JP2006115348A - Image information device and image printing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image information device capable of automatically recognizing, segmenting and storing an image to be printed for a manuscript including the image to be printed at a part of the manuscript, memorizing only necessary minimum information to reconstruct an original image, and performing appropriate intensive printing without applying time and effort. <P>SOLUTION: A digital copier comprises an image reader 1 for inputting an image data, a storage 5 for accumulating the inputted image data, and an image output portion 2 for outputting the image data inputted. An image processor 7 automatically segments only an effective range of an image from the inputted image data. The storage 5 stores the segmented image data, together with an image reconstruction information acquired during segmentation. Then, an image construction portion 8 constructs the image at a printing region using the image data, and the image reconstruction information stored in the storage 5. Finally, an image output portion 2 prints the constructed image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image information apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a printer having an image storage function, and more particularly to an image information apparatus having an aggregation function for outputting a plurality of pages of a document on one print sheet.

Image information devices equipped with printing means (image forming means) such as digital copiers and printers, in addition to the normal printing function that prints one page of a document on a single sheet of printing paper, Some have a function of printing on a single sheet of paper, and a function of reducing a document of a plurality of pages and printing it on a single sheet of paper. These functions are known by names such as aggregate printing or Nin1 (N-in-one) printing.
This aggregate printing is intended to reduce the number of printed sheets and plays a role in resource saving. The image information apparatus having such an aggregate printing function stores a plurality of types of print format data for aggregate printing corresponding to the number of stored pages for each paper size of the printing paper used for output in the memory. Printing is performed by calling data in a print format designated by the user at the time of printing.
However, in the conventional technology related to the above-described aggregate printing, the size of the original document itself is used at the time of aggregation. Therefore, in the case of an original document that has only a part of the image, reduction including a blank part included in the original image is performed. Is called. Accordingly, there is a problem that even a manuscript that can be printed without being actually reduced is reduced, and a useless blank portion is output.
In order to solve this, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, a user designates a necessary area, and the designated portion is collectively printed.
Patent Document 2 discloses a clipping technique. In this conventional technique, in pre-scanning, a logical sum operation unit obtains an effective image area in the main scanning direction from line data, and two flip-flops are used for original documents in the sub-scanning direction. Area information is output, and the document area is determined based on the data.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-261800 JP-A-7-307856

However, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 is effective as long as it is consolidated printing in a predetermined format, but the format is not determined, and the image area to be cut out and the appropriate image arrangement position change for each document. In this case, it is necessary to set a cutout region and an image arrangement position each time, which increases the load on the user. The prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2 extracts not the image area but the area of the original paper, and is not a technique for reconstructing the original image or performing aggregate printing.
An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem of the prior art. Specifically, in a document having a print target image as a part of the document, the print target image is automatically recognized. By cutting out and saving, you can save time by reducing the number of blank pages to be printed and reducing the number of paper used, reconstructing the original image by storing only the minimum necessary information, and taking time and effort. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image information apparatus that can perform appropriate aggregate printing without any problem.

In order to solve the above-described problem, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an image input means for inputting image data, a storage means for storing the input image data, and an image for outputting the input image data An image information device comprising an output means, comprising: an image cutout means for automatically cutting out only an effective range of an image from input image data, and obtaining the image data cut out by the image cutout means at the time of the cutout The information is stored in the storage unit together with the reconstruction information, and an image is constructed using the image data and the image reconstruction information stored in the storage unit.
Further, in the invention described in claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1, the image reconstruction information is configured to include original image size information indicating an image size before image cutting and position information of the cut image. .
According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the input image data is a color image, and includes a background recognition unit that recognizes a background portion of the color image. The image cutout unit is configured to cut out the effective range of the image with respect to the image data from which the background color of the recognized background portion is removed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the background color information indicating the background color is stored in the storage means.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or third aspect of the present invention, the effective range of the image is an effective range for each color included in the input image data. The effective range of the image is cut out every time.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of image data stored in the storage means are output within a range that fits in the output paper size.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality of image data stored in the storage unit is output onto a print sheet having a sheet size that can accommodate the plurality of images.
Further, in the invention described in claim 8, in the invention described in claim 6 or claim 7, when the image does not fit in the remaining print area, the image is rotated 90 degrees and arranged.
In the invention described in claim 9, in the invention described in claim 8, when the image does not fit even if the image is rotated 90 degrees, the image is reduced and arranged.
Further, in the invention described in claim 10, in the invention described in claim 6 or 7, a separator is added around each time the arrangement of each image is determined.

