JP2001353921A - Imaging system and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging system and an imaging apparatus which can easily output outputs easy for users to see when a function of forming images corresponding to a plurality of documents on one recording sheet (Nin1 function) is used. SOLUTION: Delimiting data indicating a method of arranging subject images on the recording sheet when the Nin1 function is utilized are obtained from document image data (S103). A delimiting level is distinguished from information included in the delimiting data and indicating delimiting levels of a plurality of kinds (S105). An arrangement of images to be formed on the recording sheet is controlled on the basis of the delimiting data and the delimiting level.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming system having a function of forming images corresponding to a plurality of (N) documents on a single recording sheet (hereinafter, referred to as "Nin1 function"). Regarding the image forming apparatus, in particular, the Nin1
Image forming results using functions (hereinafter “output”)
That. ) Relates to a technique for improving the visibility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming system and an image forming apparatus having a Nin1 function for forming images corresponding to a plurality of originals on a single recording sheet have been put to practical use. As the Nin1 function, in addition to the 2in1 function of forming images corresponding to two originals on one recording sheet, the Nin1 function forms an image corresponding to four originals on one recording sheet.
There are an in1 function, an 8in1 function, a 16in1 function, and the like.

[0005] However, simply forming images corresponding to a plurality of originals on one recording sheet in sequence may not make the output easy to see. Specifically, sentences written in a series of manuscripts often have breaks such as “chapter” and “section”. In particular, when the number of images on the recording sheet increases, the “chapter” This is because when "" and "knots" are mixed in one output, it may be difficult for the reader to understand the arrangement.

To cope with the above problems, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
Japanese Patent No. 240832 discloses that a user sets a partition sheet between a plurality of documents as appropriate, and when the partition sheet is detected, the user switches to the next recording sheet even if there is a margin in the recording sheet. There has been disclosed a digital copying machine that forms an image by using a digital copying machine.

[0005]

However, in the prior art described in the above publication, since the user must set the partition paper between the originals, the number of images that can be formed on one recording sheet is reduced. When the number of sheets increases to eight or sixteen, there is a problem that the work of setting the partition paper by the user becomes extremely complicated.

Further, in the above prior art, when a partition sheet is detected, only processing such as switching to the next recording sheet to form an image can be performed. Therefore, as in the case of using the 16-in-1 function, for example, one recording sheet In order to form images by arranging original images four by four in the vertical and horizontal directions, first arrange the two original images side by side in the top row,
It is impossible to arrange the next original at the head position of the second line.

[0007] Further, the above-mentioned prior art has been widely used in recent years, and the image forming apparatus and the PC are connected via a network such as a LAN (local area network).
It cannot be applied to an image forming system in which an information terminal device such as a personal computer is connected and a plurality of information terminal devices share the image forming device. In the image forming system, the information terminal device converts image data corresponding to a document image into a PDL (page description document).
In general, a method of converting the language into such a language and transferring it to the image forming apparatus is adopted. Since control characters for performing a so-called page break process are usually defined in PDL, the When an original is created using application software such as an installed word processor (hereinafter simply referred to as an “application”), it is possible to temporarily cope with the original by creating a page break process as appropriate. However, when the Nin1 function is used, it is extremely complicated to create a document while considering where each page is arranged on one recording sheet, and when the contents of the document are changed. When the setting using the 16-in-1 function is changed to the setting using the 8-in-1 function, it is necessary to change the number of the above-described page break processing. There is also a problem that may occur.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an image forming system and an image forming system capable of easily outputting a user-friendly output when the Nin1 function is used. It is intended to provide a device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming system according to the present invention has an image forming system having a function of forming images corresponding to a plurality of originals on a single recording sheet. A delimiter data obtaining unit that obtains, from data of images corresponding to a plurality of originals, delimiter data to be referred to when determining the arrangement of the image on a recording sheet when using the function, Break level determining means for determining a break level from information indicating a plurality of kinds of break levels included in data, and an image for controlling an arrangement of an image to be formed on a recording sheet based on the break data and the break level And an arrangement control means.

According to this configuration, the delimiter data and the delimiter level are detected from the data of the original image, and the arrangement of the image on the recording sheet when the Nin1 function is used is determined based on the detected delimiter data and the delimiter level. Control, so there ’s no need for the user to do any configuration or work,
It is possible to easily output an output that is easy for the user to see.

