JPH04154268A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] L! The present invention relates to an image processing device having an image processing function such as a DTP or an electronic filing device, and in particular, when printing documents of various sizes onto print paper of various sizes, By removing dirt on the scanner pressure plate (noise data) that occurs outside of the range, it enables high-quality printing, and by reading originals in reduced mode, there is no need to frequently replace the paper cassette. , relates to an image processing device with improved operability during printing.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, image processing devices such as DTP and electronic filing devices can only print on print paper of the document size set at the time of reading in the printing process.

Therefore, when the document size is a standard size such as A4 size or B5 size, enlargement or reduction processing is performed so that it matches the print paper size when reading.

However, currently in Japan, the document size standard is in transition from B version to A version, so documents (manuscripts) of a wide variety of sizes coexist.

Therefore, in page printers such as laser beam printers, paper feed cassettes are prepared for each paper size, and these cassettes are replaced during printing, thereby supporting printing processing for a wide variety of paper sizes.

However, as printers become lighter and lighter, the number of paper cassettes that can be loaded into the printer at the same time is limited to one or two, so cassettes must be replaced frequently. , a problem has arisen.

On the other hand, from the user's point of view, there are many cases where the print paper (printout paper) does not necessarily have to be the same size as the original, and if the original is smaller than the print paper, the original is the same size as the print paper. The method used is to scan and print out.

However, in this case, since the scanning range is wider than the original, dirt on the scanner pressure plate is also read in the area other than the original.
When printing out, such stains are also printed on the print paper, making it impossible to obtain high-quality prints.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned disadvantages in conventional image processing devices, namely, because documents of a wide variety of sizes are mixed, when scanning a reading range wider than the original, the area other than the original is scanned. This solves the inconvenience of not being able to obtain high-quality prints, as dirt on the scanner pressure plate is also read and printed out at the same time.
By calculating the margins caused by the difference in size between the original and print paper and clearing the corresponding data in the page buffer memory, print quality can be prevented from deteriorating due to dirt on the scanner pressure plate, etc. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that enables high-quality printing, eliminates the need for frequent replacement of paper feed cassettes, and improves operability during printing.

In this invention, first, an optical image input means such as a scanner, a page buffer memory for storing image data input from the image input means, and an image editor for editing the image data are provided. An image processing system having an image processing function, comprising: a means for printing edited image data; and a printer for printing edited image data.

Margin portion calculation means for calculating a margin portion generated on the print paper when the size of the original inputted from the image input means is smaller than the size of the print paper set in the printer.

Clearing means for clearing the data on the page buffer memory, After scanning the document, the clearing means clears the data on the page buffer memory corresponding to the margin area calculated by the margin area calculation means. It is configured to be cleared by

Second, in the first image processing device, before outputting the data to the printer, the data on the page buffer memory corresponding to the blank area is cleared by the clearing means, and then the data is output to the printer. It is composed of

Thirdly.

In the above-mentioned first or second image processing device, the optical image input means such as a scanner is equipped with a reduction reading means having a function of reducing and reading the original document, and the optical image input means such as a scanner is provided with a reduction reading means having a function of reducing and reading the document, and the image processing device has a size of printing paper set in the printer.
If one or both of the vertical and horizontal sizes of the document input from the image input means are larger, when scanning the document, the document is reduced and read by the reduction reading means, and the margins created by the reduction are read. The configuration is such that the data on the page buffer memory corresponding to the page buffer memory is cleared.

Next, embodiments of the image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the main configuration of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. In the drawing, 1 is the CPtJ unit (central processing unit), 2 is the RA
M (code memory), 3 is ROM (program),
4 is HDD (hard disk drive), 5 is VRA
M (video memory), 6 is a CRTC (CRT controller), 7 is a display device consisting of a CRT, etc., 8 is a scanner/F (interface) section, 9 is a scanner, 10 is a page buffer memory (image memory), 1
1 is a printer I/F unit, 12 is a printer, and 13 is a system bus.

In this invention, the CPU unit 1 is configured as shown in FIGS.
This image processing apparatus differs from the conventional image processing apparatus in that it performs control according to the flow shown in FIG.

That is, a document image is read by the scanner 9, and the image data is stored in the page buffer memory 10.

Next, data is read from this page buffer memory 10 and sent to the printer 12 to be printed out.

Note that it is sufficient for the page buffer memory 10 to have a memory capacity equivalent to the maximum read document size (maximum print paper size).

Next, a method for calculating a blank space (margin area) that occurs on print paper when the document size and print paper size are different will be described.

