JP2011004356A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a burden on a user when using an integrating function of an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes: a document reading section for reading a document to generate image data representing an image of the document; a control section which generates integrated image data for summarizing and forming images for the designated number of documents on one recording paper sheet on the basis of the image data of a plurality of documents read by the document reading section, determines presence/absence of an extraction range in the image of each document, and generates extraction image data for forming images included within the extraction range on one recording paper sheet on the basis of the image data of the document for which the presence of the extraction range is determined; and an image forming section for forming on the recording paper sheet an image based on the integrated image data and the extraction image data in response to an instruction from the control section.

Description

 The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a multifunction machine.

Recent image forming apparatuses such as copiers and multifunction machines have an aggregation function (such as a 2-in-1 function) that forms images corresponding to a plurality of originals on a single recording sheet in order to save recording sheets. .
Techniques related to the aggregation function are disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 below.

The technique of Patent Document 1 acquires delimiter data indicating a method of arrangement on a recording sheet when using an aggregation function from document image data, and uses information indicating a plurality of types of delimiter levels included in the delimiter data. The separation level is determined, and the arrangement of images formed on the recording sheet is controlled based on the separation data and the separation level.
The technique of Patent Document 2 detects position information of an effective image area including all black pixels of each image data when printing and outputting image data of a plurality of originals on a transfer sheet, and detects the detected effective image area. Based on the position information, the aggregated image data is created by aggregating the image data so as to fit on one transfer paper size.

In the technique of Patent Document 3, the necessary part of the corresponding page in the image data generated by the image data generation unit is specified and extracted by the print control information generation unit, and is stored in the storage unit. The generated image data is executed by the print control information generation means as an aggregate print function.
In the technique of Patent Document 4, aggregation information including information on whether or not to perform aggregation and an aggregation rate in the case of aggregation is input from the operation unit to each of the document images obtained by reading the document. The document image to be aggregated based on the set aggregation information is reduced according to the aggregation rate of the document image, and an aggregate image is created by integrating the reduced document images and aggregation is performed. This creates an equal-size image with respect to a non-original image.

JP 2001-353921 A JP 2002-271605 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-266811 JP 2005-012413 A

  By the way, in a general aggregation function, an original document image is inevitably reduced and printed on a single recording sheet, so that important documents, drawings, tables, and the like may be difficult to see. In this case, the user responds by extracting a document on which important documents, drawings, tables, and the like are extracted and separately printing the same size. In other words, it is necessary to search for a specific document from a plurality of documents, print it at the same magnification, and then restore it to the original, which is a heavy burden on the user.

 The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of reducing the burden on the user when using the aggregation function.

 In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a document reading unit that reads a document and generates image data representing an image of the document, and images of a plurality of documents read by the document reading unit. Based on the data, aggregated image data for collectively forming a specified number of document images on a single recording sheet is generated, and whether or not there is an extraction range in each document image is determined. A control unit that generates extracted image data for forming an image included in the extraction range on a single recording sheet based on the image data of the original document, and the aggregated image data according to an instruction from the control unit And an image forming unit that forms an image based on the extracted image data on a recording sheet.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when the control unit determines whether or not there is an extraction range in the image of each document, a range is specified using a predetermined writing tool as the extraction range in the image. It is characterized by determining whether or not there is an area.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit recognizes a character included in the image by performing a predetermined character recognition process when determining the presence or absence of the extraction range in the image of each document. The presence / absence of the extraction range is determined based on the recognition result of the character.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit performs predetermined image processing when determining the presence or absence of the extraction range in the image of each document, so that a photographic region is used as the extraction range in the image. It is characterized by determining whether there exists.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention further includes an operation unit that receives an operation input by a user and sends operation input information corresponding to the operation input to the control unit, wherein the control unit includes the operation input information. The presence or absence of an extraction range in the image is determined by determining whether or not the extraction range designation information is included.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may further include a display unit, and the control unit may include the display unit in the document image determined to have the extraction range before instructing the image forming unit to form an image. An image included in the extraction range is displayed on the display unit.

