JPH07147631A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To select any suitable magnification or recording member based on the size of image data after inclination by detecting an original size and a position while performing a reset system inclination processing to an input image. CONSTITUTION:An editing work circuit 50 is composed of a color conversion circuit 100, enlargement/reduction circuit 110, inclination circuit 120 and inclination circuit meshing circuit 130 or the like. This inclination circuit 120 is provided with a memory to store image data for each scanning line and a read address is shifted just for prescribed picture elements for prescribed scanning lines so as to realize the inclination processing of the image. When the original is detected while executing the reset system inclination, uneven parts at the edge of the original can be detected and the image size after the reset system inclination is detected. By performing optimum copy paper size selection/ optimum magnification selection based on these data, according to setting even at the time of the reset system inclination, the optimum copy paper size or magnification can be selected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of optically scanning a document to read image information and editing / processing / processing the image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various image processing apparatuses have been proposed which optically read a document, output it as an image signal, and electrically perform image processing. Since an image editing function is added to this type of device, various image processes can be performed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-34078. As one of the functions, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-67870, a buffer memory for temporarily storing image information of one line is provided, and the reading start point is sequentially shifted at the time of reading. As shown in FIG. 14, a method has been proposed in which an image such as a character is italicized at a high speed and is edited. However, this method has a drawback that the image is biased to one side and the balance is lost because the entire document is italicized together with the image such as characters. As a solution to this problem, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-67871, when the image information for one line or several lines is below a specified density, the shift amount is reset to an initial value to keep the image balance. A method has been proposed (hereinafter, this method is referred to as a reset method italic).
However, even in this method, it is difficult to reset the shift amount to the initial value for a document including large characters and figures, and therefore, there is a drawback that a part of the image after italic is missing from the copy paper. Was.

As a method of preventing the post-italicized image from being omitted from the recording member, in the method of italicizing the entire document, the post-italicized image size is calculated from the document size and the italic angle, and the magnification or the recording member in which the image size is accommodated is calculated. A method for automatically selecting is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-226071.

[0004]

However, in the reset type slanted body of this publication, the image size after the slanted body varies depending on the state of characters and figures in the document, so that the appropriate magnification is set in advance according to the image area of the document. Alternatively, there is a problem that the recording member cannot be selected. The present invention is
The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to select an appropriate magnification or recording member based on the size of image data after italics.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus of the invention of the present application is a reading means for reading an image of an original by moving a scanning means for scanning a line in a direction perpendicular to the line. A shift amount setting means for determining the number of pixels to be shifted based on the number of line scans and inclination information of italic, and an image signal output from the scanning means based on the output of the shift amount determining means. Italic processing means for sequentially shifting and outputting for each line, and checking the image signal input for each line, and resets the shift amount setting means when a white line containing no image information of a predetermined density or more is detected. Resetting means for initializing the shift amount, and italicized image size detecting means for detecting the size of the italicized image based on the image signal shifted by the italic processing means, The paper size selection means for selecting a paper corresponding to the size of the italicized image detected by the size detection means, and the paper selected by the paper size selection means on the basis of the image signal shifted by the italic processing means. Image forming means for forming an italicized image, and the reading means for reading the first original image,
The paper corresponding to the size of the italicized image detected by the size detection means is selected by the paper size selection means,
Subsequently, the reading unit performs a second reading of the original image, and the image forming unit forms a slanted image on the selected sheet.

Further, an image processing apparatus according to another invention of the present application is
A reading means for moving the scanning means for line scanning in the direction perpendicular to the line to read the image of the original, and a shift amount setting for determining the number of pixels to be shifted based on the number of line scans and the information on the inclination of the italic. Means, an italic processing means for sequentially shifting and outputting the image signal output from the scanning means for each line based on the output of the shift amount determining means, and checking the image signal input for each line, Reset means for resetting the shift amount setting means to initialize the shift amount when a white line not containing image information of a predetermined density or more is detected, and an image which is italicized based on the image signal shifted by the italic processing means. Of the italicized image to be recorded based on the size of the italicized image and the size information of the set paper. A magnification ratio setting means for setting a magnification,
An image forming unit that forms an italicized image having a reduction ratio specified by the reduction ratio specifying unit on the set sheet based on the image signal shifted by the italic processing unit,
The first reading of the original image is performed by the reading unit, and the reduction ratio setting unit sets the reduction ratio based on the size of the italicized image detected by the size detection unit and the set paper size information. Next, the reading means reads the second original image, and the image forming means forms the italicized image on the sheet at the set reduction ratio.

