JP6451693B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method.

  In an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine, output processing such as printing processing is executed based on image data read from a document. Here, there is known an image processing apparatus capable of extracting an image area from image data and printing the extracted image area on a sheet having a size corresponding to the extracted image area (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-14891 A

  By the way, when image data of a document is read by the image processing apparatus, the document components such as character strings and graphics may be uneven in the document character string direction. In this case, the user of the image processing apparatus may want to align the positions of the constituent elements of the document in the character string direction in order to improve the visibility of the document. The user of the image processing apparatus may want to align the position of each component of the document with the left end of the document in order to provide a space for writing a memo at the right end of the document. However, the conventional image processing apparatus cannot align the positions in the character string direction of each component of the document.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of aligning positions in a character string direction of each component of a document.

  An image processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition processing unit, a detection processing unit, a change processing unit, and an output processing unit. The acquisition processing unit acquires image data of a document. The detection processing unit detects a component of the document based on the image data of the document. The change processing unit changes the position of each component in the image data of the document to a predetermined specific position in the character string direction of the document. The output processing unit outputs the image data of the document after the change processing by the change processing unit.

  An image processing method according to another aspect of the present invention includes the following acquisition step, detection step, change step, and output step. In the obtaining step, image data of the document is obtained. In the detection step, components of the document are detected based on the image data of the document. In the changing step, the position of each component in the image data of the document is changed to a predetermined specific position in the character string direction of the document. In the output step, the image data of the document after the change process in the change step is output.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to align the positions of the constituent elements of a document in the character string direction.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the position change process executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method for detecting a component of a document in the position change process executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of components of a document whose position has been changed by the position change process executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of the components of the document whose position has been changed by the position change process executed by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[Schematic Configuration of Image Processing Apparatus 10]
First, a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus 10.

  The image processing apparatus 10 is a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function and a copy function, as well as a scan function for reading image data from a document and a print function for forming an image based on the image data. The present invention is also applicable to image processing apparatuses such as scanner apparatuses, printer apparatuses, facsimile apparatuses, and copiers.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the image processing apparatus 10 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder) 1, an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, a control unit 5, an operation display unit 6, and A storage unit 7 is provided.

  The ADF 1 includes a document setting unit, a plurality of conveyance rollers, a document pressing unit, and a paper discharge unit, and conveys a document read by the image reading unit 2. The image reading unit 2 includes a document table, a light source, a plurality of mirrors, an optical lens, and a CCD, and can read image data from the document.

  The image forming unit 3 can form an image by electrophotography based on the image data read by the image reading unit 2 or image data input from an information processing apparatus such as an external personal computer. Specifically, the image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging device, an optical scanning device, a developing device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, a fixing roller, a pressure roller, and a paper discharge tray. In the image forming unit 3, an image is formed on the sheet supplied from the paper feeding unit 4, and the sheet after the image formation is discharged to the paper discharge tray.

  The control unit 5 includes control devices such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and EEPROM (registered trademark) (not shown). The CPU is a processor that executes various arithmetic processes. The ROM is a non-volatile storage medium in which information such as a control program for causing the CPU to execute various processes is stored in advance. The RAM is a volatile storage medium, and the EEPROM is a nonvolatile storage medium. The RAM and the EEPROM are used as a temporary storage memory (working area) for various processes executed by the CPU. In the control unit 5, various control programs stored in advance in the ROM are executed by the CPU. As a result, the image processing apparatus 10 is comprehensively controlled by the control unit 5. The control unit 5 may be an electronic circuit such as an integrated circuit (ASIC), and is a control unit provided separately from the main control unit that comprehensively controls the image processing apparatus 10. May be.

  The operation display unit 6 is a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various types of information in response to control instructions from the control unit 5, and an operation key or touch panel that inputs various types of information to the control unit 5 in response to user operations. And so on.

  The storage unit 7 is a nonvolatile storage medium. For example, the storage unit 7 is a storage medium such as a flash memory, an SSD (solid state drive), or an HDD (hard disk drive).

