JPH09131947A - Character modification device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable print on a sheet to be easily and neatly modified. SOLUTION: A printing part 2 has the function to overpaint a printed character in white in addition to a routine printing function. An image reading part 3 is fixed to the printing part 2, and moves with the printing part 2 to read image data on a character printed on a print line in the printing part 2 of a sheet. Character modification memory 7 stores data on a line in which a character string intended for modification is printed, a character string before modification and a character string after modification, in response to the content of modification entered by operation of a keyboard 6. A character recopition part 8 recognizes by character, image data in a line which is read by the image reading part 3. CPU compares the results of character recognition to the character string before modification and thereby, detects the position of the character string intended for modification on the sheet. Further, after overpainting the character string modified on the sheet in white by the printing part 2, the character string after modification, i.e., a correct character string is printed on the white overpainted part.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a character correction device for correcting characters printed on a sheet by a printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a document created by a word processor or the like is printed on a sheet and an error is found in the document, the word processor is started, the correction is made on the screen, and the new sheet is corrected again. The method of printing a later document was commonly used.

However, with the rapid spread of word processors, personal computers, etc. in recent years, when a large number of paper sheets are used by a large number of people, it is difficult to print a document on a new paper sheet every time an error is corrected. It is a waste of resources.
Especially, since resource saving has become an important issue recently,
It is an important issue to prevent reprinting due to erroneous writing of such a document. In addition, such reprints increase the amount of paper dust emitted from the office,
It is desirable that it can be avoided from the viewpoint of waste disposal problem.

For this reason, conventionally, in order to avoid printout of new paper, the following method has been taken. As the simplest method, a method of manually applying a correction liquid to a correction portion and then manually correcting the correction liquid is performed. Further, as described above, there is also a method of printing correct characters by aiming with a typewriter after applying the correction liquid.

[0005]

The former method has a problem that it cannot be used in an official document because the correction by handwriting is inferior to the printed characters and the corrected portions are conspicuous. there were. Further, since it is a manual work, it takes time and is inefficient.

On the other hand, in the latter method, since the type is performed by visual measurement, a positional deviation is likely to occur during printing, and an imbalance in surrounding characters and arrangement tends to occur. As described above, the conventional method for correcting erroneous writing on a printed document has not been completely satisfactory in terms of work efficiency, cleanliness of a corrected portion, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to make it possible to correct erroneous characters in a printed document efficiently and accurately at a precise position by a simple operation.

[0008]

The first invention comprises the following means. The image reading means reads the image of the characters printed on the paper.

The character recognition means analyzes the image read from the paper by the image reading means and recognizes the characters printed on the paper. The storage means
The character to be corrected is stored.

Based on the recognition result of the character recognition means, the detection means selects one of the characters stored in the storage means from the characters printed on the paper on which the image is read by the image reading means. The position of the matching character on the paper is detected.

The correcting means corrects the character to be corrected on the paper printed at the position detected by the detecting means based on the detection result of the detecting means. The correction unit includes, for example, an erasing unit that erases the correction target character, and a printing unit that prints a correct character at the position erased by the erasing unit.

The erasing means moves on the same scanning line as the printing means when the printing means scans, for example. The erasing means is fixed to the printing means, for example. Further, the storage means may store, for example, in addition to the character to be corrected, the line position on which the corrected character is printed.

The storage means may further include, for example,
A character to be newly printed may be stored instead of the correction target character. The second invention includes the following means.

The image reading means reads the image of the characters printed on the paper. The character recognition means analyzes the image read from the paper by the image reading means and recognizes the characters printed on the paper.

The storage means stores the character to be corrected. The input means inputs a character to be printed instead of the correction target character. The writing unit writes the character input by the input unit in the storage unit as a character to be printed instead of the correction target character.

Based on the recognition result of the character recognition means, the detection means selects one of the characters stored in the storage means from the characters printed on the paper on which the image is read by the image reading means. The position of the matching character on the paper is detected.

The correcting means, based on the detection result of the detecting means, sets the character to be corrected on the sheet printed at the position detected by the detecting means to the character input by the input means. Fix it.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the image reading means reads the image data of the characters printed on the paper, and the character recognition means analyzes the image data and prints it on the paper. Recognize individual characters. Then, the detection means detects the position on the paper of the correction target character stored in the storage means based on the character recognition result. Then, the correction means corrects the correction target character on the sheet to a correct character.

