JP2017195506A - Image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To hinder a situation in which filling in an answer column becomes difficult.SOLUTION: An image processing system comprises: an input section that inputs image data of a document including a written document; and an image processing section that determines a marking area of the image data of the document and produces image data about wormhole problem, in which the marking area is converted into an answer column. The image processing system recognizes the number of characters present in the marking area by performing a character recognition process for the marking area when producing the image data about the wormhole problem. The image processing system obtains, as the number of characters in the answer column, the number of characters, resulting from the addition of the number of margins to the number of characters in the marking area. The image processing system alters the size of the answer column in a first direction, which is the direction in which the document is written, to a size corresponding to the number of characters in the answer column.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that generates image data of a worm-eaten problem.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique is known in which a manuscript (textbook or the like) that is a basis for a worm-eating problem is read and image data for a worm-eating problem is generated using image data obtained by reading the manuscript. Such a technique is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

  In Patent Document 1, the target character image (the image of the character string presented as a problem to the answerer) among the image data of the manuscript that is the basis of the worm-eating problem can be converted into a blank answer column. Specifically, among the image data of the manuscript that is the basis of the worm-eaten problem, blindfold data is pasted on the target character image, and the pasting location of the blindfold data is used as an answer column.

JP 2002-287607 A

  There are various methods of using image data for worm-eating problems. For example, worm-eating problems can be displayed on the display. Alternatively, after the image data of the worm-eaten problem is generated, the worm-eaten problem can be printed on a sheet based on the generated image data.

  Usually, when printing a worm-eaten problem on paper, it is assumed that characters are entered in the answer column of the worm-eaten problem paper. However, if the target character image (the image of the character string presented as a question to the answerer) is simply converted into a blank answer field, the size of the answer field on the worm-eaten problem sheet is reduced when the worm-eaten problem is printed on paper. In some cases (the smaller the text size of the manuscript that is the basis for the worm-eating problem, the smaller the size of the answer column). If the size of the answer column becomes too small, there is a disadvantage that it becomes difficult to enter characters in the answer column.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of suppressing the difficulty of entering characters in an answer column.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus of the present invention includes an input unit for inputting image data of a document including a document to the image processing apparatus, and a marking area marked by a user in the image data of the document. And an image processing unit that generates image data of a worm-eaten problem by determining and converting the marking area into a blank answer field. The image processing unit recognizes the number of characters existing in the marking area by generating a character recognition process for recognizing the characters in the marking area when generating image data of the worm-feeding problem, and margins are added to the number of characters in the marking area. The number of characters plus the number is obtained as the answer field character number, and the size of the answer field in the first direction, which is the direction in which the document is written, is changed to a size corresponding to the number of answer field characters.

  In the configuration of the present invention, the size in the first direction of the answer column is changed to a size corresponding to the number of characters in the answer column. Here, since the number of characters in the answer field is the number of characters in the marking area plus the number of margins, the number of characters in the answer field is larger than the number of characters in the marking area. For this reason, if the size of the answer column in the first direction is changed to a size corresponding to the number of characters in the answer column, the size of the answer column in the first direction becomes larger than the size of the marking area in the first direction. In other words, the size in the first direction of the answer column does not become smaller than the size in the first direction of the marking area. This prevents the inconvenience that it becomes difficult to enter characters in the answer field due to the size of the answer field of the worm-eaten problem sheet printed based on the image data of the worm-eaten problem Can do.

  In the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to suppress difficulty in entering characters in the answer column.

The figure which shows the multifunctional device by one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the multifunctional device by one Embodiment of this invention The figure which shows an example of the setting screen (screen for performing the setting regarding a worm-eaten problem creation mode) displayed on the operation panel of the multifunction machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of image data of an original document that is a basis of image data of a worm-feeding problem generated by a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure for demonstrating the character recognition process performed when the multifunctional device by one Embodiment of this invention produces | generates the image data of a worm-eaten problem. The figure for demonstrating the character recognition process performed when the multifunctional device by one Embodiment of this invention produces | generates the image data of a worm-eaten problem. The figure which shows an example of the image data of the worm-eaten problem which the multifunctional device by one Embodiment of this invention produces | generates The figure for demonstrating the expansion process of the answer column performed when the multifunctional device by one Embodiment of this invention produces | generates the image data of a worm-eaten problem The figure for demonstrating the image movement process performed when the multifunctional device by one Embodiment of this invention produces | generates the image data of a worm-eaten problem The figure for demonstrating the image movement process performed when the multifunctional device by one Embodiment of this invention produces | generates the image data of a worm-eaten problem The figure which shows an example of the image data of the worm-eaten problem which the multifunctional device by one Embodiment of this invention produces | generates 7 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of processing performed when the multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention generates image data of a worm-eaten problem.

