JPH0937063A - Device and method for copying picture - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability and the quality of image copy by providing a preview picture display means and a layout picture display means. SOLUTION: A picture read by a picture input device is displayed on a preview screen 11. A picture cut off from the picture on the preview screen 11 is laid out on the layout screen 12. The picture is read into the preview screen 11 by a prescan button 13, and a tool button 14 specifies a picture area for preparing the picture on the layout screen 12 from the picture on the preview screen 11. Then the picture area can be moved, magnified and reduced so as to prepare the picture on the layout screen 12 from the picture the preview screen 11 by the other tool button 15, and a picture just like the picture displayed on the layout screen 12 is outputted by a picture output device. Besides an original picture is read from a picture reader by pressing the prescan button 13 and the whole read original pictures displayed on the preview screen 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image copying apparatus and an image copying method for copying an image on a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has been practiced to combine images obtained by arbitrarily enlarging and reducing images on different originals and copying them on one sheet of paper. A case will be described in which a part of the image of a certain document A and a part of the image of a document B different from the document A are enlarged or reduced to create one sheet of material. In the conventional image copying apparatus, simple enlargement / reduction of the entire document is possible, but it is impossible to print a designated area at a designated position. Therefore, it is necessary to cut and paste the original A and the original B into one document. Such a conventional image copying method is shown in FIG.
3 will be described. 13 (a) is an image display diagram showing the original A, FIG. 13 (b) is an image display diagram showing a reduced original document A, and FIG. 13 (c) is a cutout obtained by cutting the reduced image portion with scissors or the like. Image display diagram showing the original, Figure 1
3 (d) is an image display diagram showing the document B, FIG. 14 (a) is an image display diagram showing an enlarged document obtained by enlarging the document B, FIG.
FIG. 14B is an image display diagram showing a cut original in which a part of the enlarged image is cut, and FIG. 14C shows a pasted original obtained by pasting the cut originals of originals A and B on a mount with tape or glue. An image display diagram, FIG. 14D is an image display diagram showing a united document obtained by copying a pasted document into one sheet of material. As described above, the conventional image copying method is a method in which all or part of the images of the respective originals A and B are cut out and attached to one sheet of paper, and then copied.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional image copying apparatus and image copying method, many processes such as cutting and pasting must be performed by human hands to create one sheet of material. There is a problem that the image quality is deteriorated because the performance is very poor, the finished product is not good, and the copying is performed at least twice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image copying apparatus capable of improving workability and copy quality, and an image copying method capable of improving workability and copy quality. .

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, an image copying apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention is an image input apparatus for converting an image on an original into an image signal, and an image input apparatus for converting the converted image signal. An image copying apparatus having an image output device for outputting on paper, a display device for displaying an image, and a control device for controlling the whole, wherein the control device displays an image on a document on a preview screen of the display device. A preview screen display means and a layout screen display means for designating an arbitrary area on the preview screen, enlarging, reducing or rotating the designated area and performing a layout editing operation indicating a print position on the layout screen of the display device. And has a configuration including.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image copying apparatus according to the first aspect.
In the image copying apparatus described above, the preview screen display means is capable of displaying a plurality of preview screens, and the layout screen display means is configured to lay out a plurality of different areas in a print image.

An image copying apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention includes an image input apparatus for converting an image on a document into an image signal, an image output apparatus for outputting the converted image signal on paper, and a display apparatus for displaying the image. , An image copying apparatus having a control device for controlling the whole, wherein the control device stores area data, which is obtained by a layout editing operation and is stored in the control device, indicating area data in a buffer in the image output device. It has a configuration including writing means for writing, determining means for determining whether or not writing processing has been completed for all areas and documents, and output display means for causing the image output device to print an image according to area data. ing.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image copying method, a preview screen displaying step for displaying an image on a document on a preview screen of a display device and an arbitrary area on the preview screen are designated, and the designated area is enlarged or reduced. Or a layout screen display step of rotating and performing a layout editing operation indicating a print position on the layout screen of the display device.

An image copying method according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is a writing step of writing area data, which is obtained by a layout editing operation, and which is stored in the control apparatus and which indicates image specifications, into a buffer in the image output apparatus, and all areas. And a determination step of determining whether or not the writing process has been completed for the document, and an output display step of causing the image output device to print an image corresponding to the area data.

