JP4162586B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  According to the present invention, image data corresponding to one or a plurality of areas designated for a read document image is replaced with other data (masked) and printed on a sheet, and printed on the sheet. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that restores an image of any one or more of the above-mentioned areas and prints it out on a sheet.

In recent years, in an image forming apparatus configured as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine thereof, various devices have been made to prevent information leakage when printing confidential documents using the image forming apparatus. Yes. When a confidential document is printed using the image forming apparatus, the description content of the confidential document is subjected to encryption processing and mask processing. For example, Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 discloses a technique related to the prevention of information leakage in the image forming apparatus.
In a copier with confidentiality function (an example of an image forming apparatus) disclosed in Patent Document 1, encryption processing and decryption are performed in accordance with a predetermined encryption code rule (appropriate permutation sequence of natural numbers from 1 to n). Processing (that is, restoration processing) is performed. In this case, the read image data is divided according to the rules of the encryption code, and further printed out on the sheet in a rearranged state. In addition, when the image printed on the sheet is decrypted, the same process as the above-described encryption process is performed using an encryption code having a rule opposite to the rule of the encryption code. ing.
Further, in a multifunctional MFP (an example of an image forming apparatus) having an image reading function disclosed in Patent Document 2, an encryption / decryption control unit encrypts and decrypts image data of a document using a password as a key. (That is, restoration processing) is performed. That is, after the image data is encrypted and stored in an external file server, a bar code that associates information about the image data with a password is printed on a sheet (that is, encryption processing), and a copy of the printed image is printed. When an object is generated, the image data is decrypted based on the information recorded in the barcode and the password, and the encrypted portion of the image is reproduced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-85872 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-87458

However, in the copier with confidentiality function disclosed in Patent Document 1, image data is divided and rearranged of the divided image data for all the original images. When a document that requires confidentiality is printed out on a sheet, the image data is divided and rearranged as described above for images in all areas other than the confidential area (hereinafter referred to as the confidential area). Therefore, there is a problem that an image in an area other than the confidential area cannot be printed on the sheet as it is.
Similarly, in the image forming system disclosed in Patent Document 2, information leakage can be prevented very effectively when all areas in a document image are classified. However, as in Patent Document 1, even when, for example, a document in which only a part of an original image is classified is printed on a sheet, encryption processing is performed on an area other than the confidential area, A bar code on which information corresponding to an area other than the confidential area is recorded is printed. That is, when there is an area that is desired to be hidden and an area that does not need to be hidden in one page, the area that does not need to be hidden is encrypted, which makes it difficult to use as a distribution.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to replace only image data corresponding to one or a plurality of areas designated for a read original image with other data. (Or after masking), the image is printed on the sheet, and the image printed on the sheet is restored to the image of any one or more of the areas replaced with the other data. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of printing output.

To accomplish the above object, an area designating means for designating an appropriate space for the read document image, the data of the previous SL document image corresponding to the internal specified region by region designating means, An image data replacement means for replacing the original image data with data after replacement obtained by performing a predetermined replacement process; and an average print density for an arbitrary line outside the designated area in the read original image and means for replacing the data after substitution obtained printing average density of information including the position information of value to the line by performing predetermined replacement process corresponding to the internal front Symbol region which is substituted by the image data replacing means before Symbol data after the replacement of the original image to be the data of previous SL document image corresponding to the designated area outside by the area specifying means, relating information of the printing average concentration A first print output means for printing out the first sheet on the basis of the換後data for the previous SL the information of the printing average concentration obtained by reading the printed output image to the first sheet The comparison is made by comparing the print average density value of the line actually measured based on the line position information obtained by restoring the data after replacement with the print average density of the line obtained by the restoration. on condition that the, on the basis of the data obtained by reading the printed output image to the first sheet, before document image corresponding to the internal front Symbol region which is substituted by pre Symbol image data replacing means The image forming apparatus includes: a second print output unit that restores the post-replacement data and prints out the data on the second sheet.
In this case, before Symbol with area designating means is used to specify one or more regions for the previous SL document image, one or more previous corresponding to the internal front Symbol area specified by the previous SL region specifying means serial it further comprises an area within the image data storage means for storing data of the original image, before Symbol 1 or more areas of all the areas where the second print output unit is specified by the previous SL region specifying means extracts data of a corresponding document image before Symbol area within the image data storage means, it is desirable that is to print out before Symbol second sheet data of the extracted original image.