[0007]

According to the present invention, it is possible to select a magnification or a recording member in which a balanced italicized image by a reset type italic can be obtained.

[0008]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a reading unit in the image processing apparatus of the present invention. This apparatus is provided with a platen cover 4 that can be opened and closed above the platen 2 on which the original 3 is placed. Below the platen cover 4, a light source 5, a light guide member 6 including a SELFOC lens, and a one-dimensional image sensor 1 such as a CCD are arranged. These together form a reading unit. Then, based on the cell-based detection signal corresponding to the received light amount output from the image sensor 1, in the process in which the scanning unit performs parallel movement (in the direction of the arrow in the figure) to optically scan the document 3. Image information in a predetermined pixel unit corresponding to a grayscale image, a diagram, characters, etc. drawn on the original 3 is generated. The original pressing surface of the platen cover 4 is provided with a gray of a predetermined density, and the gray is set according to need. If the density is too high, it will be difficult to detect the original due to show-through in the case of an original with high transmittance.Therefore, it is necessary to avoid the show-through with the density that can clearly recognize the difference in density from the background of a normal original. Use a concentration that is possible. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the density is set to 256 gradations from absolute white to absolute black, a gray density of about 170 is applied to the original pressing surface.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus. This image processing apparatus is disclosed in JP-A-2-2818.
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 77, it is premised on image processing of two colors, for example, image formation of black (main color) and red (sub color). In FIG. 2, 10 is a full-color sensor (corresponding to the image sensor in FIG. 1) that optically scans the original image, and 20 is a read signal sequentially output from the full-color sensor 10 on a cell-by-cell basis in a time-division manner in a predetermined pixel unit color. Component data (green: G, blue: B, red:
It is a sensor interface circuit for converting into R) and outputting them in parallel. The full-color sensor 10 and the sensor interface circuit 20 constitute an image input section. Reference numeral 30 denotes a color image information generation circuit, which is used for each color component data (GB) from the sensor interface circuit 20.
From R), density information and color information as image information are generated for each pixel. The color image information generation circuit 30 has density data D of 256 gradations, a sub color flag SCF corresponding to a sub color “red” as color information, and a main color “black”.
The main color flag MCF corresponding to is generated.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a correction / filter circuit that applies various corrections and filter processes to the density information D and the color information (SCF, MCF) from the color image information generation circuit 30.
Reference numeral 50 denotes an editing / processing circuit for performing processing such as editing / processing such as enlargement / reduction, italics, and color inversion on the density data D and the color information (SCF, MCF) that have passed through the correction / filter circuit 40. Reference numeral 60 denotes a document detection circuit that detects the position and size of a document based on normal density data or italicized density data. As described above, the density data D and the color information (SCF, MCF) which have been subjected to various kinds of processing by the correction / filter circuit 40 and the editing / processing circuit 50 are transferred to a specific image forming apparatus via the interface circuit 70. It is supposed to be served. The image forming apparatus includes a printer 80 that reproduces two colors, an image transmitter / receiver 81, and the like, and further, density data and color information are supplied to a computer 82. A system mode is also possible in which the information is provided in an auxiliary storage device (such as a magnetic disk device) of the computer 82 and the information is used by various terminal devices. When the printer 80 is connected, a two-color copying machine is configured as a whole, and when the image transceiver 81 is connected, a facsimile is configured as a whole.

FIG. 3 shows an editing / processing circuit. This edit
The processing circuit 50 includes a color conversion circuit 100 and an enlargement / reduction circuit 1.
10, an italic circuit 120, an italic circuit meshing circuit 130, and a negative / positive inverting circuit 140. Specific configurations of the italic circuit 120 are shown in FIGS. The italic circuit 120 has a memory in which image data (density data D, color flag) is stored for each scanning line, and at the time of reading the image data, a read address for a predetermined pixel is provided for each predetermined scanning line. By shifting, the inclination processing shown in FIG. 13A is pseudo-realized as the image inclination processing shown in FIG. 13B. FIG. 4 shows a read address counter for generating a read address for the memory. In the figure, 1
Reference numeral 51 is an adder circuit for adding each data input to the input terminals A and B, and 152 is an adder circuit 1 in synchronization with a line sync signal (LINE SYNC) which becomes active for each scanning line.
A latch circuit for latching the addition data Σ from 51. A predetermined set value is input to the input terminal A of the adder circuit 151 according to the tilt angle from the CPU side, and the output of the latch circuit 152 (excluding the most significant bit) is input to the input terminal B of the adder circuit 151. Have been returned. The most significant bit of the latch circuit 152 is a carry signal as described later.

