JP5544795B2 - Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, and control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a control program.

  There is known an image reading apparatus that detects the size of a region where an image exists from image data input from a document, and scales the image of the image data based on the output size. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.)

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-184044 JP 2004-112240 A

  An object of the present invention is to detect an area where a read image exists in a document, and to check whether an image to be read is included in the detected area when the detected area is read next. .

An image reading apparatus according to claim 1 is provided.
An original reading means for reading an original;
Detecting means for detecting an area where an image on the original is arranged based on image data for the original read by the original reading means;
An area reading means for reading at least an area including the area so as to be output at a magnification determined based on the area detected by the detection means and the medium to be printed;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the image is included in the area read by the area reading means.

  In the image reading apparatus according to claim 2, whether the detection unit includes the image within a predetermined range from an area detected by the detection unit or an outer edge of the region detected by the detection unit. It is characterized by detecting.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the image reading apparatus according to claim 3 is configured such that the image is not included within a predetermined range from an area detected by the detection means or an outer edge of the area detected by the detection means. An adjustment means for adjusting the position where the image is arranged when detected is further provided.

An image forming apparatus according to claim 4
An original reading means for reading an original;
Detecting means for detecting an area where an image on the original is arranged based on image data for the original read by the original reading means;
An area reading means for reading at least an area including the area so as to be output at a magnification determined based on the area detected by the detection means and the medium to be printed;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the image is included in an area read by the area reading means;
Output means for outputting an image arranged in an area detected by the detection means to the medium to be printed.

A control program according to claim 5 is:
An original reading step for reading an original;
A detection step of detecting a region where an image on the document is arranged based on image data for the document read by the document reading step;
An area reading step for reading at least an area including the area so as to be output at a magnification determined based on the area detected by the detection step and the medium to be printed;
A detection step for detecting whether or not the image is included in the region read by the region reading step;
Is a control program that causes a computer to execute.

  According to the image reading apparatus according to claim 1, the image forming apparatus according to claim 4, and the control program according to claim 5, an area where the read image exists in the document is detected and then detected on the document In the case of reading an area, it is possible to confirm whether an image to be read is included in the detected area, as compared with a case where this configuration is not provided.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to detect the deviation within a range allowed by the user as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

  According to the image reading apparatus of the third aspect, it is possible to eliminate the generated deviation.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining conveyance of a document by a document feeding unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining conveyance of a document subsequent to FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining conveyance of a document subsequent to FIG. 4. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the autofit function in the scanner unit shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a manuscript. It is a figure showing the image data obtained by the prescan process from the original document shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the magnitude | size of the designated output image. It is a figure which shows the area | region ensured in the image storage part. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an original and image data read from the original in the main scanning process. It is a figure which shows the image data shown in FIG. 11 with a shift | offset | difference detection area | region. It is a figure which shows the image data when the shift | offset | difference of reading arises. It is a figure which shows the image data shown in FIG. 13 with a limit area | region. It is a figure explaining an image shift amount calculation process. It is a figure explaining an image shift correction process. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where an image on a document is not in a spare area.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying machine which is an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

  A copying machine 100 shown in FIG. 1 performs an image reading unit 1 that reads an image from a document, an image forming unit 2 that forms an image on a sheet, a FAX processing unit 3 that performs facsimile communication, and a control process for the entire copying machine 100. A system control unit 4 to be executed, a system memory 5 for storing data representing the state of the copying machine 100, and an operation unit / display unit 6 for displaying the state of the copying machine 100 and receiving user instruction operations. . During the copying operation of the copying machine 100, an image is read from the original by the image reading unit 1, and an image is formed on a sheet by the image forming unit 2 based on the read image. The copier 100 outputs image data representing an image read by the image reading unit 1 when operating as a scanner. Further, the copying machine 100 performs image data communication via the public line network (PSTN network / ISDN network) by the FAX processing unit 3. Here, the image reading unit 1 corresponds to an example of an image reading unit according to the present invention, and the image forming unit 2 corresponds to an example of an output unit according to the present invention.

