JP2009160734A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, wherein work load on a user is reduced when a display body is made, by forming an area of consistent glue margins. <P>SOLUTION: In the case of a double-sided copy processing in the embodiment, the area of a glue margin is formed for respective recording paper P so that the area of a glue margin is provided on the surface at the end of one of a pair of sheets of recording paper P disposed adjacent to each other and the area of another glue margin is provided on the rear surface at the end of the other of the pair of sheets of recording paper P. Thus, the areas of consistent glue margins are formed on both the front and back surfaces of a poster. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

A large-sized poster is manufactured by pasting elements printed on a plurality of pages of recording paper without gaps. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an outdoor advertisement that is formed by forming an image and an adhesive margin on one side of a plurality of rectangular elements and pasting the adhesive margin together. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming apparatus that prints a character having a size larger than the size of the recording paper to be used, and divides the character to provide a margin for margin printing.
JP 2006-184808 A JP-A-6-155848

  However, when trying to create a poster with images formed on both sides, the conventional technique is to first print with a margin margin on the surface of each page constituting the poster, and then to print on the back side. In this case, the user himself / herself has to set and consider the adhesive margin portion that is consistent with the front surface, and arrange the recording paper on which the front surface has been printed in the correct orientation and return it to the paper feed tray. Such work is troublesome for the user, and there is a problem that the work burden on the user is large.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of reducing a user's work burden in producing a display body by forming a paste margin area having no contradiction. The purpose is to do.

  In order to achieve this object, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is configured to form a display body by superimposing adhesive margin regions at recording medium end portions arranged adjacent to each other. One of the pair of recording medium ends arranged adjacent to each other in an arrangement determined by the arrangement determining means, The margin area is provided on the first surface constituting one surface of the display body, and the other recording medium end portion is provided on the second surface constituting the other surface of the display body. And an adhesive margin forming means for forming an adhesive margin area on each of the plurality of pages of the recording medium based on the arrangement determined by the arrangement determining means.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on input image data, and the margin forming unit includes the adhesive margin forming unit. Image data creating means for creating image data and outputting the image data to the image forming means so that the image is formed with a margin area as a margin is provided.

  The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image data creating unit creates first image data corresponding to an image formed on the first surface of a one-page recording medium. The first image data creating means for outputting to the image forming means and the second image data corresponding to the image formed on the second surface of the one-page recording medium are created and outputted to the image forming means. Two image data creating means, and the image forming means forms an image based on the first image data on the first surface of a recording medium of one page, and then forms the second image on the second surface of the recording medium. An image based on the data is formed and discharged, and for each page of the recording medium whose layout is determined by the layout determination unit, image data is created by the image data creation unit for each page, and the image De Characterized in that it comprises a repeating means for repeating the formation of the image based on the data.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, further comprising a first reading unit that reads the first original image for each of a plurality of reading ranges. First image data for enlarging and forming the first original image is created and output based on each of a plurality of reading ranges read by the first reading means, and the second original image is output. And a second reading means for reading each of the plurality of reading ranges, and the second image data creating means enlarges the second original image based on each of the plurality of reading ranges read by the second reading means. Thus, the second image data to be formed is generated and output.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, prior to the reading of the first original image by the first reading means, the second original image is read by the second reading means, Storage means for storing read data obtained from each reading range is provided, and the first image data creating means reads each time one reading range is read by the first reading means by the first reading means. Based on the read data read from the range, the first image data is generated and output to the image forming unit. The second image data generating unit has one reading range of the first document image. Each time the image is read by the first reading unit, the second original image corresponding to the image to be formed on the back surface of the image formed corresponding to the reading range is read. Specifying a range, and calling means for calling the read data obtained from the specified reading range from the storage means, and creating the second image data based on the read data called by the calling means, The output to the image forming means.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect, in the arrangement determined by the arrangement determining unit, one of the pair of recording medium ends arranged adjacent to each other has a display body on one recording medium end. A margin area is provided on the first surface constituting one surface of the recording medium, and a margin area is provided on the second surface constituting the other surface of the display body at the other recording medium end. Since the margin area is formed on each of the plurality of pages of the recording medium, a consistent margin area is formed on both the one surface and the other surface of the display body.

