JP3987066B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program for aggregate printing that print image data obtained from a plurality of documents on a single output sheet, and more particularly to collectively print a plurality of documents of different sizes. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program suitable for the case.

  Conventionally, for example, a technique related to an image forming apparatus that combines and forms an image from a plurality of documents on the same sheet is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-335388. The image forming apparatus includes a paper size detecting unit that detects a paper size, a document size detecting unit that detects a document size, a counter that counts the number of documents, and a plurality of document images that are formed on the same sheet without overlapping. A margin interval setting means for setting a margin interval between images. Then, a reduction ratio is determined based on the total size of the placed originals calculated from the number of originals and the original size, the margin space between images, and the paper size, and a plurality of original images are reduced and overlapped on one sheet. Make it imageless. The margin interval is set in advance. Further, in order to improve the appearance of the composite image, the margin interval of the image is automatically set based on the selected paper size.

  In this case, a predetermined table is prepared in advance, and an image margin interval is set in association with the paper size. Furthermore, since the appearance of the original also changes depending on the size of the conveyed original, the margin interval of the image is automatically set based on the original size. On the other hand, for example, one copy of a document placed on the document feeder is set to the same magnification, so that two figure originals can be reduced and combined to be copied. Do. As described above, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which originals of the same size are formed on the same sheet with a margin interval and reduced and formed without overlapping.

  Further, as an image forming apparatus that forms an image by setting a margin on a read original, for example, a technique disclosed in the following Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-86832) has been proposed. In this technology, when an image is formed by setting a margin on a read original, an image processing unit that performs image scaling to form an image so that the image including the original and the margin fits in a designated transfer paper size is formed. It is provided. As described above, the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2 solves the inconvenience that the margin cannot be set for the standard paper, and the paper becomes a non-standard size even if the margin is set. is there.

JP-A-2002-335388 (paragraph [solution], paragraph [0036] to paragraph [0044], paragraph [0047] to paragraph [0050]) JP 2002-86832 A (paragraph [0006], paragraph [0008], paragraph [0043] to paragraph [0052])

  However, in the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, an original is of the same size and is provided with a margin gap to reduce the image to one sheet of paper, and the original size is It is not considered that images are reduced on the same sheet when they are different from each other. In addition, the prior art of Patent Document 1 does not consider setting margins such as staples, memos, and inserted images used after printing in advance. On the other hand, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, image formation is performed by adding a margin to a single document and scaling the image to a single sheet. It is not considered to form an image on a sheet. Therefore, these conventional techniques have a problem that it is impossible to print on a single output sheet with margins for a plurality of originals having different sizes.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program capable of eliminating the conventional problems and collecting and printing in a proper size even if the originals have different sizes. With the goal.

In order to solve the above problem, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present application is an image forming apparatus for collective printing that prints image data obtained from a plurality of originals on one output sheet.
A document placement means for placing the plurality of documents in a document rendering area on the output paper with a minimum margin based on one corner of the document rendering area;
Scaling processing means for scaling the size of the plurality of documents so that they all fit within the document rendering area;
The document placement means changes the plurality of documents at the same magnification in the document rendering area on the output sheet so that the total area of the plurality of documents fits in the document rendering area. An image forming apparatus, wherein the plurality of originals are arranged with a minimum blank space in order from the largest original starting from one corner .

  The invention according to claim 2 relates to the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a margin generating unit that generates a margin area on output paper, and the margin generating unit includes: It is characterized in that setting data for generating margins for staples, memos, inserted images and the like used after printing is generated in advance.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the scaling processing means causes the image data of the plurality of originals to protrude from the original drawing area. A first scaling process that is scaled at the same magnification so as to fit in, and after the first scaling process, the plurality of documents are independently scaled until there is no blank space in the document drawing area. The second scaling process can be selected.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 4 of the present application is an image forming apparatus for collective printing in which image data obtained from a plurality of originals is printed on one output sheet.
Document margin removing means for recognizing document margin areas in the plurality of documents and removing the document margin areas to reduce the size of the plurality of documents;
A document placement means for placing the plurality of documents in a document rendering area on the output paper with a minimum margin based on one corner of the document rendering area;
Scaling processing means for scaling the size of the plurality of documents so that they all fit within the document rendering area;
The document margin removing means removes the margin area so as to change the document to a minimum sheet size that can accommodate all of the drawing area of the document within a specified sheet size .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect , further comprising a boundary creating means for forming a boundary between a plurality of originals placed on the output paper by the original placement means. It is characterized by providing.

Further, the invention according to claim 6, relates to an image forming apparatus according to claim 4, the image forming apparatus has a margin generating means for generating a blank area in an output sheet, the margin generating means, It is characterized in that setting data for generating margins for staples, memos, inserted images and the like used after printing is generated in advance.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect , wherein the document placement means has a total area of the plurality of documents in the document drawing area on the output paper. After changing the plurality of documents at the same magnification so as to fit in the area, the plurality of documents are arranged with the minimum blank space in order from the largest document starting from one corner of the document drawing area. To do.

An eighth aspect of the present invention relates to the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect , wherein the scaling processing unit causes the image data of the plurality of originals to protrude from the original drawing area. A first scaling process that is scaled at the same magnification so as to fit in, and after the first scaling process, the plurality of documents are independently scaled until there is no blank space in the document drawing area. The second scaling process can be selected.