  The image reading unit 1 includes a document feeding unit 11 that sends a document and a scanner unit 12 that reads an image from the document. The image reading unit 1 also includes a reading control unit 13 that controls the image reading unit 1 and processes image data.

  The document feeding unit 11 includes a document table 111, a document transport unit 112, and a document discharge unit 113. The document 200 placed on the document table 111 is transported along the document transport path R by the document transport unit 112 and is finally discharged to the document discharge unit 113.

  The scanner unit 12 includes a light source 121 that emits light toward a document, mirrors 122 and 123 that reflect and guide light reflected from the document 200, a lens 125 that forms an image of reflected light from the mirror, and a lens 125. And an image receiving sensor 126 for receiving the light image formed by the above and outputting image data. The image data output from the image receiving sensor 126 is processed by the reading control unit 13. The image receiving sensor 126 is, for example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). The document feeding unit 11 is mounted on the scanner unit 12 so as to be freely opened and closed. A contact glass 127 disposed in the middle of the document transport path R and a platen glass adjacent to the contact glass 127 are disposed on the upper surface of the scanner unit 12. 128. The document transport path R passes through a position facing the contact glass 127, and when the document transported through the document transport path R passes the scan position of the contact glass 127, the light from the portion that passes is reflected by the mirror 122. , 123, the lens 125, and the image receiving sensor 126 are converted into image data. Details of document conveyance by the document conveyance unit 112 will be described later. When an original is placed on the platen glass 128 by the user, the scanner unit 12 reads the image from the original by moving the mirrors 122 and 123.

  The reading control unit 13 controls the image reading unit 1 and processes the image on the data output from the scanner unit 12. Here, the image on the data is image data representing the image. When an image represented by image data is manipulated by processing the image data, the image data to be processed is also simply referred to as an image. Examples of processing include image scaling processing and position adjustment. The processed image data is supplied to the image forming unit 2 via the system control unit 4.

  The image forming unit 2 includes a photoconductor 21, a charging roll 22 that applies a charge to the surface of the photoconductor 21, an exposure device 23 that generates laser light based on image data, and a development device 24 that contains a developer. , A paper cassette 25 for storing the recording paper, a paper transport unit 26 for pulling out the recording paper from the paper cassette 25 and transporting it, a transfer roll 27 for transferring the toner image onto the paper, and heating the toner image on the recording paper. And a fixing device 28 for fixing the toner image on the recording paper by applying pressure.

  In the image forming unit 2, a charge is applied to the surface of the photoreceptor 21 rotating in the direction of arrow A by the charging roll 22, and the surface of the photoreceptor 21 to which the charge is applied is based on image data transmitted from the outside. The exposed exposure light is irradiated by the exposure device 23, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 21. In the developing device 24, the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 21 is developed with a developer containing toner. The photoreceptor 21 holds a toner image obtained by development, and the toner image is transferred onto a recording sheet conveyed in the direction of arrow B by a transfer roll 27 and recorded by a fixing device 28 that heats and pressurizes the toner image. The toner image on the paper is melted and fixed on the recording paper. In this way, an image is formed on the recording paper.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the copying machine shown in FIG.

  The reading control unit 13 includes an image processing unit 132 that performs image scaling processing, an autofit control unit 131 that performs adjustment processing in an autofit function, and an image storage unit 133 that stores image data. The auto-fit function is a function for scaling an image on a document according to the size of paper to be output. More specifically, when the size of the paper on which an image is to be formed is designated by the image forming unit 2, an image on the original such as a figure or a character on the read original is image-formed at the designated paper size. It is enlarged or reduced to the maximum possible size and formed on the paper. For scaling, for example, when a business card is created from an image created on the entire surface of an A4 size document, when the magnification is smaller than 1, that is, when the image is reduced, or when an image drawn on a part of the entire document is In some cases, the magnification is larger than 1, that is, the image is enlarged, such that it is arranged on the entire surface of the same size paper.

