JP2001197292A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can accurately composite an original image and the stamp, or page and numbering images, etc. SOLUTION: This image forming device composites an original image and plural types of images and forms a composite image by means of an image forming means. The image forming device has a display 8 which serves as a designation means to designate and select the types and positions of plural types of composite images and also to designate the scale factors and an image processing means 7 which composites those images to the original image in the order of higher priorities when these images have the same designated positions.

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.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus, a warning is issued to a user when a print position of a copy image, a stamp, and the like is different with respect to combining a copy image, a stamp, a page, and a numbering image. Requested an operation to do it again. Further, even if the original magnification is changed, the image area of the copy image is fixed. In addition, page numbers were printed on blank pages. That is, in a conventional image forming apparatus, an image is formed according to a user's specification.

However, in the case of the conventional image forming apparatus, when the user designates the drawing of the stamp, page, and numbering and the printing position is different, the drawn images may overlap.

Further, even in the case of the magnification setting, the print characters are fixed, so that the enlargement / reduction designation by the user does not correspond to the actual print characters.

[0005] At the time of copy application function, stamp, date,
Regarding the combination of the page number and the numbering ring, when the blank transfer sheet is counted as the page number in the case of the blank sheet insertion function, the page number is printed including the transfer sheet.

Further, in the case of a 2-in-1, 2-page printing function, a booklet function, etc. for printing two pages of images on one sheet of transfer paper, pages are added to the discharged transfer paper. Since a page is not added for each read page, the page number is improperly printed.

In the case of a conventional image forming apparatus, if any error occurs, an error code is displayed on the display at that time.

[0008] In this case, only the user who was using the device at the time when the error message was displayed could be informed of the occurrence of the error. However, when the power was turned off, the error message at that time was erased, and another user or serviceman was erased. However, there has been a problem that the contents at the time of occurrence of the error cannot be known.

[0009] An error may occur when a specific job operation is performed. Even if the error occurs, the error may not occur unless the specific job operation is performed again.

[0010] For this reason, even when a part of the apparatus main body has failed, it may be delayed to find out that the user or the service person has failed.

Further, in a conventional image forming apparatus, a function of performing optical and electrical processing on an original image and performing scaling processing for enlargement / reduction and copying is often used in ordinary copying. In addition to the method that the user sets in advance before reading the original, the ratio of the original size notified from the original size detector that detects the original size set in the original reading device to the size of the pre-selected transfer paper There was a way to calculate and set automatically from.

However, the size of a document that can be detected by a normal document reading apparatus is only a standard size having a fixed vertical / horizontal length ratio, and the vertical / horizontal ratio is equal to the standard size. It is difficult to detect the size of an irregular size original or a non-rectangular original that does not match.If such an irregular size original is used to perform the automatic reading magnification setting process described above, an incorrect magnification may result. The scaling process has been performed, and problems such as missing images have occurred.

Further, in the conventional image forming apparatus, when an image is stored and held in a read-only memory or a magnetic storage medium in order to perform processing such as superimposition of the image, the image is held as it is in a bitmap format. Alternatively, it is necessary to compress the image information by a dedicated algorithm for reducing the amount of image data, and decompress and use the image information when using it.

However, when storing an image to be stored in a bitmap as described above, when storing a small image, a large amount of storage memory is not consumed. In the case of holding in a large amount, a large amount of storage memory is consumed for image holding,
The cost of the storage memory will increase significantly.

In order to reduce the amount of data of an image, if the image is compressed by using a dedicated algorithm for image compression and the image is held, the compressed image must be expanded to a storage memory. Decompression processing is required by a dedicated program, and there is a problem that the processing speed of the entire apparatus is reduced.

[0016]

As described above, in the case of the conventional image forming apparatus, the composite processing of the copy image, the stamp, the page, the numbering image and the like cannot be executed accurately, and the main body of the apparatus breaks down. Various problems such as time-consuming restoration, a problem such as missing of an image due to a magnification change process performed by an incorrect magnification, a rise in cost of a memory for storage, and a decrease in a processing speed of the entire apparatus. was there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can accurately realize a process of synthesizing a document image with a stamp, a page, a numbering image, etc., and speeds up a recovery process in the event of a failure of the apparatus body. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing erroneous copying at the time of magnification change processing, and realizing cost reduction while increasing the processing speed of the entire apparatus.

