JP4770223B2 - Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and reading an original image formed on the document relates to an image forming equipment which forms an image corresponding to the read document image.

  The image forming apparatus uses a print output device to which an electrophotographic process or the like is applied, and forms and outputs an image corresponding to the image data on an image forming medium such as a recording paper. In such an image forming apparatus, it is possible to form a high-quality image with high resolution and color reproduction as processing performance is improved. In a copying machine equipped with an image reading function such as a scanner unit, color High-quality image copying with high reproducibility and gradation reproducibility is possible, and as a result, it is possible to form a copy image that is so elaborate that it cannot be distinguished from the original image.

  On the other hand, with the improvement of color reproducibility and gradation reproducibility, it is necessary to prevent image copying for banknotes, securities, confidential documents, and the like. Accordingly, various copy controls such as copy prohibition have been proposed as security measures for document images.

  For example, by creating a copy-prohibited document by combining a two-dimensional pattern image such as a preset two-dimensional code and the original image, it is possible to clarify that the image is a copy-prohibited image even if the image is copied. Proposals have been made for such a duplication prevention system (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Further, there is a method of inserting digital watermark information as a method for specifying a copy-prohibited document. When digital watermark information is used, if the digital watermark information is extracted when the image is read, accurate reproduction of the read image is avoided.

  By the way, if the digital watermark information is read from all the originals, the processing capability of the copying apparatus is reduced. Therefore, an OHP mode for forming an image on OHP paper or a monochromatic image is used. In a preset mode such as a monochromatic mode for forming the image, an image forming apparatus that stops extraction of digital watermark information has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  However, with this method, it is possible to prevent copying of banknotes and securities, but copying to OHP paper or copying in single color mode is possible, and confidential matters recorded on the manuscript It becomes difficult to prevent such leaks.

  From here, the image reading device (scanner) has a function of detecting and extracting copy control information added to the document, and when the pattern image indicating the copy control information is detected by the scanner, the detected pattern image For example, a method is conceivable in which pattern data based on the above is output to the image forming apparatus, and the copy control information is analyzed from the pattern data by the image forming apparatus, thereby reducing the productivity of the copying machine.

However, when the pattern data is packed in accordance with the bus width of the data bus in order to transmit the pattern data from the scanner to the image forming apparatus simultaneously with the image data, the packing data extraction unit does not use the main scanning synchronization signal (main scanning synchronization signal). Since the extraction process is started based on Ls ₂ ) and the pattern is detected at an arbitrary position, the start position of the extracted pattern data is shifted from the start position of the image data main scanning synchronization signal (main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ ). End up. For this, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), a main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ of the image data, the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₂ of the pattern data is different, it is partially missing pattern data, the image forming apparatus When reading on the side, it is not possible to determine an appropriate segmentation of the pattern data, resulting in a problem that the pattern data cannot be decoded.

  In the case of reduction processing, if the pattern data packed by the image reading apparatus is taken into the memory by the same main scanning synchronization signal as the image data on the image forming apparatus side, the pattern data may be lost.

As a result, despite the fact that the image reading apparatus properly detects the copy control information, the image forming apparatus cannot accurately determine the copy control information, and the proper copy control cannot be performed. Will occur.
JP 2003-283790 A JP 2001-218037 A

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and when outputting pattern data packed with data corresponding to copy control information together with image data read from a document , the image forming apparatus side displays the middle of the pattern data. It is an object of the present invention to propose an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can reliably prevent missing and reading.

Image reading apparatus according to claim 1 for achieving the above object, reads a document image formed on originals, a first main scanning synchronizing signal of the image data and the image data corresponding to the document image an image reading means for generating, from the image data generated by the image reading means, based on the first of the second main scanning synchronizing signal delayed by the delay time from the main scanning signal, it is added to the document Pattern data extracting means for extracting pattern data based on a pattern image indicating copy control information for restricting copying of the original image; and data for each main scanning line of the pattern data extracted by the pattern data extracting means. The dummy data corresponding to the delay time is added to the head, and the rear end of the dummy data added to the rear end of the data is the first main scanning synchronization signal. Of the rear end engagement so, the pattern and packing means for packing by one main scanning line at the data, said image data and said packing means packed the pattern the data first through generated by the reading means Output means for outputting together with the main scanning synchronization signal .

An image reading apparatus according to claim 2 is the image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the copy control information is included in the document when the pattern data is extracted by the pattern data extraction unit. And a determination means for outputting a determination signal for determining that the signal is detected .