  Image reading unit 1, image forming unit 2, FAX processing unit 3, system control unit 4, system memory 5, operation unit / display unit 6, image processing unit 132, autofit control unit 131, and image storage shown in FIG. The units 133 are connected to each other via a bus and communicate with each other. The image processing unit 132 performs a scaling process such as enlargement / reduction on image data representing an image, and also performs data amount compression of image data and data encoding and decoding for communication. The process of the autofit control unit 131 is executed by executing a control program stored in the system memory 5 as a storage medium. The autofit control unit 131 performs image position adjustment and detection when executing the autofit function. The image storage unit 133 is, for example, a hard disk device, but may be configured with a semiconductor memory.

  The outline of the auto-fit process will be described. First, prescan is performed over the entire document as the first reading. Next, an effective image area where an image on the document is arranged is detected from the image data obtained for the document, and a magnification is calculated from the size of the image formed on the paper. In the main scan, which is the second reading, an area including at least the effective image area of the original is read again to obtain scaled image data. By performing image formation according to the image data in the image forming unit 2, an image on the original is formed over the range where the image can be formed on the designated paper.

[Conveying documents]
In the auto-fit function, reading from a document is executed twice: pre-scan and main scan. The conveyance of the document in the document feeding unit 11 will be described.

  3, 4, and 5 are diagrams for explaining document conveyance by the document feeding unit. 3 to 5 are enlarged views of the paper conveyance path of the document feeding unit 11 shown in FIG.

  The document feeding unit 11 includes a main conveyance path 31a that extends in a curved shape from the document table 111 to the document discharge section 113, a reverse conveyance path 31b that is connected from the front of the document discharge section 113 to the middle of the main conveyance path 31a, and the document table 111. A take-out roll 32a for picking up the originals one by one, a transport roll 32b for transporting the originals in the transport paths 31a and 31b, a discharge roll 32c for discharging the originals to the original discharge unit 113, and a path switching member 33. When the document feeding unit 11 circulates one document via the reverse feeding path 31b, the front and back are reversed every time the document is circulated.

  The document taken out from the document table 111 by the take-out roll 32a is pre-scanned. 3 to 5 show a state in which a single document to be read passes through the conveyance path. Note that a triangle mark representing the front surface is attached to the front surface of the paper for easy understanding of one surface on which the image to be read is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the original is transported in the main transport path 31a, and an image is read when it passes the scan position S of the contact glass 127 in the middle of the main transport path 31a. The document is conveyed to the front of the document discharge unit 113, but is not discharged to the document discharge unit 113 and is temporarily stopped before the document discharge unit 113.

  Next, the main scan is executed. At this time, the discharge roll 32 c is driven in reverse, and the document is fed back in a direction away from the document discharge unit 113. As shown in FIG. 4, the document is guided to the reverse transport path 31 b by the path switching member 33, joins the main transport path 31 a, and is transported again to the front of the document discharge unit 113. The reverse conveyance path 31b is a conveyance path provided for reading the back side of the document in double-sided reading of the document. When the document passes through the contact glass 127, the back surface of the document faces the contact glass 127. In the auto fit function, the image of the original at this time cannot be read.

  Next, the discharge roll 32c is again driven in reverse, and the document is fed backward. As shown in FIG. 5, the document is guided to the reverse transport path 31b by the path switching member 33, joins the main transport path 31a, and is transported again. Since the surface of the document faces the contact glass 127 when the document passes the scan position S in the middle of the main conveyance path 31a, the image on the surface is read. Finally, the document is discharged to the document discharge unit 113 by the discharge roll 32c.

