Information processing device, control method, control program, recording medium

Abstract

Determining the necessary device settings to achieve the desired print results requires repeatedly changing the settings and visually checking the print output, resulting in wasted consumables such as toner and paper. [Solution] During test printing, change the print settings to reduce the consumption of consumables unrelated to the test content. At this time, change the print settings that are unrelated to the equipment settings you want to check, depending on the test content. In the case of testing the edges of the print area, only the edges will be printed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a test printing function.

Background Art

[0002] An image forming apparatus is known to have a function of adjusting a print result according to device setting values such as an offset value of an image position for borderless printing and toner density.

[0003] Also, a test printing function and a preview function for actually printing and checking the correctness of print settings are known.

[0004] In Patent Document 1, a technique is proposed for reducing waste of paper and checking the correctness of print settings by changing the image layout and duplex printing settings when printing is performed by specifying a trial printing mode for instructing test printing.

[0005] Also, in Patent Document 2, a technique is proposed for previewing in advance a printed area and an area outside the paper depending on the print area and paper size according to the margin setting.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] For the setting results of device setting values, it is necessary to visually check the actual print result depending on the setting item.

[0008] For example, in the case of an offset value for the image position for borderless printing, this could be whether the image is printed to the edge of the paper, or in the case of toner density, whether the print density is as desired.

[0009] Furthermore, determining the necessary device settings to obtain the desired print results requires repeatedly changing the device settings and visually checking the print results.

[0010] Since the print results during this trial-and-error phase will be discarded after verification, consumables such as toner and paper will be wasted.

[0011] The waste of consumables becomes particularly noticeable when using the system to check documents where the entire page is printed with an image, color documents, or multi-page documents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In an image forming apparatus having a test printing function, The test printing means reduces the consumption of consumables associated with test printing based on the test content of the aforementioned test printing function. It is characterized by the following: [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] This invention reduces the unnecessary consumption of consumables used to verify the settings of equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the software configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the configuration of a print job. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the equipment settings screen for the image forming apparatus in Example 1. [Figure 5] This is a flowchart of the image forming apparatus in Example 1. [Figure 6]It is a diagram showing an example of image data and output results of a print job in Example 1. [Figure 7] It is a flowchart showing the printing process of the image forming apparatus in Example 2. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of the result confirmation screen of the image forming apparatus in Example 3. [Figure 9] It is a flowchart showing the device setting value change process of the image forming apparatus in Example 3. [Figure 10] It is a flowchart showing the printing process of the image forming apparatus in Example 3. [Figure 11] [[ID=IS=15]]It is a diagram showing an example of the device setting screen of the image forming apparatus in Example 4. [Figure 12] It is a flowchart showing the printing process of the image forming apparatus in Example 4. [Figure 13] It is a flowchart showing the device setting value change process of the image forming apparatus in Example 4.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <P

[0016] (Example 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment.

[0017] The image forming apparatus 100 has a controller unit 101, and the controller unit 101 controls a printer 111, an operation unit 107, and a communication unit 109.

[0018] When a user uses the printing function, the controller unit 101 controls the printer 112 to print and output an image on paper.

[0019] An instruction to execute a printing process is called a print job, and the image forming apparatus 100 executes a printing process according to the print job.

[0020] The print job 300 shown in Figure 3 consists of a header section 301 that stores print information and a data section 302 that stores image data, including PDL data.

[0021] The controller unit 101 consists of a CPU 102, RAM 103, ROM 104, HDD 105, control interface 106, network interface 108, and device interface 110, which are connected by a system bus 120.

[0022] The CPU 102 controls the entire system of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0023] RAM103 is system work memory for the operation of CPU102 and image memory for temporarily storing image data.

[0024] Furthermore, RAM 103 also houses programs and data such as the operating system, system software, and application software, and stores print jobs received from the controller unit 101 via the network.

[0025] ROM104 stores the system's boot program. The hard disk drive (HDD)105 stores the operating system, system software, application software, print jobs, configuration data, etc.

[0026] The control unit I / F 106 is an interface unit with the control unit 107 and outputs information to be displayed on the control unit 107 to the control unit 107.

[0027] Furthermore, it receives information entered by the user from the control unit 107.