The image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus to which the image data output from the image reading apparatus according to claim 1 is input, wherein the pattern data input together with the image data from the image reading apparatus and the image data An acquisition means for determining the pattern image indicated by the pattern data from a first main scanning synchronization signal and acquiring the copy control information corresponding to the pattern image; and the image data and the first main scanning synchronization An image forming unit that forms an image corresponding to the document image on an image forming medium based on a signal ; and a copy control unit that controls image formation by the image forming unit based on the copy control information acquired by the acquiring unit. As long as it contains.

Further, when the image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus image data output from the image reading apparatus of claim 2 is input, wherein the determination signal from the image reading apparatus is entered, Obtaining means for determining the pattern image indicated by the pattern data from the pattern data and the first main scanning synchronization signal input together with the image data, and acquiring the copy control information corresponding to the pattern image; An image forming unit that forms an image corresponding to the document image on an image forming medium based on the image data and the first main scanning synchronization signal ; and when the determination signal is input, acquired by the acquiring unit And copy control means for controlling image formation by the image forming means based on the copied control information.

As described above, according to the present invention, the pattern data based on the copy control information added to the document is transmitted together with the image data of the document image and the first main scanning synchronization signal, and the first main scanning synchronization is performed. When reading based on the signal, it is possible to reliably prevent the loss of pattern data .

  As a result, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that accurate copy control based on the copy control information is possible when performing copy control based on the copy control information without reducing productivity.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of a copying machine 10 applied as an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine 10 is provided with a scanner unit 12 serving as an image reading device at the upper part of the apparatus and a print unit (print engine) 14 serving as an image forming apparatus at the lower part of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, the print unit 14 includes an IOT 16 that is provided as a print output device and forms an image on a recording sheet by, for example, an electrophotographic process, and a controller 18 that performs various image processing and print control using the IOT 16. It has a general structure.

  As a result, in the copying machine 10, when the original is loaded in the scanner unit 12 and a start switch (not shown) is operated, the scanner unit 12 reads (scans) the image (original image) recorded on the original, Image data corresponding to the original image is output to the controller 18 of the print unit 14.

  The controller 18 performs predetermined image processing on the image data input from the scanner unit 12 to generate print data, and outputs the print data to the IOT 16. The IOT 16 forms and outputs an image corresponding to the print data input from the controller 18 on a recording sheet (image copying).

  In the following, the copying machine 10 will be described as an example. However, the present invention may be provided with a printer function for performing print processing according to image data output from a personal computer or the like, or a so-called composite having a facsimile function. It may be a machine. In the present invention, the image reading apparatus and the image forming apparatus may be separate.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 18 is formed by a microcomputer having a general configuration in which a CPU 20, a ROM 22, and a RAM 24 are connected to a bus 28 via a bus control unit 26, and an HDD 30 and the like are connected to the bus 28. The CPU 20 controls processing in the controller 18 and printing processing using the IOT 16.

Further, the controller 18, an image memory 32 and the image processing section 34 and is formed, the scanner unit 12 outputs the image data Dm and the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _1. The controller 18 stores the image data input from the scanner unit 12 in the image memory 32. The image processing unit 34 controls the image memory 32, for example, stores the image data of the document one sheet in an image memory 32, reads out sequentially the image data stored at a timing based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _1, image Various image processing is performed on the data, and print data corresponding to the image data is generated.

  The scanner unit 12 is provided with a CCD sensor 36, and R, G, and B color component data are read from a document image (not shown) by the CCD sensor 36.

  The scanner unit 12 is provided with a front image processing unit 38 and a rear image processing unit 40. The pre-image processing unit 38 performs an amplification process, an A / D conversion process, a shading correction process, a gap correction process, and a color conversion process on the data output from the CCD sensor 36, so that an image based on the original image is obtained. Output data.

  The post-image processing unit 40 determines from the image data input from the pre-image processing unit 38 whether the document image is a text image or an image image, and the determination result and copy settings (for example, copy magnification, color copy or black-and-white copy). Etc.), etc., etc., etc. are performed. As a result, the original image and the image data Dm corresponding to the copy setting are output from the scanner unit 12 to the printer unit 14.

Further, the post-image processing unit 40 outputs the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ of the image data Dm together with the image data Dm.

  The scanner unit 12 is provided with a CPU (not shown), and the CPU controls various processes as well as reading a document image. A conventionally known configuration can be applied to the basic configuration of such a scanner unit 12.

  Further, as such a copying machine 10, an operation input unit including an input device such as an LCD and an input device formed by various setting keys is provided so that the scanner unit 12 and the print unit 14 can share the operation input unit. In addition to various settings, copy mode settings such as color copy or black-and-white copy, magnification settings, copy paper size settings, copy mode settings such as the number of copies, and image data according to the original image A conventionally well-known general configuration is applied to the basic configuration of the copier 10 such that the scan mode to be generated can be set.