  By the way, when image data of a document is read by the image processing apparatus 10, document components such as character strings and graphics may be misaligned in the document character string direction. In this case, the user of the image processing apparatus 10 may want to align the positions of the constituent elements of the document in the character string direction in order to improve the visibility of the document. Further, the user of the image processing apparatus 10 may want to align the position of each component of the document with the left end of the document in order to provide a space for writing a memo at the right end of the document. However, the conventional image processing apparatus cannot align the positions in the character string direction of each component of the document.

  On the other hand, in the image processing apparatus 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, as described below, it is possible to align the positions in the character string direction of the constituent elements of the document.

  Specifically, the ROM of the control unit 5 stores in advance a position change program for causing the CPU to execute a position change process described later (see the flowchart in FIG. 3). The position change program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or a flash memory, and read from the recording medium and installed in the storage unit 7.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 5 includes an acquisition processing unit 51, an edge detection unit 52, a first detection unit 53, a specific processing unit 54, a second detection unit 55, a change processing unit 56, and an output processing unit. 57. Specifically, the control unit 5 executes the position change program stored in the ROM using the CPU. Thereby, the control unit 5 functions as an acquisition processing unit 51, an edge detection unit 52, a first detection unit 53, a specific processing unit 54, a second detection unit 55, a change processing unit 56, and an output processing unit 57.

  The acquisition processing unit 51 acquires image data of a document.

  For example, the acquisition processing unit 51 acquires image data of a document using the image reading unit 2. Specifically, when a document is placed on the document set unit of the ADF 1, the acquisition processing unit 51 uses the ADF 1 and the image reading unit 2 to convert the document from the document placed on the document set unit. Read image data. In addition, when a document is placed on the document table of the image reading unit 2, the acquisition processing unit 51 uses the image reading unit 2 to convert the image data of the document from the document placed on the document table. Read.

  Further, the acquisition processing unit 51 may acquire the image data of the document by receiving the image data of the document transmitted from the external information processing apparatus. Further, the acquisition processing unit 51 acquires the image data of the document by reading out the image data of the document read by the image reading unit 2 or transmitted from the external information processing apparatus and stored in the storage unit 7. May be.

  The edge detection unit 52, the first detection unit 53, the specific processing unit 54, and the second detection unit 55 detect the constituent elements of the document based on the image data of the document. Here, the edge detection part 52, the 1st detection part 53, the specific process part 54, and the 2nd detection part 55 are examples of the detection process part in this invention.

  Specifically, the constituent elements include character strings, figures, and photographs. In addition, the said component may be any one or two of a character string, a figure, and a photograph.

  The edge detection unit 52 detects edge pixels included in the image data of the document. For example, the edge detection unit 52 detects the edge pixel included in the image data of the document by performing a differential filter process on each pixel included in the image data of the document.

  The first detection unit 53, the specific processing unit 54, and the second detection unit 55 detect the constituent element based on the edge pixel detected by the edge detection unit 52. Here, the first detection unit 53, the specific processing unit 54, and the second detection unit 55 are examples of the configuration detection unit in the present invention.

  For each divided region in which the document image data is divided at equal intervals in a row direction orthogonal to the document character string direction, the first detection unit 53 in the character string direction among the edge pixels included in the divided region. A pair of end pixels that are farthest apart are detected.

  For example, in the image processing apparatus 10, the format of the image data of the document acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51 is set to horizontal writing in advance. Note that the format of the image data of the document acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51 may be changed to vertical writing in accordance with a user operation on the operation display unit 6. The character string direction is the horizontal direction of the document when the format of the image data of the document acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51 is set to horizontal writing. The character string direction is the vertical direction of the document when the format of the image data of the document acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51 is set to vertical writing.

  For example, in the image processing apparatus 10, the width of the divided region in the row direction is set to a predetermined initial value. Note that the width of the divided regions in the row direction may be changed according to the size of the image data of the document acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51. Further, the width of the divided region in the row direction may be set to an arbitrary value according to a user operation on the operation display unit 6.