[0028] The network interface 108 is connected to the communication unit 109 and performs various communication controls with external devices, such as receiving print jobs.

[0029] The device interface 110 connects the printer 112, which prints image data, to the controller unit 101, and outputs the image data.

[0030] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the software configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to this embodiment.

[0031] The image forming apparatus 100 consists of a screen control unit 201, an equipment setting management unit 202, and a print control unit 203.

[0032] The screen control unit 201 controls the operation unit 107 through the operation unit I / F 106, receives information entered by the user on the operation unit 107, and generates a screen to be displayed on the operation unit 107.

[0033] The device setting management unit 202 stores device setting values ​​for adjusting individual differences in the image forming apparatus 100 in the HDD 105, displays them on the operation unit 107 via the screen control unit 201, and changes them to values ​​entered by the user via the operation unit I / F 106.

[0034] Furthermore, the device setting management unit 202 manages a test output flag that switches whether or not to output a test output to verify the correctness of the device settings.

[0035] Examples of device settings include, for instance, the offset value for the image position when drawing an image on paper, and the toner density for changing the print density.

[0036] The print control unit 203 controls the printer 111 through the device interface 110 and prints and outputs the image data onto paper.

[0037] Each block in Figure 2 is software stored in ROM 104 or HDD 105, which the CPU 102 reads into RAM 103 and executes to perform the flowchart processing described later.

[0038] Figure 4 shows an example of a device setting screen 400 that the device setting management unit 202 displays on the operation unit 107 via the screen control unit 201.

[0039] In this embodiment, the offset value of the image position when drawing an image on paper will be used as an example of the device setting value.

[0040] The device settings screen 400 consists of left / right offset 401, up / down offset 402, and a test output checkbox 403 (test print function).

[0041] Left / Right Offset 401 is a component that displays and sets the left / right offset amount of the image position when drawing an image on paper. The user selects Left / Right Offset 401 and changes the setting by entering a value using the on-screen keyboard (not shown).

[0042] The Vertical Offset 402 is a component that displays and sets the vertical offset amount of the image position when drawing an image on paper. The user selects the Vertical Offset 402 and changes the setting by entering a value using the on-screen keyboard (not shown).

[0043] The test output checkbox 403 is a checkbox for displaying and setting the ON or OFF value of the test output flag, which determines whether to perform a test print to verify the offset amount set by the left / right offset 401 and the up / down offset 402.

[0044] Figure 5(A) is a flowchart illustrating the equipment setting value change process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 in Example 1.

[0045] This is achieved when the CPU 102 of the image forming apparatus 100 reads the programs for implementing each software module stored in the ROM 104 or HDD 105 into the RAM 103 and executes them.

[0046] The process is initiated when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has instructed the user to access the device settings screen 400 on the menu screen (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 107.

[0047] In step S501, the device setting management unit 202 displays the device setting screen 400 via the screen control unit 201.

[0048] In step S502, if the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has entered a value in the left / right offset 401, the up / down offset 402, or the test output checkbox 403, the process proceeds to step S503.

[0049] Furthermore, in step S502, if the screen control unit 201 detects that an exit button (not shown) has been pressed on the operation unit 107, the flowchart is terminated.

[0050] In step S503, the device setting management unit 202 saves the entered device setting values ​​to the HDD 105 and proceeds to step S502.

[0051] In this embodiment, the device setting values ​​are the left-right offset values ​​and up-down offset values ​​input via the left-right offset 401 and up-down offset 402, and the state of the test output checkbox 403 is the test output flag.

[0052] Figure 5(B) is a flowchart showing the printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 in Example 1.

[0053] This is achieved when the CPU 102 reads the programs for implementing each software module stored in the ROM 104 or HDD 105 into the RAM 103 and executes them.

[0054] The flowchart in Figure 5 shows that the process begins when the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print job in response to a print command from a client PC (not shown).

[0055] In step S511, the print control unit 203 receives a print job and proceeds to step S512.

[0056] In step S512, the print control unit 203 obtains the value of the test output flag through the device setting management unit 202. If the test output flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S513; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S515.

[0057] In step S513, the print control unit 203 changes the header section 301 of the print job 300 to the test print setting and proceeds to step S514.

