JPH05167831A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily obtaining a desired composite image in a short time when performing image composition. [Structure] When the area designation mode is selected in step S4, the mark sheet is read in step S5, and the designated area in which the second original of the first original is to be combined is recognized. In step S7, the first original is read and its image data is stored in the memory 1. After that, the process proceeds to step S13, 1 is added to the counter n, and then the process proceeds to step S2 and thereafter. At this time, the value of n is 1, and the flow advances from step S6 to step S8 to read the second original and store the image data in the memory 2. In step S9, the memory 2
The scaling ratio is calculated from the image data of the second document and the data related to the designated area of the memory 1, and the image data of the second document is scaled and stored in the memory 2. Step
In S10, the image data of the first original in the memory 1 and the image data of the scaled second original in the memory 2 are combined, and the combined image data is stored in the memory 3. In step S11, a composite image is formed on a sheet based on the composite image data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming a document image on a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, an image of an original is read by a scanner and image data of the read original is temporarily stored in a readable / writable memory. If necessary, this image data is read from the memory, various processing is performed on the image data in the image processing unit, and then stored again in the memory. Based on the processed image data, for example, image formation including a laser printer unit is performed. The unit is configured to form a visible image on a sheet.

Recently, a digital copying machine having many functions has been developed, and it is known that one of these functions is to combine different original images on one sheet. There is.

[0004]

In such a conventional image forming apparatus, when the original images are combined, the reading operation of the originals must be performed the same number of times as the number of originals to be combined.

That is, when at least one of the original images to be combined is the same, for example, one first original such as a format original and a plurality of second originals each having a different image. Combining with the manuscript in pairs,
Even in the case of so-called format combination, it is necessary to perform the reading operation of the first original (format original) as many times as the number of second originals, which not only complicates the operation but also forms a composite image. There is a problem that it takes a lot of time.

In the case of synthesizing original images such as format synthesizing, the position of the synthetic images should be adjusted by the user placing the originals on the original table so that the positions of the synthetic images are aligned. Not only is the operation complicated, but there is also the problem that such alignment requires time and more time is required to form a composite image.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of easily obtaining a desired composite image in a short time when performing image composition.

[0008]

A document reading unit for reading an image of a document, image data of a first document read by the document reading unit, and image data of a second document to be combined with the first document. And the second in the first manuscript
Storage unit for storing image data of a predetermined document that specifies an area where the document is to be combined, and the image of the second document is combined based on the image data of the predetermined document and the image data of the second document. The image data of the second original is scaled so that the image data of the second original is stored in the storage area, and the image data of the first original stored in the storage unit and the image data of the second original that is scaled are synthesized. The image synthesizing unit and the image forming unit that forms the synthetic image synthesized by the image synthesizing unit on a sheet are provided.

[0009]

The first original and the second original to be combined with the first original
The original document and a predetermined original document designating a region in which the second original document is to be combined in the first original document are read by the original document reading unit, and the image data of each read original document is stored in the storage unit. The image synthesizing means generates a second image based on the image data of the predetermined original and the image data of the second original.
Image data of the second original is magnified so that the image of the original is combined with the designated area to be combined, and the second image is magnified with the image data of the first original stored in the storage unit. And the image data of the original document are combined. The combined image thus combined is formed on a sheet by the image forming means. Therefore,
When performing image combination, a desired combined image can be easily obtained in a short time.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, an example in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital copying machine is shown.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the overall construction of a digital copying machine which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital copying machine 10 of this embodiment is provided with a scanner section 11, a laser printer section 12, a multi-stage sheet feeding unit 13 and a sorter 14.

A two-sided automatic document feeder (RDF) 15 is installed above the scanner unit 11, and the scanner unit 11
Is composed of a document placing table 16 made of transparent glass, a movable scanner unit 17, and a position control device for controlling the position of the scanner unit 17.

This position control device is a scanner unit.
The position control device includes a scanner motor 18 for driving the motor 17, a pulley 19, and a wire 20 stretched between the scanner motor 18 and the pulley 19, and the position control device moves the scanner unit 17 along the longitudinal direction of the document table 16. It is configured so that it can be moved and stopped at a predetermined position.

The scanner unit 17 includes a lamp reflector assembly 21 for exposing a document, a CCD linear image sensor 22, a plurality of reflecting mirrors 23 for guiding a reflected light image from the document to the CCD linear image sensor 22, and reflected light from the document. A lens 24 for forming an image on the CCD linear image sensor 22 is included.

