JP2012080495A - Image processing device and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize a margin area in an aggregate document image.SOLUTION: An image processing device comprises: a document reading unit; a margin area detection unit that detects a margin area in an aggregate document image; a storage unit that stores an aggregate layout in which arrangement positions in aggregating document images are defined; a margin arrangement position extraction unit that extracts each arrangement position in the aggregate layout containable in the margin area as a margin arrangement position; a margin extraction instruction acceptance unit that accepts an instruction to extract the margin arrangement position; an additional aggregate instruction acceptance unit that accepts an instruction to aggregate a document image to be added (additional document aggregate instruction); an additional aggregate document image generation unit that generates an additional aggregate document image in which the document image to be added is aggregated at the margin arrangement position; an execution unit that, when the instruction to extract the margin arrangement position is accepted, causes the aggregate document image to be read and the margin arrangement position to be extracted; and an execution unit that, when the additional document aggregate instruction is accepted, causes the document image to be added to be read and aggregated at the margin arrangement position.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that aggregate a plurality of document images to generate one consolidated document image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copier or a printer has an aggregating function for reducing a plurality of document images and aggregating the reduced document images to generate one aggregated document image It has been known.

  Further, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, when a plurality of image data (original images) are aggregated to generate a plurality of aggregated original images, the number of image data is aggregated into one aggregated original image. Images that are not divisible by the aggregated number of images to be merged and a blank area where no images are distributed (aggregated) appears, the first, intermediate, and final images that are aggregated into any aggregated document image An image forming apparatus that changes the number of assigned data has been proposed. In the image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a blank portion in the aggregated document image from being biased toward the final aggregated document image.

JP 2002-300370 A

  However, when a plurality of document images are aggregated to generate a plurality of consolidated document images and the number of image data is not divisible by the number of images consolidated into one consolidated document image, Therefore, it has been desired to effectively utilize the blank area that occurs in any one of the aggregated document images.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can effectively utilize a margin area of an aggregated document image in which a plurality of document images are aggregated. The purpose is to do.

The invention described in claim 1 is a document reading unit that reads an aggregated document image in which a plurality of document images are aggregated;
A margin area detection unit for detecting a margin area of the aggregated document image read by the document reading unit;
A storage unit that stores an aggregation layout in which arrangement positions of the respective document images when the plurality of document images are aggregated;
A margin arrangement position extracting unit that extracts an arrangement position of each document image in the aggregate layout that can be included in the margin area as a margin arrangement position;
A margin extraction instruction receiving unit that receives an execution instruction of a process of extracting the margin arrangement position by the margin area detecting unit and the margin arrangement position extracting unit;
An additional aggregation instruction receiving unit that receives an additional document aggregation instruction that is an instruction to aggregate the document image to be added to the margin arrangement position;
An additional aggregated document image generating unit that generates an additional aggregated document image in which the document images to be added read by the document reading unit are aggregated at the margin arrangement position;
When an instruction to execute the process of extracting the margin arrangement position is received by the margin extraction instruction receiving unit, an instruction to read the aggregated document image is sent to the document reading unit, and the read corresponding to the aggregated document image that has been read A margin arrangement position extraction execution unit for sending an instruction to extract the margin arrangement position to the margin area detection unit and the margin arrangement position extraction unit;
When the margin arrangement position is extracted according to the instruction sent out by the margin arrangement position extraction execution unit, when the additional document aggregation instruction is received by the additional aggregation instruction reception unit, the additional document aggregation instruction is instructed. In addition, an instruction to read the document image to be added is sent to the document reading unit, and the additional document image is generated by collecting the read document image to be added at the extracted margin arrangement position. An additional aggregated document image generation execution unit that sends an instruction to the additional aggregated document image generation unit;
Is an image processing apparatus.

  In the present invention, when a margin area is seen in the aggregated document image, the layout position of each document image in the aggregated layout that can be included in the margin area of the aggregated document image is extracted as the margin layout position. It is possible to generate an additional consolidated original image in which the original images to be added are integrated.

  For this reason, for example, by recording the generated additional aggregate original image on the recording paper on which the aggregate original image is recorded, the margin area of the recording paper is reduced so that the recording paper is not wasted. Thus, the margin area of the aggregated document image can be used effectively.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the margin arrangement position extraction unit is added in advance to the aggregated document image read by the document reading unit. The margin arrangement position is extracted according to the margin arrangement position information indicating the arrangement position of each document image in the aggregate layout that can be included in the margin area of the aggregated document image.