  In this way, in auto fit, pre-scanning and main scanning are performed while conveying the original. The effective image area in which the image on the document is arranged is detected by the pre-scan. In the main scan, the effective image area of the document is scaled and read. From the pre-scan to the main scan, the document circulates twice in the conveyance path. Between the pre-scan and the main scan, the timing at which the document passes the scan position S is deviated from the target, or the document is deviated in the width direction intersecting the conveyance path. May deviate from the image on the original. In this case, in the image data obtained in the main scan, the portion corresponding to the image on the document is shifted and the image is positioned on the output paper at a position shifted from the target, or a part of the image data cannot be placed on the paper. May be missing. The autofit control unit 131 detects the deviation of the reading position from the image data.

[Autofit]
Processing of the autofit function including detection of deviation will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing of the autofit function in the scanner unit shown in FIG. The autofit function is realized by the autofit control unit 131 executing a control program. In the following, description will be made with reference to this flowchart and the drawings after FIG. 7 alternately.

  The execution instruction of the autofit function process shown in FIG. 6 is performed with the designation of the size of the output image. The size of the output image is specified, for example, by selecting a sheet on which an image is to be formed by operating the operation unit / display unit 6 by the user. Typically, the maximum size capable of forming an image on the selected paper is designated as the size of the output image.

  When the execution of the autofit function is instructed, the scanner unit 12 first executes a prescan process for reading a document (step S1). More specifically, the system control unit 4 (see FIG. 2) causes the document conveyance unit 112 (see FIG. 1) to convey the document, and causes the scanner unit 12 to read the document image. At this time, the document is conveyed along the path shown in FIG. Image data for a document read by the scanner unit 12 is temporarily stored in the image storage unit 133.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing image data obtained by prescan processing from the document shown in FIG.

  A star-shaped figure is drawn as an image 201 on the original at the lower right of the original 200 shown in FIG.

  When reading is performed from the original 200 shown in FIG. 7 in the pre-scan process in step S1, image data 210 shown in part (A) of FIG. 8 is obtained. The image data represents the entire document 200 shown in FIG.

  Next, an image area specifying process is executed (step S2 in FIG. 6). Specifically, the auto fit control unit 131 of the reading control unit 13 uses the effective image area in which the image on the document 200 is arranged from the image data for the document 200 obtained by the prescan process and stored in the image storage unit 133. Is detected. The autofit control unit 131 compares whether or not each pixel value of the image data is a value constituting the image with a predetermined reference value. As a result of the comparison, as shown in part (B) of FIG. 8, an image 211 composed of pixels having effective values is detected, and a rectangular effective image region 221 including the image is detected. The effective image area 221 is detected as the distance from the horizontal and vertical sizes x and y and the reference position of the document (upper left corner of the document in the example of FIG. 8). Size and distance are expressed in units of picture elements (pixels).

  Next, the autofit control unit 131 executes a scaling factor specifying process (step S3 in FIG. 6). In the variable magnification specifying process, the autofit control unit 131 specifies a magnification for making the image on the original detected in the image area specifying process an output image arranged on a designated sheet as a printing medium. That is, the magnification is determined based on the effective image area 221 detected by the image area specifying process and the medium to be printed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the size of the output image.

  In the example shown in FIG. 9, the size of the output image 231 on the designated paper is X and Y in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. Note that an effective image area 221 of an image obtained by the pre-scan process is shown on the right side of FIG. 9 for comparison. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the horizontal magnification is specified as X / x and the vertical magnification is specified as Y / y by the scaling factor specifying process in step S3. Specifically, the scaling is realized by obtaining image data representing an image on a document with a resolution corresponding to the magnification.