  Therefore, it is possible for the user to produce a display body by a simple operation of pasting the recording media in accordance with the margin area formed on each of a plurality of pages of the recording medium. There is an effect that can be reduced.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the glue margin forming means creates image data so that an image is formed with the margin area as a margin. Since it is output to the image forming means, an adhesive margin area that is easy for the user to identify is formed, and the user's work burden is further suppressed.

  Here, the “margin” means an area at the end of the recording paper where an image to be displayed on one side of the display body or the other side is not formed. Therefore, “so that an image is formed with the margin area as a margin” is not limited to the case where no image is formed in the margin area, for example, one surface and the other surface of the display body. This includes a case where an image other than the image to be displayed (for example, a mark indicating the pasting order) is formed in a margin as a margin area.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the third aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, there is an effect that the work load on the user is further suppressed. That is, after an image based on the first image data is formed on the first surface of the recording medium of one page, an image based on the second image data is formed on the second surface of the recording medium, and discharged. The image data creation by the image data creation means and the image formation based on the image data are repeated for each page of the recording medium whose placement is determined by the placement determination means. Therefore, for example, after the image formation on the first side of each page of the recording medium is completed, the user does not need to set the recording medium again and form an image on the second side. The work burden is further suppressed.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, an arbitrary size is possible regardless of the size of the readable range by the first reading unit and the second reading unit. The display body can be produced. That is, the first image data creating unit creates and outputs first image data for enlarging and forming the first document image based on each of a plurality of reading ranges read by the first reading unit. The second image data creation means creates and outputs second image data for enlarging and forming the second document image based on each of the plurality of reading ranges read by the second reading means. Therefore, even if there is a limit on the size of the original that can be read by the first reading unit and the second reading unit, an image enlarged to a size suitable for the display body to be manufactured is formed on the image forming apparatus. There is an effect that can be.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the read data read from the reading range for the first original image every time one reading range is read. Based on this, image data is created and output to the image forming apparatus. After the output to the image forming apparatus, the read data need not be stored and can be erased, so that the memory usage required for reading the first document image can be saved.

  For the second document image, the read data obtained from each reading range is stored in the storage means. Therefore, after the reading of each reading range of the second document image is completed, the first document image is at the reading position. Can be set. Therefore, even if there is no automatic document feeder for setting the next document image at the reading position after reading one document image, the number of document replacements is minimized, There is an effect that the work burden on the user is small.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a multifunction peripheral device (hereinafter referred to as “MFP (Multi Function Peripheral)”) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP 1 is a multifunction peripheral device having various functions such as a telephone function, a facsimile function, a print function, a scanner function, and a copy function. Further, the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment enlarges the original image read by the scanner 20, and divides the enlarged image into a total of M × N pages of recording paper of M pages in length and N pages and prints a poster copy to be printed. Then, double-sided poster copy is performed on both sides of the recording paper (both M and N are integers of 1 or more).

  Although the details will be described later, the double-sided poster function of the MFP 1 is to form a consistent margin area on both one side and the other side of the poster (an example of the display body described in the claims). Thus, it is possible to reduce the work burden on the user in producing the poster.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, an EEPROM (Electronic Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) 12, a RAM (Read Only Memory) 13, an operation key 15, a scanner 21, an LCD 16, It mainly has an NCU 23 and a modem 24.

  Among these, the CPU 11, EEPROM 12, and RAM 13 are connected to each other via a bus line 26. The operation key 15, LCD 16, scanner 20, printer 21, NCU 23, modem 24, and bus line 26 are connected to each other via an input / output port 27.

  The CPU 11 controls each function of the MFP 1 and controls each unit connected to the input / output port 27 according to fixed values and programs stored in the EEPROM 12 and the RAM 13 or various signals transmitted / received via the NCU 23. To do.

  The EEPROM 12 is a non-volatile memory that stores the control program 12a executed by the CPU 11, fixed value data, and the like in a rewritable manner and can retain the contents even after the power is turned off. Further, in the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, the paste margin area table 12 b and the pasting order mark data 12 c are stored in the EEPROM 12. The margin area table 12b is a table that defines the margin area to be formed on the recording sheet when executing double-sided poster copy. Details will be described with reference to FIG. The pasting order mark data 12c is data for forming the pasting order mark 32 (see FIG. 2) indicating the pasting order on the recording paper.