  In the present invention, the margin arrangement position can be quickly extracted using the margin arrangement position information added in advance to the aggregated document image.

The invention according to claim 3 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the integrated layout image can be included in a margin area of the aggregated document image detected by the margin area detection unit. A margin arrangement position receiving unit for receiving input of margin arrangement position information indicating the arrangement position of each document image;
The margin arrangement position extraction unit extracts the margin arrangement position according to the margin arrangement position information received by the margin arrangement position reception unit.

  In the present invention, the margin arrangement position can be appropriately extracted according to the input by the operator using the margin arrangement position information received by the margin arrangement position receiving unit.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the additional aggregated document image generation unit sets the document image to be added to the margin arrangement position. At each time of aggregation, the document images are aggregated at the arrangement position closest to the area where the original images are aggregated.

  According to the present invention, since the original images to be added are collected in order from the position closest to the area where the original images are aggregated in the aggregated original image, the already integrated original images and the original images to be added are densely gathered. As a result, the blank area is concentrated. For this reason, for example, the marginal area can be effectively used by printing the aggregated original image in which the original images to be added are aggregated on a recording sheet and writing memos in the dense marginal area. .

The invention according to claim 5 is the image processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the input accepts an input in an aggregation order for aggregating the document images to be added to the margin arrangement position. It further includes an order reception part,
The additional aggregated document image generating unit aggregates the document images to be added to the margin arrangement position according to the aggregation order received by the aggregation order receiving unit.

  In the present invention, the original images to be added are collected at the margin arrangement position according to the aggregation order received by the aggregation order reception unit. For this reason, it is possible to appropriately utilize the blank area according to the input of the operator.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
A recording unit for recording the aggregated document image and the additional consolidated document image on a recording sheet;
An image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus can achieve the effects of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can effectively utilize a margin area of an aggregated document image in which a plurality of document images are aggregated.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal configuration of a copying machine as an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the copier shown in FIG. 1. The figure which shows an example of an aggregation layout. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a positional relationship between an arrangement position of each original image and a margin area of the integrated original image in each integrated layout. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process for aggregating a document image to be added to a margin area of a consolidated document image.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal configuration of a copying machine 1 which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

  The copying machine 1 is disposed above the document reading unit 5, the main unit 2, the stack tray 3 disposed on the left side of the main unit 2, the document reading unit 5 disposed on the top of the main unit 2. And a document feeding unit 6 provided.

  Further, a start key 471 for a user to input a print execution instruction, a numeric keypad 472 for inputting the number of copies to be printed, and operations for inputting settings for various copying operations, etc. An operation unit 47 including a display device 473 (display) including a liquid crystal display device (LCD) on which various operation buttons for inputting various operation commands and the like are displayed while displaying guide information and the like. Is provided. In this operation unit 47, an input of an aggregation instruction, an additional aggregation instruction, and information regarding duplex copy setting, which will be described later, is performed.

  The document reading unit 5 includes a scanner 51 including a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, an exposure lamp, and the like, a document table 52 (platen glass) made of a transparent member such as glass, and a document reading slit 53.

  The scanner 51 is configured to be movable by a driving unit (not shown). When reading a document placed on the document table 52, the scanner 51 is moved to a position facing the document table 52, and is acquired by scanning the document. (Original image) is output to the control unit 10 described later.

  The scanner 51 is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 53 when reading the document conveyed by the document feeding unit 6, and the document feeding operation is performed by the document feeding unit 6 through the document reading slit 53. The document image is acquired in synchronization with the image data, and the document image is output to the control unit 10 (or the image memory 7 or the image processing unit 9) described later.

  The document feeding unit 6 includes a document placing unit 61 for placing a document, a document discharging unit 62 for discharging a document after image reading, and a document placed on the document placing unit 61. A document transport mechanism 63 including a feed roller, a transport roller, and the like for feeding the paper one by one in order and transporting the paper to a position facing the document reading slit 53 and discharging it to the document discharge section 62 is provided.

  Further, the document feeding unit 6 is configured to be retractable, and when the document table 52 is lifted upward so as to open the upper surface of the document table 52, a read document, for example, a book that is opened in a spread state, is placed on the upper surface of the document table 52. Etc. can be placed.