The present invention includes a region designation means for designating an appropriate space for the read document image, the data of the previous SL document image corresponding to the internal specified region by region designating means, the data of the original image Image data replacement means for replacing the data after replacement obtained by performing predetermined replacement processing , print average density value and position of the line for any line outside the designated area in the read document image and means for replacing the data after substitution obtained by performing predetermined replacement process to print the average density of information including information, prior SL of the original image corresponding to the internal front Symbol region which is substituted by the image data replacing means and data after the replacement, the area and the data of the previous SL document image corresponding to the designated area outside the specifying means, the data and based on the replaced regarding information of the printing average concentration A first print output means for printing out the first sheet have to restore the previous SL data after replacement relating to the information of the printing average density obtained by reading an image printed output to the first sheet The print average density value of the line actually measured based on the position information of the line obtained is compared with the print average density of the line obtained by the restoration. based on the data obtained by reading the printed output image to the first sheet, to restore the pre-Symbol permuted data before Symbol image data document image corresponding to the internal front Symbol regions that are substituted by substitution means , image type, characterized by comprising; and a third printout means for printing out with the data of the previous SL document image corresponding to the designated area outside the second sheet by pre SL region specifying means Also configured as a device.
In this case, before Symbol with area designating means is to specify one or more regions for the previous SL original image, before Symbol area before Symbol 1 or more corresponding to the internal front Symbol area specified by the specifying means corresponding to one or more regions of all of the region specified by the previous SL comprises an area within the image data storage means for storing data of the original image, before Symbol third printout means before Symbol area specifying means the data of the original image extracted from the pre-Symbol area within the image data storage means, both before and data before Symbol original image corresponding to the designated area outside the data and the previous SL area specifying means of the extracted original image It is desirable to print out on the second sheet.

  Here, in the image forming apparatus, the first print output unit converts the information including at least identification information of a document to be printed on the first sheet into a barcode and prints the information on the first sheet. It is possible to output.

  In the image forming apparatus, the data after the original image data is replaced by the image data replacing unit is data obtained by barcode-coding information on the original image data corresponding to the inside of the area. Is also possible. In this case, it is preferable that the information regarding the data of the original image corresponding to the inside of the area is information representing the range of the area and / or the area.

  The document image data corresponding to the outside of the area may be image data printed on the first sheet corresponding to the outside of the area.

  The original image data storage means stores the original image data, and the second print output means or the third print output means is provided in the area from the original image data storage means. The corresponding document image data may be extracted and printed out on the second sheet.

  According to the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes the area designating unit, the image data replacing unit, the first print output unit, and the second print output unit. For this reason, an image in which image data corresponding to the inside of the area is replaced (for example, an image subjected to mask processing or the like) is printed out on the first sheet by the first print output means, and the second print The output means restores the image corresponding to the inside of the region to the second sheet based on the image printed on the first sheet and prints it out. As a result, the above-mentioned area desired by the user. Only the image corresponding to the inside of the region can be the second sheet. In this case, one or a plurality of areas can be specified for the original image, and the original image data corresponding to one or a plurality of areas among all the specified areas is stored in the second sheet. Since it can be printed out and the parts that do not need to be hidden are printed as they are, the use of the distribution can be greatly expanded. As a result, the user can select one or a plurality of areas for which the mask processing or the like is desired, and can also select one or a plurality of areas for which the image restoration is desired from the areas subjected to the mask processing or the like. , Only necessary areas in the distribution can be hidden. As a result, the effect of expanding the use of the distribution can be obtained. In this case, for example, it is possible to perform mask processing on a portion of the distribution that is not desired to be shown to minors, or to charge for viewing an image corresponding to the masked region.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes the region designating unit, the image data replacing unit, the first print output unit, and the third print output unit. For this reason, the image corresponding to the inside of the area subjected to the mask processing is restored and printed on the second sheet together with the image corresponding to the outside of the area. Both the image corresponding to the image and the image corresponding to the outside of the region can be viewed at a time. In this case, one or a plurality of areas can be specified for the original image, and the original image data corresponding to one or a plurality of areas among all the specified areas is stored in the second sheet. Can be printed out. As a result, the user can select one or a plurality of areas for which the mask processing or the like is desired, and can also select one or a plurality of areas for which the image restoration is desired from the areas subjected to the mask processing or the like. , Only necessary areas in the distribution can be hidden. As a result, the effect of expanding the use of the distribution can be obtained. In addition, for example, it is possible to perform mask processing on an area of the distribution that is not desired to be shown to minors, or charge for viewing an image corresponding to the area subjected to the mask processing.

