JP2013085160A - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

Even when a single-sided original is set incorrectly, the single-sided original is surely read and copied, the page order of the printed paper is aligned with the single-sided original, and the printed paper is properly handled. An image forming apparatus that performs post-processing is provided.
An image forming apparatus includes: an image reading unit that reads images on the first and second sides of a single-sided document; an order determination unit that determines an image forming order based on the reading result; and a reading result. Based on the sheet orientation determination unit 7g for determining whether the single-sided document is portrait or landscape and determining the orientation of the single-sided document, and the rotation processing angle for determining the rotation processing angle of the image based on the determination by the determination unit 7g A determination unit 7h and an image processing unit 7e that sequentially reads out images from the storage unit 3 based on the determination in the order determination unit 7f, and performs image rotation processing on the images based on the determination in the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h. In addition, an image is formed on a portrait or landscape sheet according to the processing of the image processor 7e.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for forming an image.

Recent image forming apparatuses are equipped with a scanner with improved reading speed capable of reading both sides of a document at the same time, thereby increasing the printing speed when executing copy processing by the image forming apparatus.
However, when an image forming apparatus equipped with such a scanner performs single-sided copying, it is necessary to read the original with the reading surface set in a predetermined direction, and an unfamiliar user or the like places the reading surface of the single-sided original. When copying is started in the wrong direction, there is a problem that a large amount of white paper is copied by reading the white paper on the back side of the original.

  In such a case, in the case of a paid copier in a convenience store or a copier where a charge for copying (billing) is made in units of a company, even a blank copy is charged and is useless. Expenses will be incurred.

  Even users who are accustomed to using copiers do not have a uniform standard for the orientation of single-sided originals, depending on the manufacturer, and even if they are the same manufacturer, depending on the type of high-speed machine, low-speed machine, etc. Since the placement direction is different, there is a possibility that the document placement direction may be wrong when copying with a model that is not used to use.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 includes a first side reading unit that reads the first side of the document and a second side reading unit that reads the second side, and determines the front and back of the single-sided document, An image reading apparatus that selects and reads only a certain surface is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a facsimile apparatus that simultaneously reads information on the front and back sides of a document, determines whether or not there is description on the back side, and transmits information on the back side when there is description on the back side. Yes.

  Further, Patent Document 3 discloses an image processing apparatus that reads both sides even if the original side designation for original reading is single side, generates an image file including image data on both sides, and outputs image data other than blank paper. ing.

  In Patent Document 4, information indicating whether a single-sided original or a double-sided original is formed on the original, and when the original is read, the information is detected by a sensor to determine whether each original is a single-sided original or a double-sided original. An image reading apparatus that reads an image of a document according to the determination result is disclosed.

JP 2003-125168 A JP-A-2-39765 JP 2009-225042 JP 2005-341185 A

However, Patent Documents 1 to 4 do not describe anything about the output order of images after reading an image of a document. For example, if a single-sided original is placed with the front and back wrong and the original is copied, the printed page order is reversed from that of the original, but Patent Documents 1 to 4 disclose anything about it. It is not a thing.
In addition, there is no disclosure about a countermeasure when performing post-processing such as stapling on printed matter after copying. For example, when performing post-processing, it is necessary to consider the top of the read original when it is inserted into the document table, and the user cannot perform desired post-processing unless the top of the read original is taken into consideration. Patent Documents 1 to 4 do not disclose anything.

  In view of the above-described circumstances, the present invention ensures that a single-sided original is read and copied, even when the reverse side of the single-sided original or the setting direction of the top and bottom of the original is placed on the original placement table. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that aligns the page order of the formed sheets with the same page order as that of a single-sided document and appropriately performs post-processing on the printed sheets.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the first technical means of the present invention forms an image on a sheet, which is read from a single-sided original and stored in a storage unit, and performs post-processing on the sheet using a post-processing unit. An image forming apparatus that performs image formation on the sheet based on a reading result of the image reading unit and an image reading unit that reads images of the first side and the second side of the single-sided document. Based on the reading result of the order determination unit for determining the order and the image reading unit, it is determined whether the paper of the single-sided original is used in portrait or landscape orientation, and the orientation of the single-sided document is determined. A paper orientation determination unit to determine, a rotation processing angle determination unit to determine a rotation processing angle of the image based on a determination result in the paper orientation determination unit, and the storage in order based on a determination result in the order determination unit Read the image from the An image processing unit that performs image rotation processing on the read image based on a determination result in the rotation processing angle determination unit, and forms an image on a portrait or landscape sheet according to the processing result of the image processing unit. It is characterized by the above.

