JP2007219429A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently set a fold position intended by a user in an image processor which displays the fold position. <P>SOLUTION: An original is input from a reading means 1, and an input image is stored in an image storage means 2, and also a preview image is displayed on a display means 6. When the fold position is input from a key input means 7, the fold position for mountain fold or valley fold is composed with the input image and displayed. A spot where the fold line and the image are overlapped most is displayed in the center of a screen and also the fold position at the edge is displayed in the center of the screen. While confirming the fold position, the setting of the fold position is corrected. The input image is printed, and printing paper is folded according to the decided fold position. Thus, the printing paper is prevented from being folded at an unintended position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that displays a folding position.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a folding device that performs bellows folding or cross folding is used to copy an original such as a direct mail or an invoice in a size that does not fit in an envelope as it is, so that the size fits in the envelope. At this time, output paper folded to a desired size can be obtained by setting the folding width and copying. In some cases, a fold line is printed on the original image, and the copied paper is folded by hand. Examples of related art related to this will be given below.

The “image forming apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 1 can easily and suitably determine where the folding position mark should be formed. The folding size when the sheet after image formation is folded is input by the input means. The formation position of the folding position mark on the paper is calculated according to the folding size. Based on the formation position of the folding position mark, the folding position mark is formed on the sheet.
JP 2005-212460 A

  However, the conventional techniques have the following problems. When designating the folding position, it is not possible to know where the folding line is placed on the output paper before outputting, so there is a possibility that a folding line is added to the image position that is not desired to be output.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, display folding position information and indicate it to the user, thereby preventing waste of paper due to miscopying and at the same time obtaining the output expected by the user more efficiently. That is.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the image processing apparatus includes a reading unit that inputs an image to obtain an input image, an image storage unit that stores the input image, a display unit that displays the input image, Key input means for inputting an instruction regarding the folding position, operation control means for controlling the display means and the key input means, and display control means for displaying the indicated folding position on the display means are provided.

  The key input means is provided with means for inputting a folding position correction instruction, and the display control means is provided with means for immediately displaying the corrected folding position on the display means. Further, the display control means is provided with means for causing the display means to display the folding position on the input image. Further, the display control means is provided with means for displaying the area where the folding line overlaps most with the image portion of the input image at the center of the display means. Further, the display control means is provided with means for displaying the endmost folding position at the center of the display means. Folding means for folding the printing paper according to the finally determined folding position is provided. Printing means for printing the input image and the mark of the folding position on the printing paper is provided.

  With the configuration described above, the folding position can be confirmed on the preview screen before printing, and waste of paper due to miscopying can be prevented. By editing the folding position information while confirming the display, the folding position desired by the user can be set earlier and more accurately. By printing out the folding position information, even a user who does not have a folding machine can accurately fold the information manually according to the output folding position information. By displaying the center where the fold line and the image overlap the most, it is possible to quickly confirm whether or not the fold line is included in the image that the fold line is not desired. By displaying the fold position at the extreme end in the center of the screen, it is possible to quickly confirm the state of the end portion that is output without being folded because it is less than the fold width.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  An embodiment of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that can display a folding line superimposed on an image and edit a folding position while checking on a display screen.

  FIG. 1A is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus (copier) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1A, a reading unit 1 is a scanner as an image input unit. The image storage means 2 is an HDD and a RAM for storing the read image data. The printing unit 3 is a printer as an image output unit. The folding means 4 is means for folding printed paper. The operation control means 5 is a keyboard, a display, or a touch panel. The display means 6 is a display that displays an input image. The key input means 7 is an input means such as a keyboard or a touch panel, and the presence or absence of physical keys is not a problem here. The main controller 8 is a control unit that controls each means.

  FIG. 1B is a diagram for explaining bellows folding. FIG. 1C is a diagram for explaining cross folding. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit and an operation procedure. FIG. 3A is a conceptual diagram showing a method of editing a folding position while confirming the display. FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the portion where the fold line and the image overlap most is displayed at the center of the preview. FIG. 3C is a diagram showing a state in which the endmost folding position is displayed at the center of the preview screen. The folding position is a position at which the paper is folded, and the folding line is a line that specifically indicates a fold when the paper is folded at the folding position.

  The function and operation of the image processing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described. First, an overview of the functions of the image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The user inputs an instruction on how to fold the printing paper from the key input means 7. When a document is placed on the ADF and the copy key is pressed, the reading unit 1 reads the document. The read document image is transferred to and stored in the image storage unit 2. A preview image is created based on the input document image. An image for preview is displayed on the display means 6. Also displays the fold line when it is folded as instructed. According to the print instruction, the printing unit 3 prints an image. Folding means 4 folds the printed paper.