An image forming method according to claim 9 of the present application is an image forming method for collective printing in which image data obtained from a plurality of documents is printed on one output sheet.
Placing the plurality of documents in the document drawing area on the output paper with a minimum of blanks based on one corner of the document drawing area; and
And processing by scaling the to fit all sizes of the plurality of originals on the document depiction region Ri Tona,
The step of arranging the plurality of originals includes changing the plurality of originals at the same magnification in the original drawing area on the output paper so that a total area of the plurality of originals fits in the original drawing area. The method includes a process of arranging the plurality of documents with the minimum blank space in order from the largest document starting from one corner of the document drawing area .

The invention according to claim 10 relates to the image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein the image forming method further includes a step of generating a blank area on the output sheet,
The step of generating the margin area is characterized in that setting data for preliminarily securing a margin for a staple, a memo, an inserted image, and the like used after printing is generated.

The invention described in Claim 11 relates to an image forming method according to claim 9, the step of processing by scaling the plurality of originals, the image data of the plurality of document on the document depiction area A first scaling process step that is scaled at the same magnification so as to fit within the document drawing area, and after the first scaling process, the plurality of documents are processed until there is no blank space in the image. Each of the steps includes a second scaling process step for independently scaling, and the first scaling process step and the second scaling process step can be selected.

An image forming method according to claim 12 of the present application is an image forming method for collective printing in which image data obtained from a plurality of originals is printed on one output sheet.
Recognizing document margin areas in the plurality of documents and removing the document margin areas to reduce the size of the plurality of documents;
Placing the plurality of documents in the document drawing area on the output paper with a minimum of blanks based on one corner of the document drawing area; and
And processing by scaling the to fit all sizes of the plurality of originals on the document representation area, Ri Do a color,
The step of reducing the size of the original includes a process of removing a blank area so that the original is changed to a minimum paper size that can accommodate all of the drawing area of the original in a specified paper size .

The invention according to claim 13 relates to the image forming method according to claim 12 , and further, a boundary is formed at a boundary between the plurality of documents arranged on the output sheet by the step of arranging the plurality of documents. The step which performs is characterized by the above-mentioned.

The invention according to claim 14 relates to the image forming method according to claim 12 , wherein the image forming method further includes a step of generating a blank area on the output paper,
The step of generating the margin area is characterized in that setting data for preliminarily securing a margin for a staple, a memo, an inserted image, and the like used after printing is generated.

The invention according to claim 15 relates to the image forming method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of arranging the plurality of documents includes a total area of the plurality of documents in the document drawing area on the output sheet. After the plurality of documents are changed at the same magnification to a size that fits in the document drawing area, the plurality of documents are arranged with a minimum of blanks in order from the largest document starting from one corner of the document drawing area. It is characterized by.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming method according to the twelfth aspect , in the step of scaling the plurality of documents, the image data of the plurality of documents is stored in the document rendering area. A first scaling process step that is scaled at the same magnification so as to fit within the document drawing area, and after the first scaling process, the plurality of documents are processed until there is no blank space in the image. Each of the steps includes a second scaling process step for independently scaling, and the first scaling process step and the second scaling process step can be selected.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program that configures an image forming apparatus for aggregate printing that prints image data obtained from a plurality of documents on a single output sheet.
A process of arranging the plurality of documents in the document rendering area on the output paper with a minimum of blanks based on one corner of the document rendering area;
A process of resizing the plurality of originals so that they all fit within the original drawing area;
In the process of arranging the plurality of documents, after changing the plurality of documents at the same magnification so that the total area of the plurality of documents fits in the document drawing area on the output paper, And a process of arranging the plurality of originals with the minimum blank space in order from the largest original starting from one corner of the original drawing area .

The invention according to claim 18 relates to the program according to claim 17 , a process for generating setting data for preliminarily securing margins for staples, notes, inserted images, and the like used after printing;
And generating a margin area on the output sheet based on the setting data.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the invention, there is provided the program according to the seventeenth aspect , wherein in the process of scaling the plurality of originals, the image data of the plurality of originals is included in the original drawing area. A first scaling process that is scaled at the same magnification so as to fit without protruding, and the plurality of documents are independently processed after the first scaling process until there is no space in the document drawing area. A second scaling process for scaling is executed, and the first scaling process and the second scaling process can be selected.

A program according to claim 20 of the present application is provided in a computer constituting an image forming apparatus for aggregate printing that prints image data obtained from a plurality of originals on a single output sheet.
Processing for recognizing document margin areas in the plurality of documents and removing the document margin areas to reduce the size of the plurality of documents;
A process of arranging the plurality of documents in the document rendering area on the output paper with a minimum of blanks based on one corner of the document rendering area;
A process of scaling the size of the plurality of documents so that they all fit within the document rendering area ,
The processing to reduce the size of the document, characterized by processing der Rukoto removing the blank region to change to a minimum paper size drawing area of the document of the paper size specified document fits all.

The invention according to claim 21 relates to the program according to claim 20 , and further, a process of forming a boundary at a boundary between the plurality of documents placed on the output paper by the process of placing the plurality of documents. Is executed.

The invention according to claim 22 relates to the program according to claim 20 , and processing for generating setting data for preliminarily securing margins for staples, memos, inserted images, and the like used after printing;
And generating a margin area on the output sheet based on the setting data.