[0010]

With the above construction, even when a plurality of original image data are created as image data on one sheet of paper, the work of cutting and pasting and copying again is unnecessary, and workability and copy quality can be improved. it can. Moreover, since the created image data is automatically copied as an image on a sheet, it is possible to easily obtain a material in which a plurality of images are copied on one sheet.

[0011]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a device block diagram showing an image copying device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an image reading device as an image input device such as a scanner for reading an image on a document (hereinafter referred to as “document image”), 2 is an image output device such as a printer, 3 is an image reading device 1, A control device for controlling the image output device 2 and the like, 4 is a display device such as a CRT or LCD for displaying an image, 5 is a keyboard for inputting data, and 6 is a mouse for performing an input operation. The control device 3 can store the data read by the image reading device 1 in a memory in the control device 3, and by giving a copy command to the image output device 2, the original image read by the image reading device 1 can be directly read. It is possible for the image output device 2 to enlarge or reduce an arbitrary area to output it.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the function realizing means in the control device 2 of this embodiment. In FIG.
Reference numeral 21 is a preview screen display means for displaying a document image on the preview screen of the display device 4, 22 is an arbitrary region on the preview screen, and the designated region is enlarged, reduced or rotated to display the layout screen of the display device 4. A layout screen display unit for performing a layout editing operation indicating the print position above.

FIG. 3 is a screen display diagram showing an editing screen displayed on the display device 4. In FIG. 3, 11 is a preview window (preview screen) for displaying an image read by the image input apparatus 1, and 12 is a preview window 1.
A layout window (layout screen) for laying out the image cut out from the image 1; 13 is a prescan button for reading the image in the preview window 11; and 14 is the preview window 11
Is a tool button for designating an image area for creating the image of the layout window 12 from the image of, and 15 is a tool button for moving, enlarging or reducing the image area for creating the image of the layout window 12 from the image of the window 11. is there. The image as displayed in the layout window 12 is output by the image output device 2. Further, by pressing the pre-scan button 13, it is possible to read a document image from the image reading apparatus 1 and display the entire read document image in the preview window 11.

The operation of the control device 3 of the image copying apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 to 9. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control device 3, FIG. 5A is an image creation diagram showing a certain original A, FIG. 5B is an image creation diagram showing an original B different from the original A, FIG. (C) is an image creation diagram showing a combined image in which the documents A and B are combined on one sheet of paper. 6 is a screen display diagram showing a preview window 11 and a layout window 12 of the display device 4 relating to the document A, FIG. 7 is a screen display diagram showing the preview window 11 and a layout window 12 of the display device 4 relating to the document B, and FIG. FIG. 9A is a preview screen display diagram showing the size, and FIG. 9A is a screen display diagram showing an image before rotation when rotating and copying.
(B) is a screen display diagram showing an image after rotation when rotating and copying.

First, when the document A is set on the image input device (image reading device) 1 and the prescan button 13 is pressed with the mouse 6, the image of the document A is read, and the preview image display means 31 displays the image of the document A. The image is reduced and displayed in the preview window (prescan window) 11 (S1, FIG. 6A, preview screen display step). Next, when the area designating tool button 14 is clicked with the mouse 6, the cursor of the mouse 6 changes to a cross cursor.
Use this crosshair cursor to enclose the desired image in a rectangle.
As an operation method, the cross cursor is moved to a corner point of a rectangle surrounding the image, and while the button of the mouse 6 is being pressed, the cross cursor is moved to a diagonal point of the rectangle and the button of the mouse 6 is released. Through the above operation, the layout screen display means 32 displays a rectangle surrounding the image to be cut out on the preview window 11 (S2, FIG. 6B, layout screen display step).

Next, when the area selection tool button 15 is clicked, the cursor of the mouse 6 changes to an arrow cursor. When the arrow cursor is moved to the inside of the area designated in step 2, the button of the mouse 6 is pushed and moved as it is, the layout screen display means 32 causes the layout screen display means 32 to designate the above according to the movement of the cursor (arrow cursor) of the mouse 6. Move the area. Layout window 1
When the mouse 6 is moved to 2 and the button of the mouse 6 is released, the layout screen display means 32 displays the image of the designated area in the layout window 12 (S3, FIG. 6C, layout screen display step). By a similar operation using the mouse 6, the area selected in the layout window 12 can be moved. When the corner points of the rectangular area of the image in the layout window 12 are moved with the button of the mouse 6 pressed, the layout screen display means 32 enlarges or reduces the image in the layout window 12 (S).
4, FIG. 6D, layout screen display step). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6D, the preview window 11
The image inside is reduced and the reduced image is displayed in the layout window 12.

