JP2001078004A - Image forming device and picture processor provided with the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To resolve trouble related to increase in the transfer paper of which the occurrence is forecast at the time of chapter division in an integration mode by facilitating recognition of chapter division with respect to an integrated copy where a unit page is formed from plural original picture data. SOLUTION: A numerical value of the number of data to be integrated and picture page (number) data for chapter division, which a user designates, are acquired, and picture data read processing is performed, that is, plural original picture data is read into a picture memory 66 in order from a CCD 54 in the case of copy, from an I/O port 67 in the case of a print request of a PC, and from an HD 75 in the case of stored picture data, so as to obtain plural (a number L of) original pictures. Layout processing allowing of recognition of chapter division is performed based on these data, that is, a leading area of a row of an integrated picture which consists of picture areas forming a matrix is designated to assign an object picture of chapter division and individual picture data included in a chapter unit are assigned to the continuous picture areas, so as to facilitate the recognition of chapter division.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus having a function of collectively (aggregating) a plurality of image data on a single sheet of transfer paper and forming the image. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine, or an electronic file for performing image editing such as aggregation of a plurality of image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, high-performance digital copiers, printers and the like have a collective function (so-called N-in-1 function, N: 1) in which a plurality of image data are collectively (aggregated) and formed on a single sheet of transfer paper. Aggregation number). However, when the aggregation function is used, a plurality of image data are collectively printed on one sheet of transfer paper, so that the visibility is excellent in that the entire image can be viewed. It has been pointed out that there is a problem with the aggregated image after printing, for example, there is a possibility that it becomes impossible to instantaneously judge whether there is any information or in which direction the reading can be performed. Therefore, the following 1) and 2) have been proposed as proposals for improving the visibility of the aggregated image. 1) When a visible image is output by the aggregation function, a boundary line such as a solid line, a dashed line, or a dashed line is combined with each boundary of the original image forming the aggregated image, so that the aggregated image is easily viewed. 2) When the N-in-1 function is executed, 1
Adding page order image data for visualizing the page order of the plurality of pages or top page image data for visualizing the first page of the plurality of pages to image data to be combined for the pages. Accordingly, the user can instantly and easily recognize the first page and the arrangement order of each page in the plurality of synthesized pages.

[0003]

However, in the example of the above 2), the position of the first page and the arrangement order of each page in one printed matter (transfer paper) created using the aggregation mode can be recognized. However, except for the first page, all page images are treated the same during the aggregation process, and if there is a chapter break in multiple pages, it is not processed so that the chapter break can be recognized, so search for the chapter break image It takes time and leaves a problem in image search. In a conventional copying apparatus or the like, there is a chapter break mode for identifying a chapter break of a document. The chapter break mode is realized by, in a copy operation for a document number for which chapter breaks are to be performed, feeding a transfer sheet to be used at a section with a chapter break from a specified slip sheet feeding stage and performing a copy operation. However, the relationship between the chapter break mode and the aggregation mode performed here is inconsistent in the function realization method (that is, the designated image is printed on the slip sheet in a mode in which each original image is independently processed).
Mode combinations were prohibited. As a result, in the aggregation mode, there is no method other than reading that it is a chapter break from the content of the printed image data. Further, as the number of aggregations increases in the aggregation mode, the original image is reduced and printed. Therefore, read the image data,
It is increasingly difficult to determine whether the image data is chapter break data. Therefore, if a chapter break is to be performed in the pseudo image in the merge mode, a blank document is inserted so that the specified chapter image is located at a desired position on the aggregate transfer paper. Then, it is necessary to perform a complicated operation such as removing a plain document inserted after the job, which is a very inefficient use method. About this defect, 1),
No mention is made of the prior art 2). The present invention
It is made in view of the above-mentioned conventional situation relating to an aggregated image that constitutes a page unit image by combining a plurality of original images prepared in order, and the purpose is to form a chapter in forming an aggregated image. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus which assigns an original image in which a chapter break can be easily recognized with respect to an established original image.