  Next, the folding operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (b) and 1 (c). The folding means 4 can fold the output paper output from the printing means 3 into bellows folding or cross folding. As shown in FIG. 1B, the bellows folding is a folding method in which a mountain fold and a valley fold are repeated so that a fold line is perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the output paper. As shown in FIG. 1C, the cross folding is a folding method in which mountain folding and valley folding are repeated so that a folding line parallel to the conveying direction of the output paper is obtained. In the operation control means 5, whether the output paper printed by the printing means 3 is folded bellows, cross-folded or not folded by the folding means 4, is indicated by the key input means 7. Can be set. When the output paper is folded bellows, the folding width of the bellows folding can be designated. When the output paper is cross-folded, the output paper size after folding can be designated by a size such as A4 or B5, or the folding width of the bellows folding and the folding width of the cross folding can be designated.

  Next, the display means 6 will be described with reference to FIG. When a document is placed on the ADF and the print key 11 is pressed, the document is read by the reading unit 1, and the read input image is transferred to and stored in the image storage unit 2. Thereafter, the input image is transferred to the main controller 8, and a print image and a preview image to which folding position information is added are created based on the input image. The preview image is transferred to the operation control means 5 and the display means 6. A preview image is displayed on the display means 6.

  Next, an operation procedure for preview display will be described with reference to FIG. The main controller 8 that has received the press signal of the preview key 12 from the operation control means 5 checks in step 1 whether it is a preview display request. If it is not a preview display request, the process ends. If it is a preview display request, in step 2, as a preview display preparation, an input image is received from the image storage means 2, and a print image and a preview image are created.

  In step 3, the main controller 8 checks whether or not the folding mode is ON. If the folding mode is OFF, preview display is performed in step 6. If the folding mode is ON, it is checked in step 4 whether the set folding position information is “no folding line”. If “no fold line”, preview display is performed in step 6. In cases other than “no fold line”, fold position information is added to the preview image in step 5. In step 6, the preview image is sent to the operation control means 5. The operation control unit 5 displays a preview image on the display unit 6.

  Next, a method for editing the folding position information while confirming the display means 6 will be described with reference to FIG. When the user presses the “fold edit” tab 13, the operation control means 5 switches the display screen of the display means 6 from the information screen to the fold edit screen 31 and displays it. By pressing various keys shown on the folding edit screen 31, the operation control means 5 notifies the main controller 8 of the folding position information. After the main controller 8 determines that there is no contradiction in the folding position information, the folding position information is updated. Thereafter, the main controller notifies the operation control means 5 of the updated folding position information. The operation control means 5 reflects the updated folding position information in the folding edit area and the image display area.

  The following shows an example of editing folding position information by the user. When the user changes the folding type from “bellows folding” to “cross folding”, the user presses the “cross folding” button 14. When the user changes the folding direction from “left folding” to “upward folding”, the user presses the “upward folding” button 15. When the user changes the folding width (width) to be narrower than the current value, the user presses the arrow button 16. When the user wishes to print a fold line, the user presses the “Yes” button 17. When the user changes the pattern of the valley fold line in the vertical direction, first, the “vertical” button 18 is selected. Next, by pressing the “pattern” button 19, options are displayed. Then, press the key of the pattern you want to change. Pattern options include at least no line, solid line, dotted line, and auxiliary line.

  When the user changes the color of the valley fold line in the vertical direction, first, the “vertical” button 18 is selected. Next, by pressing the “color” button 20, options are displayed. Then, press the key of the color you want to change. The color options include at least black, white, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and purple. The user presses the arrow button 21 to make the thickness of the valley fold line in the vertical direction thinner than the current value. When the user wants to reverse the current mountain fold to a valley fold or to reverse a valley fold to a mountain fold, the user presses a “mountain fold valley fold” button 22.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 3B, a method for displaying the portion where the folding line and the image overlap most at the center of the preview screen will be described. When the user presses the preview key 12, the main controller 8 adds folding position information to the preview image. Thereafter, the main controller 8 calculates the density distribution of a circle 33 having a radius α centered on each dot forming a folding line in the preview image. The size of the circle 33 having the radius α is set to a size about the interval between the folding lines. It is determined that the higher the density distribution is, the more the image and the folding line overlap, and the higher display priority is set. The main controller 8 updates this priority order as folding position information and reflects it in the preview image. Thereafter, when transmitted to the operation control means 5, the operation control means 5 displays the position with the highest priority on the display means 6 as the default preview position. Thereafter, when the user presses the “Next” button 23, the operation control means 5 displays a position one order lower than the current priority order in the image display area 32.

  Next, a method for displaying the final folding position 34 at the center of the preview screen will be described with reference to FIG. When the user presses the preview key 12, the main controller 8 transmits a preview image to the operation control unit 5, and the operation control unit 5 displays it in the image display area 32. Thereafter, when the user presses the “final folding position display key” 24, the operation control means 5 calculates the final folding position 34 based on the folding position information notified from the main controller 8, and the image display area 32. To display.

