JP2001180066A - Continuous form-printing apparatus and method for designating printing position - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous form-printing apparatus with an ease of operation in which a screen is made easy to see thereby reducing a burden to responsible persons. SOLUTION: The form-printing apparatus is provided with a sideward aligning part 7 for setting to a transfer references face 5b a continuous form 2 to be printed which has a printing position mark 2a set to an end part of a printing line of the continuous form, and a display part 12 for image reading the continuous form 2 set to the transfer reference face 5b and displaying the image. When the presence of the printing position mark 2a is not detected in image information, the situation is displayed to the display part 12. When one printing position mark 2a is present in the image information, the line is judged as the printing line. When a plurality of printing position marks 2a are present, a position indicated by the printing position mark 2a selected on the basis of the displayed image of the display part 12 is set as a position of the printing line to carry out printing. The printing position mark 2a selected from the plurality of printing position marks 2a is displayed by changing at least one of a hue, a saturation and a lightness from the printing position marks 2a not selected. A color adjustment is carried out to display in accordance with color components of RGB signals of the printing position mark 2a outputted from a color image sensor 3 for image reading the continuous form.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a form printing apparatus having a function of optically reading a form image on a medium such as a form.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A form printing device used in financial institutions and the like for printing on forms and slips is inserted into a form to be printed, and when the form is detected, the transport means is driven and controlled to print the form to a printing section. Capture and print. Among these types of apparatuses, there is also used a form printing apparatus for visually indicating a print position mark provided at an end of a form print line and a position mark provided on an insertion port side and then giving a transfer instruction. In this apparatus, when the completion of designation of the print position is input, a printing process is performed in the printing unit by transporting the form by a predetermined amount based on the distance from the leading edge of the form to the print position mark. Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2828013, a technology has been proposed in which a character recognition unit for image reading and OCR and a printer unit are integrated to simplify operations related to input operations and forms handling by staff, thereby preventing work errors. Is being developed.

[0003]

Such a form printing apparatus has the following problems. Even if the devices are integrated, the operability is deteriorated depending on the installation layout due to the reduction in size and weight and the layout-free (independent type, desktop installation type, etc.), and excessive time is required for operation. Particularly, in consideration of the transfer of operations to part-time personnel in financial institutions, simplification of operability is also desired.

Although an image OCR function has been developed to simplify the input operation and to prevent a mistake in operation, various (color) images have to be collected from the entire area of the form. There has been a problem that it takes a long time to read image processing of a form printed in a dropout color or the like, and that a screen displayed as a result is difficult to see depending on display colors. The present invention solves such a problem,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a form printing apparatus which has a good form set operability and performs an easy-to-view screen display, and reduces the burden on staff operations.

[0005]

A form having a print position mark provided at an end of a print line to be printed is drawn to a transfer reference plane, and a form drawn to the transfer reference plane is read as an image. An image information processing unit for processing as an image image, and a display unit for displaying the image image processed by the image information processing unit. When the image information processing unit cannot detect the presence of the print position mark, the display unit informs the display unit accordingly. Displayed, if there is one print position mark, it is judged as a print line. If there are multiple print position marks, the position indicated by the print position mark selected based on the display image on the display is printed as the print line position. I do. Further, the display of the print position mark selected from the plurality of print position marks changes at least one of the hue, saturation, and brightness from the print position mark that is not selected. Also,
Color adjustment is performed according to the color components of the RGB signals of the print position marks output from the color image sensor that performs image reading, and the image is displayed.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a form processing unit according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a control block diagram illustrating the concept of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a form printing device (not shown), 2 denotes a form to be read, and a printing position mark (hereinafter, referred to as a position mark) 2a is printed in a predetermined color or a color similar to the dropout color. The printing process is performed on the printing line indicated by the position mark 2a. The form 2 is often devised, for example, by printing red for the deposit processing system and blue for the dispensing system to facilitate visual distinction.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a line-type color image sensor for optically reading handwritten information or printed information on the form 2, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) for detecting the form image at the same magnification. It is composed of a sensor 3a, a white light source unit (hereinafter, referred to as a light source unit) 3b, and the like. The CCD sensor 3a receives the light reflected by the light emitted from the light source unit 3b and generates an electric signal of a level corresponding to the amount of light. Are arranged for the number of pixels. This photoelectric conversion element has R (red), G (green), B
It is covered with three types of filters each of which uses the (blue) color component as a separation color, and a continuous element of R, G, and B corresponds to one pixel.