Therefore, on the already printed sheet, the printing position of the correction target character printed on the sheet is accurately detected, and the correction target character is automatically and accurately corrected to the correct character. can do.

Further, in the second invention, in addition to the operation and effect of the first invention, when the user carries out a character correction operation on the paper, the character is directly replaced with the character to be corrected and printed through the input means. You can specify the character to be played.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following sentences, "character" is used to indicate not only one character but also a character string.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of a document processing apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a CPU 1 is a central processing unit that controls the entire apparatus, and executes a program stored in an internal memory to execute processing such as creation and update of document data, and control of the printer 10. And so on. CPU 1, printing unit 2, image reading unit 3, document memory 4, display unit 5, keyboard 6, character correction memory 7, character recognition unit 8
Are connected to each other by a bus 9. Further, although not shown in particular, the operation of parts (paper feed roller, etc.) other than the printing part 2 and the image reading part 3 of the printer 10 is also performed by the CPU
Controlled by bus 1 via bus 9.

The printer 10 comprises a printing section 2 and an image reading section 3. The printing unit 2 is a unit that prints characters on a sheet, includes a print head, a print ribbon, and the like, and operates under the control of the CPU 1.

The image reading section 3 is an image sensor for reading characters or the like printed on a sheet and is composed of an image scanner or the like. The image reading unit 3 is fixed to the side of the printing unit 2, and moves together with the printing unit 2.

A configuration example of the printer 10 including the printing unit 2 and the image reading unit 3 will be described later in detail.
The document memory 4 is a memory for storing document data created by this apparatus, and this document data is written by the CPU 1.

The display unit 5 is composed of, for example, a CRT display or a liquid crystal display, and displays the document data read from the document memory 4 by the CPU 1 on the screen. The keyboard 6 is used to create document data by normal key input and to instruct printing, and to switch to a mode for correcting a character to be corrected on paper by a preset function key. It is an input device that gives instructions to the CPU 1.

The character correction memory 7 is a memory for storing a character to be corrected (correction character), and in addition to this, the line position on the paper at which the correction character is printed and the correct correction character. Stores characters (corrected characters), etc.

The character recognition unit 8 is a device for recognizing the characters printed on the paper. The image data read by the image reading unit 3 from the paper is analyzed by a character recognition method to obtain the image data. Recognize the character represented by.

Next, the general operation of the character processing device having the above configuration will be described below. First, the CPU 1, the printing unit 2, the document memory 4, the display unit 5, the keyboard 6, and the like perform normal document creation and document printing work.

After printing, the printed paper (printing paper) is checked, and if a character to be corrected such as an error is found on the printing paper, the character to be corrected on the printing paper is as follows. To fix.

First, when the character correction key provided on the keyboard 6 is pressed, a mode for correcting the character data on the document memory 4 (character correction mode) is entered. In this character correction mode, when the corresponding character data is corrected on the screen of the display unit 5, the line position on the paper where the corrected character is located, each data of the character before correction and the character after correction are
It is stored in the character correction memory 7 by U1.

As described above, on the screen of the display unit 5,
After all the corresponding characters have been corrected, the correction print key provided on the keyboard 6 is then pressed to enter the mode (print correction mode) for correcting the characters printed on the paper.

Here, in the printing section 2, not a black ribbon for printing, but a white coating ribbon for filling printing characters with white is used. When the paper to be corrected is set, the CPU 1 reads the contents of the character correction memory 7, finds the line position on the paper for each character to be corrected stored in the character correction memory 7, and determines the position on the paper. The paper is fed so that the line on which the character to be corrected is printed is the printing position of the printing unit 2.