As a solution, a method has been proposed in which a chapter break image is allocated to the leading area of the next page (transfer paper) for chapter breaks in the aggregate mode, and both aggregate printing and chapter breaks are achieved. (See FIG. 22, FIG. 22). However, if the chapter-separated image data is specified in a state smaller than the number of aggregations (N), there will be many blank areas used for chapter-separation. This phenomenon is the number of sheets (N)
Becomes remarkable as becomes larger. This means:-Supply costs increase because the number of transfer paper sheets used increases. The billing cost increases as the number of prints used increases.・ Productivity decreases because the number of printed sheets increases at the time of consolidation. It is expected that problems such as the above will occur. The present invention has been made in view of the situation related to such an aggregated image,
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem associated with an increase in the number of print transfer papers which is expected to occur at the time of chapter breaks in the aggregation mode.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of ordered original image data are assigned by designating an image area composed of image areas forming a matrix. In an image forming apparatus having image data generating means for generating aggregated image data in page units, the image data generating means includes a chapter break specifying means for specifying a specific image in the plurality of original image data as a chapter break target image And assigns the image data specified by the chapter delimiter to an area at a specific position in a row or a column of the image area forming the matrix, and converts the image data in the order included in the chapter unit into a predetermined order. An image forming apparatus is characterized in that aggregated image data in page units is configured by allocating the image areas to image areas according to the order.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus as set forth in the first aspect, the image data generating means is configured to store the image data specified by the chapter break specifying means in a next row of the image area forming the matrix. Alternatively, it is assigned to the head area of the next column.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the image data generating means includes a row or column image area to which the image data specified by the chapter break specifying means is to be allocated. If they do not exist in the same page, they are assigned using the first row or first column image area of the next page.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the image data generating means is located in the image area forming the matrix and is generated by a chapter break. The present invention is characterized in that aggregated image data for each page is constituted by allocating corrected image data to an image area to which original image data is not allocated.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the corrected image data is plain image area identification image data.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus as set forth in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the image data generating means is configured to specify the number of images constituting the aggregated image in page units. Means for allocating an aggregated image according to the designation of the image number designation means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: means for inputting the plurality of original image data; and the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects. Is configured.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the following embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. First, the configuration of the apparatus according to the present embodiment and the outline of its operation and functions will be described below. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a copying machine as an embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIG. 1, the basic operation of the apparatus, such as reading an image and writing an image, will be described in accordance with the apparatus configuration of the apparatus and the flow of a document copying operation. A document bundle is placed on a document table 2 of an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as "ADF") 1 with the image side of the document facing up, and an operator presses a start key 34 on an operation unit (see FIG. 2) 30. Then, the original is fed from the lowermost document to a predetermined position on the contact glass 6 by the feed roller 3 and the feed belt 4.
The image data of the document on the contact glass 6 is read by the reading unit 50, and thereafter, the read document is discharged by the feed belt 4 and the discharge roller 5. Further, when the document set detector 7 detects that the next document is present on the document table 2, the document is fed onto the contact glass 6 in the same manner as the previous document. The feed roller 3, the feed belt 4, and the discharge roller 5 are driven by a motor (not shown).

In the writing unit 57, the laser emission of the writing unit 57 is controlled by image forming data generated based on the image data read by the reading unit 50, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive member 15 by laser writing. . The photoreceptor 15 carrying the latent image forms a toner image by passing through the developing unit 27. The transfer paper transfers the toner image on the photoconductor 15 while being conveyed by the conveyance belt 16 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 15. The transfer paper is stacked on the first tray 8, the second tray 9, and the third tray 10, and fed by the first paper feeder 11, the second paper feeder 12, and the third paper feeder 13, respectively. 14
Is transported to a position where it contacts the photoconductor 15. The transfer paper carrying the toner image after the transfer has the image fixed by the fixing unit 17 and is discharged by the paper discharge unit 18 to the finisher 100 which is a post-processing device.

The finisher 100, which is a post-processing device, can guide the transfer paper conveyed by the paper discharge unit 18 of the main body toward the normal paper discharge roller 102 and the stapling section. By switching the switching plate 101 upward, the normal discharge tray 1
The paper can be discharged to the 04 side. Switching plate 101
Is switched downward, the transport rollers 105 and 107
, And can be conveyed to the staple table 108. The transfer paper stacked on the staple table 108 is aligned by a paper aligning jogger 109 every time one sheet is discharged, and when the copy of a part is completed, the stapler 1
06. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 106 is stored in the stapling completion paper discharge tray 110 by its own weight. On the other hand, a normal paper discharge tray 104 is a paper discharge tray that can move back and forth. The paper discharge tray unit 104 that can be moved back and forth moves back and forth and sorts the discharged copy paper easily for each document or for each copy unit sorted by the image memory.

