JP2015128204A - Image forming apparatus, recording medium, and information management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus, a recording medium, and an information management system in which position information indicated by a code image formed on the recording medium in advance is associated with the position of a form image formed corresponding to the recording medium.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes creation means for creating a composite image in which a form image is composed with label images that have predetermined positional relationships with the form image and specify the direction of a recording medium, and image forming means for forming the composite image created by the creation means on the recording medium having a code image including position information formed thereon in advance.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a recording medium, and an information management system.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a recording medium embedded with a communicable wireless recognition ID tag on which an image is printed in advance, a printing unit that newly prints an image on the previously printed image, and the tag In a printing apparatus having a reading means for reading out the information of the recording medium, a conveying direction detecting means for detecting the conveying direction of the recording medium from the reading means and a printing direction of the image to be newly printed on the recording medium according to the conveying direction There is described a printing apparatus characterized by having image conversion means.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-260688 discloses a printing unit that prints a second specific symbol related to information to be printed on preprinted paper on which a predetermined format and a first specific symbol are printed in advance, and the first printed by the printing unit. 2 a specific symbol and a detection means for detecting the first specific symbol, and based on information from the detection means, the first specific symbol and the second specific symbol are printed at predetermined positions on the preprinted paper. An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether or not the image forming apparatus is included.

  In Patent Document 3, a test frame is printed in advance at a predetermined position of a form, and data representing a test pattern to be printed on the test frame is edited so as to be printed at a regular position of the test frame. Describes a method for aligning the printing position of a form in which the edited test pattern data is given to the printer and the test printing is performed.

JP 2005-186550 A JP 2007-171287 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-199016

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, a recording medium, and an information management system in which position information indicated by a code image previously formed on a recording medium is associated with the position of a form image formed on the recording medium. It is to provide.

The invention according to claim 1, generating means for generating a composite image in which a form image and a sign image having a predetermined positional relationship with the form image and specifying the orientation of the recording medium are combined;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form the composite image generated by the generating unit on a recording medium on which a code image including position information is formed in advance. The invention according to claim 2 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the form image and the plurality of marker images are combined.

The invention according to claim 3 is a recording medium in which a code image including position information is formed in advance.
This is a recording medium on which a composite image is formed by combining a form image and a sign image having a predetermined positional relationship with the form image and specifying the orientation of the recording medium. The invention according to claim 4 is the recording medium according to claim 3 in which the form image and the plurality of marker images are combined.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the recording medium according to claim 3 or 4, the information acquisition means for reading the code image of the recording medium and acquiring the position information of the sign image, and the information acquisition means And an information management apparatus comprising a specifying unit that specifies the position of each part of the form image formed on the recording medium on the basis of the position information of the sign image acquired in step (b). The invention according to claim 6 is the information management system according to claim 5, wherein the form image and the plurality of sign images are synthesized.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to associate the position information indicated by the code image previously formed on the recording medium with the position of the form image formed on the recording medium.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the position information indicated by the code image previously formed on the recording medium and the form image formed later on the recording medium are compared with the case where there is only one sign image. It becomes easy to associate the position more accurately.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium capable of associating position information indicated by a code image formed in advance with the position of a form image formed on the recording medium.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the position information indicated by the code image formed in advance and the position of the form image formed later with respect to the recording medium are compared with the case where there is only one sign image. Thus, a recording medium that can be more accurately associated is provided.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the position information indicated by the code image previously formed on the recording medium can be associated with the position of the form image formed on the recording medium.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the position information indicated by the code image previously formed on the recording medium and the form image formed later on the recording medium are compared with the case where there is only one sign image. It becomes easy to associate the position more accurately.

It is the schematic which shows the whole structure of the document management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) is the elements on larger scale which expand and show a part of code image. (B) is a schematic diagram which shows an example of a unit pattern. (C) is a schematic diagram showing an example of a code pattern. (A) And (B) is the schematic which shows an example of a structure of an image forming apparatus. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of an electrical structure of a document management apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of a structure of an electronic pen. (A)-(E) are schematic diagrams which show an example of a label | marker image. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of "a tag addition process." (A) And (B) is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of a form image and a marker image. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state written on the preprint paper in which the form image was formed. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a "correlation process". (A) is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the form image in a normal position, (B) is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the writing image in a normal position.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<Document management system>
First, the “document management system” according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a document management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the document management system 10 includes a terminal device 20, an image forming device 30, a document management device 40, and an electronic pen 70. The terminal device 20, the image forming apparatus 30, and the document management apparatus 40 are connected by a communication line 90 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The electronic pen 70 can communicate with the document management apparatus 40 by wireless communication or the like. The configuration of the document management system 10 is an example and is not limited to this.