The image reading unit 3 reads all the image data of this line and sends it to the character recognition unit 8.
The character recognition unit 8 analyzes the received image data,
Character recognition is performed on the image data. And
The character recognition result is transmitted to the CPU 1. CPU1
The character recognition result is compared with the corresponding corrected character stored in the character correction memory 7, and the column position of the corrected character on the paper is detected. Then, the printing unit 2 is controlled so that the corrected characters on the paper set in the printer 10 are painted white with a white-painted ribbon. Then, the CPU 1
Again, the printing unit 2 is controlled so that the white-painted portion is
The corrected character stored in the character correction memory 7 is printed. At the time of this printing, the printing unit 2 uses the printing ribbon instead of the white-painted ribbon.

When the CPU 1 has performed the above operation for all the corrected characters stored in the character correction memory 7, the character correction processing ends. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a configuration example of the printer 10.

In the figure, the print head 20 and the print ribbon 21 correspond to the print unit 2 in FIG. Printing ribbon 21
Can be replaced with a white ribbon. Alternatively, it also serves as a black ribbon for printing and a ribbon for white coating. This is because the upper half of the ribbon is a printing ribbon and the lower half is a white coating ribbon, and the ribbon to be used is automatically moved by moving the position of the ribbon with respect to the print head 20 up and down under the control of the CPU 1. It can be switched. The image reading device 22 corresponds to the image reading unit 3 in FIG.

The paper feed roller 23 is a roller for moving the paper in the main scanning direction, and the belt 24 is for moving the print head in the sub scanning direction to print one line of the paper. .

As shown in the figure, an image reading device 22 is fixed to the left side surface of a printing unit including a print head 20, a print ribbon 21 and the like, and the image reading device 22 is moved as the print head 20 moves. 22 is also adapted to move in the left-right direction at the same time. Since the image reading device 22 has such a configuration,
As the print head 20 moves, the image data of the print characters on the paper on the print line can be read.

The print head 20, the image reading device 22, the paper feed roller 23, and the belt 24 are the CP of FIG.
It operates under the control of U1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of character correction data stored in the character correction memory 7 of FIG. In the character correction memory 7, the "line number" (line number) on which the character to be corrected (character string before correction) is printed, the "character string before correction", and the "character string after correction" Character correction data consisting of each data of is stored,
Furthermore, a "correction flag" is provided to indicate whether or not the correction work for the correction character has been completed. This correction flag is
It is set to "1" when the correction character is before correction and is reset to "0" after the correction work is completed. still,
The initial values of the character correction memory 7 before data input are all "0" (reset).

In the example shown in the figure, the address "1" is
The line number "2", the character string "Mikan" before correction, and the character string "Grape" after correction are stored, and the correction flag is "1".
Is set to The address 2 stores the line number “4”, the character string “beer” before correction, and the character string “wine” after correction, and the correction flag is set to “1”.

Next, the correction procedure for correcting the characters printed on the paper in accordance with the contents of the character correction memory 7 shown in the figure will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for correcting a character already printed on a sheet registered in the character correction memory 7 of FIG.

FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the contents of the sheet 31 before correction. On the second line of this paper 31, the sentence "... mandarin orange hunting ..." is printed.
The sentence "... I visited a beer factory." Is printed on the line.

This paper 31 is used as the character correction memory 7 of FIG.
When correcting according to the contents of, first, it is detected whether or not the correction flag of the address "1" of the character correction memory 7 is set to "1", and if it is set, then the line number is referred to. To do. In this case, since "1" is set, the line number is referred to and the line number "2" is read. Then, the image reading device 22 reads the image data of all the characters printed on the second line of the paper 31. Then, the image reading device 22 transmits the image data to the character recognition unit 7. The character recognition unit 7 analyzes the received image data and character-recognizes the image data. Then, the character recognition result is transmitted to the CPU 1. When the CPU 1 receives the character recognition result, it compares the character string obtained from the character recognition result with the character string “Mikan” before correction in the character correction memory 7, and in the second line of the paper 31, “Mikan” is displayed. Detects the first column position where the character string "" is printed.

Next, the CPU 1 controls the paper feed roller 23 and the print head 20 to move the print head 20 to the head position of the character string "Mikan" as shown in FIG. Using the white-painting ribbon, the "Mikan" character string is white-painted with the white-painting ribbon.

Subsequently, the CPU 1 refers to the contents of the character correction memory 7 and recognizes that the character string after the correction of the character string of "Mikan" is "grape". And the same figure (c)
As shown in FIG. 5, the character string “grape” is printed on the white-painted portion of the paper 32 shown in FIG. Then, after that, the corresponding correction flag in the character correction memory 7 is reset to "0".