When an image is formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the transfer paper fed and imaged from each of the paper feed trays 8 to 10 is not guided to the discharge tray 104, but is branched for path switching. By setting the claws 112 on the upper side, the stock is temporarily stored in the double-sided paper feeding unit 111. Thereafter, the transfer paper stocked in the duplex paper supply unit 111 is re-fed from the duplex paper supply unit 111 in order to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 15 again, and the branch claws 11 for switching the path.
2 is set on the lower side, and guided to the paper discharge tray 104. In this way, the double-sided paper feeding unit 111 is used when forming images on both sides of the transfer paper. Photoreceptor 15, transport belt 16,
Fixing unit 17, paper discharging unit 18, developing unit 2
Reference numeral 7 is driven by a main motor (not shown), and each of the sheet feeding devices 11 to 13 is driven to transmit the drive of the main motor by a sheet feeding clutch (not shown). The vertical transport unit 14 is driven to transmit the drive of the main motor by an intermediate clutch (not shown).

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an operation unit 30 for inputting a command to the apparatus of FIG. 1 by an operator. FIG. 3 shows an example of a display on a liquid crystal touch panel 31 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation unit 30 includes a liquid crystal touch panel 31, a numeric keypad 32, a clear / stop key 33, and a print key 3.
4. There is a mode clear key 35, and the liquid crystal touch panel 3
1 displays a function key 37, a message indicating the number of copies, the status of the copying machine, and the like. In the liquid crystal touch panel 31, when an operator touches a key displayed on the panel, a key indicating a selected function is inverted to black.
If you need to specify the details of the function (for example, if it is a variable magnification, etc.), touch the key,
The detailed function setting screen is displayed. As described above, since the liquid crystal touch panel uses the dot display, the optimal display at that time can be graphically performed. In FIG. 3, the upper left is a message area for displaying a message such as "I can copy" or "Please wait", and the right is a copy number display section for displaying the number of sheets set.
An automatic density key for automatically adjusting the image density, an automatic paper selection key for automatically selecting the transfer paper, a sort key for specifying the process of arranging copies one by one in the page order, and a process of sorting the copies for each page A stack key, a staple key to specify a process for binding the sorted items one by one, a 1: 1 key to set the magnification to 1: 1, a variable key to set the enlargement / reduction ratio, a double-sided key to set the duplex mode, This is a print key for setting printing of stamps, dates, pages, and the like. The selected mode is shaded with keys.

Next, the operation of the copying machine of this embodiment until the latent image of the image read from the original image is formed on the recording surface will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. This operation is mainly performed by the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57. The reading unit 50 includes a contact glass 6 on which a document is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 51 and a first mirror 5.
2, a lens 53, a CCD image sensor 54, and the like. The exposure lamp 51 and the first mirror 52 are fixed on a first carriage (not shown), and the second mirror 55 and the third mirror 56 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading the original image, the first carriage and the second carriage are two-to-one so that the optical path length does not change.
Is scanned mechanically at a relative speed of This optical scanning system
It is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown). The original image is read by the CCD image sensor 54,
It is converted into an electric signal and processed. Lens 53 and CC
The image magnification is changed by moving the D image sensor 54 in the left-right direction in FIG. That is, the positions of the lens 53 and the CCD image sensor 54 in the left-right direction are set corresponding to the designated magnification.

The writing unit 57 includes a laser output unit 58, an imaging lens 59, and a mirror 60. Inside the laser output unit 58, a rotating polygon mirror that rotates at a high speed at a constant speed by a laser diode as a laser light source and a motor. (Polygon mirror) is equipped. Laser light emitted from a laser diode driven and controlled by the image forming signal is deflected by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through an imaging lens 59, and is turned back by a mirror 60.
The light is focused and formed on the surface of the photoconductor 15. The deflected laser light is exposed and scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor 15 rotates (sub-scanning direction), and the line-by-line image signal output from a selector 64 of an image processing unit described later. Make a record. By repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and the recording density of the photoconductor 15, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 15 (an electrostatic latent image is an image formed on the surface of the photoconductor by optical information). Is a potential distribution generated by irradiating the light after the conversion. As described above, the laser beam output from the writing unit 57 irradiates the photoconductor 15 of the image forming system with main scanning, and simultaneously,
A main scanning synchronization signal is generated by irradiating a beam sensor (not shown) provided at a light receiving position near one end of the reference numeral 5. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting and outputting an image signal described later are performed.

Next, the processing of image data centered on the image processing unit (IPU) in the present embodiment from the image signal read by the reading unit 50 to the generation of image data to be input to the writing unit 57 will be described.
This will be described in detail. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the image processing unit (IPU). It should be noted that the addresses and data in the figure represent image data, and the data and addresses connected to the CPU 68 are not shown. Referring to FIG. 4, an image signal obtained by subjecting reflected light from a document irradiated by an exposure lamp 51 to photoelectric conversion by a CCD image sensor 54 is converted to a digital signal by an A / D converter 61. The image signal converted into the digital signal is subjected to MTF correction, γ correction and the like in the image processing unit 63 after being subjected to shading correction 62. Selector 6
In 4, the image signal is sent to either the scaling unit 71 or the image memory controller 65. The image signal that has passed through the scaling unit 71 is scaled according to the scaling factor, and sent to the writing unit 57.

