JPH08235372A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Create a desired manuscript in a short time according to the layout manuscript. When a key input for performing a reading operation is detected from an operation unit, an image read from a document is stored, and based on the coordinates of a rectangular area corresponding to the area written on the document, Cut the stored image and write it. Alternatively, based on the result of comparison between the size read by the reading unit and the size of the area to be inserted, the image size is changed to an appropriate magnification so that it matches the size of the rectangular area corresponding to the coordinates, and then written. , And then print out the image.

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 creating a layout of an arbitrary original using, for example, a layout original and pattern recognition (OCR).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a layout manuscript is created, an operator himself cuts and pastes drawings and characters to create the manuscript. In recent years, a manuscript creation support tool (for example, DTP) is used. (desk-top publishing)), etc., to call up previously entered figures and documents and place them in a working document, or the operator can directly enter documents and symbols to create a document. ing.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional method, until the operator inputs all the information necessary for the manuscript to be created into the system at a terminal or the like on the manuscript preparation support roots. , Because the desired manuscript is not completed, even after all the information is given to the operator,
There is a problem in that the time required for creating a desired manuscript is wasted due to the time required for printing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a desired document in a short time according to a layout document.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] and

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is an image forming apparatus for storing image information obtained by optically reading a document in a storage means and visually outputting the image information. A means for reading a region drawn on a predetermined document and character information on the document corresponding to the region,
Means for calculating the coordinates of the rectangular area based on the character information and the area being a rectangular area; and image information corresponding to the rectangular area from the image information stored in the storage means based on the coordinates. And a sticking means for sticking the cut image information according to the coordinates.

The invention according to claim 4 further comprises:
Means for calculating the size of the rectangular area as a first size, means for calculating the size of the area required by the clipped image information as a second size, the first size and the second size And comparing means for making a comparison between the original size and the second size larger than the first size by the comparing means. In the comparison means, the second
If the size is determined to be smaller than or equal to the first size, the cutting process by the cutting means is continued.

In the above-mentioned structure, the original document having a desired size and a desired layout can be created in a short time.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a reading unit that optically reads an image of a layout document or the like and outputs an image signal according to the information, and 2 is a reading unit.
The image forming unit 3 that outputs an image based on the input image signal is a storage unit that stores the image signal output from the reader unit 2 or the like.

Reference numeral 4 is a recognition unit (hereinafter referred to as an OCR unit) for recognizing characters and symbols from an image signal, and 5 is an input unit for performing an operation input for realizing a predetermined function in the present apparatus. The display unit for confirming the original layout and the correction state is a combined operation unit.

Reference numeral 6 is a coordinate detection unit that is read from the layout document and calculates and detects the coordinates of the corresponding rectangular area. Reference numeral 7 is a size detection unit that is read from the layout document and detects the size of the corresponding rectangular area. , 8 are area discriminating units for making a one-to-one correspondence between the information of the rectangular region detected by the coordinate detecting unit 6 and the characters and symbols written in the region of the document and recognized by the OCR unit 4.

Reference numeral 9 is an area cutout section for cutting out and selecting a storage means corresponding to the storage section 3 from the coordinate information about the area obtained by the coordinate detection section 6, and 10 is obtained by the coordinate detection section 6. This is a size comparison unit that compares the size information of the rectangular area of the layout document with the size information of the rectangular area of the effective image read by the reading unit 1 that should be placed in that area.

Further, reference numeral 11 is a magnification calculator for calculating a magnification for inserting the layout original into a specified size from the information obtained from the area discriminating unit 8, and reference numeral 12 is for reading the original by the reading unit 1. A magnification setting unit that determines the reading magnification of, and a control unit 13 that controls and sets each of the above components.

The operation of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described in detail below.

In order to newly prepare a report as shown in FIG. 4, conventionally, the document shown in FIG. 4 is prepared by cutting and pasting each document, graph, etc. Was there.

However, in the present embodiment, a simple layout corresponding to FIG. 4 is drawn as shown in FIG. 2 and an image such as a handwritten document or graph corresponding to the area surrounded by each line is read. As a final form, a cleanly written report shown in FIG. 4 is created.

Therefore, the procedure for creating the original document in this embodiment will be described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, a simple layout corresponding to FIG. 4 is drawn so that each region representing a title, a figure, a document, a graph, etc. is surrounded by a line, and the type of region is recognized therein. (In this embodiment, numbers 1 to 5) are written. After that, the manuscript combining mode is entered by operating the manipulating unit 5 shown in FIG. 1, and the manuscript is read by the reading unit 1 on the main body of the image forming apparatus.