  The main body 2 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 461 that store recording papers of different sizes, and a manual feed tray 467 that is provided on the right side wall of the main body 2 so as to be openable and closable. The recording unit 40 forms an image on the recording paper conveyed from the paper feeding cassette 461 and the manual feed tray 467, and the feeding unit that feeds the recording paper one by one from the paper feeding cassette 461 and the manual feeding tray 467 and conveys it to the recording unit 40. And a paper roller 462.

  The recording unit 40 outputs a laser beam based on the image data acquired by the scanner 51 to expose the photosensitive drum 43, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 43. An image forming unit 44 that forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 43 based on the electrostatic latent image, a transfer unit 41 that transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 43 to a recording sheet, and the toner image are transferred. The recording paper is conveyed to the stack tray 3 or the discharge tray 48 by a fixing unit 45 that heats the recording paper to fix the toner image on the recording paper, and a conveyance roller provided in a paper conveyance path in the recording unit 40. And a paper conveying device 46 for discharging.

  The paper transport device 46 includes paper transport paths 463 and 464 for performing double-sided printing on the recording paper of the read original. An example of the recording paper conveyance procedure when duplex printing is performed will be described.

  The recording paper fed out from the paper feed cassette 461 and the manual feed tray 467 is conveyed to the transfer unit 41 (photosensitive drum 43) and the fixing unit 45, one side of which is printed, and then conveyed to the position of the conveyance roller 465. . The transport roller 465 rotates reversely before the transported recording paper is discharged to the discharge tray 48 and transports the recording paper to the paper transport path 463. The recording paper conveyed to the paper conveyance path 463 is conveyed to the paper conveyance path 464 by the conveyance roller 466. The recording sheet conveyed to the sheet conveyance path 464 is in a state where the front and back sides thereof are reversed, and is conveyed again to the transfer unit 41 and the fixing unit 45, and the surface opposite to the printed surface is printed. The recording paper on which double-sided printing has been performed in this manner is discharged to the stack tray 3 or the discharge tray 48.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the copying machine 1 shown in FIG. The copying machine 1 includes a control unit 10 that controls operation of the entire apparatus. The control unit 10 includes an original reading unit 5 including a scanner 51, an original feeding unit 6 including an original conveyance mechanism 63, a recording unit 40 including an image forming unit 44, an operation including a numeric keypad 472, a display device 473, and the like. The unit 47, the image memory 7, the HDD 8, and the image processing unit 9 are connected.

  The image memory 7 is a memory for temporarily storing a document image read by the document reading unit 5 or a document image transmitted as image data from an external device via a network I / F unit (not shown). It is.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 8 stores a document image read by the document reading unit 5, a document image transmitted as image data from the external device, an output format set for the document image, and the like. It is a storage device.

  The image processing unit 9 performs predetermined image processing on the document image. For example, the image processing unit 9 performs A / D conversion or the like on a document image obtained by being read by the document reading unit 5 and reduces the image size of the converted document image in accordance with the reduction ratio. Alternatively, image processing is performed such that the reduced reduced images are combined and laid out within the image size of the recording paper.

  The image processing unit 9 includes an aggregated document image generation unit 91 and an additional aggregated document image generation unit 92. Details of the aggregated document image generation unit 91 and the additional consolidated document image generation unit 92 will be described later.

  The control unit 10 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a control program of the copying machine 1, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data, a microcomputer that reads and executes a control program from the ROM, and the like. The entire apparatus is controlled in accordance with predetermined instruction information input from the operation unit 47 or the like.

  Further, the control unit 10 includes an aggregation instruction receiving unit 101, a margin area detecting unit 102, a margin arrangement position extracting unit 103, a margin extraction instruction receiving unit 104, an additional aggregation instruction receiving unit 105, a margin arrangement position extraction executing unit 106, and an additional A consolidated document image generation execution unit 107 is provided. Note that details of the margin arrangement position receiving unit 108 and the aggregation order receiving unit 109 indicated by the dotted line in the drawing will be described later as another embodiment.

  The aggregation instruction accepting unit 101 accepts an aggregation instruction based on an instruction input from the operation unit 47 by the operator for a plurality of document images read by the document reading unit 5 to be output for image formation or the like.