Further, in the invention described in claim 11, in the invention described in claim 6 or claim 7, the arrangement is made in consideration of the binding width and output.
In the invention of claim 12, in the invention of claim 11, in the case of right binding, the arrangement images are arranged in order from the right end of the printing paper.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the twelfth aspect, when arranging the arranged images in order from the right end of the print paper, the start point is shifted from the right end of the print paper by the binding width, and then the start point is set. The operation of shifting the image to the left by the image width and then arranging the image is repeated.
According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image printing method for inputting the image data, storing the input image data, and then printing the stored image data, only the effective range of the image from the input image data. The image data that has been automatically cut out and cut out is stored together with the image reconstruction information acquired at the time of the cutting, and then the image is reconstructed and printed using the stored image data and the image reconstruction information. It was configured to be.
Further, in the invention described in claim 15, in the invention described in claim 14, a plurality of pieces of image data cut out from a plurality of originals are stored together with respective pieces of image reconstruction information acquired at the time of cutting out. A plurality of images are aggregated and printed using the plurality of image data and the respective image reconstruction information.

According to the present invention, in the invention described in claim 1, only the effective range of the image is automatically cut out from the input image data, and the cut out image data is stored together with the image reconstruction information acquired at the time of the cutting out. Since the image can be constructed using the stored image data and the image reconstruction information, the blank area to be printed can be reduced to reduce the number of print sheets used, and the storage space can be used efficiently. Images can be reconstructed, and appropriate aggregated printing can be performed without much effort.
Further, in the invention described in claim 2, in the invention described in claim 1, since the image reconstruction information is the original image size information indicating the image size before image clipping and the position information of the clipped image, An original image having the same size as the original can be reconstructed by arranging the image at the same position as the original.
Further, in the invention described in claim 3, in the invention described in claim 1, the input image data is a color image, an image obtained by recognizing a background portion of the color image and removing a background color of the recognized background portion. Since the effective range of the image can be cut out for the data, the effective image range can be determined even when there is a background color.
In the invention according to claim 4, since the background color information can be accumulated in the invention according to claim 3, the background color can be reproduced at the time of reconstruction even if the background color is removed.

In the invention described in claim 5, in the invention described in claim 1 or claim 3, the effective range of the image is an effective range for each color included in the input image data, and for each color. Since the effective range of the image can be cut out, in the case of a color image, the image data to be accumulated can be further reduced.
Also, in the invention described in claim 6, in the invention described in claim 1, since the plurality of stored image data can be output within the range that fits in the output paper size, the collective printing can be performed without bothering the user. Yes, and the printing paper size can be unified.
Further, in the invention according to claim 7, in the invention according to claim 1, since the plurality of stored image data can be output on a printing paper having a size that can accommodate the plurality of images, the data is aggregated without bothering the user. Printing can be performed and printing can be performed on a single sheet of printing paper.
Further, in the invention according to claim 8, in the invention according to claim 6 or 7, when the image does not fit in the remaining print area, the image can be rotated 90 degrees and arranged, so that it is more efficient. Integrated printing.
In the invention according to claim 9, in the invention according to claim 8, when the image does not fit even if the image is rotated 90 degrees, the image can be reduced and arranged, so that more efficient collective printing is possible. Can do.
Further, in the invention described in claim 10, in the invention described in claim 6 or claim 7, since a separation line can be added around each time the arrangement of each image is determined, it is difficult to understand by automatically arranging the image. It is possible to easily specify the correspondence between the border and the manuscript.