After the above operation, the storage unit 3, the OCR unit 4, the coordinate detection unit 6, and the region discrimination unit 8 recognize five regions and five characters from the image data from the reading unit 1, respectively. The rectangular area size of the area is associated with the character (numbers 1 to 5 in the embodiment) for the area.

That is, the control unit 13 recognizes each area as a rectangular area of 1 to 5 shown in FIG.

Further, information of "white" is written in the storage unit 3 corresponding to a region other than these rectangular image areas. At this time, if "black" is written, a blank original with black surroundings becomes a normal original, and "white" makes a normal original.

With the above processing, the control unit 13 can recognize the rectangular area that the user is going to write and its type.

Therefore, the procedure for performing the above control will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a schematic processing procedure for reading a layout document, recognizing and classifying each area in this embodiment. In step S1 of the figure, the rectangular coordinates of each area are calculated and recognized as the area shown in FIG. In step S2, for each rectangular area, the characters (1 to 5 in this embodiment) written in that area are determined as the name of each rectangular area,
Distinguish and recognize each area.

Further, in step S3, "white" (or "black") data is written in the storage unit 3 for areas other than the above-described areas, so that white or normal documents are obtained.

Next, control for embedding a desired document or image in the recognized rectangular area will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a control procedure for reading an image corresponding to the recognized area in this embodiment. In step S11 of FIG.
Is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the operation unit 5.
A message for inputting an image corresponding to is displayed. Then, for example, a handwritten document "report" which is a document corresponding to the area 1 is placed on a document placing table (not shown) of the reading unit 1, and in step S12, the control unit 13 performs the reading operation. If the above key input is detected, the control unit 13 causes the reading operation to be performed.
At this time, the size read by the reading unit 1 is compared with the size of the area to be inserted (step S13). Then, the OCR unit 4 recognizes characters in the read document, and whether the characters are handwritten or printed characters is stored in the storage unit 3 as image information. If the OCR unit 4 performs character recognition based on the image information, the image information is converted into character information (hereinafter, referred to as a font), and the area cutting unit 9 stores it in the corresponding storage unit 3. Write (step S14).

Here, the judgment control in step S13 will be described.

That is, in this step S13, the rectangular size of the read image area and the rectangular size of the area to be inserted are determined by using the size comparison unit 10. However, the rectangular size of the read image area is input. If it is smaller than or equal to the rectangular size of the power area, the size of the rectangular area is kept as it is, and the process proceeds to step S14. However, when the rectangular size of the read image area is larger than the rectangular size of the area to be inserted, the destination indicated by the connector, that is, the control shown in FIG. 7 or the control shown in FIG. 8 is entered.

Therefore, the user changes the document size,
The case of performing the size adjustment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

As described above, the set layout document size is compared with the recognized character size, and when the layout document size is larger than the recognized character size, the image is not processed. However, in the opposite case, the image will not fit. Therefore, in step S21 of FIG. 7, a message to that effect is displayed on the operation unit 5.

In step S22, the process waits in that state until it is detected that the key input indicating that the user has confirmed the fact is input from the operation unit 5. Then, in step S23, again, the user selects the original whose size has been changed to the size of the layout original to the user.
Prepare to enter the same area as above. afterwards,
Processing routine indicated by connector (processing shown in FIG. 6)
Then, the above process is repeated until the document size fits.

In FIG. 8, the sizes are compared, and the read image size is changed to a magnification that can be included in the area size and written in the storage unit 3. Therefore, when the reading unit 1 reads the magnification, the magnification is changed. It is a flow chart which shows a processing procedure.

That is, in step S31 of FIG. 8, the size setting unit 12 is used to set the size of the original document that does not fit in the predetermined area so that the desired image can be included in the area. Calculate the scaling factor. Then, in step S32, the magnification value is displayed on the operation unit 5 to inform the user that it is necessary to read the magnification value smaller than the magnification value.

In steps S33 and S34, the control unit 13
Detects that the calculated magnification value or a smaller magnification value has been input, or that an input indicating that the calculated magnification value has been accepted is input from the operation unit 5, and If detected, indicated by a connector, FIG.
The control shifts to.

In step S15 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not an image or a document corresponding to the space of all areas has been input. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the image input work is completed when the input is completed in the areas 1 to 5 in FIG. 3, and the final original as shown in the layout original is printed as described below. Let it out.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the control procedure of the printout process in this embodiment. In step S41 of the figure, the operation unit 5 displays that the desired document or image is placed in all the areas placed by the user on the layout document and can be printed out. In the next step S42, a process of waiting is performed until the print execution key is input from the operation unit 5, and if there is a key input, the image data and font data in the storage unit 3 are read (step S43).