Here, for example, the image arrangement control means, when the delimiter data obtaining means obtains predetermined delimiter data, or when the delimiter level discriminating means determines that it is a predetermined delimiter level, Control can be performed so that an image subsequent to the image including the delimiter data is formed on another recording sheet. In this case, it is often preferable to form the image including the delimiter data on a separate recording sheet from the viewpoint of the visibility of the output, but it is not limited to this. Instead, an image subsequent to the image including the separation data may be formed on another recording sheet. This is the same in the case where another type of control described below is performed.

That is, in addition to forming an image on another recording sheet, the image arrangement control means may determine whether the delimiter data obtaining means has obtained predetermined delimiter data, or whether the delimiter level determining means has determined the predetermined delimiter data. When it is determined that the level is the level, control may be performed so that an image subsequent to the image including the delimiter data is formed on the back surface of the same recording sheet. It goes without saying that it is possible to switch between forming an image on another recording sheet or forming the image on the back surface of the same recording sheet according to the break level.

Further, the image arrangement control means, when the delimiter data obtaining means obtains the predetermined delimiter data, or when the delimiter level discriminating means determines that the delimiter data is at the predetermined delimiter level, Can be controlled so that the image after the image including the image is formed in different columns or different rows of the same recording sheet.

Further, the image forming system includes an information processing apparatus in which application software for editing images corresponding to the plurality of documents is installed.
The delimiter data obtaining means may obtain setting information set using the application software as the delimiter data. According to this method,
The present invention can be easily applied not only to a document image but also to a document including a document image and a photograph edited using a drawing application, for example.

Further, the delimiter data obtaining means includes an analyzing means for analyzing the contents of the image corresponding to the plurality of originals, and an extracting means for extracting the delimiter data from the contents analyzed by the analyzing means. You can also do so. Further, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having a function of forming images corresponding to a plurality of documents on a single recording sheet, wherein the image reading unit reads the document and generates image data; Delimiter data obtaining means for obtaining, from the image data generated by the image reading means, delimiter data to be referred to when determining the arrangement of the document on a recording sheet when using the function, the delimiter data included in the delimiter data Separating level determining means for determining a separating level from information indicating a plurality of types of separating levels, and image arrangement controlling means for controlling an arrangement of an image formed on a recording sheet based on the separating data and the separating level. And characterized in that:

According to this configuration, the document read by the image reading means such as an image scanner is Nin1
Even when the function is applied, it is possible to easily output an output that is easy to see. Here, the delimiter data obtaining means can obtain a predetermined character string included in the document as delimiter data.

Further, the delimiter data obtaining means can obtain delimiter data from the contents of the original when the image reading means reads a predetermined original. Further, the recording medium of the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium storing a driver program for converting data of an image edited by application software for editing an image into data indicating a mode of image formation in the image forming apparatus. , The driver program includes:
When performing image formation in the image forming apparatus, a detection process of detecting designation of whether or not to use a function of forming images corresponding to a plurality of documents on a single recording sheet; and When a designation to use a function is detected, a delimiter for obtaining delimiter data to be referred to when determining the arrangement of the image on a recording sheet when using the function, from the data of the edited image, A data acquisition process, a break level determining process for determining a break level from information indicating a plurality of types of break levels included in the break data, and forming on a recording sheet based on the break data and the break level. A control code for setting a code used for controlling the arrangement position when converting the data to the data indicating the image formation mode so as to control the arrangement of the image It is characterized in that a driver program for realizing a constant process on the computer.

A program (a so-called printer driver) for realizing the present invention is stored in a CD-RO.
M, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a memory card or the like can be supplied in a form recorded on various recording media. If the program is installed in a general-purpose information processing device or the like, a normal image forming apparatus is used. Even in such a case, it is possible to easily output the output which is easy to see.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of an image forming system and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) First, a case where the present invention is applied to an image forming system will be described as a first embodiment of the present invention.

(1) Overall Configuration of Image Forming System FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the image forming system. As shown in FIG.
A digital copier (hereinafter simply referred to as "copier") 100 for forming an image based on image data generated by reading an original or data transferred from an external device, and applications such as a word processor and drawing software. A terminal device 200 such as a PC in which software (hereinafter, referred to as a “printer driver”) for printing image data corresponding to the original created and edited using the copier 100 is installed. The print server 300 includes a print server 300 for temporarily spooling data transferred from the LAN 200 via the LAN 500 and sequentially transferring the spooled data to the copying machine 100.