  The specific processing unit 54 includes a separation distance in the character string direction of each of the end pixels on one side in the character string direction included in each of the adjacent divided regions, and each of the end pixels on the other side in the character string direction. Based on the separation distance in the character string direction, one or a plurality of the divided regions including the common component are specified.

  Specifically, the specific processing unit 54 determines that the separation distance in the character string direction of each of the end pixels on one side in the character string direction included in each of the two adjacent divided regions is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. And the separation distance in the character string direction of each of the end pixels on the other side in the character string direction is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is determined that two adjacent divided regions include the common component. .

  For example, in the image processing apparatus 10, the threshold value is set to a predetermined initial value. For example, the initial value of the threshold is 10 pixels. The threshold value may be changed according to the size of the image data of the document acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51. The threshold value may be set to an arbitrary value according to a user operation on the operation display unit 6.

  The second detection unit 55 detects, as the constituent element, an inner region in the character string direction from each of the end pixels that are most separated in the character string direction in the one or more divided regions specified by the specification processing unit 54. To do.

  The control unit 5 may detect a character area and a non-character area from the image data of the document, and may use the detected character area and the non-character area as the constituent elements. For example, the control unit 5 detects the character region and the non-character region from the image data of the document based on the edge pixel detected by the edge detection unit 52, and detects the detected character region and the non-character. A region may be the component.

  The change processing unit 56 changes the position of each component in the image data of the document to a predetermined specific position in the character string direction.

  For example, the specific position is a position separated from the left end in the character string direction (the horizontal direction of the document) in the document image data by a predetermined set distance from the left side to the center side. Here, the set distance corresponds to the width of the left margin area in the image data of the document. The specific position may be a position separated from the right end in the character string direction (lateral direction of the document) in the document image data by the set distance from the right end. The set distance may be set to an arbitrary value in accordance with a user operation on the operation display unit 6. The set distance may be changed according to the size of the image data of the document acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51.

  For example, the change processing unit 56 changes the position of one end in the character string direction of each of the constituent elements in the image data of the document to the specific position.

  The specific position may be a central position in the character string direction in the image data of the document. In this case, the change processing unit 56 changes the position of the central portion in the character string direction of each of the constituent elements in the image data of the document to the specific position.

  The output processing unit 57 outputs the image data of the document after the change processing by the change processing unit 56.

  For example, the output processing unit 57 uses the image forming unit 3 to print the image data of the document after the change processing by the change processing unit 56.

  The output processing unit 57 may store the image data of the document after the change processing by the change processing unit 56 in the storage unit 7. Further, the output processing unit 57 may transmit the image data of the document after the change processing by the change processing unit 56 to an external information processing apparatus.

[Position change processing]
Hereinafter, the procedure of the image processing method according to the present invention will be described together with an example of the procedure of the position change process executed by the control unit 5 in the image processing apparatus 10 with reference to FIG. Here, steps S11, S12,... Represent the numbers of processing procedures (steps) executed by the control unit 5. The control unit 5 executes the position change process when there is a user operation for instructing the operation display unit 6 to execute the position change process. In the following description, it is assumed that the format of the image data of the document acquired by the acquisition processing unit 51 is set to horizontal writing in advance. That is, the description will be made assuming that the character string direction is the horizontal direction of the document.

<Step S11>
First, in step S11, the control unit 5 acquires image data of a document. Here, the process of step S <b> 11 is an example of the acquisition step in the present invention, and is executed by the acquisition processing unit 51 of the control unit 5.

  For example, when a document is placed on the document set unit of the ADF 1, the control unit 5 uses the ADF 1 and the image reading unit 2 to convert the image data of the document from the document placed on the document set unit. Read. In addition, when a document is placed on the document table of the image reading unit 2, the control unit 5 uses the image reading unit 2 to obtain image data of the document from the document placed on the document table. read.