  Next, the autofit control unit 131 executes an output image area creation process (step S4 in FIG. 6). More specifically, the autofit control unit 131 secures an area in the image storage unit 133 in which data representing an output image is stored according to the magnification specified in the scaling factor specifying process in step S3.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an area secured in the image storage unit.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in this embodiment, a logical area 241 for storing output image data to be output as an output image and a spare logical area 242 for backup are secured. The logical area 241 is an area in which image data of horizontal X pixels and vertical Y pixels are arranged and output after the effective image area of the original is scaled and read at the above-mentioned magnification in the main scan processing to be executed later. is there. If the original reading position is not shifted between the pre-scan and the main scan in an ideal state, the data read in the main scan process with the effective image area as the reading target and stored in the logical area 241 is the image on the original. Represents an enlarged image, that is, an output image. Here, a portion of the stored data corresponding to the image on the document is simply referred to as an image on the document. In actual reading, the position of the image on the document stored in the image storage unit 133 may deviate from the position of the image on the document stored in the ideal state, and may protrude from the logic area 241. is there. That is, the image on the document may not be included in the logical area 241. The spare logical area 242 is provided in consideration of this shift, and is an area in which an image in the spare area 203 surrounding the effective image area 202 (see FIG. 11) is stored. Among the portions secured as the logical area 241 of the image storage unit 133, a frame-shaped deviation detection area 243 for detecting image deviation is set in a part corresponding to each side of the logical area 241. In a portion corresponding to the outer edge of 242, a limit area 244 for detecting a limit of deviation adjustment is set in a frame shape. Details of the shift detection area 243 and the limit area 244 will be described later. Note that the larger the spare logical area 242 is, the higher the tolerance of deviation is, but the size is determined by the balance with the capacity provided by the image storage unit 133.

  Next, the main scanning process is executed (step S5 in FIG. 6). The system control unit 4 causes the document feeding unit 11 to transport the document along the path shown in FIG. 4 and to reverse the front and back, and then transports the document again along the path illustrated in FIG. The original is read using the effective image area specified by the image area specifying process in step S2 of the surface as a reading target. In the present embodiment, the document is read with an area including the area corresponding to the spare area surrounding the effective image area as a reading target.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a document and image data read from the document in the main scanning process.

  In the main scanning process, the system control unit 4 sends the scanner unit 12 the effective image area 202 identified by the image area identifying process in step S2 and the effective image area of the original 200 shown in Part (A) of FIG. The spare area 203 surrounding 202 is read as a reading target. In the main scanning process, the document is read at the magnification specified by the variable magnification specifying process in step S3. For example, when the document feeding unit 11 sends a document at a speed corresponding to the magnification, image data can be obtained with a resolution corresponding to the size of the output image in the feeding direction. In the width direction intersecting with the feeding direction, the necessary resolution can be obtained by the processing of the image processing unit 132. The image data output from the scanner unit 12 in the main scanning process is stored in the area secured in the output image area creating process in step S4 in the image storage unit 133. Part (B) of FIG. 11 shows image data obtained by the main scanning process and stored in the image storage unit 133. The image corresponding to the star-shaped figure in the example of the image data shown in the figure is already scaled at a magnification specified for output, and is called an output image 251.

  Next, the autofit control unit 131 executes an image shift determination process (step S6 in FIG. 6). If there is no reading position deviation between the pre-scan process and the main scan process, the image data read in the main scan process in step S5 and stored in the image storage unit 133 is shown in part (B) of FIG. As shown, the output image 251 fits without shifting from the logical area 241. That is, the output image 251 is in contact with each side of the rectangular logical area 241.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the image data shown in part (B) of FIG. 11 together with the shift detection area.

  The shift detection area 243 is an area for detecting a shift of the image, and is provided in a predetermined range from the outer edge of the logic area 241. More specifically, the shift detection area 243 has a rectangular frame shape with each side having a width along the outer edge of the logic area 241. In the image shift determination process in step S6, by detecting whether or not the output image 251 is included in the area of each side of the rectangular frame-shaped shift detection area 243, the entire output image 251 is shifted from the logical area 241 and the shift. Whether or not it is included in the detection area 243, or in other words, whether or not the output image 251 protrudes from these areas is detected. Whether or not the output image 251 is included in these areas is detected by comparing the pixel values of the pixels in each side of the detection area 243 with reference values. As shown in FIG. 12, when there is no reading deviation, pixels constituting the output image 251 are included in each side of the detection region 243. When the pixels of the output image 251 are included in each side of the detection area 243 (Yes in step S7), the autofit control unit 131 ends the process. In this case, the image data stored in the logical area 241 becomes output image data output from the image reading unit 1 as it is. That is, when the image data stored in the logical area 241 of the image storage unit 133 is read and supplied to the image forming unit 2 (FIG. 2), the scaled output image is not lost or misaligned on the paper. Formed.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing image data when a reading deviation occurs.

