JP2006060520A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of printing a document image having good appearance by preventing a document binder or a binding margin from being printed on a paper as it is, when copying a document bound by the document binder such as a staple or a clip. <P>SOLUTION: A copying machine 1 automatically detects the position of a staple 52 from image data of a cover 51 of a bound document 50 and automatically sets a substitution area of a portion of the staple 52 and a portion of a binding margin 54, which should be substituted in accordance with the position of the staple 52, and a substitution color which is a color of a masking data element with which a data element of a substitution area portion should be substituted, in accordance with image data of each page of the document 50, and the document is copied by converting the data element in the substitution area portion out of image data of the document to the masking data element having the substitution color. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile, and more particularly to copying of a document bound by a document stopper such as a staple or a clip.

  In a conventional image forming apparatus, various types of originals are used, but there are many originals in which a plurality of originals are bound with staples or clips, and the originals are still bound with staples or clips. The manuscript is often copied. For example, in the case of copying a document bound with staples, if the cover is copied, the staple image is printed on the paper as it is. In addition, when the second and subsequent pages are copied, there is a step between the binding margin of the original that has been turned over and is folded outside, and the binding margin portion has a binding margin. The color is copied in a color different from the color near the part. For example, in an apparatus in which monochrome copying is performed, the binding margin portion of the document is read in black because of shadows, and is copied in black. As countermeasures, for example, it is possible to designate a substantially triangular area at the corner of the original document as a binding margin in advance, and to convert the black data of the area into white data and copy the binding margin portion in white at the time of copying. An image forming apparatus has been disclosed and proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Although not directly related to the above measures, as a reference, for example, there is means for recognizing and storing a staple position from image data of a document bound with staples, without specifying the staple position. An image forming apparatus capable of automatically performing a stapling process at the same position as the staple position of the document is disclosed and proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-151930 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-290309

  Certainly, with the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, even if the staples and clips are not removed from the document at the time of copying, the staple and clip images are not copied directly onto the paper, and the binding margin portion of the document However, it is not printed black on the paper, and the binding margin portion can be printed on the paper in white.

  However, in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the position of the staple and the binding margin portion are not automatically detected, and it is necessary for the user to specify the binding margin portion. Therefore, the operation is complicated. . When copying the cover of an original document that has been stapled, the designated binding margin portion is printed in white, so that the area other than the staple is also printed in white. In addition, when the peripheral color of the binding margin portion is not white, the binding margin portion of the copied paper is eventually different from the peripheral color, and there is a problem that a good-looking copy image cannot be obtained.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention automatically detects the position of a document stop such as a staple or a clip from the cover image data of a bound document, and determines the position of the document stop from the document image data of each page. A replacement area that is a color of a replacement area of a document stop and binding margin portion to be replaced, and a mask data element that replaces a data element of the replacement area portion is automatically set. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing copying by converting data elements in a replacement area portion into mask data elements of the replacement color.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a document capture unit that captures a document image and generates image data, and a storage unit that stores document image pattern image data for binding the document. A collating unit for comparing and collating the image data and the pattern image data for the document stop, and a position detecting unit for detecting the position of the document stop on the image data when the collation by the collating unit is matched. The image data may include an image replacement means for replacing a data element in a predetermined replacement area portion to be replaced in accordance with the position of the document stop in the image data with a predetermined mask data element. .

  Further, in the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, if the data element of the document holding area portion in which the collation by the collating unit is matched among the image data is used as the data element of the predetermined replacement area portion, Good.

  In the image forming apparatus having the above configuration, white may be used as the color of the predetermined mask data element.

  The image forming apparatus configured as described above includes an operation unit that receives an information input operation, and a color instruction unit that instructs the image replacement unit to input a color input from the operation unit, and the predetermined mask data It is preferable that the color input from the operation unit is used as the element color.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration is a peripheral color that detects a color of a data element in a predetermined area portion in the vicinity of the predetermined replacement area portion that is replaced according to the position of the document stop in the image data It may be configured to include a detecting unit, and the color of the data element in the predetermined region detected by the peripheral color detecting unit is used as the color of the predetermined mask data element.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration includes a background color detection unit that detects a background color of the document image in the image data, and the background color detection unit converts the color of the predetermined mask data element. It is preferable that the background color of the detected original image is used.