The correction of the character string "beer" on the fourth line in FIG. 4A is also performed in the same manner. Next, with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6, the above-described correction processing of the characters on the printed paper according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the processing when the character correction key of the keyboard 6 is pressed by the user. When the character correction key is operated, the character correction mode is set.

In this character correction mode, the user
Document correction work is performed on the screen of the display unit 5. That is, first, the cursor is moved to the character string to be corrected (step S1), and the character string to be corrected is designated. For example, enter the space key for the character string to be modified.
As a result, the character string to be corrected is displayed blank (step S2).

Subsequently, the character string replaced with the blank is stored in the character correction memory 7 as a character string before correction. The line number of the line in which the character string exists is also stored in the character correction memory 7 (step S3).

Subsequently, when the user operates the keyboard 6 to input a correct character string in the blank portion (step S4), the input character string is written in the character correction memory 7 as a corrected character string. Further, the corresponding correction flag is set to 1 (step S5).

The processes of steps S1 to S5 are executed for all the character strings to be modified. That is, after the process of step S5, the question "whether to continue or end the character correction mode" is displayed on the screen of the display unit 5. If the user still has the correction character string, the user presses the character correction key.

When the CPU 1 detects that the character correction key has been pressed by the key input data received from the keyboard 6 (step S7, YES), it returns to step S1 again. Then, the processes of steps S1 to S5 are performed.

When all the character correction work is completed, the user presses any key on the keyboard 6 other than the character correction key. As a result, the CPU 1 detects that a key other than the character correction key has been pressed in step S7 (step S7,
NO), the question "whether or not to perform print correction continuously" is displayed on the screen of the display unit 5 (S8).

In response to this question, the user presses the correction print key when he or she wants to print out the document he or she has corrected. When the CPU 1 detects that the character correction key has been pressed by the key input data received from the keyboard 6 (step S9, YES), it executes the process of the flowchart of FIG. On the other hand, when the CPU 1 detects that a key other than the correction print key has been pressed (step S9, N).
O), the processing in the character correction mode ends.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the processing after the correction print mode is entered by operating the correction print key. In the figure, if the printed sheet to be corrected is not set in the printer 10, the sheet is set and taken in (step S10).

At the first time, it is judged whether or not the correction flag "1" at the start address of the character correction memory 7 is set,
After that, it is determined whether or not the correction flag of the next address is set to "1" (step S1).
1). Then, if set, the ribbon of the printing unit 2 is replaced with a white-painted ribbon (step S12).
This ribbon replacement is performed automatically or manually. In the case of manual replacement, for example, a message such as "Please replace the printing ribbon with the white-painted ribbon" is displayed on the screen of the display unit 5 to replace the ribbon with the white-painted ribbon.

Subsequently, the line number of the character correction data in which the correction flag is set to 1 is read from the character correction memory 7 and the paper feed roller 23 is controlled to print the paper set in the printer 10. The position corresponding to the head 20 is fed to the position corresponding to the line number (step S13).

As a result, white printing can be performed by the print head 20 on the line of the line number of the paper, and
The image reading device 22 can read the image data of the characters printed on the above line.

Next, by the image reading device 22,
The image data of all the characters printed on the line of the line number of the paper is read (step S
14). The image reading device 22 transmits the read image data to the character recognition unit 8 via the data bus 9. The character recognition unit 8 analyzes the received image data,
Character recognition is performed on the image data. And
The character recognition result is transmitted to the CPU 1 via the data bus 9 (step S15).

The CPU 1 compares the character recognition result with the uncorrected character string in the character correction memory 7 to detect the start position of the uncorrected character string in the line in which the image data is read (step). S16). Next, CPU1
Moves the print head 20 to a position facing the detection position (step S17).

Subsequently, the CPU 1 controls the print head 20 to fill the character string before correction with white using the white-painted ribbon (step S18). Next, the ribbon
Replace the white ribbon with the print ribbon (step S1)
9). This ribbon exchange is performed automatically or manually as in the case of step S12. Then, subsequently, a correct character string is printed on the white-painted portion by the print head 20 using the white-painted ribbon (step S20). This correct character string is stored in the character correction memory 7 as a corrected character string, and the CPU 1 reads the corrected character string from the character correction memory 7 via the data bus 9.

