JPH04235464A - Copying machine with composite copying function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically compound and print-out a composite original compounding characters, graphics, etc., in the extracting area of another original on the composite area of one sheet of the original. CONSTITUTION:The original placing table 2a of an image main-reader and the original placing table 2b of an image sub-reader are juxtaposed on the upper side of a casing 1 side. Also, a main original 3a and a sub-original 3b are placed downward on the original placing tables 2a, 2b respectively. Then, by destinating the composite area and the extracting area, the necessary sheet numbers of composite originals automatically compounding the composite area of the main original and the characters, graphics, etc., in the extracting area of the sub-original are printed. Consequently, the working efficiency of making the composite document is promoted and also the uniform quality of the composite document is attained.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine with a compositing function that combines characters, figures, etc. extracted from an extraction area of one original document into a compositing area of one original document and prints out the resultant sheet as a composite original document.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art For example, there are many cases in which a new composite manuscript is created by combining two already created manuscripts with their respective necessary parts. Normally, in such a case, use scissors, etc., to cut out the part of the sub-document that contains the characters and figures that should be combined with the main document, and place the cut part in the compositing area of the main document. Paste them to create a composite manuscript. Then, when the created composite original is placed face down on the original table of the copying machine, the required number of sheets is set, and the start key is pressed, the required number of composite originals are printed out.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the work of creating the composite original before copying described above must be performed manually. Since the work of creating this composite manuscript is very complicated, it takes a great deal of time and effort to finally obtain the required number of composite manuscripts using a copying machine.

[0004] Furthermore, since document composition is performed manually, individual differences in the quality of the final composite document may occur depending on the skill of the worker, and there is a concern that large variations in document quality may occur.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by providing two image reading devices,
By specifying the composite area and extraction area, you can automatically obtain the required number of composite manuscripts in which the characters, figures, etc. from the extraction area of the sub-document are composited into the composite area of the main manuscript, increasing the efficiency of creating composite manuscripts. It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying machine with a compositing function that can greatly improve the quality of documents and always obtain uniform document quality.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, a copying machine with a compositing function according to the present invention includes a main image reading device that reads an image of a main original placed on a document holder, and a main image reading device that reads an image of a main original placed on a document holder. A main image memory that stores the image data of the main document read by the device, a sub-image reading device that reads the image of the sub-document placed on the document table, and the sub-document read by the sub-image reading device. a sub-image memory for storing image data of the main document placed on the document holder of the main image reading device; Extraction area specifying means for specifying an extraction area in the sub-document, and image data of the extraction area specified by the extraction area specifying means from image data in the sub-image memory to composition area specifying means in the image data in the main image memory. an image data compositing means for compositing in a compositing area specified by
The apparatus includes a printout device that prints out the composite image data synthesized by the image data synthesis means.

[0007]

[Operation] In the copying machine with a composition function configured as described above, the main original is set on the original stand of the main image reading device, and the sub original is set on the original stand of the sub image reading device. Then, specify the composite area in the main manuscript,
Then, when you specify the extraction area in the sub-document and press the start key, the printout device automatically prints out a copy composite document in which the characters, figures, etc. of the extraction area of the sub-document are combined with the synthesis area of the main document. be done.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing a copying machine with a combining function according to an embodiment. On the upper surface of the casing 1, a document table 2a of the main image reading device and a document table 2b of the sub image reading device are arranged side by side. Then, a main original 3a and a sub-original 3b are placed facing downward on the original placing tables 2a and 2b, respectively. The upper surfaces of the document trays 2a and 2b are covered with covers 4a and 4b independently, respectively. An operation panel 6 is attached to the front of the housing 1 for an operator to operate this copying machine with a composite function. A paper feed cassette 7 for supplying paper to a print output device is attached to one side of the housing 1, and a connection connector 8 to which an external control device such as a personal computer is connected is attached to the lower part. Further, on the other side, there is provided a paper ejecting section 9 for ejecting the printed composite manuscript.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 6 has buttons [A4], [B5], [B4], and [B4] for specifying the reading range (paper size) of the main document 2a placed on the document table 2a.
paper size designation keys 10 for [Free]], a composition area 11a having a rectangular shape within the main document 3a as shown in FIG.
Each coordinate B(X1, Y1), C(X
2, Y2), and each coordinate D(X3,
Coordinate designation keys 12 are provided to designate Y3) and E(X4, Y4). Note that if you specify the [Free] paper size, the coordinates A (Xa, Ya) in Figure 4
will be specified.

Additionally, there are four movement keys 13 for moving each coordinate position of each coordinate A, B, C, D, E in the X and Y directions, a set key 14 for inputting each coordinate A to E, and a copy key 14 for inputting each coordinate A to E. There are provided a number key 15 for specifying the number of copies, a number key 16 for specifying the number of copies of the composite document and the magnification of enlargement/reduction, an enlargement/reduction key 17, a start key 18 for starting copying, and the like.