  Next, a method for avoiding the overlap by automatically shifting the entire image when the fold line overlaps a character or the like will be described. The density data of the image is integrated in the fold line direction to obtain a projection onto a line orthogonal to the fold line. All the projection values at the positions of the folding lines are added to obtain a projection addition value. The image is moved within a movable range, and a projection addition value is obtained at each position. The moving position of the image with the smallest projected addition value is obtained and set as the corresponding position between the image and the folding line. For images that may overlap the fold line, it can be calculated in the same way by removing in advance. For example, if there is no need to consider the overlap with the folding line for a background with low density, a density threshold value is set, and a projection value may be obtained only for an image with a higher density. When it is necessary to consider overlapping only for characters, a projection value is obtained only for characters. In the case of an image with many blanks, since the portion where the projection addition value is 0 continues, the folding line is set so that the fold line comes to the center of the region where the projection addition value is 0. In the case of cross-folding, the calculation is performed in the same way for the folding lines in both orthogonal directions.

  Next, a method for printing the folding position information will be described with reference to FIG. When the user presses the print key 11 (FIG. 2A) while the print “Yes” button 17 is selected, the operation control means 5 requests the main controller 8 to start printing. After determining that there is no contradiction in the printing conditions including the folding position information set at the present time, the main controller 8 reflects the folding position information in the printing image and transmits it to the image storage unit 2. Subsequently, when the main controller 8 issues a print request to the printing unit, the printing unit acquires a printing image from the image storage unit 2 and performs printing. Thereby, the folding position information is reflected in the print output.

  In addition, if it is determined that there is merit in that the extra information is not output for the user because it is automatically converted to the auxiliary line as the print output while confirming the folding position information with the solid line on the preview screen. When the controller 8 reflects the folding position information in the printing image, the folding position information can be converted into “auxiliary lines” and transmitted to the image storage means 2.

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the image processing apparatus is configured to display the fold line so as to be superimposed on the image and to edit the fold position while confirming on the display screen. It can be set quickly and accurately, and waste of paper due to miscopying can be prevented.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention is optimal as an image processing apparatus with a folding machine that can display and edit a folding position. Even without a folding machine, it can be used by folding by hand according to the printed folding position information.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus (copier) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a diagram for explaining bellows folding and cross folding. It is a figure which shows the operation part and process sequence of the image processing apparatus in the Example of this invention. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method for editing a folding position while confirming the display of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention; It is a figure which shows a mode that the most folding position is displayed on the center of a preview screen.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Reading means, 2 ... Image storage means, 3 ... Printing means, 4 ... Folding means, 5 ... Operation control means, 6 ... Display means, 7 ... Key Input means, 8 ... main controller, 11 ... print key, 12 ... preview key, 13 ... folding edit tab, 14 ... cross fold button, 15 ... up fold button, 16 ... -Arrow buttons, 17 ... "Yes" button, 18 ... "Vertical" button, 19 ... "Pattern" button, 20 ... "Color" button, 21 ... Arrow button, 22 ...・ "Mountain fold fold fold" button, 23 ... "Next" button, 31 ... Edit screen, 32 ... Image display area, 33 ... Circle, 34 ... Foldest end position .

Claims (14)

  Reading means for inputting an image to obtain an input image, image storage means for storing the input image, display means for displaying the input image, key input means for inputting an instruction regarding a folding position, and the display means An image processing apparatus comprising: an operation control unit that controls the key input unit; and a display control unit that displays an instructed folding position on the display unit.   2. The key input means is provided with means for inputting an instruction for correcting the folding position, and the display control means is provided with means for immediately displaying the corrected folding position on the display means. The image processing apparatus described.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit includes a unit that causes the display unit to display the folding position on the input image.   4. The display control means according to claim 1, further comprising a means for displaying an area where the fold line overlaps most with an image portion of the input image at the center of the display means. Image processing device.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control means is provided with means for displaying an endmost folding position at the center of the display means.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit includes a unit that obtains a folding position that minimizes the degree of overlap between the input image and a folding line.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a folding unit configured to fold the printing paper according to a finally determined folding position.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that prints the input image and the mark of the folding position on a printing sheet.   When an image is input and an input image is obtained and stored and displayed, an instruction relating to the folding position is input, the indicated folding position is displayed superimposed on the input image, and a correction instruction for the folding position is input, An image processing control method characterized by immediately displaying a corrected folding position.   The image processing control method according to claim 9, wherein an area having the largest overlap of folding lines with the image portion of the input image is displayed at the center of the screen.   The image processing control method according to claim 9, wherein the endmost folding position is displayed at the center of the screen.   The image processing control method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein a folding position with the least degree of overlapping of the input image and a folding line is obtained and the folding position is displayed so as to overlap the input image. .   The image processing control method according to claim 9, wherein the printing paper is folded according to a finally determined folding position.   The image processing control method according to claim 9, wherein the input image and the mark of the folding position are printed on a printing paper.

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