  Further, since the first print output means included in the image forming apparatus prints out a barcode on which information including at least the identification information is printed on the first sheet, the image forming apparatus By simply reading the bar code, it is possible to determine information relating to the document, the presence or absence of mask processing, and the like. For example, when the storage area of the storage unit included in the image forming apparatus is small, the area used can be reduced by recording information on the barcode.

  Further, since the data after the original image data is replaced by the image data replacing means is data obtained by bar-coding information on the original image data corresponding to the inside of the area, the data is recorded on the bar code. It is possible to obtain the range of the area and / or information representing the area simply by reading the information. For example, when the storage area of the storage unit included in the image forming apparatus is small, the area used can be reduced by recording information on the barcode.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus X according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the present embodiment), and FIG. 2 is a main control system of the image forming apparatus X according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a sheet on which an image subjected to mask processing and restoration processing is printed in the image forming apparatus X according to this embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an image formation according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a restoration process performed by the control unit 30 included in the image forming apparatus X according to this embodiment.

  First, the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus X according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The image forming apparatus X mentioned in this embodiment is related to monochrome development, but the same applies to color development. Further, the image forming apparatus X may be an image forming apparatus that performs printing processing alone, or a function of reading an image that is subjected to printing processing by receiving a data signal from an external terminal or the like via a network. An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a fax machine equipped with a printer may be used.

The image forming apparatus X is provided with a sheet feeding unit for mounting a plurality of cassettes 5 below, and accommodates sheets of various forms. A duplex unit 6 is disposed above a paper feed unit on which a plurality of cassettes 5 are mounted, and an image forming unit 7 is provided above the duplex unit 6. A fixing device 20 for fixing toner to a sheet such as transfer paper is provided beside the image forming unit 7, and a scanner 8 for reading an image and an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 9 are mounted on the fixing device 20. It has been.
A display operation unit 3 such as a liquid crystal touch panel is disposed on the upper surface of the main body of the image forming apparatus X. The display operation unit 3 is provided with a plurality of buttons and switches. By operating these buttons, switches, etc., the user designates one or a plurality of areas for performing mask processing on the original image, or designates an area to be restored from the areas subjected to mask processing. It is possible to set various functions of the image forming apparatus X. Information relating to the image forming apparatus X is displayed on the display operation unit 3.
Here, the designation of one or a plurality of areas to be masked is performed, for example, by reducing the image of the read original on the display operation unit 3 and displaying it on the image displayed on the display operation unit 3. Can be considered. In this case, for example, an area to be masked may be acquired from two or more coordinates arbitrarily designated by the user for the image displayed on the display operation unit 3. The display operation unit 3 is an example of an area specifying unit in the present invention.

  Further, the image forming unit 7 described above includes a charging device 12 for charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 around the photosensitive drum 11 as an image carrier, and electrostatic formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. An image forming unit 15 is provided in which a developing device 13 for developing the latent image with toner and a cleaning device 14 for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 are disposed. A transfer device 16 that transfers a toner image onto a sheet such as a sheet is disposed opposite to the transfer device 16. The photosensitive drum 11 has a photosensitive layer formed on the surface of an aluminum cylinder having a diameter of 84 mm, for example, and is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. The charging device 12 charges the surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 11 to several hundred volts by corona discharge. On the downstream side of the charging device 12 on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 in the rotational direction, the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is exposed by an exposure device 18 including an LED array head and a selfoc lens to form an electrostatic latent image. Is done. Image data used for controlling the light emission output of the exposure device 18 is input from the image processing unit 4.

