JP2017118264A - Image processing apparatus, image processing program, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image forming apparatus that can efficiently read a surface of a medium on which an image is present.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to image processing means. The image processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: image presence/absence determination means that determines whether an image is present in read data obtained by reading a first surface of a medium; and reading control means that controls whether to read a second surface of the medium according to a result of determination by the image presence/absence determination means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image forming apparatus, and can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image forming apparatus that invert both front and back surfaces of a medium to be conveyed and read both sides of the medium. .

  Conventionally, some image processing apparatuses have a function of reading both sides of a document (for example, Patent Document 1). The function of reading both sides of a document is, for example, a technique used by an image processing apparatus when a user wants to print both sides of a document, and some pictures (characters, patterns, colors, etc.) are written on both sides of the document. It is assumed to be used when

JP 2011-93665 A

  By the way, the user may set a plurality of originals with pictures on only one side of the original in the image processing apparatus and read both sides of the original. This method of use can avoid reading omission of the side with the picture because the back side is always read even when the original cannot be set with the side on which all the pictures of the original are present as the front side.

  However, in this case, even if the document has a picture (image) on only one side, the reverse side (blank page) is always read, and the image processing apparatus performs unnecessary processing accordingly. It also becomes.

  Therefore, an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image forming apparatus that can efficiently read the surface of a medium on which an image exists is desired.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, (1) an image presence / absence determination unit that determines whether an image exists with respect to read data obtained by reading a first surface of a medium; and (2) an image presence / absence determination unit. And a reading control means for controlling whether to read the second surface of the medium according to the determination result.

  An image processing program according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: (1) an image presence / absence determining unit that determines whether an image exists with respect to read data obtained by reading a first surface of a medium; ) According to the determination result of the image presence / absence determining means, the image forming apparatus functions as a reading control means for controlling whether to read the second surface of the medium.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having an image processing apparatus that outputs read data obtained by reading a surface of a medium, and an image forming unit that forms an image based on the read data. The image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is applied.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently read the surface of a medium on which an image exists.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the MFP according to the embodiment. FIG. 1 is an external configuration diagram illustrating an external configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of ADF which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conveyance path (the 1) inside the ADF which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conveyance path (the 2) inside the ADF which concerns on embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing a characteristic operation (reading process) of MFP 100 according to the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example (the 1) of the histogram analysis result of the image process part which concerns on embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example (the 2) of the histogram analysis result of the image process part which concerns on embodiment.

(A) Main Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of an image processing apparatus, an image processing program, and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an example in which the image processing apparatus, the image processing program, and the image forming apparatus of the present invention are applied to an MFP (Multi-Function Printer) will be described.

(A-1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 2 is an external configuration diagram illustrating an external configuration of the MFP 100.

  In FIG. 2, the MFP 100 includes a printer unit 1 as an image forming unit that performs processing for printing an image on a medium or the like roughly divided in hardware, and a scanner unit 2 that performs processing for reading a document.

  The scanner unit 2 includes an operation panel unit 3, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 4, and an FB (Flatbed) 5.

  Operation panel unit 3 is an interface between MFP 100 and a general user who uses MFP 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as “user”). For example, the operation panel unit 3 is provided with a display and key combination, or a touch panel display that can output to the user and accept input from the user.

  The ADF 4 as a double-sided reading unit is an automatic document feeder for feeding a document when continuously reading a plurality of document images.

  The FB 5 is used when reading a document image with high definition. The FB 5 includes a glass surface (base) on which the document is placed and has a function of fixing the document to the glass table.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the MFP according to the embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the MFP 100 includes a control unit 101, an image reading unit 102, an image processing unit 103, an operation panel control unit 104, and a printing unit 105. Note that some or all of the control systems of MFP 100 shown in FIG. 1 may be configured as software.

  The control unit 101 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) and the like, and comprehensively controls each unit to control the operation of the MFP 100.

  The image reading unit 102 performs control to read a document set on the ADF 4 or FB 5 in accordance with a user operation via the operation panel unit 3. The image reading unit 102 supplies the read image data to the image processing unit 103. The image reading unit 102 is an example of a reading control unit.

