JP6805975B2 - Image reader and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image reader and an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for detecting the size of a document placed on a platen.

In Patent Document 1 below, each position marker is detected from image data obtained by photographing a human body to which a plurality of position markers are attached with a camera, and the size of each part of the human body is determined from the detection result. It is described to identify and scale clothing data to its size.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-256232

Today, many owners dress their pets, such as dogs and cats. Similar to humans, pet clothes have notations such as No. 1 and No. 2 and notations such as SM, but depending on the breed of dog, the waist circumference (chest circumference) and length (height) are slightly different. different. In addition, since the standard of size notation differs depending on the manufacturer, it is difficult to find clothes that match the body shape of the pet only by the size notation. Therefore, it is not easy for pet owners to get clothes that fit their pet's body shape.

By the way, if the technique described in Patent Document 1 is applied, it may be possible to easily find clothes suitable for the body shape of the object to be worn, including pets, but the position of the measuring device There is a problem that a large number of markers are required, the processing is complicated, and the cost is too high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable the provision of clothing information suitable for the body shape of a clothing object (for example, a pet) to a user at low cost. ..

For electronic devices such as copiers and multifunction devices that have a scanning function, the entire surface of the platen (platen glass) is scanned, the original placed on the platen is cut out, and the size of the original is automatically detected. Some have a crop function.

By the way, if the user already has clothes that match the body shape of the person to be worn, it is considered that there is no mistake in the size if the user purchases clothes of the same size as the clothes.

In particular, many pet clothes such as dogs and cats are relatively small, and even if they are folded in three, they can be stored on the platen of a general image forming apparatus. Therefore, by using the auto crop function, it is possible to automatically detect the size of pet clothes owned by the owner user (that is, the size of clothes that matches the body shape of the pet).

The present invention is an invention made based on the above findings, and the image reading device according to one aspect of the present invention operates of a document reading unit that reads an image of a document placed on a platen and the operation of the document reading unit. An image reading device including a control unit for controlling, wherein the control unit is obtained by reading by the document reading unit when the clothes placed on the document table are read by the document reading unit as a document. The size of the rectangular area including the clothes as the original is calculated based on the edge data of the original, and the clothes information database connected to the image reader stores the clothes information associated with the size information. The clothing information associated with the calculated size is acquired from the clothing information database, and a predetermined process for providing the acquired clothing information to the user is performed.

The image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes the image reading device and an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording paper, and the clothing information includes product information, and the control unit includes The image forming unit is made to form a product list of clothes on a recording paper based on the product information included in the acquired clothes information.

In the present invention, for example, if clothes matching the body shape of the clothing object are read as a manuscript, a process for providing clothing information (for example, product information) matching the body shape of the clothing object to the user is performed. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with clothing information suitable for the body shape of the clothing wear target at low cost.

It is a functional block diagram which roughly showed the main internal structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which showed the appearance of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which showed an example of the processing operation performed by the control unit in the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which showed an example of the state of the pet clothes placed on the platen glass for placement reading. It is a figure which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display part. It is a flowchart which showed an example of the processing operation performed by the control unit in the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which showed an example of the display screen displayed on the display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the paper pattern image data.

Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus as an embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. It is a perspective view.

The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, and is a control unit 10, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, and an image. It includes a forming unit 12, an image memory 32, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 92, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, an operation unit 47, and a network interface unit 91.

A case where the document reading operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The document reading unit 5 optically reads an image of a document conveyed by the document feeding unit 6 and passing through the transport scanning platen glass 161 or a document placed on the mounting scanning platen glass 162, and then the image Generate data. The image data generated by the document reading unit 5 is stored in the image memory 32 or the like. The platen glass 162 for mounting and reading is an example of a platen within the scope of claims.

A case where the image forming operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The image forming unit 12 is fed from the paper feeding unit 14 based on the image data generated by the document reading operation, the image data stored in the HDD 92, the image data received from the network-connected computer, and the like. A toner image is formed on recording paper as a recording medium.

The HDD 92 is a large-capacity storage device that stores a document image or the like read by the document reading unit 5. The image memory 32 is an area for storing the image data of the original obtained by reading by the original reading unit 5 and temporarily storing the data to be printed by the image forming unit 12.

The fixing portion 13 fixes the toner image on the recording paper by thermocompression bonding, and the fixing treatment of the recording paper is discharged to the discharge tray 151. The paper feed unit 14 includes a paper feed cassette.

The network interface unit 91 transmits and receives various data to and from an external device 20 such as an electronic device or a server in the local area or on the Internet.