When scanning an original placed on the original placing table 16, the scanner section 11 reads the original image while the scanner unit 17 moves along the lower surface of the original placing table 16 and uses the RDF 15. In this case, the document image is read while the document is being conveyed while the scanner unit 17 is stopped at a predetermined position below the RDF 15.

The image data obtained by reading the original image with the scanner unit 17 is subjected to various kinds of processing by an image processing control unit, which will be described later, included in the digital copying machine 10. The image is temporarily stored in a memory provided therein, and image data in the memory is given to the laser printer section 12 in accordance with an output instruction to form an image on a sheet.

The laser printer unit 12 is a manual document tray 2
5. A laser writing unit 26 and an electrophotographic process unit 27 for forming an image are provided.

The electrophotographic process unit 27 comprises a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a peeling device, a cleaning device and a static eliminator around the photosensitive drum 27a according to a well-known mode. The laser writing unit 26 scans a laser beam on the basis of the image data read from the electrostatic latent image to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 27a, and the formed electrostatic latent image can be transferred by toner. Visualize, multi-stage paper feeding unit 13 or manual document tray 25
The toner image is electrostatically transferred and fixed on the surface of the sheet conveyed from the sheet, and the copied sheet is sent to the sorter 14.

The multi-stage paper feeding unit 13 includes a first cassette 28,
Second cassette 29, third cassette 30, fourth cassette
31 and a fifth cassette 32 which can be optionally added. In the multi-stage paper feeding unit 13, the papers are sent out one by one from the papers stored in these cassettes and are conveyed toward the laser printer unit 12.

The scanner unit 11 is an embodiment of the document reading means of the present invention. The laser printer unit 12 is an embodiment of the image forming means of the present invention.

Next, the control system of the digital copying machine 10 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit included in the digital copying machine 10 shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, the control unit included in the digital copying machine 10 includes a central control unit 40, an operation panel unit 44,
Scanner control unit 45, desk unit 46, sorter unit 47,
An image processing control unit 50 including an image data input unit 41, an image data processing unit 42, and an image data output unit 43.
Is equipped with. Double-lined arrows in the figure indicate input / output of image data.

The central control unit 40 centrally controls each control unit included in the digital copying machine 10 and also charges, develops, heats and peels each process of the electrophotographic process unit 27 of the laser printer unit 12. Also, it is configured to perform control of fixing, control of timing of sheet conveyance, and the like. Regarding the image data, the central control unit 40 uses the image data input unit 4
1. The image data processing unit 42 and the image data output unit 43 are configured to be integrally controlled.

The operation panel section 44 is composed of a display section using liquid crystal and a touch sensor or the like stacked on the liquid crystal display section, and is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) dedicated to the operation panel section, What is the control unit 40?
(Universal asynchronous receiver / transmitter) connected by a line and centrally controlled by the central control unit 40.

The scanner control unit 45 is configured to control the RDF 15 and the movement of the scanner unit 17, and is a C dedicated to the scanner control unit.
It is controlled by the PU and is centrally controlled by the central control unit 40 via the UART line.

The desk section 46 is configured to control the feeding of sheets from the front loading cassette and the conveyance of sheets in a duplex.
It is connected by ART line.

The sorter unit 47 is configured to sort the copied sheets according to each mode such as sorting and grouping, and is connected to the central control unit 40 by a UART line. The sorter 14 shown in FIG.
Included in.

Next, the structure and function of the image processing controller 50 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image processing control unit 50 included in the digital copying machine 10 of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the image processing control unit 50 includes an image data input unit 41, an image data processing unit 42, an image data output unit 43, a memory 51 including a RAM (random access memory), and a CPU 52. There is.

The image data processing unit 42, as shown in FIG.
It is connected to the central control unit 40, and the central control unit 40 is configured to control the operation of the image processing control unit 50 together with the CPU 52 dedicated to the image processing control unit. The memory 51 has three memory areas as described later.

The image data processing unit 42 is an embodiment of the image synthesizing means of the present invention. The memory 51 is an embodiment of the storage means of the present invention.

The image data input section 41 includes a CCD section 41a, a histogram processing section 41b and an error diffusion processing section 41c.

The image data input unit 41 binarizes and converts the image data of the original read from the CCD linear image sensor 22 of FIG. 2 to obtain a histogram as a binary digital amount, and image data by the error diffusion method. Are processed and temporarily stored in the memory 51.

