Image forming apparatus and print data generation program

Abstract

To enable users to easily set printing conditions suitable for the image to be formed on the recording paper without burdening them. [Solution] The image forming apparatus 1 comprises an image forming unit 12 that forms an image on recording paper, a setting unit 101 that analyzes image data of the image to be printed and sets printing conditions suitable for printing the image to be printed based on the analysis results, and a control unit 100 that causes the image forming unit 12 to form the image to be printed on the recording paper according to the printing conditions set by the setting unit 101.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording paper according to printing conditions, and a print data generation program.

Background Art

[0002] In image forming apparatuses such as copiers and multifunction printers, it is possible to set various printing conditions (color selection, density, page aggregation for printing multiple pages on one page, etc.). Users can freely set the printing conditions.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, the operation of selecting and setting printing conditions according to the print content is troublesome for the user. Also, it is not easy for the user to select and set printing conditions suitable for the image formed on the recording paper. Although Patent Document 1 above describes scanning and analyzing a printed document, the invention described in Patent Document 1 is not related to printing conditions.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable easy setting of printing conditions suitable for the image formed on the recording paper without imposing a burden on the user.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: an image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper; a setting unit that analyzes image data of an image to be printed and sets printing conditions suitable for printing the image to be printed based on the analysis results; and a control unit that causes the image forming unit to form the image to be printed on the recording paper according to the printing conditions set by the setting unit.

[0007] Furthermore, a print data generation program according to one aspect of the present invention provides a computer, which is provided in an information processing device that can communicate data with an image forming apparatus equipped with an image forming unit for forming an image on recording paper, to function as follows: a setting unit that analyzes image data of an image to be printed and sets printing conditions suitable for printing the image to be printed based on the results of the analysis; a generation unit that generates print data that can be processed by the image forming apparatus, which includes the printing conditions set by the setting unit and the image data; and an output unit that transmits the print data generated by the generation unit to the image forming apparatus. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In this invention, image data of the image to be printed is analyzed, and printing conditions suitable for printing the image are set based on the analysis results. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily set printing conditions suitable for the image to be formed on the recording paper without burdening the user. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This diagram schematically shows a part of the image forming section. [Figure 3] This table shows an example of printing conditions suitable for the type of objects included in the image to be printed, as well as the color information of each type of object. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of processing performed by an image forming apparatus. [Figure 5]This figure shows the overall image forming system, including an information processing device on which a print data generation program according to the second embodiment is installed. [Figure 6] This flowchart shows an example of processing performed by an information processing device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus and a print data generation program according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device that combines multiple functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function.

[0011] The image forming apparatus 1 comprises a control unit 10, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, an operation unit 47, a network interface unit 9, and a storage unit 8. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 is equipped with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector 7, and is configured to allow the attachment and detachment of an external storage medium, a USB memory 71.

[0012] The document feeding unit 6 is configured to open and close on the upper surface of the document reading unit 5 by a hinge (not shown), and functions as a document holder cover when reading a document placed on a platen glass (not shown). The document feeding unit 6 is also called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) and is equipped with a document tray (not shown) that supplies documents placed on the document tray to the document reading unit 5.

[0013] The document reading unit 5 is equipped with a scanner and reads documents fed from the document feeding unit 6, or documents placed on the platen glass. The document reading unit 5 is also capable of sequentially reading multiple document images sent from the document feeding unit 6.

[0014] The process of reading a document in the image forming apparatus 1 will now be explained. The document reading unit 5 optically reads the image of the document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6, or the document placed on the platen glass, and generates image data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory (not shown) or the like.

[0015] The image forming operation performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will now be described. The image forming unit 12 is equipped with a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, and a primary transfer device for each color, and is a mechanism that forms an image on recording paper, which is a recording medium, by secondary transfer via an intermediate transfer belt. Based on image data generated by the document reading operation, image data stored in image memory, image data received from a network-connected computer, etc., the image forming unit 12 forms an image on the recording paper fed from the paper feeding unit 14 to create a printed document.

[0016] The image forming unit 12 includes a plurality of toner containers 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K (hereinafter also simply referred to as "toner container 121"), as shown in Figure 2 as an example. The toner containers 121 contain toner, which is a consumable used for image formation by the image forming unit 12. Toner containers 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K each contain cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (black) toner, respectively.