Hereinafter, a series of printing processes in the image forming apparatus X will be described.
A document placed on a document table included in the image forming apparatus X or transported by the ADF 9 is scanned by a scanner 8 as a light source, and then reflected light of the document passes through a mirror to a CCD 10 (Charge-Coupled Device; image). Device that converts the signal into an electrical signal), where it is A / D converted and input to the image processor 4 as digital image data. At this time, the image of the original is displayed on the display operation unit 3.
The image processing unit 4 performs appropriate image processing on the input digital image data (hereinafter referred to as image data). At the time of this image processing, mask processing (that is, display) is performed on the image data of the document based on the information input from the display operation unit 3 or the information recorded on the barcode printed on the sheet. Processing for replacing image data corresponding to the inside of the area designated based on the input from the operation unit 3 with other data) or restoration processing (that is, the image replaced with the other data is made the original image) (Details will be described later). The image processing unit 4 is an example of image data conversion means in the present invention.
Thereafter, the image data is input to the exposure apparatus control means 19, whereby the exposure apparatus control means 19 controls the exposure apparatus 18 so that exposure is performed according to the input image data.
Further, in the developing device 13, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 by using a developing roller and a magnetic brush formed on the surface of the developing roller, thereby the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. To form a toner image. In addition, the toner image is transferred on the sheet conveyed by the transfer device 16 while being held between the photosensitive drum 11 and the transfer belt 17 moving at the same speed as the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 11. The Further, a cleaning device 14 is further arranged on the downstream side of the transfer device 16 to remove toner and other deposits remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. The sheet on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer device 16 is conveyed to a fixing device 20 provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. Note that the transfer device 16 included in the image forming apparatus X employs a transfer belt, but this can be replaced with a transfer roller.

  The fixing device 20 includes a fixing roller 1 and a pressure roller 2 provided with a pressure mechanism facing the fixing roller 1. The toner image adhering to the sheet conveyed from the transfer device 16 by the transfer belt (or transfer roller) described above is transferred to the fixing roller 1 while the sheet passes between the fixing roller 1 and the pressure roller 2. The toner image is melted and fixed by heat, and the sheet is pressed against the fixing roller 1 by the pressure roller 2 to be fixed on the sheet. The sheet on which the toner image is fixed is then sent to the sheet processing apparatus B side.

Next, the configuration of the main part in the control system of the image forming apparatus X according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The control unit 30 that controls the image forming apparatus X is specified by each device provided in the image forming apparatus X (the display operation unit 3, the image processing unit 4, information about the image forming apparatus X, and the display operation unit 3. The internal storage unit 31 (an example of the original image data storage unit in the present invention) that stores image data of one or a plurality of originals corresponding to the inside of each area is connected by a bus. The image data of the document may be stored in a RAM included in the control unit 30 or an external device connected to the image forming apparatus X via a network. The control unit 30 executes a program (first print output unit 32, second print output unit 33, third print output unit 34, etc.) stored in a storage unit such as a ROM. Thus, various controls and arithmetic processes are performed. Details will be described later.

Next, mask processing performed by the control unit 30 in the image forming apparatus X according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
This processing is an area where the user performs a masking process desired by the user on the image of the document read by the scanner 8 and displayed on the display operation unit 3 (corresponding to areas A and B in FIG. When the mask area is designated, the image data of the document corresponding to the inside of the mask area is replaced with other data, and the other data corresponding to the inside of the mask area and the document data corresponding to the outside of the mask area are replaced. This is a process of printing out a sheet based on the image data (that is, a process of printing out P1 in FIG. 3). In this process, as shown in FIG. 3, the mask areas are the areas A and B. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and one or a plurality of mask areas are applied to the document image from the display operation unit 3. Can be specified.
Here, in this processing, the case where the image data corresponding to the inside of the mask area is stored in the internal storage unit 31 provided in the image forming apparatus X is described. However, the image data is stored in an appropriate storage unit provided in the image forming apparatus X. However, the present invention is applicable. In this processing, only the image data corresponding to the inside of the mask area is stored in the internal storage unit 31, but all the image data of the document may be stored.
Furthermore, this processing is performed by determining whether or not information indicating that a button or the like (not shown) to be pressed when performing mask processing provided in the display operation unit 3 is pressed is input to the control unit 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any process may be used as long as the control unit 30 can determine whether to perform mask processing.
Note that S1, S2,... Described in the following description represent process procedure (step) numbers.