As will be described later, the printer driver has a function of converting image data corresponding to a document edited by each application into data such as the PDL described above (hereinafter referred to as “converted data”). The original image data is referred to as “print data”.)
The print data is transferred to “0”. As a method of expressing print data, for example, PostScript (registered trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated) or the like can be used.

Although FIG. 1 shows only one copier 100 as an image forming apparatus and only one terminal device 200, a plurality of these can be connected, and It can be connected to an external device via a line or the like. Document image data such as a document created and edited by an application installed in the terminal device 200 is converted into print data of a predetermined format such as the PDL by a printer driver and transferred to the print server 300. The data transferred to the print server 300 is temporarily spooled in a storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a RAM provided in the print server 300, and is sequentially sent to the copying machine 100 to be subjected to image formation. .

(2) Configuration of Terminal Device 200 Next, the configuration of the terminal device 200 will be described. In the present embodiment, when the document image data is converted into the PDL or the like on the terminal device 200 side, it is detected whether or not the user of the terminal device 200 has designated to use the Nin1 function. When the use of the Nin1 function is specified, control characters for controlling the arrangement of forming images corresponding to a plurality of originals on a single recording sheet are appropriately inserted into print data. By doing so, it is possible to easily improve the visibility of the output even when a general conventional image forming apparatus such as the copying machine 100 is used.

In the present embodiment, the arrangement control function of the present invention is realized by the printer driver. However, the present invention is not limited to a method in which the printer driver has the function. For example, an application such as a general word processor may be used. It is also possible to realize this by using the macro function provided in. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of the terminal device 200 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the terminal device 200 includes a document image editing unit 2
01, print data conversion unit 202, transmission control unit 203
It has.

The function of the document image editing unit 201 is as follows.
On the basis of a user instruction input using an input device (not shown) such as a keyboard or a mouse. The data is edited. Note that “image data corresponding to a document” (also simply referred to as “document image data” in this specification) is likely to be created and edited in a format corresponding to each application. The concept is not limited to so-called image data, but also includes data consisting of only characters such as text data.

The operation of the print data conversion unit 202 starts when a user who is editing a document using the document image editing unit 201 issues an image formation instruction. The function of the print data conversion unit 202 is realized by the printer driver described above. When the user gives an instruction to form an image, a setting screen included in the printer driver is displayed. Through the setting screen, the user can determine whether or not to use the Nin1 function. The number of images that can be formed on one recording sheet (for example, 2
(e.g., whether to use the in1 function, the 4in1 function, or the 8in1 function), and whether to perform single-sided printing or double-sided printing.

The print data converter 20 according to the present embodiment
Reference numeral 2 converts document image data into print data in the PDL or the like while referring to contents specified via the setting screen. In the present embodiment, the content of the document image data is analyzed by the print data conversion unit 202, and when the data is converted to PDL, conversion is performed so that the output is easily viewed. The specific processing content of the conversion will be described later in detail.

The print data generated as described above is transmitted to the LAN 500 under the control of the transmission control unit 203. In sending the print data, the print data is transferred to the print server 300 by adding an identifier such as an IP address indicating the print server 300 or the copying machine 100 as a data destination and sending the data. The print data transferred to the print server 300 is once spooled and sequentially provided for image formation by the copying machine 100. The subsequent processing is performed by a general processing conventionally performed by a general print server. Therefore, detailed description here is omitted.

(3) Layout Control of Nin1 Function Here, in the case of using the Nin1 function, general arrangement control of an image formed on a single recording sheet (hereinafter referred to as “layout control”). The concept will be described. It is the gist of the present invention that the layout control makes the image formed on the recording sheet easy to see for the user.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the print data conversion unit 202 converts original image data into print data, conversion is performed so that layout control is performed when actual image formation is performed. The concept of layout control is common even in other embodiments described later, for example, when conversion to PDL is not performed.

The layout control detects information (hereinafter, referred to as "separation data") which is information included in the document image data in some form and which indicates a document break position, and is detected. This refers to controlling the arrangement of images formed on the recording sheet based on the separation data. By controlling the arrangement of the images based on the delimiter data, for example, when the contents of the document data shift from the first chapter to the second chapter, a separate recording sheet is used or a new line at the image arrangement position (for example, If it is possible to form four images in the vertical direction as in the case of using the 16-in-1 function, and if the original image data corresponding to Chapter 1 is formed in the second row from the top, The document image data corresponding to Chapter 2 is formed on the third row from the top, and a line feed in the horizontal direction is also possible.)
The output can be easily viewed.

