JP5246146B2 - Image forming apparatus and image reading apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for monochrome printing a plurality of special codes such as QR codes, and more particularly to space saving in an area where special codes are printed.

  In recent years, information is added to an image by printing a special code such as a QR code in the vicinity of the image. The QR code represents a URL (Uniform Resource Locators), for example, and is read and interpreted by a camera or the like attached to the mobile phone. For the user, when inputting the URL, it is only necessary to perform an operation for photographing the QR code with the camera, and it is convenient because it is not necessary to take the trouble of inputting the URL using a keypad or the like. However, when a user browses an image, the QR code attached in the vicinity thereof is visually disturbing. Each time the number of QR codes printed on the document increases, the degree that the user feels uncomfortable also increases. Therefore, when printing a plurality of (for example, two) QR codes, each of the N QR codes is expressed in different colors (for example, two colors that are easy to separate, cyan and magenta), and the colors are superimposed. If printing is performed, the printing space can be reduced by half compared to normal printing without superimposing, and there is less discomfort for the user (see Patent Document 1). If this color-printed document is read by a color scanner and the superimposed cyan QR code and magenta QR code are separated, the two QR codes can be restored.

JP 2006-270379 A

  However, as described above, for a document on which two QR codes expressed in different colors are overlaid and printed in color, when the document is copied in monochrome and the copy result after the monochrome copy is read with a monochrome scanner, Problems can arise. That is, since the QR code after the monochrome copy has lost the saturation that the original QR code had, the two QR codes after the monochrome copy are expressed with substantially the same gradation, or the original QR code Despite the presence of color information, there is even a risk of being expressed in white. In this case, the monochrome scanner cannot separate and reproduce the original QR code from the printed matter after the monochrome copy.

  In addition, QR codes are often expressed in black and white patterns in each cell. When two QR codes expressed in black and white cells are superimposed, the result of superposition is that one cell is white and the other is In the case of a black cell, the same color (black) is obtained in both cases where one is a black cell and the other is a white cell, and the two cases cannot be distinguished. If the superimposed QR code is monochrome copied, the QR code cannot be separated and reproduced from the print result after the monochrome copy. Such a problem can occur in the same manner when each cell is expressed in a color (magenta, cyan, etc.) other than white and black.

  Further, from the viewpoint of reducing the printing area, when QR codes are printed in different colors on two A4 sheets, it may be possible to print these documents on a A4 sheet in a 2-in-1 manner. When in-1 printing is performed, each occupation area of the QR code in the printing result becomes 1/2 of the original occupation area. Since the QR code is reduced and printed, the size of the QR code after printing becomes smaller than the expected size on the reading device side, which may cause trouble in reading.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention reduces the area of the special code occupied by the special code for a plurality of special codes, and the original special code information is obtained from the monochrome copy result even when the print result is monochrome copied. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that performs printing so as to be reproduced.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention is an image forming apparatus that reads a plurality of originals, assigns them to a single recording sheet, and prints them, where M is a binary value coded (M is a natural number of 2 or more). Reading means for reading N originals each displaying a first code image in which cell images are arranged in a matrix and outputting N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) original images; Extracting means for extracting the first code image from each of the original images, and extracting N cell images arranged at the same position from the extracted N first code images, and decoding the cell images Each of a decoding means for obtaining a decoding set consisting of N binary values and a reference set of 2 N power types that can be composed of N binary values is represented by a gray scale of 2 N gray scales. Corresponding to one of the values without duplication Based on the rule, for each decoding set, a cell image represented by a gradation value corresponding to the same reference set as the decoding set is generated, and the generated cell image is arranged at a position corresponding to the decoding set, As a result, the image forming apparatus includes a generating unit that generates a second code image in which M cell images are arranged in a matrix, and a printing unit that prints the generated second code image on the recording paper.