First, as an operation to instruct the start of printing, it is determined based on input information from the display operation unit 3 to the control unit 30 whether or not a start button or the like provided on the display operation unit 3 has been pressed by the user. (S1). When this input information is input to the control unit 30, this process is started (Yes side of S1).
When this process is started, the control unit 30 reads an image of a document placed on a document table or the like using the scanner 8 and stores it in the internal storage unit 31 (S2). Further, the control unit 30 determines whether or not a button or the like (not shown) for performing mask processing provided on the display operation unit 3 has been pressed by the user based on detection of input information (S3). When the input information is not detected (No in S3), the normal printing process, that is, the original image is printed on the sheet as it is, and this process is terminated (S13).
If the input information is detected (Yes in S3), the document image is reduced to an arbitrary magnification and displayed on the display operation unit 3 (S4). As a result, the user can designate the mask area (area A and area B in FIG. 3) from the display operation unit 3 for the image of the document. After the user designates one or more mask areas, when a button for instructing the end of area designation (not shown) is pressed (Yes in S5), the control unit 30 provides information about the document image and a password. Based on the input information, it is determined whether or not all the information related to the mask processing to be included and all the information related to the area to be masked are input from the display operation unit 3 (S6).

Here, the information relating to the image of the document, the information relating to the mask process, the information relating to the mask area, and the like input by the user from the display operation unit 3 will be described with reference to FIG.
In the present embodiment, as in the sheet P1, image data corresponding to the area A or B designated as the mask area is replaced with other image data (for example, image data including barcoded data). Is printed on the sheet.
The barcode Y1 in the present embodiment includes, for example, information on the original such as the original number, original creation date and creator, information on whether or not a mask area exists on the sheet P1, and the number of mask areas (FIG. 3). In this case, information including at least identification information of a document to be printed on the sheet P1 is recorded, such as information on a password necessary for a restoration process to be described later. About this information, a user may input from the display operation part 3 as a judgment object in the said step S6, and the control part 30 may set automatically. When the user performs input, a screen for inputting the above-described information is displayed on the display operation unit 3. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the average value of the print density of each line (hereinafter referred to as the print density average value) and the print density average value of any plurality of lines outside the mask area in the original image are calculated. Information about the line is also recorded in the bar code Y1.
The bar code Y2 includes information on the image data corresponding to the inside of the mask area (for example, information on the range of the mask area, information on the position of the image data corresponding to the mask area, storage address of the image data corresponding to the mask area, mask area) Numbers numbered every time) are recorded. As in the case of the barcode Y1, these pieces of information may be arbitrarily input by the user from the display operation unit 3 as the determination target in step S6, or automatically detected and set by the control unit 30. May be performed. When the user performs input, a screen for inputting such information is displayed on the display operation unit 3.

When the control unit 30 detects the input of all information recorded in the bar codes Y1 and Y2 from the display operation unit 3 (Yes side of S6), the image data of the document read in step S2 is read from the internal storage unit 31. Extract (S7). Note that the processing in step S7 may be processing in which the user re-reads the image of the document using the scanner 8 by placing the document on the document table again.
In the subsequent step S8, the control unit 30 uses the mask region (FIG. 3) designated by the user in the processing in step S5 from the image data of the original read in the processing in step S7 by the image processing unit 4. The image data corresponding to the areas A and B) is extracted (S8) and stored in the internal storage unit 31 (S9). Further, the control unit 30 calculates the print density average value of the line corresponding to the area outside the mask area (S10).
After that, based on the information recorded in the above-described barcodes Y1 and Y2 detected in step S6, the print density average value calculated in step S10, and information on the line from which the print density average value was calculated. Thus, image data corresponding to the barcodes Y1 and Y2 is generated (S11). The barcode Y1 generated in the process of step S11 is printed out at a predetermined place (for example, the upper right of the page) of the sheet, and the barcode Y2 includes image data inside each mask area. Each bar code Y2 overlaps the image based on the replaced data (that is, the bar code Y2a corresponding to the area A in the area A and the bar code corresponding to the area B in the area B). Y2b is superimposed and printed on the sheet. Further, the image data outside the mask area is printed out on a sheet using the image data of the original read in step S2 (S12).
The processes in steps S11 and S12 are realized by the control unit 30 controlling the first print output unit 32 (an example of the first print output unit in the present invention).