  Further, the control unit 5 may acquire the document image data by receiving the document image data transmitted from the external information processing apparatus. Further, the control unit 5 acquires the image data of the document by reading the image data of the document read by the image reading unit 2 or transmitted from the external information processing apparatus and stored in the storage unit 7. Also good.

<Step S12>
In step S12, the control unit 5 detects the edge pixel included in the image data of the document. Here, the process of step S <b> 12 is executed by the edge detection unit 52 of the control unit 5.

  For example, the control unit 5 detects the edge pixel included in the image data of the document by executing the differential filter processing on each pixel included in the image data of the document.

  Here, FIG. 4 shows an example of image data of a document in which the edge pixel is detected in step S12. In the following, the horizontal direction in FIG. 4 is defined as the character string direction D1, and the vertical direction in the plane is defined as the row direction D2.

  Image data A1 shown in FIG. 4 is a part of the image data of the document in which the edge pixel is detected in step S12. In addition, the broken line in FIG. 4 is for showing division area R1-R8. A straight line L11 in FIG. 4 is a straight line that passes through the end pixel G21 and is perpendicular to the character string direction D1. A straight line L12 in FIG. 4 is a straight line that passes through the end pixel G42 and is perpendicular to the character string direction D1. A straight line L21 in FIG. 4 is a straight line that passes through the end pixel G51 and is perpendicular to the character string direction D1. A straight line L22 in FIG. 4 is a straight line that passes through the end pixel G62 and is perpendicular to the character string direction D1.

<Step S13>
In step S <b> 13, the control unit 5 detects, for each of the divided regions, a pair of end pixels that are most separated in the character string direction from among the edge pixels included in the divided region. Here, the process of step S <b> 13 is executed by the first detection unit 53 of the control unit 5.

  For example, the control unit 5 detects the end pixel G11 and the end pixel G12 that are farthest apart in the character string direction D1 from the divided region R1 illustrated in FIG. Further, the control unit 5 detects the end pixel G21 and the end pixel G22 that are farthest apart in the character string direction D1 from the divided region R2 shown in FIG. When there are a plurality of the edge pixels located at the left end in the character string direction D1 as in the divided region R2 shown in FIG. 4, any one pixel is used as the left end pixel in the character string direction D1. It only has to be detected. The same applies to the case where there are a plurality of the edge pixels located at the right end in the character string direction D1 as in the divided region R2 shown in FIG.

  Similarly, the control unit 5 detects the end pixels G31 to G81 and the end pixels G32 to G82 that are farthest apart in the character string direction D1 from the divided regions R3 to R8 shown in FIG.

<Step S14>
In step S <b> 14, the control unit 5 determines the separation distance in the character string direction of each of the end pixels on one side in the character string direction included in each of the adjacent divided regions, and the end on the other side in the character string direction. Based on the separation distance of each pixel in the character string direction, one or a plurality of the divided regions including the common component are specified. Here, the process of step S <b> 14 is executed by the specific processing unit 54 of the control unit 5.

  For example, in the image data A1, the control unit 5 determines whether or not two adjacent divided regions include the common component in order from the upper divided region R1 in the row direction D2.

  Specifically, the control unit 5 determines that the separation distance in the character string direction D1 between the left end pixel G11 and the end pixel G21 in the character string direction D1 included in the divided region R1 and the divided region R2 illustrated in FIG. In addition, it is determined whether or not the distance between the right end pixel G12 and the end pixel G22 in the character string direction D1 in the character string direction D1 is equal to or less than the threshold value. Then, the control unit 5 determines that the separation distance in the character string direction D1 between the left end pixel G11 and the end pixel G21 in the character string direction D1 is equal to or less than the threshold value and the right end pixel G12 and the end pixel G1 in the character string direction D1. When the separation distance in the character string direction D1 of the pixel G22 is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is determined that the divided region R1 and the divided region R2 include the common constituent element.