The circuit composed of the adder circuit 151 and the latch circuit 152 generates a timing signal for shifting the read address for the memory storing the image data according to the scanning line. Input terminal A of the adder circuit 151
Is given a set value x determined by x = tan θ with respect to the angle θ to be tilted, and the addition output Σ (latch output) of each scan line is increased by x = tan θ. It has become. Then, as shown in FIG. 13 (c), every time the value becomes 1 pixel, 2 pixels, 3 pixels, ... The carry signal from 152 is activated as a shift timing signal. For example, θ =
Taking the case of 30 ° as an example, x = tan 30 ° = 0.58, and the relationship between the added value and the carry signal is as shown in Table 1. In order to realize such a carry signal, each data is handled by 11 bits in both the actual adder circuit 151 and the latch circuit 152, and the numerical value "1" in the decimal notation corresponding to one pixel is converted into its MSB. Is associated with “10000000” (400: hexadecimal) that is “1”, and 1/1024 of that value is associated with the minimum value “0000000000001” (001: hexadecimal) with which LSB is “1” , Set value x, added value Σ
Is expressed. By expressing the added value Σ with such 11-bit data, the latch circuit 152
As shown in Table 1, the most significant bit of is activated (H level) every time a carry occurs in the addition result (marked with *).

The relationship between the tilt angle θ and the set value x (tan θ and corresponding binary data) is specifically defined as shown in Table 2. In Table 2, the set values are expressed in hexadecimal notation [HEX]. Table 1 ─────────────────────────────────── Line number 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 …… ── ───────────────────────────────── Count value 0.00 0.58 1.16 1.74 2.32 2.9 3.48 …… ────── ───────────────────────────── Carry ☆☆☆ …… ─────────────── ───────────────────── Table 2 ─────────────────────────── ──────── Tilt angle [°] tan θ set value [HEX] Tilt angle [°] tan θ set value [HEX] ──────────────────── ─────────────── 1 0.01746 012 24 0.4452 1C8 ───────────────────────────── ────── 2 0.03492 024 25 0.4663 1DE ─────────────────────────────────── 3 0.05241 036 26 0.4877 1F4 ───── ────────────────────────────── 4 0.06993 048 27 0.5095 20A ────────────── ───────────────────── 5 0.08749 05A 28 0.5317 221 ──────────────────────── ──────────── 6 0.1051 06C 29 0.5543 238 ───────────────────────────────── ─── 7 0.1228 07E 30 0.5774 24F ─────────────────────────────────── 8 0.1405 090 31 0.6009 267 ─────────────────────────────────── 9 0.1584 0A2 32 0.6249 280 ────────── ─────── ─────────────────── 10 0.1763 0B5 33 0.6494 299 ────────────────────────── ────────── 11 0.1944 0C7 34 0.6745 2B3 ────────────────────────────────── ─ 12 0.2126 0DA 35 0.7002 2CD ─────────────────────────────────── 13 0.2309 0EC 36 0.7265 2E8 ── ───────────────────────────────── 14 0.2493 0EF 37 0.7536 304 ──────────── ──────────────────────── 15 0.2679 121 38 0.7813 320 ───────────────────── ─────────────── 16 0.2867 126 39 0.8098 33D ────────────────────────────── ────── 17 0 .3057 139 40 0.8391 35B ─────────────────────────────────── 18 0.3249 14D 41 0.8693 37A ─── ──────────────────────────────── 19 0.3443 161 42 0.9004 39A ───────────── ─────────────────────── 20 0.3640 175 43 0.9325 3BB ────────────────────── ────────────── 21 0.3839 18A 44 0.9657 3DD ────────────────────────────── ───── 22 0.4040 19E 45 1.0000 400 ─────────────────────────────────── 23 0.4245 1B3 ─ ────────────────────────────────── 153 is an up / down counter. The up / down counter 153 performs a counting operation at the rising edge of the video valid signal (V.VAD) inverted by the inverter 157, and has a chip enable terminal (C
The count operation is valid while E) is held at a low level (L level). Then, the italic signal allowance signal (italicized ENAB) from the CPU and the carry signal from the latch circuit 152 which is inverted via the inverter 155 are input to the AND gate 154.
Is output to the chip enable terminal (CE) of the up / down counter 153.