Further, in the invention according to claim 11, in the invention according to claim 6 or claim 7, since it can be arranged and output in consideration of the binding width, even if it is necessary to make the binding width empty, the invention according to claim 6 or claim The effect of the invention of claim | item 7 can be acquired.
In the invention according to claim 12, in the invention according to claim 11, in the case of right binding, the arranged images can be arranged in order from the right end of the printing paper, so that even right binding can be arranged appropriately.
According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, in the invention of the twelfth aspect, when arranging the arranged images in order from the right end of the print paper, the start point is shifted from the right end of the print paper by the binding width, and then the start point is set. Since the operation of arranging the image after repeating the shift to the left by the image width is repeated, the invention of claim 12 can be easily realized.
In the invention described in claim 14, only the effective range of the image is automatically cut out from the input image data, and the cut out image data is stored after being stored together with the image reconstruction information acquired at the time of the cutting out. In addition, since the image can be reconstructed and printed using the image data and the image reconstruction information, it is possible to reduce the number of print sheets used by reducing the blank area to be printed without taking time and effort. In addition, the original image can be reconstructed using the storage space efficiently.
Further, in the invention described in claim 15, in the invention described in claim 14, a plurality of pieces of image data cut out from a plurality of originals are stored together with respective pieces of image reconstruction information acquired at the time of cutting out. Since a plurality of images can be collectively arranged and printed using the plurality of image data and the information for reconstructing each image, appropriate aggregation printing can be performed without taking time and effort.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the components, types, combinations, shapes, relative positions, and the like described in this embodiment are not merely intended to limit the scope of this description unless otherwise specified, but are merely illustrative examples. .
FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a digital copying machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, this digital copying machine includes an image reading unit 1 that reads an original, an image output unit 2 that forms an image on a printing paper, an engine unit 3 that controls the image reading unit 1 and the image output unit 2, a program A controller 4 that controls the entire digital copying machine with a CPU that operates in accordance with the above, a storage device (for example, a hard disk device) 5 that stores input image data, etc., an operation key, a display device, etc. An operation unit 6 that is operated by a person is provided.
Further, in the controller 4, an original image is processed by using an image processing unit 7 that performs a process of cutting out only an effective range (image area) of the image from the input image data, and a plurality of image data cut out of only the image area. An image construction unit 8 for reconstructing or arranging a plurality of images in one page of the output image is provided.
In the digital copying machine of this embodiment, the image input means described in the claims is realized by the image reading section 1, the image output means is realized by the image output section 2, and the storage means is realized by the storage device 5. A clipping unit is realized by the image processing unit 7.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention implemented using such a digital copying machine will be described.

FIG. 2 shows an operation flow of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, according to FIG. 2, Example 1 is demonstrated.
In this embodiment, first, the controller 4 causes the user to input printing paper information such as the size of the printing paper through the operation unit 6 to acquire the printing paper information and store it in the memory in the controller 4 (S1). . Subsequently, the controller 4 causes the image reading unit 1 or other image input device to read (input) the image data, and passes the image data to the image processing unit 7 (S2). Then, the image processing unit 7 corrects the input image data and determines the image area (S3). In this image discrimination process, it can be easily discriminated by taking histograms in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction of the document for the sent image data for each pixel. In this manner, the image processing unit 7 determines the image area, the size of the original document, the relative position of the image area with respect to the original document, the image size, and the like.
Subsequently, the image processing unit 7 discriminates the print area from the already acquired size of the printing paper (S4), and stores the discriminated information as image data of the image area in the storage device 5 (S5). Note that when acquiring image data of an image area, the image data is acquired by looking at a predetermined amount of margin, not just the image area, in order to prevent the image from being cut. In the case of a color image, the effective range of the image is cut out using the above-described method for each color information such as RGB, and information determined as image data is stored in the storage device 5 for each color information. By doing so, it is possible to compress information about color information that is not used extremely.
In this case, the effective range of the image may be cut out for image data from which the background color of the background (background) portion is removed. By subtracting the background color information from the original image, the image area can be reduced even when the entire document has color information. The background is recognized by the image processing unit 7 that also functions as a background recognition unit as a region in which the same color continues from the edge. In addition, the image area can be limited by acquiring the background color information for each color information. The storage device 5 stores the background color (background color) information as a set in addition to the image data of the image area, the original document size, the relative position information of the image area, and the image area information.
When the necessary information for the document is stored, the controller 4 determines whether there is a remaining document (S6), and if there is (Y in S6), repeats from step S2.
After that, when reconstructing the original image based on the information stored in the storage device 5, first, the image construction unit 8 determines the arrangement position of the first image region (S7). Then, the image construction unit 8 develops the image data of the first image region at the arrangement position (S8).
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is a remaining image area (S9). If there is (Y in S9), the process is repeated from step S7. When there is no remaining image area (N in S9), the controller 4 passes the reconstructed image data to the engine unit 3, and the image output unit 2 performs printing (S10).