Next, an image restoration process corresponding to the mask area performed by the control unit 30 in the image forming apparatus X according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5.
This process has a mask area (area A and area B) like the sheet P1 shown in FIG. 3, and the scanner 8 reads the image of the sheet on which the barcodes Y1, Y2a, Y2b are printed. When this is done, based on the barcodes Y1, Y2a, Y2b and the identification information (ie, password) input by the user from the display operation unit 3, the display operation unit 3 enters the mask area designated by the user. This process restores the corresponding image and prints it out on the sheet together with the document image data corresponding to the outside of the mask area (ie, the process of printing out P2 in FIG. 3).
In this process, the image data corresponding to the inside of the mask area designated by the user is stored in the internal storage unit 31 provided in the image forming apparatus X, and the image data is extracted from the internal storage unit 31. Although the image is restored, the present invention can be applied even if the location where the image data is stored is stored in an appropriate storage unit included in the image forming apparatus X. In this processing, only the image data corresponding to the inside of the mask area is stored in the internal storage unit 31, but all the image data of the original is stored, and the image corresponding to the inside of the mask area is stored from the stored original image data. Data may be extracted.
Furthermore, this processing is processing for restoring the image corresponding to the area A of the sheet P1 shown in FIG. 3 and creating the sheet P2. However, a plurality of areas to be restored can be designated.
Note that S20, S21,... Described in the following description represent processing procedure (step) numbers.

First, this process is started in the same procedure as in step S1 described above.
When this processing is started, the control unit 30 reads a predetermined position (line on which the barcode Y1 of the image is printed) of the sheet placed on the document table using the scanner 8, and the internal storage unit 31 (S20). Then, the control unit 30 determines whether there is image data corresponding to the barcode Y1 in the image data read by the scanner 8 (S21). In this case, the entire sheet may be scanned by the scanner 8 to determine whether there is image data corresponding to the barcode Y1 from the obtained image data.
If the control unit 30 determines that there is no image data corresponding to the barcode Y1 (No in S21), the image placed on the document table is printed out on another sheet as it is (S34). ), This processing is terminated.

When the control unit 30 determines that there is image data corresponding to the barcode Y1 in the image of the document (that is, the sheet P1) placed on the document table (Yes side of S21), the display operation unit 3 is notified to the user. Display a screen requesting password input (hereinafter referred to as the password input screen).
When the input information on the password input screen is detected by the control unit 30 (Yes side of S22), the password input on the password input screen and the barcode Y1 read in the process of step S20 are recorded. The password information is collated (S23). If the control unit 30 determines that the input password does not match as a result of the verification (No in S24), the process is terminated without performing the printing process on the sheet. If the control unit 30 determines that the input passwords match (Yes in S24), the image of the sheet P1 read in the process of step S20 is reduced to an arbitrary magnification and displayed in the display operation unit 3. Displayed (S25). Information for designating an area for restoring the image of the sheet P1 displayed on the display operation unit 3 by the processing in step S25 is input from the display operation unit 3 by the user. For specifying the mask area for restoring the image, for example, a number indicating each mask area is recorded in the barcode Y2 corresponding to each mask area created in step S11 and displayed together with the image of the area. Therefore, the user may input the number corresponding to the area to be restored from the display operation unit 3.