  The image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration may include a data element of a predetermined replacement area portion that is replaced in accordance with the position of the document stopper in the image data when the document bound by the document stopper is copied. It is preferable to have a dedicated mode in which copying is performed by substituting a predetermined mask data element.

  As described above, in the case of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the data elements of the replacement area portion of the original fixing portion and the binding margin portion in the copy of the original bound by the original fixing are the same as those of the adjacent images. Since it is replaced with a color mask data element, it is possible to obtain a sheet on which a good-looking copy image is printed.

  Hereinafter, a case where the present invention is applied to a copying machine will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of a copying machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the structure of the main part of the copying machine according to the present invention. As shown in both figures, the copier 1 of this embodiment includes a central processing unit 10 (hereinafter referred to as a CPU [Central Processing Unit] 10) that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and a document transport that automatically transports a document. An operation display comprising a unit 11, a document fetch unit 12 that captures a color of a document transported from the document transport unit 11 and generates image data, an operation unit (such as a numeric keypad or a touch panel), and a display unit (such as a liquid crystal display). Unit 13 and image forming unit 14 for outputting a color or monochrome image on a sheet based on image data (print unit 141 including a printer head or a photosensitive drum, and image output obtained by print unit 141 on a sheet) A fixing unit 142 for fixing), a paper feeding unit 15 for feeding paper to the image forming unit 14, and a ROM [Read Only Memory] in which various control programs are stored. A memory unit 16 including a RAM [Random Access Memory] used as a work area and a pattern memory for storing a plurality of original pattern image data such as staples and clips, and a discharge destination as a discharge destination of the image-formed paper. And a paper portion 17.

  In addition to controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, the CPU 10 automatically detects the position of the document stop from the cover image data of the bound document, and replaces the document image data of each page according to the position of the document stop. A replacement color which is a color of a replacement area of the document stopper and binding margin portion and a mask data element which replaces the data element of the replacement region portion is automatically set, and the replacement area portion of the original image data is set. The data element is converted into the replacement color mask data element, and processing relating to control for copying is performed.

  The paper feed unit 15 includes a plurality of (three in this embodiment) paper storage units 151 serving as a paper supply source for the image forming unit 14, and a common paper transport from each paper storage unit 151 to the image forming unit 14. And a sheet conveyance unit 152 serving as a path.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the operation display unit 13 includes a liquid crystal display 130 having a touch panel function.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal display 130 includes a copy mode switching unit 131 that is pressed when the copy function is selected, and an original stop and binding margin portion when copying an original that is bound by original stop. A mask mode switching unit 132 that is pressed when selecting a function in which the image is replaced with a predetermined image and the image of the document stopper or binding margin portion is copied so that it is not conspicuous in harmony with the surrounding images; A pattern registration switching unit 133 that is pressed when registering a document stop pattern such as staples and clips, a status display unit 134 that displays the status of the apparatus, a main display unit 135 that displays various procedure guides, and the like. A copy magnification setting unit 139 for setting a copy magnification; a copy magnification display unit 136 for displaying a copy magnification set by the copy magnification setting unit 139; A copy number display section 137 for displaying the number of copies set by the numeric keypad that is not set, a paper size setting section 140 for selecting a paper size as a printing destination or a paper size selection method, and a paper size setting section 140. A paper display unit 138 that displays the paper size selected in step 1 or a paper size selection method and a copy image quality selection unit 141 that selects a copy image quality mode at the time of copying are displayed.

  Next, a copy operation of an unbound document in the normal copy mode of the copying machine 1 having the above configuration will be described. In the document copying operation in the copying machine 1, first, a document is transported from the document transport unit 11 to the document capture unit 12, and the document capture unit 12 captures the document image in color (generates image data). The generated image data is temporarily stored in the memory unit 16, read out again, and sent to the image forming unit 14. Thereafter, the image forming unit 14 performs an image forming process and a fixing process on the paper based on the input image data.

  Note that the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment automatically detects the position of a document stop such as a staple or a clip from the cover image data of a bound document, and responds to the position of the document stop from the document image data of each page. Automatically replacing the replacement area of the original stop and binding margin portion to be replaced, and the replacement color that is the color of the mask data element that replaces the data element of the replacement area portion, and of the original image data, It is characterized by a copying operation in which copying is performed by converting the data element in the replacement area into the mask data element of the replacement color.