  According to a second technical means of the present invention, in the first technical means, the paper orientation determination unit causes the paper of the document to be vertically long based on the distribution of the image on the first or second surface of the document. It is characterized by determining whether it is used or used horizontally.

  According to a third technical means of the present invention, in the first or second technical means, the rotation processing angle determination unit performs the rotation processing based on the distribution of the image on the first or second surface of the document. The angle is determined.

  According to a fourth technical means of the present invention, in any one of the first to third technical means, a display unit for displaying a preview for confirming a determination result in the paper orientation determination unit is provided. Is.

  A fifth technical means of the present invention uses an image forming apparatus to form an image read from a single-sided original and stored in a storage unit on a sheet, and post-process the sheet using a post-processing unit. An image forming method for performing image reading on the first side and second side of the single-sided document, and an order of image formation on the sheet based on the reading result in the image reading step And determining whether the single-sided original paper is used vertically or horizontally and determining the orientation of the single-sided original, based on the reading result in the image reading step A paper orientation determination step, a rotation processing angle determination step for determining a rotation processing angle of the image based on a determination result in the paper orientation determination step, and a determination result in the order determination step An image processing step that sequentially reads out images from the storage unit, and performs image rotation processing on the read images based on the determination result in the rotation processing angle determination step; An image forming step for forming an image on a horizontally long sheet is included.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even when a single-sided document is placed on the document placement table in the wrong direction, the single-sided document is surely read and copied, and printing is performed. It is possible to match the page order of the sheets to the same page order as that of the single-sided document and to appropriately perform post-processing on the printed sheets.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document read by the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of a document read by the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of a document read by the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating another example of a document read by the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a determination method in a sheet orientation determination unit in FIG. 1. It is a figure explaining the other example of the determination method in the paper orientation determination part of FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing from completion of image reading to printing in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1.

  Although it is conceivable to move the post-processing position as a method of performing desired post-processing on a sheet on which an image has been formed regardless of the state of the original, the post-processing position is often fixed, so that the image of the present invention can be used. In the forming apparatus, desired post-processing can be performed by determining the orientation of image formation and the orientation of paper according to the content of the original image and performing printing in an appropriate form.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. 2 to 5 are diagrams showing examples of originals read by the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1, and arrows in the drawings indicate reading directions / reading orders.
Since the image forming apparatus of the present invention is characterized by the operation when copying a single-sided original, the operation when copying a double-sided original is omitted, and only the operation when copying a single-sided original will be described. . Also, it is assumed that a single-sided original is set in a portrait orientation with respect to the image reading apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 includes an image reading device 2, a storage unit 3, a printing unit 4, an operation display unit 5, a staple unit 6, and a print control device 7.

  The image reading unit 2 includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a CIS (Contact Image Sensor), and a drive system. The image reading unit 2 reads both sides of a single-sided document. A first reading unit 2a for reading the first side of the first side, and a second reading unit 2b for reading the second side of the back side of the single-sided original corresponding to the back side in the case of a double-sided original. The image on the first side and the read image on the second side of the document are respectively input to a first input unit 7a and a second input unit 7b described later of the print control apparatus 7.

The storage unit 3 includes an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or the like, and stores image data for storage and various setting values.
The printing unit 4 is an image forming unit that performs printing, that is, image formation on a sheet based on image data from the print control unit 7.
The operation display unit 5 includes a display unit 5a and an operation unit 5b. The display unit 5a displays various types of information such as print setting information. The display unit 5a includes, for example, a liquid crystal display device. The operation unit 5b receives copy settings and a copy execution instruction from the user. Key group and touch panel.