Here, what kind of data can be used as delimiter data is a problem. In this embodiment, for example, when Word (trademark) of Microsoft (registered trademark) is used as an example of an application. "Heading level" that can be set in the document
Is used as delimiter data. The "heading level" is information set by the user as indicating a break in the contents of the document, and is one of information that can be set with respect to the structure of the document.

However, various data such as other data, specifically data extracted by analyzing the contents of a document and data that can be set by a user other than the heading level can be used as the delimiter data. It is. A specific control method of the layout control based on the delimiter data as described above will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an image arrangement method when the Nin1 function is used.

As shown in the drawing, m sheets are arranged on a single recording sheet 900 in a horizontal direction (hereinafter, referred to as a “column direction”) and in a vertical direction (hereinafter, referred to as a “row direction”). It is assumed that images of n originals (N = m * n) are formed. The position of the image 901 formed on the upper left is represented as “position (1, 1)”, and the position of the image 902 formed on the q-th row and the p-th column is represented as “position (p, q)”. I will.

In the layout control, for example, when delimiter data is detected from document image data corresponding to an image to be formed at the position (p, q), it is determined at which position the subsequent image is to be arranged. . When the heading level is used as delimiter data, the heading level includes, for example, “heading level 1”, “heading level 2”
(Hereinafter, a plurality of levels that can be set in the delimiter data is referred to as a “delimiter level”), so in the present embodiment,
The following control is performed according to the break level.

That is, if single-sided printing is designated, a line feed is performed when the detected delimiter data is "header level 1", and a line feed is performed when the detected delimiter data is "header level 2". 3 and below levels are not detected as delimiter data. Here, the "new sheet" refers to control for forming a subsequent image on the next recording sheet.

"Line feed" includes vertical line feed control and horizontal line feed control. The vertical line feed control means that the image next to the image formed at the position (pq) is copied to the position (p +
The control formed at (1,1) means horizontal line feed control means the control formed at the position (1, q + 1) next to the image formed at the position (p, q). Therefore, q =
A vertical line feed in the case of n and a horizontal line feed in the case of p = m have substantially the same result as a sheet feed. Note that since the heading level 3 and below are not recognized as delimiter data, the next image is formed at the position (p + 1, q) or the position (p, q + 1) in principle.

When the copier 100 capable of performing double-sided printing is used, if double-sided printing is specified, the sheet feed control is performed in the case of "heading level 1" in the case of single-sided printing. However, in the case of “heading level 2”, the surface change control is performed. “Reversing” means, in principle, the position of the back of the same recording sheet as before (1,
1) refers to control for forming the next image. In this case, if printing has already been performed on both sides, substantially the same control as that for a form feed is performed. Then, in the case of “heading level 3”, the above-described line feed control is performed,
"Header level 4" and below are not recognized as delimiter data.

As described above, by detecting delimiter data having a plurality of levels and performing each control of a sheet feed, a line feed, and a line feed according to the detected delimiter level of the delimiter data, it is easy for a user to see. Output can be easily output. When the general Nin1 function is used, whether images are sequentially arranged in the vertical direction (in this case, line feed control in the vertical direction is performed) or images are sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction (in this case, It is necessary to select the line feed control in the horizontal direction by some means. However, various selection methods are conceivable, and for example, the user may specify it when instructing image formation, or the document image may be specified. Orientation of recording sheet specified for data (vertical, horizontal)
Or in the case of a document, vertical writing or horizontal writing.

(4) Processing Contents of Layout Control Based on the above-described concept, specific processing contents of the print data conversion unit 202 when performing layout control in the present embodiment will be described below. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of the layout control process performed by the print data conversion unit 202 in the present embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the print data converter 202 receives original image data from the original image editor 201 (S101) and analyzes the contents of the data (S102). As a result of the analysis, when the presence of the segment data is detected (S103: Yes), the segment level is determined (S104), and different processing is performed for each segment level (S105). If no delimiter data is detected in step S103 (S103: N
o) In the present embodiment, the process proceeds to step S109, and if the analysis of the contents of the document image data has not been completed (S109: No), the process returns to step S102 to continue the data analysis. I have.