[0018]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In an image forming apparatus that combines a document image and a plurality of types of combined images and forms an image of the image combined by the image forming unit, the type and position of the plurality of types of combined images are selected and the magnification is specified. The present invention is characterized in that there is provided a designating means and an image processing means for combining the original image with the original image in the order of higher priority when the positions of the plurality of types of composite images are the same.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the specifying means can select a combining position for each of a plurality of types of combined images.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, when the specifying means uses a function of forming an image of a two-page original on one transfer sheet, When using the page continuous shooting function, it is possible to select whether to add a page to one transfer sheet or to add a page for each page.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image processing unit enlarges or reduces an image area of the composite image according to a magnification specified by the specifying unit. It is.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, when the image processing means has a blank page insertion function, a page number is skipped for a blank page. is there.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the booklet function is used, the image processing means automatically combines the page numbers on the right and left sides of the transfer sheet. It is characterized by performing.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus for forming an image by the image forming means, a main body having a control ROM having a ROM version and a control ROM having a ROM version added to the main body are provided. An optional unit provided, a counting means for counting the total number of output sheets by the image forming means, a timer circuit for measuring date and time data, an error detecting means for detecting errors of the main body and the optional unit, and a history for storing various information Storage means, and display means capable of displaying character information,
Based on the error detection information by the error detection means, the ROM version of the control ROM of the main body and the optional unit, the total number of output sheets, the time at which an error occurred, and the error code are stored and retained in the history storage means. It is characterized in that it can be displayed.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for reading a document image, a size detecting means for detecting a document size, a storage means for storing document image data, and a paper feeding means for feeding transfer paper. Paper feed size detecting means for detecting the size of the transfer paper to be fed, and image forming means for forming an image on the transfer paper fed by the paper feed means based on the document image data read from the storage means. A magnification determining means for determining a magnification at which the original image data can be stored on the transfer paper based on a ratio between the original size detected by the original size detection means and the size of the transfer paper detected by the paper size detection means; An image forming apparatus comprising:

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the magnification determining means determines a unique magnification in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the document by the image reading means. It is characterized by the following.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an original reading means for reading an original image, a storage means for storing original image data read by the original reading means, and a specific image for superimposing and combining stored in advance. A specific image storage unit, a paper supply unit for feeding a transfer sheet, and a document image data read from the storage unit and a specific image read from the specific image storage unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image by superimposing and synthesizing the image on a transfer paper sheet. It is characterized by being compressed by the same compression algorithm as the algorithm and stored and held in the specific image storage means.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the tenth aspect, the specific image for superimposing and synthesizing is used when a compressed image is expanded when a normal image forming operation is stored. The image is decompressed by an algorithm to form an image.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus of the tenth aspect, the compression / decompression processing of the specific image for superimposition synthesis is performed by compressing / decompressing an image used in normal image formation. The processing is performed using a processing-only integrated circuit.

[0030]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment includes a control unit 1 for performing overall control, and a document size detecting unit 10.
Document reading means 2 having a function of reading a document image
Communication means (NCU) 3 for transmitting and receiving images via a communication line L such as a public telephone line, and a number of keys for setting an image mode at the time of transmission and inputting a telephone number of a communication destination. An operation unit 4, a nonvolatile image memory 5 serving as a storage unit for storing image data read by the document reading unit 2 and image data received by the communication unit 3, and an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording sheet Unit 6 and image forming unit 6
Performs scaling processing, superimposition processing of images, etc. on image data for forming an image or image data to be transmitted to a communication destination by the communication means 3 and font bitmap data, watermarks, stamps, dates, pages , An image processing unit 7 containing data of a plurality of types of composite images including numbering and the like, and a watermark, a stamp, a date,
The display unit 8 includes a display unit 8 that functions as a designating unit that designates the type and position of a plurality of types of combined images including pages, numbering, and the like, and a magnification at the time of image formation, a timer circuit 9, and an option unit 50.

Next, processing of a plurality of types of composite images including watermarks, stamps, dates, pages, and numbering in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. .

FIGS. 2 to 4 show an applied function screen, a watermark / stamp selection screen displayed on the display means 8,
9A and 9B show respective selection screens for the type of watermark.