The invention according to claim 23 relates to the program according to claim 20 , wherein in the process of arranging the plurality of documents, the total area of the plurality of documents is in the document drawing area on the output sheet. After changing the plurality of documents to the size that fits in the document drawing area at the same magnification, a process is performed in which the plurality of documents are arranged with the minimum blank space in order from the largest document starting from one corner of the document drawing area. It is characterized by making it.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the invention, in the program according to the twentieth aspect , in the process of scaling the plurality of originals, the image data of the plurality of originals is included in the original drawing area. A first scaling process that is scaled at the same magnification so as to fit without protruding, and the plurality of documents are independently processed after the first scaling process until there is no space in the document drawing area. A second scaling process for scaling is executed, and the first scaling process and the second scaling process can be selected.

The present invention has the following excellent effects by including the above-described configuration. That is, in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 1 of the present application, the plurality of documents are placed in the document drawing area by the document placement unit so that the total area of the plurality of documents fits in the document drawing area. After changing the magnification, a plurality of originals are arranged with the minimum blank space in order from the largest original starting from one corner of the original drawing area , and the plurality of originals are placed in the original drawing area by the scaling processing means. Since scaling is performed so that all the images can be accommodated, a plurality of documents are printed with a minimum amount of blanks without protruding from the output paper. Therefore, a plurality of originals of different sizes are printed on the output paper in the most efficient state, and the setting operation is easy.

In the inventions according to claims 2 and 6 of the present application, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 4 uses the margin generation means to generate a margin area for a staple, a memo, an inserted image, and the like used after printing by the user. Can be generated in advance on the output paper according to the application. Accordingly, a plurality of originals are printed with a minimum of blanks without protruding from the output paper in a state where the margin area to be used later is secured on the output paper. For this reason, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 of the present application, a plurality of originals having different sizes are printed on the output paper in a state where the margin area is secured, and the setting operation is easy. Has an effect.

In the invention according to claim 7 of the present application, the document placement means changes the size of the plurality of documents to fit in the document description area on the output paper, and the plurality of documents are processed based on the base point of the document description area. Arrange in order. Therefore, there is an effect that a plurality of documents of different sizes can be efficiently arranged on one output sheet.

In the inventions according to claims 3 and 8 of the present application, only the first scaling process is selected by the scaling processing means to scale the plurality of documents at the same magnification, and the first scaling process is performed. It is possible to independently scale the plurality of originals until there is no blank space by selecting to perform the second scaling process after the scaling process. Therefore, even if a slight blank is generated, it is possible to achieve easy-to-read consolidated printing in which a plurality of originals are scaled at the same magnification, and the use of paper on which a plurality of originals are scaled independently to eliminate blanks. The achievement of efficient consolidated printing has an effect that can be arbitrarily selected.

In the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 4 of the present application, the document margin removing unit recognizes the document margin areas of a plurality of documents, and the document is the smallest sheet in which all the drawing areas of the document fit within a specified sheet size. The plurality of originals are reduced by removing the original margin area so as to change the size . For this reason, since the reduced original also has a standard paper size, the original arrangement by the original arrangement unit can be easily performed, and the original does not become difficult to view even after being scaled by the scaling unit. Have Further, the plurality of reduced originals are arranged in the original drawing area with a minimum blank space by the original arrangement means, and the plurality of originals are scaled by the scaling processing means so as to be all within the original drawing area. Therefore, a plurality of originals are printed with a minimum of blanks without protruding from the output paper. Therefore, a plurality of originals of different sizes are printed on the output paper in the most efficient state, and the setting operation is facilitated.

Also, in the invention according to claim 5 of the present application, by providing boundaries at the outer edge portions of the plurality of documents by the boundary generation unit, the document reduced by the document margin removal unit is arranged on the output paper by the document placement unit. In this case, the boundary portion between the plurality of originals is not easily understood, and it is possible to perform collective printing that is easy to see.

In the image forming method of the invention according to claim 9 of the present application , the plurality of documents are arranged at the same magnification so that the total area of the plurality of documents fits in the document drawing area on the output paper. After the change, the document is arranged in a step of arranging a plurality of documents with the minimum blank space in order from the largest document starting from one corner of the document description area , and the plurality of documents are all placed in the document description area. Since the original is scaled by the step of scaling the size so that it can be accommodated, a plurality of originals are printed with a minimum of white space without protruding from the output paper. Therefore, a plurality of originals of different sizes are printed on the output paper in the most efficient state, and the setting operation is easy.

The invention according to claims 10 and 14 of the present application further includes a step of generating a blank area on the output paper, and the step of generating the blank area allows the user to use staples, memos, and inserts after printing. This has the effect that a margin area for an image or the like can be generated in advance on the output paper in accordance with its use.

In the invention according to claim 15 of the present application, the step of arranging a plurality of originals changes the size of the plurality of originals to fit in the original drawing area on the output paper. The originals are arranged in order. Therefore, there is an effect that a plurality of documents of different sizes can be efficiently arranged on one output sheet.

In the inventions according to claims 11 and 16 of the present application, the step of scaling and processing a plurality of originals so that the image data of the plurality of originals does not protrude from the original drawing area into the original drawing area. And a second scaling step for independently scaling each of the plurality of originals until there is no blank space in the image after the first scaling processing is performed. It consists of a step of doubling processing, and it can be selected to execute only the first scaling processing or to execute the second scaling processing after the first scaling processing. Therefore, even if a slight blank is generated, it is possible to achieve easy-to-view consolidated printing in which a plurality of originals are all scaled at the same magnification, and use of a paper surface in which a plurality of originals are independently scaled to eliminate blanks. The achievement of efficient consolidated printing has an effect that can be arbitrarily selected.

