JP2006270214A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus larger intensive function providing better usability. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 1 provided with the N (N is a natural number of 2 or larger) in 1 intensive function includes: an image read section 3; a intensive rate determining means 7a; an output data generating means 7c, and an image forming section 5. The image read section 3 can acquire image data. The intensive rate determining means 7a determines the intensive rate of each page, according to the size of character information contained in each page of the image data. The output data generating means 7c generates output data, on the basis of the image data according to the intensive rate of each page determined by the intensive rate determining means 7a. The image forming section 5 can form an image on paper sheets, on the basis of the output data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having an aggregation function using N-in-1.

  In conventional image forming apparatuses such as copiers and printers, in order to save paper, image information for a plurality of pages is collected by N (N is a natural number of 2 or more, the same applies hereinafter) in 1 and output. Those having an aggregation function are already known.

As related techniques, for example, techniques shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have already been proposed.
JP 2004-104324 A JP 2004-5646 A

  However, in the conventional technology, image information of all pages is uniformly gathered to the same extent. For example, even if some pages include fine characters, they are gathered in the same way as other pages. As a result, it may be difficult to read the corresponding part in the printed matter.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus having an aggregation function that is more convenient to use.

  An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention has an N-in-1 aggregation function, and includes an image data acquisition unit, an aggregation rate determination unit, an output data generation unit, and an image formation unit. The image data acquisition means can acquire image data. The aggregation rate determining means determines the aggregation rate of each page according to the size of the character information included in each page of the image data. The output data generation unit generates output data based on the image data according to the aggregation rate of each page determined by the aggregation rate determination unit. The image forming means can form an image on the transfer material based on the output data.

  In this apparatus, an aggregation rate for each page is determined based on the size of character information included in each page of acquired image data, and output data in which each page is aggregated according to the respective aggregation rate is generated. . Therefore, in the transfer material as a printed material, the character information of each page is printed with an appropriate size, and is easy to see.

  In addition, since the reduction ratio of each page is automatically determined here, it is possible to save the user from setting the aggregation ratio for each page.

  In the present invention, the image data includes, for example, a document image read by a scanner, print data transmitted via a network, and facsimile reception data received via a public line.

  The character information includes not only hiragana, katakana and kanji but also alphanumeric characters and symbols. The size of the character information means, for example, the font size of the character.

  Further, as the aggregation rate, for example, an N value in the case of performing aggregation by N-in-1 can be given.

  The transfer material includes not only paper but also other sheet-like recording media such as an OHP sheet.

  An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect is the apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the aggregation rate determining means performs aggregation based on the size of character information recognized by optical character recognition (hereinafter referred to as OCR). Determine the rate.

  Specifically, in this apparatus, since the aggregation rate of each page is determined based on the size of characters and the like recognized by the OCR, in particular, the characters included in the original image read by the scanner or the facsimile reception data Etc. can be appropriately determined.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a page order changing unit capable of changing the page order of the image data according to the aggregation rate of each page determined by the aggregation rate determining unit. It has more. The output data generation means further generates output data according to the page order replaced by the page order replacement means.

  In the apparatus of the present invention, for example, as a result of determining different aggregation rates for each page of image data, if output data is generated in the original page order, it is expected that a blank area will occur in the printed matter. However, in the apparatus according to claim 3, by avoiding the generation of wasted space in the output paper by changing the layout by changing the original page order so that such a blank area does not occur, Can be reduced.

  As a result, for example, for a document such as a conference material, the page order can be rearranged on the spot of the conference, it is possible to save the print area of the paper and the number of output sheets.

  The image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the output data generating means assigns a page number of each page to an area corresponding to each page of the image data in the output data. It can be granted.

  In this apparatus, for example, it is easy to determine what page of the original image data the image information of a certain area of the printed material is. Therefore, even when the layout is changed by changing the page order, it is possible to avoid confusion by using the page number as a clue.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the image forming apparatus further includes a setting unit configured to set whether or not the aggregation rate is determined by the aggregation rate determination unit. .

  In this apparatus, the user can appropriately select whether or not the aggregation rate of each page may be automatically determined.

  According to the present invention, the aggregation rate for each page is determined based on the size of character information included in each page of the acquired image data, and output data in which each page is aggregated according to the respective aggregation rate is generated. Is done. Therefore, in the transfer material as a printed material, the character information of each page is printed with an appropriate size, and is easy to see.

  In addition, according to the present invention, the reduction rate of each page is automatically determined, so that the user can save the trouble of setting the aggregation rate for each page.

<Configuration of image forming apparatus>
1 and 2 show 1 in which an embodiment of the present invention is adopted.

  The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction machine having functions as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a scanner, and includes an image reading unit 3, an image forming unit 5 (image forming means), and a control unit 7 ( Aggregation rate determining means, page order changing means, output data generating means), memory 9, hard disk drive (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 11, operation panel 13 (setting means), facsimile communication unit 15 (image data acquiring means) ), A network interface unit 17 (image data acquisition means), and another input / output unit.