If the read original is a standard size, the margin area for the print paper size can be easily calculated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the original and the areas on the print paper in the case where the original size is a standard 85 version and the print paper size is the same standard A4 version.

As shown in Figure 2, when the original to be read is a standard size 85 size and the print paper size is the same standard A4 size, the margin area on the print paper can be easily calculated from the values of both sizes. be.

Next, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the operation of calculating a blank area when a document is a standard size will be described with reference to a flowchart.

Here, assume that data in the margin area is to be cleared after scanning. This embodiment corresponds to the invention set forth in claim 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the main processing flow when clearing data in a margin area after scanning a standard size original in the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In the drawings, #1 to #4 indicate steps.

In step #l, the size of the document to be read is specified using a pointing device, keyboard, or the like.

In the next step #2, in which the document is scanned, not only the area of the specified document size but also the maximum document size may be scanned.

In step #3, the print paper size set in the printer 12 is determined. In this flow, A
This shows the case of determining whether it is the 4th edition.

If it is smaller than the A4 size, proceed to step #4.
The CPU unit 1 shown in FIG. 1 calculates the address of the blank area in the page buffer memory 10 and clears the data at that address.

Also, as a result of the judgment in step #3, when it is A4 size,
Since there is no blank area, the flow shown in FIG. 3 ends.

The data in the margin area after scanning is cleared by the processing in steps #1 to #4 above.

When printing out after that, the printer I/F unit 11 can be controlled according to the set print paper size, regardless of the specified original size.

1aS In the previous embodiment, the data in the margin area was cleared after scanning, but it is also possible to clear the margin area immediately before printing out.

Next, a case will be described in which data in the margin area is cleared immediately before printing. This embodiment corresponds to the invention of claim 2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of main processing when clearing data in the margin area of a standard size original immediately before printing out, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In the drawings, #11 to #13 indicate steps.

The flow in FIG. 4 shows a case where it is determined whether the document is A4 size or not.

In step #11, the size of the image to be printed out is determined.

If it is smaller than the A4 size, the process proceeds to step #12, where the CPU unit 1 of FIG. 1 calculates the address of the margin area in the page buffer memory 10 and clears the data at that address.

In the next step #13, the printout is performed on the set A4 print paper.

Furthermore, as a result of the determination in step #11, if the size is A4, there is no margin area, so the process proceeds to step #13.

If the document is of a standard size, the data in the margin area is cleared immediately before printing out by the processing in steps #11 to #13 above.

As mentioned above, if the original is a standard size.

The margin area calculation process is relatively simple.

However, with the image processing apparatus of the present invention, even when the original size is irregular, the same operation can be performed.

Next, a case where the document size is irregular will be explained. This embodiment corresponds to the invention set forth in claim 3.

For example, if the document size is irregular, such as letter size, a small amount of processing is required to calculate the margin area, and the size of the document to be read must also fit on the print paper.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the document and areas on print paper when the document size is an irregular letter size.

If the document size is letter size and the print paper size is A4, the horizontal size of the document is larger than the A4 size of the print paper.

In this case, a reduction mode is set to reduce the size of the print paper (for example, A4 size) during scanning.

Then, when the letter-sized document is reduced to the same horizontal size as the A4 size of printing paper, the vertical size is also reduced by the same magnification, and a margin area is created at the bottom, as shown in FIG.

As described above, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, even when the original size is irregular, it is processed so that it is smaller than the print paper size by reading in the reduction mode, and the margin area that occurs at that time is calculated.

Clear the data in that blank area.

Note that in the case of an irregularly shaped document, it is not always the case that only the horizontal size is larger than the printing paper; it may also be larger in the vertical direction, or only the vertical size may be larger.

Therefore, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when the original size is irregular, the horizontal and vertical sizes are first input, and when one or both are larger than the print paper size, reduces the original.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of margin area calculation processing when the document is irregularly shaped. (1) is the document size, (
2) indicates the print paper size. In the drawing, X,
'/ is the horizontal and vertical size of the document, X.

Y indicates the horizontal and vertical sizes of the print paper.

FIGS. 6(1) and 6(2) show a case where the original size is irregular and the original is larger than the printing paper. That is, it is assumed that the relationship x ) X or (and) y>Y holds true.

In this case, if one size is y > Y, in order to read and print out the entire range of the document,
When scanning, it is necessary to set the reduction mode and read.

The reduction ratio in this case is Y/y.

Therefore, the document size after scanning is horizontal size=xX (Y/y) vertical size=Y.

