JP2015226166A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that, when repeating a read operation at predetermined time intervals by providing a timer, it is necessary to set the number of times of operation repetition in accordance with a suitable time interval and the number of pages of an original beforehand and in the case where the setting is not appropriate, work efficiency may be reduced.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus includes: means for reading the original placed on an original platen; means for repeating a read operation at predetermined time intervals; storage means for storing read image data; means for designating the time interval; means for automatically adjusting the time interval; means for analyzing a read image; means for changing the time interval in accordance with a result of the analysis in the image analysis means; start instruction operation means; stop instruction operation means; means for instructing restart of processing for repeating the temporarily stopped read operation; means for calculating an adjustment time on the basis of an original exchange time in reading N pages of the original in the past; means for selecting output image data from among the image data stored in the storage means; and means for performing correction processing on the selected image.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling timing when a plurality of reading processes are performed in an image processing apparatus having a mechanism for reading a document placed on a platen glass.

  As a mechanism for efficiently reading a plurality of documents, an automatic document feeder that conveys documents one by one to a reading position is widely used. On the other hand, when reading a book that is difficult to load on an automatic document feeder, such as a book or other bound document or an extremely thick or thin document, an extremely large or small size, or an irregular shape. Is required to set a document on the platen glass. At this time, if there are a plurality of pages or a plurality of documents to be read, it is necessary to repeat the operations of exchanging the documents and instructing to start reading. In order to improve the operability in such a case, a technique for providing a timer and repeating a reading operation at a predetermined time interval has been disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-218178 A

  When a reading operation is repeated at a predetermined time interval by providing a timer, it is necessary to set an appropriate time interval and the number of operation repetitions according to the number of pages of the document in advance. In addition, if these settings are not appropriate, work efficiency may be reduced.

The configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is as follows.
Reading means (200) for reading a document placed on the platen glass;
Periodic reading means (S02, S05) for repeating the reading operation at predetermined time intervals in the reading means;
Storage means (107) for storing image data read by the reading means;
Time interval designating means (442, 443) for designating the predetermined time interval;
Automatic adjustment means (S03) for automatically adjusting the predetermined time interval;
In the automatic adjustment means, an image analysis means (500, S031) for analyzing the read image;
Means (S037) for changing the predetermined time according to the result analyzed by the image analysis means;
Start instruction operation means (402, S01) for instructing to start the process of repeating the reading operation at the predetermined time interval;
Stop instruction operation means (451) for instructing to stop the process of repeating the reading operation at the predetermined time interval;
Resumption instruction operation means (454) for instructing to resume the process of repeating the reading operation at the predetermined time interval temporarily stopped by the stop instruction operation means;
Means (103, S036, S037) for calculating an adjustment time based on a document replacement time at the time of reading past N sheets or N pages in the automatic adjustment means;
Image selection means (S061) for selecting image data to be output from the image data stored in the storage means;
Image correction means (S062, S064) for performing correction processing on the image selected by the image selection means is provided.

  According to the present invention, an apparatus for scanning a document placed on a platen glass has a function of repeating scanning at a predetermined time interval, and the means for designating the predetermined time interval and the time interval are set as a document replacement timing. Therefore, the working efficiency can be improved irrespective of the initial time interval setting value. Further, since there is means for instructing to stop the process of repeating the scan at a predetermined time interval, it is not necessary to set the number of scans in advance before the work starts, and the work procedure is simple. Furthermore, since there is means for instructing to restart the process after stopping the process of repeating the scan at a predetermined time interval, the work efficiency can be improved. On the other hand, although the same document may be scanned a plurality of times as a result of repeating scanning at a predetermined time interval, since there is a means for selecting an appropriate image from them, the timing of document replacement work and the timing of scanning are synchronized. Even if not, unnecessary image data is not output.

Appearance of image processing apparatus suitable for applying the present invention System configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus suitable for applying the present invention The flowchart which shows the flow of the process of this invention Diagram for explaining how to calculate the time interval Operation screen for processing of the present invention Operation screen for processing of the present invention The flowchart which shows the flow of the process of this invention Diagram for explaining how to calculate the time interval Operation screen for processing of the present invention Operation screen for processing of the present invention

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, terms used to describe the embodiment are defined. There are various types of manuscripts, such as a bound manuscript such as a book, and individual sheets, but each surface to be scanned is expressed as a “page” for convenience. On the other hand, each piece of image data obtained by scanning is expressed as “sheet”. For example, when one page of a document is scanned twice, two pieces of image data are acquired. Depending on the form of the manuscript to be handled, there are cases where appropriate expressions such as switching the manuscript, replacing the manuscript or turning the page are different, but these are collectively referred to as “original exchange”.