  Specifically, the aggregation instruction receiving unit 101 aggregates a plurality of document images corresponding to an instruction on whether or not to perform aggregation, an instruction on an aggregation ratio when the aggregation is performed, and the instructed aggregation ratio. An aggregation instruction including an instruction indicating which aggregation layout to use for aggregating among a plurality of aggregation layouts that predetermine the arrangement positions of the respective document images at the time of the document image reception is received.

  The aggregation rate here is an index indicating how many originals are aggregated and printed on one recording paper (one side), and is expressed as an aggregation rate Nin1 (Nin1) below. . The variable “N” in Nin1 indicates the number of document images collected on one side of the recording paper. For example, when four documents are collected on one recording paper, the aggregation rate is 4in1. Become. However, “N” is an integer of 2 or more. In the following, a document image reduced for aggregate printing is referred to as a reduced image, and an image generated by integrating a plurality of reduced images is referred to as an aggregate document image.

  Further, the aggregation layout included in the aggregation instruction will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A shows a state in which none of the four original images 800 are aggregated (reduced). FIG. 3B shows an aggregation layout when four document images 800 are aggregated at an aggregation rate of 2 in 1. When the aggregation layout is instructed, the reduction is performed in accordance with the aggregation ratio 2 in 1, that is, the reduction is reduced to ½ if the image size of each original image forming the original original image 800 is 1. The images are arranged in two arrangement positions of the first arrangement position P21 and the second arrangement position P22 in the order of aggregation shown in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and two aggregated document images 820 are generated.

  Similarly, FIG. 3C shows an aggregation layout in a case where four document images 800 are aggregated in numerical order with an aggregation rate of 4 in 1. When the aggregation layout is instructed, the reduction is performed in correspondence with the aggregation rate 4 in 1, that is, when the image size of each original image forming the original original image 800 is 1, the reduction is reduced to ¼ size. The images are arranged in the first arrangement position P41 to the fourth arrangement position P44 in the aggregation order shown in the direction of the arrow in the drawing, and one aggregated document image 840 is generated. The document image 800 and the consolidated document images 820 and 840 shown in FIG. 3 are all the same size.

  In the example of the aggregate layout shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the order in which each document image shown in the arrow direction in the figure is arranged (aggregation order) is accompanied by the arrangement position of the left end as a starting point. When the transition to the placement position of the right end in the same row is completed, the transition to the placement position of the left end of the next row is completed. However, it is not intended to be limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3D, when the image size of each original image forming the original original image 800 is 1, a reduced image reduced to a quarter size is indicated by the arrow direction in the figure. The first arrangement position P41a to the fourth arrangement position P44a may be arranged in the order of aggregation. In other words, the aggregation order shifts from the left end portion arrangement position to the arrangement position of the lower end portion in the same row, starting from the arrangement position of the left end portion, and shifted to the arrangement position of the lower end portion in the same row. When is completed, the order of shifting to the arrangement position of the upper end of the next row may be used.

  The aggregate layout is stored in advance in the image memory 7, the HDD 8, or the ROM provided in the control unit 10, and information for identifying the stored aggregate layout is given by the control unit 10 as an aggregation instruction. It is displayed as a selection candidate on the operation screen for inputting instructions. In other words, the image memory 7, the HDD 8, or the ROM provided in the control unit 10 constitutes an example of the storage unit according to the present invention.

  Returning to FIG. 2, when the aggregation instruction is received by the aggregation instruction receiving unit 101, the aggregated document image generation unit 91 is read by the document reading unit 5 in accordance with the aggregation rate and the aggregation layout specified by the accepted aggregation instruction. Then, an aggregated document image obtained by integrating the plurality of document images is generated, and the generated aggregated document image is temporarily stored in the image memory 7. The aggregated document image stored in the image memory 7 is printed on recording paper by the recording unit 40.

  The margin extraction instruction accepting unit 104 accepts an instruction to execute a process of extracting a margin arrangement position by a margin area detecting unit 102 and a margin arrangement position extracting unit 103, which will be described later, based on an instruction input from the operation unit 47 by the operator.

  The blank area detection unit 102 detects a blank area of the aggregated document image read by the document reading unit 5.

  The margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 extracts the arrangement position of each document image in the aggregate layout that can be included in the margin area detected by the margin area detection unit 102 as the margin arrangement position.