  In the copying machine 10 configured as described above, a document is loaded in the scanner unit 12 and a start switch (not shown) is operated in a state where the copy setting is performed. While feeding, image reading (scanning) of each original is performed.

  In the scanner unit 12, when an image of an original is read using the CCD sensor 36, the read data is formed on the original by performing amplification, A / D conversion, shading correction, and color conversion on the read data. The image data corresponding to the existing image is generated.

Further, the scanner unit 12 performs various processing such as enlargement / reduction processing, filter processing, color conversion processing, γ correction processing, gradation processing, and the like on the image data according to the copy setting, and the processed image data Dm Is output to the controller 18 of the print unit 14 together with the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ .

The controller 18 of the print unit 14, the image data Dm input from the scanner unit 12, and stored in the image memory 32 and stores the image data Dm of one original content in the image memory 32, based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ The image data Dm is read out, image processing for print processing such as RIP processing is performed, and print data generated by the image processing is output to the IOT 16.

  In the IOT 16, when print data is input from the controller 18, print processing based on the print data is executed. As a result, the image recorded on the document is copied and output.

  By the way, some originals are added with copy control information such as copy prohibition information for prohibiting the copy of the original image and copy condition information for restricting the copy, together with the original image. When control information is added, copy control based on the copy control information is performed.

  The copy control information includes information that prevents the corresponding original image from being copied (duplicated) (copy prohibition information), and information that enables copying when the conditions for copying the original image are satisfied (copy restriction) Information, copy condition information), etc. In addition, in the copy condition information, for example, a personal identification number requested to be copied at the time of copying, an ID number of a user permitted to copy (for example, an employee number or a user registration number) The ID number set for each user of the copier 10), the date and time when the copy prohibition is canceled (duration for performing copy restrictions), and the machine number (manufacturing number, registration number, etc.) of the copier permitted to copy. Can do. Further, the copy condition information may include an image composition instruction that clearly indicates that the original image is copied when the original image is copied.

  Such copy control information is combined with the original document image or background image as a preset mark or a pattern image obtained by coding the corresponding data, and is recorded on the document. Further, the copy control information may be information embedded as a latent image in the background image of the document image.

  The scanner unit 12 is provided with a pattern data extraction unit 42. The pre-image processing unit 38 of the scanner unit 12 uses an LUT used to generate image data for print output when performing color conversion, and an LUT used to generate image data for various types of detection such as AE (automatic exposure correction). Are set, and the pattern data extraction unit 42 is inputted with image data that has been subjected to conversion processing such as color conversion by a detection LUT. The post-image processing unit 40 outputs image data that has been subjected to conversion processing using an LUT that is set for print output.

  The copy control information is formed by adding an image of a preset pattern to the document. The pattern data extraction unit 42 extracts this pattern image and determines whether or not the pattern image is added to the document. In addition to outputting a determination signal, when a pattern image is added, pattern data corresponding to the pattern image is generated and output.

  For example, the copy control information is decomposed into copy prohibition information, copy condition information, or latent image information. The latent image information is information indicating what kind of latent image character is embedded in the pattern image. For this latent image, a character string represented as the latent image information is rasterized using a predetermined font. As a result, binarized latent image character image data is generated.

  In addition, the encoded data of the copy condition information is error correction encoded, the latent image character image data is referenced, and the encoded data of the copy prohibition information and the encoded data of the error correction encoded copy condition information are set to predetermined code data. To generate a two-dimensional array of code data corresponding to one image. For example, when encoding the condition information, a synchronization code can be assigned to facilitate the positioning of the array. In this case, when encoding the copy condition information, the bit string corresponding to the copy condition information is error-corrected while being surrounded by the synchronization code, and the two-dimensional code is arranged in a two-dimensional manner according to a predetermined rule. Generate.

  Thereafter, a background image is generated based on the code data and a preset pattern image. At this time, a code image and a pattern image corresponding to the code data are referred to, and for example, a background image in which a prohibited copy pattern image and a condition pattern image are repeatedly arranged in a two-dimensional manner according to a predetermined rule is generated.

  When creating a document with copy control information added, the background image is combined with the document image. As a result, an image in which a pattern image having a predetermined number of pixels (vertical pixel number × horizontal pixel number) indicating copy control information is repeatedly added two-dimensionally according to a predetermined rule is formed on the original document image. The

  The scanner unit 12 reads an image including a pattern image based on the copy control information because the copy control information is added to the document. As a result, image data including a pattern image is input to the pattern data extraction unit 42.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the pattern data extraction unit 42. The pattern data extraction unit 42 includes a pattern detection processing unit 44, a halftone dot extraction processing unit 46, and a mask processing unit 48, and image data is input to each of the pattern detection processing unit 44 and the halftone dot extraction processing unit 46. .