That is, in the CCD section 41a, after the analog electric signal corresponding to each pixel density of the image data is A / D (analog / digital) converted, MTF correction, black-and-white correction or gamma correction is performed, and the 256th floor It is output to the histogram processing unit 41b as a key (8-bit) digital signal.

In the histogram processing section 41b, the CCD section 41
The digital signal output from a is added for each pixel density of 256 gradations to obtain density information (histogram data), and if necessary, the obtained histogram data is sent to the CPU 52 or an error as pixel data. It is sent to the diffusion processing unit 41c.

The error diffusion processing section 41c performs an error diffusion processing which is a kind of pseudo halftone processing. That is, in the error diffusion processing unit 41c, the digital signal of 8 bits / pixel output from the CCD unit 41a is converted into 1 bit (binary) by the method of reflecting the binarization error in the binarization judgment of the adjacent pixel. The redistributed calculation is performed in order to faithfully reproduce the density of the local area in the original that has been converted.

The image data processing unit 42 includes multi-value processing units 42a and 42b, a synthesis processing unit 42c, a density conversion processing unit 42d, a scaling processing unit 42e, an image processing unit 42f, an error diffusion processing unit 42g and a compression processing unit 42h. Is included.

The image data processing section 42 is a processing section for finally converting the input image data into image data desired by the operator, and is stored in the memory 51 as output image data obtained by finally converting the image data. Until this is done, processing is performed in this processing unit.

Image composition processing such as format composition based on the present invention is also executed in the image data processing unit 42, as described later. Each processing unit included in the image data processing unit 42 functions as necessary, and the function may not be executed in some cases.

In the multi-value processing units 42a and 42b, the data binarized by the error diffusion processing unit 41c is converted again into 256 gradations.

In the synthesizing section 42c, a logical operation for each pixel,
That is, the operation of logical sum, logical product, or exclusive logical sum is selectively performed. The data to be the target of this calculation are the pixel data stored in the memory 51 and the bit data from the pattern generator (PG).

In the density conversion processing unit 42d, the relationship between the input density and the output density is arbitrarily set for the digital signal of 256 gradations based on a predetermined gradation conversion table.

In the scaling processing section 42e, pixel data (density value) for the scaled target pixel is obtained by performing interpolation processing with known data that is input according to the instructed scaling ratio. After the scanning is scaled, the main scanning is scaled.

In the image processing unit 42f, various image processings may be performed on the input pixel data to collect information on the data string such as feature extraction.

The error diffusion processing unit 42g performs the same processing as the error diffusion processing unit 41c of the image data input unit 41.

In the compression processing section 42h, the binary data is compressed by the encoding called run length. Regarding the compression of the image data, the compression functions in the final processing loop when the final output image data is completed.

The image data output unit 43 includes a restoration unit 43a, a multi-value quantization processing unit 43b, an error diffusion processing unit 43c, and a laser output unit 43d.
Is included.

The image data processing unit 43 is a memory in a compressed state.
The image data stored in 51 is restored, converted back to the original 256 gradations, and the error diffusion of the four-valued data, which is a smoother halftone expression than the binary data, is performed, and the data is output to the laser output unit 43d. Is configured to forward.

That is, the decompression section 43a decompresses the image data compressed by the compression processing section 42h.

In the multi-value processing unit 43b, the image data processing unit
Processing similar to that of the multi-value quantization processing units 42a and 42b of 42 is performed.

The error diffusion processing unit 43c performs the same processing as the error diffusion processing unit 41c of the image data input unit 41.

The laser output section 43d is turned on for the digital pixel data to drive the laser based on a control signal from a sequence controller (not shown).
/ OFF (OFF) signal is converted to laser ON / OF
It becomes the F state.

The image data handled by the image data input unit 41 and the image data output unit 43 is basically stored in the memory 51 in the form of binary data in order to reduce the capacity of the memory 51. It is also possible to process in the form of four-valued data in consideration of deterioration of image data.

Next, the structure of the operation panel of the digital copying machine 10 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an operation panel included in the digital copying machine 10 of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the operation panel 60 provided at the front of the digital copying machine 10 has a format combination mode selection section 61 for selecting a format combination mode,
A region designation mode selection unit 62 for selecting a region designation mode for aligning the composite image, a numeric keypad 63 for inputting the number of copies, a display unit 64 for the number of sheets to be copied, a copy start button 65. Also, a clear button 66 and the like are provided.