[0008] This color image sensor 3 is
The form image printed on the surface of the image, that is, the lightness and darkness due to the colored characters, the ruled lines, the entry frame, and the background color are represented by R,
Each of the above-described photoelectric conversion elements outputs G and B light / dark signals as three color signals (for example, each bit is represented by 8 bits and has an intensity of 0 to 255) for synthesizing one pixel. A printing unit 4 includes a print head 4a, a platen 4b, and the like for printing on the form 2.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a form transport section (hereinafter, referred to as a transport section) for transporting the form 2, a transport guide section 5a for regulating the front and back positions of the form 2, and a transport standard for inserting and printing the form 2. It is composed of a transport roller 5c capable of pinching and pressing the surface 5b and the form 2 and a pressure roller 5d.
The portion of the transport guide 5a corresponding to the color image sensor 3 is black so that the reflectance of the light emitted from the light source 3d is low.

The transport roller 5c is rotated forward and backward by the rotation of an LF motor (LF: line feed) 6, not shown. The type of the LF motor 6 is a stepping motor. The transport roller 5c is precisely manufactured and controlled in outer diameter, and the transport amount of the form 2 can be managed by controlling the rotation amount (the number of steps) of the LF motor 6.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a width shift portion, which comprises a clamp roller 7a and a motor 7b for clamping the form 2 from the front and back, and rotates the clamp roller 7a to turn the clamped form 2 toward the transport reference surface 5b. The detector is moved until a width detector SE1 described later is turned on. For details, see JP-A-61-206680 and JP-A-61-2174.
This is a known technique described in JP-A-49-49 and JP-A-62-86354, and will not be described.

SE1 is a width deviation detector, which is a conveyance guide portion 5a.
The light-emitting diode and the light-receiving transistor are disposed to face each other in the vertical direction. The mounting position is provided at a position separated by a predetermined amount (about 0.5 mm) from the transport reference surface 5b so as to transmit the optical axis. An ON signal is obtained by utilizing the output fluctuation of the light receiving transistor caused by the form 2 blocking the optical axis. Reference numeral 5e denotes a light transmitting hole, which is covered with a transparent member so that paper dust and the like do not fall. SE2 is a form detector, which is provided vertically through the optical guide at a position (approximately 2 cm) away from the transport reference surface 5b in a direction perpendicular to the transport guide portion 5a, similar to the width detector SE1. An ON signal is obtained by the form 2 blocking the optical axis.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a drive circuit which drives the transport unit 5 including the printing unit 4 and the LF motor 6 and the width shift unit 7 and the like. The drive circuit 8 can also supply power to the color image sensor 3. is there.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a multi-value conversion circuit. When light is irradiated from a light source unit 3b to a corresponding surface of the form 2, the irradiation light is reflected from the surface of the form 2 and the CCD sensor 3a (photoelectric conversion element) ), And the formed image data is represented by R
The data is converted into digital data at a predetermined linear density using the GB multi-value data (8-bit signal for each color). The color image sensor 3 reads the form image (characters or ruled lines and the background color) on the form 2 as a light / dark signal, and performs A / D conversion by the multi-value conversion circuit 9. The multi-level conversion circuit 9 has an A / D
Although a conversion, an amplification circuit, and a shading correction unit are also included, the description is omitted.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an image memory which performs predetermined processing on the RGB signals output from the multi-level conversion circuit 9 and outputs the processed signals as image information. The memory 10a for temporarily storing the read image information
Information such as that shown in FIG. 3 as a read setting range (area) and information such as the direction and size of the position mark 2a are also stored. The color image sensor 3 described above,
The multi-level conversion circuit 9 and the image memory 10 form an image information processing unit.