Image memory controller 65 and selector 6
The image memory controller 65 stores a document image in an image memory or a storage device, retrieves the stored image, and outputs the image to the writing unit 57. I do. For this purpose, setting of operating conditions to the image memory controller 65 and the like, the reading unit 50 and the writing unit 57
And a ROM 69 and a RAM 70 for storing programs and data. In this example, the CPU 68 writes / reads data in / from the image memory 66 and writes / reads data into / from a mass storage device (hard disk: HD in this embodiment) 75 via the memory controller 65.

The image data read from the original image and sent to the image memory controller 65 is sent to the image memory 66 after the image data is compressed by an image compression device in the image memory controller. When storing image data, the image data is transferred and written from the image memory 66 to the HD 75. The reason for compressing the image before writing it to the image memory is that 256
Although it is possible to directly write the gradation data into the image memory 66, an excessive memory capacity is required to store one document image. By performing image compression, a limited amount of image memory can be used effectively, and a large amount of original image data can be stored at one time. Can be output in order. When outputting the stored document image data, the data in the image memory 66 is output while being sequentially expanded by the expansion device in the memory controller 65. Such a function is generally called “electronic sorting”. Also, the data stored in the HD 75 is output in the same manner after writing the image data in the image memory 66.

Further, by utilizing the function of the image memory 66, a plurality of original images can be sequentially read into an area obtained by dividing an area of one transfer sheet of the image memory 66.
For example, by writing four document images sequentially into four equal areas of one transfer sheet in the image memory 66, a copy output in which the four documents are combined into one transfer sheet image and aggregated is output. It is possible to obtain. Such a function is generally called “aggregated copy”. A printing unit 74, which is a device for generating print image data, is connected to the CPU bus and generates a character (character) image for date printing and page printing, an arbitrary stamp image, and the like. The image data generated by the printing unit 74 is input to the print synthesizing 1 device 72 and the print synthesizing 2 device 73, so that an arbitrary image can be synthesized with the original image and the image from the memory. Printing composition 1 device 7
When the print image image from the print unit 74 is synthesized in step 2, print synthesis can be performed on the scanner image read from the scanner, and when the print image data is synthesized in the print synthesis If it is an image, it can be printed and combined with the memory image. The print unit 74 not only generates print image data, but also sets a position where the generated image is to be combined with a document image or an image from a memory (such as the image memory 66 or the HD 75). It also has a control function.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the timing of a control signal used when combining image signals for one page in the selector 64 will be described. In FIG. 5, / FGATE is a frame gate signal, which indicates an effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction.
/ LSYNC is a main scanning synchronization signal for each line, and the image signal becomes valid at a predetermined clock after this signal rises. A signal indicating that the image signal in the main scanning direction is valid is / LGATE. These signals are synchronized with the pixel clock VCLK, and data of one pixel is sent for one cycle of VCLK. The IPU (image processing unit, see FIG. 4) has separate / FGATE, / LSYNC, / LGAT for each image input and output.
E and VCLK generation mechanisms enable various image input / output combinations.

FIG. 6 shows the memory controller 6 in FIG.
5 is a block diagram showing the image memory 66 in more detail. FIG. With reference to FIG. 6, the configurations and operations of the memory controller 65 and the image memory 66 that perform processing to output the captured input image data as various types of page data will be described in detail. The memory controller 65 has blocks of an input data selector 101, an image synthesizing unit 102, a primary compression / decompression unit 103, an output data selector 104, and a secondary compression / decompression unit 105. The setting of control data in each block is performed by the CPU 68 (see FIG. 4). The image memory 66 includes a primary storage device 106 and a secondary storage device 107. The primary storage device 106 can perform high-speed access to, for example, a DRAM or the like so that data can be written to the memory substantially in synchronization with the transfer speed of input image data, or data can be read from the memory at the time of image output at a high speed. Use memory. Also, the primary storage device 10
Reference numeral 6 denotes a configuration in which image data to be processed can be divided into a plurality of areas according to the size of the image data to be processed and input / output of image data can be simultaneously performed. That is, in order to enable image data input and output to be executed in parallel in each divided area, an interface with the memory controller 65 is connected by two sets of address and data lines for reading and writing. Accordingly, an operation of outputting (reading) an image from the area 2 while inputting (writing) the image to the area 1 is enabled. The secondary storage device 107 is a large-capacity memory for storing data for synthesizing and sorting input images. For both the primary and secondary storage devices, if elements that can be accessed at high speed are used, data processing can be performed without distinction between primary and secondary, and control is relatively simple, but here, elements such as DRAM are used. Although the access speed is not so high for the secondary storage device due to its high cost, a configuration is used in which an inexpensive, large-capacity recording medium is used and input / output data processing is performed via the primary storage device. By employing the configuration of the image memory as described above, it is possible to realize a device capable of input / output, storage, processing, and the like of a large amount of image data with an inexpensive and relatively simple configuration.

