolution. Details of processing when the enlarged preview image is pressed will be described later.

  Returning to FIG. 2, after step S6, the CPU 1 determines whether or not the preview image has been pressed for a short time (step S7). In this case, the resolution of the pressed preview image is set to the setting value of the resolution setting, and when the start key is pressed, the sheet conveyance / image forming unit 7 is caused to perform image formation based on the setting value of the resolution setting ( Step S8).

If the CPU 1 determines “NO” in step S7, that is, if the preview image is not pressed, the CPU 1 stands by until the preview image is pressed.
If the CPU 1 determines “YES” in step S5, that is, if the character portion of the preview image is not pressed for a long time, the CPU 1 proceeds to step S7.

  As described above, in the MFP A according to the present embodiment, the CPU 1 displays the preview image for each resolution on the touch panel 9a at the same time. Therefore, before printing on the recording paper, the image corresponding to the set value of the same image quality setting is displayed. Users can be compared. Then, the user can compare the preview images for each resolution and select an appropriate resolution. Further, since the preview image is displayed on the touch panel 9a without forming the preview image on the recording paper, the multifunction device A does not generate useless recording paper.

As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, For example, the following modifications can be considered.
(1) In the above embodiment, when setting the resolution setting, the preview image for each resolution is displayed on the touch panel 9a, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, when setting the sharpness setting or the light / dark setting, a preview image for each setting value of each setting may be displayed on the touch panel 9a. That is, the present invention can be applied to all image quality settings, not limited to resolution settings. The sharpness setting is a setting for adjusting the outline of a character or the like.

A ... MFP, 1 ... CPU, 2 ... ROM, 3 ... RAM, 4 ... various sensor groups, 5 ... image reading unit, 6 ... image data storage unit, 7 ... paper transport / image forming unit, 8 ... communication I / F part, 9 ... operation display part, 9a ... touch panel

Claims (3)

A display unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: control means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of preview images indicating image forming states for each set value included in the same image quality setting on the display unit. It has an operation part,
2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the operation unit receives an instruction to select the preview image on the display unit, the control unit causes image formation based on a setting value of the selected preview image to be executed. Image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image quality setting is a sharpness setting, a density setting, or a resolution setting.

Images