  The processing for extracting the margin arrangement position by the margin area detection unit 102 and the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 will be described in detail. The margin area detection unit 102 uses the aggregated document image read by the document reading unit 5 to perform the aggregation. For all the pixels constituting the document image, a difference value between the density value of each pixel and a predetermined density value (for example, a density value indicating white) is calculated, and the difference value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. A rectangular area in which the number of pixels to be equal to or less than a predetermined ratio (for example, 5%) is detected as a blank area. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the margin area of the aggregated document image may be detected by a known technique.

  Then, the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 reads a plurality of aggregate layouts stored in advance in a ROM or the like, and a margin area in which the arrangement position of each original image in each of the read aggregate layouts is detected by the margin area detection unit 102 Is determined, and the layout position of each document image in the aggregate layout determined to be included can be extracted as a margin layout position.

  For example, when five document images are aggregated in the aggregation layout shown in FIG. 3C corresponding to the aggregation rate 4in1, as shown in FIG. 4A, the margin area S is added to the second aggregated document image. Will occur. At this time, the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 includes the margin positions P42 to P43 of the original images in the aggregate layout shown in FIG. 3C, which can be included in the margin area S detected by the margin area detection unit 102. Extracted as placement position.

  Further, when the aggregate layout corresponding to the aggregation rate 2 in 1 is stored in advance in the ROM or the like, the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103, as shown in FIG. 4B, each document in the aggregate layout corresponding to the aggregation rate 2 in 1 The image arrangement position P22 is extracted as a margin arrangement position. Further, when the aggregate layout corresponding to the aggregation ratio 6 in 1 is stored in advance in the ROM or the like, the margin arrangement position extracting unit 103, as shown in FIG. 4C, each document in the aggregate layout corresponding to the aggregation ratio 6 in 1 Image layout positions P63 to P66 are extracted as blank layout positions.

  When a plurality of aggregate layouts are stored in the ROM or the like, the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 may, for example, specify the aggregate layout input by the operator via the operation unit 47 or each aggregate layout in advance. When a priority is given to the layout, a margin layout position is extracted from the layout positions of the original images in a predetermined aggregate layout such as an aggregate layout having the highest priority.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the addition aggregation instruction receiving unit 105 is configured to collect the document image to be added to the margin arrangement position extracted by the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 based on an instruction input from the operation unit 47 by the operator. An additional document aggregation instruction is accepted.

  The additional aggregated document image generation unit 92 reads, using the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103, the document image to be added, which is read by the document reading unit 5 and instructed by the additional document aggregation instruction received by the additional aggregation instruction receiving unit 105. An additional aggregated document image aggregated at the extracted margin arrangement position is generated, and the generated additional aggregated document image is temporarily stored in the image memory 7.

  Note that the additional aggregated document image stored in the image memory 7 is a recording sheet placed on the top of the manual feed tray 467 or the sheet feeding cassette 461 (FIG. 1) and on which the aggregated document image is printed. When transported to the recording unit 40 by 462 (FIG. 1), the recording unit 40 performs overprint printing on the recording paper.

  Here, in the case of adding the addition target document images to the margin arrangement position, the additional integration document image generation unit 92 collects the addition target document images in the order determined in advance in the arrangement position of each document image in the aggregation layout. To do.

  For example, when the layout positions P42 to P44 in the aggregate layout shown in FIG. 3C are extracted as the margin layout positions by the margin layout position extraction unit 103, the additional aggregated document image generation unit 92 determines the layout position P42, the layout In the order of the position P43 and the arrangement position P44, that is, from the arrangement position of the left end portion to the arrangement position of the right end portion in the same row, the position shifts to the arrangement position adjacent to the right one by one, and the right end portion in the same row When the transition to the placement position is completed, the original images to be added are collected in the order of transition to the placement position at the left end of the next line. In this case, in the generated additional consolidated original image, the original image to be added is regularly collected from the upper end to the lower end.

  On the other hand, when the layout positions P42a to P44a in the aggregated layout shown in FIG. 3D are extracted as the margin layout positions by the margin layout position extraction unit 103, the additional aggregated document image generation unit 92 sets the layout position P42a, the layout. In the order of position P43a and arrangement position P44a, that is, starting from the arrangement position of the left end portion, the position shifts to the arrangement position of the lower end portion in the same row one by one down to the arrangement position of the lower end portion in the same row. When the transition to the placement position is completed, the original images to be added are collected in the order of transition to the placement position at the upper end of the next row. In this case, in the additional aggregated document image generated, the document image to be added is regularly collected from the left end to the right end.