Next, in step S44, step S43
An image forming operation is performed in accordance with the image data read in step 1 and printout is executed to output the final image synthesized by the user to a recording sheet or the like.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
The image read from the original is stored, and the stored image is cut and written based on the coordinates of the rectangular area corresponding to the area marked on the original, and the size of the image is changed to the above-mentioned coordinates. The size of the rectangular area corresponding to is changed to an appropriate magnification, writing is performed, and then the image is printed out, so that the original with the desired size and the desired layout can be created in a short time. it can.

Also, as a picture, a figure or table by clipping,
Just prepare handwritten sentences to prepare manuscripts such as reports.
It can be created easily and quickly as if using a word processor or DTP.

In the above embodiment, when the magnification of the read image is changed, the operation of reading the image in accordance with the magnification value is performed again. It takes time.

Therefore, the storage unit 3 is increased in capacity to be divided into a printout storage area and a work area storage area for storing the read image data itself, and image data of an image to be inserted into the work area. Is stored and read as image data when the magnification value is determined. Then, by using the area cutout unit 9 and the area discrimination unit 8 to write the image data in a portion corresponding to the area of the storage unit for the printout, the user does not perform the operation of reading the image again. It is possible to realize the creation of reports and the like similar to the above-mentioned embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the read image size is compared with the area size, the user determines the magnification value, and the images to be inserted in all areas are input.
However, the storage unit 3 having a large capacity as described above is prepared, an appropriate scaling value is calculated at the time of reading the original, and the image is automatically written in the area to be inserted at the scaling ratio. By doing so, it is possible to prepare a report and the like similar to the above-mentioned embodiment.

Further, there is an advantage that the user does not have to perform the operation of re-reading the image, the input of the variable value, and the input operation for confirmation.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Image information corresponding to a rectangular area containing predetermined character information,
By pasting based on the coordinates of the rectangular area, a document having a desired layout can be quickly created.

According to another invention, by scaling the image information, it is possible to paste even image information having a size exceeding the rectangular area.

[0048]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a layout document created by a user according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a rectangular area read and recognized from a layout document.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a final-form document to be created.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a schematic processing procedure of reading a layout document, and recognizing and classifying each area.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure for reading an image corresponding to a recognized area.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure when a user changes a document size to perform size adjustment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when the reading unit changes the magnification when reading.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which images corresponding to all areas are read and printed out.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Reading Section 2 Image Forming Section 3 Storage Section 4 OCR Section 5 Operation Section 6 Coordinate Detection Section 7 Size Detection Section 8 Area Discrimination Section 9 Area Cutting Section 10 Size Comparison Section 11 Magnification Calculation Section 12 Magnification Setting Section 13 Control Section

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Satoshi Kaneko 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Koichi Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Akihiko Sato 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Hirohiko Kishimoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. ( 72) Inventor Noriaki Matsui 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for storing image information obtained by optically reading a document in a storage unit and visually outputting the image information, in an area drawn on a predetermined document and in the area. A unit that reads the corresponding character information on the original document; a unit that calculates the coordinates of the rectangular area using the area as a rectangular area based on the character information; and a storage unit that stores the coordinates based on the coordinates. An image forming apparatus comprising: a cutout unit that cuts out image information corresponding to the rectangular area from stored image information; and a pasting unit that pastes the cutout image information according to the coordinates. 2. The apparatus further comprises means for recognizing characters / symbols from the cut image information, and means for converting the characters / symbols into predetermined character information, wherein the pasting means has the converted characters. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information is pasted. 3. Further comprising: a means for visually displaying a message instructing to cut off image information corresponding to the rectangular area; and means for inputting a response to the message from an operator of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutout unit cuts out image information according to the response. 4. A means for calculating the size of the rectangular area as a first size, and a means for calculating the size of the area required by the clipped image information as a second size.
And a comparison means for comparing the first size and the second size, wherein the second size is larger than the first size in the comparison means. If it is determined that the original is optically read again, and if it is determined by the comparison means that the second size is smaller than or equal to the first size, The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting process by the cutting means is continued. 5. Further comprising a scaling means for setting a magnification at the time of reading the document based on a comparison result by the comparing means, wherein the comparing means sets the second size to the first size. If it is determined that the second size is smaller than or equal to the first size, the scaling means sets the magnification to an appropriate value. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4. 6. The method according to claim 4, further comprising means for visually displaying a message to that effect when it is determined that the second size is larger than the first size. 5. The image forming apparatus according to item 5. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that writes white or black information to the storage unit corresponding to an area other than the rectangular area.