Format composition mode selection section 61, area designation mode selection section 62, numeric input ten keys 63 and number display section
64 is configured by stacking a liquid crystal display unit and a touch sensor. This operation panel is included in the operation panel section 44 of FIG.

Next, format combining by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, that is, one first original such as a format original and a plurality of second originals each having a different image are combined in pairs. In this case, the operation of the process of aligning the composite image will be described.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the operation of the format combination processing in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the memory area of the memory 51 of the image processing control unit 50 in FIG. 4, and FIG. It is an explanatory view showing an example of a mark sheet used when performing the alignment of. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining a method of aligning a composite image showing a mark sheet for designating an area and a second original to be combined with the first original, and FIG. 9 is an image forming according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of image composition by the apparatus, and FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of image composition by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

The central control unit 40 of FIG. 3 is the operation panel 60 of FIG.
When the format combination mode is selected by the input from the touch sensor of the format combination mode selection unit 61, the program is programmed to execute the format combination routine shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the memory 51 of the image processing control unit 50 of FIG. 4 has at least three memory areas for performing format combination, that is, a memory area 51a (memory 1 and abbreviated below), a memory. An area 51b (memory 2 and abbreviated below) and a memory area 51c (memory 3 and abbreviated below) are included.

As shown in FIG. 1, in step S1, a counter n for discriminating the first original is reset to zero, and the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, the copy start button 65 shown in FIG.
It is determined whether or not has been pressed, and if so, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, it is determined whether the format combination mode is selected via the touch sensor of the format combination mode selection unit 61. If the format compositing mode is not selected, the processing routine proceeds to another function, and if it is selected, the processing proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the area designation mode selection section 62
It is determined whether the area designation mode is selected via the touch sensor of. If the area designation mode is not selected, the process proceeds to step S6, and if it is selected, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the following operation is executed.

First, the area designation mode selection unit 62 displays "area".
Is blinked to inform the user that the mark sheet shown in FIG. 7, for example, is waiting to be read.

The mark sheet shown in FIG. 7 is a sheet for designating in which area of the first original document the second original document is to be combined, and is one embodiment of the predetermined original document of the present invention.
As shown in the figure, as the mark sheet, for example,
It is possible to use a normal paper of the same size as the first original, with a closed curve indicated by handwriting as the designated area.

Then, when such a mark sheet is placed on the document placing table 16 of FIG. 2 and the copy start button 65 of FIG. 5 is pressed, the designated area written on the mark sheet is recognized.

That is, the image of the mark sheet is the scanner unit 11
The image data read by
The designated area written on the mark sheet 71 as shown in (A)
The image data processing unit 42 of FIG. 4 recognizes a quadrangle circumscribing 72 and determines the lengths A and B of the two sides of the circumscribed quadrangle.
And the center coordinates (X, Y) of the circumscribed quadrangle are stored in the memory 1.

At this point, the display of the area designation mode selection unit 62 is changed from "area" to, for example, orange "area designation complete" display, and the area designation mode is reset to the unselected state.

When the operation for recognizing the designated area in step S5 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, it is determined whether the counter n is not zero. Counter n in step S1
Is reset to zero, the process proceeds to step S7 when reading the first original document for format synthesis.

In step S7, the first original is read by the scanner section 11, and the read image data is stored in the memory 1 of the memory 51 under the control of the central control section 40 as shown in FIG. 9 (A). To be done.

This first original is, for example, one format original as shown in FIG. 9A, which is an embodiment of the first original of the present invention.

When the reading of the formatted document and the writing of the image data into the memory 1 are completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S13, where 1 is added to the counter n, and then the process proceeds to step S2 and thereafter. At this time, the counter n
Is 1, and therefore, as a result of the determination made when proceeding to step S6, the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, the second original is read and the read image data is shown in FIG. 9 (B).
As shown in FIG.

This second original is the first of two or more second originals having different contents. This second original is an embodiment of the second original of the present invention.

Next, in step S9, the following operation is executed.

First, the scaling factor is obtained from the image data of the second document stored in the memory 2 and the data relating to the designated area stored in the memory 1.

That is, the lengths A ′ and B ′ of the two sides of the second original shown in FIG. 8B and the lengths A of the two sides of the circumscribed quadrangle of the designated area 72 shown in FIG. From B and B, the scaling factor is calculated as follows.