The operation unit 47 receives instructions such as an image formation operation execution instruction from the operator regarding various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guidance and the like to the operator. The display unit 473 is a touch panel, and the operator can operate the image forming apparatus 1 by touching the buttons and keys displayed on the screen.

The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or the like. The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, an operation reception unit 101, and a mode setting unit 103.

The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, an operation reception unit 101, and a mode setting unit 103 by the operation of the processor according to the control program stored in the HDD 92. However, the control unit 100 and the like can be configured by a hardware circuit regardless of the operation according to the control program by the control unit 10. Hereinafter, the same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

The control unit 100 controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 is connected to a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, an image memory 32, an HDD 92, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, an operation unit 47, and a network interface unit 91. Drive control of each part is performed. The network interface unit 91 is an example of a data communication unit within the scope of claims.

The operation reception unit 101 receives an operation input from the user via the operation unit 47. Further, the operation reception unit 101 includes a selection reception unit 102. The selection reception unit 102 accepts user selection from the product list LT1 (see FIG. 5) displayed on the display unit 473, which will be described in detail later.

When the operation reception unit 101 receives the user setting of the clothes reading mode for causing the document reading unit 5 to read the clothes placed on the platen glass 162 for mounting reading as a document, the mode setting unit 103 receives the clothes reading mode. To set.

Next, an example of the processing operation performed by the control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This processing operation is a processing operation performed when the mode setting unit 103 receives an instruction from the user and sets the clothes reading mode. Further, here, a case where the document reading unit 5 is made to read the pet clothes as a document will be described as an example.

When the clothes reading mode is set by the mode setting unit 103, the control unit 100 causes the display unit 473 to display a message indicating how to place the pet clothes on the platen glass 162 for mounting reading. Guide the user to the user (S1). The message may be, for example, "Fold your pet clothes in three, make them horizontally long, and carefully place them on the platen glass."

Subsequently, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the operation reception unit 101 has received a document reading instruction from the user via the operation unit 47 (S2). When the operation reception unit 101 determines that the reading instruction has been received (YES in S2), the control unit 100 places the document on the document reading unit 5 and the document placed on the platen glass 162 for scanning (that is, the user). The pet clothes held) is read (S3), and the rectangular area E1 (see FIG. 4) including the pet clothes as the original is detected based on the edge data of the original obtained by reading by the document reading unit 5. (S4).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the state of the pet clothes placed on the platen glass 162 for reading. For example, the control unit 100 detects one straight line forming the contour of the pet clothing T which is the original from the edge data (here, the straight line LA), obtains the inclination of the detected straight line LA, and then is orthogonal to the straight line LA. The rectangular region E1 is detected by detecting the straight lines LB and LC of the document outer frame and detecting the straight line LD of the document outer frame parallel to the straight line LA.

Subsequently, the control unit 100 calculates the length of the vertical side y / horizontal side x of the rectangular area E1 as the size of the detected rectangular area E1 (S5), and determines in advance via the network interface unit 91. Access the external device 20 as the stock management server SRV1 (FIG. 1), send the calculated size information (vertical side y / horizontal side x) to the stock management server SRV1, and match the size indicated by the size information. Request the transmission of product information of pet clothes (S6). The inventory management server SRV1 is connected to the image forming apparatus 1 by, for example, the Internet.

The inventory management server SRV1 includes a pet clothing information database DB1 (FIG. 1) that stores pet clothing information associated with size information, and the pet clothing information includes product information of pet clothing. In addition, examples of product information include identification information (product number), pet clothing image data, name information, price information, and the like. The pet clothing information database DB1 is an example of a clothing information database within the scope of claims.

Upon receiving the above request, the inventory management server SRV1 receives product information (for example, a dimensional difference from the size) that matches the size indicated by the size information based on the size information received from the pet clothing information database DB1. The product information of the pet clothes within the specified range) is read out, and the read product information is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 which is the source of the above request.

When the control unit 100 acquires the product information transmitted from the inventory management server SRV1 (S7), the control unit 100 displays the product list of the pet clothes based on the acquired product information (pet clothes image data, name information, price information). Image data for display is created, and the product list indicated by the image data for display is displayed on the display unit 473 (S8).

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a product list displayed on the display unit 473. In the product list LT1, each image G1 to G3, names N1 to N3, and prices P1 to P3 are displayed for each pet clothing product, and "purchase" for the user to select a purchase is described. The selection buttons B1 to B3 are displayed.