Similarly, for the document B, an image is laid out on the layout window 12. That is, when the document B is first set in the image input device 1 and the prescan button 13 is pressed with the mouse 6, the image of the document B is read, and the image of the document is reduced to the preview window 11 by the preview screen display means 31. Display (S1, FIG. 7)
(A), preview screen display step). Next, when the tool button 14 for specifying the area is clicked with the mouse 6, the cursor of the mouse 6 changes to a cross cursor, and the cross cursor is used to enclose the target image in a rectangle. As a result, the layout screen display means 32 causes the preview window 1
A rectangle that surrounds the image to be cut out is displayed on the screen 1 (S2, FIG. 7).
(B), layout screen display step). Next, when the area selection tool button 15 is clicked, the cursor of the mouse 6 changes to an arrow cursor, and the arrow cursor is moved to the inside of the area specified in step 2, and the button of the mouse 6 is pressed and moved as it is. Then, the layout screen display means 32 moves the designated area according to the movement of the cursor of the mouse 6. If you move this designated area to the layout window 12 and release the mouse 6 button,
The layout screen display means 32 displays the image of the designated area in the layout window 12 (S3, FIG. 7).
(C), layout screen display step). When the corner points of the rectangular area of the image in the layout window 12 are moved while pressing the button of the mouse 6, the layout screen display means 32 enlarges or reduces the image in the layout window 12 (S4, FIG. d), layout screen display step). In the present embodiment, in the case of the original B, as shown in FIG. 7D, a part of the image in the preview window 11 is enlarged and the enlarged image is displayed in the layout window 12.

The image on the layout window 12 completed as described above is stored in the control device 3 as data of the format shown in (Table 1).

[0020]

[Table 1]

The data showing the image data in Table 1 is called area data. Manuscript numbers “01” and “02” in (Table 1)
Is the number given to one page of the original (for example, the original number "01" is given to the original A). When a plurality of areas are defined in one original, the area number is assigned to each area (in (Table 1), only one area is defined in one original). . The in-document area size indicates the position and size of the area in the preview window 11.
Sizes A, B, C, and D in (Table 1) are the dimensions A and B in FIG.
It corresponds to B, C, and D. The in-layout print size indicates at what position and in which size in the layout window the designated area in the preview window 11 is laid out. Images can be moved, enlarged, and reduced according to the in-document area size and the in-layout print size in Table 1. The rotation indicates how many times the original image in the preview window 11 is rotated when laid out in the layout window 12. The designation of rotation “0” indicates that the rotation is not performed. An example of copying the image of FIG. 9A by rotating 90 degrees is shown in FIG. 9B.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the document A,
When the document image of B is created as image data on one sheet of paper, buttons 13 to 1 on the display device 4 are pressed by the mouse 6.
Since it is only necessary to operate 5, it is not necessary to perform cutting and pasting and copying again, and workability and copying quality can be improved.

(Embodiment 2) An image copying apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The device block of the second embodiment is the same as the device block of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing the function realizing means in the control device 3 of the image copying apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG.
In 0, 33 is a buffer in the image output device 2 for storing the above-mentioned area data (see the image buffer 23 in FIG. 12)
Writing means for writing in the area, 34 is a judging means for judging whether or not the writing processing is completed for all areas and the original, and 35 is an output display means for printing an image according to the area data on the image output device. is there.

The operation of the control device according to the present embodiment constructed as above will be described with reference to FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. This apparatus actually outputs an image from the image output apparatus 2 based on the area data created in (Example 1), and prints and copies the image. 11 is a flowchart showing the output operation, and FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the image output device 2.