When the designation of the mask area for restoring the image is detected from the information input from the display operation section 3 to the control section 30 (in this process, the area A in the sheet P1 is designated. Yes side of S26), the above steps The image data of the document read in S20 is extracted from the internal storage unit 31 (S27). Note that the processing in step S27 may be processing in which the user re-reads the image of the document using the scanner 8 by placing the document on the document table again. Further, the control unit 30 prints from the line on the sheet P1 corresponding to the line for which the print density average value is calculated based on the information recorded in the barcode Y1 (information on the line for which the print density average value is calculated). An average density value is calculated (S28).
Subsequently, the control unit 30 determines whether or not the calculated print density average value matches the print density average value recorded in the bar code Y1. When it is determined that they do not match (No side of S29), the control unit 30 ends this process. If it is determined that they match, the information recorded in the bar code Y2a of the area A read in the process of step S20 (that is, the range corresponding to the mask area and the image corresponding to the mask area). The image data corresponding to the area A is extracted from the internal storage unit 31 based on the data position information, the storage destination address of the image data corresponding to the mask area, and the image data of the read sheet P1 is extracted. Image data is synthesized from the image data (S30). In this case, for the image corresponding to the outside of the mask area, that is, the image corresponding to the area other than the area A in the sheet P1, the image data of the image read in the process of step S20 is used.
Based on the synthesized image data, the control unit 30 calculates the print density average value of the line corresponding to the area outside the mask area (S31). Thereafter, the information on the area A is deleted from the information recorded in the barcode Y1 on the sheet P1, and the barcode Y1 is created again (S32). However, the original barcode Y1 may be reprinted. Based on the combined image data and the image data of the bar code Y1 created in step S32, the image is printed out on the sheet (S33).
Note that the processing of steps S21 to S33 is realized by the control unit 30 controlling the third print output unit 34 (an example of third print output means in the present invention).

As described above, in the processing of steps S21 to S31, the area is determined based on the image data printed on the sheet P1 (that is, the image data of the sheet P1 and the information recorded in the barcodes Y1 and Y2). The image corresponding to A is restored, and the image corresponding to the area A and the image corresponding to the area other than the area A are printed on the sheet, that is, the sheet P2 is generated.
However, unlike the sheet P2, the image corresponding to the area A and the image corresponding to the area other than the area A are not printed on the sheet, and the area A is supported based on the image data of the sheet P1. The image may be restored and only the restored image may be printed on the sheet. That is, after performing the processing of steps S20 to S29, it corresponds to the region A from the internal storage unit 31 based on the information recorded in the barcode Y2 of the region A read in the processing of step S27. The image data may be extracted, and the image may be printed out at an arbitrary place on the sheet based on the extracted image data. In this case, the control unit 30 is realized by controlling the second print output unit 32 (an example of the second print output unit in the present invention).
Of the processing for printing out the image corresponding to the area A and the image corresponding to the area other than the area A together with the sheet P2, such as the sheet P2, only the image corresponding to the area A is printed out on the sheet. As to which process is to be executed by the control unit 30, for example, the user performs input for selecting a process from the display operation unit 3, and the control unit 30 performs the process based on the input information. Is achieved.

In the present embodiment, the image data corresponding to the above-described area A and area B is stored in the internal storage unit 31. For these image data, an external apparatus that can be connected to the image forming apparatus on the network. May be stored in an appropriate storage unit.
In that case, as for the information recorded on the barcode Y1 in the sheet P1 shown in FIG. 3, only the information as to whether or not the mask area exists in the sheet P1 is recorded, and the other information is the image of the external device. By storing together with the data, it is possible to reduce the information to be recorded on the bar code Y1. Further, all the information recorded in the barcode Y2 is stored in the storage unit provided in the external device, so that it is not necessary to print the barcode in the area A and the area B.

1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus X according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration block diagram of a main part in a control system of an image forming apparatus X according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure of the sheet | seat with which the image in which the mask process and the restoration process were performed in the image forming apparatus X which concerns on embodiment of this invention is printed. 5 is a flowchart showing mask processing performed by a control unit 30 provided in the image forming apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a restoration process performed by the control unit 30 provided in the image forming apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Fixing roller 2 ... Pressure roller 3 ... Display operation part 4 ... Image processing part 5 ... Cassette 6 ... Duplex unit 7 ... Image forming part 8 ... Scanner 9 ... Automatic document feeder (ADF)
10 ... CCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Photoconductor drum 12 ... Charging device 13 ... Developing device 14 ... Cleaning device 15 ... Image forming unit 16 ... Transfer device 17 ... Transfer belt 18 ... Exposure device 19 ... Exposure device control means 20 ... Fixing device 30 ... Control unit 31 ... Internal storage unit 32 ... first print output unit 33 ... second print output unit 34 ... third print output unit P1 ... sheet P2 on which an image subjected to mask processing is printed ... one of regions subjected to mask processing Sheet Y1, Y2 ... bar code on which the image with the restored part is printed

Claims (9)