  The RAM 13 is a rewritable volatile memory, and is a memory for temporarily storing various data when each operation of the MFP 1 is executed. A read data memory 13a and a print image data memory 13b are provided. ing. The read data acquired by reading the document placed at a predetermined reading position (not shown) by the scanner 20 is stored in the read data memory 13a.

  The print image data memory 13b is a memory that stores print image data (an example of image data described in claims) created based on read data acquired by the scanner 20. The print image data stored in the print image data memory 13b is output to the printer 21. The read data and print image data will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

  The operation key 15 is provided with various buttons such as a numeric button for inputting a telephone number when using the facsimile function and a power button for turning on / off the MFP 1. The LCD 16 has an LCD panel (not shown), and the MFP 1 displays the operation procedure and the status of the process being executed on the LCD panel.

  The scanner 20 emits light from a light source to irradiate light on a document image, guides reflected light from the document image to a photoelectric conversion element, and the photoelectric conversion element outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light. Is configured as a so-called flood bed scanner that mainly includes an image reading unit that acquires read data and a platen glass, and reads a document image placed on the platen glass. The scanner 20 may be provided with an automatic document feeding mechanism.

  The printer 21 forms an image on recording paper based on input print image data, and is configured by a so-called inkjet printer that forms an image by ejecting ink onto the recording paper.

  Further, the printer 21 forms an image on the surface of one page of recording paper conveyed to a predetermined image forming position in order to enable double-sided printing, and then reverses the recording paper and resends it to the image forming position. However, since a known transport mechanism can be adopted, detailed description is omitted here. Needless to say, a printer using various image recording methods such as a method other than the ink jet method, such as an electrophotographic method or a thermal transfer method, may be used in place of the printer 21.

  The NCU 23 is connected to a telephone line network (not shown), and controls an external device connected to the telephone line network by controlling the transmission of a dial signal to the telephone line network and the response of a calling signal from the telephone line network. (Not shown) is controlled.

  The modem 24 modulates the image data instructed to be transmitted by the facsimile function and transmits it via the NCU 23, or receives a signal input via the NCU 23 and demodulates it into image data recordable by the printer 21. It is.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the margin area formed by executing double-sided poster copy by the MFP 1 will be described. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a plurality of pages of recording paper P constituting the poster, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating the surface of the recording paper P constituting the poster (described in the claims). FIG. 2C is a diagram showing a margin area on the back surface of the recording paper P (corresponding to the second side described in the claims). It is.

  First, the arrangement of the recording paper P constituting the poster is determined according to the input from the user. Here, “determine the layout of the recording paper P” means how many pages of the recording paper P are arranged in the vertical direction and how many pages of the recording paper P are arranged in the horizontal direction to form a poster. It means to decide. FIG. 2 shows a four-page recording sheet P arranged in two vertical pages and two horizontal pages. Hereinafter, the arrangement of the recording sheets P constituting the poster is expressed as “total number of recording sheets arranged in the vertical direction × total number of recording sheets arranged in the horizontal direction” (for example, 2 × 2).

Here, in order to distinguish and describe the recording paper P of a plurality of pages constituting the poster, a number is added as a subscript to the code P of the recording paper. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), reference numeral P ₁ on the recording sheet placed on the left on the surface of the poster P, reference numeral P ₂ on the recording paper to be located in the upper right, lower left reference numeral P ₃ to the recording paper is disposed, reference numeral P ₄ on the recording paper to be located in the lower right.

  Further, in the drawing, in order to distinguish between the front surface of the recording paper P constituting the front surface of the poster and the back surface of the recording paper P constituting the back surface of the poster, subscripts are provided on the front surface of each page recording paper P. “Front” is attached, and “back” is attached as a subscript on the back side. 2A is a diagram showing an arrangement when the recording paper P is viewed from the front surface, and the reference numerals indicating the back surface corresponding to each front surface are described in parentheses.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, a margin area 30 is formed at the edge of the surface of the recording paper P. In FIGS. 2B and 2C, the margin area 30 is illustrated in gray for easy viewing of the drawings, but in practice, the margin area 30 is formed as a blank.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2C, a margin area 30 is also formed at the end of the back surface of the recording paper P. Note that FIG. 2C is a diagram showing an arrangement in a state where the back surface of each recording sheet P is viewed, and thus is reversed from the arrangement shown in FIG.

