JP3584208B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, and a printer, and more particularly, to a digital image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art There is known an image forming apparatus having a mode (form combining mode) in which image data of a form image and image data of a document image are read, and the respective images are combined and formed on recording paper. This type of image forming apparatus includes, for example, a mode (aggregation mode) in which an aggregated image in which image data of a plurality of pages of document images having a series of page numbers are aggregated in one image is formed on a recording sheet (aggregation mode), The image is read by dividing the image into two pages of image data of the original image, and the original images of four pages having discontinuous page numbers are collected on both sides of the recording paper two pages at a time in a page order adapted to weekly magazine binding. There is a printer having a weekly magazine binding mode in which the recorded paper sheets are formed on top of each other and the weekly magazine binding is performed.
[0003]
When the form combining mode and the combination mode are performed in combination, the image data of the form is combined, for example, at the center of the combined image.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when combining the form combining mode and the weekly magazine binding mode, if the image data of the form is similarly combined at the center, the completed recorded paper is overlapped and folded at the center and bound to form a double-page spread. In some cases, the page is divided into two pages, and the user cannot obtain the desired form composite image.
[0005]
The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of obtaining a form composite image desired by a user.
[0006]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image data storage means for storing image data corresponding to a document image of a plurality of pages, reading image data from the image data storage means, and Page aggregated image data generating means for generating image data aggregated in one image, and corresponding to individual pages aggregated in one imagepluralIn the areaTo be formed separately from each other (complete)Page aggregation form image data generating means for generating image data representing a page aggregation form image including a form image, an image of image data generated by the page aggregation image data generating means, and the page aggregation form image data An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that combines an image of image data generated by a generating unit and forms an image on a recording sheet.
[0007]
According to this configuration, it is possible to form a complete form image within the area of each page when the original images of a plurality of pages are combined into one image.
Aggregation of images of a plurality of pages may be performed in a continuous page aggregation mode in which images of a plurality of pages (for example, two pages, four pages, eight pages, etc.) having a series of page numbers are aggregated into one image. . In addition, the aggregation of images of a plurality of pages is performed in a discontinuous page aggregation mode in which images of a plurality of pages (for example, two pages, four pages, eight pages, etc.) having discontinuous page numbers are aggregated into one image. You may. For example, if the present invention is applied at the time of page aggregation in the weekly magazine binding mode which is an example of the discontinuous page aggregation mode, a form image completed within the page can be synthesized for each page. There is no such a problem that the form image is divided into one page.
[0008]
The image forming apparatus of the present invention selects form image data generating means for generating image data representing a form image to be combined with a one-page document image, and a normal mode in which page aggregation is not performed and a page aggregation mode in which page aggregation is performed. It is preferable that the apparatus further includes a mode setting means for setting in a unified manner. In this case, when the image forming means is in the normal mode, the image of the image data of one page and the image of the image data generated by the form image data generating means are combined and formed on a recording sheet. In the aggregation mode, the image of the image data generated by the page aggregation image data generation means and the image of the image data generated by the page aggregation form image data generation means are combined and formed on a recording sheet. Is preferred.
[0009]
In this configuration, the mode setting means further divides the page aggregation mode into a continuous page aggregation mode in which images of a plurality of pages having a series of page numbers are aggregated into one image, and a page number aggregation mode. It is preferable to be able to selectively set a discontinuous page aggregation mode in which images of a plurality of discontinuous pages are aggregated into one image. In this case, the image forming unit combines the image of the image data generated by the form image data generating unit with the image of the image data generated by the page integrated image data generating unit when the continuous page aggregation mode is selected. You may do it. That is, image data generated by the page image data generating means may be used only in the discontinuous page aggregation mode in the page aggregation mode.
[0010]
Further, when the continuous page aggregation mode is selected, the image data of the normal form generated by the form image data generation unit and the image data of the aggregation form generated by the page image data generation unit are selected. A form selection means for selecting a target may be further provided. Then, using the image data of the form image selected by the form selecting unit, the form forming process in the image forming unit may be performed.