 The image forming apparatus according to the present invention may further include a display unit, and the control unit may display page information of the document determined to have the extraction range before instructing the image forming unit to form an image. It is displayed on the display unit.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit includes the aggregated image data and the aggregated image data so that an image based on the extracted image data is formed after all the image formation based on the aggregated image data is completed. The extracted image data is rearranged.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when the image based on the extracted range is included in an image based on the aggregated image data for one page, the control unit corresponds to the one page. So that the image based on the extracted image data corresponding to the document determined to have the extraction range is inserted between the image based on the aggregated image data and the image based on the aggregated image data for the next page. The image data and the extracted image data are rearranged.

 According to the present invention, the presence / absence of an extraction range in the read image of each original is determined, and an image included in the extraction range is recorded on one recording sheet based on the image data of the original determined to have the extraction range. Since a function to generate extracted image data for forming is provided, it is not necessary to search for a specific original from a plurality of originals, print it at the same magnification, and then restore it to the original. It is possible to reduce the burden on the user when using the function.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a functional block configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a supplementary explanatory diagram regarding the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a supplementary explanatory diagram regarding the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a supplementary explanatory diagram regarding the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the following description, as an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, an MFP (Multi Function Peripherals) in which functions of a copier, a printer, and the like are integrated into one unit will be described as an example.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 includes a document reading device (document reading unit) 1 for reading a document, and image data of the document read by the document reading device 1, or from the outside via a communication line. An MFP main body 2 that forms an image on a recording sheet based on the transmitted image data, and includes an aggregation function that aggregates and forms a specified number of document images on a single recording sheet.

 The document reading apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 10 and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 20. The scanner unit 10 reads a document set on the platen glass 11 or a document automatically fed by the ADF 20, and includes a platen glass 11, a white reference plate 12, a full rate carriage 13, a half rate carriage 14, A condenser lens 15 and a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) sensor 16 are provided.

 The platen glass 11 is a glass plate for setting originals to be read one by one. The white reference plate 12 is a white plate for acquiring white reference data for shading correction. The full-rate carriage 13 is provided below the platen glass 11 so as to be reciprocally movable in the left-right direction (scanning direction) along the platen glass 11 by a carriage transport mechanism (not shown), and emits illumination light obliquely upward. And a mirror 13b that reflects reflected light of illumination light toward a half-rate carriage 14 described later.

 Similar to the full-rate carriage 13, the half-rate carriage 14 is provided so as to be reciprocally movable in the left-right direction along the platen glass 11 by a carriage conveyance mechanism (not shown), and the incident light from the mirror 13 b of the full-rate carriage 13 is moved downward. And a mirror 14b that reflects incident light from the mirror 14a toward a condenser lens 15 to be described later. The carriage transport mechanism controls the ratio of the movement amount of the full rate carriage 13 and the movement amount of the half rate carriage 14 to 1: 0.5. Thereby, the optical path length of the illumination light until reaching the condenser lens 15 is controlled to be constant.

 When reading an original set on the platen glass 11, the original is scanned by moving the full rate carriage 13 and the half rate carriage 14 in the scanning direction. However, when the original is automatically fed by the ADF 20 described later, The full-rate carriage 13 and the half-rate carriage 14 are placed on standby at a predetermined document reading position, and the document set is moved (conveyed) to continuously scan a plurality of documents.

 The condensing lens 15 condenses incident light from the mirror 14 b of the half-rate carriage 14 and forms an image on the light receiving surface of the CCD sensor 16. The CCD sensor 16 operates in synchronization with a timing signal supplied from a CCD drive unit (not shown), and photoelectrically converts light received by the light receiving surface, thereby generating an analog voltage signal corresponding to the read image of the document. Generate and output to AFE (analog front end: not shown). The AFE amplifies the analog voltage signal with a predetermined gain setting value, and then digitally converts it to generate image data representing an image of a document read. It is stored in the image data memory 63 under the control of the control unit 60 (see FIG. 2).

 The ADF 20 automatically and continuously feeds a plurality of documents set on the document placement tray 22 one by one, and includes a platen cover 21, a document placement tray 22, a pickup roller 23, a registration roller 24, a platen It comprises a roller 25, a paper discharge roller 26 and the like. The platen cover 21 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the upper surface of the scanner unit 10. The platen cover 21 serves as a document pressing cover when a document is set on the platen glass 11 for reading, a pickup roller 23, a registration roller. 24, a platen roller 25, a paper discharge roller 26, and other members used for an automatic paper feed mechanism. FIG. 1 shows a state where the platen cover 21 is closed.