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking a multifunction peripheral (image forming apparatus) equipped with a plurality of functions such as a copy function as an example.

<Overall configuration of MFP>
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment includes an image reading unit 1 and a printing unit 2. The image reading unit 1 reads a document and generates image data of the document. The printing unit 2 forms a toner image based on the image data while conveying the sheet along the sheet conveying path 20. Then, the printing unit 2 transfers (prints) the toner image onto the sheet being conveyed.

  The printing unit 2 includes a paper feeding unit 3, a paper transport unit 4, an image forming unit 5, and a fixing unit 6. The paper feed unit 3 includes a pickup roller 31 and a paper feed roller pair 32, and supplies the paper stored in the paper cassette 33 to the paper transport path 20. The paper transport unit 4 includes a plurality of transport roller pairs 41 and transports the paper along the paper transport path 20.

  The image forming unit 5 includes a photosensitive drum 51, a charging device 52, an exposure device 53, a developing device 54, a transfer roller 55, and a cleaning device 56. The image forming unit 5 forms a toner image based on the image data, and transfers the toner image to a sheet. The fixing unit 6 includes a heating roller 61 and a pressure roller 62, and fixes the toner image transferred onto the sheet by heating and pressing.

  The multifunction device 100 also includes an operation panel 7. The operation panel 7 is provided with a touch panel display 71. For example, the touch panel display 71 displays software keys for accepting various settings and accepts various settings from the user (accepts touch operations on the software keys). Further, the operation panel 7 is also provided with hardware keys 72 such as a start key and a numeric keypad.

<Hardware configuration of MFP>
As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction peripheral 100 includes a control unit 110. The control unit 110 includes a CPU 111, a memory 112, and an image processing unit 113. The CPU 111 operates based on a control program and data. The memory 112 includes a ROM and a RAM. Control programs and data for operating the CPU 111 are stored in the ROM and expanded in the RAM. Then, the control unit 110 (CPU 111) performs operations of the image reading unit 1 and the printing unit 2 (the paper feeding unit 3, the paper transport unit 4, the image forming unit 5, and the fixing unit 6) based on a control program and data. Control. Further, the control unit 110 controls the operation of the operation panel 7.

  The image processing unit 113 includes an image processing circuit 114 and an image processing memory 115. The image processing unit 113 performs various image processing such as enlargement / reduction, density conversion, and data format conversion on the image data.

  Here, the image processing unit 113 performs character recognition processing, which is processing for recognizing characters and character strings included in the image data input to the multifunction peripheral 100. In the character recognition processing by the image processing unit 113, for example, OCR (Optical Character Reader) technology is used.

  In order to cause the image processing unit 113 to perform character recognition processing, for example, a character database that stores character patterns for pattern matching (standard patterns) is stored in the image processing memory 115 in advance. Then, when performing the character recognition process, the image processing unit 113 extracts a character image from the image data to be processed. At this time, the image processing unit 113 performs a layout analysis or the like on the image data to be processed, specifies a character area, and cuts out (extracts) a character image character by character from the character area. Thereafter, the image processing unit 113 performs a process (matching process) for comparing the character pattern stored in the character database with the extracted character image, and recognizes the character based on the comparison result. Note that the character database stores character patterns for pattern matching for each character type such as kanji, hiragana, katakana, and alphabet.

  In addition, the control unit 110 is connected to the communication unit 120. The communication unit 120 is communicably connected to the external device 200. For example, a personal computer (PC) used by a user is connected to the communication unit 120 via a LAN. As a result, the image data generated by the MFP 100 can be transmitted to the external device 200. Alternatively, data transmission from the external device 200 to the multifunction device 100 is also possible.

<Creation of bug-eating problem>
The multi-function device 100 of this embodiment is equipped with a worm-eaten problem creation mode for creating a worm-eaten problem in which a part of the document is a blank answer column. When creating a worm-eaten problem using the worm-eaten problem creation mode, the user prepares a manuscript that is the basis for the worm-eaten problem, and places a blank answer column in the manuscript document with a highlighter or other means. Is done. Then, various settings relating to the worm-eaten problem creation mode are performed on the multifunction peripheral 100.