  The image processing unit 103 performs predetermined image processing on the read image data in accordance with the output format of the printer unit 1. For example, PDF (Portable Document Format), TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), JPEG (Joint) Image data of a predetermined format such as Photographic Experts Group) is created. Further, the image processing unit 103 performs processing such as edge emphasis and binarization according to a predetermined method in order to clearly extract characters and the like in the document from the image data. Further, the image processing unit 103 performs histogram analysis on the image data and determines whether or not the document is blank. The image processing unit 103 is an example of an image presence / absence determination unit.

  Operation panel control unit 104 receives various types of information input from operation panel unit 3 and performs control to display the state of MFP 100 on operation panel unit 3.

  The printing unit 105 performs processing for printing on printing paper based on the image data (print data) processed by the image processing unit 103.

  Next, the details of the inside of the ADF 4 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the ADF. In FIG. 3, the ADF 4 includes a pickup roller 11, a first reverse roller 12, a scan roller 13, a second reverse roller 14, a first separator 15, a second separator 16, a first reverse port 17, A second reversing port 18, a document discharge port 19, and a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) sensor 20 are provided.

  The pick-up roller 11 takes out the set originals 10 one by one and feeds them into the inside.

  The first separator 15 is disposed at a branch portion between a normal conveyance path (upper) for reading the front surface of the document 10 and a reverse conveyance path (lower) for reading the back surface of the document 10. It leads to one of the upper and lower transport paths.

  The first reversing roller 12 is disposed at a location (junction point) where the original 10 passes through any of the upper and lower conveyance paths guided from the first separator 15, and nipping and conveying the original with a pair of two rollers. . However, when the document 10 passes through the conveyance path below the first separator 15 and passes through the first reversing roller 12, the first reversing roller 12 passes the document 10 in an inverted state from the initial state. Is done.

  The first reversing port 17 is a portion where the first reversing roller 12 temporarily stops in a state where the document 10 is sandwiched. The first reversing port 17 is also a place where the conveyance direction of the document 10 is switched after the stop.

  The scan roller 13 is disposed immediately before the original 10 is read by the CIS 20, and sandwiches and conveys the original with two pairs of rollers.

  The CIS sensor 20 is a contact image sensor (contact image sensor) that reads an image on one side of the document 10. As long as the ADF 4 has a function as a sensor for reading an image of the document 10, various sensors such as a CCCD (Charge Coupled Device) can be applied instead of the CIS sensor 20.

  The second separator 16 is disposed at a branch portion between a discharge conveyance path (lower) for discharging the original read by the CIS sensor 20 and a re-inversion conveyance path (upper) for reversing the original 10 and reading it again by the CIS sensor 20. The document 10 to be conveyed is guided to one of the upper and lower conveyance paths.

  The second reversing roller 14 is disposed at a location where the document 10 passes through the upper conveyance path guided from the second separator 16 and sandwiches and conveys the document with two pairs of rollers.

  The second reversing port 18 is a portion where the second reversing roller 14 temporarily stops in a state where the document 10 is sandwiched. The second reversing port 18 is also a place where the conveyance direction of the document 10 is switched after the stop. In addition, the second reversing port 18 is also a place where the document 10 is discharged when it is determined that a picture exists in the back side data in the reading / uneven reading mode described later.

  The document discharge port 19 is a place where the document 10 is discharged from the inside of the ADF 4 to the outside.

  Next, the “uneven reading mode” which is a characteristic part of the MFP 100 (ADF4) will be described. Normally, when a user prints a plurality of documents 10 at one side at a time, a surface to be printed (surface with a picture) is used as a front surface at a predetermined position of the ADF 4 (the position where the document 10 is set in FIG. 3). The originals 10 are aligned and printing is started. Single-sided printing does not cause any particular problem when all the originals are arranged as a surface to be printed. However, the side to be printed (the side with the picture) is reversed (the back side), and the fact that some originals are not printed can naturally occur due to a user's mistake. The front / back uneven reading mode is a function that compensates for such human error, and even if the printed surface (the surface with the picture) is reversed (the back), the surface with the picture (the back) is normal. This mode is for reading and printing. Further, in the reading mode in which the front and back sides are not aligned, the read document is discharged with all the faces with pictures aligned.

  Here, in the existing document double-sided reading mode, the document 10 is reversed in the ADF 4, and the reversed surface (back surface) is read by the CIS sensor 20. Then, the document 10 is inverted again in the ADF 4, and the re-inversion surface (front surface) is read by the CIS sensor 20.