In the image forming method according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the document margin area of a plurality of documents is recognized, and the document is changed to a minimum sheet size that can accommodate all the drawing areas of the document out of a specified sheet size. Further, the plurality of originals are reduced by removing the original margin area . For this reason, since the reduced original also has a standard paper size, the original arrangement by the original arrangement unit can be easily performed, and the original does not become difficult to view even after being scaled by the scaling unit. Have Further, the document is arranged in the document drawing area on the output sheet by a step of arranging the plurality of documents with a minimum of a blank with respect to one corner of the document drawing area, and the plurality of documents are arranged in the document drawing area. Since the original is scaled by the step of scaling the size so as to fit all within the document, a plurality of originals are printed with a minimum of blanks without protruding from the output paper. Therefore, a plurality of originals of different sizes are printed on the output paper in the most efficient state, and the setting operation is easy.

Further, in the invention according to claim 13 of the present application, by providing boundaries at the outer edge portions of the plurality of documents, it is difficult to understand the boundary portions between the plurality of documents when the reduced documents are arranged on the output paper. In addition, there is an effect that it is possible to perform collective printing that is easy to see.

The program of the invention according to claim 17 of the present application is a program supplied to a computer constituting an image forming apparatus for collective copying that prints image data obtained from a plurality of documents on one output sheet. The program causes the computer constituting the image forming apparatus to place the plurality of documents at the same magnification in the document drawing area on the output paper so that the total area of the plurality of documents fits in the document drawing area. After the change, a process of arranging the plurality of documents with the minimum blank space in order from the largest document starting from one corner of the document drawing area, and so that the plurality of documents all fit in the document drawing area This is a program for executing a process of changing the size. For this reason, an image forming apparatus using this program prints a plurality of originals with a minimum of white space without protruding from the output paper, so that a plurality of originals of different sizes are most efficiently used on the output paper. In this case, the setting operation is easy.

In the inventions according to claims 18 and 22 of the present application, processing for generating setting data for preliminarily securing margins for staples, memos, inserted images and the like used after printing in a computer constituting the image forming apparatus; And a process of generating a margin area on the output sheet based on the setting data. Therefore, an image forming apparatus using this program has an effect that a margin area for a staple, a memo, an inserted image, and the like used after printing by a user can be generated in advance on output paper according to the application.

  In the invention according to claim 23 of the present application, when the image forming apparatus executes the process of arranging a plurality of documents, the size of the plurality of documents is changed to fit in the document drawing area on the output paper, A process for sequentially arranging a plurality of documents based on the base point of the area is executed. Therefore, an image forming apparatus using this program has an effect that a plurality of originals of different sizes can be efficiently arranged on one output sheet.

Further, in the inventions according to claims 19 and 24 of the present application, when executing the process of scaling a plurality of originals, the image data of the plurality of originals is accommodated in the original drawing area without protruding from the original drawing area. A first scaling process for scaling at the same magnification, and a second scaling process for independently scaling the plurality of documents until there is no blank space in the document rendering area after the first scaling process is performed. It consists of two steps with the scaling process, and it is possible to select to execute only the first scaling process or to execute the second scaling process after the first scaling process. For this reason, an image forming apparatus using this program can easily print a plurality of originals that have been scaled at the same magnification even if a slight blank is generated, or a plurality of originals can be independently scaled and blanked. It is possible to arbitrarily select any one of the aggregate prints with high use efficiency of the paper without the above.

The program of the invention according to claim 20 of the present application is a program supplied to a computer constituting an image forming apparatus for collective copying that prints image data obtained from a plurality of originals on one output sheet. The program includes a process for arranging the plurality of documents in the document drawing area on the output sheet with a minimum of a blank based on one corner of the document drawing area, and a computer constituting the image forming apparatus. A process of arranging the plurality of documents in the upper document drawing area with a minimum of a blank with respect to one corner of the document drawing area, and a size so that the plurality of documents are all accommodated in the document drawing area. program der to execute the process of zooming is, processing to reduce the size of the document, the minimum use of the drawing area of the document of the paper size specified document fits all Ru processing der to remove the blank area to change the size. For this reason, the image forming apparatus using this program can easily place the original by the original placement means because the reduced original also has a standard paper size, and has been scaled by the scaling processing means. There is an effect that the manuscript does not become difficult to see later. Also, since a plurality of originals are printed with a minimum of white space without protruding from the output paper , a plurality of originals of different sizes are printed on the output paper in the most efficient state, and the setting operation is easy. Has the effect of

In the program according to claim 21 of the present application, the image forming apparatus using this program arranges the reduced original on the output paper by executing a process of providing boundaries on the outer edge portions of the plurality of originals. In this case, the boundary portion between the plurality of documents is not easily understood, and it is possible to perform collective printing that is easy to see.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below exemplify an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and are not intended to specify the present invention. And other embodiments within the scope of the claims are equally applicable.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a printing system to which an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a setting state of output paper according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation in the system, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the process from generation of image data for aggregate printing from a document in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (E). FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a scaling process subroutine in FIG. 3.

  A printing system 1 to which an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied includes a host device 2, a printing image data forming unit 3, and an engine unit 4, as shown in FIG. The image data generated by the host device 2 is sent to the printing image data forming unit 3, converted into predetermined printing image data by the printing image data forming unit 3, and printed by the engine unit 4 for printing. It is sent as data.