  For example, when a predetermined operation for shifting to the worm eating problem creation mode is performed on the operation panel 7, the control unit 110 transitions to the worm eating problem creation mode. At this time, the control unit 110 causes the operation panel 7 to display a setting screen 700 (see FIG. 3) for receiving various settings related to the worm-eaten problem creation mode. On this setting screen 700, for example, settings relating to the size of the answer column for worming questions (setting of the number of margins, setting of character size, setting of weighting factors, etc.) can be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, input fields 701, 702, and 703 are arranged on the setting screen 700. The input column 701 is a column in which the number of margins set by the user is written. The input column 702 is a column in which the character size set by the user is written. The input column 703 is a column in which weighting factors set by the user are written.

  For example, when the input field 701 is touched, the setting target is the number of margins, and in this state, the numerical value is input using the numeric keypad of the operation panel 7 to set the input numerical value as the number of margins (the input numerical value in the input field 701). Is written). When the input field 702 is touched, the setting object becomes the character size, and in this state, the numerical value is input using the numeric keypad of the operation panel 7 to set the input numerical value as the character size (the input numerical value in the input field 702). Is written). Further, when the input field 703 is touched, the setting target becomes a weighting coefficient. In this state, the numerical value is input using the numeric keypad of the operation panel 7 to set the input numerical value as the weighting coefficient (input numerical value in the input field 703). Is written). In this configuration, the operation panel 7 corresponds to a “reception unit”.

  As will be described in detail later, the larger the setting value of the number of margins, the larger the size of the answer column in the writing direction (direction in which characters are written). Further, as the set value of the character size is increased, the size of the answer column in the writing direction can be increased, and the size of the answer column in the direction orthogonal to the writing direction can be increased. Furthermore, as the set value of the weighting factor is increased, the size of the answer column in the writing direction can be increased.

  In addition, a determination key 704 is arranged on the setting screen 700. When the control unit 110 detects a touch operation on the enter key 704, the numerical value input in the input field 701 is determined as the number of margins, the numerical value input in the input field 702 is determined as the character size, and the input field 703. The numerical value input in is determined as a weighting factor. Then, the control unit 110 causes the operation panel 7 to notify that the image data of the manuscript (a manuscript on which a part of the document is marked) as a basis for the worm-eating problem is urged to be input. In the following description, the image data of the manuscript that is the basis of the worm-eating problem may be referred to as target image data.

  The target image data can be input to the multi-function peripheral 100 by reading a document that is a source of the worm-feeding problem by the image reading unit 1. In this configuration, the image reading unit 1 corresponds to an “input unit”. Alternatively, the target image data can be input to the multifunction device 100 via the communication unit 120. In this configuration, the communication unit 120 corresponds to an “input unit”.

  When the target image data is input to the multifunction peripheral 100, the control unit 110 transfers the target image data to the image processing memory 115 of the image processing unit 113. In addition, the control unit 110 gives the image processing unit 113 a command to create image data for the worm-eaten problem. Upon receiving this command, the image processing unit 113 uses the target image data stored in the image processing memory 115 to generate image data for the worm-eaten problem.

  Hereinafter, the generation of the image data of the worm-feeding problem performed by the image processing unit 113 will be described by taking as an example a case where target image data D1 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 8 is attached to the area marked by the user. In the following description, the marked area is referred to as a marking area 8. Further, the writing direction (row direction) of the document is referred to as a first direction, and the direction orthogonal to the first direction is referred to as a second direction. Here, when the document is written horizontally (see FIG. 4), the writing direction is the left-right direction. On the other hand, when the document is written vertically (not shown), the writing direction is the vertical direction.

  The image processing unit 113 determines the marking region 8 present in the target image data D1 when generating image data of the worm-eaten problem. The marking area 8 is determined based on the pixel value (density value) of each pixel of the target image data D1. Although not particularly limited, a pixel column composed of pixels having a higher density than the pixels of the background image may be searched, and a region in which the pixel column is continuously arranged in a direction orthogonal to the column direction may be determined as the marking region 8.

  When the marking area 8 is determined, the image processing unit 113 performs character recognition processing on the marking area 8. Accordingly, the image processing unit 113 recognizes the number of characters existing in the marking area 8. Further, the image processing unit 113 recognizes the type of character (kanji, hiragana, katakana, alphabet, etc.) existing in the marking area 8 and classifies the characters in the marking area 8 into kanji and non-kanji. Non-kanji is a character other than kanji, and hiragana, katakana, alphabets, and the like correspond to non-kanji.