Area designating means for designating an appropriate area for the read document image;
An image data replacement means for replacing the data of the previous SL document image corresponding to the internal specified area, the data after substitution obtained by performing predetermined replacement process on the data of the original image by the region designation means,
After the replacement obtained by performing a predetermined replacement process on the print average density information including the print average density value for the arbitrary line outside the designated area in the read document image and the position information of the line Means to replace the data,
Before Symbol data after the replacement of the original image corresponding to the internal front Symbol region which is substituted by the image data replacing means, and data before Symbol original image corresponding to the designated area outside the said area specifying means, the print First print output means for printing out on the first sheet based on the replaced data relating to the average density information ;
Printing before Symbol the line that is actually measured on the basis of the first position information of the line obtained by restoring the data after replacement relating to the information of the printing average concentration obtained by reading the printed output image on the sheet It was obtained by comparing the average density value with the printed average density of the line obtained by the restoration, and reading the image printed on the first sheet on the condition that the verification was established. based on the data, and a second print output means for printing out the second sheet to restore the previous SL permuted data of the original image corresponding to the internal front Symbol region which is substituted by pre Symbol image data replacing means An image forming apparatus comprising the image forming apparatus. With the previous SL area designating means is to specify one or more regions for the previous SL original image, before SL corresponding to the internal front Symbol area specified by the area specifying means one or more of the previous SL document image Further comprising a region internal image data storage means for storing the data of
Extracting data of an original image corresponding to one or more areas of all the areas designated by the previous SL area within the image data storage means by the pre-Symbol second print outputting means before Symbol area specifying means, the extracted the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 data and original image is to printed output before Symbol second sheet. Area designating means for designating an appropriate area for the read document image;
An image data replacement means for replacing the data of the previous SL document image corresponding to the internal specified area, the data after substitution obtained by performing predetermined replacement process on the data of the original image by the region designation means,
After the replacement obtained by performing a predetermined replacement process on the print average density information including the print average density value for the arbitrary line outside the designated area in the read document image and the position information of the line Means to replace the data,
Before Symbol data after the replacement of the original image corresponding to the internal front Symbol region which is substituted by the image data replacing means, and data before Symbol original image corresponding to the designated area outside the said area specifying means, the print First print output means for printing out on the first sheet based on the replaced data relating to the average density information ;
Printing before Symbol the line that is actually measured on the basis of the first position information of the line obtained by restoring the data after replacement relating to the information of the printing average concentration obtained by reading the printed output image on the sheet It was obtained by comparing the average density value with the printed average density of the line obtained by the restoration, and reading the image printed on the first sheet on the condition that the verification was established. based on the data, before Symbol image data replacement unit by restoring the previous SL permuted data of the original image corresponding to the internal front Symbol regions that are substituted, pre Symbol area specifying unit's rating before corresponding to the designated area outside the An image forming apparatus comprising: a third print output unit that prints out a second sheet together with document image data. With the previous SL area designating means is to specify one or more regions for the previous SL original image, before Symbol Symbol before corresponding to the internal front Symbol area specified by the area specifying means one or more of the previous SL A region internal image data storage means for storing document image data;
Extracting data of an original image corresponding to one or more areas of all the areas designated by the previous SL area within the image data storage means by the pre-Symbol third printout means before Symbol area specifying means, the extracted the image forming according to claim 3 the is to print out the data of the previous SL document image both before Symbol second sheet corresponding to the designated area outside the data and the previous SL area specifying means of the original image apparatus. Billing before Symbol first print output unit, before Symbol first sheet, in which information is printed out by the bar code of which includes identification information of at least before SL document to be printed output to the first sheet Item 5. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 4. Before Symbol image data replacement unit data after the data of the previous SL document image is replaced by the, claims 1-5 information on data before SL document image corresponding to the previous SL region inside a bar coded data The image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. Information about the data before Symbol original image corresponding to the internal front SL region, the image forming apparatus according to claim 6, which is information indicating a range of the area and / or region. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 data of the original image corresponding to the previous SL region outside a data before Symbol first sheet printout image corresponding to the area outside. Before SL original image data storage means is configured to store the data before Symbol original image, before Symbol second print output means or before Symbol third prior SL region printout means before Symbol original image data storage means the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4-7 before Symbol is to print output before Symbol second sheet extracts data of the document image corresponding to the internal.

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