When the user presses the watermark button on the watermark / stamp selection screen shown in FIG. 3, the screen shifts to the watermark type selection screen shown in FIG.

Here, when the user presses, for example, a button of "secret", a secret image as a watermark, which is enlarged and displayed in FIG. 7, is selected.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the order of date and time, stamp, page, number ring selection and print position designation. Then, selection of a time, designation of a printing position, selection of a stamp, designation of a printing position, selection of a page, designation of a printing position, selection of a number ring, and designation of a printing position are executed.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a print position designation screen. The print position can be designated with respect to the upper left, middle upper, upper right, lower left, middle lower, and lower right of the document image.

In the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment,
When the user designates the same position such as a stamp, date, page, and numbering, the printing is performed in the order of higher priority.

Referring to FIG. 8, a description will be given hereinbelow of a process regarding the printing priority order for the date, page, and numbering.

In the printing priority order processing, it is first determined whether or not the user has selected a date (step S1). If the date has been selected, the date printing process is performed (step S1). S2) Next, it is determined whether or not a page has been selected (step S3). If no date is selected, it is immediately determined whether a page is selected (step S3).

If there is a page selection,
It is determined whether a date and a page are selected and whether a print position is specified (step S4). When the date and the page are selected and the print position is specified to the left or the center, the page is printed by shifting the page to the right by the number of date characters (step S5).

If the date and page are selected and the print position is specified to the right, the page is printed by shifting the page to the left by the number of date characters (step S6).

Further, if it is determined in step S4 that the page is not date and page, a page printing process is performed (step S4).
7).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a number ring has been selected (step S8). If no number ring has been selected, the process ends.

If there is a number ring selection,
It is determined whether the date and page are also selected and whether or not the print position is specified (step S9). The date, page and number ring are selected, and the print position is specified to the left or the center. If so, the numbering printing process is performed by shifting the page to the right by the date and the number of page characters (step S10). If the date, page and numbering are selected and the printing position is specified to the right, the numbering printing process is performed by shifting the date and the number of page characters to the left (step S11). Otherwise, the numbering printing process is performed (step S12).

In this way, the processing for the printing priority order for the date, page, and number ring is performed, and the processing ends.

Further, the image processing means 7 of the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment enlarges / reduces the image area of the stamp, date, page, and numbering in accordance with the enlargement / reduction ratio of the original document, and performs copy application. When the blank page insertion function is used, the blank page has a function of skipping the page number. When the booklet function of the copy application function is used, a function is provided for automatically printing page numbers in the left and right columns of the transfer paper.

When the 2in1 application of the copy application function and the continuous page copy function are used, the display means 4 selects whether a page is added to one copy sheet or a page is added for each print page. A selection screen for enabling is displayed.

After the original image and the synthesized image are synthesized as described above, the image is output by the image forming means 6.

According to the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment,
Regarding combining the original image with the stamp, page, and numbering images, even if the print position specification is different,
Print characters do not overlap, print characters can be enlarged or reduced according to the magnification of the original image, and pages can be added only to the transfer paper corresponding to the original image by skipping the page number when inserting blank paper Becomes Also, a page number corresponding to each page of the document image can be added. Further, printing can be performed on the left and right pages in a state where the pages are opened like a normal book.

(Embodiment 2) Next, referring to FIG.
Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.

Although not shown, a counting means (not shown) for counting the total number of output sheets of transfer paper provided in the image forming means 6 of the main body of the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment, and a timer circuit 9 for counting date and time data, An error detection unit for detecting an error (service code error) of the main unit and the option unit 50 provided in the control unit 1, a non-volatile ring buffer type history memory 13 as a history storage unit for storing various information, Display means 8 capable of displaying character information, and based on the error detection information by the error detection means, the control RO of the main body and the option unit 50 is controlled.
M ROM version, total output number, error occurrence time, and error code are stored in the history memory 13 and can be displayed on the display unit 12.

The optional unit 50 is controlled by an image control unit 55 and includes a FAX board 61, a printer board 62, and a control ROM.
An automatic document feeder 63 and a post-processing device 64 can be cited.

Each information stored in the history memory 13 can be output as a list by the image forming means 6 as required, and further transmitted to the maintenance service contractor via the communication means 3. it can.