  In the reading / uneven reading mode, processing is executed using the above-described original double-side reading mode. In other words, in the reading mode where the front and back sides are not uniform, the histogram analysis is performed on the read image data after the back side is read by the CIS 20. In this histogram analysis, whether or not a picture is drawn on the back side of the document 10 is determined based on the uniformity of the back side data (whether one side is composed of the same color).

  As a result of the histogram analysis, if the back surface data is not uniform, the image processing unit 103 determines that some kind of picture is drawn on the back surface (the surface need not be read and output). Then, the document 10 is discharged from the second reversing port 18 without performing the second reversal (without reading the surface).

  On the other hand, when the back surface data is uniform, the image processing unit 103 determines that no picture is drawn on the back surface (the surface needs to be read and output), and unnecessary back surface data. Is discarded. Then, the surface of the original 10 is read in the same manner as in the existing original double-sided reading mode.

  The setting of the reading / uneven scanning mode may be set (OFF / ON) via the operation panel unit 3 every time printing is performed by the user, or the mode is automatically applied in the case of single-sided printing. May be set in advance. Note that the conveyance of the document 10 in the ADF 4 in the front / back uneven reading mode will be described with reference to FIG. The detailed operation of the front / back uneven reading mode including histogram analysis performed by the image processing unit 103 will be described again in the operation section described later.

  Next, a description will be given of the conveyance path (the setting of the reading mode in which the front and back are not uniform is OFF) (FIG. 4) when reading one side of the document 10 inside the ADF 4. 4A to 4C, the ADF 4 shown in FIG. 3 is shown (reference numerals are omitted). In each of FIGS. 4A to 4C, the conveyance path is highlighted in bold according to the conveyance state of the document 10. A triangle (▲) upper front end S indicates the surface direction of the original 10, and indicates the leading end of the original 10 when being fed to the pickup roller 11.

  First, when the one-side reading process is started by the image reading unit 102, the document 10 is fed into the ADF 4 by the pickup roller 11 and is conveyed so as to pass above the first separator 15 (FIG. 4A). )).

  Next, the document 10 is conveyed so as to pass through the first reversing roller 12 and the scan roller 13, and reading processing of one side (front surface) of the document 10 is performed by the CIS 20 (FIG. 4B).

  Then, the read original 10 passes under the second separator 16 and is discharged (discharged) from the original discharge port 19 (FIG. 4C).

  Next, a description will be given of the conveyance path (the setting of the reading mode with the front and back unevenness being ON) (FIG. 5) when reading both sides of the document 10 inside the ADF 4. FIG. In each of FIGS. 5A to 5G, the ADF 4 shown in FIG. 3 is shown (reference numerals are omitted). Further, in each of FIGS. 5A to 5G, the conveyance path is highlighted in bold according to the conveyance state of the document 10. 5A to 5G, the triangle (▲) upper front end S indicates the surface direction of the original 10, and indicates the leading end of the original 10 when being fed to the pickup roller 11. A triangle (Δ) upper front end E indicates a rear end portion of the document 10 when being fed to the pickup roller 11.

  First, when the image reading unit 102 starts the double-sided reading process (setting of the reading mode with the front and back unevenness enabled), the document 10 is fed into the ADF 4 by the pickup roller 11 and passes below the first separator 15. It is conveyed in the form (FIG. 5A).

  Next, one end side (triangle (▲) portion) of the document 10 passes through the first reversing roller 12 and is conveyed at the first reversing port 17 so that the front end of the document 10 is exposed outside the ADF 4. Then, the document 10 is temporarily stopped while being held between the first reverse rollers 12 (FIG. 5B). After the stop, the image reading unit 102 controls to send the document 10 in the reverse direction (first inversion).

  Next, the document 10 is conveyed so as to pass through the first reversing roller 12 and the scan roller 13, and reading processing of one side (back side) of the document 10 is performed by the CIS 20 (FIG. 5C).

  After the reading, the other end side (triangle (Δ) portion) of the document 10 is conveyed so as to pass above the second separator 16 and the second reversing roller 14, and is outside the ADF 4 at the second reversing port 18. The original 10 is temporarily stopped in a state where the original 10 is held between the second reversing rollers 14 (FIG. 5D).

