JP2006093781A - Image reader and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize free condition setting by an operator in an image reader while lessening troublesome condition setting work furthermore. <P>SOLUTION: Based on the operation of an operator for an operating section, set items related to reading required for reading operation and set items related to transmission required for transmission operation are stored in a storing section while being set as set item list for each feature of document image (S4-S6 and S8-S10). Subsequently, features of the document image are detected and a set item list corresponding to the feature of document image is selected from the set item list for each feature of document image stored in the storing section, and then reading operation and transmitting operation are executed based on the set item list. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus.

  Currently, image forming apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals having various functions are used in a wide range of fields. In particular, the multifunction peripheral includes an image reading device such as a scanner for reading an image from a document. In such an image forming apparatus having various functions, the user (operator) needs to set conditions for using these functions. Therefore, as the number of functions increases, the number of functions that can be selected by the user increases. This is convenient, but what conditions should be set, such as when selecting desired setting items from various setting items. The work becomes very complicated. In order to prevent this, a set of condition settings is registered in the device in advance, and it is possible to select and set the condition settings that are always used even if the user does not set the conditions from the beginning by recalling them. is there.

  However, since the collection of condition settings that can be recalled is a fixed value, for example, when scanning a plurality of originals in which color originals and monochrome originals are mixed with a scanner and selecting “monochrome” as the condition setting, color The original is also treated as monochrome, and conversely, if “color” is selected, the monochrome document should have less information than the color document, but the image data will have the same amount of information as color. It is useless.

  In such a case, a plurality of originals in which a color original and a monochrome original are mixed are analyzed by an apparatus sensor, a data analysis algorithm, etc., and the color original is suitable for color gradation processing, and the monochrome original is appropriate for monochrome. Perform gradation processing. As a result, the user can acquire image data of a desired format in one operation without performing the operation of separating the monochrome document and the color document. As such a method, a method of automatically discriminating between a color document and a monochrome document and performing appropriate image processing has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-61070 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, the only feature of the image that is changed according to the result of the automatic discrimination is only the color / gradation and the compression format. For example, “If the document is color, the resolution is reduced because it is desired to reduce the amount of data. If you want to lower it, but you want to keep the resolution as it is if the document is monochrome, you can't solve that, and you can't realize what the user wants. In order to realize this, it is absolutely necessary to change the condition setting in units of reading a document.

  An object of the present invention is to realize free condition setting by an operator and to further reduce troublesome condition setting work.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus that performs a reading operation for optically reading and digitizing a document image, an operation unit that receives an operation by an operator, and an operation performed by the operator on the operation unit. Based on the setting means for setting the reading-related setting items necessary for the reading operation as a setting item list for each feature of the document image, and the setting items for each feature of the document image set by the setting device The document image detected by the detection unit from the storage unit for storing the list, the detection unit for detecting the feature of the document image, and the setting item list for each feature of the document image stored in the storage unit And executing means for causing the reading unit to execute the reading operation based on the setting item list.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the image reading apparatus further includes a transmission unit that performs a transmission operation of transmitting the document image on which the reading operation has been performed by the reading unit. Transmission related setting items required for the transmission operation are set as the setting item list for each feature of the document image, and the execution means sets the setting item list for each feature of the document image stored in the storage unit. Then, the setting item list corresponding to the feature of the document image detected by the detection unit is selected, and the transmission unit is caused to execute the transmission operation based on the setting item list.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the setting means duplicates the setting item list that has already been set, and corrects a part of the setting item list to thereby change the other setting item list. Set.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the setting unit sets only a difference from the setting item list as the other setting item list based on the setting item list that has already been set. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, the setting unit excludes the setting items that are not necessary according to the characteristics of the document image from the other setting item list that has been set. To do.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium based on the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects and a document image read by the image reading apparatus. A section.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to realize free condition setting by the operator and further reduce troublesome condition setting work.

  According to the second, third, or fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to simplify the setting of the setting item related to reading and the setting item related to transmission.