  The general function of repeating the scanning operation at a predetermined time period, which is the main processing of the present invention, is represented as “continuous scanning”. The time between one scan and the next scan when performing a continuous scan, in particular, the set time that determines the specified time period is represented as a “time interval”.

  FIG. 1 shows a state in which a scanner portion of a digital multi-function peripheral, which is an image processing apparatus suitable for applying the present embodiment, is viewed from directly above. The scanner 200 has an original platen glass 201 for placing the original 210 to be read face down and a lid (original plate cover) 202 for holding the original. The operation unit 400 includes an operation screen 401, a start key 402, and a stop key 403 for displaying an image necessary for the operation and receiving an instruction from the user through a touch panel provided. A setting key 404 for performing various settings and resetting may also be arranged. The digital multi-function peripheral has a printer unit (not shown), a paper feed cassette unit, a paper discharge unit, and the like, which are not shown, but detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  FIG. 2 shows a system configuration of an image processing apparatus suitable for applying this embodiment. The controller unit 100 is connected to a scanner 200 as an image input device and a printer 300 as an image output device, and on the other hand, is connected to a LAN 600 and a public line 700 to input / output image data and device information. The CPU 103 functions as a controller that controls the entire image processing apparatus. The operation unit I / F 104 is an interface unit with the operation unit 400 and outputs image data to be displayed on the operation screen 401 on the operation unit 400 to the operation unit 400. Further, it plays a role of transmitting information input by the user from the operation unit 400 to the CPU 103. A network I / F 105 is connected to the LAN 600 to input / output data. The modem 106 is connected to the public line 700 and performs modulation / demodulation processing for data transmission / reception. The storage unit 107 stores image data and compressed data, and includes a system work memory for the CPU 103 to operate. The above devices are arranged on the system bus 101.

  The image bus I / F 110 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus 101 and the image bus 102 that transfers image data at high speed and converts the data structure. The image bus 102 is a high-speed bus such as a PCI bus or IEEE1394. The compression / decompression processing unit 108 compresses and decompresses image data by a predetermined compression method. The resolution conversion unit 109 enlarges or reduces the image data. The device I / F 111 connects the scanner 200 and the printer 300, which are image input / output devices, to the controller unit 100, and performs synchronous / asynchronous conversion of image data. The input image processing unit 112 corrects, processes, and edits image data acquired mainly by the scanner 200 and performs conversion processing corresponding to various subsequent processes. The output image processing unit 113 performs correction and data format conversion mainly for output from the printer 300 on the image data. The image analysis unit 500 analyzes the input image, acquires information necessary for correction, processing, and editing processing, and generates coefficients to be applied to subsequent image processing.

  The scanner 200 irradiates a document, reads the reflected light by a light receiving element such as a CCD line sensor, converts it into an electrical signal representing an image on the document, and generates digital image data.

  The printer 300 forms and outputs image data as an image on paper. The system includes an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, etc., but any system may be used.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing performed by the image processing apparatus in this embodiment. 3A, in step S01, the CPU 103 waits for start instruction information from the operation unit 400. When the start instruction information is received, the process proceeds to step S02. In step S02, the scanner 200 scans a document in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 103 to acquire image data. In step S03, as will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 3B, the CPU 103 performs a process of adjusting the scan time interval. In step S04, the CPU 103 determines the presence / absence of scan end instruction information from the operation unit 400. If there is no scan end instruction information, the CPU 103 waits for elapse of time according to the timer setting in step S05 and then returns to step S02 to proceed to the next scan processing. If it is determined in step S04 that there is an instruction to end scanning, the process proceeds to step S06, and the CPU 103 performs processing of scanned image data as will be described in detail later with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3B shows the flow of the time adjustment process performed in step S03. When the scan image data is acquired, the CPU 103 instructs the image analysis unit 500 to perform page detection processing in step S031. In the page detection process, it is determined whether or not the acquired image data is an image obtained by normal scanning of a document, and whether or not it is a result of scanning the same original as the normal image acquired immediately before when the image data is normal. Make a judgment. For example, when scanning is performed while exchanging documents, image data is blurred and image data with extremely few edge components is acquired. Therefore, whether the image is a normal image can be determined by frequency analysis. If the image is a normal image, it is determined by calculating the degree of similarity by comparing the relative positions of a plurality of feature points to determine whether the scanned image data is the same page as the scan image data stored in the storage unit 107 immediately before. To do.