  Therefore, in the following, a detailed description will be given of a copying operation having the characteristics in the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment with reference to the drawings. This copying operation is performed in a mask mode in the copy mode, which is a dedicated mode. In the following, a case where the document is bound with staples will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of the copying machine 1 when copying a document bound with staples. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a cover of a document bound with staples. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the mask mode switching unit 132 is pressed and the mask mode is selected in step S 4-1, the corner portion 53 is bound to the staple 52. A message indicating that the cover mode 51 of the original 50 is copied is displayed.

  In step S4-2, as shown in FIG. 5, the cover 51 of the document 50 bound by the staple 42 is placed at a predetermined position with the print surface facing a document image capture window (not shown) of the document capture unit 11. Placed in. When a start key (not shown) of the operation display unit 13 is pressed after inputting the number of copies, the document take-in unit 11 takes in the image of the cover 51. Then, after the CPU 10 determines the document size, the image data of the cover 51 is temporarily stored in the memory unit 16.

  Subsequently, in step S4-3, the image data of the cover 51 stored in the memory unit 16 is read out by the CPU 10, and the position of the staple 52 is detected as follows. FIG. 6A is an enlarged view in which the image near the staple 52 is enlarged from the image data of the cover 51. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the image density in the vicinity of the staple 52 in the broken line portion 61 in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the image near the staple 52 on the image data of the cover 51 is formed from an image indicating the shape of the staple 52 and an image indicating the background of the cover. The image density of the broken line portion 61 in FIG. 6A has a large difference between the image level a62a of the image area of the staple 52 and the surrounding image level b62b as shown in FIG. 6B. This image level exists continuously over the image area of the staple 52 shown in FIG. The boundary point between the continuous image level a 62 a and the image level b 62 b forms an approximate figure with the shape of the staple 52 or the stable 52. Using this feature, data such as symbols and characters is extracted from the image data of the cover 51. Then, the CPU 10 compares and collates the data of these shapes extracted from the image data of the cover 51 and all the staple patterns stored in the memory unit 16. If there is a staple 52 that matches the staple pattern in the image data of the cover 51 by this collation, the CPU 10 detects the position, shape, and the like of the staple 52 on the image data of the cover 51 that matches the staple pattern. Information such as the position and shape of the staple 52 is temporarily stored in the memory unit 16. The method for detecting the position of the staple 52 may be performed by a known method other than the above.

  If the position of the staple 52 is not detected, a message to that effect is displayed on the main display unit 135. A new staple pattern is registered as follows. As shown in FIG. 3, when the pattern registration switching unit 133 is pressed, the image of the cover 51 is displayed on the main display unit 135, and the staple 52 part is designated and registered with a touch pen or the like, thereby creating a new staple. The pattern is additionally stored in the memory unit 16.

  Subsequently, in step S4-4, based on the detection result of the position of the staple 52, the staple 52 area portion on the image data of the cover 51 is automatically set as a replacement area to be replaced with the mask data element. . Note that the replacement area is preferably set to an area where the staple 52 is hidden.

  Subsequently, in step S4-5, the replacement color, which is the color of the mask data element that replaces the data element of the staple area portion on the image data of the cover 51, is automatically set as follows.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an area between the edge of the staple 52 and a predetermined distance X on the cover image. As shown in FIG. 7, first, image data of the cover 51 and information such as the detected position and shape of the staple 52 are read from the memory unit 16 by the CPU 10. Then, the CPU 10 samples the image data in the region 71 between the edge of the staple 52 and a predetermined distance X from the image data of the cover 51, and the color indicated by the averaged sampled image data is set as the replacement color. The

  Further, as the replacement color, the background color of the cover 51 may be detected from the image data of the cover 51 by the CPU 10, and the detected color may be set. For example, the background color of the cover sheet 51 may be detected by a known method such as a method of determining that the largest number of colors in the captured image data of the cover sheet 51 is the background color of the cover sheet 51.

  The replacement color may be set to white because an original with a white background color is often used.