In the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment,
When the main power supply or the sub power supply is turned on, the presence / absence of each option unit of the option unit 50 is detected, and if there is an option unit, the ROM version information is recorded at a fixed address of the history memory 13.

When an error occurs, error information is created as follows. a The current time is read from the timer circuit 9. b Read out the total counter value of the counting means 11. c Read the control ROM version of the main unit. d Read out the ROM version of the currently connected option unit 50 from the history memory 13.

The above information a to d is recorded in the history memory 13.

According to the image forming apparatus of the second embodiment,
If an error occurs, information at the time of the error, date and time of the error,
By recording the total count value and the ROM version information of each unit control in the history memory 13, the power is turned off and then displayed on the display means 8 when the power is turned on again.
Alternatively, a list can be output, so that the user or service person can know the error information even after the power of the main body is turned off, and can speed up the restoration process.

(Embodiment 3) An image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

The image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment includes image reading means 2 for reading a document image, document size detecting means 10 for detecting a document size, image memory 5 for storing document image data, image forming means 6, a paper feed unit 21 for feeding the transfer paper, a paper feed size detection unit 22 for detecting the size of the transfer paper to be fed, and the paper feed unit based on the original image data read from the image memory 5. An image forming means 6 for forming an image on the transfer paper fed by 21; a document size detected by the document size detecting means 10;
It is characterized in that it has a magnification determining means 23 for determining a magnification at which the original image data can be accommodated on the transfer paper based on a ratio with the size of the transfer paper detected by the paper feed size detection means 22.

The magnification determining means 23 is configured to determine its own magnification in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the original by the image reading means 2.

In a current image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, image information of a document image is generally read using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), and the read document image information is processed as electronic data. It became possible.

For this reason, many functions are realized by using the image processing technology. One of the functions is to scan a document set on a document table (platen), and to scan the document in the main scanning direction based on the image information. The function of automatically detecting the size and the size in the sub-scanning direction is effective.

When the original size is set on the original platen by the automatic detection function, it is difficult to detect the size of the original document. And the size of any document that can be set on the platen can be detected.

Therefore, when the reading magnification is automatically set as described above, if the original is not of the standard size, the original size detecting means 10 is used to determine the size of the detected original and the length of the selected transfer paper. From the ratio, calculate the maximum magnification that can accommodate the original image in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, respectively, and use the smaller magnification to form an image at the same magnification in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Accordingly, it is possible to form an image at an optimum magnification that can be accommodated on a transfer sheet, regardless of the size of an original, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of erroneous copying such as missing images.

The image of the set document is output by minimizing the margin on the transfer paper by using the automatically calculated respective magnifications in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction as original magnifications. It is also possible.

When the position of the document can be detected at the same time, the image of the document set at an arbitrary position can be formed by the automatic magnification setting without hitting the document against the document abutment plate or the like. Becomes possible.

According to the image forming apparatus of the third embodiment,
Regardless of the shape and size of the original, the optimal magnification that can accommodate all the images on the selected transfer paper can be automatically selected,
It is now possible to appropriately execute variable-magnification copying, which often results in miscopying due to defects such as missing images.

(Embodiment 4) An image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. The image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment includes a document reading unit 2 for reading a document image and an image memory 5 for storing document image data read by the document reading unit 2. The read-only memory 31, which is a specific image storage unit that stores a plurality of specific images (superimposed images 1 to N), the paper feeding unit 21 that feeds transfer paper, and the image data read from the image memory 5. Image forming means 6 for superimposing and combining the original document image data and the specific image read from the read-only memory 31 included in the image memory 5 with the transfer paper fed by the paper feeding means 21 And a compression algorithm for compressing the read image obtained by reading the original image by the document reading means 2 in the configuration of the image forming apparatus having: Is compressed by the same compression algorithm, it is a feature that stored and held in the read only memory 31 included in the image memory 5.

The specific image for superimposing and synthesizing is decompressed by a decompression algorithm used when a compressed image is decompressed when storing a normal image forming operation, and is used for image formation. The compression / expansion processing of the specific image for superimposition synthesis is performed by an integrated circuit dedicated to image compression / expansion processing used in normal image formation.
This is performed using the compression / decompression integrated circuit 40 shown in FIG.