  According to invention of Claim 5, there exists an effect similar to the invention as described in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is an application example in which an image reading apparatus is applied to an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is a full-color multifunction peripheral.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal front view showing the internal structure of the multifunction machine 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a printer engine 3, which is an image forming unit for forming a color image, is provided at the center of the apparatus main body 2 of the multifunction machine 1. The printer engine 3 includes four drum-shaped photoconductors 4 that are spaced apart at equal intervals and arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, a charging roller 5 that uniformly charges the outer peripheral surface of each photoconductor 4, and a charging roller 5 An exposure device 6 that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the outer peripheral surface of each photoconductor 4 charged by the above according to image data, and supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image to convert the electrostatic latent image into a toner image The developing device 7 that visualizes the toner image, the intermediate transfer belt 8 on which the toner images on the respective photoreceptors 4 are sequentially transferred, and the toner remaining on the respective photoreceptors 4 after the transfer of the toner images onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 are removed. And a transfer roller 10 for transferring the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 to the recording medium S. Note that toner images of different colors (Y: yellow, M: magenta, C: cyan, K: black) are formed on the four photoconductors 4, and the toner images of these colors are formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8. By sequentially transferring, a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8, and the color toner image is transferred to the recording medium S.

  An upper part of the apparatus main body 2 has an ADF 11 that automatically feeds a document, a contact glass 12 on which the document is placed, and an image reading unit that reads a document automatically fed by the ADF 11 or a document placed on the contact glass 12. 13 are arranged.

  The image reading unit 13 includes a light source 14 that emits light and a first traveling body 16 on which a first mirror 15 is mounted, a second traveling body 19 on which a second mirror 17 and a third mirror 18 are mounted, and an imaging lens 20. And a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor 21 that receives the light guided by the first to third mirrors 15, 17, and 18. The CCD image sensor 21 functions as a photoelectric conversion element that generates photoelectric conversion data by photoelectrically converting reflected light from a document imaged on the CCD image sensor 21. The photoelectric conversion data is a voltage value having a magnitude corresponding to the intensity of reflected light from the document. The first traveling body 16 and the second traveling body 19 are provided so as to freely reciprocate along the contact glass 12, and are 2: 1 by a moving device (not shown) such as a motor during a document image reading operation. Scans in the sub-scanning direction at the speed ratio. Thereby, exposure scanning of the document reading area by the image reading unit 13 is performed.

  A plurality of, for example, four-stage paper cassettes 22 for storing the recording medium S are provided at the lower part of the apparatus main body 2. The recording media S stored in these paper cassettes 22 are separated and fed one by one by the pick-up roller 23 and the feed roller 24, and the separated and fed recording media S are sheets provided inside the apparatus main body 2. It is transported along the transport path 25. On the sheet conveyance path 25, a registration roller 26, a transfer roller 10, a fixing device 27, a paper discharge roller 28, and the like are arranged.

  The registration roller 26 is driven to rotate intermittently according to the conveyance timing of the recording medium S and the image formation timing to the intermediate transfer belt 8. Then, the registration roller 26 temporarily stops the recording medium S conveyed through the paper conveyance path 25 by stopping the rotation, and sends out the recording medium S by rotating. The recording medium S sent out by the rotation of the registration roller 26 is sent to a transfer position sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the transfer roller 10.

  The fixing device 27 fixes the toner image on the recording medium S by applying heat and pressure to the recording medium S on which the toner image is transferred by the fixing roller 27a and the pressure roller 27b. The paper discharge roller 28 discharges the recording medium S to a paper discharge tray 29.

  In the present embodiment, the printer engine 3 forms an image by an electrophotographic method, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an image is formed by an image forming method such as an ink jet method, a sublimation type thermal transfer method, or a direct thermal recording method. You may make it form.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical connection of each unit included in the multifunction device 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction machine 1 includes a CPU 31 that controls each unit intensively, a ROM 32 that stores fixed data such as various programs, a RAM 33 that serves as a work area for the CPU 31, and a nonvolatile memory that stores various data. 34 is connected by a bus 35. The bus 35 has a printer engine 3, an image reading unit 13, a storage unit 36 such as an HDD for storing image data read by the image reading unit 13, an operation unit 37, and a personal computer or server via a network 38. A network I / F (interface) 39 and the like for communicating with an external device (not shown) are connected via various controllers (not shown). The network I / F 39 and its controller function as a transmission unit.

  The storage unit 36 stores (stores) various programs such as a setting processing program and a setting item list (details will be described later). Here, the program stored in the storage unit 36 can be rewritten to a program downloaded from an external device via the network I / F 39 under the control of the CPU 31. The multifunction device 1 has a function of transmitting and receiving data between the multifunction device 1 and an external device (not shown) via the network 38, and is connected to a facsimile modem function and a public telephone line network. Network control function, LAN (Local Area Network) control function, and the like.