  For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, when the character recognition process is performed by the image processing unit 113 for the marking area 8 including the character string “end” (hereinafter referred to as the marking area 8 a), it is shown in FIG. 5. In this way, each character image existing in a plurality of areas surrounded by a solid circle is recognized as a character. In addition, the image processing unit 113 recognizes the character “end” as a kanji character among the characters in the marking area 8 a and recognizes the characters “wa” and “ri” as hiragana. That is, the characters in the marking area 8a are classified into “end” which is a Chinese character and “wa” and “ri” which are non-kanji characters. For this reason, the image processing unit 113 recognizes that the number of characters in the marking area 8a is “3”, of which the number of characters of kanji is “1” and the number of characters of non-kanji is “2”.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, when the character recognition processing is performed by the image processing unit 113 for the marking area 8 including the character string “rising” (hereinafter referred to as the marking area 8 b), FIG. As shown, each character image existing in a plurality of areas surrounded by a solid circle is recognized as a character. Also, the image processing unit 113 recognizes the characters “up” and “rise” among the characters in the marking area 8b as kanji, and recognizes the characters “shi” and “ta” as hiragana. That is, the characters in the marking area 8b are classified into “up” and “rising” that are Chinese characters and “shi” and “ta” that are non-kanji characters. For this reason, the image processing unit 113 recognizes that the number of characters in the marking area 8b is “4”, and recognizes that the number of Kanji characters is “2” and the number of non-Kanji characters is “2”.

  Further, the image processing unit 113 further classifies the kanji in the marking area 8 into kanji with ruby (kanji with ruby) and kanji without ruby (kanji without ruby). Here, in the case of horizontal writing, generally, the ruby assigned to the kanji is arranged above the kanji. In the case of vertical writing, the ruby attached to the kanji is arranged on the right side of the kanji.

  Therefore, the image processing unit 113 performs the marking region with respect to the marking vicinity region 9 that is one region (upper side) of the regions on both sides in the second direction of the marking region 8 and is a region in the vicinity of the marking region 8. 8 is performed (recognizing the number of characters and the type of characters existing in the marking vicinity region 9). As a result, the image processing unit 113 recognizes the ruby sung to the Chinese character in the marking area 8.

  Specifically, the image processing unit 113 determines a range from the end position in the second direction of the marking area 8 to a position separated by a predetermined number of pixels in the second direction (upward direction). Set as 9. The image processing unit 113 recognizes the character as ruby if the character is present in the marking vicinity region 9 as a result of performing the character recognition processing on the marking vicinity region 9.

  When ruby exists in the marking vicinity area 9, the image processing unit 113 identifies kanji with ruby among the kanji in the marking area 8. For example, the image processing unit 113 determines a Chinese character existing below the ruby in the marking vicinity region 9 among the Chinese characters in the marking region 8 as a kanji with ruby. On the other hand, the image processing unit 113 determines, as kanji without ruby, a kanji that does not have ruby among the kanji in the marking area 8. Furthermore, the image processing unit 113 determines the number of characters of ruby kanji and non-ruby kanji existing in the marking area 8 and determines the number of ruby characters (ruby number) existing in the marking vicinity area 9.

  For example, in the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, since the document is written horizontally, the upper area of the marking area 8 is set as the marking vicinity area 9. In the following description, the marking vicinity area 9 corresponding to the marking area 8a is denoted by reference numeral 9a, and the marking vicinity area 9 corresponding to the marking area 8b is denoted by reference numeral 9b.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, no character exists in the marking vicinity area 9a. Therefore, when the character recognition process is performed on the marking vicinity area 9a, the image processing unit 113 determines that there is no ruby in the marking vicinity area 9a (recognizes the number of ruby in the marking vicinity area 9a as “0”). . In this case, the image processing unit 113 classifies “End”, which is a Chinese character existing in the marking area 8a, into a ruby-free Chinese character.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, a character exists in the marking area 9b. Therefore, when the character recognition process is performed on the marking area 9b, the image processing unit 113 determines that ruby exists in the marking vicinity area 9b (recognizes the number of ruby in the marking vicinity area 9b as “6”). In FIG. 6, the ruby recognized by the image processing unit 113 in the marking vicinity area 9b is surrounded by a broken-line circle.

  In addition, there are kanji characters “up” and “rising” below the ruby in the marking vicinity region 9b. Therefore, the image processing unit 113 classifies the kanji characters “up” and “rising” into kanji with ruby. There are no ruby-free kanji in the marking area 8b.

