JP2011205473A - Image reading apparatus and printing system employing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem with a method of extracting a specific region designated by surrounding a desired region in a document with a closed loop by an image reading apparatus, wherein this method requires much time and efforts for the marking, since marking surrounding the specific region with the closed loop is performed, in particular, when desired to process a number of documents, resulting in a problem in work efficiency.SOLUTION: An image reading apparatus includes: image data transmitters (100, 101) for reading an image in a predetermined rectangular region on an image formed surface of a read document and transmitting image data of the read image: a continuous line detector 102 for detecting, from the image data, a continuous line extending in one direction of the rectangular region; an extraction block generator 105 for generating a rectangular extraction block which is adjacent to the continuous line and determined by a length of the continuous line and an extraction width orthogonal to the continuous line; and an image processor 107 for extracting an image within a range of the extraction block from the image data and processing the image data to generate print data for printing.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and more particularly to a technique for extracting a specific area of a read original.

  Conventionally, as a method of extracting a specified specific area in a document by an image reading device, marking is performed by marking the desired area in the document with a dedicated marker or the like so as to surround the area with a closed loop, and then reading the marked document There has been a method of extracting a specific region (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-133150 (page 4, FIG. 4)

However, in the conventional method, marking is performed by enclosing a specific area to be extracted in a closed loop with a closed loop, so that the marking work is troublesome, and there is a problem in terms of work efficiency particularly when a large number of originals are processed .
An object of the present invention is to solve these problems and to provide a method for extracting a specific region with excellent workability.

An image reading apparatus according to the present invention is an image reading apparatus that reads an image recorded on a read original,
An image data transmitting unit that reads an image of a predetermined rectangular area on the image forming surface of the read original and transmits image data of the read image; and a continuous line extending from the image data in one direction of the rectangular area A continuous line detection unit that detects a rectangular extraction block that is adjacent to the continuous line and is defined by a length of the continuous line and an extraction width in a direction orthogonal to the continuous line; and the image An image processing unit that extracts an image within the range of the extraction block from the data, processes the image data, and generates print data for printing.

Another image reading apparatus according to the present invention is an image reading apparatus for reading an image recorded on a read original,
An image data transmitting unit that reads an image of a predetermined rectangular area on the image forming surface of the read original and transmits image data of the read image; a paper edge margin area and the paper edge margin in the predetermined rectangular area; A document copy range detection unit that distinguishes a document copy region surrounded by a region and separates and transmits the image data of the paper margin region from the image data, and the image data of the paper margin region A marker line detector that detects a first marker line extending in one direction of the rectangular area, and a second that extends in a direction orthogonal to the first marker line from the image data of the paper edge margin area A marker line is detected and is determined by the first marker line, the area of the coordinate axis parallel to the first marker line, and the coordinate determined by the second marker line and parallel to the second marker line An extraction block generating unit that generates an extraction block corresponding to a region intersecting with the region, and printing for extracting an image within the range of the extraction block from the image data, processing the image data, and printing And an image processing unit for generating data.

  According to the present invention, when a desired image area desired to be extracted from a read document is specified, the desired image area can be specified and extracted simply by describing a continuous line extending to the corresponding area. .

It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the image reading apparatus of Embodiment 1 by this invention. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram for explaining a relationship between a reading document read by a scanner and a reading position of the scanner and a reading operation by the image reading device in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed by a determination condition input unit in the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen displayed by the extraction condition setting unit in the first embodiment. In Embodiment 1, it is a figure which shows the shape of the continuous line written with the auxiliary line. (A) is an image of a read original read by the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment, and (b) is a diagram showing a print image when the extraction mode is set to the “cutout” mode, and (c) These are diagrams showing a print image when an image is extracted and printed with the extraction mode set to the “mask” mode. It is a functional block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the image reading apparatus of Embodiment 2 by this invention. In Embodiment 2, it is operation | movement explanatory drawing for demonstrating the relationship between the reading original read with a scanner, the reading position of a scanner, and reading operation | movement by an image reading apparatus. In Embodiment 2, it is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display screen displayed by the judgment condition input part. In Embodiment 2, it is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display screen displayed by the extraction condition setting part. (A) is an image of a read original read by the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment, and (b) is a diagram illustrating a print image when the extraction mode is set to the “cutout” mode, and (c) These are diagrams showing a print image when an image is extracted and printed with the extraction mode set to the “mask” mode.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a main configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The image reading apparatus 1 includes a scanner 100, an image reading unit 101, a continuous line detection unit 102, an auxiliary line determination unit 103, a determination condition input unit 104, an extraction block generation unit 105, an extraction condition setting unit 106, and an image processing unit 107. Prepare. The scanner 100 reads a color image of a document of an arbitrary size and transmits color digital image data of the read color image to the image reading unit 101. As will be described later, the image reading unit 101 transmits the color digital image data in units of lines to the continuous line detection unit 102 and the image processing unit 107 in the subsequent stage together with the document size information. The scanner 100 and the image reading unit 101 correspond to an image data transmission unit.