  In step S032, the CPU 103 branches the process according to the result of whether or not the image is a normal image determined in step S031, and proceeds to step S033 if the image is not a normal image. In step S033, the CPU 103 adds 1 to the counter and ends without adjusting the time interval. Here, the counter is for counting the number of consecutive abnormal scan images between normal images on different pages adjacent to each other. If it is determined in step S032 that a normal image has been acquired, the process proceeds to step S034, and the CPU 103 stores the acquired image data in the storage unit 107. In step S035, the CPU 103 branches the process according to the result of step S031. If it is determined that the page is the same as the previous image data, that is, it is not a page change, the CPU 103 clears the counter in step S038 and ends without adjusting the time interval. If it is determined that the page has been switched, the CPU 103 calculates the relationship between the current scan time interval setting and the time required for the document replacement operation by the user in order to adjust the time interval in step S036.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining values used for the calculation in step S036. A plurality of rectangles in the drawing show the acquired scanned image data as time passes. In FIG. 4A, when there is a diagonal line in the rectangle, an image that is determined not to be a normal image in step S032 is shown. When it is determined that the image is a normal image, a page is distinguished in the rectangle. The letters are listed. For example, the image written as “C” is the image currently being processed, the image on the left is the image obtained by scanning the previous one, the last page “B” being scanned normally The image is three scans before the currently processed image “C”.

  In FIG. 4A, T0, T1, and T2 represent the time taken during normal image acquisition of different pages, that is, the time taken for document replacement. The time interval setting value is shown. The counter value is a counter value that is incremented by one when an abnormal image is acquired and cleared when a normal image is acquired, and indicates the number of consecutive abnormal images. As an example of the relationship between these numerical values, for example, it takes 3 scans from the last successful acquisition of the “B” page to the normal acquisition of the first “C” page, the total time is T0, the time between each scan It can be seen from the figure that the interval was operating at P0. The three scans here are the counter value indicating the number of consecutive abnormal images (in this example, 2 when “C” is scanned) plus one, so that T0 = P0 × (counter The relationship of value + 1) holds.

  The time interval (P) is automatically adjusted using the above numerical values, and information for the past N pages from the present is used for the adjustment, and N is specified by a fixed value or a user. Here, the average value Ta of the time interval between pages is calculated from the scan time for the past N pages using Equation 1.

The calculated Ta and the current scan time interval P0 are compared, and if there is a difference greater than a predetermined value S (for example, 1 second), information for changing the time interval by one step is generated. Here, the first step is a predetermined adjustment time, for example, 0.5 seconds is set in advance.

  In step S036 of FIG. 3B, the above processing is performed. In step S037, if the time interval needs to be adjusted according to the processing result of step S036, the CPU 103 changes the timer time setting by one step longer or shorter. . Thereafter, in step S038, the CPU 103 clears the counter value to zero, and the time adjustment process when one scan image is acquired ends.

  When the above time interval adjustment is repeated a sufficient number of times, the time interval P converges to an optimal value, and the scan time interval P and the document replacement time T by the user become equal. FIG. 4B shows this state. That is, the processing in steps S036 and S037 is to adjust the time interval P stepwise so as to approach this state.

  FIG. 3C shows the flow of processing of scanned image data performed in step S06. In step S061, the CPU 103 performs a process of selecting image data corresponding to each page of the document from the scanned image data stored in the storage unit 107. As a result of the processing in step S034, one or more pieces of image data are stored in the storage unit 107 for each page of the document. The CPU 103 reads one or more pieces of image data obtained by scanning the same page from the storage unit 107 and inputs them to the image analysis unit 500 in accordance with the combination information of the images of the same page obtained by the page detection process in step S031. In a case where there are a plurality of image data, the image analysis unit 500 analyzes whether or not a necessary range is included in the image data, the degree of distortion, and whether there is an out-of-focus area. As a result, one piece of image data determined to have been scanned most appropriately is selected. In step S062, the input image processing unit 112 corrects the image data selected for each page of the document according to the determination of the CPU 103. In addition to color correction and edge emphasis processing, which are usually performed as input image processing, the correction performed here can also be performed to correct image distortion and shadow peculiar to scanning a binding document such as a book. . In step S063, the output image processing unit 113 performs image processing according to the output destination. For example, if the job being executed is a copy, conversion processing for output to the printer 300 is performed, and if the file is stored, image file generation processing is performed. Finally, in step S064, the CPU 103 outputs the processed image to the printer 300, the LAN 600, or the public line 700.