In FIG. 3, a dimension Y1 is distance information from a leading end of the form 2 to a printable range, and a dimension Y3 is distance information from a rear end to a printable range. The dimension X1 is a dimension from the reference end of the form 2 (in this embodiment, the left reference) to the print allowable position of the position mark 2a, and the dimension X2 is the width of the allowable area. In this figure, a range (hatched portion) regulated by the dimensions Y2 and X2 is the mark reading area 20, which is stored as position coordinate information to be analyzed.

The dimension X3 is a dimension from the reference end of the form 2 to the position of the reading left end, and the dimension X4 is the width of the reading area. In this figure, the range regulated by the dimensions X4 and Y2 is the print processing area 21. Note that a print line to be printed exists in the print processing area 21. Reference numeral 22 denotes a form identification information area in which a form name, a form code (form ID), and the like are preprinted.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a cursor key for inputting a process;
The keyboard has various key switches such as a character key, a conversion key, an insertion key, and a completion key, and a pointing device for performing a cursor moving operation. Reference numeral 12 denotes a display unit constituted by an LCD or a CRT. The display unit 12 can display a cursor moving on the operation display screen, a transaction screen, an input guidance screen, and the like in color.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a cursor position calculator for calculating a cursor position. Reference numeral 14 denotes an input character editing unit that edits character data input by a keystroke from the keyboard 11, and stores or connects a character conversion file, a kanji dictionary file, and the like (not shown). A character data memory 15 is a memory for temporarily storing the character information edited by the input character editing unit 14 described above.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a format data memory which stores a plurality of types of form image data in advance, is identified and classified for each form code (form ID), and is provided with position information where the position mark 2a is present and printing. Format and print color information are also stored. This position information is LF as distance data from the leading edge of the form 2 to the center of the position mark 2a.
It is converted into the number of steps of the motor 6 and stored.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an image synthesizing unit, which stores image data read by the color image sensor 3 and the keyboard 11.
The image data of the form read from the format data memory 16 and the image data of the form read out from the format data memory 16 are combined according to a predetermined priority and output to the display unit 12 as image data.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a control unit for controlling the above-described units, and controls the drive of the form printing apparatus 1 according to a control program stored in a storage unit (not shown). The control unit 18 also has a counter circuit for measuring the number of rotation steps of the LF motor 6 and the like. Multiply the number of steps measured by this counter circuit by the transport amount per single step,
The control unit 18 also calculates the amount of movement of the form 2.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a color adjustment unit which performs color adjustment for each of the RGB color signals read by the color image sensor 3 so as to be convenient for a person to actually recognize. The color and the adjustment value are determined in advance by experiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a form, and the form will be described with reference to FIG. 2a is the above-mentioned position mark, which is provided at three places in the figure. 2b is a print line area, and a print range corresponding to the position mark 2a (shaded area)
Is provided. Reference numeral 2c denotes a handwriting entry field, which is a character information field written with a black ballpoint pen or the like. 2d is a form name of this form, and 2e is a form code (hereinafter, form ID). It is assumed that the form 2 is printed in a predetermined single color and multicolor printing is not performed.

The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the operation flowchart shown in FIG.
Note that S means an operation step. When the attendant selects "automatic alignment" from the keyboard 11 according to the subject, the form printing apparatus 1 enters the automatic alignment mode. Subsequently, when the form 2 is inserted, the form detector SE2 detects this (S1). In this inserting operation, it is not necessary to hit the form 2 against the transport reference plane 5b, and it is sufficient that the form detector SE2 can be turned on even in the oblique setting. When the signal of the form detector SE2 is obtained, the drive of the width approaching portion 7 is started according to a predetermined control program, and the clamp roller 7a is turned on (S2).