  The continuous line detection unit 102 searches for a continuous line 55 (FIG. 2) to be described later while sequentially scanning line data input in units of lines. The auxiliary line determination unit 103 specifies an auxiliary line 65 (FIG. 5), which will be described later, and the determination condition input unit 104 determines line width, line color, and the like for the continuous line detection unit 101 to determine the continuous line 55. The conditions are input and set based on a user instruction, and the extraction block generation unit 105 generates the extraction block 56 (FIG. 2) based on the information of the detected continuous line 55.

  The extraction condition setting unit 106 sets on / off of the operation of the auxiliary line determination unit 103 and a user instruction to input the generation conditions of the extraction block 56, and the image processing unit 107 is obtained by the image reading unit 101. Print data obtained by processing the color digital image data is generated from the color digital image data and the extracted block information generated by the extracted block generation unit 105 as described later, and is transmitted to the printer 110 of the external device. A printer 110 serving as a printing unit prints print data output from the image processing unit 107 on a predetermined medium.

In the above configuration, the operation of the image reading apparatus 1 will be described below.
FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the reading document 60 read by the scanner 100 and the reading position of the scanner 100 and the reading operation by the image reading apparatus 1.

  The reading reference position 50 corresponds to the reading start position of the read document 60 at the time of reading. For the sake of convenience, here, the reading reference position 50 is set as the origin, the X axis is parallel to the arrangement direction of the scanner head (image data capturing mechanism component using a CCD sensor or the like), and the arrow A that is the moving direction of the reading document 60 An XY coordinate is assumed in which the Y axis is parallel to the direction and the reading pitch (for example, 1/300 inch when the reading resolution is 300 dots / inch) is used as a unit. Here, assuming that the scanner head is fixed and the read document 60 moves in the direction of arrow A, the positive direction of the Y axis is set in the direction opposite to that of arrow A, so the reading direction is the positive direction of the Y axis. It becomes. It may be assumed that the read document 60 is fixed and the scanner head moves in the positive direction of the Y axis.

  Here, for simplicity, it is assumed that the reading reference position 50 is a position corresponding to the end of the reading document 60, and the maximum reading coordinate position xm in the X-axis direction and the maximum reading coordinate position ym in the Y-axis direction are the reading document 60, respectively. Is assumed to match the length and width of Therefore, here, the scanner 100 reads an image of a rectangular area determined by the reading reference position 50 (origin) and the coordinate positions xm and ym, that is, the entire area of the reading document 60.

  As will be described later, when the image reading apparatus 1 recognizes the position where each object (data such as characters, graphics, and photographic data) of the read original 60 exists, it recognizes all based on the XY coordinates.

  The continuous lines 55a, 55b, and 55c (which may be referred to as the continuous line 55 when there is no particular distinction) are extracted blocks (area surrounded by the continuous line 55 and the dotted line) 56a described later with a line of a specific color. , 56b, and 56c (which may be referred to as the extraction block 56 when there is no need to distinguish between them), for example, marking information written on the read original 60 by the user. Since the continuous line 55 is detected by the continuous line detection unit 102 distinguishing the color and thickness from others, a color different from the color component frequently appearing in the read original 60 and each object in the original are detected. It must be marked with a thickness that can be easily distinguished. As described later, the continuous line detection unit 102 detects the continuous line 55 based on the color and thickness selected and set by the user.

  Therefore, the color material type and line thickness of the continuous line 55 are selected in advance so that the continuous line detection unit 102 can correctly detect them. In this case, it is not limited to the combination of only the specific color material and the specific shape. For example, the continuous line detection unit 102 may detect not only a specified thickness line but also a line having a larger thickness as a continuous line target. In this way, it is only necessary to appropriately select an object in a general document original that suppresses the frequency with which an object coincides with a part of a continuous line. In order to simplify the description, the continuous line 55 in the following description will be described as having a specific color and line width that do not coincide with the object of the read original 60.

  The extraction block 56 is formed adjacent to the continuous line 55 so as to surround the image area that the user wants to extract. The length of each extraction block 56 in the X direction matches the length of the continuous line, and the length in the Y direction. d (pix) is selected and set by the user in advance as will be described later.

  When a reading document 60 on which a suitable continuous line 55 is marked at a desired position is set by a user at a setting position (not shown) of the scanner 100 and image reading by the scanner 100 is started, the scanner 100 is parallel to the X axis. The reading of the original 60 is started from the reading reference position 50 by a scanning head (not shown) arranged in FIG. At this time, the scan head scans a plurality of reading lines set in parallel with the X axis at a predetermined reading pitch in the Y axis direction in the positive direction of the Y axis, and images on each line are scanned at a predetermined reading pitch (X Axis direction), and the read digital color image data is sequentially transmitted to the image reading unit 101. The image reading unit 101 sends the received color digital image data line by line to the continuous line detection unit 102 and the image processing unit 107 described later along with the size information of the original, line by line.