An initial address corresponding to a normal read start position in each scan line, that is, a read start address is supplied from the CPU to the up / down counter 153, and when the load terminal (LD) becomes L level, the read start address is read. The read start address value is loaded into the up / down counter 153. Load terminal (LD)
Page sync signal (PAGE S
YNC) and a reset signal to be described later are input, and the up / down counter 153 returns to the read start address value each time the scanning of one page of the document is completed or each reset is performed. Further, a tilt direction designating signal from the CPU is input to the up-counting or down-counting operation control terminal (U / D) of the up-down counter 153. When the tilt-direction designating signal is at L level, the up-counting is performed. (Corresponding to tilting to the right) and down counting (corresponding to tilting to the left) when the tilting direction designation signal is at a high level (H level). For example, in FIG.
When the image of the original shown in FIG.
An image inclined to the right as shown in (b) is obtained. 15
A counter 8 counts the final read address (RD.ADD). This counter 158 loads the count value of the up / down counter 153 when the video valid signal (V.VAD) becomes L level, and a predetermined read clock (determined based on the video clock (V.CLOCK)). Count up from the value loaded in sync with READ CLOCK).

In the read address counter having the above circuit configuration, the counter 1 is calculated from the address value loaded in the up / down counter 153 in each scanning line.
58 sequentially counts up and outputs a read address. In this process, every time the carry signal from the latch circuit 152 becomes active, the up / down counter 153 is activated.
The value of is counted up or down. That is, as shown in FIG. 13B, every time the carry signal becomes active, the read head address on the scanning line shifts by one pixel. Then, for example, in FIG.
When the image of (a) is italicized, useless shift of the image in the blank portion (background density) is prevented as shown in FIG. 10B so that the required image does not deviate from the effective range. Up / down counter 1 at the scan line corresponding to the margin
A reset signal is supplied to 53 to forcefully restore the read start address. This reset signal is generated by a circuit as shown in FIG. In the figure, 159 is a preset reset reference value (P) and density data D (Q).
And when the reset reference value becomes large (P>
In the comparison circuit, the output is at L level in Q), and conversely, the output is at H level when the density data D becomes large. The reset reference value is set to a density value slightly larger than the background density of the target document.

Reference numeral 161 denotes a flip-flop (FF) whose input D is fixed at H level, and via an AND gate 160 which is gate-controlled by an effective area signal indicating an effective original area in the process of scanning the original. The output signal from the comparison circuit 159 is output to the flip-flop 161.
Is input to the clock terminal (CK). 162 is also a flip-flop, and this flip-flop 16
The inverted output Q of the preceding flip-flop 161 is input to the input D terminal of 2, and the video valid signal (V.VAD) inverted by the inverter 163 is input to the clock terminal (CK) of the flip-flop 162. There is.
Then, the inverted output Q of this flip-flop 162 becomes the above-mentioned reset signal. The flip-flops 161 and 162 are reset when the line sync signal (LINE SYNC) indicating one scan line falls. In the reset circuit having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, in the scanning line in which the density portion such as the diagram exists, the comparison circuit 15
The output of 9 repeats ON / OFF according to the change of the density.
After the flip-flop 161 is set (inverted output Q = L level) at the first rise (time to), that state continues until the line sync signal (LINE SYNC) falls (time t ₂ ). When the video valid signal falls at the timing before the line sync signal falls (time t ₁ ), the flip-flop 162 is set, but since the input is already at the L level, the flip-flop 162 has a low level. The inverted output Q holds H level. That is, the reset signal is held at the H level in the scanning line where the density portion such as the diagram exists.

On the other hand, in the scanning line of the background portion, the output of the comparison circuit 159 becomes L level and the flip-flop 1
Since the inversion progress Q of 61 is held at the H level, the inverted output Q of the flip-flop 162 at the subsequent stage falls to the L level at the fall of the hide valid signal (time t ₃ ). Then, the fall of the line sync signal (time t ₄ )
Then, the inverted output Q of the flip-flop 162 returns to the H level. That is, in the scanning line of the background portion, the reset signal falls to the L level at the timing when the image reading of the line is completed. Since such a reset signal is supplied to the load terminal (LD) of the up / down counter 153 in FIG. 4, the scan start line of the up / down counter 153 that holds the read start address at the end of the scan in the background scan line is read-started. The address will be reloaded. FIG. 7 shows a circuit (memory circuit) that controls writing / reading of a memory that stores image data for each scanning line. In the figure, 164 is a write address (W
R.ADD) is a write address counter that outputs. The write address counter 164 loads the write start address at the falling edge of the video valid signal (V.VAD) and synchronizes with the predetermined write clock (WR.CLOCK) determined based on the video clock (V.CLOCK). Then, the count is further incremented from the start address loaded.