The form 2 is clamped by the clamp roller 7a
The form 2 is moved toward the transfer reference plane 5b (in a direction orthogonal to the transfer direction) by rotating the motor 7b (not shown). As the movement proceeds, the optical axis of the width detector SE1 is cut off (ON) by the form 2, and the width detector SE is turned on.
When 1 is turned on, the rotation of the motor 7b is stopped. In this state, the form 2 has been laterally moved to a position where it substantially contacts the form reference surface 5b (S3).

The control section 18 controls the transport section 5 to actuate the pressure roller 5d to pinch and press the form 2 with the transport roller 5c. After the pressing operation is completed, the clamp roller 7a of the width approaching portion 7 is released. By the above operation, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, even the form 2 which is separated from the form reference plane 5b by a predetermined amount (for example, within 2 cm) and obliquely inserted, is drawn to the transport reference plane 5b, and the form 2 Is in contact with the transport reference plane 5b.

Next, the loading of the form 2 is started. Before that, since the leading end position of the form 2 is uncertain, first, the "tip position finding" operation is performed (S4). This "tip positioning"
In the operation, first, the LF motor 6 is rotated in the reverse direction (BLF; backline feed). As a result, the transport roller 5c rotates in the reverse direction, the form 2 moves in the direction of the insertion slot, and the form detector SE2 will be turned off soon. Report detector SE
The reverse rotation of the LF motor 6 is stopped at a predetermined number of steps (for example, 30 steps) after 2 is turned off. The form 2 at this position is nipped by the pressure roller 5d and the transport roller 5c, and the form detector SE2 is in the OFF state.

The controller 18 instructs the LF motor 6 to rotate in the normal direction, and starts sucking the form 2. A predetermined number of steps (about 30
(About a step), the form detector SE2
Turns ON. Control unit 1 when report detector SE2 is turned on
8 sets the form leading end position address = 0 (zero).
In the subsequent transport control, the LF motor 6 is rotated forward and backward by the number of steps corresponding to the difference by instructing the form leading end position address value as the target position. Form position management is performed in which the form top position address value is updated when the target position is reached.

After the "positioning of the leading edge" in step S4 is performed, the LF motor 6 is continuously moved by a predetermined number of steps (the amount by which the form leading edge address becomes the reading start position of the color image sensor 3 and 3 to 5 mm from the reading center). Drive control). The driving of the predetermined number of steps is controlled by the counter circuit in consideration of the number of acceleration steps and the number of deceleration steps of the LF motor 6 (S
5). When transported to the image reading start position, the control unit 18 controls the drive circuit 8 to start a reading operation. The reflected light forms an image on the CCD sensor 3a at the same time as the conveyance, and the data for each color component is sequentially converted into multi-valued data at a predetermined linear density and stored in the image memory 10. This storage is performed in the section of the form identification information area 22 (S6).

The image memory 10 first detects the leading edge and the left and right edge positions of the form 2 from the read data. When the form 2 does not reach the color image sensor 3, that is, at the start of reading, the "medium-less state (black)" is recognized, and when the leading end of the form 2 is captured, the background color (paper surface) of the form 2 is recognized. You. Therefore, the boundary (line) is the leading end or the left and right ends of the form 2. Since the CCD sensor 3a is of a line type, it is physically determined by its output element arrangement and mounting density, so that the right and left ends can be easily detected and grasped as the width of the form 2.

By the image processing of the form identification information area 22, it is determined whether or not the form ID 2e exists (S7). The presence / absence is determined by whether there is 2-digit alphanumeric information or by being cut out and recognized as a setting candidate position, but detailed description is omitted. If the form ID 2e exists,
Since the format and print color information for each form are stored in the format data memory 16, the format data of the corresponding form ID 2e is read and temporarily stored in the image synthesizing unit 17 (S9). Note that the print color information is adjusted so that the print color (RGB components) of the form is not displayed as it is but is easily viewed when displayed in color on the display unit 12.
Accordingly, even if the actual form 2 has fading or the like, the display 2 is automatically adjusted to a predetermined display color.