  The pattern detection processing unit 44 extracts the unit pattern image recorded as the copy control information by performing pattern matching on the input image data with a preset window size.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when a pattern image is formed of 7 pixels × 7 pixels, pattern matching is performed using 7 pixels × 7 pixels, and this is used as a pattern detection unit. The detection pattern data that can determine the position coordinate, bit value, skew angle, etc. of the unit pattern is extracted.

  At the same time, the halftone dot extraction processing unit 46 shown in FIG. 3 extracts halftone dots that form the original document image. The mask processing unit 48 performs a masking process based on the halftone dots extracted by the halftone dot extraction processing unit 46, thereby preventing erroneous determination of the halftone component included in the original image as a unit pattern for copy restriction information. .

  The mask processing unit 48 outputs the detection pattern data as 32-bit image data.

  The pattern data extraction unit 42 includes a determination unit 54 and a buffer memory 56. Detection pattern data obtained by performing mask processing is input to the determination unit 54 and the buffer memory 56.

The buffer memory 56 sequentially accumulates detection pattern data prior to data packing. Further, the determination unit 54 performs pattern detection on the detected unit pattern after masking for each preset pattern count block 52 (see FIG. 4B) to determine copy control information. That is, by dividing the image data of the document one page into a plurality of pattern count block 52 counts the respective detected values, a determination of the copy control information such as prohibition copying, the copy restriction information in the document is recorded A determination signal S indicating that the data is present is output.

  The pattern data extraction unit 42 is provided with a data packing unit 58. The data packing unit 58 performs packing processing in units of detected 32-bit pattern data stored in the buffer memory 56, and outputs pattern data Dp corresponding to the pattern image.

  At this time, the data packing unit 58 outputs the pattern data Dp generated according to the bus width of the data bus that outputs the pattern data Dp. That is, if the bus width is 24 bits, 24-bit pattern data Dp is generated from the 32-bit detection pattern data and output. If it is 1 bit, 1-bit pattern data Dp is generated from the 32-bit detection pattern data. Generate and output.

  Further, an enlargement / reduction processing unit 72 and a composition processing unit 74 are provided, and pattern data Dp is input to the composition processing unit 74 together with the image data Dm. In the composition processing unit 74, the image data Dm and the pattern are input. The combined data Dc obtained by combining the data Dp is output.

  The enlargement / reduction processing unit 72 performs enlargement processing or reduction processing on the pattern data Dp based on the copy setting when enlargement copy or reduction copy is set in the copy setting for the original.

As a result, the pattern data Dp in which the image data Dm and the image size are combined is input to the synthesis processing unit 74. In the first embodiment, pattern data that has been variously processed based on copy settings will be described as pattern data Dp. Also, the pattern data extraction unit 42 performs detection pattern data packing processing based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ before the enlargement / reduction processing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 18 is provided with an image memory 32, and the pattern data Dp output from the scanner unit 12 is input to the image memory 32 and stored therein. The image memory 32 is connected to the CPU 20 via the image processing unit 34 and the bus 28. The CPU 20 reads the pattern data Dc from the image memory 32, detects the code data from the pattern data Dc, and detects the detected code data. Extract copy control information from.

  That is, the CPU 20 extracts copy control information such as copy prohibition information, copy condition information, or latent image information from the pattern data stored in the image memory 32.

  Further, the CPU 20 controls the processing of the image processing unit 34 for the image data Dm stored in the image memory 32 based on the extracted copy control information.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, a mask processing unit 60 is provided in the pattern data extraction unit 42 applied to the present embodiment. The detection pattern data stored in the buffer memory 56 is input to the data packing unit 58 by the mask processing unit 60.

Further, the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ for the image data Dm is input to the mask processing unit 60, and the mask processing unit 60 stores dummy data during the mask period based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _1. Outside the mask period, the detection pattern data is read from the buffer memory 56, and the read detection pattern data is output to the data packing unit 58.

At this time, a delay time t _D equal to or more than the packing bits of the pattern data is set inside the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ input to the mask processing unit 60.

That is, data processing is performed by the post-image processing unit 40 and the pattern data extraction unit 42 based on the main scanning synchronization signal when the image reading using the CCD sensor 36 is performed. deviation between the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₂ of the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ and the pattern data extraction unit in the processing unit 40 occurs.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ is delayed with respect to the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₂ .