According to the double-sided copy processing of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, one end of one recording sheet P among the ends of a pair of recording sheets P arranged adjacent to each other. In this case, a margin area is formed on each of the storage sheets P so that a margin area is provided on the front surface and an edge area of the other recording paper P is provided on the back surface. For example, when viewed from the surface, and a right end portion of the recording sheet P _1, they are superimposed each other with the left end of the recording sheet P _2. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the end of the recording paper P ₁ is provided with the margin area 30 on the surface and the end of the recording paper P _{2 to} be bonded to the margin area 30 of the recording paper P ₁ . The adhesive margin area 30 is provided on the back surface of the part.

  In this way, a paste margin area having no contradiction is formed on both the front surface and the back surface of the poster. Therefore, for the user, a paste margin area formed on the recording paper P by executing double-sided poster copy in the MFP 1. Accordingly, a poster can be produced by a simple operation of pasting the recording paper P, and the work burden on the user in producing the poster can be reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an adhesive margin order mark 32 indicating the pasting order is formed in the margin area 30. Therefore, the user can more easily produce a poster by overlaying and pasting the recording paper P in the order according to the glue margin order mark 32.

  Furthermore, the double-sided poster copy of this embodiment is to read an original image by the scanner 20 and form an enlarged image of the original image on the front and back sides of the poster, respectively. In the following description, an enlarged image of the A4 size first original image is divided and formed on the surface of the A4 size recording paper P arranged in 2 × 2, and the A4 size second original is formed. The case where the enlarged image of the image is formed by being divided on the back surface of the recording paper P is described as an example.

  With reference to FIG. 3, reading of a document image by the scanner 20 will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reading order of the first document image. When the arrangement of “M × N” of vertical M pages and horizontal N pages is determined as the arrangement of the recording paper P, the reading range of vertical M and horizontal N is determined for the first document image and the second document image, respectively. Is done. FIG. 3 illustrates the reading range of the first document image when the “2 × 2” arrangement is determined.

The scanner 20 is first shown in FIG. 3 (a), reads the reading range D ₁₁ which covers the upper left corner of the original image, then, to the right of the original image, move, the next reading range read. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), when reading the reading range D ₁₂ that covers the right edge of the document image, the process proceeds to the read range D of the next stage. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (c), reading the read range D ₁₃ that covers the left edge of the original image 34. In this manner, the process repeated, finally, as shown in FIG. 3 (d), by reading the read range D ₁₄ covering the lower right end of the first document image to read the entire area of the original image.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, when setting a division boundary 36 that divides the first document image into four equal parts, the reading ranges D ₁₁ , D ₁₂ , D ₁₃ , and D ₁₄ are divided into division boundaries 36, respectively. Is determined to protrude. As a result, an overlapping portion having a width W that is read redundantly is included between the reading ranges D adjacent to each other via the division boundary 36. For example, when the reading ranges D ₁₁ , D ₁₂ , D ₁₃ , and D ₁₄ are determined so that the division boundary 36 protrudes by 1.5 mm in the vertical direction and 1.5 mm in the horizontal direction, the width of the overlapping portion is 3 0.0 mm. The margin area 30 (see FIG. 2) is formed as a margin in the area where the overlapping portion is enlarged. Details will be described with reference to FIG.

Note that the reading range D is determined for the second document image as well as the first document image. In the following description, the sign D ₂₁ , D ₂₂ , D ₂₃ in which the tens place of the subscript is “2” in the reading range D, particularly when the reading range D of the second original image is meant. , D ₂₄ will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the original image is read for each of a plurality of reading ranges as described above, and print image data for one side of the recording paper P of one page is created based on the reading data obtained from one reading range. The

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the relationship between the reading range D ₁₁ , D ₁₂ , D ₁₃ , D _{14 of} the first document image and the surface of the recording paper P constituting the poster, and FIG. These are diagrams showing the relationship between the reading range D ₂₁ , D ₂₂ , D ₂₃ , D _{24 of} the second document image and the back surface of the recording paper P constituting the poster. As described with reference to FIG. 3, each reading range D has an overlapping portion between adjacent reading ranges. However, if this is illustrated accurately, the drawing becomes complicated. In FIG. 4, illustration of overlapping portions of the respective reading ranges D is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the reading ranges D ₁₁ , D ₁₂ , D ₁₃ , and D ₁₄ of the first document image are enlarged and formed on the surface of the recording paper P of one page. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, each reading range D ₂₁ , D ₂₂ , D ₂₃ , D ₂₄ of the first document image is enlarged and formed on the back surface of the recording paper P of one page. .