Both 165 and 166 are memories (SRAM) for storing image data for each scanning line. The read address (RD.AD
D) or the write address (WR.ADD) from the write address counter 164 is supplied to the address bus (ADD) of the memory 165 via the multiplexer 167, and the same address is supplied to the memory 166 via the other multiplexer 168. Of the address bus (ADD). Each of the multiplexers 167 and 168 performs a selection output Y of either the input A or the input B, and outputs the A side when the selection signal S is at the L level and the B side output when the selection signal S is at the H level. I do. Then, the first memory switching signal (ME
M. SW0) is the selection signal S for the multiplexer 167, while the second memory switching signal (MEM.SW1), which has an inverse relationship with this first memory switching signal, is the selection signal for the multiplexer 168. The second memory switching signal (ME) is added to the output enable signal (OE) that permits reading of the memory 165.
M. SW1) is input, and the inverted signal of the video clock signal (V.CLOCK) via the AND gate 169, which is gate-controlled by the first memory switching signal (MEM.SW0), allows the writing to the memory 165. It is entered in (WE). In contrast to the above, the output enable terminal (OE) of the memory 166 is opposite to the first memory switching signal (MEM.SW).
0) is input and the second memory switching signal (ME
M. And gate 1 controlled by SW1)
An inverted signal of the video clock signal (V.CLOCK) via 70 is input to the write enable terminal (WE) of the memory 166.

A data bus (D) of each memory 165, 166
ATA) is connected to buffers 171 and 172, and image data (density data, color flag MCF, SCF) is stored in each memory 165 via the buffers 171 and 172.
166. Buffers 171 and 172 are H
A control terminal G forcibly setting the output to “0” by holding the level is provided, and the control terminal G of the buffer 171 is provided with the first memory switching signal (MEM.SW0).
While the second memory switching signal (MEM.SW1) is input to the control terminal G of the buffer 172. In the memory circuit as described above, writing and reading of the memories 165 and 166 are performed for each scanning line by switching the first memory switching signal (MEM.SW0) and the second memory switching signal (MEM.SW1) for each scanning line. Can be switched. That is, while the image information is being written in one memory during the scanning process, the image data of the previous line is read from the other memory, and the state is alternately switched to each of the memories 165 and 166.
A multiplexer 173 that performs a selective output Y of either the input A or the input B is provided at the subsequent stage of each of the memories 165 and 166. The image data (density data D, color flags MCF, SCF) read from the memory 166 is input to the input terminal A of the multiplexer 173, and the image data read from the memory 165 is input to the input terminal B of the multiplexer 173. It has been entered. The multiplexer 173 performs the selection output Y on the A side when the selection signal S is at the L level, and the B side when the selection signal S is at the H level. The multiplexer 173 outputs the first memory switching signal (MEM.SW).
0) is the selection signal of the multiplexer 173.

A latch circuit 175 that operates in synchronization with the video clock signal (V.CLOCK) is provided at the subsequent stage of the multiplexer 173, and the memory 165 or 166 is provided.
The image data (density data D, color flags MCF, SCF) read from is output as a set of data (corresponding to pixels) in synchronization with the video clock. The specific italic processing in the italic processing circuit 120 as described above is as follows. For example, a case will be described in which the tilt angle θ = 30 ° and the rightward tilt. First, in FIG. 4, the tilt direction designation signal is held at the L level, and the up / down counter 153 in the read address counter is in a state of functioning as an up counter. Further, a value corresponding to the set value X, that is, X = tan 30 ° = 0.5774 = “01001001111” (24F HEX) is input to the input terminal A of the adder circuit 151 in the read address counter (see Table 2). In this state, when the document scanning is started, the memory access shown in FIG. 7 is performed at the address value sequentially counted from the read start address in the first memory reading (line number "0" in Table 1). In the next scan line, the adder circuit 15
Since the added value Σ in 1 is Σ = 0 + 01001001111 = 01001001111 and the most significant bit is still “0”, the memory access is performed with the address value sequentially counted up from the read start address as in the previous line. (Line number "1" in Table 1). Further, in the next scanning line, the added value Σ in the adder circuit 151 becomes Σ = 0100100111111 + 0100100111 = 10010011110, the most significant bit becomes “1”, and the carry signal becomes active. This enables the counter 153 and increments its count value (Table 1
Line number "2"). As a result, the read start address becomes a large value by "1" in the scan line. That is, the image data at the same pixel position is read at a timing one pixel earlier than the previous line, so that the image is shifted one pixel to the left.