  FIG. 5 shows a screen for performing an operation related to the present embodiment in a digital multi-function peripheral which is an image processing apparatus suitable for applying the present embodiment, and is displayed on the operation screen 401 on the operation unit 400. Is displayed.

  FIG. 5A shows a main menu screen 410 which is the most basic screen in the device, and buttons for various functions are displayed. Similar to the copy button 411, the scan and send button 412, the fax button 413, the scan and save button 415, and the secure print button 416, an original platen continuous scan button 414 indicating the function of this embodiment is arranged on this screen. .

  When the document table continuous scan button 414 is pressed, a document table continuous scan basic screen 420 shown in FIG. 5B is displayed. On the original table continuous scan basic screen 420, a scan size button 421, an output destination button 422, a scan time interval button 423, and an OK button 424 are arranged. The scan size button 421 is a button used when setting the operation range of the scanner during continuous scanning. When the scan size button 421 is pressed, a scan size setting screen 430 shown in FIG. 5C is displayed. The scan size setting screen 430 displays size designation buttons 431 and 432, an OK button 433, and explanations regarding settings. Since the scanner operation range during continuous scanning is determined according to the size specified here, it is efficient to select a small size when it is determined in advance that the document is small. When the output destination button 422 is pressed on the original platen continuous scan basic screen 420, a screen for selecting a method for outputting a scanned image is displayed (not shown). For example, it is copy or file output, and if it is file output, a storage destination is specified, but detailed description is omitted here.

  When the scan time interval button 423 is pressed on the document table continuous scan basic screen 420, a scan time interval setting screen 440 shown in FIG. 5D is displayed. On the scan time interval setting screen 440, the user can arbitrarily set the time interval between scan operations. The time interval display unit 441 displays a set value of the time interval, and the set value can be changed with the adjustment buttons 442 and 443. The automatic adjustment button 444 is a button for designating validity / invalidity of a function for automatically adjusting a time interval during continuous scanning. When automatic adjustment is enabled, the time interval displayed on the time interval display section is set as the initial time interval at the start of scanning, and then gradually adjusted to the user's work timing by the time adjustment processing shown in FIG. The scan time interval is adjusted to synchronize. When automatic adjustment is disabled, the interval between scans is fixed at the time displayed on the time interval display section. After these settings are made, when the user presses the start key 402 or a start instruction button on a screen (not shown), continuous scanning is started.

  During continuous scan execution, the scan is repeated until the user gives a scan stop instruction. FIG. 5E shows a screen 450 displayed during continuous scanning. The user presses the scan stop button 451 when stopping the scan. When the scan stop button 451 is pressed, the continuous scan is temporarily stopped, and a continuous scan stop screen 452 shown in FIG. 5F is displayed. The user presses an end / next button 453 to end the scan, a scan restart button 454 to restart the scan, and a cancel button 455 to cancel the entire current work. By using these operation screens, for example, if it takes a long time to replace a document during a continuous scan, the scan operation is temporarily stopped although there is no problem even if the scan is repeated as it is. It is also possible to configure.

  As described above, the scan operation assuming that the document is placed on the platen glass is periodically repeated at a predetermined time interval, and the function of automatically adjusting the time interval to synchronize with the user's document replacement operation. By providing, operability can be improved.

  In the first embodiment, the execution method of the continuous scan and the method of automatically adjusting the time interval between the scans have been described. In the present embodiment, a method for improving the user's work efficiency and comfortable operation during continuous scanning will be described. In addition, the detailed description regarding a process and drawing common to Example 1 is abbreviate | omitted, and only a different part is demonstrated below.

  FIG. 6A shows a screen 460 displayed on the operation screen 401 during the standby time during the continuous scan. The remaining time display area 461 counts down the time until the next scan is started. The scan stop button 462 is the same as the scan stop button 451 in FIG. By providing the countdown display, the user can adjust the speed of the document exchange operation, and can also temporarily stop by the scan stop button 462 at a timing when it is desired to avoid unnecessary scanning.