  Since the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration, the N first code images are combined with one second code image and printed, so that the area on the paper occupied by the code image can be reduced. it can. In the printed second code image, each cell image is represented by one of gradation values on a gray scale of 2 N gradations, so that when read by a monochrome scanner, the monochrome scanner It is possible to always recognize the gradation at. Furthermore, even if this code image is monochrome copied, if the code image in the monochrome copy result is read by the monochrome scanner, the monochrome scanner always recognizes the gradation value of the read code image as before the monochrome copy. can do.

  In addition, the extraction unit includes a reading unit that reads a code image from each of the document images, a determination unit that determines whether the read code image is configured with two colors, and two colors by the determination unit. In the case where it is not determined that the read code image is composed of the code image, the read code image is determined to be printed by superimposing a plurality of code images, and the read code image is separated into a plurality of code images. And an output unit that outputs, as a first code image, all code images that have been separated by the separation unit and all code images that have been determined to be composed of two colors by the determination unit May be included.

  According to this configuration, even when a plurality of code images are superimposed and printed on a document, the superimposed code images are once separated, and the color on the gray scale of 2 N gray scales is separated. Since the code image composed of the cell images is recombined, the color image is always recognized in the monochrome scanner when the recombined code image is read by the monochrome scanner. Furthermore, even if this code image is monochrome copied, if the code image in the monochrome copy result is read by the monochrome scanner, the monochrome scanner always recognizes the color of the read code image as before the monochrome copy. Can do.

In addition, a first code image is printed on each of the plurality of originals with substantially the same size, and the printing unit displays the second code image generated by the generation unit as the first code image. It is good also as printing on the said recording paper by the substantially the same magnitude | size as an image.
According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the code image size from becoming smaller than the expected size on the reading device side by printing and causing trouble in reading.

  In the image reading apparatus of the present invention, M (M is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) cell images represented by tone values on a gray scale of 2 N (N is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) tones is a matrix. A reading means for reading a document on which the first code image is displayed and outputting the document image; an extracting means for extracting the first code image from the document image; and a placement on the extracted first code image Discriminating means for discriminating the gradation value of each of the M target cell images, each gradation value on a gray scale of 2 N gradations, and N binary values 2 A specifying means for specifying a reference set corresponding to each of the M target cell images based on a correspondence rule that associates each of the Nth power type reference sets without duplication, and the specified reference set is configured. Each of the N binary values that are coded into N cell images Each of the N cell images is arranged at the same position as the position of the target cell image corresponding to the reference set in the first code image in each of the N second code images. Generating means for generating N second code images.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to restore N code images that are combined and printed on one code image.

1 is an external perspective view of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows typically the relationship between a manuscript and printed matter. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the synthesis | combination of QR Code. It is a figure for demonstrating the synthesis | combination of the data of the same position in several QR code. It is a flowchart showing a QR code composition process. It is a figure for demonstrating separation and the synthesis | combination of the QR code expressed in color. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart showing the restoration process of QR code.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to an example in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral).
1. Configuration 1.1. Configuration of MFP 1 FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the MFP 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 has an image reading unit 4 and a document conveying unit 5 stacked in order on a printer unit 2. The MFP 1 is a so-called in-body discharge type MFP that uses a space between the printer unit 2 and the image reading unit 4 as a discharge tray 2a.
The document transport section 5 is used when performing so-called sheet-through image reading, which reads an image while transporting a document, and is the uppermost of the document bundle set on the document feed tray 5a. Are fed out one by one and conveyed to the document reading position of the image reading unit 4 and then discharged onto the document discharge tray 5b. The image reading unit 4 includes a light source (not shown) and a scanner unit (not shown) that holds a folding mirror, and receives a document image reflected by the folding mirror to a CCD sensor (not shown) via an optical lens. Image data is generated.