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the pattern data extraction unit 42 performs the packing process on the detected pattern data based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₂ to generate pattern data, the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ , A part of the unit pattern data Dp is lost due to the deviation between Ls ₂ , and the delimiter of the pattern data cannot be understood.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the pattern data extraction unit 42 is provided with a mask processing unit 60. The mask processing unit 60 detects the detection pattern from the buffer memory 56 based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _1. By reading the data, a shift between the main scanning synchronization signals Ls ₁ and Ls ₂ is prevented from appearing between the image data Dm and the pattern data Dp.

  From this point, as shown in FIG. 5A, the pattern data extraction unit 42 sets a delay time td, and delays the set delay time td to start data packing of the detected pattern data.

  Also, the mask processing unit 60 adds mask data until the detection pattern data is packed by the data packing unit 58. As a result, the mask data is added to the packed pattern data Dp, and the mask data is output to the controller 18 so that the division of the pattern data can be known.

6 and 7 show an example of pattern data (pattern data Dp) generated by the pattern data extraction unit 42. FIG. 6A and 7A are respectively along the main scanning direction (time axis direction with respect to the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ ) and the sub scanning direction (time axis direction of the sub scanning synchronization signal Ps). The data arrangement is shown, and one division along the sub-scanning direction is pattern data for one scanning line. FIGS. 6B and 7B show 32-bit pattern data.

  6A and 6B show an outline of 1-bit format pattern data, and FIGS. 7A and 7B show 16-bit pattern data.

  In this embodiment, the detection pattern data is formed by 32 bits as an example, and the pattern data is 13-bit data indicating the X coordinate of the pattern position and the Y coordinate of the pattern position between the START bit and the STOP bit. 14 bits of data, 2 bits of data indicating a pattern reference angle, and 1 bit of data indicating a pattern bit value.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 7A, the pattern data for one main scan includes the leading end side of the start bit whose data value is “0” and the trailing end side of the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ . The mask area is a mask area to which dummy data is added by performing mask processing by the mask processing unit 60.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, in the 1-bit format, dummy data with a data value of “1” is added to this mask area. As shown in FIG. 7A, in the 16-bit format, the data value is stored in the mask area. Is added with “FFFFh” dummy data.

  In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 7A, the mask area before the start bit is an area corresponding to the delay time td.

Thereby, the controller 18 can easily and reliably detect the start bit from the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ , and when the controller 18 performs processing on the pattern data based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ , Data is not lost, and pattern data can be properly processed.

  Therefore, the controller 18 can accurately detect the copy control information and perform appropriate copy control based on the detected copy control information.

Here, an outline of processing in the print unit 14 will be described with reference to FIG. This flowchart is executed for each input image data when the image data Dm for one original is input. The scanner unit 12 outputs the determination signal S, the pattern data Dp, and the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ from the pattern data extraction unit 42 in addition to the image data Dm and the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ .

In the controller 18, the determination signal S is input to the CPU 20, and the pattern data Dp and the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ are accumulated in the image memory 32.

  The CPU 20 provided in the controller 18 checks the determination signal S in the next step 202 while accumulating the image data Dm in the image memory 32 in the first step 200.

  Here, when the copy control information is not formed on the original document of the image data Dm and the determination signal S is OFF, a negative determination is made in step 202 and the routine proceeds to step 204 to execute normal printing processing. To do.

  On the other hand, when the copy control information is added to the document that is the source of the image data Dm and the determination signal S is on, an affirmative determination is made at step 202 and the routine proceeds to step 206.

  In this step 206, it is confirmed whether or not the pattern data Dp corresponding to the copy control information recorded on the document has been input. If the pattern data Dp is input and stored in the memory 62, an affirmative determination is made in step 206. Then, the process proceeds to step 208.

In step 208, the pattern data Dp is read out based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ input together with the pattern data Dp, and the pattern data Dp is analyzed. That is, code data is determined from the pattern data Dp, and copy prohibition information, copy condition information, or latent image information is obtained from the code data.

  In the next step 210, it is confirmed from the copy control information whether or not it is a period during which copying is prohibited or copying is prohibited. , And copy stop processing is executed. In this copy canceling process, not only the copying process corresponding to the input image data Dm but also the deletion of the image data stored in the image memory 32 can be included. Further, when image data is written in the HDD 30 prior to the printing process, the image data written in the HDD 30 is deleted.

  On the other hand, if the copy control information permits image copying with conditions, a negative determination is made at step 210 and the routine proceeds to step 214. In this step 214, copy conditions are set, and in the next step 216, print processing based on the set copy conditions is executed.

  In this process, for example, when copying is permitted only to a specific user, whether copying is permitted by requesting input of a user ID, a password, etc., and collating the input user ID or password. If the input user ID is designated as a user who permits copying or the passwords match, the printing process is executed to copy the original image.