  The operation unit 37 includes a touch screen that also functions as a numeric keypad and a display, and receives an operation from an operator (user). Here, an example of a screen displayed on the touch screen will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a touch screen.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation mode (for example, print mode, scanner mode, etc.) of the multifunction device 1, a key 41 for setting reading-related setting items, and transmission-related setting items are set on the touch screen screen. And a key 43 for setting a transmission destination to which image data is transmitted via the network 38 are displayed. The operator performs various settings by pressing these keys 41, 42, 43.

  An image forming operation and an image transmission operation performed by the multifunction device 1 in such a configuration will be described.

  As an image forming operation, the multifunction device 1 optically reads an image of a document placed on the contact glass 12 or an image of a document automatically fed by the ADF 11 by an image reading unit 13, and performs a printer based on the image data. The engine 3 forms an image by an electrophotographic process, the toner image is transferred from the paper cassette 22 to the recording medium S conveyed through the paper conveyance path 25, and the transferred image of the recording medium S is heated and applied by the fixing device 27. The paper is fixed by pressing and discharged onto the paper discharge tray 29. The recording medium S transported on the paper transport path 25 is sent to a transfer position between the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the transfer roller 10 at a timing by the registration roller 26.

  On the other hand, as an image transmission operation, the multifunction device 1 reads an image of a document placed on the contact glass 12 or an image of a document automatically sent by the ADF 11 by the image reading unit 13 and reads the image data from the network I / F 39. To the external device. At this time, the setting item related to reading and the setting item related to transmission (setting item list) are set as a setting item list and stored in the storage unit 36. As the setting item list, a setting item list for color and a setting item list for monochrome are stored in the storage unit 36.

  In such an image transmission operation, the multifunction device 1 determines whether or not the document is color (characteristic of the document image), and if the document image is color, based on the setting item list for color. When the original image is monochrome, the image is read and transmitted based on the setting item list for monochrome (execution means). Here, the color in the case where there are a color original and a monochrome original as the original is a feature of the original image. In the present embodiment, color is used as a feature of the document image. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, either a character document or a photo document as a document is included. One of them may be a feature of the document image, and one of the cases where the occupancy ratio of characters or photographs to the document is greater than or less than a predetermined threshold value may be the feature of the document image.

  Here, a setting process (setting unit) in which the CPU 31 sets a setting item list based on a setting process program stored in the storage unit 36 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the setting process, FIG. 5 shows the data structure of the setting item list, (a) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of color, and (b) is a setting item list in the case of monochrome. It is a schematic diagram which shows.

  As shown in FIG. 4, first, the CPU 31 waits for selection of “automatic color” as a reading condition by an operation of the operator with respect to the key 41 (N in step S1). When “automatic color” is selected by the operator (Y in step S1), the original is read according to the operator's instruction (instruction by the operator's operation on the operation unit 37) (step S2), and the original is in color. It is determined whether or not there is (step S3: detection means). That is, it is automatically determined whether the document is color or monochrome. For example, image data of a document determined to be a color document is a 24-bit full-color image, and image data of a document determined to be a monochrome document is a 1-bit simple black and white binary data. It is automatically determined whether it is monochrome or monochrome.

  When it is determined that the document is in color (Y in step S3), setting items related to reading in the case of color are set based on the operation of the operator on the key 41 (step S4). As shown in FIG. 5A, for example, the resolution is set to 200 dpi. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not transmission related setting items are also set (step S5). If it is determined that the transmission-related setting items are also set (Y in step S5), the transmission-related setting items for color are set based on the operation of the operator with respect to the key 42 (step S6). As shown in FIG. 5A, for example, the file format is set to Jpeg format. As shown in FIG. 5A, the setting item list includes a plurality of setting items having identifiers. These setting items are classified into categories such as reading-related and transmission-related.