  The printer unit 2 is of an electrophotographic type, and performs a series of operations such as exposure, development, primary transfer, secondary transfer, and fixing of the photosensitive drum, and the image data output from the image reading unit 4. Is printed on a sheet of paper, and discharged onto the in-body discharge tray 2a formed on the upper surface of the casing. The operation panel unit 3 is detachably provided at a position near the image reading unit 4 above the printer unit 2. Operation panel unit 3 includes an operation key 3a used for a user to input an instruction to MFP 1 and a display panel 3b.

Here, before describing the internal configuration of the MFP 1 in detail, the relationship between a document read by the MFP 1 and a printed matter to be output will be described. In the present embodiment, the MFP 1 reads two A4 size originals, reduces the contents drawn on each original by half in area, and prints them on a single A4 size paper. It is assumed that so-called 2-in-1 printing is performed.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship between the document and the printed material.

  The document 21 and the document 22 each indicate a paper print having the same paper size (for example, A4 size), and the copy result 23 indicates a paper print resulting from 2-in-1 printing of the document 21 and the document 22. . As an example of the special code, the QR code 21a, which is a code image, is drawn on the lower left corner of the original 21, and the QR code 22a is also drawn on the lower left corner of the original 22. The QR code 21a and the QR code 22a are formed by arranging cell images representing cells, which are the smallest units constituting the QR code, in a matrix. Each cell image represents a binary value of value 0 or 1, and is coded white when representing value 0 and black when representing value 1. The number of cell images included in the QR code differs for each version defined as the QR code specification. For example, in the case of version 1, the QR code is composed of 21 cells × 21 cells. As the version increases by 1, the size of the QR code increases by 4 cells vertically and horizontally. In the present embodiment, version 2 is adopted as an example, and the QR code is composed of 25 cells × 25 cells.

  In the copy result 23, the image drawn on the original 21 is printed in the left half area of the copy result 23 with a half area occupied by the original 21. Further, the image drawn on the original 22 is printed in the right half area of the copy result 23 with a half area occupied by the original 22. Here, regarding the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a, if the original 21 and the original 22 are normally 2-in-1 printed, the QR code 21a drawn on the original 21 and the original 22 are drawn. Each QR code 22a is drawn in the copy result 23 with half the original area. However, in the present embodiment, the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a are combined as described below to generate the QR code 21a having the same size as the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a and draw it on the copy result 23.

  In the present embodiment, the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a are printed in the same size, and the position of the QR code 21a in the document 21 and the position of the QR code 22a in the document 22 are the same. In reality, the sizes of the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a on the paper surface are often different, and the position of the QR code 21a in the document 21 and the position of the QR code 22a in the document 22 are shifted. It is thought that there are many cases. In such a case, it is assumed that the sizes of the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a and the position in the document are adjusted to be the same by a known technique.

Next, the internal configuration of the MFP 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the MFP 1.
As shown in FIG. 3, the MFP 1 includes an operation panel unit 3, an image reading unit 4, an input image processing unit 11, a storage unit 12, an output image processing unit 13, and a printing unit 2. Since the operation panel unit 3, the image reading unit 4, and the print unit 2 have already been described, the input image processing unit 11, the storage unit 12, and the output image processing unit 13 will be described below.

  The input image processing unit 11 acquires image data that is digitized data of the image read by the image reading unit 4 and stores the image data in the storage unit 12. In the present embodiment, the acquired image data is obtained by digitizing an A3 size original 24 (see FIG. 2), which is a virtual arrangement of the original 21 and the original 22 that are successively read. It is. Hereinafter, the acquired image data is referred to as image data 24D. Further, a portion corresponding to the document 21 in the image data 24D is referred to as image data 21D, and a portion corresponding to the document 22 in the image data 24D is referred to as image data 22D. Although the image data 24D is stored in the storage unit 12, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image data 21D and the image data 22D may be stored.