Next, a process for reconstructing an image from stored information will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The stored information includes image data of the image area, original document size, relative position information of the image area, image area information, and possibly background color information. 3A shows an example of the original image, and FIG. 3B shows an example of the stored information. The image construction unit 8 reconstructs the original image based on such stored information. FIG. 3C shows the reconstructed image.
To generate the reconstructed image shown in FIG. 3C on the memory from the saved information shown in FIG. 3B, first, w4 × y + x minutes from the address of the start position on the memory where the image data is developed. Just advance the address and write the data for w1 from there. Further, it advances to an address obtained by adding w4 × (y + 1) + x to the address of the start position, and writes data for w1 of the next line. It is possible to reconstruct the original image by performing this for the h1 line.
The same operation can be performed for a color image (see FIG. 4). In order to configure this part by hardware, for example, in the case of a color image, a buffer memory for reconstructing the original image is provided, and the color information is converted into a specified format and then expanded on the buffer memory. It is also possible to reduce useless access to. In the configuration in which (background color information (background color information) is also stored in the storage device 5, the background color can also be reproduced.
Thus, according to this embodiment, since a print target image can be automatically recognized in a document having a print target image in a part of the document, the blank area to be printed can be reduced and paper can be reduced without much trouble. The number of images used can be reduced, and only the minimum necessary information can be stored to reconstruct the original image.

In this embodiment, an image is cut out from a document in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and aggregate printing is performed using stored image data and stored information such as image area information.
FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of image construction (image arrangement) in aggregate printing, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams thereof. Hereinafter, the operation flow will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the following, a case will be described where two print target images A1 and A2 shown in FIG. 6 are arranged on a print sheet. It is assumed that the sizes of the images A1 and A2 are obtained as in the first embodiment. The printable area can be determined from the size of the printing paper. This printable area is called a print area.
First, the image construction unit 8 acquires the long side length ph and the short side length pw of the print area (S11). In the example of the print image P4 shown in FIG. 6, the long side length is h4 and the short side length is w4. Further, the long side length aw and the short side length ah of the arrangement image are acquired (S12). In the example shown in FIG. 6, if the first image to be arranged is A1, for example, the long side length is w1 and the short side length is h1.
At first, considering that the short side pw of the print area (w4 in P4) and the long side aw (w1 in A1) of the first image are arranged to match, the image construction unit 8 compares pw and aw. (S13). When pw> aw (the example of FIG. 6A is like this) (Yes in S13), the arrangement image can be arranged at that position, so the image arrangement position is set to that position. (S14).

On the other hand, as in the example of the print image P5 shown in FIG. 6B, the relationship between the short side pw (w5) of the print area and the long side aw (w3) of the arrangement image A3 is pw <aw (w5 < If it is w3) (No in S13), it cannot be arranged in the print area, and therefore the image construction unit 8 determines whether or not the arrangement image can be arranged in a state rotated by 90 ° (S15). If the arrangement is possible (Yes in S15), the image construction unit 8 rotates the arrangement image by 90 ° (see FIG. 6B) (S16). In this state, if the arrangement is impossible (No in S15), and if the reduction is possible (Yes in S17), the reduction is performed so that the long side length aw of the arrangement image becomes smaller than the short side length pw of the print area. Perform (S18). If the image cannot be reduced (No in S17), the fact that printing is not possible is displayed (S19), and the operation is stopped.
Thus, when the arrangement position of the arrangement image is set (S14), it is determined whether or not there is a remaining arrangement image (S20). If there is a remaining arrangement image (Yes in S20), the remaining size of the print area is changed (S21). ). The changing method is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the position is determined by aligning the long side of the image A with the short side of the print region (P6), printing is performed as indicated by the dotted line in the print region (P6). A division is made perpendicular to the long side of the area (P6), and the area opposite to the arrangement A is set as the remaining print area. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the position is determined by aligning the long side of the image A with the long side of the print area (P7), the position is indicated by a dotted line in the print area (P7). In this way, a partition is made perpendicular to the short side of the print area (P7), and the side opposite to the image A is set as the remaining print area.
Thereafter, the printing area is repeated from step S12 as the changed printing area. When the image arrangement is completed (No in S20), the controller 4 passes the reconstructed image data to the engine unit 3 and performs printing by the image output unit 2 (S22).
Thus, according to this embodiment, since an image to be printed can be automatically recognized in a document having a print target image as a part of the document, collective printing can be performed without taking time and effort.