  Returning to FIG. 2, when the execution instruction of the process of extracting the margin arrangement position is received by the margin extraction instruction reception unit 104, the margin arrangement position extraction execution unit 106 sends an instruction to read the aggregated document image to the document reading unit 5. Then, an instruction to extract the margin arrangement position corresponding to the read aggregated document image is sent to the margin area detection unit 102 and the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103.

  The additional consolidated document image generation execution unit 107 adds an additional document collection instruction when the additional document collection instruction is received by the additional collection instruction receiving unit 105 when the blank layout position is extracted in accordance with the instruction sent by the margin placement position extraction execution unit 106. An instruction to read the addition target document image instructed by the document aggregation instruction is sent to the document reading unit 5, and the additional aggregated document image obtained by collecting the read addition target document image at the extracted margin arrangement position is sent. An instruction to be generated is sent to the additional integrated document image generation unit 92.

  In the following, a process for aggregating the document images to be added to the margin area of the aggregated document image in the above configuration will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  As a premise that the processing is performed, an aggregation instruction input from the operation unit 47 by the operator is received by the aggregation instruction receiving unit 101, and a plurality of document images read by the document reading unit 5 according to the aggregation instruction are aggregated. Assume that the aggregated document image is generated by the aggregated document image generation unit 91 and the generated aggregated document image is printed on the recording paper by the recording unit 40 via the image memory 7.

  First, for example, when the operator notices that there are many blank areas on the recording paper on which the aggregated document image is printed, a process for extracting the blank layout position by the blank area detection unit 102 and the blank layout position extraction unit 103 is performed. Is input to the operation unit 47 by the operator, and when the execution instruction is received by the margin extraction instruction receiving unit 104 (S1; YES), the margin placement position extraction executing unit 106 performs the document table 52 or the document placement. An instruction to read the recording paper on which the aggregated original image placed on the unit 61 is printed is sent to the original reading unit 5 (S2), and the original reading unit 5 receiving the instruction records the recording on which the aggregated original image is printed. The paper is read, and the read aggregated document image is temporarily stored in the image memory 7 (S3).

  Next, the margin arrangement position extraction execution unit 106 sends an instruction to extract the margin arrangement position corresponding to the read aggregated document image to the margin area detection unit 102 and the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 (S4).

  When the margin area detection unit 102 receives the instruction sent from the margin arrangement position extraction execution unit 106, the margin area of the aggregated document image read by the document reading unit 5 and stored in the image memory 7 in step S3. Detect (S5).

  If the margin area of the aggregated document image is detected by the margin area detection unit 102 (S5; YES), the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 can be included in the margin area detected by the margin area detection unit 102. The arrangement position of each document image in the aggregate layout is extracted as a margin arrangement position (S6). On the other hand, if the margin area of the aggregated document image is not detected by the margin area detection unit 102 (S5; NO), the process of aggregating the document images to be added to the margin area of the aggregated document image ends.

  When the margin arrangement position is extracted by the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 (S6; YES), an additional document aggregation instruction, which is an instruction to aggregate the document image to be added to the margin arrangement position, is performed by the operator. When the additional document aggregation instruction is received by the additional aggregation instruction receiving unit 105 (S7; YES), the additional consolidated document image generation execution unit 107 is placed on the document table 52 or the document placement unit 61. Then, an instruction to read the recording paper on which the original image to be added instructed in the additional original integration instruction is printed is sent to the original reading unit 5 (S8), and the original reading unit 5 that has received the instruction The recording paper on which the original image is printed is read, and the read original image to be added is temporarily stored in the image memory 7 (S9).

  Next, the additional aggregated document image generation execution unit 107 additionally aggregates an instruction to generate an additional aggregated document image in which the read target document image to be read is aggregated at the margin arrangement position extracted by the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103. The additional aggregated document image generating unit 92 that has been sent to the document image generating unit 92 (S10) and received the instruction, places the document image to be added read by the document reading unit 5 and stored in the image memory 7 with margins. An additional aggregated document image aggregated at the margin arrangement position extracted by the position extraction unit 103 is generated and temporarily stored in the image memory 7 (S11).