[0011]
The combining of the images by the image forming means may be achieved by creating combined image data corresponding to a combined image of the original image and the form image, and forming an image on a recording sheet based on the combined image data. . Further, the composition of the image by the image forming means may be achieved by forming a document image and a form image so as to overlap on a recording sheet.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further includes form image data generating means for generating image data corresponding to a form image which is an image to be combined with the document image. A page aggregation form image including a form image corresponding to all or a part of the form image generated by the form image data generation means in a plurality of areas corresponding to individual pages aggregated in a single image. It may generate image data.
Claim3The described invention includes image data storage means for storing image data corresponding to a document image of a plurality of pages, and form image data generation means for generating image data corresponding to a form image which is an image to be combined with the document image. A continuous page aggregate image data generating unit for reading image data from the image data storage unit and generating image data in which images of a plurality of pages of a series of page numbers are aggregated in one image; A discontinuous page aggregate image data generating means for reading image data and generating image data in which a plurality of pages having discontinuous page numbers are aggregated in one image; and a page aggregation by the continuous page aggregate image data generating means And a discontinuous page aggregation mode for performing a page aggregation process by the discontinuous page aggregation image data generating means. And over de setting means, corresponding to each page to be aggregated into one imagepluralIn the areaTo be formed separately from each other (complete)A page aggregation form image data generating means for generating image data representing a page aggregation form image including a form image; and a continuous page aggregation image data generating means when the continuous page aggregation mode is set by the mode setting means. While the image of the generated image data and the image of the image data generated by the form image data generating means are combined and formed on a recording sheet, when the discontinuous page aggregation mode is set by the mode setting means, Image forming means for combining an image of image data generated by the discontinuous page aggregated image data generating means and an image of image data generated by the page aggregate form image data generating means to form on a recording sheet And an image forming apparatus.
[0012]
According to this configuration, when the continuous page aggregation mode is set, one form image is combined with the aggregated original image, whereas when the discontinuous page aggregation mode is set, the aggregated image A form image is synthesized on each page. For example, in the case of the weekly magazine binding mode which is an example of the discontinuous page aggregation mode, a completed form image for each page can be combined with an image constituting each page of the weekly magazine binding. When folded at the center and bound, the formed form image is not divided into two pages that are not in a two-page spread relationship. Therefore, a form composite image desired by the user can be obtained.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the form image data generating means for page aggregation is generated by the form image data generation means in a plurality of areas corresponding to individual pages aggregated in one image. Image data representing a page aggregation form image including a form image corresponding to all or a part of the form image may be generated.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the form image data generating means for page aggregation is generated by the form image data generating means in a plurality of areas corresponding to individual pages aggregated in one image. If it generates image data representing a page aggregation form image that includes a deformed form image corresponding to an image obtained by deforming the form image,A form composite image desired by the user can be obtained.
In this case, if the deformed form image corresponds to an image obtained by reducing the form image generated by the form image data generating means, as in the invention described in claim 6,The entire form image can be formed. Therefore, it is advantageous when the form image is meaningless unless it is formed entirely, for example, as one sentence.
[0014]
If the deformed form image corresponds to an image obtained by dividing the form image generated by the form image data generation means,It can be formed without changing the size of the form image. Therefore, it is advantageous when the form image can be divided into two, such as the same image on the left and right, for example.
If the deformed form image corresponds to an image obtained by rotating the form image generated by the form image data generating means by 90 °,All of them can be formed without changing the size of the form image. Therefore, it is advantageous when the form image does not change its appearance even when rotated by 90 °.
[0015]
Further, the page aggregation form image data generating means includes a page aggregation form including a form image completed in one or more regions corresponding to an arbitrary page among a plurality of pages aggregated in one image. If image data representing a form image can be generated, a form image can be formed on an arbitrary page, so that a copy desired by the user can be obtained.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is a digital copying machine and includes an image forming unit 3 in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped main body 2 and an image reading unit 4 on an upper surface of the main body 2. The image reading section 4 includes a scanner 5 and an automatic document feeder (DF) 6 provided on the upper surface of the scanner 5 so as to be openable and closable.