Similarly, the latch circuit 1 is provided for each scanning line.
The lower 10 bits of 52 (the lower 10 bits of the addition result) and the set value “01001001111” are added, and the carry signal is activated and up every time the most significant bit of the added value Σ becomes “1”. Down counter 15
3 is incremented. As a result, the read start address of the line is incremented by 1, and the image data is read at a timing shifted by one pixel to the left. By such processing, the image is tilted as shown in FIG. In the case of reversing the inclination direction, the inclination direction designation signal may be set to H level and the up / down counter 153 may be switched to the down counter. In this case, every time the carry signal becomes active, the read start address of the scanning line becomes -1, and the image data is read at a timing shifted by one pixel to the right. In the present invention, the above-mentioned italic processing circuit is used to detect a document and detect the image size of the document. In the present embodiment, the document detection uses the same method as the normal document detection, which is performed by utilizing the density difference between the document and the document pressing surface during the pre-scanning, that is, the pre-scan. The method will be described below.

The prescan may be performed in the same manner as in the case of actually scanning an original, and the required paper size may be determined based on the obtained italicized image, but the prescan time is shortened to make a copy per unit time. To increase the number
It is generally performed at high speed. Therefore, the prescan is performed at a speed several times higher than that of the copy scan. At this time, the speed of the prescan is set to the original detection circuit 6.
The setting is made corresponding to the sampling cycle of the image data at 0, and the inclination of each scanning line, that is, the set value X is set in accordance with the set speed, so that the original has a simple circuit configuration and can be used in a short time. Detection can be performed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the sampling of the image data in the document detection circuit 60 is N (where N is a power of 2).
When it is performed every pixel, the prescan speed is set to N times the copy scan speed, and the inclination of each scan line, that is, the set value X is set to N times.
Specifically, it is as follows. As will be described later, the document detection circuit 60 samples the image data, which is italicized in the main scanning (FS) direction, every four pixels to detect the white of the document edge portion, and the density of the document pressing surface When there are three consecutive white pixels after the density changes to white, the third point is determined as the document edge. Therefore, since the pixel density is set in advance, the document detection circuit 60 can obtain the size of the document in the main scanning (FS) direction by multiplying the number of points in the range determined as the document edge by four. Since the process of multiplying the number of points by 4 only needs to be shifted by 2 bits, it can be performed with a simple circuit and at high speed.

On the other hand, as will be described later, the dimension in the sub-scanning (SS) direction is the clock supplied to the stepping motor of the scanner when it is within the range of the document edge in the sub-scanning (SS) direction, or This is done by counting the signals corresponding to it. When using a stepper motor, the number of clocks will represent the distance. Now, assuming that the speed at the time of copy scan is 100% and the number of clocks at this time represents the dimension as it is, the dimension can be obtained by multiplying the counted number of clocks by four when the scan rate is four times. . Therefore, when the prescan speed does not correspond to the sampling interval of the pixel data in the original detection circuit 60, for example, when the prescan is performed at 5 times the copy scan, the dimension in the sub-scan (SS) direction To obtain the number of clocks within the range of the document edge,
However, such calculation is complicated and time consuming. However, since the copy scan is started immediately after the completion of the prescan, it is not preferable that it takes time to detect the document. Therefore, the speed of the prescan is set so that the calculation for obtaining the dimension can be performed by the same calculation as in the main scanning (FS) direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, the speed of the prescan is four times the speed of the copy scan. As a result, it is only necessary to shift the set value X of the inclination by 2 bits, and the size of the original can be easily adjusted in a short time by performing a 2-bit shift in both the main scanning (FS) direction and the sub-scanning (SS) direction. You can ask.