Hereinafter, the processing contents after the detection of the delimiter data in step S103 will be described in detail. In the present embodiment, whether or not the segment data has been detected in S103 can be determined based on whether or not the presence of the above-described heading level has been detected. Since there is a break level in the heading level, it is determined in S104 which break level corresponds. However, specifically, what kind of control the detected heading level indicates is determined. Here, as described above, heading level 1
If it is, it is determined that the sheet feed control is to be performed. If the heading level is 2, the page feed control is performed when double-sided printing is specified in the main routine of the printer driver. It is determined that line feed control should be performed.

When the heading level is 3 and double-sided printing is specified, it is determined that line feed control should be performed. As described above, heading level 4 when double-sided printing is specified, heading level 3 when single-sided printing is specified, and heading level 4
Since the data is not recognized as the delimiter data at 103, it is not subjected to the processing of determining the delimiter level.

In step S105, the break level is determined, and when a paper feed process is to be performed, a control character for controlling the paper feed is inserted into the PDL statement (S106). Here, as a method of inserting a control character for performing the paper feed control, a control character for directly performing the paper feed control is inserted, and the number of images to be formed on a single recording sheet is also included. According to the setting, a predetermined number of control characters for performing a page break may be inserted to insert a blank page.

Hereinafter, a process for inserting a predetermined number of page feed control characters will be described. In the case of performing this processing, information indicating at which position on the recording sheet the portion of the document image data currently being analyzed corresponds to a portion where an image is to be formed, specifically, It is necessary to hold the value of the position (p, q) described in (1). If double-sided printing is specified, it is necessary to hold information on whether the part currently being analyzed is printed on the front side or the back side of the recording sheet. Hereinafter, a case where double-sided printing is designated will be described as an example.

When double-sided printing is specified, the number S of page-break control characters to be inserted when printing is performed at the front side position (p, q) is expressed as follows. . In each of the following equations, as shown in FIG. 3, m is the number of columns, n is the number of rows, and N = m × n.
In the sheet feed control, when images are sequentially arranged in the horizontal direction in FIG. 3, specifically, images are sequentially arranged from position (1, 1) to position (m, 1) first.
After that, a sheet-breaking process for sequentially arranging images from the position (1, 2) to the position (m, 2) (hereinafter referred to as “line-direction sheet-breaking process”) and a vertical direction in FIG. When images are sequentially arranged, specifically, first, position (1,
1) to position (1, n), images are sequentially arranged, and thereafter, images are sequentially arranged from position (2, 1) to position (2, n). ), And the number of page break control characters to be inserted changes according to either of these.
Each case will be described.

First, the number of page feed control characters in the case of line feed processing is expressed by the following (formula 1). S = m−p + (n−q) * m + N (Equation 1) A brief description of the above (Equation 1) will be given. If printing has been performed at the position (p, q), first, the q
The rest of the line must be filled with blank pages, and the number of blank pages for that is represented by (mp). Next, when it is necessary to fill the remaining lines with blank pages, the number of remaining lines is (n−q) lines, and m blank pages are required to fill one line. The number of blank pages to receive is (n−q) * m.

If the current printing side is the front side, it is necessary to fill the back side with blank pages, and thus N blank pages are required. The number S of page-break control characters that need to be inserted into the expression is expressed by (Equation 1). The same can be considered in the case of performing the sheet feed processing in the column direction. Therefore, the number of page feed control characters to be inserted in this case is expressed by the following (Equation 2).

S = n−q + (m−p) * n + N (Equation 2) The above (Equation 1) and (Equation 2) are printed on the front surface when double-sided printing is specified. In the case where single-sided printing is specified, or when double-sided printing is performed and printing is performed on the back side, the last N Can be calculated by the equation from which.

As described above, when the insertion of the control characters for performing the sheet feed control is completed, it is determined whether or not the analysis of the original image data has been completed (S109). S109: Yes), the layout control process ends, and the process returns to the main routine of the printer driver (not shown). On the other hand, if the analysis is not completed (S109: No), the process returns to step S102 to continue the analysis of the document image data.

If it is determined in step S105 that the detected heading level indicates that the face-feed control should be performed, a control character for performing the face-feed control is inserted (S107). Here, if control characters for performing the page feed control are prepared, the control characters may be used. However, as in the case of the above-described sheet feed control, control characters for page feed are inserted, and the remaining portion is blank page. May be filled in. In this case, the number of page feed control characters to be inserted can be considered in the same manner as in the case where it is not necessary to fill the back surface with a blank page in sheet feed control. It can be calculated by using an equation from which the last N is removed.