  Then, the recording paper on which the aggregated document image is printed is placed on the uppermost portion of the manual feed tray 467 and the paper feed cassette 461 (FIG. 1), and the recording paper is conveyed to the recording unit 40 by the paper feed roller 462 (FIG. 1). Then, the additional consolidated original image stored in the image memory 7 by the recording unit 40 is overwritten on the recording paper (S12).

  When the operator notices that there are many blank areas on the recording paper on which the additional consolidated original image is printed, the additional consolidated original image is regarded as the consolidated original image, and the process of step S1 is executed again. Is done.

  On the other hand, when the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 does not extract the margin arrangement position (S6; NO), the process of aggregating the document images to be added to the margin area of the aggregated document image is ended.

  As described above, according to this configuration, when a margin area is seen in the aggregated document image, the layout position of each document image in the aggregated layout that can be included in the margin area of the aggregated document image is extracted as the margin layout position. Thus, it is possible to generate an additional aggregated document image in which the document images to be added are aggregated at the margin arrangement position.

  For this reason, for example, by recording the generated additional aggregate original image on the recording paper on which the aggregate original image is recorded, the margin area of the recording paper is reduced so that the recording paper is not wasted. Thus, the margin area of the aggregated document image can be used effectively.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, when the aggregated document image generating unit 91 generates image data of an aggregated document image in accordance with the aggregation instruction received by the aggregation instruction receiving unit 101, each document in the aggregated layout that can be included in the margin area of the aggregated document image The image arrangement position, that is, the arrangement position where the original image is not arranged in the aggregation layout included in the aggregation instruction is stored in the HDD 8 as margin arrangement position information in association with the image data, and the recording unit 40 further stores the image data Is printed on the recording paper, such as by adding a barcode or watermark character indicating the margin arrangement position information stored in the HDD 8 in association with the image data to the end of the recording paper. Information may be added to the recording paper.

  In accordance with the configuration, the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 determines the arrangement position indicated by the read margin arrangement position information according to the margin arrangement position information added in advance to the aggregated document image read by the document reading unit 5. You may comprise so that it may extract as a margin arrangement position.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to quickly extract the margin arrangement position using the margin arrangement position information added in advance to the aggregated document image.

  Further, the operation unit 47 is provided so that the margin arrangement position information indicating the arrangement position of each document image in the aggregate layout that can be included in the margin area of the aggregated document image detected by the margin area detection unit 102 can be input. As shown in the dotted line part of FIG. 2, the control unit 10 may further include a margin arrangement position receiving unit 108 that receives the margin arrangement position information input from the operation unit 47.

  In accordance with the configuration, the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103 extracts the arrangement position indicated by the margin arrangement position information as the margin arrangement position according to the margin arrangement position information received by the margin arrangement position reception unit 108. It may be configured.

  According to this configuration, the margin arrangement position can be appropriately extracted according to the input by the operator using the margin arrangement position information received by the margin arrangement position receiving unit 108.

  In the configuration of the above embodiment, when the additional aggregated document image generation unit 92 aggregates the document images to be added to the margin arrangement position extracted by the margin arrangement position extraction unit 103, each document image in the aggregated layout is displayed. The document images to be added are aggregated in the order determined in advance at the arrangement position.

  However, instead of this, the additional aggregate manuscript image generation unit 92 adds the target images to be added in order from the position closest to the area where the manuscript images are aggregated at each time when the manuscript image to be added is aggregated to the margin arrangement position. The original images may be aggregated.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4C, when the layout positions P63 to P66 are extracted as the margin layout positions by the margin layout position extraction unit 103, the additional aggregated document image generation unit 92 first selects the first sheet. The document images to be added are collected at the placement position P64 closest to the area where the document images indicated by the shaded portions in the figure are gathered, and then the second document image to be added is placed at the placement position P65. After that, the original images to be added are collected in the order of the arrangement position P66 and the arrangement position P63.

  That is, according to this configuration, since the addition target document images are aggregated in order from the position closest to the area where the document images are aggregated in the aggregated document image, the already aggregated document image and the addition target document image are collected. Are gathered together so that the blank areas are densely packed. For this reason, for example, the marginal area can be effectively used by printing the aggregated original image in which the original images to be added are aggregated on a recording sheet and writing memos in the dense marginal area. .

  Alternatively, the operation unit 47 is configured so as to be able to input an aggregation order in which document images to be added are collected at the margin arrangement position, and the operation unit 47 is input from the operation unit 47 as indicated by the dotted line in FIG. You may comprise so that the control part 10 may further be provided with the aggregation order reception part 109 which receives an aggregation order.