  The terminal device 20 is an information processing device such as a computer used by a user and a peripheral device. The image forming apparatus 30 is a printing apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium such as paper. The document management device 40 is an information processing device such as a computer that manages electronic documents and peripheral devices. For example, the terminal device 20 acquires an electronic document from the document management device 40 or the like, and instructs the image forming device 30 to print the electronic document. The image forming apparatus 30 forms a document image of an electronic document on a recording medium in response to a print instruction from the terminal device 20, and outputs a printed matter on which the document image is formed. In the present embodiment, normal paper or preprinted paper is used as the “recording medium”.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 30 forms a sign image 64 together with the form image 62 when forming the form image 62 on the preprinted paper 50. The preprint paper 50 on which the form image 62 and the sign image 64 are formed is a printed material 60. Here, the “preprint paper” is a paper on which a code image is printed in advance. A “code image” is an image including code information in which specific information is represented by a code pattern (code). The sign image 64 will be described later.

  In the present embodiment, the code image includes a code obtained by encoding the identification information of each preprint paper 50 and a code obtained by encoding the position information at each position of the preprint paper 50. That is, identification information and position information are included as specific information. As the code pattern (code), a two-dimensional code (dot pattern) in which a plurality of dots are two-dimensionally arranged, such as a QR code (registered trademark) or a glyph code, is used. Here, “dot” refers to a halftone dot image. The identification information and the position information are decoded (decoded) by reading the code pattern of the code image.

  In the present embodiment, the code image is an infrared image formed of an infrared absorbing material. Here, the “infrared image” is an image that is difficult to be visually recognized by the naked eye under natural light or white light, and is read by detecting the reflected infrared light by irradiating the infrared light. Infrared images are read using a dedicated infrared imaging device such as an infrared camera. As the infrared absorbing material, a material having a light absorption peak in an infrared region from a wavelength of 750 nm to a wavelength of 1000 nm is used.

The form image 62 has a plurality of writing fields. In the illustrated example, the writing column 62 ₁ (column 1), the writing column 62 ₂ (column 2), the writing column 62 ₃ (column 3), and the writing column 62 ₄ (column 4) have four writing columns. Yes. Hereinafter, if there is no need to distinguish each collectively referred to as the writing column 62 _n. Each of the plurality of writing fields 62 _n is arranged at a predetermined position with respect to the marker image 64. That is, the positional relationship between each of the plurality of writing fields 62 _n and the sign image 64 is constant.

  When writing on the printed matter 60, the electronic pen 70 is configured to continuously read code images from the printed matter 60 and acquire writing information related to the written image 66. The writing information acquired by the electronic pen 70 is transmitted to the document management device 40. The document management apparatus 40 manages the image information of the form image 62 printed on the printed matter 60 and the image information of the written image 66 written on the printed matter 60 in association with the identification information of the preprinted paper 50.

In the present embodiment, before writing on the printed material 60, the identification information of the preprinted paper 50 and the position information of the marker image 64 are obtained by tracing the marker image 64 with the electronic pen 70. The positional relationship between each of the plurality of writing fields 62 _n and the sign image 64 is constant, and the position of each writing field 62 _n is specified based on the position information of the sign image 64. The position information of each of the plurality of writing fields 62 _n and the position information of the marker image 64 are managed in association with the identification information of the preprint paper 50.

<Code image>
Next, the “code image” used for the preprinted paper 50 will be described.
Here, an example of a dot code using a specific unit pattern called “9C2 pattern” will be described. FIG. 2A is a partially enlarged view showing a part of the code image in an enlarged manner. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a unit pattern. FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a code pattern. The code image may be printed on the entire surface of the paper, or may be printed on a specific area of the paper such as an image forming area where the image is formed by the image forming apparatus 30 or a peripheral area around the image forming area. Good. Also, code images may be printed on both the front and back sides of the paper.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the code image printed on the portion 50A of the preprinted paper 50 includes a plurality of code patterns 52 arranged in a two-dimensional manner. Each of the plurality of code patterns 52 includes a plurality of unit patterns 54 arranged two-dimensionally. The code pattern 52 is a minimum reading unit for decoding specific information. For example, a QR code (registered trademark) corresponds to one QR code (registered trademark). The specific information is decoded for each code pattern 52. The unit pattern 54 is the minimum unit constituting the code pattern 52 and expresses 1-bit or multiple-bit information.

  In the present embodiment, a two-dimensional code (dot pattern) in which a plurality of dots are two-dimensionally arranged is used as the code pattern 52 and the unit pattern 54. In this example, “dot” is a portion printed using a printing color material, and is represented by a black square (■) in FIG. Although FIG. 2A illustrates a dot having a size of “2 pixels × 2 pixels”, the size of the dot is not limited to this.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the unit pattern 54 is divided into a dot arrangement area where dots are arranged and a non-arrangement area where dots are not arranged. The black area 56A indicates that dots are arranged in the dot arrangement area. The gray area 56B indicates that no dot is arranged in the dot arrangement area. The white area 56C indicates a non-arranged area where no dots are arranged. In the unit pattern 54, there are nine dot arrangement areas, and dots are arranged in two places selected from the nine places. Since there are 36 combinations (= ₉ C ₂ ) to select, there are 36 types of unit patterns 54. For example, by using 32 types of unit patterns 54 among them, 5-bit information is expressed.