  The stapling unit 6 is an example of a post-processing unit of the present invention, and bundles printed sheets and staples them. The stapling unit 6 can staple a predetermined number of sheets in a predetermined direction with respect to a predetermined position according to a setting by the user. For example, regardless of whether the paper is used vertically or horizontally, staple processing is performed on one upper left portion of the paper, or stapling processing is performed on two locations along the left side of the paper.

  The print control device 7 converts the images input from the first and second input units 7a and 7b into image data necessary for printing, and outputs the image data to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c. A control unit 7d, an image processing unit 7e, an order determination unit 7f, a paper orientation determination unit 7g, and a rotation processing angle determination unit 7h are provided.

  The control unit 7d is configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or the like, and reads and executes various programs stored in the storage unit 3, thereby transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the image reading unit 2 and the printing unit 4. Or providing a user interface to the display unit 5a or performing various operations and controls.

  The image processing unit 7e performs various types of image processing, and compresses the image obtained from the image reading unit 2 into storage data, or converts the compressed data into printing.

  The order determination unit 7f determines whether an image is formed on the first side or the second side of the single-sided document, and performs output face up or face down based on the determination result. Accordingly, it is determined whether printing is performed in the order read by the image reading unit 2 or printing is performed in the reverse order of the reading order.

For example, when an image is formed on the front side, that is, the first side as in the single-sided original G1 in FIG. 2, when printing face down, the order of reading by the image reading unit 2 (“A” → “ When printing is performed in the order of “I” → “U”) and printing is performed face up, the order read by the image reading unit 2 is reversed (“U” → “I” → “A”). ), The order determination unit 7f determines to perform printing.
Further, when the face-down printing is performed on the back side, that is, the second side as in the single-sided original G2 of FIG. 3, the order reverse to the order read by the image reading unit 2 ("A") → “I” → “U”)) When printing face up, print in the order read by the image reader 2 (“U” → “I” → “A”) The image processing unit 7e determines to perform the process.

  Based on the reading result of the image reading unit 2, the paper orientation determination unit 7 g determines whether the read single-sided original paper is used in portrait or landscape orientation, and the orientation of the single-sided document, that is, the top direction. To do. This determination method will be described later.

The rotation processing angle determination unit 7h makes the top-to-bottom direction of the image a predetermined direction (for example, the vertical direction) when the image is formed based on the reading result by the image reading unit 2 and the determination result by the paper orientation determination unit 7g. The rotation angle of the image is determined.
For example, when the sheet is used vertically and the top and bottom are appropriate as in the single-sided original G1 in FIG. 2, the rotation angle of the image is 0 degree.
In addition, when the paper is used vertically and the top and bottom are reversed like the single-sided original G3 in FIG. 4, the rotation angle of the image is 180 degrees.
Further, when the paper is used in landscape orientation and the top and bottom are shifted by 90 degrees as in the single-sided original G4 in FIG. 5, the rotation angle of the image is 90 degrees.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the image processing unit 7e compresses the image on the first side or the second side of the single-sided document stored in the storage unit 3 based on the determination result in the order determination unit 7f. Data is read in the order read by the image reading unit 2 or in the reverse order to the read order, and the image is expanded. Further, the image processing unit 7e performs image rotation processing based on the determination result in the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h, and generates image data for portrait paper or landscape paper as image data for printing. The image data for printing is output to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c.

  The printing unit 4 forms an image on a sheet (vertically long sheet or landscape sheet) according to the determination result in the sheet orientation determining unit 7g based on the image data. The paper on which the image is formed is sent to the staple unit 5 by a paper transport system (not shown). When the paper of the last page is stored in the stapling unit 5, the stapling unit 5 performs stapling processing according to the setting by the user.