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the contents of the margin area table 12b. The margin area table 12b is a table used to determine the margin area 30 described with reference to FIG. This margin area table 12b is created in advance for each of the arrangements that can be determined by double-sided poster copy, and is stored in the EEPROM 12 when the MFP 1 is manufactured. However, the overlap width and margin margin order mark values are changed according to user input. It is configured to be possible. As shown in FIG. 2, the margin area table 12b is provided with a recording paper area 12b1, a front / back area 12b2, a reading range area 12b3, an margin position area 12b4, an overlapping width area 12b5, and an adhesive margin order mark area 12b6. It is done.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the recording paper area 12b1 stores a value that defines one of a plurality of pages of recording paper P constituting a poster. The front / back area 12b2 stores a value that defines whether the recording paper P is the front side or the back side. The reading range area 12b3 stores a value that defines which reading range image is formed on the surface of the recording paper P.

  The margin position area 12b4 stores a value that defines which end portion of the recording paper the margin area 30 (see FIG. 2) is to be formed. For example, when “right” is stored as the value of the margin area 12b4, the margin area 30 (see FIG. 2) is formed at the right end of the recording paper P. The overlap width area 12b5 stores a value that defines the overlap width W (see FIG. 3) of the reading range. The margin margin order mark area 12 b 6 stores a value that defines the margin margin order mark 32 formed in the margin margin area 30.

  When the arrangement “M × N” of the recording sheets constituting the poster is determined, the margin area of each recording sheet P is determined with reference to the margin area table 12b stored in advance corresponding to the arrangement. Is done. As a result, a margin area 30 as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C is formed on the recording paper P.

  FIG. 6 is an image diagram for explaining the flow of processing from the read data acquired from one read range D to the generation of print image data. In the read data of FIG. 6, hatched portions indicate overlapping portions between adjacent read ranges.

  As shown in FIG. 6, first, the read data acquired from one reading range is enlarged at a predetermined enlargement ratio determined from the arrangement “M × N”, and matched to the size of one page of recording paper P. A method for determining the enlargement ratio will be described with reference to FIG.

  Next, the area indicated by hatching is converted into white data from the enlarged read data. That is, the enlarged read data is converted so that the area where the overlapping portion is enlarged, that is, the area that becomes the margin area 30 is configured as a margin. In FIG. 6, in order to make the drawing easy to see, a region converted into white data is shown in gray. Instead of the white data, paste margin pattern data for attaching a predetermined pattern to the margin area 30 may be used.

  Next, paste margin mark data 12c is added to the enlarged read data after conversion. The enlarged read data and the margin allowance mark data 12c are composed of three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

  Next, the enlarged read data to which the margin allowance mark data 12c is added is color-converted into four color data of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), and the color conversion is performed. By performing binarization processing on the subsequent color data, print image data for one side of one page of recording paper P is created.

  The print image data created in this way is output to the printer 21, and the printer 21 forms an image on the recording paper P with the margin area 30 as a margin based on this print image data. An easy margin area 30 is formed, and the work burden on the user is further suppressed.

  In this way, even if the size of the range that can be read by the scanner 20 is limited, an image enlarged to a size suitable for the poster to be produced can be formed on the printer 21. That is, a poster having an arbitrary size can be produced regardless of the range that can be read by the scanner 20 and the size of an image that can be formed by the printer 21.

  With reference to FIG. 7, how to determine the enlargement factor considering the margin area will be described. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of an enlargement ratio determination method.

  As described with reference to FIG. 4, when the width W of the overlapping portion of each reading range D is, for example, 3.0 mm, each reading range D has a dividing boundary 36 for equally dividing the document image, for example, 1 It is determined to protrude by 5 mm. Accordingly, if the size of the original image is A4 size with a vertical length of 297 mm and a horizontal length of 210 mm, the horizontal length of each reading range D is (210/2) +1.5. The longitudinal length is represented as (297/2) +1.5.