  The continuous line detection unit 102 analyzes each pixel value for each line sent from the image reading unit 101 and determines the presence or absence of an element of the continuous line 55. In this analysis processing, it is determined whether or not the pixel value of each pixel of one line is a value corresponding to the specific color component. If it is determined that the pixel value is equivalent to the specific color component, the X coordinate value of the pixel is temporarily stored. At the stage where the analysis of pixel values for one line is completed, if there are consecutive X coordinate values x temporarily stored, the start point coordinate value xa and end point coordinate value xb, and the Y coordinate of the corresponding line The value y is stored in memory as a set of data pairs.

  After the above processing is executed for all lines, the data pair stored in the memory is a data pair in which the start coordinate value xa and the end coordinate value xb of the X coordinate coincide with each other, and the Y coordinate value y is ya ~. It is determined whether or not there are n consecutive data pairs up to (ya + n). That is, here, the color of the line is a specific color set in advance as a continuous line, has a line width corresponding to the number n of lines from the coordinate value ya of the Y coordinate, and the length is from the start point coordinate value xa to the end point. The presence of the continuous line 55 having a length up to the coordinate value xb is determined. Here, n (the continuity threshold value in the y direction) corresponding to the line width of the continuous line and the specific color of the continuous line are set from the determination condition input unit 104.

  In this case, a data pair in which the start coordinate value xa and the end coordinate value xb of the X coordinate coincide with each other stored in the memory is selected as a continuous line candidate, but the variation of the end of the continuous line is taken into consideration. Then, a data pair obtained by searching for a data pair in which the X coordinate values of the start point and the end point continuously fall within a predetermined range may be selected as a continuous line candidate.

  As the continuous line information of the continuous line 55 detected as described above, the continuous line detection unit 102 has a position coordinate value ya corresponding to the Y coordinate closest to the reference position 50 of the continuous line 55, and a start point coordinate value xa of the X coordinate. And the three coordinate value information of the end point coordinate xb and the line width n are sent to the extraction block generation unit 105, and then information on the continuous line already stored in the memory is prepared for the detection of the continuous line of the next read original 60. to erase.

  The determination condition input unit 104 displays setting items to set detection conditions for the continuous line 55, and displays a setting screen having an interface for inputting the content selected by the user on a display device such as a scanner LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). In addition to displaying, a means for inputting a specific condition value by the user is provided as appropriate. FIG. 3 shows an example of a display screen by the judgment condition input unit 104. The example shown here is an example of a user interface for specifying a line width (thickness) for determining a continuous line and a specific color for determining a continuous line. The continuity threshold value N (mm) can be arbitrarily designated / changed, and a specific color of the continuous line 55 can be selected.

Here, the continuity threshold value N (mm) input by the user is a numerical value n (pix) in units of reading pitch, that is,
n = N · (25.4) / DPI
(DPI is the reading resolution (number of dots / 1 inch), rounded down to the nearest decimal point)
Converted into a continuous line detection unit 104. The specific color component selected by the user is instructed to be the target specific color component at the time of detecting a continuous line. The input timing of the continuity threshold by this user interface is appropriately displayed and set before the scanning of the corresponding document is started.

  The extraction block generation unit 105 includes coordinate value information (ya, xa, xb) and line width n of the continuous line 55 sent from the continuous line detection unit 102, various extraction conditions set by the extraction condition setting unit 106 described later, and From the extraction mode, an XY coordinate value specifying the position of the extraction block 56 is calculated, and the obtained position / range information (XY coordinate value information) of the extraction block 56 and the extraction condition setting unit 106 are set. The extracted color designation and extraction mode information are sent to the image processing unit 107 as appropriate. A method for calculating the XY coordinate value for specifying the position of the extraction block 56 will be described later.

  In order to set various extraction conditions, the extraction condition setting unit 106 displays setting items, displays a setting screen having an interface for inputting the content selected by the user on a display device such as a scanner LED, and is appropriately specified by the user. A condition value input means is provided. FIG. 4 shows a display screen example by the extraction condition setting unit 106.

  Here, the extraction mode, which is the “cutout” mode in which only the relevant extraction range is left during printing or the “mask” mode in which only the relevant extraction range is erased, and the information in the extraction range is obtained in color or in monochrome. The extraction color of whether or not can be designated / changed arbitrarily by the user. Further, when extracting the extraction block 56, an ON (ON) or OFF (OFF) selection as to whether or not to use an auxiliary line 65 (FIG. 5) described later, and a selection not using the auxiliary line 65 are performed. In addition, the extraction width D (mm) in the Y-axis direction of the extraction block 56 adjacent to the continuous line 55 as shown in FIG. 2 can be arbitrarily designated / changed by the user.