  The image reading unit 3 is for reading image information of a document on a document table (not shown), and includes a scanner having a CCD sensor, an optical system, and the like (not shown). The document image received by the CCD sensor is sent to the control unit 7 as image data.

  The image forming unit 5 forms an image on a sheet based on the output data generated by the control unit 7, and is arranged around a photosensitive drum on which a toner image is formed and a photosensitive drum. And a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, and the like, and a fixing device arranged downstream thereof.

  The control unit 7 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU and executes various programs stored in the memory 9 to control input / output units such as the image reading unit 3 and the image forming unit 5 as well as predetermined image processing. I do.

  The image processing performed here includes generation of output data in the aggregate format automatic discrimination mode or the aggregate format manual selection mode. In this case, the control unit 7 includes the aggregation rate determining means 7a, the page order changing means 7b, and the output. It can function as the data generation means 7c.

  In the aggregate format automatic discrimination mode, the N value is determined for each page depending on whether or not the font size of characters and the like included in each page of the image data exceeds a predetermined threshold by the control unit 7 as the aggregation rate determining means 7a. The Here, in particular, when the font size of characters or the like exceeds a threshold, aggregation is performed with 4-in-1 and when the font size is less than the threshold, aggregation is performed with 2-in-1.

  The font size is recognized by the OCR and included in the print data from the network interface unit 17 for the image data from the image reading unit 3 and the facsimile reception data from the facsimile communication unit 15. A character or the like is specified by data relating to a font such as the character included in the print data.

  In addition, when the page order automatic switching described later is set in the aggregate format automatic determination mode, the control unit 7 functions as the page order switching unit 7b, and according to the N value of each page of the image data determined previously. The page order of the image data is changed so that the blank area that can occur in the output data is minimized.

  A specific example in this case is shown in FIG. Here, when there are all three-page documents, the second-page document including characters with a font size less than or equal to the threshold is 2-in-1 and the other-page documents do not include characters with a font size less than or equal to the threshold. For this reason, the output data of the layout shown in the figure is generated by switching the first page and the second page.

  On the other hand, when the page order automatic switching is not set, the control unit 7 follows the page order of the image data.

  A specific example in this case is shown in FIG. Here, in the example of FIG. 3, it is the same except that the first page and the second page are reversed. Again, only the original on the first page is aggregated by 2-in-1 and the other pages are aggregated by 4-in-1. In this case, output data having a layout as shown is generated according to the original page order. In both the examples of FIGS. 3 and 4, page numbering is set.

  Further, the control unit 7 also functions as the output data generation unit 7c, performs aggregation according to the previously determined aggregation ratio of each page, and generates output data by changing the page order according to the setting.

  Here, when the page order automatic switching is not set, if it is predicted that a blank area is generated in the output data, the control unit 7 collects the data in 4 in 1 by the setting on the operation panel 13. It is possible to actually generate the output data by aggregating the pages determined as 2 in 1 with 2 in 1.

  For example, when it is determined that only the second page is aggregated by 2-in-1 for a plurality of originals and the other pages are aggregated by 4-in-1, the page order automatic switching is set. In this case, output data having a layout as shown in FIG. 5 is generated. Here, the order of the first page and the second page is switched, and the second page is aggregated by 2-in-1 as determined.

  On the other hand, when page order change is not set, output data having a layout as shown in FIG. 6 is generated according to the original page order. Here, it is determined that the image data of the first page is aggregated by 4-in-1. However, since the page order is not changed, a blank space is expected to be generated on the first sheet as a printed matter. The Therefore, in this case, in order to output over such a space, aggregation by 2-in-1 is actually performed.

  In addition, the control unit 7 can assign the page number of the page in the original image data to an area corresponding to each page of the image data in the output data by setting on the operation panel 13.

  The output data generated as described above is sent to the image forming unit 5 and output to a sheet.

  The memory 9 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores various control programs and image processing programs to be executed by the control unit 7 and stores OCR software. The RAM includes a DRAM 9a. In the aggregate format automatic discrimination mode, the DRAM 9a develops image data for each page when the image reading unit 3 performs reading, and the image forming unit 5 performs image formation. When it is performed, the output data stored in the HDD 11 is expanded one page at a time. When the output data of all pages is expanded, they are connected and output to the image forming unit 5.

  The HDD 11 stores various image data and the like, and in the aggregate format automatic determination mode, the output data aggregated by the control unit 7 is stored for each page.

  The operation panel 13 includes a plurality of operation keys 13a and a display unit 13b configured with a touch panel type liquid crystal display. The operation key 13a includes a start key for instructing copying, scanning, and the like.

  Various operation screens are displayed on the display unit 13b. On the operation screen for setting the printing conditions, an aggregation function based on N-in 1 can be set. Further, here, automatically for each page of image data. It is possible to select either the aggregate format automatic discrimination mode for determining the N value or the aggregate format manual discrimination mode for manually determining the N value. In the aggregate format means determination mode, the user selects and sets 2-in-1 or 4-in-1 for each page.