FIG. 8 shows an example of collective printing in which the layout image is tiled in the print area and printed. When the user extracts a plurality of images from the input image and instructs to print as many images as possible on one print sheet, the controller 4 displays a print image P7 shown in FIG. Form an image.
There are basically two types of arrangement methods for such aggregated printing, such as the arrangement in the print images P8 and P9 shown in FIG. Therefore, when trying to arrange as many arrangement images as possible in the print area, the image construction unit 8 uses an arrangement method such as the print image P8 in which the short side of the arrangement image is aligned with the short side of the print area, and the print area short. Which one can be arranged more is determined by the arrangement method such as the print image P9 in which the long side of the arrangement image is aligned with the side. Since the size of the print area and the size of the arrangement image are known in advance, it can be obtained by comparing the print area with the arrangement image. The arrangement image is arranged by the arrangement method determined in this way, and a print image is generated.

As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, a plurality of images having different sizes are arranged. Assume that images A, B, C, D, and E shown in FIG. 10 are input in this order. In the storage device 5, the top of the reconstructed image (upper left in the example) is stored as a start point.
At the time of reconstruction (at the time of aggregate printing), the image construction unit 8 first arranges the image A based on the start point. After the image A is arranged, the start point is moved to the right by the width of the image A in the illustrated example. Next, the image B is arranged. At this time, the image construction unit 8 determines whether the image B can be arranged next to the image A from the image size of the image B. Whether or not it can be arranged is determined from the distance from the start point to the right end of the print area and the width of the image B. In the illustrated example, since there is a space that can be arranged next to the image A, the image B is arranged on the right side of the image A.
Further, the start point is advanced by the width of the image B, and it is determined whether the image C can be arranged on the right side of the image B. In the case of the illustrated example, since it cannot be placed right next to the image B, the start point is returned to the left end, the start point is moved downward by the longer length in the vertical direction of the image A or the image B, and from there Image C is arranged. Then, the start point is moved by the width of the image C. Similarly, the image D is also arranged.
Since it can be seen that the arrangement of the image E cannot be arranged on the constructed image, one printing image is completed at this point. The image E is also created as the second reconstructed image. Here, the size of the printing paper is fixed, and if it does not fit in that size, the rest is placed on another printing paper. However, the printing paper is of a size that can accommodate multiple images to be placed. It may be configured to output.
Thus, according to this embodiment, it is possible to perform appropriate aggregate printing according to the situation.

In the fifth embodiment, an efficient image arrangement method will be described with reference to FIG. Assume that images A, B, and C are input in this order.
First, the image A is arranged like the print image P10 shown in FIG. It can be seen that the vacant print area after placement is S1 in the long side direction and S2 in the short side direction. For image B, both of these two areas are targeted when determining the arrangement position. As a result, the image B is arranged like the print image P11 shown in FIG. By arranging the image B, the print area becomes S3. Finally, an image C is arranged (see P12 in FIG. 11), and this is generated as a print image.
In the above, it is possible to add a dividing line around each time the arrangement of each image is determined. Thereby, the user can easily know the remaining arrangement range (printing area) after each arrangement. In addition to information such as the size of each layout image, the number of the read image is stored as a page number. By adding these functions, it is possible to easily specify the correspondence between the image boundaries and the manuscript, which is difficult to understand by automatic placement.