Here, the extraction width D (mm) in the Y-axis direction of the extraction block 56 input by the user is a numerical value d (pix) in units of reading pitch,
d = D · (25.4) / DPI
(DPI is the reading resolution (number of dots / 1 inch), rounded down to the nearest decimal point)
The extracted block is provided to the extraction block generation unit 105. The input timing of various extraction conditions by this user interface is appropriately displayed and set before the scanning of the corresponding document is started.

  When the continuous line information is notified from the extraction block generation unit 105, the auxiliary line determination unit 103 requests the continuous line detection unit 102 to transfer the continuous line determination condition and the line unit data. Detection processing of the auxiliary line 65 (FIG. 5) extending in the axial direction is performed. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the shape of the continuous line 55 written with the auxiliary line 65. As shown in the figure, the auxiliary line 65 is drawn extending from one end of the continuous line 55 in the plus direction of the Y axis, and its length d becomes the extraction width d of the extraction block 56 as it is. Therefore, when ON (ON) using an auxiliary line is selected in FIG. 4, an area (shaded area in FIG. 5) defined by the continuous line 55 and the auxiliary line 65 becomes the extraction block 56.

  The auxiliary line 65 is detected by applying the same detection conditions and method as those for detecting the continuous line 55 in the X-axis direction from the X-coordinate pixel array previously and the pixels in the Y-coordinate direction. Accordingly, since the auxiliary line 65 is detected when the line width is the same n (pix) as the continuous line 55, the auxiliary line 65 needs to be drawn with the same line width as the continuous line 55.

  Here, the continuous line detection unit 102 also transfers the line data received from the image reading unit 101 to the auxiliary line determination unit 103 at least while there is a line data transfer request from the auxiliary line determination unit 103. When the end line coordinates (auxiliary end point Y coordinate value yh) of the auxiliary line 65 requested by the above method are detected, the corresponding Y coordinate value yh is returned to the extraction block generation unit 105. At this time, the extraction block generation unit 105 sets the extraction range of the Y coordinate to a range from the Y coordinate value (ya + n) to yh (= (ya + n + d)). If there is no other continuous line auxiliary line determination request remaining, the line data transfer request requested to the continuous line detection unit 102 is canceled and the process is terminated.

The extraction block generation unit 105 obtains position / range information (X−) of each extraction block 56 shown in FIG. 2 from various information sent from the continuous line detection unit 102, the auxiliary line determination unit 103, and the extraction condition setting unit 106. Y coordinate value information) as start points 71a, 71b, 71c (may be referred to as start point 71 when it is not necessary to distinguish between them) and end points 72a, 72b, 72c (when there is no need to distinguish between them, end point 72) Get the coordinates). Each coordinate is as follows.
The coordinates (x1, y1) of the start point 71 and the coordinates (x2, y2) of the end point 72 are
When the auxiliary line is off (OFF), x1 = xa, y1 = ya + n
x2 = xb, y2 = ya + n + d,
When the auxiliary line is on (ON), x1 = xa, y1 = ya + n
x2 = xb, y2 = yh (= ya + n + d).

  The image processing unit 107 transmits from the image reading unit 101 based on the position / range information (XY coordinate value information), extraction mode, and extraction color designation information of each extraction block 56 obtained from the extraction block generation unit 105. Only necessary image data is cut out from the color digital image data.

  When the extraction mode is the “cutout” mode, only the image data within the range of the extraction block 56 is written to the output page memory that temporarily stores the data to be output to the printer 108. At this time, when the extraction color designation is monochrome, only the gray component in the extracted image (in the case of RGB data, for example, R = G = B can be detected as a gray component) is selectively extracted. On the other hand, when the extraction mode is “mask”, the image data in the range of the extraction block 56 is erased and written to the output page memory. At this time, if the extraction color designation is monochrome, only the gray component in the extracted image is left in the output page memory.

  As described above, after performing the above-described image extraction processing on all image data for one page, the obtained image data is sent to the printer 110. The printer 110 prints the transmitted image data on a predetermined printing sheet according to printing conditions appropriately designated as separate print settings.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a print image that is written in the output page memory by the image processing unit 107 and printed by the printer 110 at this time. FIG. 5A shows an image of a read original 60 read by the image reading apparatus 1. The extraction lines 56a, 56b, and 56c are designated by marking the original lines 55a, 55b, and 55c described in FIG. (B) shows the print image when the extraction mode is “cutout” mode and the image is extracted and printed, and the print image when the extraction mode is “mask” mode and is printed is shown in FIG. Shown in (c).