  Further, when the aggregate format automatic discrimination mode is set, on the operation screen, it is possible to set whether or not to automatically change the page order, assign a page number, and print a boundary line between pages.

  Further, on the operation screen, a font size that is a reference for 2-in-1 or 4-in-1 discrimination in the aggregate format automatic discrimination mode can be set as a threshold value.

  The facsimile communication unit 15 can receive facsimile reception data from another facsimile apparatus or the like through a public line.

  The network interface unit 17 can receive print data from an externally connected device such as a PC via a network.

  The image forming apparatus 1 further includes an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 2, a paper feed unit, a paper discharge unit, and the like as other input / output units. The ADF 2 is for conveying a plurality of documents one by one toward the document table one by one.

<Operation of Image Forming Apparatus>
Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this image forming apparatus 1, when it is desired to print a plurality of originals by automatically performing aggregation according to each page, the aggregation format automatic discrimination mode is selected on the operation panel in advance and, if necessary, In addition, page order change, page number assignment, and the like are also set.

  In this state, when an original is set on the ADF and a copy is instructed by pressing the start key (S1), first, image information for one page of the original is scanned (S2), and character recognition by OCR is performed. A font size such as a character is specified (S3). Then, an appropriate N value is determined as the aggregation rate for the first page (S4). Next, the same operation is performed on the second page of the document (S5, S2 to S4), and such an operation is performed on all pages.

  When reading of all pages is completed (No in S5), the page order is changed and page numbers are assigned according to the settings, and the layout for one page is determined (S6). Next, the pages of the image data are aggregated according to this layout, the first page of output data is generated (S7), and printing by the image forming unit 5 is performed (S8).

  Next, the second page of output data is generated and printed in the same procedure (S9, S6 to S8), and thereafter all pages of output data are generated and printed in the same manner (S9).

  According to the image forming apparatus 1 described above, the aggregation rate for each page is determined based on the font size of characters or the like included in each page of the image data of the document, and the output in which each page is aggregated according to the respective aggregation rate. Data is generated. Therefore, on the printed matter, characters and the like on each page are printed with an appropriate size, and are easy to see.

  Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1, since the reduction rate of each page is automatically determined, it is possible to save the user from setting the aggregation rate for each page.

<Other embodiments>
(A) The combination of aggregation rates in the aggregation format automatic discrimination mode is not limited to 2-in-1 and 4-in-1 as in the above-described embodiment. For example, N-values such as 2-in-1 and 8-in-1 are used. A combination of distant ones may be used.

  Further, not only a combination of two types of aggregation rates but also a combination of three or more types of aggregation rates may be employed. In this case, as a criterion for determining the aggregation rate, instead of whether the font size of characters or the like exceeds a predetermined threshold as in the above embodiment, for example, a range of font sizes divided into three is used. It may be configured such that the N value is determined depending on which range the character or the like included in each page is included.

  (B) When characters of different font sizes are included in one page of image data, the N value may be determined by the font size of the smallest character or the like.

  In addition, for example, when the number of small characters, etc. is very small, or when the characters outside the predetermined range do not need to be included in the determination criteria, the determination is made by excluding such characters. It may be configured so that the user can appropriately set what should be done.

1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus in which an embodiment of the present invention is employed. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a layout diagram illustrating image data processed by a control unit and generated output data in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a layout diagram illustrating image data processed by the control unit and generated output data. FIG. 3 is a layout diagram showing output data generated by the control unit. FIG. 3 is a layout diagram showing output data generated by the control unit. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 3 Image reading part (Image data acquisition means)
5 Image forming unit (image forming means)
7 Control unit (aggregation rate determining means, page order changing means, output data generating means)
13 Operation panel (setting means)
15 Facsimile communication section (image data acquisition means)
17 Network interface (image data acquisition means)

Claims (5)

N (N is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) IN 1 is an image forming apparatus having an aggregation function,
Image data acquisition means capable of acquiring image data;
An aggregation rate determining means for determining an aggregation rate of each page according to the size of character information included in each page of the image data;
Output data generation means for generating output data based on the image data according to the aggregation ratio of each page determined by the aggregation ratio determination means;
Image forming means capable of forming an image on a transfer material based on the output data;
An image processing apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aggregation rate determination unit determines the aggregation rate based on a size of the character information recognized by character recognition using an optical technique. In accordance with the aggregation rate of each page determined by the aggregation rate determination unit, the image data further includes a page replacement unit capable of switching the page order,
The output data generation means generates the output data further according to the page order replaced by the page replacement means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output data generation unit can assign a page number of each page to an area corresponding to each page of the image data in the output data. 5. .   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting unit configured to set whether or not to determine the aggregation rate of each page by the aggregation rate determination unit.

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