[0012] Note that the original table stands 2a, 2 of each image reading device
b is made of transparent glass, but it becomes opaque if necessary, and a combination area 11a and an extraction area 11b set by key operations on the operation panel 6 are displayed using a projector embedded around the document trays 2a and 2b. , and a rectangular frame indicating the reading area of the main document 3a are displayed. Note that this frame disappears by key operation of the start key 18, and the document trays 2a and 2b return to their original transparent state.

[0013] Therefore, when setting each of the coordinates A to E, press the keys 12 and 10 of the coordinate names A to E to display a frame related to the corresponding coordinates, and then press the movement key 13. , each coordinate is moved so that the frame matches the target areas 11a, 11b and paper size. When the set key 14 is pressed when the coordinates match the target coordinates, the corresponding coordinates are registered.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine with a combining function. A main image reading device 20a, a sub image reading device 20b, and a laser printer 21 as a print output device are connected to a data editing processing device 22 composed of a computer or the like. Data editing processing device 22
includes a peripheral device control device 23 that controls various auxiliary storage devices such as a magnetic storage device and a floppy disk drive (FDD), a communication control device 24, and the operation panel 6.
is connected. Further, the communication control device 24 is connected to an external control device 25 such as a personal computer, a public telephone line 26, and a local line 27 such as a LAN.

As shown in FIG. 5, image data of a main document 3a placed on the document table 2a of the main image reading device 20a is stored in the storage section of the data editing processing device 22 constituted by the computer. Main image memory 2
8a, a sub-image memory 28b that stores the image data of the sub-original 3b placed on the original table 2b of the sub-image reading device 20b, a composite image buffer 29 that stores the composite image data after being composited, and a composite image buffer 29 that stores the composite image data after being composited; A coordinate memory 30 that stores the coordinates A to E set by each key, a sheet counter 31 that counts the number of copies, a magnification memory 32 that stores the scaling factor, and a paper size memory that stores the specified paper size. 33 mag. is formed.

The data editing processing device 22 is programmed to execute the setting process for each composite type condition according to the flowchart of FIG. 6 in response to key operations on the operation panel 6.

The flowchart starts, and the operation panel 6 is pressed at P1.
When a paper size is specified using the paper size specification key 10, this newly specified paper size is set in the paper size memory 33. Note that if a new paper size is not set, the paper size already set in the paper size memory 33 is used. In addition, if the free (A) size is selected, the set coordinates A (Xa, Ya
) is set in the coordinate memory 30.

At P2, when the coordinates B and C specifying the composite area 11a are inputted by key operations on the operation panel 6, a rectangular frame containing the coordinates B and C is projected onto the document table 2a. indicate. Then, each coordinate B(X1, Y
1), C(X2, Y2) are set in the coordinate memory 30. Similarly, at P3, when the coordinates D and E specifying the extraction area 11b are input by key operation on the operation panel 6,
A rectangular frame including the coordinates D and E is displayed by projection on the document table 2b. And each coordinate D(X3, Y3),
Set E(X4, Y4) in the coordinate memory 30. Note that it is necessary to match the shape of the synthesis region 11a formed by the coordinates B and C with the shape of the extraction region 11b formed by the coordinates D and E.

If the number of copies is set by operating the number key 16 and number key 15 at P4, the set number of copies is set in the number of copies counter 31. Note that if the number of sheets is not set, it is determined that there is only one sheet. Similarly, at P5, if the magnification of enlargement or reduction is set using the numeric key 16 and the enlargement/reduction key 17, the set magnification is set in the magnification memory 32. Note that if there is no magnification setting, the magnification is determined to be 1.

[0020] When the above synthesis condition setting process is completed,
The operator only has to press the start key 18. When the start key 18 is pressed, the data editing processing device 22 is programmed to read, compose, and print documents according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

That is, when the main routine is started and the start key 18 is pressed, the main original 3a placed on the original reading table 2a of the main image reading device 20a is
The image of the area of the paper size stored in the paper size memory 33 is read and written to the main image memory 28a as image data. Next, the image of the sub-original 3b placed on the original reading stand 2b of the sub-image reading device 20b is read and written as image data into the sub-image memory 28a. Image data other than the rectangular composite area 11a formed by coordinates B and C stored in the coordinate memory 30 of the main image memory 28a is read and written to the composite image buffer 29. Furthermore, the image data in the rectangular extraction area 1b formed by the coordinates D and E stored in the coordinate memory 30 of the sub-image memory 28b is read out and written to the synthesis area 11a in the synthesis image buffer 29. .