Subsequently, the CPU 1 resets the correction flag of the character correction data in the character correction memory 7 to "0", and returns to the processing of step S11. The processing of steps S12 to S21 described above is performed by the CPU 1 in step S
This is repeated until it is judged at 11 that there is no character correction data for which the correction flag is set to "1" in the character correction memory 7.

In the above embodiment, when correcting characters,
The white-painted ribbon and the print ribbon are exchanged.However, the upper half is the print ribbon, and the lower half is the white-paint ribbon. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which white-painting printing and normal character printing are switched by switching to. This switching may be performed manually, for example, by a switching lever, or may be performed automatically by the control of a CPU or the like. In the above example, replacement with a white-painted ribbon, white-painting of the uncorrected character string,
Exchange to printing ribbon, correct printing on white painted part,
I am performing the correction procedure for each correction character string,
First, after replacing with a white-painted ribbon, all the uncorrected character strings on that paper are white-painted, and then after changing to a print ribbon, all the modified prints on that paper are performed. good.

In the above embodiment, the correction character string is specified by replacing it with blank data by operating the space key, but the correction character string is specified by
The method is not limited to this. That is, for example, the start point and the end point of the correction character string may be designated by the cursor.

Further, in the above embodiment, the character string to be corrected is white-painted using the white-painted ribbon and is printed from above, but the method of correcting characters is not limited to this. Absent. That is, for example, a correction mark such as a double line may be printed on the character string to be corrected, and the corrected character string may be printed between the upper lines of the corrected character string.

In the above embodiment, when the user inputs a correct character string, this character string is stored only in the character correction memory 7. However, this character string is stored in the document file containing the character to be corrected. The correction may be reflected. By doing this, not only the printing correction of the paper,
The correction of the document file can also be performed by one input operation.

Further, when the image reading apparatus reads the first line with the uncorrected character string, the character recognition is performed from the image data, and the deviation of the sheet when the sheet to be corrected is set again is detected, The reading position and the printing position after that may be corrected.

[0068]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the position of the corrected character on the paper is automatically recognized and the corrected character is automatically corrected. It is possible to clean and quickly correct a printed document with a simple operation.

Further, since printed paper can be reused, it greatly contributes to saving paper resources.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the contents of a character correction memory.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for correcting a character printed on a sheet according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in a character correction mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in a correction print mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 CPU 2 printing unit 3 image reading unit 4 document memory 5 display unit 6 keyboard 7 character correction memory 8 character recognition unit 9 bus 10 printer 20 print head 21 print ribbon 22 image reading device 23 paper feed roller 24 belt

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading an image of a character printed on a sheet, and a character for recognizing a character printed on the sheet by analyzing an image read from the sheet by the image reading unit. A recognition means; a storage means for storing a character to be corrected; and based on the recognition result of the character recognition means, from the characters printed on the paper on which the image is read by the image reading means, Detection means for detecting the position on the paper of a character that coincides with the character stored in the storage means, and based on the detection result of the detection means, the position printed by the detection means is printed. A character correction device comprising: a correction unit that corrects the character to be corrected on the sheet. 2. The correcting means comprises: an erasing means for erasing the correction target character, and a printing means for printing a correct character at a position erased by the erasing means. Character correction device. 3. An image reading unit for reading an image of a character printed on a paper, and a character for recognizing a character printed on the paper by analyzing an image read from the paper by the image reading unit. A recognition means, a storage means for storing a character to be corrected, an input means for inputting a character to be printed instead of the correction target character, and a character input by the input means for the correction target character Writing means for writing in the storage means as a character to be printed, and based on the recognition result of the character recognition means, among the characters printed on the paper on which the image is read by the image reading means, A detection unit that detects the position on the paper of a character that matches the character stored in the storage unit, and the detection unit that detects the position based on the detection result of the detection unit. Correction means for correcting the character to be corrected on the paper printed at the position detected by the step to the character input by the input means stored in the storage means, Character correction device.