  In addition, when the copying condition specifies that the image is a copied image or printing of a user ID, the image processing unit 34 performs mark image combining processing, user ID combining processing, and the like. Thus, the printing process based on the print data generated by the synthesizing process is executed.

  When processing based on the copy control information is performed (steps 212 and 216), log information is created, and the created log information is stored in the HDD 30, thereby creating a processing history based on the copy control information. To do. The process based on the copy control information is not limited to these, and a known general process can be applied.

  As described above, when the copy control information is added to the document, the copying machine 10 can accurately determine the copy control information and perform accurate copy control based on the determination result.

In the first embodiment, the mask processing unit 60 is provided in the pattern data extraction unit 42. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the buffer memory 56 and the data packing unit 58 have the functions of the mask processing unit 60 in combination. You may comprise. That is, the pattern data extraction unit 42A shown in FIG. 9 can be applied. In the pattern data extraction unit 42A, the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ is input to the buffer memory 56A. Although treated sequentially by the mask processing unit 48 pattern is written in the buffer memory 56A, by reading in synchronism with the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _1, it can be read by packing without missing pattern data .

Further, by providing a delay time td with respect to the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _{1 in} combination with the dummy data addition, the data packing unit 58A to which the detection pattern data is input from the buffer memory 56A is used for packing the detection pattern data. When dummy data is output in advance and detection pattern data is input, the START bit can be added to pack the detection pattern data to generate pattern data Dp.

  Thereby, the same pattern data Dp as the pattern data extraction unit 42 can be generated.

In the scanner unit 12 of the copier 10 applied to the present embodiment, the pattern data extraction unit 42 outputs the determination signal S and the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ in synchronization with each other. Since the copy information control function can be realized without increasing the bus width, it is possible to suppress an increase in cost.

  In this embodiment, the synthesized image data and the pattern data Dc are output, but the memory for holding the pattern data has one screen, and after reading the image data, the pattern data is selected from the pattern image data. You may read to the controller 18 and process.

On the other hand, the copying machine 10 outputs the determination signal and the pattern data Dp from the pattern data extraction unit 42 of the scanner unit 12 in synchronization with the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _1. However, as shown in FIG. A synchronization signal Ls ₃ independent of the data Dm may be used.

  In the configuration of FIG. 11 applied to the second embodiment, the pattern data Dp and the image data Dm are transmitted to the print unit 14 using different data buses, and the pattern data Dp can be stored in the memory 62. The pattern data Dp can be transmitted at a timing different from that of the image data Dm.

As a result, for example, when the original image is reduced and copied, the pattern data Dp can be transmitted without being affected by the reduction function. Further, it can be added as an additional function to a conventional (existing) copying machine.
[Second Embodiment]
Here, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above. In the following description, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be given. Omitted.

  FIG. 11 shows a schematic configuration of a copying machine 70 applied to the second embodiment. The scanner unit 12A of the copying machine 70 does not have the enlargement / reduction processing unit 72 and the composition processing unit 74, and the pattern data Dp is input to the controller 18A together with the image data Dm.

  The controller 18A of the print unit 14A is provided with a memory 62, and the pattern data Dp output from the scanner unit 12A is input to the memory 62 and stored therein. The memory 62 is connected to the CPU 20 via the bus 28. The CPU 20 reads the pattern data Dp from the memory 62, detects code data, and extracts copy control information from the detected code data.

  That is, the CPU 20 extracts copy control information such as copy prohibition information, copy condition information, or latent image information from the pattern data Dp stored in the memory 62.

  Further, the CPU 20 controls the processing of the image processing unit 34 for the image data Dm stored in the image memory 32 based on the extracted copy control information.

  On the other hand, in the scanner unit 12A, the R, G, and B color components of the original image are read by the CCD sensor 36, 8-bit image data Dm is generated, and output to the print unit 14A using 24 data buses. As a result, image data can be output in a short time. In this embodiment, an original image is read with a relatively high resolution of 8 bits. However, the resolution when reading an image is not limited to this.

  The scanner unit 12A normally outputs 8-bit image data Dm for each of R, G, and B colors as shown in Table 1 using this data bus.

  That is, when scanning a color image, the scanner unit 12A outputs data R0 to R7, G0 to G7, and B0 to B7 from the data bus. Here, the RGB value is described as an example, but the image data Dm may be an L * a * b * value, a CMYK value, or the like.

  In the synthesis processing unit 74, the image data Dm and the pattern data Dp are synthesized and output using a set of data buses.