  Finally, it is determined whether various settings have been completed (step S7). If it is determined that various settings have been completed (Y in step S7), the process ends. If it is determined that various settings have not been completed (N in step S7), the process returns to step S2.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the document is monochrome (N in step S3), setting items related to reading in the case of monochrome are set based on the operation of the operator with respect to the key 41 (step S8). As shown in FIG. 5B, for example, the resolution is set to 400 dpi. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not transmission related setting items are also set (step S9). If it is determined that setting items related to transmission are also set (Y in step S9), setting items related to transmission in the case of monochrome are set based on the operation of the operator with respect to the key 42 (step S10). As shown in FIG. 5B, for example, the file format is changed to the TIFF format.

  Finally, it is determined whether various settings have been completed (step S7). If it is determined that various settings have been completed (Y in step S7), the process ends. If it is determined that various settings have not been completed (N in step S7), the process returns to step S2.

  In this way, the setting item list for color and the setting item list for monochrome are set and stored in the storage unit 36. Thereafter, the document image is read and transmitted based on the setting item list.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when “automatic color” is selected by the operator, the color / gradation is automatically detected and switched (color or monochrome), and the color / gradation ( The setting item list is selected according to color or monochrome. In other words, the setting item list is freely changed by the operator, and the setting item list is automatically used at the time of image reading or image transmission. The work of setting conditions can be reduced.

  Here, setting processing (duplication setting processing) when the first document is in color and the next document is in monochrome will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 6 shows the data structure of the setting item list, (a) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of color, (b) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of monochrome before correction, and (c). FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a setting item list in the case of monochrome after correction.

  Since the first document is color, the process proceeds to step S4 in step S3 as shown in FIG. Steps S4, S5, and S6 are executed, and a setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 6A, that is, a setting item related to reading and a setting item related to transmission are set.

  Next, since the next original is monochrome, as shown in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to step S8 in step S3. Steps S8, S9, and S10 are executed, and a setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 6C, that is, a setting item related to reading and a setting item related to transmission are set.

  At this time, in step S8, the setting items related to reading in the case of color as shown in FIG. 6A are duplicated and set as setting items related to reading in the case of monochrome as shown in FIG. 6B. . Then, a part thereof is corrected (changed). For example, as shown in FIG. 6C, the resolution is corrected from 200 dpi to 400 dpi.

  Similarly, in step S10, the transmission-related setting items in the case of color as shown in FIG. 6A are duplicated and set as the transmission-related setting items in the case of monochrome as shown in FIG. 6B. . Then, a part thereof is corrected (changed). For example, as shown in FIG. 5C, the file formation is corrected from the Jpeg format to the TIFF format.

  In this way, the setting item list can be simplified by duplicating the already set setting item list and modifying a part thereof. Even when the first image is monochrome and the next image is color, the setting item list for monochrome is copied as the setting item list for color, and a part of it is corrected. The creation of the setting item list can be simplified.

  Here, the creation of the setting item list is simplified by the replication setting process, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the creation of the setting item list may be simplified by difference setting processing.

  Here, setting processing (difference setting processing) when the first document is in color and the next document is in monochrome will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7.

  FIG. 7 shows the data structure of the setting item list, (a) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of color, (b) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of monochrome after difference, and (c). FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a setting item list in the case of monochrome for user recognition.

  Since the first document is color, the process proceeds to step S4 in step S3 as shown in FIG. Steps S4, S5, and S6 are executed, and a setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 7A, that is, a setting item related to reading and a setting item related to transmission are set.

  Next, since the next original is monochrome, as shown in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to step S8 in step S3. Steps S8, S9, and S10 are executed, and a setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 7B, that is, a setting item related to reading and a setting item related to transmission are set.

  At this time, if there is a setting item list that has already been set, only the difference (different setting item) from the setting item list is set as the setting item list.

  That is, in step S8, the setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 7A is used as a reference setting item list, and the difference (different setting items) from the setting item list as shown in FIG. As a setting item related to reading in the case of. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the resolution is set to 400 dpi.

  Similarly, in step S10, the setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 7A is used as a reference setting item list, and the difference (different setting items) from that is shown in FIG. 7B. Set as a transmission-related setting item for monochrome. For example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the file formation is set to the TIFF format. Note that the operator conceptually recognizes the setting item list for monochrome as shown in FIG.

  As described above, by setting only the difference (different setting items) from the setting item list that has already been set as a setting item list, the creation of the setting item list can be simplified.

  It should be noted that when the setting item list is automatically switched according to the detection result for detecting whether the document is color or monochrome, the duplication setting process and the difference as described above are performed on the already existing setting item list. When the setting process is performed, inconsistencies may occur in the setting items set according to the detection result. In such a case, the setting item is automatically turned off or replaced with an appropriate default value.