  FIG. 6B shows a screen 463 on which a scan button 465 is further displayed. The user immediately presses the scan button 465 when instructing to start the scan manually without waiting for the next scan to be automatically started. As a result, it is possible to reduce useless waiting time when the document exchange operation is completed early.

  FIG. 7 shows a processing flow when the screen shown in FIG. 6B is applied. The same processes as those in FIG. 3A are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In step S10, the CPU 103 determines whether there is immediate scan instruction information from the operation unit 400. If there is no scan instruction information, the process proceeds to step S05. If there is, the CPU 103 updates the timer setting in step S11. The update of the timer setting is set so as to maintain the set time between the current scans, but has been described with reference to FIGS. 3B and 4 in consideration of the time when the scan button 465 is pressed immediately. It is good also as a setting which adjusts time similarly to.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the concept of time adjustment. An example in which a normal image of “B” is acquired after a certain delay occurs after the scan button 465 is pressed and the scan process is performed. Is shown. P0 indicates the time interval between the scans being set, and T0 indicates the time from when the normal image was acquired immediately before the scan button 465 is pressed until the scan is performed. I represents the time from the last scan until the scan button 465 is pressed immediately, and the relationship T0 = P0 × (counter value) + I is established. In the case of this figure, since the counter value, that is, the number of consecutive scans in which a normal image has not been acquired is 2, T0 = P0 × 2 + I. By applying this value to Equation 1, the scan time interval is adjusted as shown in the first embodiment.

  As described above, by providing a countdown display until the next scan on the operation screen, the user can obtain an indication of the speed of the document replacement work. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the waiting time if necessary by providing an operation means for starting scanning without waiting for the elapse of a predetermined time.

  In the first and second embodiments, the means for the user to confirm the scanned image is not mentioned, but here, an embodiment relating to a preview screen during continuous scanning and after continuous scanning will be described. In addition, the detailed description regarding a process and drawing which are common in Example 1, 2 is abbreviate | omitted, Only a different part is demonstrated below.

  FIG. 9A shows a screen 470 during continuous scanning when this embodiment is applied. In the scan image display area 471, scan images are displayed one after another regardless of whether the image data acquired by scanning is a normal image. The user can perform the document exchange operation while confirming the image displayed in the scanned image display area 471. For example, if you look at the image you just scanned on this screen and find that the position to place the document is not appropriate, you can prepare it for the next scan by replacing it without changing the document. .

  In the accumulated image display area 472, an image stored in the storage unit 107 in step S034 in FIG. 3B, that is, a normally scanned image is displayed. The user can perform the document replacement operation while checking the accumulated image display area 472, and can expedite discovery when there is a page that has not been scanned normally once among documents having a plurality of pages. As described above, the scan image and the accumulated image are displayed on the operation screen 401, so that the user can work with peace of mind during the continuous scan.

  FIG. 9B shows a screen 480 that is displayed after the scanning operation when the present embodiment is applied. The preview area 481 displays a preview of one image data per page of the document selected in step S061 of FIG. When the number of pages is too large to fit on one screen, the displayed page can be changed by moving the scroll bar 482.

  When one of the previewed images is selected (483) and the delete button 484 is pressed, the currently selected image is deleted. The re-acquisition button 485 is a button for performing an operation of re-scanning a certain page and re-acquiring an image. When one of the images to be reselected is selected (483), when the replay button 485 is pressed, a rescreen screen 487 shown in FIG. 9C is displayed. The redrawing screen 487 includes a redrawing page display area 488 in which a target image is displayed and a scan button 489. When the user sets a target document on the platen glass and presses the scan button 489, the scanner 200 operates to acquire an image, and the image data corresponding to the selected image is replaced with the acquired image data. It is done.

  In addition to this, an edit button can be provided on the screen 480 in FIG. 9B to have a function of changing the page order.

  As described above, by displaying the scanned image, it is easy to obtain a normal scan image at the time of continuous scanning, and at the end of continuous scanning, the result is confirmed and corrected before output. Means can be provided.

  Even when it is desirable to work while checking whether the scan has been performed properly, it may be difficult to check the preview image in detail for each scan. In this embodiment, a configuration of an operation screen for the user to work while recognizing the appropriateness of scanning more easily is shown.