The superimposed images 1 to N can be read in advance from a scanner, image drawing software,
The image is created by a word processor or the like and held in a read-only memory or a magnetic storage medium, and is realized on an image superimposed memory 42 included in the image memory 5 with the image read from the document reading means 2.

Such a superimposed image stored in advance is often stored as it is in a bitmap format for simplification of normal processing. However, storing the read-only image in the bitmap format in this way can simplify and speed up the processing, but requires a large amount of storage media for storing the image.

In some cases, the superimposed images 1 to N are compressed and stored in advance by a program process, and are expanded again by a program process at the time of reading and used for processing such as superimposition. In addition, it takes more time, and the time that the CPU is occupied by the image decompression process is increased, thereby deteriorating the performance of the entire system.

On the other hand, in the case where an image read by a digital copier is usually stored in a storage memory, the image read from the document reading device is used to reduce the memory usage of the document image stored in the storage memory. The image is compressed and held from the start, and the image is formed while decompressing the compressed image data at the time of image formation. The compression / decompression processing of the image normally used in the copy operation is performed at the speed of image formation of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, it is desirable that the processing be performed by hardware using a dedicated integrated circuit.

In the fourth embodiment, as described above, an image captured by a scanner or the like held for superimposing images or an image created by image drawing software or a word processor is used to reduce the amount of image information. The image compression processing is compressed by software using the same algorithm as that used in the compression / expansion integrated circuit 40 used in normal image formation, and is stored in the read-only memory 31 or the magnetic storage medium.

In this way, when an image necessary for processing such as superposition is read out from the read-only memory 31 or the magnetic storage medium and developed on the image superimposition memory 42, it is used in the normal image forming expansion processing. Hardware expansion processing by the compression / expansion integrated circuit 40 can be used.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the image superimposing process.

The images from the image reading means 2 are stored in the image superimposing memory 42 without compression, and the superimposed images 1 to N stored in the read-only memory 31 in advance.
Is transmitted to the image superimposing memory 42 while being expanded by the compression / expansion integrated circuit 40 to superimpose the images.

After the images are superimposed by the image superimposing memory 42, the superimposed images are stored as compressed images 1 to N in the readable / writable memory 43 included in the image memory 5 while being compressed.

When the storage of the image for one page is completed, the compressed images 1 to N are read from the readable / writable memory 43, and are sent to the image forming means 6 while being expanded by the compression / expansion integrated circuit 40 to form the image. In FIG. 11,
The numbers in the circles indicate the order of processing.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the image rotation copy process.

The image from the image reading means 2 is stored in the image rotation memory 45 without compression, and the image is rotated by the image rotation memory 45 included in the image memory 5. 43, the compressed images 1 to N are stored.

When the storage of the image for one page is completed, the compressed images 1 to N are read from the readable / writable memory 43, and sent to the image forming means 6 while being expanded by the compression / expansion integrated circuit 40 to form the image.

FIG. 13 shows an example of the normal copy process.

The image from the image reading means 2 is stored in the readable / writable memory 43 while being compressed, and when the storage of the image for one page is completed, the compressed images 1 to N are read from the readable / writable memory 43, The image is sent to the image forming means 6 while being expanded by the circuit 40 to form an image.

According to the fourth embodiment, the image is compressed,
By storing data in a read-only memory or magnetic storage medium, the storage capacity of the storage medium can be saved, and it is not necessary to implement a special program for decompressing a compressed image. Since the decompression processing can be performed by the integrated circuit, the processing can be speeded up.

Further, the use of a decompression-only integrated circuit used in normal image formation does not require the mounting of a special integrated circuit, thereby reducing the cost.

[0088]