[0058] Any change to test print settings is acceptable as long as it reduces the consumption of consumables and does not involve (or is unrelated to) checking the offset value; in other words, any setting change that allows you to check the print result at the edge of the paper.

[0059] You can change the settings for a color print job to monochrome, set the toner density to the lowest value, limit the print range to only the first page, or do all of these things.

[0060] In step S514, the print control unit 203 masks the central part of the image data included in the data unit 302 of the print job, and then proceeds to step S515.

[0061] Specifically, the print control unit 203 obtains the paper size setting from the header section of the print job, generates a white rectangular image with a size reduced from the obtained paper size, and places it in the center of the image data.

[0062] This masks the central part of the paper, preventing anything from being drawn there. The rectangular image placed here only needs to be large enough to allow the drawing of the edges of the print area to be seen. A rectangular image may be created each time, scaled down by a certain percentage from the paper size, or rectangular images of various sizes may be stored in advance in the print control unit 203 and selected according to the paper size.

[0063] In step S515, the print control unit 203 obtains left / right offset values ​​and up / down offset values ​​from the device setting management unit 202, changes the image position according to the obtained left / right offset values ​​and up / down offset values, prints with the printer 111, and ends the flowchart.

[0064] Figure 6 shows an example of image data and output results for a print job in this embodiment.

[0065] The input image data 600 in Figure 6(A) is an example of image data for a print job sent to the image forming apparatus 100 by a print command from a client PC (not shown), and includes image data spanning two pages.

[0066] Figure 6(B) shows an example of a test output result 610 obtained by test printing a print job including input image data 600 in this embodiment.

[0067] In step S513, the print control unit 203 changes the print range so that only the first page of the input image data 600 is printed as the output result 610.

[0068] Furthermore, the masked area 611 of the test output result 610 is the area masked in step S514, which is the central part of the print area, that is, the central part of the paper.

[0069] By drawing the mask area 611 in the center of the print area excluding the paper edge, only the minimum outline of the image is printed, and it is possible to confirm that printing of the paper edge is in the desired state.

[0070] In this embodiment, a test print process was described to confirm whether the offset amount among the device settings is in a desirable state, but test prints with other device settings may also be used.

[0071] At this point, in step S513, the print control unit 203 makes changes to the print settings so that the test content can be confirmed. For example, if it is a test print of toner density values ​​to check print density, the toner density and color mode are not changed, and only the print range is changed.

[0072] The print area to be checked can be configured to be customizable. (The toner density value will be tested within the specified print area.)

[0073] As described above, according to this embodiment, by masking the print settings and a portion of the image data of the print job during a test print to verify the correctness of the device settings, as shown in steps S512 to S514 of Figure 5, the consumption of unnecessary consumables for verifying the settings can be reduced.

[0074] (Example 2) In Example 1, after a test print, the user needs to turn off the test output checkbox 403 on the device settings screen 400.

[0075] If a user forgets to uncheck the test output checkbox (403), subsequent print jobs may be printed with test print settings and a masked center, even when the user intends to print normally.

[0076] Example 2 describes an example configured to allow normal printing after a test print. Example 2 will only describe the differences from Example 1.

[0077] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing the printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 in Example 2.

[0078] This is achieved when the CPU 102 reads the programs for implementing each software module stored in the ROM 104 or HDD 105 into the RAM 103 and executes them.

[0079] The flowchart in Figure 7 shows that the process begins when the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print job in response to a print command from a client PC (not shown).

[0080] Steps S701 to S705 are the same as steps S511 to S515, so their explanation is omitted.

[0081] In step S706, the print control unit 203 changes the value of the test output flag to OFF (stops the test print function) via the device setting management unit 202, and the flowchart ends.

[0082] As described above, according to this embodiment, the test output flag can be turned OFF after a test print, thereby reducing the wasteful consumption of consumables due to unnecessary test prints.

[0083] (Example 3) In Example 1, if the user wanted to change the device settings after a test print, they had to operate the control panel 107 of the image forming apparatus 100 to display the device settings screen 400 again and change the device settings.