An outline of the input / output operation of the memory controller 65 will be described. <1> Image Input (Save to Image Memory) At the time of image input, the input data selector 101 selects image data to be written to the image memory (primary storage device 106) from a plurality of input data. I do. The image data selected by the input data selector 101 is supplied to the image synthesizing unit 102, and synthesizes with the data already stored in the image memory there. The image data processed by the image synthesis unit 102 is compressed by the primary compression / decompression unit 103, and the compressed data is written to the primary storage device 106. Primary storage device 10
6 is further compressed by the secondary compression / decompression unit 105 as necessary, and then the secondary storage device 10
7 is stored. <2> Image Output (Read from Image Memory) At the time of image output, image data stored in the primary storage device 106 is read. When the image to be output is stored in the primary storage device 106, the image data in the primary storage device 106 is decompressed by the primary compression / decompression 103, and the decompressed data or the decompressed data The output data selector 104 selects and outputs data after image synthesis of the input data and the input data. Image synthesis unit 1
02 is a combination of the data in the primary storage device 106 and the input data (having a function of adjusting the phase of the image data), and selection of the output destination of the combined data (image output, the primary storage device 10).
6 write-back or simultaneous output to both output destinations). If the image to be output is not stored in the primary storage device 106, the secondary storage device 1
07 is subjected to secondary compression /
After decompression is performed by decompression 105 and the decompressed data is written to the primary storage device 106, the above-described image output operation is performed.

Here, a description will be given of the image data pasting operation at the time of aggregate copying executed by the above-described copying machine. When an image scanned and read by the CCD 54 (see FIG. 4) or an image stored in the HD 75 or the like is written in the image memory 66, the writing position is designated by the image memory controller 65 (FIG. 4). Specify the coordinates of the writing start of the specified image (refer to the writing start address)
Performed by FIG. 7 illustrates one form of a copy image when four images are combined into one image (transfer paper image).
FIG. 8 shows each image before aggregation. FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show page images that are pasted together by specifying a write start address for each image and are aggregated. The respective images (Img1 to Img1) are stored in the image memory in which the images before aggregation shown in FIG.
4) is read out, and image data to be placed on the transfer paper is written by specifying write start addresses TA1 to TA4 in the image memory for each image. That is, the image data of Img1 is written to the write start address TA1, and the
By writing the image data of Img2 at the address of No. 2, Img3 at the address of TA3 and Img4 at the address of TA4, the four image data are consolidated into one. In the examples shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the positions of Img2 and Img3 are changed by changing the coordinates of TA2 and TA3.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show one embodiment of the input screen of the operation panel in the case of instructing the collective copy. 4 sheets → 1
Taking a sheet as an example, in order to change the pasting position of the image data of FIG. 11 to the pasting state (same as FIG. 10) shown in FIG. 12, writing of each image data is performed according to the operation of the imposition order change key. This can be realized by changing the start addresses TA1 to TA4 as described above. Also, page designation (chapter break) can be instructed on this input screen. FIG. 13 shows the designation screen. Selecting the image number designation key in FIG. 12 opens the image number designation screen at the time of aggregation in FIG. 13, where the page number of the image to be divided into chapters at the time of aggregation (if the target image is an original, the number of originals is indicated by the number of pages. , And if the target image is an image stored in the memory, specify it as the image number of the stored image group), and set with the enter key.

Next, the operation of generating the aggregated image data according to the present invention designated as described above will be described with reference to the attached flowchart. In this embodiment, a specified chapter-separated image is allocated to a head area of a row (in this embodiment, a row, but may be implemented by a column) in a matrix of an aggregated image arranged in a page image. It is to be. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation from the start of the job to the end of the job for realizing the “chapter break (first page designation)” mode in the aggregated copy. In this flow, first, it is determined whether or not the print (start) key 34 for instructing the start of printing has been pressed on the operation unit 30 (S10). Next, it is determined whether or not the setting of the aggregation mode according to the present invention and the designation of the image number (page) to be divided in the aggregation mode are performed (S11, S12). This setting is performed on the input screen shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 on the operator side before the print key 34 is pressed, or is instructed by a print request from a PC (personal computer). S
If either of the results determined in steps 11 and 12 is “No”, it is out of the target range of the process according to this flow, and “Re”
t ”.