  The input image processing unit 11 refers to the image data 21D and the image data 22D, and determines whether or not a QR code exists in both the original 21 and the original 22. When QR codes exist in both, each QR code is extracted, and a cell that is the smallest unit constituting each QR code is detected. In this embodiment, 25 × 25 cells are detected. Then, it is determined (decoded) based on the color of the cell image whether each cell represents 1 or 0. Specifically, it is determined that the value 0 is represented when the cell image is white, and the value 1 is represented when the cell image is black. In the following description, data indicated by each cell of the QR code is expressed as C (n, i, j). n is identification information for identifying a QR code. In this embodiment, when n = 1, the QR code 21a is indicated, and when n = 2, the QR code 22a is indicated. i and j indicate the position (row, column) of a cell based on the position of the cell (reference cell) in the upper left corner (i = 1, j = 1 at this time) in the QR code. The data of the cell in the lower right corner of the QR code 21a is represented as C (1, 25, 25). C (n, i, j) is 1-bit data indicating a binary value. The value is 1 when the cell is black, and the value is 0 when the cell is white. As a specific example, in the case of the white cell in the fifth row and the eighth column in the QR code 21a, C (1, 5, 8) = 0 is expressed. In the case of the black cell in the fifth row and the eighth column in the QR code 22a, C (2, 5, 8) = 1 is represented.

  Next, the input image processing unit 11 sequentially synthesizes data of cells in the same position of the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a. Specifically, as an example of cell data synthesis, the input image processing unit 11 sets C (1, i, j) as the lower digit and C (2, j) for each i and each j as shown in FIG. i, j) are concatenated to the upper digits to generate 2-bit data D (i, j). D (i, j) indicates the data of the i-th row and j-th column cell of the synthesized QR code 23a. D (i, j) is 2-bit data and can have four values of 00, 01, 10, and 11. Note that it is not necessary to perform bit concatenation as described above, as long as the combination of C (1, i, j) and C (2, i, j) (decoding set) can be understood. Here, each of the four values is assigned in advance with four gray scale gradations according to a corresponding rule. For example, when the value of D (i, j) (decoding set consisting of two binary values) is 00, white in gray scale (gradation A in FIG. 4) is assigned, and the value of D (i, j) Is 11, black in gray scale (gradation D in FIG. 4) is assigned. Then, light gray (gradation B in FIG. 4), which is an intermediate gradation between black and white, is assigned to value 01, and dark gray (gradation C in FIG. 4) is assigned to value 10. Note that each gradation may be obtained by equally dividing the gray scale from white to black, or may be assigned so as to be more easily discriminated. Specifically, when gradation A is gradation value 255 and gradation D is gradation value 0, gradation B is gradation value 85, gradation C is gradation value 170, etc., at even intervals. The gradation B may be assigned non-uniformly such that the gradation B is a gradation value 60 and the gradation C is a gradation value 120.

  As described above, when the two QR codes 21a and the QR code 22a are combined, a QR code 23a expressed in a gray scale of four gradations is obtained as shown in FIG. Then, the input image processing unit 11 deletes the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a, and generates and stores image data 23D obtained by digitizing the image 23 in which the QR code 23a is arranged at a predetermined position (for example, the lower left corner). Store in the unit 12. Here, a plain white image may be applied to the area from which the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a are deleted, or an image interpolated from an image part in contact with the area may be applied. Then, the input image processing unit 11 instructs the output image processing unit 13 to perform 2-in-1 printing of the image 23 indicated by the image data 23D on the printing paper.

The output image processing unit 13 receives a 2-in-1 print instruction from the input image processing unit 11. The output image processing unit 13 performs image processing such as reducing the image indicated by the image data 23D so that the image fits in an A4 size document. Then, the image processed image is output to the printing unit 2.
Upon receiving the image data 23D, the printing unit 2 prints out an image related to the image data 23D on A4 size plain printing paper, and discharges the copy result 23 as the printing result to the paper discharge tray 2a.