Since the size of the reading range is enlarged to A4 size, the horizontal enlargement ratio and the vertical enlargement ratio are determined as follows.
(Horizontal magnification)
{210 / [(210/2) +1.5]} * 100 = 197.183
(Vertical magnification)
{297 / [(297/2) +1.5]} * 100 = 198

  By enlarging the read data obtained from each reading range with the enlargement ratio determined in this way, one reading range of the A4 size original image has a size corresponding to one side of the A4 size recording paper P. Can be expanded.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a double-sided poster copy process executed by the MFP 1 configured as described above. This double-sided poster copy process (S1) is executed when a user inputs a double-sided poster copy start instruction. In the double-sided poster copy process, the second document image is read prior to reading the first document image. Therefore, a description will be given assuming that the double-sided poster copy process is started in a state where the second original image is set in advance at the reading position in the scanner 20.

  First, the recording paper arrangement “M × N” is determined based on the input from the user (S2). Here, it is assumed that “2 × 2” is determined. Next, the margin area table 12b corresponding to the determined arrangement is read (S4).

  Next, based on the determined arrangement “M × N”, the reading range D is determined for each of the first document image and the second document image (S6), and the enlargement ratio is determined (S8). Note that how the reading range D is determined has been described with reference to FIG. 3, and how the enlargement ratio is determined has been described with reference to FIG. Detailed description is omitted.

  Next, a second document image reading process is executed (S10). By this second original image reading process, each reading range D of the second original image is read, and the read data obtained from each reading range D is compressed into JPEG data, respectively, and read data memory 13a (see FIG. 1). The details will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Next, a screen for instructing the user to set the first document image is displayed on the LCD 16 (S12). If the first document image and the second document image are respectively formed on the front and back surfaces of the one-page document, a screen for instructing the user to turn the document over is displayed in the process of S12. Also good. Further, when the scanner 20 is provided with an automatic document feeder, instead of the process of S12, the document (first document image) of the next page may be fed to the reading position by the automatic document feeder. . Further, in the case where the scanner 20 is provided with an automatic document feeder that supports double-sided scanning, after reading a second document image formed on one side of a one-page document, the document is reversed. The first image document formed on the other surface of the document may be conveyed and sent to the reading position.

  Next, it is determined whether or not an instruction for inputting completion of setting of the first document image has been input (S14). While the determination in S14 is negative (S14: No), the process waits.

On the other hand, if the determination in S14 is affirmative (S14: Yes), next, the variable i is set to 1 (S15), and the i-th recording sheet P _i of the recording sheets P constituting the poster is The process for forming an image is started. Specifically, the read range _{D 1i} of the first original image corresponding to the surface of the recording paper _{P i} read by the scanner 20 (S16).

Next, the read data acquired from the read range D _1i is enlarged at the enlargement rate acquired in the process of S8 (S18). Next, by referring to the marginal region table 12b1, determines a margin region 30 at the surface of the recording paper _{P i} to be processed (S20). Specifically, based on the value of the margin positions of marginal area table 12b1 12b4 (see FIG. 5) to determine the margin position to be formed on the surface of the recording sheet P _i, and the value of the overlap width 12b5 The margin area 30 is determined from the value obtained by multiplying the enlargement ratio determined in S8 by the margin width at the margin position.

Next, the determined margin area 30 is converted into white data (S24), and the margin order mark data 12c (see FIG. 6) is embedded in the area converted into the white data (S26). Then, color conversion processing, by applying a known treatment such as binarization processing, to create a print image data corresponding to an image to be formed on the surface of the recording paper P ₁ (S27).

  Then, by outputting the generated print image data to the printer 21, image formation by the printer 21 is started (S28).

  As described above, each time a reading range of the first original image is read, print image data for the front surface is created and output to the printer 21 based on the reading data read from the reading range. After the output to the printer 21, the read data need not be stored in the read data memory 13a and can be erased, so that the memory usage required for reading the first document image can be saved.

In this way, when the image formation on the surface of the recording paper P _i is completed, inverting the recording paper P _i of the one page (S30), it conveys to a predetermined image forming position in the printer 21. Then, corresponding to an image to be formed on the back surface of the recording sheet P _i, the read range of the second document image are identified by referring to the marginal area table 12b (see FIG. 5) (S31). For example, if a i = 1, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the reading range D ₂₂ of the second document image are identified. Then, the read data (JPEG compressed) obtained from the specified read range is called from the read data memory 13a, decompressed, and enlarged at the enlargement ratio determined in the process of S8 (S32).