  In the above description, the auxiliary line determination unit 103 detects the auxiliary line 65 (FIG. 5) extending in the Y-axis direction and determines the extraction width d in the Y-axis direction. However, the present invention is limited to this. For example, the character recognition processing is combined, the size of the character adjacent to the continuous line 55 is read, and based on this character size, for example, the width including one line of characters adjacent to the continuous line is included in the Y-axis direction. Various methods can be employed, such as determining the extraction width d.

  As described above, according to the reading apparatus of the present embodiment, the reading range of the read original can be designated by marking a linear continuous line without marking the reading range in a closed loop. This simplifies operation efficiency, especially when a large number of documents are to be processed.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the main configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The image reading apparatus 2 includes a scanner 200, an image reading unit 201, a document copy range detection unit 202, a marker line detection unit 203, a determination condition input unit 204, a processing mode switching unit 205, an extraction block generation unit 206, and an extraction condition setting unit 207. , And an image processing unit 208. The scanner 200 reads a color image of a document of an arbitrary size and transmits color digital image data of the read color image to the image reading unit 201. The image reading unit 201 transmits the color digital image data in units of lines to the document copy range detection unit 202 and the image processing unit 208 in the subsequent stage together with document size information. The scanner 200 and the image reading unit 201 correspond to an image data transmission unit.

  The document copy range detection unit 202 sets the document copy range 252 and paper edge margin 257 of the read color digital image data from the read document size information, and transmits the image data of the paper edge margin 257 to the marker line detection unit 203. . The marker line detection unit 203 searches for marker lines 221 and 222, which will be described later, based on the image data of the paper edge margin 257, and the determination condition input unit 204 detects a marker line for the marker line detection unit 203. Detection judgment conditions for this are input and set based on a user instruction.

  The extraction block generation unit 206 generates an extraction block 256 (FIG. 8) in cooperation with the document copy range detection unit 202 and the marker line detection unit 203. The extraction condition setting unit 207 sets the extraction condition of the extraction block 256 in the extraction block generation unit 206 based on the input user instruction, and the processing mode switching unit 205 extracts based on the information from the marker line detection unit 203. The extraction process by the block generation unit 206 is instructed.

  The image processing unit 208 generates print data obtained by processing the color digital image data, as will be described later, from the color digital image data obtained by the image reading unit 201 and the extraction block information generated by the extraction block generation unit 206. Transmit to the printer 210 of the external device. A printer 210 serving as a printing unit prints image data output from the image processing unit 208 on a predetermined medium.

In the above configuration, the operation of the image reading apparatus 2 will be described below.
FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the reading document 260 read by the scanner 200 and the reading position of the scanner 200 and the reading operation by the image reading apparatus 2.

  The reading reference position 250 corresponds to the reading start position of the reading document 260 at the time of reading. For the sake of convenience, here, the reading reference position 250 is the origin, the X axis is parallel to the arrangement direction of the scanner head (image data capturing mechanism component using a CCD sensor or the like), and the arrow A that is the moving direction of the reading document 260 An XY coordinate is assumed in which the Y axis is parallel to the direction and the reading pitch (for example, 1/300 inch when the reading resolution is 300 dots / inch) is used as a unit.

  Here, assuming that the scanner head is fixed and the read original 260 moves in the direction of arrow A, the positive direction of the Y axis is set in the direction opposite to that of arrow A, so the reading direction is the positive direction of the Y axis. It becomes. It may be assumed that the reading document 260 is fixed and the scanner head moves in the positive direction of the Y axis.

  Here, for the sake of simplicity, it is assumed that the reading reference position 250 is a position corresponding to the end of the reading document 260, and the maximum reading coordinate position xm in the X-axis direction and the maximum reading coordinate position ym in the Y-axis direction are the reading document 260, respectively. Is assumed to match the length and width of Therefore, here, the scanner 200 reads an image of the rectangular area determined by the reading reference position 250 (origin) and the coordinate positions xm and ym, that is, the entire area of the reading document 260.

  As will be described later, when the image reading apparatus 2 recognizes a position where each object (data such as characters, graphics, and photographic data) of the read original 260 exists, the position is recognized based on the XY coordinates. .

  The marker lines 221 and 222 are lines of a specific color that the user draws in order to specify the position of an extraction block 256 described later, which is an image area to be extracted. As will be described later, the marker line detection unit 203 detects the marker lines 221 and 222 based on the color and thickness selected and set by the user. Therefore, the color material types and line widths of the marker lines 221 and 222 are determined by the marker line detection unit 203 in the same manner as the continuous line 55 detected by the continuous line detection unit 102 (FIG. 1) described in the first embodiment. Select one that can be detected correctly.

  The marker lines 221 and 222 are always arranged in the paper edge margin 257 outside the document copy range 252. The document copy range 252 corresponds to an inner area of a paper edge margin 257 provided for each paper size and provided with a width p (mm) inside from the paper edge. The image in the document copy range 252 is read as image data, and the image data is processed as data that can be finally printed, but the image on the paper edge margin 257 is read as image data at the time of reading. , Finally not printed.