  As a method of transmitting the image data Dm and the pattern data Dp using a set of data buses, a method of alternately transmitting the image data Dm and the pattern data Dp in a preset unit such as one scan line, and the like. Even when a plurality of documents are read continuously by the scanner unit 12A, a free time is generated due to mechanical factors, and a free space also occurs in the transmission interval of the image data Dm according to this free time. There is a method in which image data Dm for one original is transmitted so that the pattern data Dp is transmitted using time, and then the pattern data Dp of the original is transmitted.

  At this time, the pattern data Dp can be packed into 24 bits (PD0 to PD23), and PD0 to PD23 can be distributed to the 24 data buses.

  Also, in the image data, for example, lower-bit data such as a B value of RGB values, a b * value of L * a * b * values, and a Y value (yellow) of CMYK values are substantially included in an image to be printed out. Some things do not affect (look).

  From here, as shown in the left column of Table 3, for example, the pattern data Dp may be combined with the lower bits of such data.

  Further, CMYK image data (print data) used by the IOT 16 in a copy mode or the like may be subjected to RGB-CMYK conversion by the scanner unit 12A to output CMYK value image data.

  At this time, as shown in the right column of Table 3, the format in which the C, M, Y, and BK value image data and the 16-bit pattern data Dp of PD0 to PD15 are packed by using the format in the copy mode. Thus, the image data Dm and the pattern data Dp can be efficiently output to the print unit 14A.

In the controller 18A, the synthesized data Dc stored in the image memory 32, and separates the pattern data Dp and the image data Dm, performs predetermined processing on the basis of the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _1.

  In the copying machine 70 configured as described above, the image data Dm and the pattern data Dp are transmitted using the same data bus. Therefore, in order to perform efficient copy control based on the copy control information, the scanner unit 12A An increase in the number of wires between the print units 14A can be suppressed.

Further, in the copying machine 10, by scaling processing combined pattern data Dp to the image data Dm, in order to perform the processing for the pattern data Dp on the basis of the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _1, a part of the pattern data Dp missing It is possible to reliably prevent this from happening.

That is, as shown in FIG. 12B, the detection pattern data is synchronized with the main scanning synchronization signal (in this case, the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ to be output to the print unit 12A) before being enlarged or reduced. Signal Ls ₀ ). On the other hand, when the image data Dm is reduced at a reduction rate of 50%, for example, the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ output from the scanner unit 12A is thinned out. That is, the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ is generated in the form that the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₀ is thinned out.

  As a result, the detected pattern data is thinned out to generate pattern data, and a part of the detected pattern data (here, every line) is missing. Judgment becomes difficult.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when one pattern image is formed in one pattern count block 52, the code data for obtaining the copy control information is restored. Data of the pattern count block 52 having no missing one pattern is required.

  Although a method of obtaining a pattern image in each pattern count block 52 by filling in holes from all pattern count blocks in the original surface is also conceivable, for accurate pattern recognition, main scanning lines are consecutive. It is desirable.

On the other hand, the scanner unit 12A is provided with an enlargement / reduction processing unit 72, and FIG. Only the first half of the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₀ of the pattern data Dp ₁ and the pattern data Dp ₂ is extracted from the pattern data generated from the detection pattern data, and read out in synchronization with the main scanning synchronization signal Ls _1. Although the detection results of the pattern data Dp ₁₂ and the trailing end portion of the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₀ are sacrificed, continuous detection results without missing can be obtained, and high-precision analysis can be performed. Since the information control pattern is embedded on the entire surface of the document, the copy control information can be detected without any problem even if the detection result of the trailing edge cannot be used.

Thereby, pattern data Dp corresponding to the length (time) of the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ is generated. In this pattern data Dp, no detection pattern data is lost, so that proper copy control information can be obtained even if the image data is enlarged or reduced.
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, and is the same as that of the first or second embodiment in the third embodiment. The same reference numerals are given to the components and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 13 shows a schematic configuration of a copying machine 80 applied to the third embodiment. The controller 18B provided in the print unit 14B of the copying machine 80 includes a compression processing unit 82. The compression processing unit 82 performs data compression by applying, for example, a run length method. Thereby, in the print unit 14B, the pattern data Dp output from the scanner unit 12B is compressed and stored in the memory 62, so that the memory capacity can be reduced.

On the other hand, the scanner unit 12B outputs the pattern data Dp from the pattern data extraction unit 42 to the compression processing unit 82 by serial transmission. At this time, the pattern data Dp is transmitted between the scanner unit 12B and the controller 18B not based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ but on the sub scanning synchronization signal Ps.

  In the copying machine 80 configured as described above, the pattern data Dp is transmitted from the scanner unit 12B to the controller 18B based on the sub-scanning synchronization signal Ps. Further, the controller 18B compresses the input pattern data Dp based on the copy setting and stores it in the memory 62.