First, wait until the first original (original A in the first embodiment) is set in the image input apparatus 1 (S
11). When setting the original, the original set on the image input device 1 may be automatically detected, or the fact that the user has set may be notified by a button on the keyboard 5 or the screen of the display device 4. When the image input apparatus 1 is equipped with an automatic document feeder (ADF, Auto Document Feeder) or the like, when a document is set, the set document is automatically detected. When the set original is detected in step 11, the writing unit 33 sets the area number N = 1 (S1).
2). Next, the writing unit 33 sends the in-document area size in the area database (not shown) of the control device 3 to the image output device 2 (S13, writing process). The image output device 2 can grasp which part of the document is to be printed from the size of the region in the document. Next, the writing unit 33 sends the in-layout print size in the area database to the image output device 2 (S14, writing step). Next, when the writing unit 33 sends a command for starting data capture to the image output device 2, the image output device 2 captures image data from the image input device 1 into the built-in buffer 23 (see FIG. 12) (S15, writing step).

Next, the judging means 34 judges whether or not the writing process has been completed for all the areas in the same document (S16, judging step). When it is determined that the processing has not ended, the area number is incremented by 1 and the processing returns to step 13 (S17). When it is determined that the process is completed, step 18
The process proceeds to (determination step), and it is determined whether or not the writing process has been completed for all the originals. When it is determined that the process is not completed, the process returns to step 11, and when it is determined that the process is completed, the process proceeds to step 19 (output display process). In step 19, the output display unit 35 develops the image in the image output device 2 for all the areas, and then sends an image output command to the image output device 2, and the image output device 2 outputs the copied image. Output copy paper.

Next, the image output device 2 shown in FIG. 12 will be described. In FIG. 12, 7 is an external device such as the image input device 1 and the control device 3 connected to the image output device 2, 8 is a sheet of paper output from the image output device 2, 21 is an image obtained by actually printing the sheet 8 A print engine for obtaining copy paper, 22 is an interface for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the external device 7, 2
Reference numeral 3 is an image buffer for storing the output image image, and 24 is a controller for controlling each unit. The image output device 2 has a buffer 23 for storing an image of one page.
On the other hand, the image data corresponding to the size in the original area is requested, and the image data is developed as an image in the image buffer 23 indicated by the print size in layout. In this case, if the image has an attribute such as rotation, the processing such as rotation is performed when the image is developed.

Although the image output apparatus 2 in this embodiment has the function of controlling the image input apparatus 1, the general image output apparatus 2 does not have the control function of the image input apparatus 1. Is normal. In that case, the image data from the image input device 1 can be temporarily stored in the control device 3 and sent to the image output device 2. At this stage, the image data is only stored in the image buffer 23 in the image output device 2 and is not output.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image output device 2 can obtain image data corresponding to the area data such as the area size in the original document from the image input device 1. The image output device 2 can automatically print an image represented by combining the sheets of paper, and a material in which a plurality of images are copied onto one sheet can be easily obtained.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the preview screen display means for displaying the image on the original on the preview screen of the display device and the arbitrary area on the preview screen are designated.
By having a layout screen display unit for enlarging, reducing, or rotating the designated area and performing a layout editing operation indicating a print position on the layout screen of the display device, a plurality of original images are combined to form a single sheet. When an image is formed on a sheet of paper, the work of cutting and pasting and copying again can be dispensed with, so that an image copying apparatus that can improve workability and copy quality can be realized.

Further, the preview screen display means can display a plurality of preview screens, and the layout screen display means lays out a plurality of areas different from each other in the print image, so that a plurality of areas of a plurality of original images are combined. An image copying apparatus capable of performing an operation can be realized.

Further, the writing means for writing the area data indicating the image data obtained by the layout editing operation and stored in the control device into the buffer in the image output device, and the writing process for all the areas and the originals are completed. The image output apparatus obtains the image data corresponding to the area data from the image input apparatus by having the determination unit for determining whether or not the image output apparatus causes the image output apparatus to print the image according to the area data. The image output device can automatically print the combined image of multiple original images on one sheet of paper, making it possible to easily obtain a material in which multiple images are copied onto one sheet. The device can be realized.

Further, a preview screen display step of displaying an image on a document on a preview screen of a display device, and an arbitrary region on the preview screen is designated, and the designated region is enlarged, reduced, or rotated to lay out the display device. By having a layout screen display step for performing a layout editing operation that indicates the print position on the screen, work of cutting and pasting and copying again when plural original images are combined and created as an image on one sheet It is possible to realize an image copying apparatus capable of improving workability and copying quality because it is unnecessary.