Here, the case where the control unit 100 accesses the inventory management server SRV1 provided with the pet clothing information database DB1 and acquires the product information of the pet clothing is described. However, the pet clothing information database DB1 is described. The HDD 92 may be configured so that the control unit 100 accesses the HDD 92 to acquire product information of pet clothes.

Subsequently, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the selection reception unit 102 has accepted the user selection from the product list LT1 displayed on the display unit 473 (S9). When the selection reception unit 102 determines that the user selection has been accepted (YES in S9), the control unit 100 stores the selection result of the user accepted by the selection reception unit 102 (S10), and the user required for purchasing the product. The registration of information (for example, name, address, telephone number) is urged to the user via the display unit 473, and the registration is accepted (S11).

When the control unit 100 determines that the registration of the user information is completed, the control unit 100, together with the registered user information, transmits the stored selection result (for example, the product number indicating the product selected by the user) via the network interface unit 91. Then, the product is ordered by notifying the external device 20 as the order management server SRV2 (FIG. 1), which is a predetermined ordering party (S12).

According to the first embodiment, the product list LT1 is provided to the user as clothing information matching the body shape of the pet by reading the clothes matching the body shape of the pet to be worn as a manuscript. Further, the above provision is realized by improving the conventional electronic device having a scanning function. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with clothing information suitable for the body shape of the clothing wear target at low cost. In addition, since the user can order his / her favorite pet clothes through the product list LT1, it is possible to easily obtain clothes that match the body shape of the pet.

In the first embodiment, the case where the control unit 100 notifies the inventory management server SRV1 of the dimensions indicating the lengths of the vertical side y / horizontal side x as the calculated size information will be described. When the size information stored in the pet clothing information database DB1 included in the inventory management server SRV1 is not the dimensional information but a predetermined predetermined size (for example, No. 1 and No. 2), the control unit 100 determines. From the calculated dimensions (vertical side y / horizontal side x), a suitable specified size may be selected, and the selected specified size may be notified to the inventory management server SRV1.

Further, in the first embodiment, the case where the product list LT1 is displayed on the display unit 473 is described, but as another embodiment, the product information transmitted from the inventory management server SRV1 by the control unit 100 is described. Then, based on the acquired product information (pet clothing image data, name information, price information), print image data of the pet clothing product list is created, and an image is formed based on the created print image data. The unit 12 may be made to form a product list indicated by the print image data on the recording paper.

Further, as another embodiment, the pet clothes information is stored in the pet clothes information database DB1 in association with the breed of the pet such as the dog breed, and the operation reception unit 101 stores the pet clothes such as the dog breed. The user input of the product type may be accepted, and the control unit 100 may transmit the product type information to the inventory management server SRV1 together with the size information. As a result, pet clothing information more suitable for the pet's body shape can be read from the pet clothing information database DB1.

Next, an example of the processing operation performed by the control unit 10 of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, the product list is presented to the user, but in the second embodiment, the pattern of the pet clothes that matches the size of the pet clothes owned by the user is presented to the user. Different from the embodiment. Since this processing operation is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 from S1 to S5, the description of that part will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, when the control unit 100 guides the user on how to place the pet clothes by displaying a message on the display unit 473 (S1), the message is, for example, "spread the pet clothes and carefully put them on the platen glass. Please put it in the box. " The user shall spread and place the pet clothes on the platen glass 162 for loading and reading according to the guidance. Note that FIG. 8 described later shows the read pattern image data, and the state in which the pet clothes are expanded is a state in which the pet clothes are expanded as shown in FIG.

In S5, the size information (vertical side y / horizontal side x) of the pet clothes in the expanded state is calculated. The control unit 100 accesses the external device 20 as the predetermined paper pattern management server SRV3 (FIG. 1) via the network interface unit 91, and obtains the size information (vertical side y / horizontal side x) calculated in S5. It is transmitted to the pattern management server SRV3 to request the transmission of pattern image data of pet clothes matching the size indicated by the size information (S26).

The pattern management server SRV3 includes a pet clothing information database DB2 (FIG. 1) that stores pet clothing information associated with size information, and the pet clothing information includes a pattern image showing a pattern for creating pet clothing. Contains data. The pet clothing information database DB2 is an example of a clothing information database within the scope of claims.

When the paper pattern management server SRV3 receives the above request, the paper pattern image data (for example, the dimensional difference from the size is different in advance from the size) based on the size information received from the pet clothing information database DB2. The pattern image data of the pet clothes within the specified range) is read out, and the read pattern image data (see FIG. 8) is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 which is the source of the above request. When there are a plurality of pattern image data matching the size indicated by the size information, the pattern management server SRV3 transmits all the pattern image data to the image forming apparatus 1.