The control unit 18 subsequently starts reading the entire area of the form 2, but cuts out the manual entry field 2c from the format data of the form ID 2e and recognizes OCR characters (S10). Since the OCR character recognition is required only in the handwriting entry field 2c, high-speed conveyance (image capture is not required) up to this field or the subsequent reading is omitted when the reading of the last handwriting entry field 2c is completed. .

Ruled lines and entry frames are removed from the read image data in the handwritten entry column 2c to perform OCR character recognition (in the illustrated example, date and time, amount, address, and name) (S11).
This ruled line or entry frame is removed by comparing it with the format data of the form ID 2e, but may be removed by using the output multi-valued data.

The control unit 18 transmits the image data recognized by the OCR to the image synthesizing unit 17 and synthesizes the image data with the format data (S12). When the image synthesizing unit 17 sends the whole image of the form 2 and the result of the OCR character recognition to the display unit 12, the display unit 12 displays both the recognition information display area 26 and the whole form image 28 as shown in FIG. (S1
3).

Next, the case where the form ID 2e cannot be detected in step S6 will be described. When reading is started and after passing through the form identification information area 22, the predetermined mark reading area 20 and the print processing area 21 are sequentially scanned, and if a difference in the output level occurs, the mark is identified and the position mark 2a or the like is identified. It is read as ruled lines, entry frames, and handwritten information (S14). This reading process is continued until the rear end of the form 2 passes through the color image sensor 3 (S1).
5). Note that at the end of the form 2, the form detector SE2 is turned off.
By conveying a predetermined number of steps from the point in time of F, it can be understood that the rear end of the form 2 passes through the color image sensor 3. When the lower end of the form 2 has passed, the image reading is terminated, the color image sensor 3 is set in a standby state, and the conveyance is stopped (S16).

Immediately after the start of reading, the output (as the amount of reflected light) of the CCD sensor 3a is at a low level to read "black" of the transport guide portion 5a. The reflectivity increases and Hi
gh level. When scanning as it is, position mark 2a
And the output of the handwriting entry column 2c decreases, and the output changes by a predetermined width at the set position of the position mark 2a. These image data are stored in the image memory 10 (S17).

Next, image processing is started. First, in the mark reading area 20, the reduced width of the output occurs in a range corresponding to the thickness (line height) of the position mark 2a. Recognize as a symbol. This "-" symbol can be easily determined because the thickness of the line is defined. For example, since the binding hole (hole for file) is circular, it is easy to distinguish it from the position mark 2a. And there is no misrecognition.

In the print processing area 21, RGB multivalued information of the same component as the position mark 2a is cut out as ruled lines and entry frames as RGB multivalued data, and the color signal as RGB multivalued data is determined to be "black". What can be performed is to perform OCR character recognition as handwritten character information (S1).
8).

The control unit 18 determines whether or not it is necessary to adjust the color displayed on the display unit 12 from the multi-value data (color signal) of the position mark 2a in parallel with the OCR character recognition processing as the handwritten character information. (S19). This necessity determination is determined in advance based on whether or not the output color signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, and is experimentally determined based on hue, saturation, and brightness. The method of setting the color adjustment value determined experimentally will be described with reference to FIG. First, an image of an unused form 2 is read as a sample, and a color (RGB) signal is displayed in color on the display unit 12 without adjustment. The clerk looks at the form image displayed in color, and if it is judged that the color is difficult to see, moving the knob display 27 on the screen to the left and right by operating the cursor 24 as shown in FIG. The display color changes. Control unit 1
Reference numeral 8 stores the corrected color (RGB signal) signal in the color adjustment unit 19 as a color adjustment value. Since the color (RGB) signal in reading at the time of setting slightly fluctuates for each scan, a predetermined allowable range is provided. If the color (RGB) signal falls within the allowable range, the screen is set. R
It is programmed to convert it into a GB signal and output it to the image synthesizing unit 17 (S20).