Thereby, for example, even if the image data Dm is reduced, the pattern data Dp input to the controller 18B will not be lost. That is, for example, when the reduction ratio is 50%, the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ is thinned out. Therefore, when the pattern data Dp is transmitted based on the main scanning synchronization signal Ls ₁ , the pattern data Dp is missing. .

  On the other hand, by transmitting the pattern data Dp based on the sub-scanning synchronization signal Ps that is not thinned out even if the reduction process is performed, the pattern data Dp input to the controller 18B will not be lost.

  Further, since the controller 18B stores the pattern data Dp subjected to the compression processing based on the reduction magnification in the memory 62, it is possible to determine appropriate copy control information from the pattern data Dp.

Accordingly, it is possible to perform appropriate copy control based on the copy control information added to the document , and it is possible to surely suppress a reduction in productivity at this time.

  The present embodiment described above does not limit the configuration of the present invention, and the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus having an arbitrary configuration that reads a document image and forms an image corresponding to the document image. can do.

1 is a schematic external view showing an example of a copying machine applied to the present embodiment. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of a copying machine applied to a first embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of a pattern data extraction part. (A) is the schematic which shows an example of a matching window, (B) is the schematic which shows a pattern count block. (A) is a timing chart showing an outline of pattern data generation timing, and (B) is a timing chart showing an outline of conventional pattern data generation timing. (A) is a schematic diagram showing 1-bit pattern data, and (B) is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of 32-bit pattern data. (A) is a schematic diagram showing 16-bit pattern data, and (B) is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of 32-bit pattern data. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of processing based on pattern data in a print unit. It is a schematic block diagram which shows another example of a pattern data extraction part. 10 is a timing chart showing an example of pattern data generation timing using the pattern data extraction unit shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of a copying machine applied to a second embodiment. (A) is a timing chart showing an outline of pattern data generation timing when 50% reduction processing is performed, and (B) is a timing chart showing an outline of conventional pattern data generation timing. FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a main part of a copying machine applied to a third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10, 70, 80 Copier (image forming device)
12, 12A, 12B Scanner unit 14, 14A, 14B Print unit 16 IOT
18, 18A, 18B controller (copying control means)
36 CCD sensor (image reading means)
42, 42A Pattern data extraction unit 44 Pattern detection processing unit (pattern image detection means)
46 Halftone extraction processing unit (pattern image detection means)
48 Mask processing unit (pattern image detecting means)
58 Data packing part (packing means)
60 Mask processing part (masking means)
62 Memory (storage means)
72 Enlarging / Reducing Processing Unit 74 Compositing Processing Unit 82 Compression Processing Unit

Claims (4)

Reading a document image formed on originals, and the image reading means for generating a first main scanning synchronizing signal of the image data and the image data corresponding to the original image,
Copying of the original image added to the original is restricted from the image data generated by the image reading means based on a second main scanning synchronization signal delayed by a delay time from the first main scanning signal. Pattern data extracting means for extracting pattern data based on a pattern image indicating copy control information to be performed ;
The dummy data for the delay time is added to the head of the data for each main scanning line of the pattern data extracted by the pattern data extracting means, and the rear end of the dummy data to be added to the rear end of the data is the Packing means for packing the pattern data by one main scanning line so as to match the rear end of the first main scanning synchronization signal ;
Output means for outputting the image data generated by the reading means and the pattern data packed by the packing means together with the first main scanning synchronization signal;
Image reading apparatus which comprises a. 2. The determination unit according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit configured to output a determination signal for determining that the copy control information is included in the original when the pattern data is extracted by the pattern data extraction unit. Image reader . An image forming apparatus to which image data output from the image reading apparatus according to claim 1 is input,
The pattern image indicated by the pattern data is determined from the pattern data and the first main scanning synchronization signal input together with the image data from the image reading device, and the copy control information corresponding to the pattern image is determined. Acquisition means for acquiring;
Image forming means for forming an image corresponding to the document image on an image forming medium based on the image data and the first main scanning synchronization signal ;
Copy control means for controlling image formation by the image forming means based on the copy control information acquired by the acquisition means;
An image forming apparatus comprising a. An image forming apparatus to which image data output from the image reading apparatus according to claim 2 is input,
When the determination signal is input from the image reading device, the pattern image indicated by the pattern data is determined from the pattern data and the first main scanning synchronization signal input together with the image data, Obtaining means for obtaining the copy control information according to a pattern image;
Image forming means for forming an image corresponding to the document image on an image forming medium based on the image data and the first main scanning synchronization signal ;
Copy control means for controlling image formation by the image forming means based on the copy control information obtained by the obtaining means when the determination signal is input ;
An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images