[0084] Example 3 describes an example in which the user can confirm whether the expected print result was obtained after a test print, and the system is configured to allow easy transition to the device settings screen.

[0085] Example 3 will only describe the differences from Example 1.

[0086] Figure 8 shows an example of the test output result confirmation screen 800 that the print control unit 203 displays on the operation unit 107 via the screen control unit 201 after a test print in Embodiment 3.

[0087] The test output result confirmation screen 800 consists of a Yes button 801, a No button 802, and a Cancel button 803.

[0088] The Yes button 801 is used to instruct the system to turn off the aforementioned test output flag if the test print result is the desired print result.

[0089] The "No" button 802 is used to instruct the system to display the device settings screen 400 if the test print result is not the desired print result.

[0090] The cancel button 803 is used to instruct the system to cancel changes to the device settings.

[0091] Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating the equipment setting value change process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 in Example 3.

[0092] This is achieved when the CPU 102 of the image forming apparatus 100 reads the programs for implementing each software module stored in the ROM 104 or HDD 105 into the RAM 103 and executes them.

[0093] The process is initiated when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has instructed the user to access the device settings screen 400 on the menu screen (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 107.

[0094] Steps S901 and S904 are the same as steps S501 and S503, respectively, so their explanation is omitted.

[0095] If the screen control unit 201 detects in step S902 that a value has been entered by the user for the left / right offset 401 or the up / down offset 402, the process proceeds to step S903.

[0096] Furthermore, if it is detected that a value has been entered in the test output checkbox 403, the process proceeds to step S904.

[0097] Furthermore, in step S902, when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has pressed an exit button (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 107, the flowchart is terminated.

[0098] In step S903, the device setting management unit 202 retrieves the saved device setting values ​​from the HDD 105 and saves them as original values ​​in RAM 103, thereby backing up the original device setting values, and proceeds to step S904.

[0099] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing the printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 in Example 3.

[0100] This is achieved when the CPU 102 reads the programs for implementing each software module stored in the ROM 104 or HDD 105 into the RAM 103 and executes them.

[0101] Steps S1001 to S1005 are the same as S511 to S515, so their explanation is omitted.

[0102] In step S1006, the device setting management unit 202 obtains the value of the test output flag. If the test output flag is ON, the process proceeds to step S1007. If the test output flag is OFF, the flowchart is terminated.

[0103] In step S1007, the device setting management unit 202 displays the test output result confirmation screen 800 to the operation unit 107 via the screen control unit 201, and proceeds to step S1008.

[0104] In step S1008, when the device setting management unit 202 detects that the user has pressed the Yes button 801 via the screen control unit 201, it proceeds to step S1011. This means that the user has obtained the desired print result in the test print and the device settings have been confirmed.

[0105] Furthermore, in step S1008, if the device setting management unit 202 detects that the user has pressed the No button 802 via the screen control unit 201, it proceeds to step S1009. This means that the user did not obtain the desired print result in the test print and further changes to the device settings are required.

[0106] Furthermore, in step S1008, if the device setting management unit 202 detects that the user has pressed the cancel button 803 via the screen control unit 201, it proceeds to step S1010. This means that the user has canceled the change in the device setting value.

[0107] In step S1009, the device setting management unit 202 displays the device setting screen 400 through the screen control unit 201, and the flowchart ends.

[0108] In step S1010, the device setting management unit 202 cancels the change to the device setting value by changing it back to the value that was saved as the original value in step S903, and proceeds to step S1011.

[0109] In step S1011, the device configuration management unit 202 turns off the test output flag and terminates the flowchart.

[0110] As described above, according to this embodiment, after a test print, the user is asked to confirm whether the expected print result was obtained, and if the expected print result was not obtained, the device settings screen 400 is displayed, making it easy to change the device settings again and improving usability.

[0111] (Example 4) In Example 1, if the desired print result was not obtained during the test print, the equipment settings were changed and the test print was performed again. However, in this case, the user had to again issue a print command to the image forming apparatus 100 from a client PC (not shown).

[0112] Example 4 describes an example configured to allow easy re-execution of a test print without requiring a print command from the client PC after the initial test print.

[0113] Example 4 will only describe the differences from Example 1.