 The document placing tray 22 is a tray for setting a document to be read. The pickup roller 23 is a roller for picking up the documents set on the document placing tray 22 one by one and carrying them out to the registration rollers 24. The registration roller 24 is a roller for conveying the document to the platen roller 25 at a predetermined timing. The platen roller 25 is a roller for conveying the document to the paper discharge roller 26 via a predetermined document reading position. The paper discharge roller 26 is a roller for discharging the original after reading to the outside. The rotation operations of these rollers are controlled by the control unit 60 of the MFP main body 2.

The MFP body 2 forms a toner image by electrophotography based on the image data of the document read by the document reading device 1 or the image data transmitted from the outside via a communication line, and records the toner image. A toner image forming unit 3 to be transferred to a recording sheet as a medium, a fixing unit 4 for fixing the toner image transferred to the sheet by the toner image forming unit 3, and a sheet via the toner image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 4 Is provided with a paper transport mechanism 5 for transporting the paper to the outside, and paper feed cassettes 6, 7, 8 for storing paper of various sizes. Further, the MFP main body 2 is provided with a manually accessible tray 9 that can be opened and closed on the front side. The sheet placed on the manual tray 9 can be conveyed by the sheet conveying mechanism 5.
The toner image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 4 described above constitute an image forming unit according to the present invention.

   The toner image forming unit 3 includes an intermediate transfer belt 31 and toner image forming units F (FY, FM, FC, respectively) corresponding to yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK). FB), a driving roller 32, a tension roller 33, a secondary transfer roller 34, and a cleaner 35.

 The intermediate transfer belt 31 is an intermediate transfer body for primary transfer of the toner images of the respective colors formed by the toner image forming units F (FY, FM, FC, FB), and is applied to the driving roller 32 and the tension roller 33. It is stretched and is configured to rotate clockwise in FIG.

   Each of the toner image forming units F (FY, FM, FC, FB) includes a photosensitive drum Fa, a charging unit Fb, an exposure unit Fc, a developing unit Fd, and a primary transfer roller Fe. A cleaning device and a static eliminator. The photosensitive drum Fa is set in a cylindrical shape, and an electrostatic latent image and a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image are formed on a peripheral surface thereof. The charging unit Fb is disposed so as to face the photosensitive drum Fa and charges the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum Fa. The exposure unit Fc forms an electrostatic latent image by scanning laser light on the peripheral surface of the charged photosensitive drum Fa based on image data. The developing unit Fd forms (develops) a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum Fa by attaching toner to the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum Fa.

The primary transfer roller Fe is disposed opposite to the photosensitive drum Fa with the intermediate transfer belt 31 interposed therebetween, and primarily transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum Fa to the intermediate transfer belt 31. The secondary transfer roller 34 is disposed opposite to the drive roller 32 with the intermediate transfer belt 31 interposed therebetween, and the intermediate transfer belt is applied to a sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying mechanism 5 from any of the sheet feeding cassettes 6, 7, and 8. The toner image transferred to the surface 31 is secondarily transferred.
The cleaner 35 includes a cleaning roller, a cleaning blade, and the like, and removes residual toner from the intermediate transfer belt 31.

 The fixing unit 4 fixes a toner image secondarily transferred onto a sheet, and includes a heating roller 41 that fixes the toner by applying pressure and heating. The paper transport mechanism 5 includes pickup rollers 51, 52, and 53 for carrying out the paper one by one from the paper feed cassettes 6, 7, and 8, and the toner image forming unit 3 (secondary transfer with the driving roller 32). The paper feed rollers 54, 55, and 56 for transporting the paper to and from the roller 34, and the paper discharge roller 57 for discharging the fixed paper to the outside. The paper feed cassettes 6, 7, and 8 are attached to the MFP main body 2 so as to be freely drawable, and accommodate various sizes of paper.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 100 described above. In FIG. 2, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 60 denotes a control unit, reference numeral 61 denotes a ROM (Read Only Memory), reference numeral 62 denotes a RAM (Random Access Memory), reference numeral 63 denotes an image data memory, reference numeral 64 denotes an operation display unit, and reference numeral 65 denotes a communication I / O. F. Reference numeral 200 denotes a PC (Personal Computer) for giving a print instruction to the image forming apparatus 100 from the outside.