  In accordance with the configuration, the additional aggregated document image generation unit 92 may be configured to aggregate the document images to be added to the margin arrangement position according to the aggregation order received by the aggregation order reception unit 109.

  According to this configuration, the original images to be added are collected at the margin arrangement position in accordance with the aggregation order received by the aggregation order reception unit 109. For this reason, it is possible to appropriately utilize the blank area according to the input of the operator.

  In the above embodiment, a copying machine is shown as an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. However, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to this, and other image forming apparatuses, for example, It may be a facsimile machine, a printer, a multifunction machine (an image forming apparatus having functions of a copy, a facsimile machine, a printer, etc.).

  1 to 5 is merely an example of the configuration and processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, and the configuration and processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention are described above. It is not limited to the contents shown in.

1 Copying machine (image forming device)
5 Document reading unit 7 Image memory (storage unit)
8 HDD (storage unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Control part 40 Recording part 47 Operation part 91 Aggregated original image generation part 92 Additional consolidated original image generation part 102 Margin area detection part 103 Margin arrangement position extraction part 104 Margin extraction instruction reception part 105 Additional aggregation instruction reception part 106 Margin arrangement position extraction Execution unit 107 Additional consolidated original image generation execution unit 108 Margin arrangement position reception unit 109 Aggregation order reception unit

Claims (6)

A document reading unit that reads a consolidated document image in which a plurality of document images are combined;
A margin area detection unit for detecting a margin area of the aggregated document image read by the document reading unit;
A storage unit that stores an aggregation layout in which arrangement positions of the respective document images when the plurality of document images are aggregated;
A margin arrangement position extracting unit that extracts an arrangement position of each document image in the aggregate layout that can be included in the margin area as a margin arrangement position;
A margin extraction instruction receiving unit that receives an execution instruction of a process of extracting the margin arrangement position by the margin area detecting unit and the margin arrangement position extracting unit;
An additional aggregation instruction receiving unit that receives an additional document aggregation instruction that is an instruction to aggregate the document image to be added to the margin arrangement position;
An additional aggregated document image generating unit that generates an additional aggregated document image in which the document images to be added read by the document reading unit are aggregated at the margin arrangement position;
When an instruction to execute the process of extracting the margin arrangement position is received by the margin extraction instruction receiving unit, an instruction to read the aggregated document image is sent to the document reading unit, and the read corresponding to the aggregated document image that has been read A margin arrangement position extraction execution unit for sending an instruction to extract the margin arrangement position to the margin area detection unit and the margin arrangement position extraction unit;
When the margin arrangement position is extracted according to the instruction sent out by the margin arrangement position extraction execution unit, when the additional document aggregation instruction is received by the additional aggregation instruction reception unit, the additional document aggregation instruction is instructed. In addition, an instruction to read the document image to be added is sent to the document reading unit, and the additional document image is generated by collecting the read document image to be added at the extracted margin arrangement position. An additional aggregated document image generation execution unit that sends an instruction to the additional aggregated document image generation unit;
An image processing apparatus.   The margin arrangement position extraction unit adds an arrangement position of each document image in the aggregate layout that can be included in a margin area of the aggregated document image, which is added in advance to the aggregated document image read by the document reading unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the margin arrangement position is extracted according to the margin arrangement position information indicated. The image processing apparatus further includes a margin arrangement position receiving unit that receives input of margin arrangement position information indicating an arrangement position of each document image in the aggregate layout that can be included in a margin area of the aggregated document image detected by the margin area detection unit. ,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the margin arrangement position extraction unit extracts the margin arrangement position according to the margin arrangement position information received by the margin arrangement position reception unit.   The additional aggregated document image generation unit aggregates the addition target document image at the placement position closest to the region where the document images are aggregated at each time point when the document image to be added is aggregated at the margin placement position. 4. The image processing device according to any one of items 3. An aggregation order receiving unit that receives an input of an aggregation order for consolidating the document images to be added to the margin arrangement position;
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional aggregated document image generation unit aggregates the document images to be added to the margin arrangement position according to the aggregation order received by the aggregation order reception unit. . An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A recording unit for recording the aggregated document image and the additional consolidated document image on a recording sheet;
An image forming apparatus.

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