When A / A'≤B / B ', A / A' is used as the scaling factor, and when A / A'≥B / B ', B /
With B ′ as the scaling ratio, the image data of the second original stored in the memory 2 is scaled by the same vertical / horizontal ratio.
The center of the second original after scaling is aligned with the center coordinates (X, Y) shown in (A), and the image data of the second original after scaling is stored in the memory 2 again.

When the operation of scaling the image data of the second document in step S9 is completed in this way, step S10
Go to.

In step S10, as shown in FIG. 9 (C), the image data processing unit 42 of FIG. 4 causes the image data of the format original document, which is the first original document stored in the memory 1 of the memory 51, The image data of the first sheet of the scaled second original stored in the memory 2 is combined, and the obtained combined image data is stored in the memory 3 of the memory 51.

Next, in step S11, the composite image data stored in the memory 3 of the memory 51 is read out and output from the image data output section 43 of FIGS. 3 and 4, and the composite image is formed on the paper by driving the laser. To do.

In step S12, the output of the composite image is as follows.
The process is repeated until the end of the designated number of copies is determined. When copying of the designated number of sheets is completed, step S13
And the counter n is incremented by 1 and then stepped again.
Proceed to S2 and later.

Similarly, the third sheet (the second sheet of the second original) is read by the scanner 11, the read image data is scaled, and the data is written to the memory 2. The image data of the format original which is the first original stored in No. 1 is combined with the scaled image data of the third original stored in the memory 2 to obtain a desired number of sheets. Image output is performed.

These operations are repeated until the user releases the format combination mode via the touch sensor of the format combination mode selection unit 61, that is, until the format combination mode shown in FIG. 10 is turned off. or,
In the right part of FIG. 10, that is, in the same drawing, after the second turning on of the format synthesizing mode, a case is shown in which image synthesizing is continued using a different format original (kth sheet).

Therefore, when performing format combination,
The reading operation of one first original (for example, a format original) having the same content is sufficient only once. That is, assuming that the number of the second originals is N, the conventional apparatus needs to read the originals N × 2 times, whereas the image forming apparatus of the above-described embodiment can read the originals N + 1 times. It is enough.

As described above, according to the present invention, when synthesizing images such as format synthesizing, it is possible to obtain a desired synthesized image with the minimum number of times of reading originals, and it is possible to perform an operation for aligning the synthesized images. Since it becomes simple, a desired composite image can be easily obtained in a short time.

In the above embodiment, an example of aligning the composite images when performing the format compositing has been described. However, the above-mentioned process relating to the alignment of the composite images is not limited to the format compositing mode. It can also be used when performing image composition in an image composition mode different from this, and a desired composite image can be easily obtained.

[0095]

As described above, according to the present invention, the document reading means for reading the image of the document, the image data of the first document read by the document reading means, and the first document to be combined. Storage means for storing image data of the second document and image data of the predetermined document that specifies an area in the first document where the second document is to be combined; and image data of the predetermined document and the second document. The image data of the second original is scaled so that the image of the second original is combined with the image data of the first original based on the image data, and the image data of the first original is stored in the storage unit. Image combining means for combining the doubled image data of the second document,
Since the image forming means for forming the combined image combined by the image combining means on the sheet is provided, it is possible to easily obtain a desired combined image in a short time when the images are combined.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an operation of a format combining process in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a digital copying machine that is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit included in the digital copying machine of FIG.

4 is a block diagram of an image processing control unit included in the digital copying machine of FIG.

5 is a perspective view of an operation panel included in the digital copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory area of a memory of the image processing control unit in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mark sheet used when aligning a composite image.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of aligning a composite image showing a mark sheet for designating an area and a second original to be combined with the first original.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of image composition by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing another example of image composition by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Digital copying machine 11 Scanner section 12 Laser printer section 40 Central control section 42 Image data processing section 50 Image processing control section 51 Memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An original reading unit for reading an image of an original, image data of a first original read by the original reading unit, image data of a second original to be combined with the first original, and said A storage unit that stores image data of a predetermined document that specifies an area in the first document where the second document is to be combined, and based on the image data of the predetermined document and the image data of the second document The second
Image data of the second original document is scaled so that the image of the original document is synthesized in the area to be synthesized, and is scaled with the image data of the first original document stored in the storage means. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the image data of the second original document; and an image forming unit for forming a synthetic image synthesized by the image synthesizing unit on a sheet.