  The replacement color may be set as follows, for example. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the liquid crystal display 130 on which the image of the cover 51 is displayed. First, as shown in FIG. 8, the image of the cover 51 including the staple 52 image is displayed on the main display unit 135 of the liquid crystal display 130. Subsequently, the area 81 on the screen of the displayed cover 51 is designated by a touch operation, and the image data in the area 81 on the image of the designated cover 51 is sampled by the CPU 10. Then, the sampled image data is averaged, and the color of the averaged sampled image data is automatically set as a replacement color.

  Subsequently, in step S4-6, the data element of the staple 52 region in the image data of the cover 51 is replaced with the mask data element of the replacement color set in step S4-5.

  Subsequently, the replaced cover image is formed on the sheet by the image forming unit 14 based on the image data of the cover 51 replaced in step S <b> 4-7 and is discharged to the paper discharge unit 17. Therefore, the cover image from which the image of the staple 52 is removed is formed on the sheet, and thus a sheet on which a good-looking cover image is printed can be obtained. When the preset number of copies is completed, the process proceeds to step S4-8.

  In step S4-8, a message indicating whether or not to copy the second and subsequent pages is displayed on the main display unit 135. When copying is not performed (NO in S4-8), the completion button displayed on the main display unit 135 is pressed, and this operation is completed. If the second and subsequent pages are continuously copied (YES in S4-8), when the execution button displayed on the main display unit 135 is pressed, the second and subsequent pages are copied to the status display unit 134. Is displayed and the process proceeds to step S4-9.

  Subsequently, in step S4-9, a document image on the second and subsequent pages is captured by the document capture unit 11 as follows. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a document on a certain page when the document 50 is turned. First, as shown in FIG. 9, the original 50 having the corners 53 bound by the staples 52 is turned and then folded outward, and the original 55 to be copied is opened. A document 55 having a binding margin 54 at the corner 53 is arranged in the same orientation and position as when the cover image is captured with the print surface facing a document image capture window (not shown) of the document capture unit 11. Is done. Subsequently, when a start key (not shown) is pressed after inputting the number of copies, etc., an image of the document 55 is captured by the document capture unit 11 and the document size, document position, etc. are determined. Information such as the image data of the original 55, the original size, and the original position is temporarily stored in the memory unit 16.

  Subsequently, in step S4-10, based on the position of the staple 52 detected in step S4-3, the image data of the document 55 is selected based on the position of the staple 52 so that the image of the binding margin portion 54 of the document 55 is not printed as it is. An area including the binding margin 54 is automatically set as a replacement area as follows.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a method for setting a replacement area when the corner portion 53 of the document 50 is bound by the staple 52. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the corner portion 53 of the document 50 is bound by the staple 52, the CPU 10 detects the position of the staple 52 at the time of detecting the position of the staple 52 in step S4-3. If the position is within the preset range of the corner 53, it is determined that the corner 53 is bound by the staple 52. Therefore, in order to prevent the binding margin portion 54 from being printed, the binding margin portion 54 is included to a position further away from the position of the staple 52 portion farthest from the corner 56 of the original 55, that is, to a position further away. An area 101 that is a quarter circle of a radius L from the corner 56 of the original 55, which is an area of, is automatically set as a replacement area. Based on the position of the staple 52, an area wider than the binding margin 54 or the same area as the binding margin 54 may be automatically set as the replacement area.

  A method for setting a replacement area when the upper part of the document is bound with staples 52 will be described below. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of setting a replacement area when the upper part of the document is bound with staples 52. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the upper portion 111 of the original 110 is bound with the staple 52, the position of the staple 52 is set in advance when the position of the staple 52 is detected in step S4-3. If it is within the range in the vicinity of the upper portion 111, it is determined that the staple 52 is applied to the upper portion 111. Further, in this case, in order to prevent the image of the binding margin portion 112 from being printed on the sheet as it is, a predetermined amount is further set than the position of the staple 52 farthest from the upper portion 111 of the original 114 opened by turning over the original. A rectangular area 113 having a distance S from the upper end 115 of the original 114, that is, a position away from the distance, is automatically set as a replacement area. As the replacement area, an area wider than the binding margin 112 or the same area as the binding margin 112 may be automatically set as the replacement area.