  Next, the control unit 5 determines that the separation distance in the character string direction D1 between the left end pixel G21 and the end pixel G31 in the character string direction D1 included in the divided region R2 and the divided region R3 illustrated in FIG. In addition, it is determined whether or not the distance between the right end pixel G22 and the end pixel G32 in the character string direction D1 in the character string direction D1 is equal to or less than the threshold value. Then, the control unit 5 determines that the separation distance in the character string direction D1 between the left end pixel G21 and the end pixel G31 in the character string direction D1 is equal to or less than the threshold value, and the right end pixel G22 and the end pixel in the character string direction D1. When the separation distance of the pixel G32 in the character string direction D1 is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is determined that the divided region R2 and the divided region R3 include the common component.

  Here, when the control unit 5 determines that the divided region R1 and the divided region R2 include the common constituent elements, and determines that the divided region R2 and the divided region R3 include the common constituent elements, It is determined that the regions R1 to R3 include the common components.

  With the procedure described above, the control unit 5 determines whether or not all of the divided areas included in the image data A1 include the constituent elements common to the adjacent divided areas. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit 5 determines that the divided regions R1 to R4 include the common constituent elements. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 5 determines that the divided region R4 and the divided region R5 do not include the common component. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 5 determines that the divided regions R5 to R8 include the common constituent elements.

<Step S15>
In step S15, the control unit 5 detects, as the constituent element, an inner region in the character string direction from each of the end pixels most spaced in the character string direction in one or a plurality of the divided regions specified in step S14. To do. Here, the process of step S12-step S15 is an example of the detection step in this invention. Further, the process of step S15 is executed by the second detection unit 55 of the control unit 5.

  For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit 5 includes the end pixels G11 to G41 included in the divided regions R1 to R4 and the divided pixels R1 to R4 that are determined to include the common components in step S14. Among the end pixels G12 to G42, the end pixel G21 and the end pixel G42 that are farthest in the character string direction D1 and the inner region in the character string direction D1 from the end pixel G42 (region surrounded by the straight line L11 and the straight line L12 in FIG. 4) are configured. Detect as element X1.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the control unit 5 includes the end pixels G51 to G81 included in the divided regions R5 to R8 and the divided pixels R5 to R8 that are determined to include the common components in step S14. Among the end pixels G52 to G82, the end pixel G51 and the end pixel G62 farthest from each other in the character string direction D1 constitute a region inside the character string direction D1 (region surrounded by the straight line L21 and the straight line L22 in FIG. 4). Detect as element X2.

<Step S16>
In step S16, the control unit 5 changes the position in the document image data of each of the component elements detected in step S15 to the specific position in the character string direction. Here, the process of step S <b> 16 is an example of a change step in the present invention, and is executed by the change processing unit 56 of the control unit 5.

  For example, the control unit 5 moves the component X1 detected in step S15 from the left end in the character string direction D1 in the image data A1 to the specific position P1 (see FIG. 4) that is separated from the center by the set distance. Move. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit 5 moves the constituent element X1 so that the left end (end pixel G21) in the character string direction D1 in the constituent element X1 is arranged at the specific position P1. Move.

  Moreover, the control part 5 moves the component X2 detected by step S15 to the specific position P1. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the control unit 5 moves the component X2 so that the left end (end pixel G51) in the character string direction D1 of the component X2 is arranged at the specific position P1. Move.

  When the specific position is the center position in the character string direction in the image data of the document, the control unit 5 moves the component X1 detected in step S15 to the center in the character string direction D1 in the image data A1. Move to a specific position P2 (see FIG. 4). Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the control unit 5 moves the constituent element X1 so that the central portion C1 of the constituent element X1 in the character string direction D1 is disposed at the specific position P2.

  Moreover, the control part 5 moves the component X2 detected by step S15 to the specific position P2. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the control unit 5 moves the constituent element X2 so that the central portion C2 of the constituent element X2 in the character string direction D1 is disposed at the specific position P2.