  FIG. 10 is a screen displayed on the operation screen 401 during execution of continuous scanning to which this embodiment is applied. After branching in step S032 for determining whether the image acquired in each scan is normal, FIG. 10A is displayed when it is normal, and FIG. 10B is displayed when it is not normal. The judgment result of the scanned image being processed is displayed in the display area 491. If it is scanned normally, “◯” is displayed (492), so that the user can immediately determine that the document can be exchanged and the next scan can proceed. If it is not scanned normally, “x” is displayed (493), and the user can determine that it is desirable to wait until the same document is set and scanned again.

  As described above, the user can easily adjust the timing of document replacement appropriately by immediately showing the user the determination result as to whether or not the image acquired by scanning is a normal scan of the document. Become.

  In the embodiment described so far, the description is mainly made on the assumption that the scanner is mounted on the digital multi-function peripheral. The form of the document is moved while the CCD line sensor relatively moves on the lower surface of the platen glass 201. A reading type is common. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and it is apparent that the present invention can be applied to, for example, a reading device using a fixed two-dimensional array of CCD sensors.

100 controller unit, 103 CPU, 107 storage unit,
500 Image analysis unit, 201 Scanner platen glass, 400 Operation unit

Claims (8)

Reading means (200) for reading a document placed on the platen glass;
Periodic reading means (S02, S05) for repeating the reading operation at predetermined time intervals in the reading means;
Storage means (107) for storing image data read by the reading means;
Time interval designating means (442, 443) for designating the predetermined time interval;
Automatic adjustment means (S03) for automatically adjusting the predetermined time interval;
In the automatic adjustment means, an image analysis means (500, S031) for analyzing the read image;
Means (S037) for changing the predetermined time according to the result analyzed by the image analysis means;
Start instruction operation means (402, S01) for instructing to start the process of repeating the reading operation at the predetermined time interval;
Stop instruction operation means (451) for instructing to stop the process of repeating the reading operation at the predetermined time interval;
Resumption instruction operation means (454) for instructing to resume the process of repeating the reading operation at the predetermined time interval temporarily stopped by the stop instruction operation means;
Means (103, S036, S037) for calculating an adjustment time based on a document replacement time at the time of reading past N sheets or N pages in the automatic adjustment means;
Image selection means (S061) for selecting image data to be output from the image data stored in the storage means;
An image processing apparatus (100) comprising image correction means (S062, S064) for performing correction processing on the image selected by the image selection means. The apparatus further includes first display means (461) for displaying the remaining time until the next reading operation is started when the document reading process is repeated at a predetermined time interval by the periodic reading means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: An operation unit (465) for designating the start of a reading operation without waiting for a predetermined time until the start of the next reading operation when the document reading process is repeated by the periodic reading unit at a predetermined time interval. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The apparatus further comprises a second display unit (471) for displaying the acquired image data each time when the process of reading a document at a predetermined time interval is repeated by the periodic reading unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3. After finishing the operation of reading the document at a predetermined time interval by the periodic reading means,
Means (481) for displaying a list of images selected by the image selection means;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit (484) for editing the selected image. After the operation of reading the document at a predetermined time interval by the periodic reading unit is completed, the operation unit (485, 487) for reading the document again and replacing the image data with respect to the image designated from the image selected by the image selection unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: And a means (490) for displaying the result of whether or not the image is an appropriate image determined by the image analysis means each time when the document reading process is repeated at a predetermined time interval by the periodic reading means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. A reading step (200) for reading a document placed on the platen glass;
A periodic reading step (S02, S05) in which the reading operation is repeated at predetermined time intervals in the reading step;
A storage step (107) for storing the image data read in the reading step;
A time interval designating step (442, 443) for designating the predetermined time interval;
An automatic adjustment step (S03) for automatically adjusting the predetermined time interval;
In the automatic adjustment step, an image analysis step (500, S031) for analyzing the read image;
A step of changing the predetermined time according to the result of analysis in the image analysis step (S037);
A start instruction operation step (402, S01) for instructing to start a step of repeating the reading operation at the predetermined time interval;
A stop instruction operation step (451) for instructing to stop the step of repeating the reading operation at the predetermined time interval;
A restart instruction operation step (454) for instructing to restart the step of repeating the reading operation at the predetermined time interval temporarily stopped by the stop instruction operation step;
A step (103, S036, S037) of calculating an adjustment time based on a document replacement time at the time of reading the past N sheets or N pages in the automatic adjustment step;
An image selection step (S061) for selecting image data to be output from the image data stored in the storage means;
An image processing method (100) comprising: an image correction step (S062, S064) for performing a correction process on the image selected in the image selection step.