Then, by referring to the marginal region table 12b1, determines a margin region 30 at the back side of the recording paper _{P 1} to be processed (S34). Note that the specific process is the same as the process of S20, and thus the description thereof is omitted here. Next, the determined margin area 30 is converted into white data (S36), and the margin order mark data 12c (see FIG. 6) is embedded in the area converted into the white data (S38), and the print image is displayed. Data is created (S39). Then, by outputting the created print image data to the printer 21, image formation by the printer 21 is started (S40). In this way, in the printer 21, the rear surface of the recording paper P _i of one page on which an image is formed corresponding to one of the reading range of the first document image corresponding to the second read range of the second document image An image can be formed. Then, discharging the recording paper _{P i} which images have been formed on both sides (S42).

  Then, 1 is added to the variable i (S43), and it is determined whether the variable i is larger than the number of pages of the recording paper P constituting the poster (4 in the present embodiment) (S44). If the determination in S44 is negative (S44: No), the process returns to S16 and is repeated. On the other hand, if the determination in S44 is affirmative (S44: Yes), the process ends.

  In this way, for each page of the recording paper P defined in the recording paper 12b1 of the margin area table 12b, the front side print image data and the back side print image data are created, and an image based on the print image data is created. Formation is repeated.

  In this way, the margin area 30 can be formed on each of a plurality of pages of recording paper constituting the poster with the arrangement as described with reference to FIGS. 2B and 2C.

  Each time one reading range of the first document image is read, the reading range of the second document image corresponding to the image to be formed on the back side of the image formed corresponding to the reading range is specified. The read data obtained from the specified read range is called from the read data memory 13a, and the second image data is created and output to the printer 21 based on the called read data. After the image formation on the front surface of the recording paper P is completed, the user does not need to set the recording paper again and form an image on the back surface thereof.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the second document image reading process (S10). In the second document image reading processing, first, the first reading range _{D 21} of the second document read by the scanner 20 (S91). Then, the read data acquired by the reading is JPEG compressed (S92), and the compressed read data is stored in the read data memory 13a (S93). Such processing is repeated for each determined reading range.

That is, reading the second reading range _{D 22} of the second original by the scanner 20 (S94), the acquired read data, and JPEG compression (S95), the compressed read data to be stored in the read data memory 13a (S96). Next, read the third read range _{D 23} of the second original by the scanner 20 (S97), the acquired read data, and JPEG compression (S98), the compressed read data, the read data memory 13a stores (S99). Next, the fourth reading range D ₂₄ of the second original is read by the scanner 20 (S100), the acquired read data is JPEG compressed (S101), and the compressed read data is stored in the read data memory 13a. (S102). When there are four or more pages of recording paper constituting the poster, the reading process is repeated by the number of pages.

  According to the second document image reading process (S10), for the second document image, since the read data obtained from each reading range is stored in the storage unit, reading of each reading range of the second document image is completed. After that, the first document image can be set at the reading position. Therefore, even if there is no automatic document feeder for setting the next document image at the reading position after reading one document image, the number of document replacements is minimized, The user's workload is small.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the front surface of the recording paper P corresponds to the “first surface” recited in the claims, and the back surface of the recording paper P corresponds to the “second surface” recited in the claims. Although described as being equivalent, the front surface of the recording paper P corresponds to the “second surface” recited in the claims, and the back surface of the recording paper P is the “first surface” recited in the claims. It may be equivalent to.

  In the above embodiment, the entire reading range is read regardless of whether or not the margin area 30 is provided, and then the margin area 30 is converted into white data or the like later. When the margin area 30 is provided, an overlapping portion corresponding to the margin area 30 may not be read. In other words, when the margin area 30 is provided, it may be configured to read in a range narrower than the determined reading range.

  In the above-described embodiment, the overlap width W of each reading range is stored in the margin area table 12b. However, instead of this, the margin width may be stored.

  In the above embodiment, the MFP 1 has been described as an example of the image forming apparatus. However, any apparatus having a function capable of forming an image on a recording medium such as a recording sheet may be used. It may be.