[0017]
The image forming section 3 extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper of FIG. 1, and has a straight cylindrical photoconductor 7 that is driven to rotate around its axis. An LSU (laser scanning unit) 8 for writing an electrostatic latent image. Around the photoreceptor 7, a main charger 9 for uniformly charging the surface of the photoreceptor 7 before exposure, a developing device 10 for developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and transferring the toner image to recording paper A transfer device 11 is provided.
[0018]
The recording paper is transferred from a paper feed cassette 12 provided in the main body 2 or a manual paper feed tray 13 provided on a side surface of the main body 2 at a predetermined timing by the action of a paper feed roller 14 and a registration roller 15. 11 is led.
The recording sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is guided to a fixing device 16 and subjected to a fixing process of the toner image, and then is discharged out of the main body 2 through a discharge roller 17. Reference numeral 18 denotes a switchback device, which reverses the traveling direction of the recording sheet in an intermediate state in which image formation on one side has been completed during a double-sided copying operation for forming images on both sides of the recording sheet, and performs recording at a predetermined timing. The paper can be fed one by one toward the photoconductor 7 in a state where the paper is turned upside down.
[0019]
A transparent contact glass 19 is arranged on the upper surface of the scanner 5. The user can open the automatic document feeder 6, place a document on the contact glass 19, and read the document.
Further, the automatic document feeder 6 is set to a closed state located on the contact glass 19, and the automatic document feeder 6 automatically presents the document to the reading position 20 set near one end of the contact glass 19 while automatically presenting the original. The original can be read in a so-called stream.
[0020]
The automatic document feeder 6 includes a paper feed roller 22 for sending out the documents set on the document tray 21 to the reading position 20 one by one from below. The fed document is guided to a reading position 20 by a plurality of transport rollers (not shown), and the document that has been read is discharged to a discharge tray 24 by a discharge roller 23. The automatic document feeder 6 includes a reversing roller 25. After an image on one side of the two-sided document is read during the two-sided copying operation, the reversing roller 25 reverses the two-sided document to the reading position 20. It can be supplied.
[0021]
The scanner 5 includes a light source 26 for illuminating the document presented on the contact glass 19 from below, a CCD image sensor 27 for detecting reflected light from the document and converting it to an electric signal, and a reflected light from the document. To the detection surface of the CCD image sensor 27, and a lens 31 for forming an optical image of the original on the detection surface of the CCD image sensor 27. And The light source 26 and the first reflecting mirror 28 are commonly mounted on a first moving frame (not shown), and the second and third reflecting mirrors 29 and 30 are commonly mounted on a second moving frame (not shown). ). The first and second moving frames are movable in the left-right direction of FIG. 1 along the lower surface of the contact glass 19, and the second moving frame is moved in the same direction as the first moving frame. The drive mechanism is configured to move at half the speed of one moving frame.
[0022]
When a document is placed on the contact glass 19 and read, the scanner 5 scans the document by moving the light source 26 from one end to the other end of the document.
On the other hand, when reading an original while conveying the original by the automatic original feeder 6, the scanner 5 moves the above-described reading position set near one end of the contact glass 19 (near the left end in FIG. 1). The light source 26 is kept stationary near 20. In this case, the scanning of the document is achieved by the conveyance of the document by the automatic document feeder 6.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 50 including a microcomputer and the like includes a CPU 51, a RAM 52, a ROM 53, a selector 54, and the like. The ROM 53 stores various operation programs in advance. The control unit 50 includes an operation panel 40 for performing various operations, a printer controller 55 connected to an external personal computer or the like, an image reading unit 4, a memory copy unit 56 for storing image data, an image forming unit 3, and the like. Are connected via an interface (I / F) 57 so that input and output are possible.