On the other hand, when the setting of the aggregation mode and the designation of the image page to be divided into chapters in the aggregation mode are performed,
The number of pages to be combined per page (hereinafter referred to as "N") is specified, and the image number (page) data specifying which page (or number) is to be divided into chapters. It is acquired (S13). These data depend on the operator's setting input. Next, image data reading processing is performed (S14). If this process is a copy,
This corresponds to an operation of loading image data of a document set in the ADF 1 into the image memory 66 (106, 107).
The image reading is not limited to this example. When a print request is issued from a PC (personal computer), the image data is taken into the image memory 66 from the I / O port in FIG. 4 or the image data stored in the HD 75 in FIG. When using
The image data may be read into the image memory 66 from D75. When the image data reading (S14) is completed, the number of read images (hereinafter, referred to as “L”),
That is, data on the number of images to be actually processed is acquired (S
15). As described above, when all the basic data necessary for executing the “aggregation + chapter break” mode is obtained, the allocation processing is performed (S16).

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing in detail the allocation processing (S16) in the flow of FIG. The variables i and j shown in the flow are defined as follows. i: The number of aggregated images per page. Aggregation number N
In the case of, values of 1 to N are taken. j: Number of allocated images. When the number of images is L, values 1 to L are taken. When the pages are allocated over a plurality of pages, the total number is used. The flow in FIG. 15 is composed of two contents. One is a process related to the operation of monitoring the process for all images in S20, S23, and S24. The other is S21, S2
6, S27, and S29 are processes related to the allocation process for the image memory for one page (the process for N number of aggregations).

In the allocation process for the image memory for one page, the imposition process (S22) is performed on each area of the one-page image memory in which each image data is divided into N by the number N of aggregations (see FIG. 16 for details). Description). It is determined whether the processing has been completed for all image data, that is, j = L (S2).
3) If the processing has been completed, the processing after the final image allocation is performed (S28). This means that if there is another layout position in the transfer paper after the final layout image, processing for that area and S
Image memory output processing of the last page is performed in the same manner as in step S29.
If it is not the last image data, the number of allocated images is counted up by one (S24). Further, it is determined whether the allocation process for N images has been completed for the image memory for one page currently being processed, that is, i = N (S26). If not completed, i is counted up by one (S27). If allocation of N images has been completed, that is, if i = N, output processing of the current one page of image memory data is performed (S29). In the case of copying, an aggregate copy is performed using the image data of the image memory for one page. Further, the “page break flag” set in the imposition processing (S22)
(Details will be described later) It is determined whether or not “S” is set (S25).
I do. This flag indicates that the image data has been forcibly allocated to the next page memory. When the flag is set, the output processing of the image memory data of the current one page is performed (S29), and the number i of the allocated pages per page is initialized to 1 (S2).
1). Although the above processing is for copying one copy, when outputting a plurality of copies after sorting, the output data is temporarily stored in the HD 75 in the output processing of the current one page of image memory data in S29. It is also possible to call and print the aggregated image data for the second and subsequent copies.

Here, the details of the imposition processing (S22) in the above-mentioned allocation processing flow will be described with reference to FIG. For the explanation of the allocation processing flow, an image example shown in FIG. 19 is referred to. This example image has a total image number of 2
5 shows a case where the image numbers 7 and 17 in the five images Img1 to Img25 are designated as chapter breaks. FIG. 21 shows the result of applying the allocation processing flow of this embodiment to the image example shown in FIG. In the imposition processing flow shown in FIG. 16, it is checked whether or not the image number (number of allocated images) j is a number (page) designated as a chapter break (S30). To make the image allocation process different. If it is not the designated number, the image allocating process 1 is executed (S31). If it is the designated number, the image allocating process 2 is executed (S31).

FIG. 17 shows a detailed flow of the image allocating process 1. In this flow, first, it is checked whether it is the last allocation position on the transfer paper, that is, whether i = N (S3).
3). If it is not the final position, the image data j is stored at the allocation position i.
Is written (S35). In the example of FIG.
Image numbers Img1 to Img6, Img8 to Img13,
This corresponds to the allocation processing of Img16, Img18 to Img25. In S33, if i is the last position on the transfer paper, the page break flag referred to in S25 in the above-described layout processing flow is set (S34). When the page break flag is set, the page image (the image is allocated to the entire area by writing the allocation position i in S35) is output from the image memory (S29), and the process for the next transfer paper, that is, S21 is performed. The subsequent processing is continued. This processing corresponds to the allocation processing of the image number Img14 in the example of FIG. The processing flow of the above-described image allocating process 1 is a surface allocating process in which images are "sequentially" allocated (in the order of arrows in the figure) on a transfer paper sheet in a grouping mode without normal chapter breaks (see FIG. 20). ).