According to the present invention, an original image and a stamp,
It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can accurately realize a combining process with a page, a numbering image, and the like.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus in which a user or service person can know error information even after the power of the main body is turned off, and can speed up the restoration process.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of automatically selecting an optimum magnification capable of accommodating all original images on a selected transfer paper regardless of the shape and size of the original and executing image formation. it can.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the capacity of a storage medium and realizing a reduction in cost while increasing the processing speed of the entire apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a screen of an applied function among display screens of a display unit in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a stamp / watermark selection screen among display screens of a display unit in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a watermark selection screen among display screens of a display unit in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an order of selecting a date and time, a stamp, a page, a number ring, and specifying a printing position in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a print position designation screen according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a composite image of a watermark and a document image according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process for printing priority of date, page, and numbering in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a main block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a main block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a superposition copy process in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating image rotation copy processing in an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a normal copy process in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 control means 2 document reading means 3 communication means 5 image memory 6 image forming means 7 image processing means 8 display means 9 timer circuit 10 document size detecting means 13 history memory 21 paper feeding means 23 magnification determining means 31 read-only memory 40 compression / expansion Integrated circuit 42 Image superimposition memory 43 Read / write memory 50 Optional unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/00 G03G 21/00 382 1/393 G06F 15/66 450 (72) Inventor Mitsunori Takahashi Hachioji, Tokyo 2970 Ishikawacho, Ichikawa-cho In-house (72) Inventor Masaki Kakuya 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Co., Ltd.In-house F-term (reference) 2H027 DA38 DA45 DB09 DC19 EE08 EK01 FA06 FA19 FA27 FB12 FC02 FD01 FD03 FD08 FD10 5B057 AA11 BA02 BA24 BA26 CA02 CA12 CA16 CB02 CB12 CB16 CB19 CD05 CE08 CH18 DA07 DA16 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB17 AB20 AB22 AB23 AB38 AC06 AC07 AC24 AC58 AC67 AF06 AF07 BA00 5C076 AA14 AA16 AA21 AA22 AA40 CA02 CA08 CB01 CB02

Claims (12)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus that combines a document image and a plurality of types of combined images and forms an image of the combined image by an image forming unit selects and specifies the type and position designation of the plurality of types of combined images. An image forming apparatus comprising: designating means for designating a magnification together with image processing means for combining with a document image in order of priority when a plurality of types of combined images have the same position designation. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit is capable of selecting a combining position for each of a plurality of types of combined images. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specifying unit uses a function of forming an image of two pages of the original image on one transfer sheet, and a case of using a continuous page copy function. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein it is possible to select whether to add a page or to add a page for each page. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit enlarges or reduces an image area of the composite image according to a magnification specified by the specifying unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image processing unit has a blank page insertion function, a page number is skipped for a blank page. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit automatically performs image synthesis in which a page number is added to the right and left sides of the transfer sheet when the booklet function is used. 7. An image forming apparatus for forming an image by image forming means, comprising: a main body having a control ROM having a ROM version; an optional unit having a control ROM having a ROM version added to the main body; Counting means for counting the total number of sheets output by the image forming means; a timer circuit for measuring date and time data; error detecting means for detecting errors of the main body and the optional unit; history storing means for storing various information; Display means capable of displaying the same. Based on the error detection information obtained by the error detection means, the ROM version of the control ROM of the main unit and the optional unit, the total number of output sheets, the error occurrence time, and the error code are stored in the history. Means for storing and displaying the information on the display means. Image forming apparatus. 8. An image reading means for reading an original image, a size detecting means for detecting an original size, a storage means for storing original image data, a paper feeding means for feeding a transfer paper, and a transfer to be fed Paper feed size detecting means for detecting the size of paper, image forming means for forming an image on transfer paper fed by the paper feeding means based on the document image data read from the storage means, and document size detecting means Magnification ratio determining means for determining a magnification ratio at which the original image data can be stored on the transfer paper based on a ratio between the detected original size and the size of the transfer paper detected by the paper feed size detection means. Image forming apparatus. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the magnification determining unit determines a unique magnification in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the document by the image reading unit. 10. A document reading device for reading a document image, a storage device for storing document image data read by the document reading device, and a specific image storage device for storing a specific image for superimposing and combining in advance. Paper feed means for feeding the transfer paper; and transferring the original image data read from the storage means and the specific image read from the specific image storage means to the transfer paper fed by the paper feed means. An image forming apparatus having an image forming unit that forms by superimposing and synthesizing, wherein the specific image for superimposing and synthesizing is formed by a compression algorithm that is the same as the compression algorithm used to compress the image read by the document reading unit. An image forming apparatus, which is compressed and stored in a specific image storage unit. 11. The specific image for superimposing and combining,
11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image is formed by performing a decompression process using a decompression algorithm used when a compressed image is decompressed when storing a normal image forming operation. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the compression / expansion processing of the specific image for superimposition synthesis is performed using an integrated circuit dedicated to image compression / expansion processing used in normal copying. Image forming apparatus.