  When there is a deviation in reading, the output image 251 is not included in any of the sides of the detection area 243.

  When there is a region that does not include the output image 251 among the regions of each side in the detection region 243 (No in step S <b> 7 in FIG. 6), the autofit control unit 131 determines that the output image 251 is shifted from the logical region 241. judge. Note that the width of each side of the shift detection area 243 is one pixel when no shift is allowed, but may be several pixels depending on the shift tolerance.

  If it is detected that there is an image shift from the logical area 241 (No in step S7 in FIG. 6), the autofit control unit 131 next executes an out-of-area determination process (step S8 in FIG. 6).

  FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the image data shown in FIG. 13 together with the limit area.

  The limit area 244 is set in a portion corresponding to the outer edge of the spare logical area 242 and is used for detecting a limit of deviation adjustment. When the read logical area 241 and the spare logical area 242 include an image on the original, the image 201 (FIG. 11) on the original is completely read in the main scan. In this case, by adjusting the obtained data, the image on the original can be stored in the output image data.

  When the limit area 244 does not include the pixels constituting the output image 251, the autofit control unit 131 determines that the entire image on the document is included in the logical area 241 and the spare logical area 242. (Yes in step S9 in FIG. 6). The width of the limit area 244 is 1 pixel.

  When it is determined that the output image 251 is within the preliminary logical area 242, the autofit control unit 131 calculates the image shift amount in the image shift amount calculation process (step S10 in FIG. 6), and then performs the subsequent image shift correction process ( In step S11) in FIG. 6, the position of the output image 251 is corrected according to the deviation amount calculated in step S10.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining the image deviation amount calculation processing, and FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the image deviation correction processing.

  The autofit control unit 131 calculates pixel distances dx and dy from the edge of the logical area 241 to the closest point of the output image 251 in each of the horizontal and vertical directions in an image shift amount calculation process (step S10 in FIG. 6). Next, the autofit control unit 131 moves the data in the image storage unit 133 by an amount corresponding to the pixel distances dx and dy in the image shift correction process (step S11 in FIG. 6). The data of the output image 251 is stored in the logical area 241 by the image shift amount calculation process (step S10 in FIG. 6) and the image shift correction process (step S11 in FIG. 6). As a result, when the image data read from the logical area 241 is supplied to the image forming unit 2 (FIG. 2), the scaled figure is formed on the paper without being lost.

  When the output image 251 is included in the limit area 244 in the above steps S8 and S9, the autofit control unit 131 does not include the output image 251 in the spare logical area 242 and the spare logical area 242. (No in step S9 in FIG. 6).

  FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining a state where an image on a document is not in the spare area.

  When the image on the document is not in the spare logical area 242, the output image 251 is included in the limit area 244. When the output image 251 is included in the limit region 244 of the image storage unit 133, the autofit control unit 131 determines that the image on the document is not in the spare logical region 242 (in step S9 in FIG. 6). No). This avoids unnecessary processing execution and generation of image data whose image position is shifted when the shift is not possible.

