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JP-2026074809-A - Image forming apparatus and print data generation program

JP2026074809AJP 2026074809 AJP2026074809 AJP 2026074809AJP-2026074809-A

Abstract

[Problem] 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 the 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. [Selection Diagram] Figure 1

Inventors

  • アイミー・バルデラス

Assignees

  • 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20241021

Claims (6)

  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 types of objects included in the print target image indicated by the image data, and sets the printing conditions based on the information regarding the types of objects 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 objects 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 the type information of objects included in the image to be printed, the color information of each type of object, and the remaining amount information 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 text objects, page consolidation for printing multiple pages onto one page is added to the printing conditions, and when the image to be printed contains any text 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.

Description

This invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on recording paper according to printing conditions, and a print data generation program. Image forming devices such as copiers and multifunction printers allow for the setting of various printing conditions (color selection, density, page consolidation to print multiple pages on one page, etc.). Users can freely set these printing conditions. U.S. Patent No. 10769503 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.This diagram schematically shows a part of the image forming section.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.This flowchart shows an example of processing performed by an image forming apparatus.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.This flowchart shows an example of processing performed by an information processing device. The following describes an image forming apparatus and a print data generation program according to one embodiment of the present invention 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. 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 a USB memory 71, which is an external storage medium, is configured to be detachable. The document feeding unit 6 is configured to open and close via a hinge (not shown) on the upper surface of the document reading unit 5. The document feeding unit 6 functions as a document holder cover when reading a document placed on the platen glass (not shown). Furthermore, the document feeding unit 6 is an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) equipped with a document tray (not shown) that supplies documents placed on the tray to the document reading unit 5. 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. Furthermore, the document reading unit 5 can sequentially read multiple document images sent from the document feeding unit 6. The following describes the process when the image forming apparatus 1 performs document reading. The document reading unit 5 optically reads the image of the document supplied to it 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 similar device. 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, charging device, exposure device, developing device, and primary transfer device for each color, and is a mechanism that forms an image on recording paper, which serves as 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. The image forming unit 12, as shown in Figure 2 as an example, is equipped with multiple toner containers 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K (hereinafter also simply referred to as "toner container 121"). The toner containers 121 contain toner, 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. Each toner container 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K is equipped with toner level sensors 122C, 122M, 122Y, and 122K (hereinafter also simply referred to as "toner level sensor 122") for detecting the remaining amount of toner contained within. The remaining toner information detected by the toner level sensors 122 is output to the control unit 10, and the control unit 10 performs control based on this remaining toner information. The toner level sensors 122 are known types, such as optical sensors. The fixing unit 13