[0017] Each toner container 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K is equipped with a toner level sensor 122C, 122M, 122Y, and 122K (hereinafter also simply referred to as "toner level sensor 122") for detecting the remaining amount of toner contained inside. The remaining amount information detected by the toner level sensor 122 is output to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 performs control based on this remaining amount information. The toner level sensor 122 is a known type, for example, an optical sensor.

[0018] The fixing unit 13 is a fixing device including a heating roller, a pressure roller, and a drive mechanism for rotationally driving these rollers, and heats and presses the recording paper on which an image has been formed by the image forming unit 12 with the nip formed by the above two rollers to fix the image on the recording paper. The recording paper subjected to the fixing process is discharged to a discharge tray (not shown).

[0019] The paper feeding unit 14 includes a paper feeding cassette 141 for storing the recording paper which is a consumable, and further includes a pickup roller, a conveyance roller, a conveyance path, and a rotation drive mechanism for each roller that pick up the recording paper from the paper feeding cassette 141 and feed it to the image forming unit 12.

[0020] The paper feeding cassette 141 is provided with a paper remaining amount sensor 142 for detecting the remaining amount of the recording paper. The remaining amount information detected by the paper remaining amount sensor 142 is output to the control unit 10. The paper remaining amount sensor 142 is a known one, for example, a sensor including an actuator or an optical sensor.

[0021] The operation unit 47 includes various hard keys operated by the user, and receives instructions from the user, such as an instruction to execute an image forming operation, regarding various operations and processes that the image forming apparatus 1 can execute according to the operation of the hard keys.

[0022] The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 for displaying operation guidance to the operator and the like. Further, the operation unit 47 receives an input of an instruction from the user based on an operation (touch operation) by the user on the screen displayed on the display unit 473 via the touch panel that the display unit 473 has.

[0023] The display unit 473 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. When the operator performs an operation of touching a button or a key displayed on the screen, an instruction associated with the touched position is received by the touch panel. In this case, the touch panel functions as an operation unit.

[0024] The network interface unit 9 is a communication interface that transmits and receives various types of data with external devices (e.g., personal computers) within the local area network or on the internet.

[0025] The storage unit 8 is a high-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various control programs and the like.

[0026] The control unit 10 comprises a processor, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), and dedicated hardware circuitry. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit). The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100 and a setting unit 101.

[0027] The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100 and a setting unit 101 through operation by the processor in accordance with the control program stored in the memory unit 8. However, the control unit 100 and the other units can also be configured by hardware circuits, rather than by operation in accordance with the control program by the control unit 10. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise specified.

[0028] The control unit 100 is responsible for the overall operation control of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to the document feeding unit 6, document reading unit 5, image forming unit 12, fixing unit 13, paper feeding unit 14, operation unit 47, network interface unit 9, storage unit 8, and USB connector 7, and controls the drive of each of these units and performs various processes necessary for image forming by the image forming apparatus 1.

[0029] The setting unit 101 analyzes the image data of the image to be printed and sets printing conditions suitable for printing the image based on the analysis results. The control unit 100 causes the image forming unit 12 to form the image to be printed on the recording paper according to the printing conditions set by the setting unit 101.

[0030] The image data of the image to be printed is, for example, image data (raster data) obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5, or image data acquired from a USB memory 71 via the USB connector 7. The image data acquired from an external storage medium such as a USB memory 71 is either raster data or described in a page description language that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 1.

[0031] The setting unit 101 analyzes the image data of the image to be printed, identifies the type of object (text, non-text images) contained in the image data, and sets the printing conditions based on the type of object information contained in the image to be printed. Images include diagrams, tables, photographs, and pictures. For example, the setting unit 101 uses known image recognition technology (for example, technology that recognizes and distinguishes between text and images) to determine whether the object contained in the image to be printed is text or an image, based on the image data of the image to be printed.

[0032] The setting unit 101 further extracts color information for each type of object included in the image to be printed, and sets the printing conditions based on the color information for each type of object, in addition to the type information for the objects included in the image to be printed.

[0033] Figure 3 is a table showing an example of printing conditions (color selection) suitable for the type information of objects included in the image to be printed and the color information of each type of object. Figure 3 shows that when the object to be printed is only text (no image) and the color of the text is black, the color selection should be set to "black and white," and when the color of the text is color, the color selection should be set to "two-color." "Two-color" means printing with black and one pre-specified color (any of cyan, magenta, or yellow). Figure 3 also shows that when the object to be printed is only an image (no text) and the color of the image is black and white, the color selection should be set to "grayscale," and when the color of the image is color, the color selection should be set to "full color."