On the other hand, in the imposition processing (S22), if the image number (number of allocated images) j is the chapter break designation number (S30), the image allocation processing 2 shown in FIG. 18 is executed (S32). . In this processing, first, it is checked whether or not i is the leading position of the next row of the aggregated image matrix of the transfer paper (S40). This check checks whether the remainder of i / α is “1”. Here, as shown in FIG. 20, α corresponds to the number in the A (row) direction (4 in this example), and the number in the B (column) direction is β (4 in this example).
Then, the aggregation number N = α * β (16 in this example).
The head of the next row of the aggregated image matrix is Im in FIG.
Assuming that the images g1 to Img16 are allocated according to the arrows, the head of the next row of the aggregated image matrix is Img1,
The positions to which 5, 9, and 13 are assigned are shown. If i is this position, it is an image allocation position indicating a chapter break, so that correction processing (described later) for the allocation position is not performed, and only image data j is written at the allocation position i.

If i is not the head allocation position of the next row of the aggregated image matrix of the transfer paper in S40, it is a target region for chapter break processing unique to this method, and the image number I in FIG.
The control operation for assigning mg7 and 17 is performed. That is, if the image number Img7 is not specified as a chapter break, it is assigned to the next position after the image number Img6. However, since the chapter break is specified, the head position of the next row of the current aggregated image matrix (the image in FIG. (The position where the number Img7 is allocated). This realizes a chapter break at the time of aggregation. In this case, in order to assign the image number Img7 to the head position of the next row of the aggregated image matrix, there are two non-image areas to which no image is assigned after the assigned image number Img6. Therefore, in order to perform image correction on the non-image area for these two areas, a correction process is performed by an image correction unit. In the flow of FIG. 18, a correction process is performed on the allocation position i by the image correction unit (S4).
1) whether i is the last position of the row to which
It is checked that the remainder of i / α is “0” (S4
2) Advance the allocation position until it becomes "0" (S4
3) A procedure for repeating the correction process is executed. More specifically, by writing a “plain image” to prevent garbage data from being erroneously printed in a non-image area, or by writing image data “BLANK” or the like indicating a non-image area, It is possible to explicitly notify the user whether a plain (original) image has been mixed or a plain area has been set for a chapter break.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the chapter break mode is realized also in the aggregation mode, and the result is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, image numbers 7 and 17 designated as chapter breaks are assigned to the head of the line, and for that purpose, the previous line is subjected to a correction process using a “plain image”. On the other hand, the result obtained by the method of allocating the chapter-separated image to the top image area of the page of the transfer paper previously proposed for the image in which the chapter-separated image data shown in FIG. Is shown in FIG. Comparing the two, as shown in the example of FIG. 22, according to the layout at the top of the page, a considerable amount of blank space is generated wastefully, and a large amount of transfer paper is consumed. The margin area used is reduced, and the space is efficiently used.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the invention, a specific image in a plurality of pieces of original image information constituting an aggregated image is specified as a chapter break target image, and the specified image is a chapter break image. That, in order to be able to recognize in the aggregated image arranged in a matrix, and by allocating to the area of a specific position of the row or column, by allocating each image data included in the chapter unit to a continuous image area, This makes it possible to form images in the “aggregate copy + chapter break” mode, which was not possible in the past, and obtains an aggregated image that can easily recognize chapter breaks. This saves time and effort for inserting a plain original and improves convenience. Further, it is possible to solve a problem that occurs in adopting a method of allocating a chapter-separated image to a leading area of a next page (transfer paper) at a chapter break in the aggregation mode, that is, a problem related to an increase in the number of print transfer papers to be used. (2) Effects corresponding to the second aspect of the invention In addition to the effects of the above (1), by allocating the image data specified by the chapter break specifying means to the head area of the rows or columns of the image area forming a matrix. The chapter break images are always allocated so as to be arranged at a certain place where the edge of the sheet is easy to see, and it is easy to recognize a certain thing in the chapter break images. Furthermore, according to the proposal example in which the chapter break image is arranged at the top of the next page, a blank area (image non-allocation area)
However, in the present invention, an image is allocated at the head of the next row (column), so that it is possible to avoid a large number of blank areas (image non-allocated areas). , Paper can be saved. (3) Effects Corresponding to the Invention of Claim 3 In addition to the effects of (1) and (2), the row or column image area to which the image data specified by the chapter break specifying means is to be allocated is within the same page. If the image does not exist, by performing the layout using the row or column image area of the next page, a good image layout can be performed even when the image layout extends to the next transfer sheet.