  The extraction block 256 is a rectangular image area that the user wants to extract, and the start point of the marker line 221 arranged in the X-axis direction and the marker line 222 arranged in the Y-axis direction of the paper edge margin 257 of the read original 260. It depends on the end point. That is, the extraction block 256 corresponds to a region where an X coordinate axis region defined by the marker line 221 and a Y coordinate axis region defined by the marker line 222 intersect.

  Therefore, when the start point coordinate value of the X coordinate of the marker line 221 is xm, the end point coordinate value is xn, the start point coordinate value of the Y coordinate of the marker line 222 is ym, and the end point coordinate value is yn, the start point 256a of the extraction block 256 is obtained. The coordinates of the end point 256b are the coordinates (xm, ym) and the coordinates (xn, yn), but the extraction block 256 does not exist on the read document 260 in a form visible to the user. Hereinafter, the marker line 221 extending along the X axis may be referred to as an X coordinate marker line, and the marker line 222 extending along the Y axis may be referred to as a Y coordinate marker line.

  When the user wants to extract a specific area, the user prepares a read original 260 in which the marker lines 221 and 222 for specifying the extraction block 256 corresponding to the specific area to be extracted are marked on the paper edge margin 257 in advance. Let me read. Reading by the scanner 200 at this time is performed in the same manner as the scanner 100 (FIG. 1) described in the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted here. The image reading unit 201 sends the received color digital image data line by line to the document copy range setting unit 202 and an image processing unit 208 described later together with document size information.

  The document copy range detection unit 202 separates the pixel data in the margin margin portion 257 and the pixel data in the document copy range 252 from the pixel data for each line and the document size information sent from the image reading unit 201. Only the pixel data of the extracted paper edge margin 257 is sent to the marker line detection unit 203. Accordingly, the pixel data of each line in the Y coordinate areas W1 and W3 that do not include the document copy range 252 is transmitted as the pixel data of the entire X coordinate area, but the Y coordinate area W2 that includes the document copy range 252. In each line, X-coordinate data corresponding to the original copy range 252 is omitted, and only pixel data corresponding to two margins on the paper edge is sent out.

  The marker line detection unit 203 analyzes the received paper edge margin pixel data, and is formed in this area from pixel data of lines in the Y coordinate areas W1 and W3 that do not include the document copy range 252. The presence or absence of the X coordinate marker line 221 is determined. Since the configuration of the X coordinate marker line 221 is the same as the continuous line 71 (FIG. 2) described in the first embodiment, the analysis process itself of the X coordinate marker line 221 is the continuous line detection described in detail in the first embodiment. The same method as the analysis processing of the unit 102 can be applied.

  That is, the marker line detection unit 203 determines, for each line, whether or not the pixel value of each pixel is a value corresponding to a specific color component defined in advance as a marker line. The X coordinate value of is temporarily saved. At the stage where the analysis of pixel values for one line is completed, if there are consecutive X coordinate values x temporarily stored, the start point coordinate value xa and end point coordinate value xb, and the Y coordinate of the corresponding line The value y is stored in memory as a set of data pairs.

  After the above processing is executed for all the lines in the Y coordinate areas W1 and W3, a data pair in which the start coordinate value xa and the end coordinate value xb of the X coordinate match from each data pair stored in the memory, In addition, it is determined whether or not there exists a data pair in which the Y coordinate value y continues for n from ya to (ya + n). That is, here, the color of the line is a specific color set in advance as a marker line, has a line width corresponding to the number n of lines from the position coordinate value ya of the Y coordinate, and the length is the start point coordinate value xa˜ The presence of an X coordinate marker line 221 having a length up to the end point coordinate value xb is determined. Here, n (continuity threshold value in the y direction) corresponding to the line width of the marker line and the specific color of the continuous line are set from the determination condition input unit 204 described later.

  The marker line detection unit 203 has three pieces of coordinate value information of the Y coordinate position coordinate value ya, the X coordinate start point coordinate value xa, and the end point coordinate xb as the marker line information of the X coordinate marker line 221 detected as described above. Is sent to the extraction block generation unit 206 and the processing mode switching unit 205, and then the stored information regarding the marker lines already stored in the memory is deleted in preparation for the X coordinate marker line detection of the next read original 260. If the X coordinate marker line 221 is not detected, the processing mode switching unit 205 is notified that there is no X coordinate marker line 221 in the lines in the Y coordinate areas W1 and W3.

  The determination condition input unit 204 displays setting items in order to set marker line detection conditions, displays a setting screen having an interface for inputting contents selected by the user on a display device such as a scanner LCD, and appropriately by the user. A means for inputting a specific condition value is provided. FIG. 9 shows an example of a display screen by the judgment condition input unit 204. The example shown here is an example of a user interface for specifying a line width (thickness) for determining a marker line and a specific color for determining a continuous line. The continuity threshold value N (mm) of the line width can be arbitrarily designated / changed, and a specific color of the marker lines 221 and 222 can be selected.