In this embodiment, aggregate printing is performed in consideration of right binding or left binding as shown in FIG. In the case of left binding, the image may be constructed by moving the start point as shown in the third embodiment, but in the case of right binding, it is easier to read if the images are arranged in order from the right. Therefore, in right binding, the image is constructed by repeating the operation of placing the image after shifting the start point to the left by the image width, with the start point being the upper right on the constructed image.
FIG. 13 shows an operation flow in the case of left binding, and FIG. 14 shows an explanatory diagram thereof. Hereinafter, this operation flow will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.
First, the image construction unit 8 sets the start point (sx, sy) with the upper left of the print area as a reference (origin) (S31). sx is a value determined from the binding width.
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is an arrangement image remaining without being arranged (S32). Since there is a remaining image at this time (Yes in S32), the y-direction value sy of the start point at that time is printed. It is determined whether or not the length of the region in the y direction (long side length) h4 is smaller (S33). At this point in time, there is no arranged column, and therefore sy is smaller than h4 (Yes in S33), so whether or not sx + wi (here w1) is smaller than the x-direction length (short side length) w4 of the print area. Is determined (S34). Thus, at this time, it is determined that sx + wi is smaller than w4 (Yes in S34), and the image construction unit 8 draws the arrangement image (here, image A) by aligning the upper left of the arrangement image with the start point at that time ( S35).

Next, the image construction unit 8 adds the x-direction length wi of the image to the value sx of the start point in the x direction and moves the start point to the right (S36). Further, it is determined whether or not the y-direction length hi of the images is larger than the maximum y-direction length max_h of the same arranged images (S37), and if it is larger (Yes in S37), the y-direction length of the images hi is set to max_h (S38). Then, the value of i is increased by 1 to make the arrangement target the next image (S39), and the process is repeated from step S32.
In step S34, if it is determined that sx + wi obtained by adding the x-direction length of the arrangement image to sx that is the x value of the start point at that time is greater than the x-direction length w4 of the print area (S34). No), it is impossible to arrange in the line, so the start point is moved to the beginning of the next stage (S41). That is, sx = w0 (w0 is the binding width) and sy = sy + max_h, and the process returns to step S32.
If it is determined in the repeated step S33 that the y-direction value sy of the start point at that time is larger than the y-direction length h4 of the printing area (No in S33), the image arrangement on the printing paper is terminated. Then, the printing is started and the process moves to the image arrangement on the next printing paper (S40). If it is determined in step S32 that there are no remaining images (unplaced images) (No in S32), the operation flow is terminated.
Next, an operation flow in the case of right binding will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16.
First, the image construction unit 8 sets the start point (sx, sy) with reference to the upper right of the print area (S51). That is, let sx be w4-w0 (w0 is the binding width) with the upper left as the origin.
Subsequently, it is determined whether or not there is a layout image remaining (S52). Since there is still a remaining at this time (Yes in S52), the y-direction value sy at that time is the y-direction of the print area. It is determined whether the length (long side length) is smaller than h4 (S53). At this point in time, there is no arranged column yet, so sy is smaller than h4 (Yes in S53), and it is determined whether sx-wi (here, w1) is a positive value (S54). Thus, at this time, sx-wi is determined to be a positive value (Yes in S54), and the image construction unit 8 subtracts the x-direction length wi of the image from the x-direction value sx of the start point at that time to start point Is moved to the left (S55).

Next, the image construction unit 8 draws the arrangement image (here, image A) by aligning the upper left of the arrangement image with the moved start point (S56). Further, it is determined whether or not the y-direction length hi of the image is the same and the maximum y-direction length max_h of the already arranged images (S57). If it is larger (Yes in S57), the y-direction length of the image is determined. hi is set to max_h (S58). Then, the value of i is increased by 1 to make the arrangement target the next image (S59), and the process is repeated from step S52.
If it is determined in the repeated step S54 that sx-wi obtained by subtracting the x-direction length of the arrangement image from sx that is the x value of the start point at that time is negative (No in S54). Since it is impossible to arrange them in the line, the start point is moved to the right of the next stage (S61). That is, sx = w4-w0 and sy = sy + max_h are set, and the process returns to step S52.
If it is determined in the repeated step S53 that the y-direction value sy of the start point at that time is greater than the y-direction length h4 of the printing area (No in S53), the image arrangement on the printing paper is terminated. Then, the printing is started and the process moves to the image arrangement on the next printing paper (S60). If it is determined in step S52 that there are no remaining images (unplaced images) (No in S52), the operation flow is terminated.
Thus, according to this embodiment, in a document having a print target image as a part of the document, the print target image is automatically recognized and cut out, and appropriate collective printing can be performed even when the binding width is left. it can.