[0024]
Although not shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 40 is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the scanner 5, and includes a print key 45, a liquid crystal display unit 41, an LED display unit 43, a mode setting key 46, and the like. The print key 45 is for instructing the control unit 50 to start operation according to an operation by the operator. The liquid crystal display unit 41 has, for example, a touch panel, and displays information corresponding to an operation and information related to a driving situation and the like according to an output signal from the control unit 50. The LED display unit 43 indicates the operation status of the image forming apparatus 1, the setting status of various functions, and the like. The mode setting key 46 is a mode setting means for setting a form combining mode, an aggregation mode, and a weekly magazine binding mode, which will be described in detail later. The mode setting key 46 may be arranged in the operation panel 40 or may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 41.
[0025]
The image reading section 4 includes a scanner 5, an automatic document feeder 6, a CCD image sensor 27, and the like. The image data sent from the printer controller 55 or the CCD image sensor 27 to the control unit 50 is sent to the memory copy unit 56 via the selector 54.
The memory copy unit 56 includes a bitmap memory 58 and a hard disk (image data storage means, form image data generation means) 59. The bitmap memory 58 is a memory for expanding and storing image data for image formation, and input image data is compressed and stored on the hard disk 59. At the time of image formation, the image data stored in the hard disk 59 is expanded and expanded in the bit map memory 58, and the expanded image data is transferred to the LSU 8 of the image forming unit 3 via the control unit 50.
[0026]
The image forming apparatus 1 reads out the image data of the form image and the image data of the original image, and combines the images to form a form on a recording sheet. In an aggregation mode (continuous page aggregation mode) in which an aggregated image integrated in one image is formed on recording paper, a two-page spread image of a booklet is divided into two pages of original image data and read. A weekly magazine binding mode (non-printing mode) in which four continuous pages of original images are collectively formed on both sides of the recording paper in a page order according to the weekly magazine binding, two pages at a time, and the completed recorded paper is overlapped and bound to the weekly magazine. A copy mode such as a continuous page aggregation mode is provided.
[0027]
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the form combining mode. The form combining mode is a mode in which the image data of the form image 32 and the image data of the document image 33 are read, and the images 32 and 33 are combined and formed on recording paper.
First, the operator operates the mode setting key 46 of the operation panel 40 to instruct the control unit 50 to operate in the form synthesizing mode. Thereafter, the automatic document feeder 6 is opened, the document to be combined with the form is placed downward on the contact glass 19, the print key 45 of the operation panel 40 is operated, and the image reading section 4 displays the document image 33. Make a reading. The image data of the read document image 33 is stored in the hard disk 59 as shown in FIG.
[0028]
Next, the document on which the form image 32 is formed is placed on the contact glass 19 facing downward, and the print key 45 of the operation panel 40 is operated to read the form image 32. The read image data of the form image 32 is stored in the hard disk 59 as shown in FIG.
When the reading of the image is completed, the control unit 50 develops the image data of the form image 32 and the image data of the document image 33 in the bitmap memory 58 and controls to combine the images 32 and 33. As shown in FIG. 3B, the form image 32 is combined with, for example, the center of the document image 33, and a form combined image 34 is generated.
[0029]
The read form image 32 may be directly expanded in the bitmap memory 58 and combined with the document image 33 without being stored in the hard disk 59.
Thereafter, the image forming operation is started, and the form composite image 34 is formed on the recording paper fed from the paper feed cassette 12.
The form image 32 and the document image 33 are not limited to those read by the image reading unit 4, and may be, for example, images of image data read from an external personal computer to the hard disk 59 via the printer controller 55.
[0030]
Further, even if the form image 32 and the original image 33 are not combined with the form composite image 34 in the bitmap memory 58, for example, after the original image 33 is formed on the recording paper, The document may be combined by being conveyed without being inverted and forming the form image 32 on the document image 33 so as to be superimposed.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the aggregation mode. The consolidation mode is a mode (continuous page consolidation mode) in which a consolidation image 35 in which image data of a plurality of pages of document images 33 of a series of page numbers are consolidated in one image is formed on a recording sheet.