  In the present embodiment, the case of n = 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and even when n = N (> 2 n is a natural number), processing can be performed in the same manner as when n = 2. When synthesizing C (1, i, j), C (2, i, j),..., C (N, i, j), as in the case of n = 2, C (N, i , J) is the most significant bit in the Nth digit, C (N-1, i, j) is the bit in the N-1th digit, and so on for N-2, N-3,. C (2, i, j) is the second digit bit and C (1, i, j) is concatenated to be the least significant bit to generate N bit D (i, j). Each value of 2 N values that can be taken by the generated D (i, j) is assigned to each of 2 N gray levels of gray scale. When the QR code 23a indicated by N bits D (i, j) is printed, the print result is a QR code represented by 2 N gray scale gray scale.

  In the above, an example in which N QR codes whose cells are represented by two colors in black and white are combined into one QR code represented by a gray scale of 2 N gray scales has been described. It can also be applied to cases where For example, as shown in the middle of FIG. 7, it is assumed that one QR code 21b is expressed in white and cyan, and the other QR code 22b is expressed in white and magenta. In this case, the cyan portion in the QR code 21b is first converted to black, and the magenta portion in the QR code 22b is converted to black. After such conversion, the above-described processing for synthesizing the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a expressed in black and white cells can be applied.

Further, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 7, when the QR code 30 in which the QR code 21b and the QR code 22b are superimposed is printed on the original, if the original is copied as it is in monochrome, the copy result shows saturation. Will be lost. That is, two QR codes after monochrome copying can be expressed in the same color or substantially the same color, or can be expressed in white even though the original QR code has color information. In such a case, the QR code cannot be separated and reproduced from the printed material after the monochrome copy. In such a case, the QR code 30 is once decomposed into a QR code 21b represented by cyan and a QR code 22b represented by magenta. Then, the cyan portion of the QR code 21b is converted to black, and the magenta portion of the QR code 22b is converted to black. After such conversion, the above-described processing for synthesizing the QR code 21a and the QR code 22a expressed in black and white cells can be applied.
1.2. Reading Device The configuration of the reading device 30 on the reading side of the copy result 23 will be described.

The reading device 30 is a reading device including a monochrome scanner. Specifically, it is a monochrome copier having a network connection function.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the reading device 30.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the reading device 30 includes an operation unit 31, a monochrome image reading unit 32, an input image processing unit 33, a QR code restoration unit 34, a QR code interpretation unit 35, and a command execution unit 36. .

The operation unit 31 is a keypad or other input device operated by the user, and the user inputs an operation instruction to the reading device 30 using the keypad.
The monochrome image reading unit 32 is a monochrome scanner that reads a monochrome document, and converts the read monochrome image into image data (hereinafter referred to as monochrome image data). In this embodiment, the copy result 23 is read. The monochrome image reading unit 32 has a gradation resolution capable of identifying at least four gradations A, B, C, and D described above with respect to the read image.

The QR code restoration unit 34 extracts a QR code included in the monochrome image data, and separates the extracted QR code into a single color QR code. In the present embodiment, the QR code 23a included in the copy result 23 is extracted, and the QR code 23a is separated into QR codes 21a and 22a.
The QR code interpretation unit 35 interprets the contents of the separated QR codes 21a and 22a. For example, if the URL is included in the QR code 21a, the command execution unit 36 is instructed to interpret the URL and access the home page indicated by the URL.