[0034] Furthermore, Figure 3 shows that when the image to be printed contains both text and images, the color selection should be set to "Black and White" when the text is black and white and the image is black and white; to "Two-Color" when the text is in color and the image is black and white; and to "Full Color" when the image is in color regardless of the text color.

[0035] Next, an example of processing by the image forming apparatus 1 will be explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 4. This processing is performed when the operation unit 47 receives a print command for image data acquired from the USB memory 71 via the USB connector 7.

[0036] The control unit 100 converts the image data of the image to be printed into raster data (S1). The control unit 100 does not perform this process if the image data of the image to be printed is already raster data. The setting unit 101 analyzes the image data converted into raster data, identifies the types of objects included in the image to be printed indicated by the image data (S2), and further extracts the color information of each type of object included in the image to be printed (S3). If the image to be printed is data described in a page description language, the setting unit 101 may analyze the data described in the page description language without converting it into raster data, identify the types of objects included in the image to be printed, and extract the color information of each type of object included in the image to be printed.

[0037] The setting unit 101 sets the printing conditions according to predetermined printing conditions, as exemplified in Figure 3, based on the type information of objects included in the image to be printed and the color information of each type of object (S4). Then, the control unit 100 causes the image forming unit 12 to form the image indicated by the image data on the recording paper according to the printing conditions set by the setting unit 101 (S5). After this, this process ends.

[0038] In the first embodiment described above, the image data of the image to be printed is analyzed, and based on the analysis results, printing conditions suitable for printing the image to be printed are set. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily set printing conditions suitable for the image to be formed on the recording paper without burdening the user.

[0039] In another embodiment, the setting unit 101 sets the printing conditions based on information about the types of objects included in the image to be printed and the color information of each type of object, as well as information about the remaining amount of consumables used in the image forming apparatus 1 (for example, recording paper and toner).

[0040] For example, the setting unit 101 adds page consolidation to the printing conditions when the remaining amount of recording paper detected by the paper remaining amount sensor 142 is less than a predetermined first threshold (for example, 20% of the paper amount when the paper cassette is full), and the image to be printed does not contain any text objects. If the image to be printed does contain any text objects, the setting unit 101 adds page consolidation to the printing conditions.

[0041] If the remaining amount of recording paper is low, adding page consolidation to the printing conditions can reduce the amount of recording paper used. However, adding page consolidation to the printing conditions will reduce the size of the image to be printed, and if the text is reduced in size, it will become difficult to read. Therefore, if the image to be printed contains text, do not add page consolidation to the printing conditions to avoid making the text difficult to read.

[0042] Furthermore, based on the detection results from the toner level sensor 122, the setting unit 101 adds a low density to the printing conditions if the remaining amount of toner used for image formation is less than a predetermined second threshold (for example, 20% of the toner amount when full).

[0043] Figure 5 shows the overall structure of an image forming system including an information processing device on which a print data generation program according to one embodiment of the present invention is installed. The image forming system 11 is configured to include an image forming apparatus 1 and an information processing device 2, which are located on a network.

[0044] The information processing device 2 is, for example, a personal computer and comprises a control unit 21, an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, a communication unit 24, and a storage unit 25. Each of these components is capable of sending and receiving data or signals from one another via a communication bus.

[0045] The operation unit 22 consists of a keyboard or mouse, etc. The operation unit 22 receives input instructions from the user based on user operations. The operation unit 22 outputs the received instructions or characters to the control unit 21. The display unit 23 consists of an LCD, etc., and displays responses or data results from the control unit 21.

[0046] The communication unit 24 is a communication interface that transmits and receives various data with external devices such as the image forming apparatus 1 within the local area network or on the internet.

[0047] The storage unit 25 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD or SSD, and stores various control programs, etc. The information processing device 2 also has a printer driver 251 and a print data generation program 250 installed. The printer driver 251 and the print data generation program 250 are stored in the storage unit 25.

[0048] The control unit 21 of the information processing device 2 is composed of a processor, RAM, ROM, and dedicated hardware circuitry. The processor is, for example, a CPU, ASIC, or MPU. The control unit 21 includes a control unit 210, a setting unit 211, a generation unit 212, and an output unit 213.