[0031]
First, the operator operates the mode setting key 46 of the operation panel 40 to instruct the control unit 50 to operate in the aggregation mode. Thereafter, the automatic document feeder 6 is opened, the document is placed downward on the contact glass 19, and the print key 50 on the operation panel 40 is operated to cause the image reading section 4 to read the document image 33. . The image data of the read document image 33 is stored in the hard disk 59. Thereafter, a plurality of continuous desired originals are similarly read. It should be noted that, in the drawings, the numbers written in the rectangular area representing the original image 33 indicate page numbers (the same applies hereinafter).
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 4A, for example, when the image data of the document image 33 for two pages is stored in the hard disk 59, the control unit 50 converts the image data of each document image 33 into a bitmap in the reading order. The image data is developed in the memory 58 and controlled so as to be integrated into one integrated image 35 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, an image forming operation is started, and an aggregated image 35 is formed on the recording paper fed from the paper feed cassette 12.
When the document image 33 is for four pages, the image data of each document image 33 is aggregated in an arrangement as shown in FIG.
[0033]
The document image 33 is not limited to the image read by the image reading unit 4 and may be, for example, an image of image data read from an external personal computer to the hard disk 59 via the printer controller 55.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the weekly magazine binding mode. In the weekly magazine binding mode, the spread image 36 of the booklet is divided into two pages of image data of the original image 33 and read, and the original image 33 of four pages having discontinuous page numbers is printed on both sides of the recording paper. This is a mode (discontinuous page aggregation mode) in which two pages are aggregated and formed in the page order according to the binding, and the completed recorded sheets are overlapped and bound in a weekly magazine.
[0034]
First, the operator operates the mode setting key 46 of the operation panel 40 to instruct the control unit 50 to operate in the weekly magazine binding mode. Thereafter, the automatic document feeder 6 is opened, the desired double-page spread of the booklet is placed on the contact glass 19 with the downward direction, the print key 45 of the operation panel 40 is operated, and the double-page image 36 is opened by the image reading unit 4. To read. The read two-page spread image 36 is divided into two parts left and right, and is stored on the hard disk 59 as image data of the document image 33 for two pages.
[0035]
The spread image 36 is similarly read over a plurality of desired continuous spread pages. As shown in FIG. 5A, for example, if a continuous spread image 36 of six pages is read, the image data of the document image 33 of six pages is stored in the hard disk 59 as shown in FIG. Stored.
When the image reading is completed, the control unit 50 develops the image data of each document image 33 into the bitmap memory 58 by two pages in the page order of the weekly magazine binding as shown in FIG. Control is performed so as to be integrated into one integrated image 35. The first two pages may be, for example, a blank image 37 having no image. As a result, each of the front and back covers of the completed booklet-shaped copy becomes blank.
[0036]
As the image data of the blank image 37 and the original image 33 are developed in the bitmap memory 58 two pages at a time, a double-sided copying operation is performed. First, the first sheet of recording paper is fed from the paper feed cassette 12, and an aggregated image 35 of a blank image 37 for two pages is formed. Thereafter, the recording paper is turned upside down by the switchback device 18, and an aggregated image 35 of the first page and the sixth page is formed on the back surface and discharged.
Next, a second sheet of recording paper is fed from the paper feed cassette 12, and an aggregated image 35 of the fifth and second pages is formed. After that, the recording paper is turned upside down by the switchback device 18, and the aggregated image 35 of the third and fourth pages is formed on the back surface and discharged. The discharged recorded paper overlaps the first recorded paper.
[0037]
A booklet-shaped copy can be obtained by binding the two sheets of recorded paper thus overlapped in a weekly magazine. For the first recording paper, thick paper or the like may be used as a cover. In this case, for example, thick paper is set on the manual paper feed tray 13.
The feature of this embodiment is that the form combining mode can be performed in combination with the aggregation mode and the weekly magazine binding mode.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a form synthesizing process performed by the operator operating the print key 45 after setting the copy mode. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a combination mode when the form combination mode is combined with the aggregation mode or the weekly magazine binding mode. As shown in FIG. 7A, the form image 32 includes a plurality of marks in which, for example, a character “secret” is circled. However, in FIGS. 7B to 7E, the character “secret” is omitted.