<Step S17>
In step S17, the control unit 5 outputs the image data of the document after the change process in step S16. The process of step S17 is an example of the output step in the present invention, and is executed by the output processing unit 57 of the control unit 5.

  For example, the control unit 5 uses the image forming unit 3 to print the image data of the document after the change processing in step S16.

  Further, the control unit 5 may store the image data of the document after the change processing in step S16 in the storage unit 7. Further, the control unit 5 may transmit the image data of the document after the change process in step S16 to an external information processing apparatus.

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus 10, the constituent elements are detected from the image data of the document, and the positions of the detected constituent elements are changed to the specific positions in the character string direction. Accordingly, it is possible to align the positions in the character string direction of the respective constituent elements of the document.

  Further, in the image processing apparatus 10, the component is detected based only on each of the pair of end pixels detected for each of the divided regions among the edge pixels detected by the edge detection unit 52. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the detection process of the component as compared with a configuration in which the character region and the non-character region are detected from the image data of the document.

1 ADF
2 Image reading unit 3 Image forming unit 4 Paper feeding unit 5 Control unit 6 Operation display unit 7 Storage unit 10 Image processing device 51 Acquisition processing unit 52 Edge detection unit 53 First detection unit 54 Specific processing unit 55 Second detection unit 56 Change Processing unit 57 Output processing unit

Claims (5)

An acquisition processing unit for acquiring image data of a document;
A detection processing unit for detecting a component of the document based on image data of the document;
A change processing unit that changes the position of each of the components in the image data of the document to a predetermined specific position in the character string direction of the document;
An output processing unit for outputting image data of the document after the change processing by the change processing unit;
Equipped with a,
The detection processing unit
An edge detection unit for detecting edge pixels included in the image data of the document;
A configuration detection unit that detects the component based on the edge pixels detected by the edge detection unit;
Including
The configuration detection unit
For each divided region in which the image data of the document is divided at equal intervals in the row direction orthogonal to the character string direction, a pair of end pixels that are the farthest apart in the character string direction among the edge pixels included in the divided region A first detector for detecting
The separation distance in the character string direction of each of the end pixels on one side in the character string direction and the separation distance in the character string direction of each of the end pixels on the other side in the character string direction included in each of the adjacent divided regions A specific processing unit that identifies one or a plurality of the divided regions including the common component,
A second detection unit that detects an inner region in the character string direction as the component from each of the end pixels farthest in the character string direction in the one or a plurality of divided regions specified by the specification processing unit;
An image processing apparatus. The specific position is a position that is spaced from the one end in the character string direction by a predetermined set distance to the center side,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the change processing unit changes the position of one end of the component in the character string direction in the image data of the document to the specific position. An image reading unit for reading image data from the document;
The acquisition processing unit, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 acquires image data of the document using the image reading unit. An image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data;
The output processing unit, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 for printing the image data of the document after change processing performed by the change processing unit by using the image forming unit. An acquisition step of acquiring image data of the document;
Detecting a component of the document based on image data of the document;
Changing the position of each of the components in the image data of the document to a predetermined specific position in the character string direction of the document;
An output step of outputting image data of the document after the change processing by the change step;
Only including,
The detecting step includes
An edge detection step of detecting edge pixels included in the image data of the document;
A configuration detection step of detecting the component based on the edge pixels detected by the edge detection step;
Including
The configuration detecting step includes
For each divided region in which the image data of the document is divided at equal intervals in the row direction orthogonal to the character string direction, a pair of end pixels that are the farthest apart in the character string direction among the edge pixels included in the divided region A first detection step of detecting
The separation distance in the character string direction of each of the end pixels on one side in the character string direction and the separation distance in the character string direction of each of the end pixels on the other side in the character string direction included in each of the adjacent divided regions A specific step of identifying one or a plurality of the divided regions including the common component based on
A second detection step of detecting, as the component, an inner region in the character string direction from each of the end pixels most spaced in the character string direction in the one or a plurality of the divided regions identified in the identifying step;
Including image processing methods.

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