More specifically, Xmin, Xmax, Ymin and Ymax shown in FIG. 9 are obtained by the following operation.

First, the input image data GD shown in FIG. 8A is binarized as shown in FIG. 8B using a predetermined density threshold TH. For the document edge, binarized image data is sampled at every 4 pixels, and the image data regarded as the document portion is 3 with respect to the sampled data.
When the points are consecutive, the third point is determined as the document edge. As a result, for example, a white portion having a narrow range as indicated by 22 in FIG. 8B is determined to be false data, and 2
Only the wide white portion as shown by 1 is determined as the original data. Next, description will be given with reference to FIG. Main scan (F
For the minimum value Ymin in the S) direction, the address of the image data in which the edge of the original is first detected on the M-th line is latched, and a smaller value is compared with the edge address value on the (M-2k) -th line. The operation of rewriting and latching is repeatedly obtained, for example, every 2 k lines. Similarly, Ymax
Looks at the image data from the end direction of the main scan, latches the address at which the edge of the original is first detected, and then (M-2
k) The operation of rewriting and latching a larger value compared with the address value of the edge on the line-th line is repeatedly obtained, for example, every 2k lines. Note that k is a value when the prescan speed is k times the copy scan speed, and the address latched when Ymax is obtained is an address counted from the main scanning (FS) direction.

The minimum value Xmin and the maximum value Xmax in the sub-scanning (SS) direction count the clocks for driving each stepping motor in the main scanning having original data of a predetermined number of points or more, and latch the first and last lines thereof. Ask by doing. In addition, these Xmin, Xmax, Ymin
, Ymax, when the dimension from the resist reference position is expressed in a predetermined unit such as mm, it is natural to perform the process of multiplying the count number of the address or clock by 4 as described above. The size of the italicized document obtained in this document detection operation, that is, Xmin, Xmax
, Ymin, Ymax, the control means (CPU or the like) (not shown) of the image processing apparatus selects the optimum copy paper size when the automatic paper selection function is set, and the optimum magnification when the automatic magnification selection function is set. A selection is made. (1) Selection of optimum copy paper size The purpose of optimum copy paper size selection is to select the optimum copy paper size when the original is scaled or enlarged or reduced at the set magnification.
It is to select the smallest paper that does not drop out. The following calculation is performed by the control means of the image processing apparatus, and the smallest sheet that simultaneously satisfies the following two expressions is selected.

((Ymax-Ymin) x main scanning direction determination magnification (%) / 100 ≤ paper length for printing main scanning direction (Xmax -Xmin) x sub-scanning direction determination magnification (%) / 10
0 ≦ paper length for printing in the sub-scanning direction For example, the document detection result shown in FIG. 9 is Xmin = 10 mm / Xmax = 320 mm / Ymin = 5 mm / Y
When max = 240 mm and the set magnification is 80% for both main scanning and sub scanning, the size of the paper is as shown in Table 3, and therefore A4 landscape paper is selected. (2) Optimal magnification selection The purpose of the optimal magnification selection is to set the magnification so that the entire document fits on the designated paper. The control means of the image processing apparatus performs the following calculation and selects the smaller one of the main scanning direction setting magnification and the sub-scanning direction setting magnification, which is the calculation result, to obtain a magnification that fits the entire document on the paper. . Paper length for printing main scanning direction / (Ymax-Ymin) = main scanning direction setting magnification (%) Paper length for printing sub scanning direction / (Xmax-Xmin) = sub scanning direction setting magnification (%) For example, FIG. The original detection result shown in is Xmin = 10 mm / Xmax = 320 mm / Ymin = 5 mm / Y
When max = 240 mm and B4 landscape paper is specified, the size of the paper is as shown in Table 3, so the magnification is 109 (%).
Becomes In a device in which the vertical / horizontal magnification selection is not the same ratio but can be selected independently, and if "selection of optimum vertical / horizontal optimum magnification" is designated by a designating device (not shown), the magnification in the main scanning direction in the above example It is also possible to set the magnification to 109 (%) and the magnification 117 (%) in the sub-scanning direction.