[0038]
When the print key 45 is turned on (step S1), it is determined whether or not the form combining mode is set (step S2). If the form combining mode has not been set (NO in step S2), the form combining process ends, and a normal image forming operation starts (step S10).
If the form synthesis mode is set (YES in step S2), it is first determined whether the aggregation mode is set (step S3). If the aggregation mode is set (YES in step S3), after the image data of the aggregation image 35 in which the image data of the two-page document image 33 of the series of page numbers is aggregated in one image is generated ( Step S7: Continuous page aggregated image data generating means), as shown in FIG. 7B, the form image 32 is synthesized at the center of the aggregated image 35 (Step S9). Thereafter, the form synthesizing process ends, the image forming operation is started, and an image with the form synthesized is formed on the recording paper (step S10).
[0039]
When the aggregation mode is not set (NO in step S3), it is determined whether the weekly magazine binding mode is set (step S4). If the weekly magazine binding mode is not set (NO in step S4), the form image is synthesized in the center of the original image 33 (step S9) as shown in FIG. After the synthesizing process is completed, an image forming operation is started, and an image with the form synthesized on the recording paper is formed (step S10).
[0040]
When the weekly magazine binding mode is set (YES in step S4), after the image data of the aggregated image 35 in which the two-page document images 33 with discontinuous page numbers are aggregated in one image is generated ( Step S5: discontinuous page aggregated image data generation means), as shown in FIGS. 7C, 7D, and 7E, for page aggregation such that the form image 32 is combined with the original image 33 of each page. A form image 38 is generated (step S6: form image data generating means for page aggregation). By combining the page-aggregating form image 38 with the aggregated image 35, the form image 32 is combined with the document image 33 of each page (step S8). Thereafter, the form synthesizing process ends, the image forming operation is started, and an image with the form synthesized is formed on the recording paper (step S10).
[0041]
Steps S8 to S10 form an image forming unit. The combining of the images by the image forming means may be achieved by forming the document image 33 and the form image 32 so as to overlap on a recording sheet.
When the form combining mode and the weekly magazine binding mode are performed in combination, the completed form image 32 for each page can be combined with the manuscript image 33 constituting each page of the weekly magazine binding. Is folded at the center and bound, the formed form image 32 is not divided into two pages that are not in a two-page spread relationship. Therefore, a form composite image 34 desired by the user can be obtained.
[0042]
FIG. 7C shows a case where an image 32A obtained by reducing the form image 32 is synthesized, and the entire form image 32 can be formed. Therefore, it is advantageous when the form image 32 is meaningless unless it is formed entirely, for example, as one sentence.
FIG. 7D shows a case in which one image 32B obtained by dividing the form image 32 into two equal parts on the left and right is combined, and can be formed without changing the size of the form image 32. Therefore, it is advantageous when the form image 32 can be divided into two, for example, the same image on the left and right sides.
[0043]
FIG. 7E shows a case where an image 32C obtained by rotating the form image 32 by 90 ° is synthesized, and the entire form image 32 can be formed without changing the size. Therefore, it is advantageous when the appearance does not change even if the form image 32 is rotated by 90 °.
In the present embodiment, a case has been described in which, when the form combining mode and the weekly magazine binding mode are combined, a page aggregation form image 38 is generated such that the form image 32 is combined with the document image 33 of each page. It may be possible to generate a page aggregation form image 38 in which the form image 32 is combined with an arbitrary one of the plurality of document images 33. Specific examples are listed below.
-In the case of double-sided copying, combine only on one side.
Combine only to either even or odd pages.
-When composed of multiple chapters, only the first page of the chapter is combined.
・ Synthesize only on the cover of the booklet.
As a result, the form image 32 can be formed on an arbitrary page, so that a copy desired by the user can be obtained.