The control unit 18 transmits the image data recognized by the OCR to the image synthesizing unit 17 and synthesizes the image data. When the image synthesizing unit 17 sends the whole image of the form 2 and the result of the OCR character recognition to the display unit 12, the display unit 12 displays both the recognition information display area 26 and the whole form image 28 as shown in FIG. . In step S19, RG
If it can be determined from the B signal that the entire area is white or black, the form 2 is discharged without color adjustment processing and confirmation is requested from the attendant, but detailed description is omitted.

The vertical width in addition to the horizontal width of the form 2 is calculated from the image data, and the entire outer shape is reduced or enlarged to a size that can be stored in the display screen.

When an input for designating a print position from the keyboard 11 according to the color display on the display unit 12, for example, by moving the cursor 24 on the screen and outputting a selection signal in the mark selection effective area 23, the cursor position calculation unit 13 Indicates the print line area information corresponding to the cursor 24 in the image synthesizing unit 1.
Send to 7. When the clerk operates the cursor 24 to select a desired print line area 26, the designated print area 2b is visually distinguished from other print line areas, for example, the display colors (hue, saturation, brightness) are displayed. Change or blink. The user performs a pass / fail confirmation operation with reference to the displayed contents (S21).

When it is confirmed (input) that the printing position is correct, the form 2 is conveyed to the printing unit 4. As the transport operation amount, the distance from the time when the leading end of the form 2 is read as image data to the time when the position mark 2a is detected may be considered as the transport amount (the number of steps) of the LF motor 6 (S22).

When inputting a print position instruction in step S21, the above-described selection action is required when there are a plurality of position marks 2a, but the selection action is unnecessary when there is only one position mark 2a. The control unit 18 proceeds with the process as having been selected. If the presence of the position mark 2a cannot be detected, a message such as "There is no position mark on the form, please check the form" is displayed and a post-processing instruction is requested from the attendant. Form 2 if staff instructs discharge
Is returned to the insertion slot, and the display screen is returned to the initial screen.

When a predetermined printing operation is performed on the form 2 conveyed to the printing unit 4 (S23), the LF motor 6 is rotated in the reverse direction, conveyed in the direction of the insertion slot, and stopped. When the form detector SE2 is turned off (no form) by the sampling operation, the process is terminated (S24).

In the image reading process of the present invention, the position mark 2
The purpose is not to detect the size and color of a, but to detect the position of the position mark 2a. The original image reading function is to recognize ruled lines, entry frames, handwritten characters and printed characters printed in a dropout color, and to recognize characters using a predetermined dictionary. Available. Further, the input information from the keyboard 11 is integrated by the image synthesizing unit 17 and is displayed, so that added value can be increased. Hereinafter, the description will be briefly given.

At the time of processing in step S12,
When a key input is performed from the keyboard 11, a predetermined character editing process is performed by the input character editing unit 14 and stored in the character data memory 15. Examples of the editing process performed by the input character editing unit 14 include conversion of simplified code input data (for example, “input” when a key input of “01” is made, etc.) and conversion of character size (half-width and full-width). The edited character data is stored in the character data memory 15 and is re-synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 17 to be displayed in color on the display unit 12. When the position mark 2a is recognized, the number of print digits in the print line can be confirmed in the print processing area 21.

The printing position is also determined individually from the printing format and the printing format (such as the number of characters) in the form designing stage of the form 2, so that it should be secured as a blank. Furthermore, it goes without saying that a machine-processed column or the like other than the handwritten entry column 2c is recognized, and OCR characters can be recognized and displayed as a completed area. As described above, for example, the image of the form 2 is recognized and the color (RG
B) If the signalized value is yellow, the color can be adjusted to orange, if it is pink, to red, and if it is sky blue, the color can be adjusted to blue for color display.