  In the above embodiment, a poster has been described as an example of the “display body” recited in the claims. However, a large format that is created by superimposing paste margin areas on a plurality of pages of recording paper. Or other printed matter.

  In the above embodiment, the front and back images of the poster have been described as having a relationship in which only the horizontal direction is reversed without reversing the vertical direction (vertical direction), but the vertical direction is also reversed. A margin area table 12b for creating a poster having the same relationship may be provided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of MFP 1 in the embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a figure which shows an example of arrangement | positioning of the recording paper of the several pages which comprise a poster, (b) is a figure which shows the margin area on the surface of a recording paper, (c) is a recording paper It is a figure which shows the paste margin area | region of the back surface. It is a figure which shows an example of the reading order of a 1st original image. (A) is a figure which shows the relationship between the reading range of a 1st original image, and the surface of the recording paper which comprises a poster, (b) is the reading range which comprises a reading range of a 2nd original image, and a poster. It is a figure which shows the relationship with the back surface of a paper. It is a figure which shows typically the content of the margin area table. FIG. 6 is an image diagram illustrating a processing flow from reading data acquired from one reading range to print image data being created. It is a figure which shows an example of the determination method of an expansion rate. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a double-sided poster copy process executed by the MFP. 10 is a flowchart showing a second document image reading process.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP 1 (an example of an image forming apparatus)
13a Read data memory (an example of storage means)
20 Printer (an example of image forming means)
30 Adhesive area P Recording paper (an example of a recording medium)
S2 An example of arrangement determining means S1 Double-sided poster copy processing (an example of glue margin forming means)
S16 First reading means S24 to S28 One example of image data creating means, One example of first image data creating means S32 Calling means S36 to S40 One example of image data creating means, One example of second image data creating means S44 One example of repeating means S91, S94 Example of second reading means S97, S100 Example of second reading means

Claims (5)

An arrangement determining means for determining an arrangement of a plurality of pages of recording medium constituting the display body, in order to produce a display body by superimposing adhesive margin regions at recording medium end portions arranged adjacent to each other;
Of the pair of recording medium ends arranged adjacent to each other in the arrangement determined by the arrangement determining means, one recording medium end is on the first surface constituting one surface of the display body. The margin area is provided, and the end of the other recording medium has an arrangement determined by the arrangement determining means so that the margin area is provided on the second surface constituting the other surface of the display body. An image forming apparatus comprising: an adhesive margin forming unit that forms an adhesive margin area on each of the plurality of pages of the recording medium. An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium based on input image data is provided.
2. The glue margin forming means includes image data creating means for creating image data and outputting the image data to the image forming means so that the image is formed with the margin area as a margin. The image forming apparatus described. The image data creation means includes
First image data creating means for creating first image data corresponding to an image formed on the first surface of a one-page recording medium and outputting the first image data to the image forming means;
Second image data creating means for creating second image data corresponding to an image formed on the second surface of a one-page recording medium and outputting the image data to the image forming means;
The image forming unit forms an image based on the first image data on the first surface of the recording medium of one page, and then forms an image based on the second image data on the second surface of the recording medium. Paper,
For a plurality of pages of recording media whose arrangement has been determined by the arrangement determining means, it is provided with repeating means for repeating the creation of image data by the image data creation means and the formation of an image based on the image data for each page. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. A first reading unit that reads the first document image for each of a plurality of reading ranges;
The first image data creation means creates and outputs first image data for enlarging and forming the first document image based on each of a plurality of reading ranges read by the first reading means. Is what
A second reading unit that reads the second document image for each of a plurality of reading ranges;
The second image data creating unit creates and outputs second image data for enlarging and forming the second document image based on each of a plurality of reading ranges read by the second reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: Prior to reading the first document image by the first reading unit, the second reading unit reads a second document image and stores storage data obtained from each reading range;
The first image data creation unit creates the first image data based on the read data read from the reading range each time one reading range is read by the first reading unit by the first reading unit. Output to the image forming means,
The second image data creating unit is configured to form an image to be formed on the back surface of an image formed corresponding to the reading range each time one reading range of the first document image is read by the first reading unit. And a calling unit that specifies a reading range of the second document image corresponding to the, and calls the reading data obtained from the specified reading range from the storage unit,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second image data is created based on the read data called by the calling means and output to the image forming means.

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