Further, the writing process for writing the area data indicating the image data obtained by the layout editing operation and stored in the control device into the buffer in the image output device and the writing process for all the regions and the originals are completed. The image output apparatus obtains the image data corresponding to the area data from the image input apparatus by including the determination step of determining whether or not the image output apparatus causes the image output apparatus to print the image according to the area data. The image output device can automatically print the combined image of multiple original images on one sheet of paper, making it possible to easily obtain a material in which multiple images are copied onto one sheet. The device can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an apparatus block diagram showing an image copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing function realizing means in the control device of the device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a screen display diagram showing an editing screen displayed on the display device of the device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control device of FIG.

5A is an image creation diagram showing image creation in the control device of FIG. 2B is an image creation diagram showing image creation in the control device of FIG. 2C is an image showing image creation in the control device of FIG. Drawing

[FIG. 6] (a) Screen display diagram showing preview window and layout window (b) Screen display diagram showing preview window and layout window (c) Screen display diagram showing preview window and layout window (d) Preview window and layout Screen display showing windows

[FIG. 7] (a) Screen display diagram showing preview window and layout window (b) Screen display diagram showing preview window and layout window (c) Screen display diagram showing preview window and layout window (d) Preview window and layout Screen display showing windows

[Fig. 8] Preview screen display diagram showing various sizes

FIG. 9A is a screen display diagram showing an image before rotation when rotating and copying. FIG. 9B is a screen display diagram showing an image after rotation when rotating and copying.

10 is a functional block diagram showing another example of the function realizing means in the control device of the apparatus of FIG.

11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the control device in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the image output device of FIG.

13A is an image display diagram showing one document in a conventional apparatus. FIG. 13B is an image display diagram showing a document reduced from the document shown in FIG. 13A. FIG. 13C is an image showing the document cut out from the document shown in FIG. 13B. Display diagram (d) Image display diagram showing another document in the conventional apparatus

14A is an image display diagram showing a document obtained by enlarging the document shown in FIG. 13D, FIG. 14B is an image display diagram showing a document obtained by cutting out the document shown in FIG. 13D, and FIG. 14B is an image display diagram showing a document to which the cut document shown in FIG. 14B is attached. FIG. 14D is an image display diagram showing a copy of the document shown in FIG. 14C.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 image reading device (image input device) 2 image output device 3 control device 4 display device 5 keyboard 6 mouse 7 external device 8 paper 11 preview window (preview screen) 12 layout window (layout screen) 13 prescan button 14, 15 tools Button 21 Print engine 22 External interface 23 Image buffer 24 Controller 31 Preview screen display means 32 Layout screen display means 33 Writing means 34 Judging means 35 Output display means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image input device for converting an image on a document into an image signal, an image output device for outputting the converted image signal on paper, a display device for displaying the image, and a control device for controlling the whole. And a preview screen display unit for displaying an image on the document on a preview screen of the display device, and an arbitrary region on the preview screen, An image copying apparatus, comprising: a layout screen display unit for enlarging, reducing, or rotating the created area and performing a layout editing operation indicating a print position on the layout screen of the display device. 2. The image copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preview screen display means is capable of displaying a plurality of preview screens, and the layout screen display means lays out a plurality of different areas in a print image. . 3. An image input device for converting an image on a document into an image signal, an image output device for outputting the converted image signal on paper, a display device for displaying the image, and a control device for controlling the whole. An image copying apparatus having: and a writing means for writing area data, which is obtained by a layout editing operation and which is stored in the control apparatus, and which indicates area data, to a buffer in the image output apparatus. , An image copy having a determination means for determining whether or not the writing processing has been completed for all areas and originals, and an output display means for causing the image output device to print an image corresponding to the area data. apparatus. 4. A preview screen displaying step of displaying an image on a document on a preview screen of a display device, and designating an arbitrary area on the preview screen, enlarging, reducing or rotating the designated area to display the image. An image copying method comprising: a layout screen displaying step of performing a layout editing operation indicating a print position on a layout screen of the apparatus. 5. A writing step of writing area data, which is obtained by a layout editing operation and which is stored in the control apparatus and which indicates image specifications, to a buffer in the image output apparatus, and the writing processing is completed for all areas and originals. An image copying method comprising: a determination step of determining whether or not the output is performed, and an output display step of causing the image output device to print an image corresponding to the area data.