As a second embodiment of the present invention, the display color adjustment in step S20 will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the display colors of the position mark, the ruled line, the entry frame, and the like are adjusted to provide a screen display color that is easy for the attendant to see. In the second embodiment, the background color is adjusted to adjust the position. This is to make it easier to see marks and the like.

At least an image of the form identification information area 22 is read, and from the color components obtained as RGB signals, the display color to be displayed in color on the display unit 12 is a pale color (for example, yellow, yellow-green, peach, sky, color) System)). When it is determined that the color is a light color, the color adjustment unit 19 converts the read color component into a color component (for example, a gray or dark blue) that corresponds in advance to the color component value of the background color, and outputs the color component to the image combining unit 17. Display in color.

The method of setting the color adjustment value is similar to that of the display example shown in FIG. 7, but the display is performed by setting the "hue" of the background color in more steps (for example, a gray scale). First, an image of an unused form 2 is read as a sample, and its color signal is displayed on the display unit 12 without adjustment. When the attendant visually observes the color-displayed form image and determines that it is difficult to see, the cursor display 27 displayed on the screen is moved left and right by operating the cursor 4, so that the pre-programmed color adjustment is performed and the background color is changed. Change. The control unit 18 stores the RGB signals of the set color signals in the color conversion unit 19 as color adjustment values. Since the color (RGB) signal in reading at the time of setting slightly fluctuates for each scan, a predetermined allowable range is provided. If the color (RGB) signal falls within the allowable range, the screen is set. The output to the image synthesizing unit 17 after conversion into the color (RGB) signal is the same as described above. The control unit 18 transmits the OCR-recognized image data to the image combining unit 17 and combines the image data,
A screen display as shown in FIG. 8 is performed. In FIG.
a shows an example of the adjustment range of the background color.

As described above, the background color of the form is adjusted, so that recycled paper or the like is used, and color adjustment may be performed even if there is a slight color component (light brown) as the background color. The form 2 or the like on which red-based printing has been performed can also be adopted.

The processing from steps S7 to S12 will be described as a third embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIG. The gist of the third embodiment relates to a process when a "color" other than a ruled line, an entry frame, and an entry character color is detected. For example, "imprint" is identified as a third color, and, as individual information, for example, imprint registration is performed. Alternatively, it can be used for collation processing. In particular, imprints can be identified because their size, shape (round shape) and imprint position can be almost limited. In this embodiment, an address dictionary and a last name dictionary for OCR recognition of an address and name information handwritten with a black ballpoint pen are arranged, for example, “Tokyo” and “Toranomon”.
If it can be recognized, even if the word "port" is unclear, it is determined to be "port" from the context, and candidates for the last name can be extracted from tens of thousands of domestic types. These dictionaries may be combined with the kanji dictionary file in the input character editing unit 14, or may be provided independently.

If the form ID 2e can be detected in step S7, the "seal" position information is cut out from the format data memory 16. In the example of the form described above, since it is on the right side (“print” pre-print) of the name entry line in the handwriting entry field 2c, a predetermined range around the “print” is set as the detection range, and the imprint position information is set. Is stored as

An image is read in accordance with the imprint position information, and the detected color component (generally, a red component) is sent to the image synthesizing unit 17 without performing color adjustment without changing the image data. The color is displayed on the display unit 12. The control unit 18 enables enlarged display of the imprint position range, new registration processing, and the like by operating a cursor on an operation screen (not shown).

If the form ID 2e cannot be detected in step S7, the whole area of the mark reading area 20 and the print processing area 21 is image-read by the above-described procedure. From the image reading result, it is determined whether or not a color component is detected as red in the print processing area 21, and the detection range of the color component is further concentrated. The determination is made based on whether or not the signals (pixels) are continuous for a predetermined number or more. Therefore, when a color component as red is scattered, it is determined that the image is stained by vermilion or a red ballpoint pen, and is not determined to be an imprint. Further, even if a predetermined number of red signals (pixels) continue, only a line segment is detected. Exclude things. Only when the red signal (pixel) continues for a predetermined number or more and is formed into a graphic, it is temporarily stored in the image synthesizing unit 17 as a temporary imprint part. In the screen display, dotted red portions are displayed as they are.