  The control unit 60 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 61, image data stored in the image data memory 63, operation signals input from the operation display unit 64, communication I Based on the print instruction signal and print image data received from the PC 200 via the / F65, each function unit of the image forming apparatus 100 (the document reading device 1, the toner image forming unit 3, the fixing unit 4, the paper transport mechanism 5, etc.) ) Is controlled in an integrated manner to control the image forming operation (toner image forming operation, toner image transfer operation to paper, toner image fixing operation).

  Further, the control unit 60 generates aggregated image data for collectively forming a specified number of document images on a single recording sheet based on a plurality of document image data read by the document reading device 1. At the same time, the presence / absence of an extraction range in the image of each document is determined, and an image included in the extraction range is formed on a single recording sheet at the same magnification or a specified magnification based on the image data of the document determined to have the extraction range. For generating the extracted image data.

 The ROM 61 is a read-only nonvolatile memory that stores a control program used by the control unit 60 and other setting data. The RAM 62 is a volatile working memory used as a temporary storage destination of data when the control unit 60 executes a control program and performs various operations. The image data memory 63 is, for example, a flash memory, and is a rewritable nonvolatile memory that stores image data of a document read by the image reading apparatus 1 and printing image data transmitted from the PC 200 under the control of the control unit 60. Memory.

The operation display unit 64 includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel (display unit) 64a and a touch panel (operation unit) 64b. The liquid crystal panel 64a displays a screen for notifying the user of various operation keys and various information under the control of the control unit 60. The touch panel 64b is placed on the liquid crystal panel 64a, and outputs operation input information corresponding to user operation inputs to various operation keys displayed on the liquid crystal panel 64a to the control unit 60 as operation signals.
The communication I / F 65 is an interface for performing communication between the image forming apparatus 100 (specifically, the control unit 60) and the external PC 200, and is connected to the PC 200 via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). .

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 (more specifically, the control unit 60) according to the present embodiment configured as described above, in particular, the aggregate copy operation that is a feature of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. However, it explains in detail. Note that the control unit 60 performs the aggregate copy operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 when detecting that the user has instructed the start of the aggregate copy based on the operation signal input from the operation display unit 64.

  As shown in FIG. 3, first, when the control unit 60 is instructed to start aggregate copying by the user, the control unit 60 controls the document reading device 1 to read a plurality of documents set on the document placing tray 22. Is started (step S1). Then, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the reading of the final document has been completed (step S2). If “No”, the reading of the document is continued until the reading of the final document is completed. ”(In this case, the image data memory 63 stores image data representing images of all read originals), the process proceeds to step S3.

Subsequently, when the reading of the final document is completed, the control unit 60 performs image processing for a specified number of documents based on image data stored in the image data memory 63 (image data representing images of all read documents). To generate aggregated image data to be aggregated on one recording sheet (step S3). For example, when the user instructs the designated number of aggregate copies to be two at the start of the aggregate copy, aggregate image data for forming the images of the two originals on a single recording sheet is generated. . That is, when the total number of read originals is 10, aggregated image data for five recording sheets is generated.
At this time, the control unit 60 temporarily stores the generated aggregated image data in the image data memory 23.

 Subsequently, the control unit 60 determines whether or not there is an extraction range in the original image one by one based on the image data stored in the image data memory 63 (image data representing all read original images). (Step S4). Here, as a method for determining the presence / absence of an extraction range in an image of a document, the following method may be mentioned. Note that the following methods may be used singly or in combination.

(1) It is determined whether or not there is an area designated by using a predetermined writing tool as an extraction range in the document image. Specifically, before reading the document, as shown in FIG. 4A, a range (extraction range) to be extracted is previously drawn on the document itself using a specified color highlighter, and the document is The image data is subjected to image processing, and it is determined whether or not there is an area designated by using a fluorescent pen. Further, the writing instrument to be used is not limited to the fluorescent pen, and for example, a ballpoint pen of a designated color that can erase a written part later may be used.