  At this position (timing), the image processing unit 103 performs histogram analysis of the back side data, and determines whether or not there is a picture on the back side of the document based on the uniformity. If it is determined that there is a picture on the back side of the document, the document 10 is discharged as it is from the second reversing port 18 (FIG. 5G). On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no picture on the back side of the document, the image reading unit 102 controls to send the document 10 in the reverse direction (second reversal) in order to read the front side. That is, the direction in which the document 10 is conveyed from the conveyance direction B to the conveyance direction A is changed as shown in FIG.

  Next, the document 10 transported in the transport direction A is transported in a form passing over the first separator 15 and the first reversing roller 12 and the scan roller 13, and on one side (front surface) of the document 10 by the CIS 20. Is read (FIG. 5E).

  Then, the read original 10 passes under the second separator 16 and is discharged (discharged) from the original discharge port 19 (FIG. 5F).

(A-2) Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of MFP 100 of this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a characteristic operation (reading process) of MFP 100. Before executing the processing of FIG. 6, it is assumed that a plurality of documents 10 are stacked at a predetermined position of the ADF 4 (in FIG. 3, a position where the document 10 is set). In addition, it is assumed that a certain picture is described on the front surface or the back surface of each document 10, and there is no picture on the other surface.

  MFP 100 (image reading unit 102) accepts the setting (ON / OFF) of the reading mode in which the front and back sides are not aligned in operation panel unit 3, and starts the document reading process (S101).

  The image reading unit 102 determines the reading mode with the front and back unevenness set by the user (S102). As a result of the determination, if the reading / uneven scanning mode is “OFF”, the image reading unit 102 shifts the processing to step S110 described later, and if “ON”, executes the processing of the next step S103. .

  The image reading unit 102 performs control to invert the original 10 and read the back side of the original 10 in the ADF 4 (S103). After reading, the image reading unit 102 performs control so that the document 10 is temporarily stopped at the second reversing port 18. The transport path of the original 10 in the ADF 4 so far corresponds to the above-described FIGS.

  The image processing unit 103 performs histogram analysis on the read image data on the back side of the document 10 read in the process of step S103 described above (S104).

  The image processing unit 103 determines whether or not the read image data on the back side of the document 10 is composed of a uniform color (S105). For example, the image processing unit 103 makes a determination based on four elements of luminance, if the reading by the CIS 20 is monochrome, and luminance, if it is color, red (R), green (G), and blue (B). . The determination of whether or not the image is composed of a uniform color is made by determining whether or not the peak appears at only one place in the histogram of all elements of luminance, (R), (G), and (B). For example, FIG. 7 shows an example in which the peak detection is one place. In this case, the image processing unit 103 determines that the one side where no character, photograph, pattern, or the like exists in the same color (that is, there is no picture) in the read image data on the back side. On the other hand, the image processing unit 103 reads the back side scanned image data when there is no single peak (a plurality of peaks exist) in any of the histograms of luminance, (R), (G), and (B). It is judged that some kind of picture is drawn on. For example, FIG. 8 shows an example in which there are a plurality (two places) of peak detection.

  If the image processing unit 103 determines that the read image data on the back side of the document 10 is not configured with a uniform color, the image reading unit 102 proceeds to step S108 to be described later and performs uniform processing. If it is determined that the color is composed of different colors, the process of the next step S106 is executed.

  The image reading unit 102 discards the data because the read image data on the back side is data that is configured in a uniform color and does not need to be output (S106).

  The image reading unit 102 performs a reversing operation of the document 10 and performs control to perform the surface reading process in order to perform the surface reading process of the document 10 (S107). After reading, the image reading unit 102 performs control to discharge the document 10 from the document discharge port 19. The transport path of the original 10 in the ADF 4 so far corresponds to the above-described FIGS. Further, the image reading unit 102 performs image processing on the read image data on the surface according to the image processing conditions set by the user, and performs control to output the data to the printer unit 1.

  If it is determined in step S105 described above that the read image data on the back side of the document 10 is not composed of a uniform color, the image reading unit 102 applies the read image data on the back side to the user. The image processing is performed according to the image processing conditions set, and control for outputting the data to the printer unit 1 is performed (S108).

  The image reading unit 102 performs control to discharge the document 10 from the ADF 4 (S109). The transport path of the document 10 in the ADF 4 so far corresponds to the above-described FIGS. 5D and 5G. In this case, since the image reading unit 102 does not need to read the surface of the document 10, the route for reading the surface of the document 10 (FIGS. 5E and 5F) can be omitted.