[0114] Figure 11 shows an example of the device setting screen 400 displayed on the operation unit 107 via the screen control unit 201 by the device setting management unit 202 in Embodiment 4.

[0115] The device settings screen 400 consists of left / right offset 401, up / down offset 402, test output checkbox 403, and test rerun button 1101.

[0116] The Test Rerun button 1101 instructs the system to run a test print using the same print job as the previous test print. The Test Rerun button 1101 is only displayed if a test print job exists.

[0117] Figure 12 is a flowchart showing the printing process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 in Example 4.

[0118] This is achieved when the CPU 102 reads the programs for implementing each software module stored in the ROM 104 or HDD 105 into the RAM 103 and executes them.

[0119] Steps S1201, S1202, and S1204 through S1206 are the same as S511 through S515, so their explanations are omitted.

[0120] In step S1203, the print control unit 203 saves the print job received in step S1201 as a test print job to the HDD 105 and proceeds to step S1204.

[0121] Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating the equipment setting value change process performed by the image forming apparatus 100 in Example 4.

[0122] This is achieved when the CPU 102 of the image forming apparatus 100 reads the programs for implementing each software module stored in the ROM 104 or HDD 105 into the RAM 103 and executes them.

[0123] The process is initiated when the screen control unit 201 detects that the user has instructed the user to access the device settings screen 400 on the menu screen (not shown) displayed on the operation unit 107.

[0124] Steps S1301, S1305, and S1306 are the same as steps S901, S903, and S904, respectively, so their explanations are omitted.

[0125] In step S1302, the device setting management unit 202 checks via the print control unit 203 whether a test print job is saved on the HDD 105. If a test print job is found, the process proceeds to step S1303; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1304.

[0126] In step S1303, the device setting management unit 202 displays the test rerun button 1101 on the device setting screen 400 via the screen control unit 201, and proceeds to step S1304.

[0127] In step S1304, if the device setting management unit 202 detects that a value has been entered for the left / right offset 401 or the up / down offset 402 via the screen control unit 201, it proceeds to step S1305.

[0128] Furthermore, if it is detected that a value has been entered in the test output checkbox 403, the process proceeds to step S1306.

[0129] Furthermore, in step S1304, if the device setting management unit 202 detects that the test rerun button 1101 has been pressed via the screen control unit 201, it proceeds to step S1307.

[0130] In step S1307, the device setting management unit 202 executes a test print job via the print control unit 203, and the flowchart ends.

[0131] According to this embodiment, the print job is saved as a test print job during test printing, and then the user can easily re-execute the test print using the test print job by pressing the re-execute test button 1101, thereby improving usability.

[0132] (Other examples) The present invention may be a control program to be executed by a computer that realizes one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments, or it may be a recording medium that stores this control program.

[0133] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications (including organic combinations of each embodiment) are possible based on the spirit of the invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the invention. That is, all configurations that combine the above-described embodiments and their modified forms are included in the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0134] 100 Image forming apparatus 201 Screen Control Unit 202 Device Settings Management Department 203 Printing Control Unit

Claims

1. In an image forming apparatus having a test printing function, The test printing means reduces the consumption of consumables associated with test printing based on the test content of the aforementioned test printing function. An image forming apparatus characterized by the following features.

2. The test printing means reduces the consumption of consumables unrelated to the test content. The image forming apparatus according to feature 1.

3. If the test content is a test of the edge of the print area, the test printing means will not print the central part of the print area excluding the edge. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

4. If the test content is a print density test, the test printing means does not change the color mode and toner density of the print job. The image forming apparatus according to feature 2.

5. The test printing means stops the test printing function after the test printing is completed. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The test printing means saves the print job as a test print job, and further, if the test print job exists, the test printing means performs the test print using the test print job. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A control method for an image forming apparatus having a test printing function, Based on the test results of the aforementioned test printing function, the test printing process reduces the consumption of consumables associated with test printing. A control method for an image forming apparatus, characterized by the following:

8. A control program for an image forming apparatus having a test printing function, Based on the test results of the aforementioned test printing function, the test printing step reduces the consumption of consumables associated with test printing. A control program for an image forming apparatus, characterized by the following features.

9. A recording medium for storing the control program described in claim 8.

Images