  As shown in FIG. 2C, the code pattern 52 has a plurality of unit patterns 54 arranged therein. Here, the position where the unit pattern 54 is arranged is referred to as a “unit block”. In this example, 25 (= 5 × 5) unit blocks are arranged, and any unit pattern 54 is arranged in each unit block. In this example, four types of unit patterns 54 are used as a synchronization code 54A for detecting image rotation. The remaining 32 types of unit patterns 54 are used as an X position code 54B representing the X coordinate, a Y position code 54C representing the Y coordinate, and an identification code 54D. FIG. 2C shows an example of the layout of the unit pattern 54, and the layout of the code pattern 52 is not limited to this.

  In the above description, the “code pattern” including a plurality of unit patterns has been described as the reading unit. However, the “unit pattern” may be the reading unit. The reading unit may be a size or an area necessary for decoding the specific information, and may be set according to the information amount of the specific information. For example, even when the “unit pattern” according to this embodiment is used as a reading unit, specific information of 5 bits or more is held as described above.

<Image forming apparatus>
Next, the image forming apparatus 30 will be described.
In the present embodiment, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet using an electrophotographic developer (including toner) will be described. FIG. 3A is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3B is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the specific sheet detection unit. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 4, the image forming apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit 300, an operation display unit 310, an image reading unit 320, an image forming unit 330, a paper supply unit 340, and a paper. A discharge unit 350, a specific sheet detection unit 360, a communication unit 370, and a storage unit 380 are provided. Each of the image forming unit 330, the paper supply unit 340, the paper discharge unit 350, and the specific paper detection unit 360 includes a paper supply unit 340, a specific paper detection unit 360, and an image formation unit along a paper conveyance path illustrated by dotted lines. 330 and the paper discharge unit 350 are arranged in this order.

  The specific paper detection unit 360 is a detection unit that detects the preprinted paper 50. The specific sheet detection unit 360 is disposed between the sheet supply unit 340 and the image forming unit 330. When the paper supplied from the paper supply unit 340 is the preprint paper 50, the preprint paper 50 is detected by the specific paper detection unit 360 before the image forming unit 330 forms an image. For example, the specific sheet detection unit 360 may be an image reading apparatus that reads an infrared image.

  In this case, the preprint paper 50 is detected by reading the code image (infrared image). As will be described later, it is possible to detect the preprinted paper 50 based on the print parameters. However, since the specific paper detection unit 360 detects the paper actually supplied to the paper conveyance path, 1 The preprinted paper 50 is reliably detected even in manual printing or the like in which sheets are supplied sheet by sheet. A specific configuration of the specific sheet detection unit 360 will be described later.

  The control unit 300 is configured as a computer that controls the entire apparatus and performs various calculations. That is, the control unit 300 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 300A, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 300B storing various programs, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 300C used as a work area when executing the programs, A nonvolatile memory 300D for storing various information and an input / output interface (I / O) 300E are provided. Each of CPU 300A, ROM 300B, RAM 300C, nonvolatile memory 300D, and I / O 300E is connected via bus 300F.

  The operation display unit 310, the image reading unit 320, the image forming unit 330, the paper supply unit 340, the paper discharge unit 350, the specific paper detection unit 360, the communication unit 370, and the storage unit 380 are the I / O 300E of the control unit 300. It is connected to the. The control unit 300 controls the operation display unit 310, the image reading unit 320, the image forming unit 330, the paper supply unit 340, the paper discharge unit 350, the specific paper detection unit 360, the communication unit 370, and the storage unit 380. Further, the control unit 300 acquires the detection result of the preprinted paper 50 from the specific paper detection unit 360. Note that the image forming apparatus 30 includes a plurality of conveyance rollers 346. The plurality of transport rollers 346 are arranged along the paper transport path illustrated by dotted lines. The plurality of transport rollers 346 transport the paper according to the image forming operation.

  The operation display unit 310 includes various buttons such as a start button and a numeric keypad, a touch panel for displaying various screens such as a warning screen and a setting screen, and the like. With the above configuration, the operation display unit 310 receives user operations and displays various information to the user. The image reading unit 320 includes an image reading device that optically reads an image formed on a sheet, such as a CCD image sensor, and a scanning mechanism for scanning the sheet. With the above configuration, the image reading unit 320 reads an image on a document sheet placed on the image reading unit 320 and generates image information.