  The print image data forming unit 3 includes an arithmetic processing circuit 31 and a host buffer 32. The arithmetic processing circuit 31 includes an interface unit 311, a print control unit 312, a margin generation unit 313, a document placement unit 314, a scaling processing unit 315, an image data formation unit 316, and an output control unit 317. The image data sent from the host device 2 is received by the interface unit 311 and stored in the host buffer 32. The print control unit 312 is configured to be able to set printing conditions such as the number of printed sheets, paper size, font size, and the like by an input operation from an operation panel (not shown).

  The margin generation unit 313 generates margin setting data by an input operation from the operation panel. Further, in the document placement unit 314 and the scaling processing unit 315, the print condition of the image data is processed by the setting data of the print control unit 312 and the margin generation unit 313. The processed image data is formed as image data for printing in the image data forming unit 316 and sent from the output control unit 317 to the engine unit 4. Note that the generation of a margin area by the margin generation unit 313 is not necessarily required, and is used only when it is desired to set an area for stapling or the like. Therefore, when no margin area is generated, the entire output sheet is used as the document drawing area.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the margin generation unit 313 is for forming a margin area 51 for, for example, a staple, a memo, an inserted image, and the like used after printing on a vertical A4 size output sheet 5. That is, the margin generation unit 313 generates setting data related to the margin area 51. The document placement unit 314 and the scaling processing unit 315 automatically reduce the document so that a plurality of documents can be accommodated in the document drawing area 52 except for the margin area 51 of the output paper 5. Are to be arranged. The original placement unit 314 is provided with a program for performing control for setting an appropriate placement relationship according to the relationship between the area of the original drawing area 52 and the size of the original because the paper used is a standard size. Further, regarding the original arrangement, the original size is a predetermined standard paper size (for example, A4, B5, etc.), and the arrangement relationship may be set in advance by a combination thereof.

  Next, the operation of the printing system 1 to which the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration is applied will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S <b> 1, it is determined whether the image data generated by the host device 2 has been received by the interface unit 311. When received, the image data is held in the host buffer 32. Next, the user sets printing paper by an input operation on the operation panel. Then, as shown in step S2, it is determined whether or not the user has performed a margin setting operation on the operation panel. When the user sets a margin by an operation on the operation panel, the margin generation unit 313 generates predetermined margin setting data in the next step S3. In step S4, it is determined whether or not the user has designated aggregate printing. If it is determined that aggregate printing is specified, the image data processing process for automatic document placement by the document placement unit 314 in step S5 and the scaling process by the scaling processing unit 315 in step S6 are determined. The image data is processed.

  For details of operations from margin generation to scaling processing, for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, five originals 61, 62, 63, 64, and 65 having different sizes are output on A4 size output paper shown in FIG. A case of collective printing is described in FIG. Here, the document 61 is a folio size, the document 62 is an A4 size, the document 63 is a B5 size, the document 64 is an envelope (DL) size, and the document 65 is a B6 size.

  First, in the margin setting in step S3, the output paper 5 is set by the margin generation unit 313 as the margin area 51 and the others as the document drawing area 52 as shown in FIG. The automatic document placement by the document placement unit 314 in step S5 is first reduced at the same magnification until the total area of the five documents 61 to 65 falls within the document drawing area 52 as shown in FIG. Images 71, 72, 73, 74, and 75 are obtained. As shown in FIG. 4C, these reduced images 71 to 75 are arranged in descending order of area, but the image data 71 having the largest area is used as a reference with respect to the upper left corner of the document drawing area 52. To place. Then, the other images 72 to 75 are arranged in order from the larger side to the right and below the image 71.

  Further, when placing the other images 72 to 75, the document placement unit 314 places the portrait size on the right side and the landscape size on the bottom while taking into account the size of the margin. After the processing of the document placement unit 314 is completed, since there are still images 74 and 75 that protrude from the output paper 5, a scaling process is performed by the scaling process unit 315 in step S6.

This scaling process will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in the first scaling process in step S21, as shown in FIG. 4D, the images 71 to 75 are reduced at the same magnification so as to fit within the output paper 5, that is, the document drawing area 52, and the document 81, 82, 83, 84, 85 are obtained. This reduction ratio is slight. As a result of this arrangement, a slight blank 53 is generated in the document drawing area 52. In the next step S22, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to end the scaling process by the user. If it is determined in this determination result that there is no instruction to end the scaling process, in step S23, the vertical and horizontal magnifications of the respective images 81 to 85 are set until the blank 53 disappears as shown in FIG. A second scaling process is performed to obtain images 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95 independently changed. Upon completion of the second scaling process, the scaling process in step S6 is completed.

  Here, if the user wants to end the scaling process in the first scaling process and immediately start printing, an operation to that effect is determined in step S22 and the scaling process is terminated. In the first scaling process, the scaling process in step S21 is completed with the blank 53 shown in FIG.

  In this way, even if the scaling processing unit 315 generates a slight blank 53, as shown in FIG. 4D, the plurality of documents 61 to 65 are all converted into images 81 to 85 that have been scaled at the same magnification. Use of the output paper 5 that has been scaled to an easy-to-view state and that has a plurality of originals 61 to 65 independently scaled to obtain images 91 to 95 as shown in FIG. It is possible to select a magnification that is efficient. That is, the user can arbitrarily select the aggregate print shown in FIG. 4D and the aggregate print shown in FIG.