1 is a configuration block diagram of a digital copying machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the digital copying machine showing the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main part of the digital copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is another operation explanatory diagram of the main part of the digital copying machine showing the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of the main part of a digital copying machine showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main part of a digital copying machine showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is another operation explanatory view of the main part of the digital copying machine showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a main part of a digital copying machine showing a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is another operation explanatory diagram of the main part of the digital copying machine showing a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main part of a digital copying machine showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a main part of a digital copying machine showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the main part of a digital copying machine showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an operation flowchart of the main part of a digital copying machine showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Another operation explanatory view of the main part of the digital copying machine showing the sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is another operation flowchart of the main part of the digital copying machine showing the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Another operation explanatory view of the main part of the digital copying machine showing the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reading part 2 Image output part 3 Engine part 4 Controller 5 Storage device 6 Operation part 7 Image processing part 8 Image construction part

Claims (15)

  In an image information apparatus comprising an image input means for inputting image data, a storage means for storing input image data, and an image output means for outputting image data after being input, from the input image data An image cutout unit that automatically cuts out only the effective range of the image is provided, and the image data cut out by the image cutout unit is stored in the storage unit together with the image reconstruction information acquired at the time of cutout. An image information apparatus configured to construct an image using the stored image data and the image reconstruction information.   The image information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reconstruction information is original image size information indicating an image size before image clipping and position information of the clipped image.   The image information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input image data is a color image, and includes background recognition means for recognizing a background portion of the color image, and a background color of the background portion recognized by the background recognition means. An image information apparatus characterized in that the image cutout means is configured to cut out an effective range of the image with respect to image data from which image data has been removed.   4. The image information apparatus according to claim 3, wherein background color information indicating the background color is stored in the storage means.   4. The image information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the effective range of the image is an effective range for each color included in the input image data, and the effective range of the image is cut out for each color. An image information apparatus characterized by having a configuration.   2. The image information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information apparatus is configured to output a plurality of image data stored in the storage means within a range that fits in an output paper size.   2. The image information apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pieces of image data stored in the storage unit are output onto a print sheet having a sheet size in which the plurality of images can be accommodated.   8. The image information apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the image does not fit in the remaining printing area, the image is rotated by 90 degrees and arranged.   9. The image information apparatus according to claim 8, wherein if the image does not fit even if the image is rotated by 90 degrees, the image is reduced and arranged.   8. The image information apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a separator is added around each time the arrangement of each image is determined.   8. The image information device according to claim 6, wherein the image information device is arranged in consideration of the binding width and outputs the result.   12. The image information apparatus according to claim 11, wherein in the case of right binding, the arrangement image is arranged in order from the right end of the printing paper.   13. The image information apparatus according to claim 12, wherein when arranging the arranged images in order from the right edge of the printing paper, the start point is shifted from the right edge of the printing paper by the binding width, and then the start point is shifted to the left by the image width. An image information apparatus characterized by repeating the operation of arranging images afterwards.   In an image printing method for inputting image data, storing the input image data, and then printing the stored image data, only the effective range of the image is automatically cut out from the input image data, and the image data is cut out Is stored together with the image reconstruction information acquired at the time of the cutout, and then the image is reconstructed and printed using the stored image data and the image reconstruction information. 15. The image printing method according to claim 14, wherein a plurality of pieces of image data cut out from a plurality of originals are stored together with respective pieces of image reconstruction information acquired at the time of cutting out, and then the plurality of stored image data and the respective pieces of image data are stored. An image printing method, wherein a plurality of images are aggregated and printed using image reconstruction information.

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