  The image forming unit 330 forms an image on a sheet by electrophotography. Here, a so-called tandem type and intermediate transfer type image forming unit is illustrated. The image forming unit 330 includes an image forming unit 332K that forms a K toner image, an image forming unit 332C that forms a C toner image, an image forming unit 332M that forms an M toner image, and a Y toner. An image forming unit 332Y for forming an image is provided. The image forming unit 330 also intermediate transfer belt 336 wound around a plurality of rollers 334 so as to move in the direction of arrow B, and a secondary transfer device 338 that collectively transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 336 onto a sheet. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device 339 that fixes the second-transferred toner image.

  Each of the image forming units 332K, 332C, 332Y, and 332M includes toner in the order of Y, M, C, and K colors on the intermediate transfer belt 336 when the intermediate transfer belt 336 moves in the arrow B direction. They are arranged in the order shown so that an image is formed. Hereinafter, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the colors, they are collectively referred to as an image forming unit 332. The image forming unit 332 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, and the like. The photosensitive drum is configured to rotate in the direction of the arrow.

  Specifically, the image forming unit 330 forms an image according to the following procedure. The toner image of K color is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 336 by the image forming unit 332K. In the image forming unit 332K, the photosensitive drum is charged by the charging device. The exposure apparatus exposes the charged photosensitive drum with light corresponding to the K color image. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the K-color image is formed on the photosensitive drum. The developing device develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum with K color toner. The transfer device transfers the K color toner image formed on the photosensitive drum onto the intermediate transfer belt 336.

  Similarly, the C-color toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 336 by the image forming unit 332C. Further, the toner image of M color is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 336 by the image forming unit 332M. Further, the Y-color toner image is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 336 by the image forming unit 332Y. On the intermediate transfer belt 336, toner images of K color, C color, M color, and Y color are superimposed to form an “overlapped toner image”. The secondary transfer device 338 collectively transfers the “superimposed toner image” on the intermediate transfer belt 336 onto the paper. The fixing device 339 fixes the “superimposed toner image” collectively transferred onto the sheet by heating or heating.

  The paper supply unit 340 includes a paper storage unit 342 that stores paper, a supply mechanism that supplies paper from the paper storage unit 342 to the image forming unit 330, and the like. The supply mechanism includes a take-out roller 344 that takes out paper from the paper storage unit 342, a transport roller 346, and the like. A plurality of paper storage portions 342 are provided according to the type and size of the paper. In the present embodiment, the plurality of paper storage units 342 includes a paper storage unit 342 that stores the preprinted paper 50. The paper supply unit 342 supplies various types of paper including the preprint paper 50 to the image forming unit 330 with the above configuration.

  The paper discharge unit 350 includes a discharge unit 354 from which paper is discharged, a discard unit 356 from which unnecessary paper is discarded, a discharge mechanism for discharging the paper onto the discharge unit 354, and the like. The discharge mechanism includes a conveyance path switching unit 352 that switches the sheet conveyance path outside the conveyance roller 346 so that unnecessary sheets are discarded by the discard unit 356. With the above configuration, the paper discharge unit 350 discharges the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 330 to the discharge unit 354 when a document image is formed. Further, when the formation of the document image is stopped, the sheet is discarded in the discard unit 356.

  The communication unit 370 is an interface for communicating with an external device via a wired or wireless communication line. For example, it functions as an interface for communicating with a computer connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The communication unit 370 acquires a print parameter together with a print instruction and image information of an electronic document from an external device such as the terminal device 20 or a document management device.

  The print parameter is a print attribute such as a page, the number of copies, a paper size, the number of pages to be printed on one sheet, and a margin. In the present embodiment, whether or not to use the preprint paper 50 is also included in the print parameters. The image forming apparatus 30 selects a preprint paper 50 having a paper size corresponding to the print parameter, and forms a document image of the electronic document on the selected preprint paper 50.

  The storage unit 380 includes a storage device such as a hard disk. The storage unit 380 stores various data such as log data, a control program, and the like. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a control program for “labeling processing” described later is stored in the storage unit 380 in advance. The control program stored in advance is read and executed by the CPU 300A. The control program may be stored in another storage device such as the ROM 300B.

  Various drives may be connected to the control unit 300. The various drives are devices that read data from a computer-readable portable information recording medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a CD-ROM, and write data to the information recording medium. When various types of drives are provided, the control program may be recorded on a portable information recording medium, and read and executed by a corresponding drive.

  Here, the configuration of the specific sheet detection unit 360 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3B, the specific sheet detection unit 360 is disposed so as to face the image forming surface of the supplied sheet, such as the surface on which the code image of the preprinted paper 50 is formed. . The specific sheet detection unit 360 includes an infrared light source 362 that irradiates infrared light onto the image forming surface of the sheet, an imaging optical system 364, and an image reading device 366 configured to read an infrared image. Yes. The image reading device 366 may include, for example, an infrared filter that transmits infrared light and a photodetector such as an image sensor that detects transmitted light of the infrared filter.