Data zooming process by magnification processing section 315 has been completed is stored as print image data in the image data forming unit 316. In step S 7, the image data of the image data forming unit 316 is sent to the engine unit 4 by the output control unit 317. In the next step S8, the end of the print job is determined, and the collective printing ends. If printing is performed without performing aggregate printing, it is determined in step S4 that the user has not issued an instruction for aggregate printing. Based on the determination result, the printing system 1 executes normal printing by instructing execution of printing in step S7.

Therefore, in the printing system 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the image data sent from the host device 2 is stored in the host buffer 32, and the margin area 51 is formed on the output paper 5 by the margin generation unit 313 before the aggregate printing. To do. Then, the printing system 1 scales the plurality of documents 61 to 65 by the document placement unit 314 to a size that can be accommodated in the document drawing area 52 excluding the margin area 51 on the output paper 5. 71 to 75 are sequentially arranged based on the base point on the document drawing area 52. Thereafter, the printing system 1, since the scaling to fit all of the plurality of originals 71 to 75 by the first variable magnification step S21 in scaling section 315 to the original drawing shooting region 52, later the output paper 5 A plurality of documents 81 to 85 are printed with the blank 53 being minimized without protruding from the output paper 5 in a state where the margin area 51 to be used is secured.

  For this reason, the result of the collective printing is a state in which the plurality of documents 61 to 65 are easy to see on the output paper 5 and the usage efficiency is high with the blank area 51 secured. In addition, the printing system 1 is arranged on the single output paper 5 with high use efficiency even if originals of different sizes are mixed in the plurality of originals 61 to 65, and the setting operation thereof is easy.

  Further, since the scaling processing unit 315 can select execution of the second scaling processing S23 after the first scaling processing S21, the plurality of documents 81 to 85 are independently scaled until there is no blank space. Integrated printing with high usage efficiency is achieved. On the other hand, if the enlargement / reduction processing unit 315 selects execution up to the first enlargement / reduction processing S21, there is an easy-to-see aggregate printing method in which a plurality of originals are all enlarged at the same magnification even if a slight blank is generated. realizable.

  Next, a printing system 1A to which an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied will be described below. 6 is a block diagram showing a printing system to which the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the printing system in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a subroutine for original margin removal processing in FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the standard paper size of the original is changed by the original margin removal process.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the printing system 1A according to the second embodiment is only provided with a document margin removing unit 318 and a boundary generating unit 319 in the arithmetic processing circuit 31 of the printing image data forming unit 3A. Unlike the above, since the other configurations are the same, only different points will be described below in order to avoid duplication of explanation, and those having the same configuration as the printing system 1 of the first embodiment are the same. Reference numerals will be given and description thereof will be omitted.

  The document margin removing unit 318 removes margin regions of a plurality of documents received from the host device 2 via the interface unit 311. In this method, first, image data transmitted from the host device 2 is used as print data. By converting to image data and recognizing a drawing area where a character or an image is drawn from the image data, a document blank area where an image is not drawn is removed, and the size of the document is reduced. In addition, the boundary generation unit 319 arranges the image data whose document size has been reduced by the document margin removal unit 318 as it is on the output sheet, and if scaling is performed, it becomes difficult to recognize the boundaries between the plurality of documents, and the output sheet In order to prevent the image from becoming difficult to see, a boundary for indicating the boundary portion of each original is provided at the outer edge of the reduced image data. As this boundary, a boundary line or a margin area of a predetermined size is provided. To form.

Next, the main routine of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
First, in step S31, it is determined whether or not the image data generated by the host device 2 has been received by the interface unit 311. When received, the image data is held in the host buffer 32. Next, the user sets printing paper by an input operation on the operation panel. Then, as shown in step S32, it is determined whether or not the user has performed a margin setting operation on the operation panel. When the user sets a margin by an operation on the operation panel, in the next step S33, the margin generating unit 313 generates predetermined margin setting data, proceeds to step S34, and the margin setting is performed in step S32. If no operation is performed, the process proceeds to step S34.

  Next, in step S34, it is determined whether or not the user has designated aggregate printing. If it is determined that the aggregate printing is designated, it is determined in step S35 whether the document margin removal setting is performed. If it is determined in step S35 that the document margin removal setting is not performed, the process proceeds to step S38 to perform document placement processing. If the document margin removal setting is performed, the process proceeds to step S36 and the document margin is set. An original margin is removed by the removal unit 318. This document margin removal method will be described in detail later.

  The image data from which the document margin has been removed in step S36 is provided with a boundary line by the boundary generation unit 319 at the outer edge before the subsequent document placement process. The plurality of pieces of image data provided with the boundary lines are transferred to the document placement process or the like in step S38. The document placement process and the subsequent scaling process are similar to the method described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the description thereof is omitted here.

A specific example of the document margin removing process shown in step S36 in the image forming process of the image forming apparatus will be described below with reference to FIGS.
When document margin removal processing is executed in step S36, as shown in FIG. 8, first, characters or photographs are drawn by scanning the document data 10 converted into image data in step S51. The drawn area 101 is detected. Since all the areas other than the detected drawing area 101 are the margin area 102 of the original, this area is unnecessary when a plurality of originals are collectively printed on one output sheet as in the present invention. Therefore, in the next step S52, the document blank area 102 is removed. As shown in FIG. 9, for example, in the original 10 drawn on A4 size paper, the original margin area 102 is removed by recognizing the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the drawing area 101 recognized as a rectangular shape. Among the paper sizes, the drawing area 101 can be drawn, and the smallest standard paper size is selected. In the case of the manuscript data 10 shown in FIG. 9, the minimum standard paper size that can draw the drawing area 101 is B5. Therefore, in step S53, the standard paper size preset in the original (A4 in FIG. 9). Is changed to the standard paper size selected in step S52 (B5 in FIG. 9), new document data 11 is created, and the process returns to step S37 and subsequent steps.