  Here, the pre-scan process in step S1 corresponds to an example of a document reading step according to the present invention. The image area specifying process in step S2 corresponds to an example of the detection step according to the present invention, and the autofit control unit 131 that executes the image area specifying process corresponds to an example of the detecting means according to the present invention. Further, the main scanning process in step S5 corresponds to an example of an area reading step according to the present invention, and the autofit control unit 131 that executes the main scanning process corresponds to an example of an area reading unit according to the present invention. The image shift determination process in step S6 and the out-of-area determination process in step S8 correspond to an example of the detection step in the present invention, and the autofit control unit 131 that executes the image shift determination process and the out-of-area determination process includes: This corresponds to an example of the detection means referred to in the present invention. The image shift amount calculation process in step S10 and the image shift correction process in step S11 correspond to an example of the adjustment step in the present invention, and the autofit control unit 131 that executes the shift amount calculation process and the image shift correction process. This corresponds to an example of the adjusting means in the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, a copying machine is shown as an example of the image reading means in the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, image data obtained by reading and processing is output. A single scanner may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image reading unit 1 that reads the document conveyed by the document conveying unit 112 is shown as an example of the image reading unit according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a case where a document placed on a platen glass is pre-scanned and main-scanned.

  In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the area reading unit according to the present invention, an autofit function for obtaining image data with a size that can be formed on a sheet is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the magnification may be specified directly.

  In the above-described embodiment, the image shift correction process for moving the data in the image storage unit 133 is shown as an example of the adjustment unit in the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, data Instead of moving the position, the arrangement position may be adjusted by shifting the position of the area from which the output image data is extracted.

  In the above-described embodiment, the program stored in the system memory 5 is shown as an example of the control program according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control program according to the present invention is For example, it can be provided from outside the copying machine via a storage medium such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk or a communication line.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image reading unit 2 Image forming unit 13 Reading control part 100 Copier 131 Autofit control part 133 Image storage part

Claims (3)

An image reading device that reads a document twice, pre-reading and main-reading,
Prefetching means for prefetching the manuscript;
Detecting means for detecting an image area in which an image on the document is arranged based on image data obtained by prefetching by the prefetching means;
A main reading means for reading at least an area including the image area so as to be output at a magnification determined based on the image area detected by the detection means and the medium to be printed;
Whether or not the image is included within a predetermined range from the area detected by the detection means or the outer edge of the image area detected by the detection means based on the image obtained by the main reading by the main reading means Detecting means for detecting
When the detection means detects that the image is not included in a predetermined range from the image area detected by the detection means or the outer edge of the image area detected by the detection means, the image An image reading apparatus comprising: an adjustment unit that calculates a deviation amount that protrudes from the image area and adjusts a position where the image is arranged so as to correct the deviation amount . An image reading device that reads a document twice, pre-reading and main-reading,
Prefetching means for prefetching the manuscript;
Detecting means for detecting an image area in which an image on the document is arranged based on image data obtained by prefetching by the prefetching means;
A main reading means for reading an area including at least the image area so that the image can be output at a magnification determined based on the area detected by the detection means and the medium to be printed;
Whether the image is included within a predetermined range from the image area detected by the detection means or the outer edge of the image area detected by the detection means based on the image obtained by the main reading by the main reading means Detecting means for detecting whether or not,
When the detection means detects that the image is not included in a predetermined range from the image area detected by the detection means or the outer edge of the image area detected by the detection means, the image Calculating an amount of deviation that protrudes from the image area and adjusting a position where the image is arranged so as to correct the amount of deviation ;
An image forming apparatus comprising: output means for outputting the image to the printing medium based on image data obtained by the main reading by the main reading means. A prefetch step for prefetching the manuscript;
A detection step of detecting an image area in which an image on the document is arranged based on image data obtained by prefetching in the prefetching step;
A main reading step of reading an area including at least the image area so as to be output at a magnification determined based on the image area detected by the detection step and a medium to be printed;
Whether the image is included within a predetermined range from the image area detected by the detection means or the outer edge of the image area detected by the detection means based on the image obtained by the main reading in the main reading step A detection step for detecting whether or not,
When the detection step detects that the image is not included within a predetermined range from the image area detected by the detection step or the outer edge of the image area detected by the detection step, the image A control program for causing a computer to perform an adjustment step of calculating a deviation amount that protrudes from the image area and adjusting a position where the image is arranged so as to correct the deviation amount .

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