  When detecting the preprinted paper 50, the infrared light source 362 is turned on, and the image forming surface of the paper is irradiated with infrared light. When the paper is the preprinted paper 50, a part of the infrared light applied to the code image forming surface is absorbed and the remaining part is reflected. The reflected infrared light reflected by the image forming surface is imaged on the detection surface of the image reading device 366 by the imaging optical system 364. The image reading device 366 detects reflected infrared light and reads an infrared image on the preprinted paper 50.

  In addition, the specific paper detection unit 360 does not need to read and decode the code image, and it is only necessary to acquire detection information for detecting the preprint paper 50. For example, in the preprinted paper 50 on which an infrared image is printed, the intensity of reflected infrared light is reduced as compared with a normal paper. The preprinted paper 50 may be detected from the intensity change of the reflected infrared light. Note that whether or not the preprinted paper 50 is used is also known from the printing parameters. Therefore, the preprinted paper 50 may be detected based on the printing parameters.

<Document management device>
Next, the document management apparatus 40 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the document management apparatus 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the document management device 40 is an information processing device such as a computer and peripheral devices, such as an information processing device 42, an information acquisition unit 43 such as a mouse and a keyboard, an information output unit 44 such as a display, and an external device. A communication unit 46 that functions as an interface for communicating with the storage unit 48 and a storage unit 48 such as a hard disk.

  The information processing apparatus 42 includes a CPU 42A, a ROM 42B that stores various programs, a RAM 42C that is used as a work area when the programs are executed, a nonvolatile memory 42D that stores various information, and an I / O 42E. Each of the CPU 42A, ROM 42B, RAM 42C, nonvolatile memory 42D, and I / O 42E is connected via a bus 42F. The CPU 42A reads a program stored in a storage device such as the ROM 42B, and executes the program using the RAM 42C as a work area.

  Each unit of the information acquisition unit 43, the information output unit 44, the communication unit 46, and the storage unit 48 is connected to the I / O 42E of the information processing device 42. The information processing device 42 controls each unit of the information acquisition unit 43, the information output unit 44, the communication unit 46, and the storage unit 48, and performs various calculations. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which a control program for executing a “linking process” described later is stored in advance in the storage unit 48. The control program stored in advance is read from the storage unit 48 and executed by the CPU 42A. The control program may be stored in another storage device such as the ROM 42B.

  Various drives may be connected to the information processing apparatus 42. The various drives are devices that read data from a computer-readable portable information recording medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a CD-ROM, and write data to the information recording medium. When various types of drives are provided, the control program may be recorded on a portable information recording medium, and read and executed by a corresponding drive.

  The terminal device 20 is also an information processing device such as a computer and a peripheral device, and includes an information processing device, an information acquisition unit, an information output unit, a communication unit, and a storage unit, similar to the document management device 40 shown in FIG. It consists of

<Electronic pen>
Next, the electronic pen 70 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the electronic pen 70. As shown in FIG. 6, the electronic pen 70 includes a pen tip 74 having a pen tip 72, an image reading unit 76, a control unit 78, a pressure detection unit 80, a power supply unit 82, a communication unit 84, and a storage unit 86. Yes. Each of the pen tip 74 to the storage unit 86 is housed in a cylindrical housing 88. In addition, the structure of the electronic pen demonstrated below is an example, and various modifications are possible.

  A pen tip 74 having a nib 72 is like a refill of a ballpoint pen. The pen tip 74 is held in the casing 88 by a holding mechanism (not shown) so that ink is supplied from the pen tip 72. The pen tip 74, which is a cylindrical ink container, has a pen tip 72 that supplies ink to the tip. When writing with the electronic pen 70, ink is supplied from the pen tip 72 onto the printed material 60.

  The image reading unit 76 includes a light source 76 </ b> A that irradiates the printed material 60 with illumination light, and a photographing unit 76 </ b> B that captures a code image printed on the printed material 60. The light source 76A is disposed so as to irradiate illumination light to the printed matter 60 around the pen tip 72 during writing, and is held in the casing 88 by a holding mechanism (not shown). The photographing unit 76B is arranged so as to photograph the code image by detecting the light reflected from the printed matter 60 around the pen tip 72 during writing, and is held in the casing 88 by a holding mechanism (not shown).

  The light source 76A is connected to the control unit 78 via a drive unit (not shown) that drives the light source 76A. The light source 76 </ b> A is driven and controlled by the control unit 78. A light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is used as the light source 76A. The imaging unit 76B is connected to the control unit 78. The photographing unit 76B outputs a digital image signal to the control unit 78. An image sensor such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor is used as the imaging unit 76B.