  After performing the character recognition processing on the marking region 8 and the marking vicinity region 9 (after recognizing the number of characters in each region), the image processing unit 113 generates image data D2 of the worm-eaten problem as shown in FIG. . The image data D2 of the worm-eaten problem is image data obtained by converting the marking area 8 of the target image data D1 shown in FIG. Specifically, the image of the marking area 8 is erased, and a frame image with a blank inside is inserted instead. At this time, the image in the marking vicinity region 9 is also erased. In the following description, the answer column 10 corresponding to the marking region 8a is denoted by reference numeral 10a, and the answer column 10 corresponding to the marking region 8b is denoted by reference numeral 10b.

  When generating the image data D2 of the worm-eaten problem, the image processing unit 113 obtains the number of answer column characters by adding a margin to the predicted number of characters that can be entered in the answer column 10. The number of characters in the answer field serves as a reference when determining the size of the answer field 10, and the number of characters and the type of characters in the marking area 8, the number of characters (ruby number) in the marking vicinity area 9, and the setting screen It is obtained based on each set value (number of margins, character size and weighting factor) set by the user in 700 (see FIG. 3).

  Specifically, the image processing unit 113 calculates the number of ruby kanji characters in the marking area 8 (number of characters in the marking vicinity area 9) and the number of characters obtained by multiplying the number of kanji characters in the marking area 8 without ruby by a weighting factor. The number of non-kanji characters in the marking area 8 is summed, and the number of characters obtained by adding the number of margins to the total value is obtained as the number of characters in the answer column. It should be noted that the number of characters in the answer column does not include the number of kanji characters with ruby in the marking area 8 (the number of kanji to which ruby is assigned).

  For example, in the setting screen 700 (see FIG. 3), it is assumed that the number of margins is set to “2” and the weight coefficient is set to “3”.

  In this case, in the example shown in FIG. 5, there is no kanji character with ruby, but there is a kanji character without ruby “End” and a non-kanji character “Wari”. That is, the number of ruby of kanji with ruby is “0”. Further, the number of characters of the kanji without ruby is “1”, and the number of characters obtained by multiplying the number of characters of the kanji without ruby by the weight coefficient is “3 (= 1 × 3)”. Furthermore, the number of non-kanji characters is “2”. For this reason, the number of characters in the answer column of the answer column 10a corresponding to the marking area 8a is “7 (= 0 + 3 + 2 + 2)”.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, there is a kanji with a ruby “rising”, but there is no kanji without a ruby, and there is a non-kanji character “do”. In addition, kanji with ruby has ruby called “josho”. That is, the number of ruby of kanji with ruby is “6”. In addition, the number of characters of ruby-free kanji is “0”. Furthermore, the number of non-kanji characters is “2”. For this reason, the number of characters in the answer column of the answer column 10b corresponding to the marking area 8b is “10 (= 6 + 0 + 2 + 2)”.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, when converting the marking area 8 into the answer field 10, the image processing unit 113 makes the size of the answer field 10 in the first direction larger than the size of the marking area 8 in the first direction. . Further, the image processing unit 113 makes the size of the answer column 10 in the second direction larger than the size of the marking region 8 in the second direction.

  First, the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction is changed to a size corresponding to the number of characters in the answer column. For example, the image processing unit 113 obtains a first value (size in the first direction per character) obtained by dividing the size in the first direction of the marking region 8 by the number of characters in the marking region 8, and answers the first value. The second value multiplied by the number of characters in the column is set as the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction. As a result, the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction is larger than the size of the marking region 8 in the first direction.

  Alternatively, when the size in the width direction per character set on the setting screen 700 (see FIG. 3) is larger than the first value, the image processing unit 113 per character set on the setting screen 700 A value obtained by multiplying the size in the width direction by the number of characters in the answer column is set as the size in the first direction of the answer column 10. In this case, the larger the size in the width direction per character set on the setting screen 700 is, the larger the size in the first direction of the answer column 10 is.

  There are various types of characters that can be entered on the worm-eating question form, and some respondents enter answers using only hiragana (katakana), while other respondents enter answers using both hiragana and kanji. For example, when an answer is written using only hiragana, the number of characters is larger than when an answer is written using both hiragana and kanji. Therefore, it is preferable to change the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction to a size larger than the size of the corresponding marking region 8 in the first direction.