(4) Effects Corresponding to the Claims 4 and 5 In addition to the effects (1) to (3), original image data generated by chapter breaks in an image area forming a matrix is Correction processing of image data is performed on an image area that cannot be allocated to form aggregated image data in page units, whereby chapter breaks at the time of accurate aggregation can be realized.
In addition, since the correction processing is performed by inserting the plain image area identification image data, it is possible to prevent the garbage data for the remaining area divided into N on the transfer paper from being erroneously printed, and to visually detect the chapter break position. The visibility when recognizing the image is improved, the operation can be performed more easily, and unnecessary printing is not performed, so that wasteful consumption of toner or the like can be prevented, and image data indicating that the area is a plain image area can be written. Thus, it is possible to explicitly notify the user whether a plain (original) image has been mixed or a plain area has been set for chapter separation. (5) Effects corresponding to the sixth aspect of the invention By specifying the number of images constituting a consolidated image in page units and forming a chapter-separated consolidated image according to the specification, the use range of the consolidated image can be further expanded. I can do it. (6) Effects corresponding to the invention of claim 7 In the image processing apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or an electronic file for performing image editing (aggregation) of a plurality of image data, the above (1) to (5) ) Can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a copying machine as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an operation unit of the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an input screen of a liquid crystal touch panel when a copy mode is set in the operation unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of an image processing unit (IPU).

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the timing of a control signal used when combining image signals for one page in a selector.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a memory controller and an image memory in FIG. 4 in more detail;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a copy image when four images are combined into one image (transfer paper image).

FIG. 8 shows each image before the aggregation shown in FIG. 7 is performed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of an aggregated page image which is pasted by designating a write start address for each image.

FIG. 10 shows a case where the designation of a write start address is changed in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of an input screen of the operation panel when instructing a consolidated copy.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of an input screen of the operation panel when a command for an integrated copy is issued.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of an input screen of the operation panel when commanding “combined copy + chapter break”.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of an operation of executing the “aggregate copy + chapter break” mode.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing details of the allocation processing of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing details of the imposition processing of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating details of image allocation processing 1 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating details of image allocation processing 2 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 illustrates an example of an original image to which a “combined copy + chapter break” mode is applied.

FIG. 20 shows an example of an image arrangement of an aggregate copy over 16 pages and 1 page.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a copy result created by applying the “aggregate copy + chapter break” mode of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows an example of a copy result created by applying the “aggregate copy + chapter break” mode proposed earlier.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Automatic Document Feeder (ADF) 2 ... Document Plate
6 contact glass 15 photoreceptor 1
7: fixing unit, 50: reading unit, 51: exposure lamp, 54:
CCD image sensor, 57 writing unit,
58: laser output unit, 27: developing unit, 30: operation unit, 31: liquid crystal touch panel.

Claims (7)

[Claims] An image data generating page-by-page aggregated image data by assigning each of a plurality of ordered original image data by designating an image area composed of image areas forming a matrix In the image forming apparatus having a generation unit, the image data generation unit includes a chapter separation specification unit that specifies a specific image in the plurality of original image data as a chapter separation target image, and is specified by the chapter separation specification unit. By allocating the image data to a region at a specific position of a row or a column of the image region forming the matrix, and allocating the image data having the order included in the chapter unit to the image region according to a predetermined order, An image forming apparatus configured to form aggregated image data in page units. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image data generating means stores the image data designated by said chapter designation designating means in a head of a next row or a next column of an image area forming said matrix. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus is assigned to an area. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image data generating unit includes a row or column image area to which the image data specified by the chapter break specifying unit is to be allocated in the same page. If not, the image forming apparatus performs the allocation using the first row or first column image area of the next page. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data generating unit allocates the original image data generated by the chapter break in the image area forming the matrix. An image forming apparatus characterized in that aggregated image data for each page is configured by allocating corrected image data to an image area that cannot be obtained. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the corrected image data is plain image area identification image data. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data generating unit includes an image number designating unit that designates the number of images constituting an aggregated image in page units. An image forming apparatus, wherein an aggregated image is allocated according to designation of an image number designation unit. 7. An image processing apparatus comprising: means for inputting a plurality of original image data; and the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.