(2) By performing a predetermined character recognition process based on the image data of the document, the characters included in the image of the document are recognized, and the presence or absence of the extraction range is determined based on the recognition result of the characters. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4B, when a character indicating the presence of a chart such as “FIG. 1” or “Table 1” is included in the image of the document, it is determined that there is an extraction range. To do. In other words, in this case, a chart existing in the image of the document is the extraction range. If it is difficult to extract only the chart by image processing, the entire image of the document may be set as the extraction range. As the character recognition process, a known technique such as OCR (Optical Character Reader) can be used.

(3) By performing predetermined image processing, it is determined whether or not there is a photographic area as an extraction range in the image of the document. As described above, since the photographic area is often important information like the chart, the photographic area existing in the image of the document is determined as the extraction range.

(4) The presence or absence of the extraction range in the document image is determined by determining whether or not the extraction range designation information is included in the operation signal (operation input information) output from the operation display unit 64. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4C, the control unit 60 displays the image of the original document one by one on the liquid crystal panel 64b, and prompts the user to specify the extraction range with the touch pen. When the control unit 60 detects that two points in the image of the document are designated by the touch pen, the control unit 60 determines a rectangular region having a diagonal line connecting the two points as an extraction range.

 In step S4 as described above, if “Yes”, that is, if it is determined that there is an extraction range in the image of one original, the control unit 60 adds the image data of the original determined to have the extraction range. Based on this, extracted image data for forming an image included in the extraction range (hereinafter referred to as an extracted image) on one sheet of recording paper is generated (step S5). At this time, the control unit 60 temporarily stores the generated extracted image data in the image data memory 23. On the other hand, if “No” in step S4, the control unit 60 proceeds to the process of step S6.

  Then, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the extraction range existence determination up to the final document has been completed (step S6). If “No”, the control unit 60 returns to step S4 to determine whether or not there is an extraction range of the final document. Steps S4 to S6 are repeated until the process ends. If “Yes”, the process proceeds to Step S7.

  Subsequently, the control unit 60 causes the operation display unit 64 (liquid crystal panel 64a) to display a screen for prompting the user to instruct whether or not to confirm the extracted image, and the operation display unit 64 (touch panel 64b). Whether or not an instruction to confirm the extracted image has been received from the user is determined based on the operation signal input from (step S7). In this step S7, in the case of “No”, that is, when an instruction to confirm the extracted image is not received from the user, the control unit 60 proceeds to the process of step S12.

  On the other hand, in the case of “Yes” in Step S7, that is, when an instruction to confirm the extracted image is received from the user, the control unit 60, based on the extracted image data stored in the image data memory 23, As shown in FIG. 5, the first extracted image is displayed on the operation display unit 64 (liquid crystal panel 64a), and the user is instructed whether to copy the extracted image being displayed at the same size or at a variable magnification. A screen for prompting to do so is displayed (step S8).

  Then, the control unit 60 determines, based on the operation signal input from the operation display unit 64 (touch panel 64b), whether the user has received an instruction to copy at the same magnification or at variable magnification (step S9). ) When an instruction for variable magnification copy is received, the magnification of the extracted image is changed (step S10). Specifically, the extracted image data is converted so that the size of the extracted image changes according to the specified magnification. On the other hand, when an instruction to copy at the same magnification is received in step S9, the control unit 60 proceeds to the process of step S11 without changing the magnification of the extracted image (without converting the extracted image data). .

  Then, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the extracted image currently displayed is the final extracted image (step S11). If “No”, the control unit 60 returns to step S8 to display the next extracted image. In the case of “Yes”, the process proceeds to step S12.

 Subsequently, the control unit 60 selects whether to perform printing in the post-insertion mode or to perform printing in the page-by-page insertion mode (step S12). For example, when the user inserts a post-insertion mode at the start of aggregate copy, the post-insertion mode is selected. When the user instructs a page-by-page insertion mode, the page-by-page insertion mode is selected.

Then, the control unit 60 records the image based on the aggregated image data and the extracted image data by controlling the image forming unit (the toner image forming unit 3 and the fixing unit 4) according to the mode selected in step S12. Printing (formation) is performed on paper (step S13).
Specifically, for example, when the post-insertion mode is selected, the control unit 60 forms an image (extracted image) based on the extracted image data after completing the formation of the image (aggregated image) based on the aggregated image data. The aggregated image data and the extracted image data are rearranged to be performed, and the image forming unit is instructed to form an image based on the aggregated image data and the extracted image data after the rearrangement. As a result, after all the recording sheets on which the aggregated images are printed are discharged, the recording sheets on which the extracted images are printed are collectively discharged.