Since the image data of the composite original is formed in the composite image buffer 29 through the above processing, the composite image data stored in the composite image buffer 29 is sent to the laser printer 21 to be copied as a composite original. Print out. It should be noted that if a plurality of sheets is set in the sheet number counter 31, the same number of copies and composite originals are printed out. Further, if a scaling factor other than 1 is set in the multiple memory 32, the image is enlarged or reduced to that scaling factor and printed out.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing performed by the external control device 25 when the copying machine with the combining function is remotely controlled from the external control device 25 via the communication control device 24. When the flowchart starts, first, the operating state of the copying machine with a combining function is checked. Then, in Q1, if the state is that image data to be printed out can be transmitted, the image data is transmitted to the communication control device 24. The transmitted image data is stored in the main image memory 28 of the data editing processing device 22.
stored in a.

In Q2, it is checked whether the image data to be combined with this image data is already stored in the sub-image memory 28b of the data editing processing device 22, and if it is stored, the image data to be combined with this image data is checked. is transmitted to the external control device 25. Then, this received image data and the previously transmitted image data are combined to create composite image data. The created composite image data is transmitted to the data editing processing device 22 via the communication control device 24. The data editing processing device 22 stores the received composite image data in the composite image buffer 29. Then, in Q3, if a print output command is sent to the communication control device 24, the laser printer 21 prints out the copy composite original.

[0025] Furthermore, if the image data to be combined is not stored in Q2, there is no need to perform the combining process.
If the print output command is output in step 3, the main image memory 2
The image data stored in 8a is printed out as a normal copy document.

[0026] Since the communication control device 24 is connected to an external public telephone line 26 and a local line 27 such as a LAN, the composite image data stored in the composite image buffer 29 is connected to each line 26, 27. It is possible to send to a facsimile machine.

[0027] Naturally, it also has a copying function of reading and printing out a single sheet of normal original. Further, if the area of the composite area 11a of the main original 3a and the area of the extraction area 11b of the sub-original 3b do not match, the image data in the extracted area 11b of the read sub-original 3b is enlarged or reduced to create the main image 3a. It is possible to forcibly insert the image into the synthesis area 11a.

In the copying machine with a compositing function configured as described above, the main document 3a to be combined is placed on the document table 2a of the main image reading device 20a, and the characters to be combined,
The sub-document 3b on which the figure is written is sent to the sub-image reading device 20.
By simply placing the original document on the original table 2b shown in FIG. You can get as many pieces as you like. Therefore, there is no need to manually create a composite manuscript using scissors or the like, as in the conventional method. As a result, the efficiency of creating a copy composite manuscript can be greatly improved.

[0029] Furthermore, since compositing is automatically executed simply by specifying the areas 11a and 11b, the quality of the printed copy composite original can always be maintained constant compared to when compositing is done manually. .

[0030]

Effects of the Invention As explained above, according to the copying machine with a compositing function of the present invention, it is equipped with two image reading devices, and when a compositing area and an extraction area are specified, the compositing area is automatically added to the main document. A required number of copies of the composite manuscript in which characters, figures, etc. in the extracted area of the sub-document are composited are printed out. Therefore, the efficiency of creating a composite original can be greatly improved, and uniform quality of the composite original can always be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine with a combining function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[Figure 2] External view of the copying machine of the same example,

[Fig. 3] Key arrangement diagram of the operation panel of the copying machine of the same embodiment,

[Figure 4]
A diagram showing the relationship between the document table and the reading area of the copying machine of the same embodiment,

[Fig. 5] Memory configuration diagram of the storage unit of the copying machine of the same embodiment,

[Fig. 6] Flowchart showing the synthesis condition setting process of the copying machine of the same embodiment,

[Fig. 7] Flowchart showing the reading, combining, and printing processes of the copying machine of the same embodiment,

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of an external control device connected to the copying machine of the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2a, 2b...Document stand, 3a...Main document, 3b...Sub document, 6...Operation panel, 10...Paper size specification key, 1
2...Coordinate key, 13...Movement key, 15...Number of sheets key, 16
...Number key, 18...Start key, 20a...Main image reading device, 20b...Sub image reading device, 21...Laser printer, 22...Data editing processing device, 24...Communication control device, 25...External control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A main image reading device that reads an image of a main document placed on a document holder, a main image memory that stores image data of the main document read by the main image reading device, and a main image memory that stores image data of the main document read by the main image reading device; A sub-image reading device that reads an image of a placed sub-original, a sub-image memory that stores image data of the sub-original read by the sub-image reading device, and a document placed on a document holder of the main image reading device. compositing area specifying means for specifying a compositing area in the main document that has been scanned, extraction area specifying means for specifying an extraction area in the sub-document placed on the document table of the sub-image reading device, and image data synthesis means for synthesizing the image data of the extraction area specified by the extraction area specification means from the image data into the synthesis area specified by the synthesis area specification means in the image data of the main image memory; A copying machine with a compositing function, comprising a printout device that prints out composite image data composited by an image data compositing means.