  The controller 78 is configured as a computer (microprocessor) that controls the entire apparatus and performs various calculations. That is, the control unit 78 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a nonvolatile memory, and an I / O. Each of the CPU, ROM, RAM, nonvolatile memory, and I / O is connected via a bus. Each of the image reading unit 76, the pressure detection unit 80, the power supply unit 82, the communication unit 84, and the storage unit 86 is connected to the I / O of the control unit 78. The control unit 78 exchanges information with the image reading unit 76, the pressure detection unit 80, the power supply unit 82, the communication unit 84, and the storage unit 86, and controls each unit.

  The power supply unit 82 is a battery power source for driving the electronic pen 70. The pressure detection unit 80 is a pressure sensor that detects a writing operation based on increase or decrease in pressure applied to the pen tip 72. That is, when the pen tip 72 comes into contact with the printed material 60 and writing is started, the pressure applied to the pen tip 72 increases, so that the writing operation is detected. The pressure detection unit 80 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 78 when the pressure applied to the pen tip 72 exceeds a threshold value.

  The communication unit 84 is an interface for communicating with an external device via a wired or wireless communication line. In general, the communication unit 84 functions as an interface for communicating with a computer connected to a network such as a LAN. In the present embodiment, the communication unit 84 mainly functions as a transmission unit that transmits the acquired writing information to the document management apparatus 40. The storage unit 86 is a storage device such as a hard disk. The storage unit 86 stores writing information, various information necessary for detection and decoding of a two-dimensional code included in the code image, a control program, and the like.

  Here, the operation of the electronic pen 70 will be described. When the pen tip 72 of the electronic pen 70 contacts the printed matter 60 and writing is started, and when a detection signal is output from the pressure detection unit 80 to the control unit 78, acquisition of writing information is started. First, the writing operation of the electronic pen 70 is detected. That is, the detection signal from the pressure detection unit 80 is received. When the writing operation is started (penn down), ink is supplied onto the printed matter 60 from the pen tip 72 of the electronic pen 70.

  Next, image information is acquired by the image reading unit 76. The light source 76A is turned on so that the printed material 60 around the nib 72 is irradiated with illumination light. In addition, a code image on the printed matter 60 around the pen tip 72 is photographed by the photographing unit 76B. Then, an image signal is acquired from the imaging unit 76B, and image information of a code image around the pen tip 72 is acquired.

  Next, the control unit 78 detects a code pattern based on the acquired image information. A position code and an identification code are extracted based on the detected code pattern. Position information (position coordinates) is decoded based on the extracted position code, and identification information is decoded based on the extracted identification code. As the pen tip 72 moves, position coordinates are continuously acquired, and writing information is acquired.

  Next, the acquired writing information is stored in the storage unit 76. And the acquired writing information is transmitted to the document management apparatus 40, and a routine is complete | finished. In the present embodiment, the writing information and the identification information are transmitted to the document management apparatus 40 by the communication unit 84. The writing information for the printed material 60 is managed by the document management device 40 in association with the identification information of the printed material 60 that is the object of writing. That is, the form image 62 printed on the printed material 60 and the written image 66 written on the printed material 60 are managed in association with the identification information of the preprinted paper 50.

In the present embodiment, before writing on the printed material 60, the identification information of the preprinted paper 50 and the position information of the marker image 64 are obtained by tracing the marker image 64 with the electronic pen 70. The position information of each of the plurality of writing fields 62 _n of the form image 62 and the position information of the marker image 64 are managed in association with the identification information of the preprint paper 50.

<Adding sign images>
Next, addition of the sign image 64 to the printed material 60 will be described.
In the present embodiment, when the form image 62 is formed on the preprinted paper 50, the sign image 64 is formed together with the form image 62. That is, the sign image 64 is added to the printed material 60. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the sign image 64 is an arrow that is formed at one corner of the printed material 60 and that extends from the start point to the end point.