  In such document margin removal processing, the document margin is removed by reducing the document data to a predetermined standard paper size smaller than a preset standard paper size. Although some margin areas remain in the data, if the document margin is removed in this way, the new document data always has a predetermined standard paper size, so that it is easy to place the document during the document placement process in step S38. It is possible to prevent the characters of the original from being crushed due to subsequent scaling processing or the like. However, in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, the document size is not limited to the above-described document margin removal process, and the document size may be reduced by simply removing an area other than the drawing area, for example.

  In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the case where the originals are reduced and aggregated has been described. However, the present invention enlarges a small-size original and aggregates and prints it on a large-size output sheet. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to cases. Further, the generation of the margin area by the margin generation unit 313 is not necessarily required, and is used only when it is desired to set an area for stapling or the like. Therefore, when no margin area is generated, the entire output sheet is used as the document drawing area.

  In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the document placement unit 314 is automatically placed in the best fit state by calculation processing based on the size of the documents 71 to 75 and the shape and area of the document drawing area 52. However, it is also possible to perform a desired arrangement manually by the user without automatically performing the above.

  In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the document placement unit 314 is based on the upper left corner of the document rendering area 52, but may be based on the upper right corner of the document rendering area 52, for example. Other positions may be used as a reference.

1 is a block diagram showing a printing system to which an image forming apparatus in Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied. It is explanatory drawing which shows the setting state of the output paper in Example 1 of this invention. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the printing system of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a process from generation of image data for collective printing from a document according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a scaling process subroutine of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a printing system to which an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is applied; 7 is a flowchart showing the operation in the printing system of FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for document margin removal processing in FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where a standard sheet size of a document is changed by document margin removal processing.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A printing system 2 host device 3, 3A printing image data forming unit 4 engine unit 5 output paper 10 original data (before change)
11 Document data (after change)
31 arithmetic processing circuit 32 host buffer 51 margin area 52 original drawing area 53 blank 61-65 original 71-75 original 81-85 original 91-95 original 101 drawing area 102 original margin area 311 interface unit 312 print control unit 313 margin generation unit 314 Document placement unit 315 Scaling processing unit 316 Image data formation unit 317 Output control unit 318 Document margin removal unit 319 Boundary generation unit

Claims (24)