As a result, the margin area is as shown in Figure 6 (2). Horizontal size = X-xX (Y/y) Vertical size = Y is obtained.

Through such margin area calculation processing, the address of the margin area in the page buffer memory 10 shown in FIG. 1 is calculated.

Thereafter, the data at the corresponding address in the page buffer memory 10 may be cleared by the CPU unit 1.

As mentioned above, depending on the manuscript, as shown in Figure 5, only the horizontal size may be large, or both sizes may be large, but if necessary, it can be reduced by the process described below. After calculating the ratio and performing the reduction process, the margin area is calculated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of main processing for calculating a blank area when the original size is irregular in the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In the drawing,
#21 to #27 indicate steps.

In step #21, the horizontal size (x) of the document is input, and in the next step #22, the vertical size (y) is input.

In step #23, it is determined whether the relationships of X≧X and Y≧y hold.

As a result of the determination in step #23, if the above relationship does not hold, the process proceeds to the next step #24, where the reduction rate is calculated.

In step #25, the calculated reduction ratio is set for the scanner 9, and the process proceeds to step #26.

Also, if the above relationship holds true as a result of the determination in step #23, the process also proceeds to step #26.

In step #26, the original is scanned.

In step #27, the size of the margin area is calculated, the data in that area is cleared, and the flow shown in FIG. 7 is ended.

By the above processing of steps #21 to #27, the margin area is calculated when the document is irregularly shaped.

As explained in detail above, in the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when the sizes of the original and the print paper are different, the margin area is calculated and the data in the margin is cleared, so that the size of the paper is smaller than that of the print paper. Dirt that occurs when printing originals is removed, allowing high-quality printing.

Additionally, when the original is larger than the print paper size, by performing the reduction process, the same paper cassette can be used to print multiple types of originals. The number of replacements is also significantly reduced, and operability is improved.

According to the image processing device of the present invention, the data on the page buffer memory corresponding to the calculated margin area is cleared, so even if a document smaller than the print paper size is read, it can be read as a clean margin. It is possible to print out, and there is no need to frequently replace the paper feed cassette. Therefore, it is possible to perform high-quality printing and improve operability during printing (claims 1 and 2). Effects corresponding to the invention in Section 2).

In addition, even if the document's vertical and/or horizontal dimensions are larger than the print paper size, it will be scanned in reduction mode and the margin area created by reduction will be cleared, so irregularly sized documents can be scanned in the same way. , which enables high-quality printing and improved operability during printing (
Many excellent effects such as the effect corresponding to the invention of claim 3) can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the main configuration of an image processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a 35-size original whose original size is a standard size, and an A4-size version whose print paper size is also a standard size. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the document and the area on the print paper in the case of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. Flowchart 5 showing the flow of main processing when clearing data in the margin area after scanning a standard size document. FIG. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the main processing when clearing data. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing for calculating a blank area when a document has an irregular shape. FIG. 7 is an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of main processing for calculating a margin area when the document size is irregular. In the drawing, 1 is a CPU unit, 2 is a RAM, 3j
*ROM, 4 is HDD, 5 is VRAM, 6 is CRTC1
7 is a display device, 8 is a scanner I/F unit, 9 is a scanner, 10 is a page buffer memory, 11 is a printer I/F unit, and 12 is a printer. Monument map

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical image input means such as a scanner, a page buffer memory for storing image data inputted from the image input means, an image editing means for editing the image data, and an image editing means for editing the image data. In an image processing system that includes a printer that prints image data and has an image processing function, when a document size input from the image input means is smaller than a print paper size set in the printer, a blank area calculating means for calculating a blank area occurring on the print paper, and a clearing means for clearing data on the page buffer memory, and a clearing means for clearing data on the page buffer memory, and after scanning the document, the blank area calculated by the blank area calculating means is provided. An image processing device characterized in that data on the page buffer memory corresponding to a blank area is cleared by the clearing means. 2. In the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 above, before outputting the data to the printer, the data on the page buffer memory corresponding to the blank area is cleared by the clearing means, and then the data is output to the printer. An image processing device characterized by outputting data to. 3. In the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 above, the optical image input means such as a scanner is equipped with a reduction reading means having a function of reducing and reading a document, and is set in a printer. Compared to the print paper size,
If one or both of the vertical and horizontal sizes of the document input from the image input means are larger, the document is reduced and read by the reduction reading means when scanning the document, and the size of the original is reduced and read by the reduction reading means. An image processing device characterized in that data on a page buffer memory corresponding to a blank area is cleared.