The command execution unit 36 receives a command from the QR code interpretation unit 35 and executes the command. When the command indicates a URL, the home page indicated by the URL is accessed.
2. Operation 2.1. Operation of MFP 1 Next, the special pattern composition processing in the MFP 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the image reading unit 4 in the MFP 1 reads the document 21 and the document 22. Then, the input image processing unit 11 detects a special pattern (QR code) from the document 21 and the document 22 read by the image reading unit 4 (S1). If the QR code is not described in both documents (S2: No), the process ends. If the QR code is described (S2: Yes), it is determined whether or not the detected QR code is drawn in a single color (S3). In the present embodiment, a single color means, for example, that each cell represents one cell with white and other colors such that a white background has a value of 0 and a black cell has a value of 1. Say. Strictly speaking, the two colors are white and black, but they are expressed in this way for convenience. Corresponding to this, for example, a QR code represented by white and cyan and a QR code represented by white and magenta are superimposed, and each cell is white, cyan, magenta, cyan. It is expressed in multiple colors excluding white, such as in the middle color of magenta. If the original has a QR code expressed in a plurality of colors (S3: No), the QR code is separated into a single color QR code (S5). Then, the combined number of the QR code after separation and the monochrome QR code is set to a value N indicating the number of QR codes (S6), and the above-described combining process is performed for each cell of the N QR codes. A synthetic QR code is obtained (S7). When all the QR codes are black and white (S3: Yes), the number of the QR codes is set to a value N (S4), and the process proceeds to S7.
2.2. Operation of Reading Device 30 Next, the operation of the reading device 30 on the side that reads the copy result 23 generated by the MFP 1, in particular, the QR code restoration process, which is a central process, will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the monochrome image reading unit 32 in the reading device 30 reads the copy result 23 and notifies the QR code restoration unit 34 of monochrome image data indicating the copy result 23. The QR code restoration unit 34 searches for monochrome image data and detects whether or not a QR code is included in the copy result 23 indicated by the monochrome image data (S21). If the QR code is not included (S22: No), the process ends. If the QR code is included (S22: Yes), it is determined whether or not the included QR code is grayscale ( S23). If the QR code is not grayscale (S23: No), the QR code is expressed in black and white, and the QR code restoration process is unnecessary, so the process ends. If the QR code is grayscale (S23: Yes), N of the QR code is determined (S24). Specifically, all the cells included in the QR code are detected, the gradation of each cell is determined, and how many types of gradation cells are included in the QR code is determined. Then, N is determined based on the number of gradations included. For example, when the QR code includes cells of four kinds of gradations of white, black, dark gray, and light gray, N is a value at which N to the power of 2 is 4, that is, 2. N is the number of synthesized QR codes. The QR code 23a included in the copy result 23 is a combination of two QR codes 21a and QR code 22a, and N in this case is 2.

  Here, when N of the QR code 23 is actually 2, but the QR code 23a does not include all four types of gradation colors, for example, only three types of white, black, and dark gray are included. There may be cases. In order to avoid this, N may be determined and held in the reading device 30 in advance. Further, N may be embedded as information in the QR code 23a of the copy result 23. After determining N, the QR code restoration unit 34 generates D (i, j) for all cells of the QR code 23a based on the gray level of each cell (S25). This D (i, j) is the same as that shown in FIG. 5, for example. For example, if the cell color is light gray, D (i, j) = 01 for that cell.

Then, the QR code restoration unit 34 separates D (i, j) into N pieces of data C (1, i, j) to C (N, i, j) (S26). Specifically, the nth bit data of D (i, j) is C (n, i, j). By performing this separation for (i, j) = (1, 1) to (i, j) = (25, 25), D (i, j) is changed to C (n, i, j) (n = 1 to N). As described above, N (N = 2 in this embodiment) QR codes 1 to N (in this embodiment, QR codes 21a and 22a) are restored from one QR code 23a. The restored QR codes 21a and 22a are interpreted by the QR code interpretation unit 35, respectively. This is the end of the description of the operation.
3. The present invention has been described based on the above embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course, can be added.
(1) Each of the above devices is specifically a computer system including a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like. A computer program is stored in the RAM or the hard disk unit. Each device achieves its function by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program. Here, the computer program is configured by combining a plurality of instruction codes indicating instructions for the computer in order to achieve a predetermined function.

Each device is not limited to a computer system including all of a microprocessor, a ROM, a RAM, a hard disk unit, a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and may be a computer system including a part of them.
(2) The present invention may be the method described above. Further, the present invention may be a computer program that realizes these methods by a computer, or may be a digital signal composed of the computer program.