In an image forming apparatus for aggregate printing that prints image data obtained from a plurality of originals on a single output sheet,
A document placement means for placing the plurality of documents in a document rendering area on the output paper with a minimum margin based on one corner of the document rendering area;
Scaling processing means for scaling the size of the plurality of documents so that they all fit within the document rendering area;
The document placement means changes the plurality of documents at the same magnification in the document rendering area on the output sheet so that the total area of the plurality of documents fits in the document rendering area. An image forming apparatus, wherein the plurality of originals are arranged with a minimum blank space in order from the largest original starting from one corner .   The image forming apparatus includes a margin generation unit that generates a margin area on the output paper, and the margin generation unit generates setting data for securing a margin for a staple, a memo, an inserted image, and the like used after printing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The scaling processing means includes a first scaling process for scaling the image data of the plurality of documents at the same magnification so that the image data fits in the document rendering area without protruding from the document rendering area; 2. The second scaling process for independently scaling each of the plurality of documents until the blank space in the document drawing area is eliminated after the scaling process is performed. The image forming apparatus described. In an image forming apparatus for aggregate printing that prints image data obtained from a plurality of originals on a single output sheet,
Document margin removing means for recognizing document margin areas in the plurality of documents and removing the document margin areas to reduce the size of the plurality of documents;
A document placement means for placing the plurality of documents in a document rendering area on the output paper with a minimum margin based on one corner of the document rendering area;
Scaling processing means for scaling the size of the plurality of documents so that they all fit within the document rendering area;
The document margin removing unit removes a margin area so as to change the document to a minimum sheet size within which a drawing area of the document can be accommodated in a specified sheet size . The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a boundary creating unit that forms a boundary between a plurality of originals placed on the output paper by the original placing unit. The image forming apparatus includes a margin generation unit that generates a margin area on the output paper, and the margin generation unit generates setting data for securing a margin for a staple, a memo, an inserted image, and the like used after printing. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 . The document placement means changes the plurality of documents at the same magnification in the document rendering area on the output sheet so that the total area of the plurality of documents fits in the document rendering area. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of documents are arranged with a minimum blank space in order from the largest document starting from one corner. The scaling processing means includes a first scaling process for scaling the image data of the plurality of documents at the same magnification so that the image data fits in the document rendering area without protruding from the document rendering area; to claim 4, characterized in that the scaling processing is no so as to select the second scaling process for scaling each independently a plurality of document to the blank is eliminated on the document depiction area after being made The image forming apparatus described. In an image forming method for collective printing in which image data obtained from a plurality of originals is printed on one output sheet,
Placing the plurality of documents in the document drawing area on the output paper with a minimum of blanks based on one corner of the document drawing area; and
And processing by scaling the to fit all sizes of the plurality of originals on the document depiction region Ri Tona,
The step of arranging the plurality of originals includes changing the plurality of originals at the same magnification in the original drawing area on the output paper so that a total area of the plurality of originals fits in the original drawing area. An image forming method comprising a step of arranging the plurality of originals with a minimum of blanks in order from the largest original starting from one corner of the original drawing area . The image forming method further includes a step of generating a margin area on the output paper,
The image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of generating a margin area generates setting data for securing a margin in advance for a staple, a memo, an inserted image, and the like used after printing. The step of scaling and processing the plurality of documents is a first scaling that is scaled at the same magnification so that the image data of the plurality of documents fits in the document rendering area without protruding from the document rendering area. A processing step and a second scaling step for independently scaling each of the plurality of originals until there is no blank space in the image after the first scaling processing is performed. The image forming method according to claim 9 , wherein a processing step and a second scaling process step can be selected. In an image forming method for collective printing in which image data obtained from a plurality of originals is printed on one output sheet,
Recognizing document margin areas in the plurality of documents and removing the document margin areas to reduce the size of the plurality of documents;
Placing the plurality of documents in the document drawing area on the output paper with a minimum of blanks based on one corner of the document drawing area; and
And processing by scaling the to fit all sizes of the plurality of originals on the document depiction region Ri Tona,
The step of reducing the size of the document includes a process of removing a blank area so as to change the document to a minimum paper size that can accommodate all of the drawing area of the document within a specified paper size. Method. The image forming method according to claim 12 , further comprising a step of forming a boundary at a boundary between the plurality of documents placed on the output paper by the step of placing the plurality of documents. The image forming method further includes a step of generating a margin area on the output paper,
13. The image forming method according to claim 12 , wherein in the step of generating the margin area, setting data for securing a margin for a staple, a memo, an inserted image, and the like used after printing is generated in advance. The step of arranging the plurality of originals includes changing the plurality of originals at the same magnification in the original drawing area on the output paper so that a total area of the plurality of originals fits in the original drawing area. 13. The image forming method according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of originals are arranged with a minimum blank space in order from the largest original starting from one corner of the original drawing area. The step of scaling and processing the plurality of documents is a first scaling that is scaled at the same magnification so that the image data of the plurality of documents fits in the document rendering area without protruding from the document rendering area. A processing step and a second scaling step for independently scaling each of the plurality of originals until there is no blank space in the image after the first scaling processing is performed. 13. The image forming method according to claim 12 , wherein a processing step and a second scaling process step can be selected. In a computer constituting an image forming apparatus for aggregate printing that prints image data obtained from a plurality of originals on one output sheet,
A process of arranging the plurality of documents in the document rendering area on the output paper with a minimum of blanks based on one corner of the document rendering area;
A process of resizing the plurality of originals so that they all fit within the original drawing area;
In the process of arranging the plurality of documents, after changing the plurality of documents at the same magnification so that the total area of the plurality of documents fits in the document drawing area on the output paper, And a process of arranging the plurality of originals with a minimum of blanks in order from the largest original starting from one corner of the original drawing area . Processing for generating setting data for preliminarily securing margins for staples, memos, inserted images, and the like used after printing;
The program according to claim 17 , wherein a program for generating a margin area on an output sheet based on the setting data is executed. In the scaling process for the plurality of documents, a first scaling process for scaling the image data of the plurality of documents at the same magnification so that the image data of the plurality of documents fits in the document rendering area without protruding from the document rendering area; And a second scaling process for independently scaling each of the plurality of documents until there is no space in the document drawing area after the first scaling process is performed, and the first scaling is performed. The program according to claim 17 , wherein a process and the second scaling process can be selected. In a computer constituting an image forming apparatus for aggregate printing that prints image data obtained from a plurality of originals on one output sheet,
Processing for recognizing document margin areas in the plurality of documents and removing the document margin areas to reduce the size of the plurality of documents;
A process of arranging the plurality of documents in the document rendering area on the output paper with a minimum of blanks based on one corner of the document rendering area;
A process of scaling the size of the plurality of documents so that they all fit within the document rendering area ,
Process to reduce the size of the document, the program characterized by processing der Rukoto removing the blank region to change to a minimum paper size drawing area of the document of the paper size specified document fits all . 21. The program according to claim 20 , further comprising a step of executing a process of forming a boundary between a plurality of originals placed on an output sheet by a process of arranging the plurality of originals. Processing for generating setting data for preliminarily securing margins for staples, memos, inserted images, and the like used after printing;
21. The program according to claim 20 , further comprising: processing for generating a margin area on an output sheet based on the setting data. In the process of arranging the plurality of documents, after changing the plurality of documents at the same magnification so that the total area of the plurality of documents fits in the document drawing area on the output paper, 21. The program according to claim 20 , wherein a processing for arranging the plurality of documents with a minimum blank space in order from the largest document starting from one corner of the document drawing area is executed. In the scaling process for the plurality of documents, a first scaling process for scaling the image data of the plurality of documents at the same magnification so that the image data of the plurality of documents fits in the document rendering area without protruding from the document rendering area; And a second scaling process for independently scaling each of the plurality of documents until there is no space in the document drawing area after the first scaling process is performed, and the first scaling is performed. 21. The program according to claim 20 , wherein a process and the second scaling process can be selected.

Images