  Here, the difference setting process in the case where the setting item causing the contradiction is turned off will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 8. FIG. FIG. 8 shows the data structure of the setting item list, (a) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of color, (b) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of monochrome after difference, and (c). FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a setting item list in the case of monochrome for user recognition.

  Since the first document is color, the process proceeds to step S4 in step S3 as shown in FIG. Steps S4, S5, and S6 are executed, and a setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 8A, that is, a setting item related to reading and a setting item related to transmission are set.

  Next, since the next original is monochrome, as shown in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to step S8 in step S3. Steps S8, S9, and S10 are executed, and a setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 8B, that is, a setting item related to reading and a setting item related to transmission are set.

  At this time, if there is a setting item list that has already been set, only the difference (different setting item) from the setting item list is set as the setting item list.

  That is, in step S8, the setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 8A is used as a reference setting item list, and the difference (different setting items) from the setting item list as shown in FIG. As a setting item related to reading in the case of. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the resolution is set to 400 dpi and the color erasure is set to not function. At this time, the setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 8A includes “color erasure” as a setting item related to reading. This color removal function is a function for erasing one color or a plurality of colors of color data, and is effective only in the case of color. This color removal function has no meaning for monochrome data, that is, is an invalid function, and is set so that color removal does not function.

  Similarly, in step S10, the setting item list in the case of color as shown in FIG. 8A is used as a reference setting item list, and the difference (different setting items) from that is shown in FIG. 8B. Set as a transmission-related setting item for monochrome. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the file formation is set to the TIFF format. Note that the operator conceptually recognizes the setting item list in the case of monochrome as shown in FIG.

  By invalidating the setting items that are not necessary in this way, an accurate setting item list can be created.

1 is a longitudinal front view showing an internal structure of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing electrical connection of each unit included in the multifunction machine. It is a top view which shows an example of the screen of a touch screen. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a setting process. The data structure of a setting item list is shown, (a) is a schematic diagram showing a setting item list for color, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing a setting item list for monochrome. The data structure of the setting item list is shown, (a) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list for color, (b) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list for monochrome before correction, and (c) is after correction. It is a schematic diagram which shows the setting item list in the case of monochrome. The data structure of the setting item list is shown, (a) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of color, (b) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of monochrome after the difference, and (c) is user recognition. It is a schematic diagram which shows the setting item list in the case of monochrome. The data structure of the setting item list is shown, (a) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of color, (b) is a schematic diagram showing the setting item list in the case of monochrome after the difference, and (c) is user recognition. It is a schematic diagram which shows the setting item list in the case of monochrome.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming device (multifunction machine)
3 Image forming unit (printer engine)
13 Reading unit (image reading unit)
36 storage unit 37 operation unit 39 transmission unit (network I / F, controller)
S Recording medium

Claims (6)

A reading unit that performs a reading operation for optically reading and digitizing a document image;
An operation unit for receiving an operation by an operator;
Setting means for setting a reading-related setting item necessary for the reading operation as a setting item list for each feature of the document image based on an operation of the operator with respect to the operation unit;
An accumulation unit that stores the setting item list for each feature of the document image set by the setting unit;
Detecting means for detecting characteristics of the document image;
The setting item list corresponding to the feature of the document image detected by the detection unit is selected from the setting item list for each feature of the document image stored in the storage unit, and based on the setting item list Execution means for causing the reading unit to execute the reading operation;
An image reading apparatus comprising: A transmission unit that performs a transmission operation of transmitting the document image on which the reading operation has been performed by the reading unit;
The setting means sets transmission-related setting items necessary for the transmission operation as the setting item list for each feature of the document image,
The execution unit selects the setting item list corresponding to the feature of the document image detected by the detection unit from the setting item list for each feature of the document image stored in the storage unit, and sets the setting item list. Causing the transmission unit to perform the transmission operation based on an item list;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. The setting means duplicates the setting item list that has already been set, and sets another setting item list by correcting a part thereof.
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The setting means is based on the setting item list that has already been set, and sets only the difference between them as the other setting item list,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The setting means excludes the setting items that are not required according to the characteristics of the document image from the other setting item list that has been set;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 3 or 4. An image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on a document image read by the image reading device;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images