Table 3 ─────────────────────────────────── Paper name Paper length for printing in the main scanning direction Paper length for printing in the sub-scanning direction ─────────────────────────────────── A3 width 297mm 420mm ─── ──────────────────────────────── B4 width 257mm 364mm ────────────── ───────────────────── A4 width 210mm 297mm ───────────────────────── ────────── A4 length 297mm 210mm ──────────────────────────────────── B5 Horizontal 182mm 257mm ────────────────────────── ───────── B5 length 257mm 182mm ──────────────────────────────────── A5 Width 148mm 210mm ─────────────────────────────────── A5 length 210mm 148mm ───────── ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ) The output is as shown in. As a matter of course, the character part () is italicized, but in the italic circuit, the background part () on the same main scanning line as the character also becomes italicized at the same time. There are irregularities as shown.

If the original detecting operation is performed while performing the italicization of the reset method, as shown in FIG. 12, the uneven portion of the edge of the original can be detected. Therefore, the size of the image after the italicization of the reset method is detected. (Or position) X'min, X
It is possible to detect'max, Y'min, and Y'max.
If the above-mentioned optimum copy paper size selection / optimum magnification selection is performed based on this data, the optimum copy paper size selection or magnification selection can be performed according to the settings even when the reset method is italic. In this embodiment, the method of performing the optimum copy paper size selection or the optimum magnification selection based on the detected image size (or position) information has been described. However, the image moving means using the image size (or position) information. It is obvious that (not shown) makes it possible to perform centering so that the center of the output image coincides with the center of the copy sheet or cornering so that one end of the output image coincides with one end of the copy sheet.

[0030]

When it is desired to obtain an image obtained by subjecting a document to italic processing, a balanced italicized image by the reset method can be obtained by using the italic circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, since the size (or position) of the image after italicization by the reset method can be detected if the italic circuit is operated during the document detection operation, it is possible to select the optimum copy paper size or the optimum magnification when the italicization process is performed. Is possible. Therefore, this allows the user to easily obtain a good-looking italic image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a reading unit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an edit processing circuit.

FIG. 4 shows a read address counter that generates a read address of a line memory in italic processing.

FIG. 5 shows a reset circuit of a read address counter.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the operation of the reset circuit of the read address counter.

FIG. 7 shows a memory circuit that controls writing and reading of a line memory.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing document edge detection when obtaining a document size.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing document size data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an italicizing operation by an italic circuit.

FIG. 11 shows an example of an italicized original.

FIG. 12 shows original size data in italics.

FIG. 13 shows italic processing at an inclination angle θ.

FIG. 14 shows an image of a document that is italicized.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading a document image by moving scanning means for line scanning in a direction perpendicular to the line, and the number of pixels to be shifted is determined based on the number of times of line scanning and information on the inclination of the italic. Shift amount setting and determining means, an italic processing means for sequentially shifting and outputting the image signal output from the scanning means for each line based on the output of the shift amount determining means, and input for each line Based on the image signal shifted by the italic processing means, examining the image signal, resetting the shift amount setting means to initialize the shift amount when a white line not containing image information of a predetermined density or more is detected, Size detecting means for detecting the size of the italicized original, and a corresponding sheet is selected based on the size of the italicized original detected by the size detecting means. A sheet size selecting unit for forming an italicized image on the sheet selected by the sheet size selecting unit based on the image signal shifted by the italic processing unit; The original image is read, the paper corresponding to the size of the italicized original detected by the size detecting means is selected by the paper size selecting means, and then the second reading of the original image is performed by the reading means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to perform an oblique image on the selected sheet by the image forming unit. 2. A reading means for moving a scanning means for line scanning in a direction perpendicular to the line to read an image of an original, and a number of pixels to be shifted based on the number of times of line scanning and inclination information of italics. Shift amount setting means for determining, an italic processing means for sequentially shifting and outputting the image signal output from the scanning means for each line based on the output of the shift amount determining means, and input for each line Based on the image signal shifted by the italic processing means, examining the image signal, resetting the shift amount setting means to initialize the shift amount when a white line not containing image information of a predetermined density or more is detected, Size detection means for detecting the size of the original that has been italicized, and recording based on this size of the original that has been italicized and preset paper size information. Reduction ratio setting means for setting the reduction ratio of the oblique image, and italic of the reduction ratio designated by the reduction ratio designating means on the set sheet based on the image signal shifted by the italic processing means. An image forming unit that forms a converted image; and based on the size of the italicized document detected by the size detection unit and the set paper size information, the first reading of the document image is performed by the reading unit. The reduction ratio is set by the reduction ratio setting means, and then the second reading of the original image is performed by the reading means.
An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that causes the image forming unit to form an italicized image on a sheet at the set reduction ratio.