The control unit 18 recognizes the kanji of handwritten characters from the image reading result of the entire print processing area 21,
For example, in the case of an address, characters are recognized from the address dictionary, and the names in the lower row are also recognized from the family name dictionary. If the character recognition (name) portion and the imprint portion are in a predetermined positional relationship, the provisional imprint portion is determined as an official imprint portion. In addition, finally, the confirmation operation is left to the attendant on the screen display, but the description of the operation is omitted.

[0059]

The present invention described above has the following effects. The small and light weight and free layout (independent type, desktop type, etc.) allow for a flexible installation layout, and even if the form is misaligned, the device automatically draws the form to the reference end and performs image reading processing. Since the result is displayed on a display screen with good visibility, even a part-time worker can easily operate the apparatus, and the burden of the staff operation can be reduced. Furthermore, since the OCR recognition is performed at the same time as the position mark reading operation and the seal portion can be identified, the staff can also perform seal registration and verification in addition to reducing the burden due to the reduced number of operations.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a form processing unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram illustrating the concept of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an image reading range of a form according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a form according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a display unit of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a display color setting screen according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another display example according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 form printing device 2 form 2 a printing position mark 3 color image sensor 7 width approaching section 9 multi-value conversion circuit 10 image memory 17 image synthesis section 19 color adjustment section SE1 width approaching detector SE2 report detector

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C058 AB12 AD09 AE02 2C087 AA13 AA15 AB01 BB10 BD35 BD37 CA02 CB03 CB17 CB20 DA07 3E042 CA10 CE02 5C062 AA17 AB07 AB24 AB25 AC24 AE03 AF15 AF16 9A001 BB04 HH31J34

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A form having a print position mark provided at an end of a print line to be printed, a width approaching part for drawing the inserted form to a conveyance reference plane, and the form drawn to the conveyance reference plane. Scan the form and read the image of at least the print position mark setting range,
An image information processing unit that processes the image as an image; and a display unit that displays the image image processed by the image information processing unit. When the image information processing unit cannot detect the presence of the print position mark, the display unit displays the image. When there is one print position mark, it is determined as a print line. When there are a plurality of print position marks, the print position mark selected based on the display image on the display unit indicates the print line mark. A form printing apparatus characterized in that a position is printed as a print line position. 2. The form printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display of the print position mark selected from the plurality of print position marks includes a print position mark that is not selected and a hue, saturation, and brightness. A form printing device that changes at least one or switches to blinking display. 3. The form printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reader for reading the image is a color image sensor, and the image reader according to a color component of an RGB signal of the print position mark output from the color image sensor.
A form printing device that performs color adjustment and displays the result on the display unit. 4. The form printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the form is provided with a setting area for form identification information for each form type, and when the image information processing unit detects the form identification information, A form printing apparatus that performs color adjustment to a preset color component based on form identification information, and performs color adjustment only when the form identification information cannot be detected when the color component falls within a preset color component range. 5. The form printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color adjustment of the background color of the image-read form is performed instead of the color adjustment of the print position mark. 6. The form printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the color image sensor reads an image of the entire form including the printing position mark setting range, cuts out a handwriting entry field, and recognizes a character. Determine whether there is a color component other than the input character color in the frame indicating the handwriting entry column,
A form printing device that recognizes the color component pixels as individual information when a predetermined number or more of the color component pixels are continuous. 7. A form having a print position mark provided at an end of a print line to be printed is drawn to a transport reference plane, and at least the print position mark is read as an image by scanning on the form and displayed as an image image. A print position mark designated based on the display image as a print line to be printed.