If it is determined in step S105 that the detected heading level indicates that line feed control is to be performed, a control character for performing line feed control is inserted (S108). The case where a control character for performing line feed control is prepared is the same as described above. Therefore, here, a case where a page feed control character is inserted and the remaining portion is filled with a blank page will be described.

As described above, line feed control includes vertical line feed and horizontal line feed, and each case will be described below. First, what is a vertical line break?
When the images are arranged from the position (1, 1) to the position (1, q), this means the case where the subsequent images are arranged from the position (2, 1). The number S of control characters is represented by S = n−q.

On the other hand, horizontal line feed processing means that, for example, when an image is arranged from position (1, 1) to position (p, 1), the subsequent image is arranged from position (1, 2). It refers to the case where Therefore, the number S of page feed control characters to be inserted is represented by S = mp. By incorporating the processing described above into a print driver and inserting control characters when converting original image data into print data such as PDL, an ordinary image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer can be used. It is possible to easily improve the visibility of the output when the Nin1 function is used while using the existing one.

In the above embodiment, the case where the heading level is used as the delimiter data has been described. However, if the information can be set in each part in the document image data, other setting information is used as the delimiter data. It is also possible. Further, when used as the setting information delimiter data, the present invention can be applied not only to document data but also to images and other originals.

Of course, if the document data is created using an application such as a word processor, the contents of the document may be analyzed. More specifically, for example, when “1.” is detected as a number indicating a heading of a document (a section such as a chapter, a section, or a paragraph), a section level of 1 is detected.
If “1.1” is detected, the delimiter level is 2, if “1.1.1” is detected, the delimiter level is 3, and if “1.1.1.1”, If the level is detected as the break level 4, layout control can be performed by the same processing as described above. The headings in the document to be detected are not limited to the above “1.” and needless to say, various detection methods are possible.

(Embodiment 2) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, a normal copying machine or the like is used as an image forming apparatus, and layout control is performed by incorporating a layout control process into a printer driver installed on the terminal device side. In the embodiment, a case will be described in which a mechanism for performing layout control is provided on the side of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

(5) Configuration of Copier 100 First, the configuration of the copier 100 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing the entire configuration of the copying machine 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine 100 includes an automatic document feeder (hereinafter, referred to as “ADF”) 10, a document reading unit 30, a network management unit 40, and an image forming unit 5.
0, a paper feed unit 70 is included.

The ADF 10 is a device for automatically transporting a document to the document reading unit 30. That is, the document placed on the document tray 11 is transported by the transport belt 12 to a document reading position on the platen glass 31. The document conveyed to the document reading position is scanned by a scanner 32 provided in the document reading unit 30 and then again.
The paper is fed rightward in the figure by the transport belt 12 and discharged onto the document discharge tray 13.

The original reading section 30 is provided with the platen glass 3
1 for optically reading an image of a document conveyed to a document reading position on the scanner 1;
It comprises a sensor 38, a scanner motor M2 and the like.
The scanner 32 includes an exposure lamp 33 and a platen glass 3 that reflects light reflected from the original by irradiation of the exposure lamp 33.
A mirror 34 for changing the optical path in a direction parallel to 1 is provided;
The original on the platen glass 31 is scanned by moving in the direction of arrow a in FIG. The reflected light from the original is reflected by a mirror 34, and then further reflected by mirrors 35 and 36 and a condenser lens 37.
It is guided to the CD sensor 38, where it is converted into an electrical signal to generate image data.

The generated image data is subjected to A / D conversion in the image processing section 39 to become a digital signal.
Further, the image data is subjected to known image processing such as shading correction and density conversion processing, and then stored in the memory unit 45. In the present embodiment, when the user specifies to use the Nin1 function, the image processing unit 39 generates image data corresponding to the Nin1 function and stores it in the memory unit 45. However, details of those processes will be described later.

The image data stored in the memory unit 45 generates a drive signal for a later-described laser diode (hereinafter, referred to as “LD”) 51 via the print processing unit 46, and based on the drive signal. The image is formed by the image forming unit 50. The network management unit 40 includes a print data receiving unit 41 that receives the print data transferred from the print server 300 via the network 500, and an image data conversion unit 42 that expands the print data into image data. The image data expanded by the image data conversion unit 42 is stored in the memory unit 45 in the same manner as the image data generated by the image reading unit 30, and is used for image formation. As described in the first embodiment, the print data subjected to the layout control processing is expanded into image data corresponding to the Nin1 function in the image data
Will be stored.