7A to 7E are schematic views showing an example of the sign image 64. FIG. Although the example in which the sign image 64 is an arrow formed at one corner of the printed material 60 has been described with reference to FIG. 1, the sign image 64 is not limited to a single arrow. It is sufficient that at least one sign image 64 is added in a form in which the orientation of the paper that is the printed material 60 is specified. That is, it is only necessary that the sign image is added in a form that does not overlap the image before rotation unless the printed material 60 is rotated 360 ° (that is, it is not point-symmetric or line-symmetric). For example, as shown in FIG. 7 (E), a corner forming character of the printed material 60 ( "A" in this example), it may be labeled image 64 _7.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7 (A), it may be formed on each of two opposite corners of the printed material 60 labeled image 64 ₁ and the labeled image 64 _2. Further, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), it may be formed on each of the four corners of the printed matter 60 labeled image ₆₄ 1-64 _4. In this example, each beacon image ₆₄ 1-64 ₄ is the same direction of the arrow. By adding a plurality of labeled images 64 printed matter 60, which improves the accuracy of identifying the position of each writing column 62 _n of the form image 62. That is, as compared with the case where there is only one sign image, the positional information indicated by the code image previously formed on the recording medium is more accurately associated with the position of the form image formed later on the recording medium. It becomes easy.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7 (C), the two corners of each of opposing printed material 60, to form a labeled image 64 ₁ and the labeled image 64 ₅ are opposite arrow, and the printed matter 60 is rotated 180 ° Sometimes the signs overlap, and the paper orientation is not specified (NG). Further, as shown in FIG. 7 (D), to form a labeled image 64 ₆ is merely a line segment, not fixed the direction the user is traced by the electronic pen 70, is not specified page orientation (NG).

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the “label adding process” executed by the image forming apparatus 30. The “labeling process” is executed by the CPU 300A of the control unit 300. The “labeling process” is started when printing of a form image is instructed and paper is supplied from the paper supply unit 340 based on the print instruction.

  Note that the image information of the form image 62 and the image information of the sign image 64 are stored in advance in a storage device such as the nonvolatile memory 300D. The image information of the sign image 64 is associated with the image information of the specific form image 62 according to the paper size or the like in the print instruction.

  First, in step 100, based on the detection result acquired from the specific paper detection unit 360, it is determined whether the paper supplied in response to the print instruction is the preprint paper 50. If it is the preprinted paper 50, the process proceeds to step 102. Next, in step 102, the form image 62 and the sign image 64 are combined to generate a combined image. The image information of the form image 62 to be printed and the image information of the sign image 64 corresponding to the form image 62 are read from the storage device, and the image information of the composite image is acquired based on these image information.

  Next, in step 104, the image forming unit 330 is instructed to form an image so that an image is formed based on the image information of the composite image, and the routine is terminated. As a result, a printed matter 60 in which the sign image 64 is formed together with the form image 62 on the preprinted paper 50 is acquired. On the other hand, if it is not the preprint paper 50 in step 100, the process proceeds to step 106. Next, in step 106, the image forming unit 330 is instructed to form an image so that an image is formed based on the image information of the form image, and the routine is terminated. In this case, a printed matter in which the form image 62 is formed on ordinary paper is acquired.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the preprint paper 50 is detected, a composite image in which the form image 62 and the sign image 64 are combined is formed on the preprint paper 50. By adding the labeled image 64, so that the position of each writing column 62 _n of the form image 62 are identified. That is, the position information indicated by the code image formed in advance on the recording medium is associated with the position of the form image formed on the recording medium. Further, when the form image 62 is formed on a normal sheet, it is not necessary to form the sign image 64. If in the case of forming the form image 62 to the pre-print sheet 50 can not specify the position of each writing column 62 _n of the form image 62 by using the labeled image 64.

<Identification of the position of the writing column>
9A and 9B are schematic diagrams showing the positional relationship between the form image 62 and the sign image 64. FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, a form image 62 and a sign image 64 are formed on the printed material 60. In the illustrated example, the form image 62 includes _four writing fields, a writing field 62 ₁ , a writing field 62 ₂ , a writing field 62 ₃ , and a writing field 624. The sign image 64 is an arrow formed at one corner of the printed material 60 from the start point to the end point.

Before writing on the printed material 60, the identification information of the preprinted paper 50 and the position information of the marker image 64 are obtained by tracing the marker image 64 with the electronic pen 70. The positional relationship between the form image 62 and the sign image 64 is constant, and the position of each writing column 62 _n is specified based on the position information of the sign image 64.

In the example shown in FIG. 9A, the form image 62 and the sign image 64 are printed at the normal position. The XY coordinates of the start point of the sign image 64 are (X ₀ , Y ₀ ), and the XY coordinates of the end point are (X ₁ , Y ₁ ). Each writing column 62 _n of the form image 62 has a rectangular shape, and its position is specified by the position coordinates of the four corners. For example, the position of the writing column 62 ₁ (column 1) is specified by XY coordinates (A, B), (C, D), (E, F), and (G, H).

In the example shown in FIG. 9B, the form image 62 and the sign image 64 are printed obliquely with a deviation from the normal position. The XY coordinates of the start point of the sign image 64 are (x ₀ , y ₀ ), and the XY coordinates of the end point are (x ₁ , y ₁ ). Even when printing is performed obliquely, the positional relationship between the form image 62 and the sign image 64 is constant. Therefore, the position of each writing column 62 _n of the form image 62 is specified from the XY coordinates (x ₀ , y ₀ ) and (x ₁ , y ₁ ) of the sign image 64. For example, the position of the writing column 62 ₁ (column 1) is specified by XY coordinates (a, b), (c, d), (e, f), and (g, h).