[0049] The control unit 21 functions as a control unit 210 through the operation of the processor in accordance with the control program stored in the storage unit 25, and functions as a setting unit 211, a generation unit 212, and an output unit 213 through the operation of the processor in accordance with the print data generation program 250 stored in the storage unit 25. However, the control unit 210, etc., can also be configured by hardware circuits, rather than by operation in accordance with the control program etc. of the control unit 21. The same applies to each embodiment below unless otherwise specified.

[0050] The control unit 210 is responsible for the overall operation control of the information processing device 2. The control unit 210 is connected to the operation unit 22, the display unit 23, the communication unit 24, and the storage unit 25, and performs drive control and other functions for each of these units.

[0051] The setting unit 211 analyzes the print data created by the printer driver 251 and converted into a page description language corresponding to the image forming apparatus 1, and sets print conditions suitable for printing the print data based on the analysis results. The setting of print conditions is the same as when performed by the setting unit 101.

[0052] The generation unit 212 generates print target data including the print conditions set by the setting unit 211 and the print data. The output unit 213 transmits the print target data generated by the generation unit 212 to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 24.

[0053] Next, an example of processing by the information processing device 2 will be explained using the flowchart shown in Figure 6. This processing is performed when the operation unit 22 receives a print command for the image data of the image to be printed.

[0054] The setting unit 211 analyzes the print data converted into a page description language, identifies the types of objects included in the print target image indicated by the print data (S11), and further extracts the color information of each type of object included in the print target image (S12).

[0055] The setting unit 211 sets the printing conditions according to predetermined printing conditions, as exemplified in Figure 3, based on the type information of objects included in the image to be printed and the color information of each type of object (S13).

[0056] Subsequently, the generation unit 212 generates print target data that can be processed by the image forming apparatus 1, including the print conditions and print data set by the setting unit 211 (S14). The output unit 213 transmits the print target data generated by the generation unit 212 to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication unit 24 (S15). After this, the process ends.

[0057] In this embodiment, the information processing device 2 can set printing conditions suitable for printing the print data. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 performs printing processing under the control of the control unit 100 based on the print data received from the information processing device 2 via the network interface unit 9. Since the received print data includes the above-mentioned printing conditions, the image forming apparatus 1 can form an image with printing conditions suitable for printing the data to be printed.

[0058] The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiments and various modifications are possible. Furthermore, the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiments using Figures 1 to 6 are merely one embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention to such configuration and processing. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 1. Image forming apparatus 2. Information Processing Device 12 Image forming unit 100 Control Unit 101 Setting Section 211 Settings Section 212 Generation part 213 Output section 250 Print Data Generation Program

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus, An image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper, A setting unit analyzes image data of the image to be printed and sets printing conditions suitable for printing the image based on the results of the analysis, An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the image forming unit to form the image to be printed on the recording paper according to the printing conditions set by the setting unit; and

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit analyzes the image data, identifies the type of object included in the print target image indicated by the image data, and sets the printing conditions based on the type of object information included in the print target image.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting unit further extracts color information for each type of object included in the image to be printed, and sets the printing conditions based on the color information for each type of object in addition to the type information of the object included in the image to be printed.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the setting unit sets the printing conditions based on information about the types of objects included in the image to be printed and the color information of each type of object, as well as information about the remaining amount of consumables used in the image forming apparatus.

5. A paper feed cassette for storing the aforementioned consumable item, the recording paper, The system further includes a paper level sensor for detecting the remaining amount of recording paper stored in the paper feed cassette, The setting unit, when the remaining amount of recording paper detected by the paper remaining amount sensor is less than a predetermined threshold, The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the image to be printed does not contain any character objects, page consolidation, which prints multiple pages onto one page, is added to the printing conditions, and when the image to be printed contains any character objects, page consolidation is not added to the printing conditions.

6. A computer provided in an information processing device that is capable of data communication with an image forming apparatus equipped with an image forming unit that forms an image on recording paper, A setting unit analyzes image data of the image to be printed and sets printing conditions suitable for printing the image based on the analysis results, A generation unit that generates print data that can be processed by the image forming apparatus, including the print conditions set by the setting unit and the image data, A print data generation program that functions as an output unit that transmits the print data generated by the generation unit to the image forming apparatus.

Images