  Here, even if the number of characters of ruby-free kanji is not multiplied by a weighting factor, the number of characters in the answer column is larger than the number of characters in the marking area 8. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, when the process of multiplying the kanji without ruby by the weighting coefficient is not performed, the number of characters in the answer column is “5 (= 0 + 1 + 2 + 2)”, so the number of characters in the marking area 8 a (the number of characters is “ 3 ”).

  Furthermore, even if a margin number is added to the number of characters in the marking region 8 (without considering the ruby number), the number of characters in the answer column becomes larger than the number of characters in the marking region 8. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 5, when processing is performed to add the number of margins to the number of characters in the marking area 8 a, the number of characters in the marking area 8 a is “3”, so the number of answer column characters is “5 ( = 3 + 2) ", which is larger than the number of characters in the marking area 8a. In the example shown in FIG. 6, when processing is performed to add the number of margins to the number of characters in the marking area 8 b, the number of characters in the marking area 8 b is “4”. = 4 + 2) ", which is larger than the number of characters in the marking area 8b.

  Therefore, the ruby number of kanji with ruby in the marking area 8 (the number of characters in the character near the marking area 9), the number of kanji characters without ruby in the marking area 8 (not weighted), and the number of non-kanji characters in the marking area 8 The number of characters obtained by adding up and adding the number of margins to the total value may be obtained as the number of characters in the answer column. Alternatively, the number of characters obtained by adding the number of margins to the number of characters in the marking area 8 may be obtained as the number of characters in the answer column. In other words, the number of characters in the answer field includes the number of kanji characters with ruby (not the number of ruby characters) in the marking area 8, the number of kanji characters without ruby (not weighted) in the marking area 8, and the number of non-kanji characters in the marking area 8. And the total number of characters plus the number of margins.

  Next, the size in the second direction of the answer column 10 is changed to a size corresponding to the size in the height direction per character set on the setting screen 700 (see FIG. 3). For example, the image processing unit 113 sets the size in the height direction per character set on the setting screen 700 as the size in the second direction of the answer column 10. Thereby, the size in the second direction of the answer column 10 increases as the size in the height direction per character set on the setting screen 700 increases. When the size in the height direction per character set on the setting screen 700 is too small, the size in the second direction of the answer column 10 becomes smaller than the size in the second direction of the marking area 8. There is. In this case, the setting on the setting screen 700 may be invalidated, and the size in the second direction of the answer column 10 may be made larger than the size of the marking region 8 in the second direction.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the marking area 8 is converted into the answer column 10, the image processing unit 113 answers the first image 80 </ b> A and the second image 80 </ b> B existing before and after the marking area 8 in the first direction. The distance L1 between the first image 80A and the second image 80B is made larger so as not to overlap the column 10. For example, the image processing unit 113 moves the second image 80B in the direction D11 away from the marking area 8.

  Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the image processing unit 113 causes the third image 80 </ b> C to prevent the third image 80 </ b> C and the fourth image 80 </ b> D existing before and after the marking region 8 in the second direction from overlapping the answer column 10. And the fourth image 80D are further increased in distance L2. For example, the image processing unit 113 moves the entire row including the fourth image 80D in the direction D12 away from the marking area 8. Then, the image processing unit 113 arranges a line including the marking area 8 at a middle position in the second direction between the line including the third image 80C and the line including the fourth image 80D (the line including the marking area 8). The whole is moved in the direction D12 away from the third image 80C).

  Thereby, image data D2 of the worm-eaten problem as shown in FIG. 7 is generated. Also, the image data D2 of the worm-eaten problem is output to the printing unit 2. Note that the worm-eaten problem image data D <b> 2 output to the printing unit 2 is converted into exposure control data for controlling the exposure device 53. Then, the printing unit 2 prints the worm-eaten problem on a sheet based on the worm-eaten problem image data D2 (exposure control data).

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the image 80B existing behind the marking region 8 in the first direction is shifted in the direction D11, and the row including the marking region 8 and the rear of the row in the second direction. The existing row is shifted in the direction D12. For this reason, the paper size of the paper on which the worm-eaten problem is printed is larger than the document size of the document on which the worm-eaten problem is based.

  Here, the image data D2 of the worm-eaten problem may be converted into a predetermined document format. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, each line feed position of the document including the worm-feeding problem may be matched.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, the flow of processing when generating image data D2 for a worm-eaten problem will be described. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 12, target image data D1 (image data of a document that is a basis for the worm-feeding problem) is transferred to the image processing unit 113, and the control unit 110 sends the image data D2 of the worm-feeding problem to the image processing unit 113. Starts when a creation command is given.