  In the process of step S109 described above, the image reading unit 102 performs control so that the single-sided reading process of the document 10 placed on the ADF 4 is performed when the front / back uneven reading mode is “OFF” (S110). . In this case, the conveyance path of the document 10 in the ADF 4 corresponds to the above-described FIGS. Further, the image reading unit 102 performs image processing on the read image data on the surface according to the image processing conditions set by the user, and performs control to output the data to the printer unit 1.

  As described above, the MFP 100 (the image reading unit 102) can perform control to efficiently read the surface on which the picture of the document 10 is present.

  Further, MFP 100 may display preview images of read image data of a plurality of read originals 10 on operation panel unit 3. The user can confirm that the output result (read image data) is upside down by referring to the preview image. Further, the MFP 100 may be configured to change the output result upside down according to the designation from the user. In this way, the MFP 100 stores the output result in a state in which the document 10 not only at the front and back sides of the document 10 but also the leading and trailing edges are set inside, or externally (for example, a server) ) Can be stored.

(A-3) Effects of Embodiment According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

  When the MFP 100 starts reading the original 10 with the setting that the reading mode mode with the front and back unevenness is enabled (ON), the MFP 100 first reads the back side and performs histogram analysis of the back side data. If it is determined from the analysis result that a picture exists in the back side data, the MFP 100 discharges the original 10 without performing the reading process of the front side of the original 10 (determined that there is no picture on the front side). To do. As a result, the MFP 100 can omit a useless surface reading process (second time).

  Further, the MFP 100 performs a reversing operation once when a picture is detected in the first reading (back side scanning), and performs a reversing operation twice when a picture is not detected in the first reading operation. Even when the original 10 with the front and back unevenness is set and reading is performed, the original 10 with the front and back aligned can be obtained after discharging.

(B) Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may include modified embodiments as exemplified below.

  (B-1) In the above embodiment, the example in which the image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied to the MFP 100 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to various apparatuses (for example, a scanner, a fax, and the like). Image reading apparatus).

  (B-2) In the above embodiment, the medium read by the MFP 100 (CIS sensor 20) has been described by taking the paper document 10 as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various other media may be used. (For example, label paper or stickers).

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer unit, 2 ... Scanner unit, 3 ... Operation panel part, 10 ... Document, 11 ... Pickup roller, 12 ... First reverse roller, 13 ... Scan roller, 14 ... Second reverse roller, 15 ... First separator, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 ... 2nd separator, 17 ... 1st inversion port, 18 ... 2nd inversion port, 19 ... Document discharge port, 20 ... CIS sensor, 100 ... MFP, 101 ... Control part, 102 ... Image reading part, 103 ... Image processing 104, an operation panel control unit, 105, a printing unit.

Claims (6)

Image presence / absence determining means for determining whether or not an image exists for the read data obtained by reading the first surface of the medium;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a reading control unit that controls whether to read the second surface of the medium according to a determination result of the image presence / absence determination unit.   The reading control means controls so as not to read the second surface of the medium when the image presence / absence determining means determines that an image is present on the first surface of the medium. Item 8. The image processing apparatus according to Item 1. Further comprising double-sided reading means for inverting the medium and reading both sides of the medium;
The reading control means is the image presence / absence determining means,
If it is determined that an image is present on the first side of the medium, the medium is ejected as it is without reading the second side of the medium;
When it is determined that there is no image on the first surface of the medium, the double-side reading means performs a control to invert and read the second surface of the medium and to discharge the medium. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. The image presence / absence determining means performs a histogram analysis of each element of a color space value including the luminance of the read data,
The image presence / absence determining means, for the analysis result of the histogram analysis corresponding to each element of the color space value,
When only a peak appears in all the analysis results, it is determined that no image exists in the read image data,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a plurality of peaks appear in any of the analysis results, it is determined that an image exists in the read image data. Computer
Image presence / absence determining means for determining whether or not an image exists for the read data obtained by reading the first surface of the medium;
An image processing program that functions as a reading control unit that controls whether to read the second surface of the medium according to a determination result of the image presence / absence determining unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image processing apparatus that outputs read data obtained by reading a surface of a medium; and an image forming unit that forms an image based on the read data.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 is applied as the image processing apparatus.

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