The present invention also provides a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, hard disk, CD-ROM, MO, DVD, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, BD (Blu-ray Disc). ), Recorded in a semiconductor memory or the like. Further, the present invention may be the computer program or the digital signal recorded on these recording media.
(3) In the above-described embodiment, 1-bit C (1, i, j) and 1-bit C (2, i, j) are concatenated to generate 2-bit D (i, j). However, the way of expressing data is not limited to this. For example, D (i, j) is a 4-bit data C (1) such that the upper 4 bits indicate the contents of C (1, i, j) and the lower 4 bits indicate the contents of C (2, i, j). , I, j) and 4-bit data C (2, i, j) may be 8-bit data.
(4) In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the reading device 30 includes the monochrome scanner has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a color scanner may be included. Further, the monochrome image reading unit 32 is not limited to a monochrome scanner, and may be a color scanner.
(5) In the above-described embodiment, an example using a QR code as an example of a special code has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is a two-dimensional code such as PDF417, data matrix, Vericode, and maxicode. It can also be applied to.
(6) The above embodiment and the above modifications may be combined.

  The image forming apparatus of the present invention is suitable for use in a system that uses a special code while saving space in a printing area, such as when a document including a special code such as a QR code is printed in a 2-in-1 format. Yes, manufacturing, sales, etc. are performed by a company that handles MFPs, copiers, scanners, and the like.

1 MFP
2 Printer unit 2a Output tray 3 Operation panel unit 3a Operation key 3b Display panel 4 Image reading unit 5 Document transport unit 5a Document feed tray 5b Document output tray

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus that reads a plurality of documents and assigns them to one recording sheet for printing.
By reading N originals each displaying a first code image in which M (M is a natural number of 2 or more) cell images in which binary values are coded are arranged in a matrix, N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) is read. Reading means for outputting a single document image;
Extracting means for extracting a first code image from each of the N document images;
Decoding means for extracting N cell images arranged at the same position from the extracted N first code images and decoding the cell images to obtain a decoding set consisting of N binary values;
Each decoding is performed based on a correspondence rule that associates each reference set of 2 N power types, which can be composed of N binary values, with any of the gradation values on the gray scale of 2 N gray scales. For the set, a cell image represented by a gradation value corresponding to the same reference set as the decoding set is generated, and the generated cell image is arranged at a position corresponding to the decoding set. As a result, M cells Generating means for generating a second code image in which the images are arranged in a matrix;
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a printing unit that prints the generated second code image on the recording paper. The extraction means includes
A reading unit that reads a code image from each of the document images;
A determination unit for determining whether or not the read code image is composed of two colors;
If the determination unit does not determine that the image is composed of two colors, the read code image is determined to be printed by superimposing a plurality of code images. A separation unit for separating into code images;
An output unit that outputs, as a first code image, all code images after being separated by the separation unit and all code images that are determined to be composed of two colors by the determination unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: On each of the plurality of documents, a first code image is printed with substantially the same size,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit prints the second code image generated by the generation unit on the recording paper with approximately the same size as the first code image. A first code image in which M (M is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) cell images represented by gradation values on a gray scale of 2 N (N is a natural number greater than or equal to 2) is arranged in a matrix Reading means for reading a document on which is displayed and outputting a document image;
Extracting means for extracting a first code image from the document image;
Discriminating means for discriminating each gradation value of the M target cell images arranged in the extracted first code image;
Based on a correspondence rule that associates each gradation value on a gray scale of 2 N gradations with each of 2 N kinds of reference sets that can be composed of N binary values without overlap. Specifying means for specifying a reference set corresponding to each of the target cell images;
Each of the N binary values constituting the identified reference set is encoded to generate N cell images, and each of the N cell images is represented in each of the N second code images. An image reading unit comprising: a generation unit that arranges the target cell image corresponding to the reference group at the same position as the position of the first code image, and generates N second code images as a result. apparatus.

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