  The extraction block generation unit 206 obtains the marker line information of the X coordinate marker line 221 sent from the marker line detection unit 203, that is, the three coordinate value information of the position coordinate value ya, the start point coordinate value xa, and the end point coordinate xb, The X coordinate xm (= xa) and xn (= xb) of the start point coordinate value 256a and end point coordinate 256b of the extraction block 256 are recognized, and the paper edge margin pixel data sent from the document copy range detection unit 202 is received. The presence or absence of the Y coordinate marker line 222 formed in this area is determined from the pixel data of the line in the Y coordinate area W2 including the document copy range 252.

  The detection of the Y coordinate marker line 222 is performed by applying the same detection conditions and method as the method of detecting the X coordinate marker line 221 from the X coordinate pixel array previously and the pixels in the Y coordinate direction. Therefore, since the line width of the Y coordinate marker line 222 is detected when the same n (pix) as the X coordinate marker line 221 is detected, it is necessary to draw the Y coordinate marker line 222 with the same line width as the X coordinate marker line 221. .

  When the extraction block generation unit 206 detects the start point coordinate value ya and the end point coordinate yb of the Y coordinate marker line 222, each of the Y coordinates ym (= ya) and yn (=) of the start point coordinate value 256a and the end point coordinate 256b of the extraction block 256 is detected. yb) is recognized, and the position / range information (XY coordinate value information) of the extraction block 256 obtained, that is, the coordinates (xm, ym) of the start point 256a and the coordinates (xn, yn) of the end point 256b of the extraction block 256. ), The extraction color designation and extraction mode information set by the extraction condition setting unit 207 are sent to the image processing unit 208.

  In order to set various extraction conditions, the extraction condition setting unit 207 displays setting items, displays a setting screen having an interface for inputting contents selected by the user on a display device such as a scanner LED, and is appropriately specified by the user. A condition value input means is provided. FIG. 10 shows a display screen example by the extraction condition setting unit 207.

  Here, the extraction mode, which is the “cutout” mode in which only the relevant extraction range is left during printing or the “mask” mode in which only the relevant extraction range is erased, and the information in the extraction range is obtained in color or in monochrome. The extraction color of whether or not can be designated / changed arbitrarily by the user. The input timing of various extraction conditions by this user interface is appropriately displayed and set before the scanning of the corresponding document is started.

  The processing mode switching unit 205 stores the marker line information of the marker line 221 sent from the marker line detection unit 203 in the internal memory, and when the detection of the marker line 221 is notified for the first time, to the extraction block generation unit 206. The above-described extraction process start is instructed. As a result, the extraction block generation unit 206 can start the extraction process after the marker line 221 is detected, thereby preventing unnecessary signal processing operations of the extraction block generation unit 206 from being performed, and as a result The signal processing speed can be increased.

  The image processing unit 208 is transmitted from the image reading unit 201 based on the position / range information (XY coordinate value information), the extraction mode, and the extracted color designation information of the extraction block 256 obtained from the extraction block generation unit 206. Only the necessary image data is cut out from the color digital image data.

  When the extraction mode is the “cutout” mode, only the image data within the range of the extraction block 256 is written in the output page memory that temporarily stores the data to be output to the printer 208. At this time, when the extraction color designation is monochrome, only the gray component in the extracted image (in the case of RGB data, for example, R = G = B can be detected as a gray component) is selectively extracted. On the other hand, when the extraction mode is “mask”, the image data in the range of the extraction block 256 is erased and written to the output page memory. At this time, if the extraction color designation is monochrome, only the gray component in the extracted image is left in the output page memory.

  As described above, after performing the above-described image extraction processing on all image data for one page, the obtained image data is sent to the printer 210. The printer 210 prints the transmitted image data on a predetermined printing sheet according to printing conditions appropriately designated as separate print settings.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a print image that is written in the output page memory by the image processing unit 208 and printed by the printer 210 at this time. FIG. 9A shows an image of a read original 260 read by the image reading apparatus 2. The extraction block 256 is designated by the marker lines 221 and 222 described in FIG. (B) shows the print image when the image is extracted and printed, and the print image when the image is extracted with the extraction mode set to the “mask” mode and printed is shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, an example in which one extraction block 256 is set is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the X coordinate marker line 221 and the Y coordinate marker line 22 are used. Of course, a plurality of areas can be set by appropriately setting the designated area. In this embodiment, an example in which the X-coordinate marker line 221 and the Y-coordinate marker line 222 are provided in the paper edge margin 257 on the side close to the reading reference position 250 is shown. However, FIG. As indicated by the coordinate marker line 224, the marker line can be provided in the paper end margin 257 far from the reading reference position 250.