 In addition, when the page-by-page insertion mode is selected, for example, when the image based on the aggregated image data for one page (aggregated image) includes an image of a document determined to have an extraction range, The aggregated image data and the extracted image data are rearranged so that the extracted image corresponding to the document determined to have the extraction range is inserted between the aggregated image for one page and the aggregated image for the next page. The image forming unit is instructed to form an image based on the rearranged aggregated image data and the extracted image data. As a result, the recording paper on which the extracted image is printed is inserted between the recording papers on which the aggregated image is printed, and the paper is discharged.

 As described above, according to the present embodiment, when performing an aggregate copy, an important document, a drawing, a table, or the like designated as an extraction range is automatically extracted from an original image and is scaled or scaled. Since it is possible to print on a single sheet of recording paper, it is not necessary to search for a specific original from a plurality of originals, print it at the same magnification, and then restore it to the original. It is possible to reduce the burden on the user when using the.

In the above embodiment, when the extracted image is confirmed, it is determined whether the extracted image is to be copied at the same magnification or the scaled copy while displaying the page one by one. However, a screen as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. Then, the user may designate only whether or not the extracted image being displayed on the screen is necessary, and only the extracted image designated as necessary may be printed.
Also, instead of displaying the extracted image, the page information (number of pages of the document) of the document determined to have an extraction range is displayed on the screen, and whether or not the page information displayed on the screen is correct The user may be allowed to confirm and only the extracted image confirmed to be correct may be printed.

  In the above-described embodiment, the MFP is exemplified as the image forming apparatus 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile. In the above embodiment, the tandem type image forming apparatus 100 has been exemplified. However, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to other types of image forming apparatuses.

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Image forming apparatus, 1 ... Document reading apparatus, 2 ... MFP main body, 10 ... Scanner part, 20 ... ADF (Auto Document Feeder), 3 ... Toner image forming part, 4 ... Fixing part, 5 ... Paper conveyance mechanism, 6 , 7, 8 ... paper feed cassette, 60 ... control section, 61 ... ROM (Read Only Memory), 62 ... RAM (Random Access Memory), 63 ... image data memory, 64 ... operation display section, 65 ... communication I / F 200 ... PC (Personal Computer)

Claims (9)

An original reading unit that reads an original and generates image data representing an image of the original;
Based on the image data of a plurality of originals read by the original reading unit, aggregated image data for collectively forming a specified number of original images on a single recording sheet is generated, and extraction from each original image is performed. A control unit that determines the presence or absence of a range, and generates extracted image data for forming an image included in the extraction range on a single recording sheet based on the image data of the document that is determined to have the extraction range;
An image forming unit that forms an image based on the aggregated image data and the extracted image data on a recording sheet in accordance with an instruction from the control unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising:   When determining whether or not there is an extraction range in the image of each original, the control unit determines whether or not there is an area designated by using a predetermined writing tool as the extraction range in the image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The control unit recognizes a character included in the image by performing a predetermined character recognition process when determining the presence or absence of an extraction range in the image of each document, and extracts the extraction based on the recognition result of the character. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein presence or absence of a range is determined. The control unit determines whether or not there is a photographic region as the extraction range in the image by performing predetermined image processing when determining the presence or absence of the extraction range in the image of each document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. An operation unit that receives an operation input by a user and sends operation input information corresponding to the operation input to the control unit;
The image according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines whether or not there is an extraction range in the image by determining whether or not the extraction range designation information is included in the operation input information. Forming equipment. A display unit;
The control unit causes the display unit to display an image included in the extraction range in an image of the document determined to have the extraction range before instructing the image forming unit to form an image. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A display unit;
The control unit causes the display unit to display page information of the document determined to have the extraction range before instructing the image forming unit to form an image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The control unit rearranges the aggregated image data and the extracted image data so that an image is formed based on the extracted image data after all the image formation based on the aggregated image data is completed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   When the image based on the aggregated image data for one page includes the image of the original document determined to have the extraction range in the image based on the aggregated image data for one page, the control unit The aggregated image data and the extracted image data are rearranged so that an image based on the extracted image data corresponding to the document determined to have the extraction range is inserted between the images based on the aggregated image data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is performed.

Images