[0044]
The form combining mode may be combined with another discontinuous page aggregation mode other than the weekly bookbinding mode. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the case where the document images 33 are formed on both sides of the recording paper two pages at a time in the page order according to the weekly magazine binding mode as in the weekly magazine binding mode. Form images can be combined even when they are combined into one image and formed on one side of a recording sheet. For example, when four non-consecutive document images 33 are combined into one image, a page combining form image 38 is generated in which the form image is combined with the document image 33 of each page. In this case, the document image 33 is not limited to the image read by the image reading unit 4, but may be, for example, an image of image data read from an external personal computer to the hard disk 59 via the printer controller 55.
[0045]
The mode setting key 46 may include a form selection key for selecting which form image to use when selecting the aggregation mode.
The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, the image forming apparatus of the present invention can be applied not only to a digital copying machine but also to a printer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an internal configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a form combining mode.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a weekly magazine binding mode.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an aggregation mode.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a form combining process.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a combining mode when the form combining mode is combined with the aggregation mode or the weekly magazine binding mode.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image forming apparatus
32 form image
33 Original image
38 page aggregation form image
46 mode setting key (mode setting means)
59 Hard disk (image data storage means, form image data generation means)

Claims (8)

Image data storage means for storing image data corresponding to a document image of a plurality of pages;
Page aggregated image data generating means for reading image data from the image data storage means and generating image data in which images of a plurality of pages are aggregated in one image;
Page aggregation for generating image data representing a page aggregation form image including a plurality of form images to be formed separately from each other in a plurality of areas corresponding to individual pages aggregated in one image Means for generating form image data for
An image forming unit that combines the image of the image data generated by the page aggregated image data generating unit with the image of the image data generated by the page aggregated form image data generating unit and forms the image on a recording sheet; An image forming apparatus comprising: Form image data generating means for generating image data corresponding to a form image which is an image to be combined with the original image,
The page aggregation form image data generation unit corresponds to all or a part of the form image generated by the form image data generation unit in a plurality of areas corresponding to individual pages aggregated in one image. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus generates image data representing a page aggregation form image including each of the form images. Image data storage means for storing image data corresponding to a document image of a plurality of pages;
Form image data generating means for generating image data corresponding to a form image which is an image to be combined with the original image,
A continuous page aggregate image data generation unit that reads image data from the image data storage unit and generates image data in which images of a plurality of pages of a series of page numbers are aggregated in one image;
A discontinuous page aggregated image data generating unit for reading image data from the image data storage unit and generating image data in which images of a plurality of pages having discontinuous page numbers are aggregated in one image;
A continuous page aggregation mode for performing page aggregation processing by the continuous page aggregated image data generation means and a discontinuous page aggregation mode for performing page aggregation processing by the discontinuous page aggregation image data generation means; Mode setting means,
Page aggregation for generating image data representing a page aggregation form image including a plurality of form images to be formed separately from each other in a plurality of areas corresponding to individual pages aggregated in one image Means for generating form image data for
When the continuous page aggregation mode is set by the mode setting unit, the image of the image data generated by the continuous page aggregation image data generation unit and the image of the image data generated by the form image data generation unit are combined. On the other hand, when the discontinuous page aggregation mode is set by the mode setting means, the image of the image data generated by the discontinuous page aggregation image data generating means and the page aggregation form image data are formed. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that combines an image of image data generated by a generating unit and forms an image on a recording sheet. The page aggregation form image data generation unit corresponds to all or a part of the form image generated by the form image data generation unit in a plurality of areas corresponding to individual pages aggregated in one image. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus generates image data representing a page aggregation form image including each of the form images. The page aggregation form image data generation means corresponds to an image obtained by transforming the form image generated by the form image data generation means in a plurality of areas corresponding to individual pages aggregated in one image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus generates image data representing a page aggregation form image including each of the deformed form images. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the deformed form image corresponds to an image obtained by reducing the form image generated by the form image data generating unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the deformed form image corresponds to an image obtained by dividing the form image generated by the form image data generating unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the deformed form image corresponds to an image obtained by rotating the form image generated by the form image data generating unit by 90 °.

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