  In step S1, the image processing unit 113 determines the marking area 8 from the target image data D1. Subsequently, in step S <b> 2, the image processing unit 113 performs character recognition processing on the marking area 8 and the marking vicinity area 9. In step S3, the image processing unit 113 recognizes the number of characters in the marking area 8 (numbers of kanji with ruby, kanji without ruby, and non-kanji) and recognizes the number of characters in the neighborhood 9 of the marking (number of ruby). .

  In step S4, the image processing unit 113 counts the number of ruby kanji characters in the marking area 8 (the number of characters in the marking vicinity area 9) and the number of characters obtained by multiplying the number of characters in the marking area 8 without ruby characters by a weighting factor, The number of non-kanji characters in the marking area 8 is summed, and the number of characters obtained by adding the number of margins to the total value is obtained as the number of characters in the answer column. Thereafter, in step S5, the image processing unit 113 determines the size of the answer column 10 based on the number of characters in the answer column and the character size set on the setting screen 700 (see FIG. 3).

  In step S <b> 6, the image processing unit 113 converts the marking area 8 of the target image data D <b> 1 into the answer column 10. Thereby, the image data D2 of the worm-eaten problem is generated. In step S <b> 7, the image processing unit 113 outputs the image data D <b> 2 (exposure control data) for the worm-eaten problem to the printing unit 2. Receiving the image data D2, the printing unit 2 prints the worm-eaten problem on a sheet and outputs the sheet.

  As described above, the MFP 100 (image processing apparatus) of the present embodiment includes the image reading unit 1 (input unit) for inputting the target image data D1 (image data of a document including a document) to the MFP 100, and Image processing for determining the marking area 8 marked by the user from the communication section 120 (input section) and the target image data D1, and generating image data D2 of the worm-eaten problem in which the marking area 8 is converted into a blank answer column 10 Unit 113. The image processing unit 113 recognizes the number of characters in the marking area 8 by performing character recognition processing for recognizing the characters in the marking area 8 when generating the worm-eaten problem image data D2. The number of characters obtained by adding the number of margins to the number of characters in the marking area 8 is obtained as the number of answer column characters, and the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction, which is the direction in which the document is written, is changed to a size corresponding to the number of answer column characters.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, the size in the first direction of the answer column 10 is changed to a size corresponding to the number of characters in the answer column. Here, since the number of characters in the answer column is the number of characters obtained by adding the number of margins to the number of characters in the marking region 8, the number of characters in the answer column is larger than the number of characters in the marking region 8. Therefore, when the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction is changed to a size corresponding to the number of characters in the answer column, the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction becomes larger than the size of the marking region 8 in the first direction. In other words, the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction does not become smaller than the size of the marking area 8 in the first direction. As a result, there is a disadvantage that it becomes difficult to enter characters in the answer column 10 due to the size of the answer column 10 of the worm-eaten problem sheet printed based on the worm-eaten problem image data D2 being too small. Can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the image processing unit 113 classifies the characters in the marking area 8 into kanji and non-kanji characters, and on both sides in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the marking area 8. By recognizing the ruby struck by the kanji in the marking area 8 by performing the character recognition process on the marking vicinity area 9 which is one of the areas and the vicinity of the marking area 8, The kanji in the marking area 8 is further classified into kanji with ruby and kanji without ruby, and the number of characters in the answer column is the sum of the number of ruby characters with ruby, the number of characters with no ruby, and the number of non-kanji characters plus the number of margins. Asking. According to this configuration, if a kanji with ruby is marked, the number of characters of the kanji with ruby is the number of ruby characters assigned to the kanji. For example, if the ruby “jo” is given to the kanji character “up”, the number of kanji characters is “1”, but the number of ruby numbers is “3”. Becomes “3”. Thereby, the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction becomes larger. Therefore, when entering characters corresponding to kanji with ruby characters in hiragana, it is possible to suppress the inconvenience that there is not enough space in the answer column 10.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the image processing unit 113 multiplies the number of characters of ruby-free kanji by a predetermined weight coefficient when determining the number of characters in the answer column. According to this configuration, if a ruby-free kanji character is marked, the number of characters of the ruby-free kanji character is set to the number of characters multiplied by a weighting factor. For example, in the case of the Chinese character “End”, the number of characters as “Kanji” is “1”, but since the number of characters is multiplied by a weighting factor (“3”), the number of characters of the Chinese character “End” is “3”. Thereby, the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction becomes larger. Therefore, in the case where characters corresponding to kanji without ruby are written in hiragana, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of inconvenience that there is not enough space in the answer column 10.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the operation panel 7 (accepting unit) accepts the setting of the weighting coefficient from the user. Then, the image processing unit 113 multiplies the number of characters of ruby-free kanji by the weighting coefficient received by the operation panel 7 when determining the number of characters in the answer column. According to this configuration, the size adjustment (change of the weighting factor) in the first direction of the answer column 10 can be easily performed, so that the convenience of the problem creator is improved. For example, when it is desired to increase the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction, it is only necessary to increase the value input to the input column 703 of the setting screen 700.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the operation panel 7 (accepting unit) accepts the setting of the number of margins from the user. Then, the image processing unit 113 uses the number of margins received by the operation panel 7 when determining the number of characters in the answer column. According to this configuration, it is possible to easily adjust the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction (change the number of margins), so that the convenience of the problem creator is improved. For example, if it is desired to increase the size of the answer column 10 in the first direction, the value input in the input column 701 of the setting screen 700 need only be increased.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the operation panel 7 receives a character size setting from the user. Then, the image processing unit 113 increases the size of the answer column 10 in the second direction as the character size received by the operation panel 7 increases. According to this configuration, the size adjustment (change of the character size) in the second direction of the answer column 10 can be easily performed, so that the convenience of the problem creator is improved. For example, when it is desired to increase the size of the answer column 10 in the second direction, it is only necessary to increase the value input to the input column 702 of the setting screen 700.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, when the image processing unit 113 converts the marking area 8 into the answer column 10, the distance between the images existing before and after the marking area 8 in the first direction is determined as the current distance. And the distance between images existing in the second direction of the marking area 8 is made larger than the current distance. Thereby, even if the size of the answer column 10 is enlarged with respect to the size of the marking area 8, the answer column 10 does not overlap other images.