The image forming section 50 forms an image on a recording sheet by a known electrophotographic method. As described above, the print processing unit 46 generates a drive signal for the LD 51 based on the image data stored in the memory unit 45, and drives the LD 51 based on the drive signal to emit a laser beam. The laser light is reflected by a mirror surface on the side of the polygon mirror 52 rotating at a predetermined angular velocity,
Through the fθ lens 53 and the mirrors 54 and 55, exposure scanning is performed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 56 that is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow b.

Around the photosensitive drum 56, a cleaning section 57, an eraser lamp (not shown), a charging charger 58, and a developing device 59 are provided, but detailed description of these operations will be omitted. . The paper feed unit 70 is provided with two cassettes 71 and 72, and in synchronization with the exposure and development operations of the photosensitive drum 56,
A recording sheet of a required size is fed from one of the cassettes 71 and 72. The fed recording sheet is conveyed below the photosensitive drum 56, and the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 56 is transferred to the surface of the recording sheet.

Thereafter, the recording sheet is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 56, and is conveyed to the fixing unit 63 by the conveyance belt 62. In the fixing unit 63, the toner image transferred to the surface of the recording sheet is fixed, and the fixed recording sheet is discharged onto a discharge tray 66. The above-described paper conveyance and driving of the photosensitive drum 56 are controlled by the main motor M1.

(6) Configuration of Image Processing Unit 39 In the copying machine 100 according to the present embodiment, not only the print data transmitted from the print server 300 via the network 500 but also the image reading unit 30 Even when the Nin1 function is used for a plurality of documents, layout control can be performed. Specifically, the image processing unit 39 performs layout control on the image data generated by the image reading unit 30,
Improve the visibility of the output when using the Nin1 function.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a portion for performing layout control in the image processing section 39 in the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, the image processing unit 39 includes a break recognition unit 391, an image arrangement unit 392, and an image transmission unit 393. The break recognition unit 391
The image data generated by the image reading unit 30 is received, and the contents of the image data are analyzed to detect delimiter data.

The image arranging section 392 is provided with a delimiter recognizing section 391.
The layout control of images is performed based on the delimiter data detected by, and the number of images to be formed on one recording sheet in the Nin1 function. The image data whose arrangement is controlled by the image arrangement unit 392 is stored in the memory unit 45 from the image transmission unit 393 for each data corresponding to one recording sheet.

In the present embodiment, the delimiter recognizing unit 391 has an OCR function. For example, when a predetermined character string is included in a document, the character string is detected as delimiter data. Like that. As a character string to be detected, as described in the first embodiment,
It is conceivable to detect a character string indicating a document heading such as “1.” or “1.1”, but the present invention is not limited to this.

When the delimiter data is detected by the delimiter recognizing unit 391, the image arranging unit 392 determines the detected delimited data and the delimiter level of the delimited data, and
The arrangement of images when the in1 function is used is controlled (layout control). The layout control processing according to the present embodiment can be considered in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
6 to S108. Instead of inserting control characters,
The arrangement of the image data when storing the image data in the memory unit 45 is controlled.

By performing the above-described processing, even when the Nin1 function is used for a document read by the image reading unit of the image forming apparatus, the output can be easily viewed. In the present embodiment, the separation recognition unit 391 is provided with the OCR function to detect data separated from the contents of the document. For example, a recording sheet as shown in FIG. May be inserted, and when the recording sheet is detected, it may be determined that the separation data has been detected. The recording sheet for detecting delimiter data shown in FIG.
Three line segments are formed on each of the outer peripheral portions. For example, it is possible to determine the break level based on the number of these line segments.

The relationship between the number of line segments and the break level can be arbitrarily set.
In the case of books, it is possible to set the division level to 1 or the like in the case of 4 books, but it is also possible to set the division level to 1 in the case of 4 books. Further, if the break level can be determined, the shape of the figure is not limited to the line segment as shown in FIG. 7, and the break level may be determined from a circle (double circle or triple circle), a square, or various shapes. Good. For example, if the shape is a circle, the break level is 1, and if it is a triangle, the break level is 2.
It is also possible to determine such as.