  Subsequently, in step S4-11, the replacement color that is the color of the mask data element that replaces the data element in the area 101 portion that is the replacement area on the image data of the original 55 is the color set in step S4-5. Is automatically set to the same color. The replacement color may be automatically set by detecting the background color or the color in the vicinity of the binding margin portion 54 from the image data of the original 55 by the method described above.

  Subsequently, in step S4-12, the data element of the area 101 portion which is the replacement area in the original 55 image data is replaced with the mask data element of the replacement color set in step S4-11.

  Subsequently, based on the original image data replaced in step S4-13, the original image is formed on a sheet by the image forming unit 14 and then discharged to the paper discharge unit 17. Accordingly, since the original image from which the image of the binding margin portion 54 has been removed is formed on the paper, a paper on which a good-looking original image is printed can be obtained. Then, when the preset number of copies is completed, the process proceeds to step S4-14.

  In step S4-14, whether or not to copy the second and subsequent originals is continuously displayed on the main display unit 135. When copying is not performed (NO in S4-14), when the completion button displayed on the main display unit 135 is pressed, this operation is completed. If the document of a different page is continuously copied (YES in S4-14), when the execution button displayed on the main display unit 135 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S4-9 again, and the above-described operation is performed. Is called.

  As described above, in the case of the copying machine 1 according to the embodiment, when copying a document that is bound with a document stopper such as a staple or a clip, an image of a document stopper portion or a binding margin portion is automatically displayed in the vicinity thereof. Since the image is replaced with an image having the same color as the image and printed, it is possible to obtain a printed sheet with a good-looking original image from which the original stop portion and the binding margin portion are removed.

  The present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile in addition to a copying machine, and is a technique useful for improving the quality of a copied image of a document bound by fixing a document such as a staple or a clip.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a copier according to the present invention. These are the longitudinal cross-sectional views which show typically the principal part structure of the copying machine which concerns on this invention. These are figures which show an example of the display screen of a liquid crystal display. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a copying operation of a copying machine when copying a document bound with staples. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a cover of a document bound with staples. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting the staple position from the image data on the cover. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a region between a predetermined distance X and an edge of a staple on a cover image. These are figures which show the liquid crystal display on which the image of the cover was displayed. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a document of a page when the document is turned. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a method for setting a replacement area when a corner portion of a document is bound with staples. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a method for setting a replacement area when the upper part of a document is bound with staples.

Explanation of symbols

1 Copier 10 Central processing unit (CPU)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Document conveyance part 12 Document taking part 13 Operation display part 130 Liquid crystal display 131 Copy mode switching part 132 Mask mode switching part 133 Pattern registration switching part 134 Status display part 135 Main display part 14 Image forming part 15 Paper feed part 16 Memory part 17 Paper discharge unit 50 Document 51 Cover sheet 52 Staple 53 Corner portion 54 Binding margin portion 101 Area

Claims (7)

A document capture unit that captures a document image and generates image data, a storage unit that stores document stop pattern image data for binding the document, and a collation that compares and collates the image data and the document stop pattern image data And an image forming apparatus comprising position detecting means for detecting the position of the document stop on the image data when the collation by the collating means coincides.
Image forming means comprising image replacement means for replacing a data element in a predetermined replacement area portion to be replaced in accordance with the position of the document stop in the image data with a predetermined mask data element apparatus.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data element of the predetermined replacement area portion is a data element of the area portion of the document stop in which the collation by the collating unit matches in the image data. .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color of the predetermined mask data element is white. An operation unit that receives an information input operation; and a color instruction unit that instructs the image replacement unit to input a color input from the operation unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color of the predetermined mask data element is the color input from the operation unit. A peripheral color detecting means for detecting a color of a data element of a predetermined area portion in the vicinity of the predetermined replacement area portion to be replaced in accordance with the position of the document stop in the image data;
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color of the predetermined mask data element is a color of the data element of the predetermined area portion detected by the peripheral color detection unit. . A background color detecting means for detecting a background color of the document image out of the image data;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color of the predetermined mask data element is a background color of the document image detected by the background color detection unit.   When copying a document bound by the document stopper, a data element of a predetermined replacement area replaced in accordance with the position of the document stopper in the image data is replaced with a predetermined mask data element. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a dedicated mode in which copying is performed.

Images