  As described above, according to the reading apparatus of the present embodiment, it is possible to specify a reading range only by marking a linear marking line without marking a reading range of a read original in a closed loop. This simplifies operation efficiency, especially when a large number of documents are to be processed. Further, since the marking line can be drawn outside the document copy range, it is possible to prevent the image state within the document copy range of the read document from being deteriorated by the marking.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the image reading apparatus is described. However, the present invention can be applied to a combination of a printing system, a facsimile, and a data output apparatus in which the image reading apparatus and the output apparatus are combined.

  1 image reading device, 2 image reading device, 50 reading reference position, 55 continuous line, 56 extraction block, 60 reading original, 65 auxiliary line, 71 start point, 72 end point, 100 scanner, 101 image reading unit, 102 continuous line detection unit , 103 Auxiliary line determination unit, 104 Judgment condition input unit, 105 Extraction block generation unit, 106 Extraction condition setting unit, 107 Image processing unit, 110 Printer, 200 Scanner, 201 Image reading unit, 202 Document copy range detection unit, 203 Marker Line detection unit, 204 judgment condition input unit, 205 processing mode switching unit, 206 extraction block generation unit, 207 extraction condition setting unit, 208 image processing unit, 210 printer, 221, 222 marker line, 250 reading reference position 252 Document copy range, 256 extraction block, 256a start point, 256b end point, 257 paper edge margin, 260 reading document.

Claims (14)

In an image reading apparatus that reads an image recorded on a read original,
An image data transmission unit that reads an image of a predetermined rectangular area on the image forming surface of the read original and transmits image data of the read image;
From the image data, a continuous line detection unit that detects a continuous line extending in one direction of the rectangular region;
An extraction block generation unit that generates a rectangular extraction block that is adjacent to the continuous line and is determined by the length of the continuous line and the extraction width in a direction orthogonal to the continuous line;
An image reading apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that extracts an image within the range of the extraction block from the image data, processes the image data, and generates print data for printing.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination condition input unit for determining a width and / or color of a continuous line detected by the continuous line detection unit by a user.   An auxiliary line determination unit that detects an auxiliary line extending in a direction orthogonal to the continuous line from an end of the continuous line, and the length of the auxiliary line detected by the auxiliary line determination unit is defined as the extraction width The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is an image reading apparatus.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an extraction condition setting unit for determining the extraction width by a user.   An input unit for inputting a numerical value for determining the extraction width by the user, and the length of the auxiliary line detected by the auxiliary line determination unit is set as the extraction width of the extraction block, or a numerical value input to the input unit The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an extraction condition setting unit including a selection unit that selects whether to use the extraction width of the extraction block.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a character size recognition processing unit, wherein the extraction width is set to a width including a line of characters adjacent to the continuous line.   The extraction condition setting unit includes an extraction mode selection unit that selects whether image data in the extraction block is the print data or image data other than the extraction block is the print data. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4 or 5.   The said extraction condition setting part has a color selection part which selects whether the image data of the said extraction block is processed in a color, or a monochrome process, The any one of Claim 4, 5, 7 characterized by the above-mentioned. The image reading apparatus described in 1. In an image reading apparatus that reads an image recorded on a read original,
An image data transmission unit that reads an image of a predetermined rectangular area on the image forming surface of the read original and transmits image data of the read image;
A document that distinguishes between a paper edge margin area and a document copy area surrounded by the paper edge margin area within the predetermined rectangular area, and separates and transmits the image data of the paper edge margin area from the image data. A copy range detector;
A marker line detector for detecting a first marker line extending in one direction of the rectangular area from the image data of the paper margin area;
A second marker line extending in a direction orthogonal to the first marker line is detected from the image data of the paper margin area, and is parallel to the first marker line determined by the first marker line. An extraction block generating unit that generates an extraction block corresponding to a region defined by the second marker line and an area of the coordinate axis parallel to the second marker line defined by the second marker line;
An image reading apparatus comprising: an image processing unit that extracts an image within the range of the extraction block from the image data, processes the image data, and generates print data for printing.   The image reading apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: a processing mode switching unit that instructs generation of an extraction block by the extraction block generation unit when the first marker line is detected by the marker line detection unit. apparatus.   11. The image reading apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a determination condition input unit for determining a width and / or color of the first marker line detected by the marker line detection unit by a user.   The image according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising an extraction condition setting unit having a color selection unit that selects whether the image data of the extraction block is processed in color or monochrome. Reading device.   The extraction condition setting unit includes an extraction mode selection unit that selects whether image data in the extraction block is the print data or image data other than the extraction block is the print data. The image reading apparatus according to claim 12.   14. A printing system comprising: the image reading device according to claim 1; and a printer that prints print data generated by the processing unit on a recording medium.

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