When the control unit 100 acquires the pattern image data transmitted from the pattern management server SRV3 (S27), the control unit 100 records the pattern image indicated by the pattern image data on the image forming unit 12 based on the acquired pattern image data. (S28), and the recording paper on which the pattern image is formed is discharged to the discharge tray 151 (S29). When the control unit 100 determines that the paper pattern image does not fit on one recording paper, the control unit 100 divides the paper pattern image into a plurality of recording papers and forms the paper pattern image on the recording paper.

Here, the case where the control unit 100 accesses the pattern management server SRV3 provided with the pet clothing information database DB2 and acquires the pattern image data is described. However, the pet clothing information database DB2 is stored in the HDD 92. It may be configured so that the control unit 100 accesses the HDD 92 and acquires the pattern image data.

According to this second embodiment, the user is provided with a recording paper on which a pattern image is formed as clothing information suitable for the body shape of the pet to be worn. Therefore, the user can create a pet clothes of an appropriate size with a favorite material by using the pattern shown in the pattern image.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 100 displays the product list LT2 on which the selection buttons B4 to B6 marked “pattern printing” are formed on the display unit 473 and selects the product list LT2. When the reception unit 102 accepts the user selection of the selection buttons B4 to B6, the control unit 100 acquires the pattern image data for the selection result of the user accepted by the selection reception unit 102, and the image is based on the acquired pattern image data. The forming unit 12 may be made to form the pattern image shown by the pattern image data on the recording paper.

Further, as yet another embodiment, the operation reception unit 101 is provided with a correction reception unit that receives user correction (adjustment of enlargement / reduction of dimensions) of the size of the pattern image, and the control unit 100 is the control unit 100. The print pattern image data according to the content of the user correction received by the correction reception unit is created, and the image forming unit 12 is based on the created print pattern image data (that is, the image data that has undergone user correction). , The pattern paper image indicated by the print pattern paper image data may be formed on the recording paper. This allows users to obtain customized pet clothing patterns that are not off-the-shelf sizes.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. Further, in the above embodiment, the multifunction device is described as one embodiment of the image reading device and the image forming device according to the present invention, but this is only an example, for example, a copier, a printer, a facsimile, etc. Other image forming apparatus may be used.

Further, the configurations and treatments shown in the above embodiments with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to the configurations and treatments.

1 Image forming device 5 Original reading unit 12 Image forming unit 91 Network interface unit 100 Control unit 102 Selection reception unit 162 Platen glass for mounting and scanning 473 Display unit

Claims (8)

A document reader that reads the image of the document placed on the platen, and
An image reading device including a control unit that controls the operation of the document reading unit.
When the control unit causes the document reading unit to read the clothes placed on the document table as a document, the control unit reads the clothes as the document based on the edge data of the document obtained by scanning by the document reading unit. Calculate the size of the rectangular area to be included
The clothes information associated with the calculated size was acquired and acquired from the clothes information database connected to the image reader and storing the clothes information associated with the size information. An image reading device that performs predetermined processing for providing the clothing information to the user. With a further display
The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit displays a product list of clothes on the display unit based on the product information included in the acquired clothing information. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit displays a message indicating how to place clothes as the document on the platen on the display unit. With the data communication department that performs data communication
A selection reception unit that accepts user selection from the product list displayed on the display unit is further provided.
The image reading device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control unit notifies a predetermined supplier of the selection result received by the selection reception unit via the data communication unit. The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
It is equipped with an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording paper.
The clothing information includes product information,
The control unit is an image forming device that causes the image forming unit to form a product list of clothes on a recording paper based on the product information included in the acquired clothes information. The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
It is equipped with an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording paper.
The clothing information includes pattern image data showing a pattern for creating clothes.
The control unit is an image forming apparatus that causes the image forming unit to form a pattern image indicated by the pattern image data on a recording paper based on the pattern image data included in the acquired clothing information. The image reading device according to claim 2 and
An image forming part that forms an image on recording paper,
It is provided with a selection reception unit that accepts user selection from the product list displayed on the display unit.
The clothing information includes pattern image data showing a pattern for creating clothes.
The control unit is an image forming apparatus that causes the image forming unit to form a pattern image indicated by the pattern image data on a recording paper based on the pattern image data corresponding to the selection result received by the selection receiving unit. Further provided with a correction reception unit that accepts user correction of the size of the pattern image,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the control unit causes the image forming unit to form a pattern image on a recording paper according to the content of the user correction received by the correction receiving unit.