[0073]

As described above, according to the image forming system of the present invention, in the image forming system having the Nin1 function, after obtaining the delimiter data, determining the delimiter level, Since the arrangement of the images formed on the recording sheet is controlled based on the separation level, the output can be easily viewed when the Nin1 function is used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming system.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminal device 200 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an image arranging method when the Nin1 function is used.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a content of a layout control process performed by a print data conversion unit 202 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing the entire configuration of the copying machine 100.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating a configuration of a part that performs layout control in an image processing unit 39 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a recording sheet for detecting delimiter data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 automatic document feeder (ADF) 30 image reading unit 39 image processing unit 40 network management unit 41 print data reception unit 42 image data conversion unit 45 memory unit 46 print processing unit 50 image forming unit 70 paper feeding unit 100 copying machine 200 terminal Apparatus 201 Original image editing unit 202 Print data conversion unit 203 Transmission control unit 300 Print server 391 Delimiter recognition unit 392 Image placement unit 393 Image transmission unit 500 LAN 900 Recording sheet

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akira Ohata 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Hashizume Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi 2-3-1-3 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C087 AB05 AC08 BB10 BD01 CA02 CA06 CB07 CB12 CB13 2H027 FD01 FD03 FD06 5B057 CB12 CC02 CE08 5C076 AA17 AA19 AA40 BA02 BA06

Claims (10)

[Claims] An image forming system having a function of forming images corresponding to a plurality of documents on a single recording sheet, wherein the function is used based on image data corresponding to the plurality of documents. Delimiter data obtaining means for obtaining delimiter data to be referred to when determining the arrangement of the image on the recording sheet; and a delimiter level for determining a delimiter level from information indicating a plurality of types of delimiter levels included in the delimiter data An image forming system comprising: a determination unit; and an image arrangement control unit that controls an arrangement of an image to be formed on a recording sheet based on the division data and the division level. 2. The image arrangement control means, when the delimiter data obtaining means obtains predetermined delimiter data, or when the delimiter level discriminating means determines that the delimiter level is a predetermined delimiter level, The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein control is performed such that an image subsequent to the image including the image is formed on another recording sheet. 3. The image arrangement control means, when the delimiter data obtaining means obtains predetermined delimiter data, or when the delimiter level determination means determines that the delimiter level is a predetermined delimiter level, 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image after the image including the image is controlled to be formed on the back surface of the same recording sheet.
Or the image forming system according to 2. 4. The image arrangement control means, when the delimiter data obtaining means obtains predetermined delimiter data, or when the delimiter level determining means determines that the delimiter level is a predetermined delimiter level, The image forming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein control is performed such that images subsequent to the image including (i) are formed in different columns or different rows of the same recording sheet. 5. The image forming system includes an information processing apparatus in which application software for editing images corresponding to the plurality of originals is installed, and the delimiter data obtaining unit sets using the application software. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein setting information to be obtained is obtained as the delimiter data. 6. The delimiter data acquisition means includes: an analysis means for analyzing the contents of an image corresponding to the plurality of documents; and an extraction means for extracting the delimitation data from the contents analyzed by the analysis means. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein: 7. An image forming apparatus having a function of forming images corresponding to a plurality of originals on a single recording sheet, comprising: an image reading unit that reads an original and generates image data; From the obtained image data, delimiter data obtaining means for obtaining delimiter data to be referred to when determining the arrangement of the document on a recording sheet when using the function, and a plurality of types of delimiter data included in the delimiter data. A partition level determining unit configured to determine a partition level from information indicating the partition level; and an image arrangement control unit configured to control an arrangement of an image formed on a recording sheet based on the partition data and the partition level. Characteristic image forming apparatus. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the delimiter data obtaining unit obtains a predetermined character string included in the document as delimiter data. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the image reading unit reads a predetermined document, the separation data obtaining unit obtains the separation data from the content of the document. . 10. A computer-readable recording medium storing a driver program for converting data of an image edited by application software for editing an image into data indicating an image forming mode in an image forming apparatus, wherein the driver program When performing image formation in the image forming apparatus, a detection process for detecting designation of whether or not to use a function of forming images corresponding to a plurality of documents on a single recording sheet; and the detection process In the case where the specification to use the function is detected, the data of the edited image is used to obtain delimiter data to be referred to when determining the arrangement of the image on a recording sheet when using the function. Data indicating a plurality of types of delimiter levels included in the delimiter data. A break level determining process for determining a break level from a report, and converting the data to the data indicating the image forming mode in order to control the arrangement of an image formed on a recording sheet based on the break data and the break level A computer-readable recording medium, which is a driver program for causing a computer to execute a control code setting process for setting a code used for controlling an arrangement position.