  It should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the description of the above-described embodiment but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes meanings equivalent to the scope of claims for patent and all modifications within the scope.

1 Image reading unit (input unit)
2 Printing Department 7 Operation Panel (Reception Department)
8 Marking area 9 Marking vicinity area 10 Answer field 113 Image processing part 120 Communication part (input part)

Claims (8)

An input unit for inputting image data of a document including a document to the image processing apparatus;
An image processing unit that determines a marking area marked by a user from the image data of the document and generates image data of a worm-eaten problem in which the marking area is converted into a blank answer field;
The image processing unit recognizes the number of characters existing in the marking area by performing a character recognition process for recognizing the character in the marking area when generating image data of the worm-eaten problem, and The number of characters obtained by adding the number of margins to the number of characters in the area is obtained as the number of characters in the answer column, and the size of the answer column in the first direction, which is the direction in which the document is written, is changed to a size corresponding to the number of characters in the answer column Image processing device.   The image processing unit categorizes the characters in the marking area into kanji and non-kanji characters, and is an area on one side of areas on both sides in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the marking area. By performing the character recognition process on the marking vicinity area, which is an area in the vicinity of the marking area, by recognizing ruby struck by the kanji in the marking area, the kanji in the marking area is changed to kanji with ruby and ruby. It is further classified into no-kanji characters, and the number of characters obtained by adding the margin number to the sum of the number of ruby-characters with ruby, the number of characters with no-ruby characters, and the number of non-kanji characters is obtained as the number of characters in the answer column, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing unit multiplies the number of characters of the ruby-free kanji by a predetermined weighting factor when obtaining the number of characters in the answer column. A reception unit for receiving the setting of the weighting coefficient from a user;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image processing unit multiplies the number of characters of the kanji without ruby by the weight coefficient received by the reception unit when obtaining the number of characters in the answer column. A reception unit for receiving a setting of the margin number from a user;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit uses the number of margins received by the reception unit when determining the number of characters in the answer column. It has a reception unit that accepts text size settings from users,
The said image processing part enlarges the size of the 2nd direction orthogonal to the said 1st direction of the said answer column, so that the said character size received by the said reception part is large. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.   The image processing unit, when converting the marking area into the answer column, makes the distance between images existing before and after the marking area in the first direction larger than the current distance, and the marking area of the marking area The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between images existing in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is made larger than a current distance.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a printing unit that performs printing based on the image data of the worm-eaten problem generated by the image processing unit.