<Linking written images>
Next, the “linking process” executed by the document management apparatus 40 will be described.
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the form image 62 and the sign image 64 are written on the printed material 60. As shown in FIG. 10, when the writing field 62 _n of the form image 62 is printed at an angle, the user will writing obliquely in accordance with the writing column 62 _n. That is, the written image 66 is also tilted similarly to the form image 62. As a result, the writing image 66 and each writing column 62 _n are not linked only with the writing information acquired from the position coordinate of the pen tip, and it is possible to determine in which writing column 62 _{n the} writing image 66 is written. It becomes difficult.

In the present embodiment, the XY coordinates (x ₀ , y ₀ ) and (x ₁ , y ₁ ) of the sign image 64 are acquired by tracing the sign image 64 with the electronic pen 70 before writing on the printed material 60. In addition, the position of each writing column 62 _n of the form image 62 is specified from these coordinates. For this reason, it is easy to link the writing image 66 to each writing column 62 _n . For example, the writing information (positional coordinates) related to the written image 66 is within a rectangular area specified by the XY coordinates (a, b), (c, d), (e, f), and (g, h). If present, it is determined that the written image 66 is written in the writing column 62 ₁ (column 1).

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of “linking process” executed by the document management apparatus 40. The “linking process” is executed by the CPU 42A of the information processing apparatus 42. The “linking process” is started when the identification information of the preprint paper 50, the position information of the marker image 64, and the writing information related to the writing image 66 are acquired from the electronic pen 70. Note that the document management device 40 manages the form image 62 printed on the printed matter 60 and the identification information of the preprinted paper 50 in association with each other in advance.

  First, in step 200, the acquired position information of the sign image 64 and the writing information related to the writing image 66 are stored in association with the identification information of the preprinted paper 50. Next, in step 202, based on the identification information of the preprint paper 50, the position information of the marker image 64 and the writing information related to the writing image 66 are associated with the form image 62.

Next, in step 204, based on the position information of the label image 64, to identify the position of each writing column 62 _n of the form image 62. That is, the position information indicated by the code image formed in advance on the recording medium is associated with the position of the form image formed on the recording medium. Next, in step 206, the writing image 66 relating to the writing information is associated with each writing column 62 _n of the form image 62. As described above, if writing information relating to writing the image 66 (position coordinates) is long in the region of the writing column 62 _n, the writing image 66 is judged to have been written in the writing column 62 _n, the writing column 62 _n It is linked with.

  Next, in step 208, the writing information is corrected so that the writing image 66 is in the normal position. The image information of the form image 62 and the sign image 64 is stored in a state where the form image 62 and the sign image 64 are in the normal position with respect to the printed material 60 as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is preferable to store the image information of the handwritten image 66 in a state of being moved to the normal position as shown in FIG. Therefore, the writing information is corrected so that the writing image 66 is in the normal position. The correction amount of the writing information (that is, the deviation amount from the normal position) is obtained from the position information of the sign image 64 obtained by tracing the sign image 64 with the electronic pen 70.

Next, in step 210, the corrected writing information is stored in association with the identification information of the preprint paper 50, and the routine is terminated. In step 206, the handwriting image 66 is tied and the writing section 62 _n of the form image 62 according to the writing information, the correction of the handwritten information may be omitted.

  The configurations of the image forming apparatus, the recording medium, and the information management system described in the above embodiment are merely examples, and it goes without saying that the configurations may be changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Document management system 20 Terminal apparatus 30 Image forming apparatus 40 Document management apparatus 50 Preprint paper 52 Code pattern 54 Unit pattern 60 Printed matter 62 Form image 62 _n Writing column 64 Marking image 66 Writing image 70 Electronic pen 90 Communication line

Claims (6)

Generating means for generating a composite image in which a form image and a sign image having a predetermined positional relationship with the form image and specifying the orientation of the recording medium are combined;
Image forming means for forming the composite image generated by the generating means on a recording medium on which a code image including position information is previously formed;
An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the form image and the plurality of sign images are combined. In a recording medium on which a code image including position information is formed in advance,
A recording medium on which a combined image is formed by combining a form image and a sign image having a predetermined positional relationship with the form image and specifying the orientation of the recording medium.   The recording medium according to claim 3, wherein the form image and the plurality of sign images are combined. A recording medium according to claim 3 or claim 4,
Information acquisition means for reading a code image of the recording medium and acquiring position information of the marker image;
An information management device comprising specifying means for specifying the position of each part of the form image formed on the recording medium, based on the position information of the sign image acquired by the information acquisition means;
Information management system with   The information management system according to claim 5, wherein the form image and the plurality of sign images are synthesized.