  With the configuration described above, even when a single-sided document is placed on the document table with the wrong side and top / bottom setting direction, the single-sided document is scanned and copied, and the printed page is printed. The order can be matched with the same page order as that of a single-sided original, and post-processing can be appropriately performed on the printed paper.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a determination method in the sheet orientation determination unit 7g in FIG. In this case, it is assumed that the single-sided original has characters written horizontally.
In advance, the image processing unit 7e generates the data obtained by accumulating the pixel values of the image of the document G5 in the horizontal direction and the data accumulated in the vertical direction for each page read.
In the example shown in the figure, the character area and the image area are separated by area separation, and the data D1 obtained by integrating the pixel values in the horizontal direction and the data D2 obtained by integrating the vertical values for the character area for each page. Generate.

In the case of data in which peaks appear in the horizontal direction at regular intervals as in the data D2, the paper orientation determination unit 7g determines that the paper is a horizontally long original.
Judgment of the vertical direction of the manuscript is performed according to the following general rules.
That is, in general, in the case of a horizontally long document, there are many pixels on the right side of the document, and a blank is formed on the left side.
Therefore, in the sheet orientation determination unit 7g, for example, the left direction in the figure is determined as the top direction of the document G5.

  The determination as described above is performed for each page, and the paper orientation determination unit 7g outputs the document with the most coincident determination results as the original paper orientation (that is, portrait or landscape orientation) and the single-sided document top / bottom direction. To do. For example, in the case of 10 originals, if the orientation of 8 sheets of the original is landscape and the top and bottom direction is left, the paper orientation determination unit 7g outputs that the orientation of the paper of the document is landscape and the top direction is left. . In this case, the coincidence rate is 80%, but when the coincidence rate is smaller than an arbitrary set value, if the preview is displayed on the display unit 5a to allow the user to confirm, stapling will not occur. Note that an image for preview display can be created by the image processing unit 7e.

  Note that when the characters in the original are not horizontally written but are vertically written in Japanese or the like, the determination result in the paper orientation determining unit 7g differs from the case of horizontally writing. Whether the character is horizontal writing or vertical writing can be set in advance by user setting, and the information is stored in the storage unit 3 and used for determination in the paper orientation determination unit 7g.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining another example of the determination method in the paper orientation determination unit 7g in FIG. In this case, it is assumed that the single-sided original has characters written horizontally.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the paper orientation determination unit 7 g can also determine that the image region I1 side is the top-to-bottom direction when the document G6 includes the image region I1.
However, depending on the tendency of the document, the image area I1 may be in the top direction, and the user may set whether the image area I1 side is in the top direction or the ground direction.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining processing from completion of image reading to printing in the image forming apparatus 1 described above. Here, it is assumed that face-up printing of an N-page single-sided document is performed. Also, it is assumed that a single-sided original is set in a portrait orientation with respect to the image reading apparatus.

In the image forming apparatus 1, when the reading of both the first side and the second side of the single-sided original is completed, the order determination unit 7f forms an image on either the first side or the second side of the single-sided original. It is determined whether it has been performed (step S1).
If the sheet is formed on the first side, the sheet orientation determination unit 7g determines whether the read single-sided original sheet is used vertically or horizontally based on the reading result of the image reading unit 2. Determination is made (step S2), and the top / bottom direction of the single-sided document is determined whether it is portrait or landscape (step S3, step S6).

  If it is determined in step S2 that the image is vertically long and the upper direction of the single-sided document is determined to be the top direction in step S3, the image processing unit 7e stores compressed image data of the first side of the single-sided document stored in the storage unit 3. Are read in reverse order from the Nth page as the last page, the image is expanded, image data for portrait paper is generated, and output to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c (step S4). At this time, since the determination result by the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h is 0 degrees, the image rotation processing is not performed. Then, the printing unit 4 performs printing on the vertically set paper based on the sequentially input image data.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S2 that it is vertically long and in step S3 it is determined that the downward direction of the single-sided document is the top direction, the image processing unit 7e stores the image of the first side of the single-sided document stored in the storage unit 3. The compressed data is read in reverse order from the Nth page, which is the last page, and the image is expanded. Further, based on the determination result of the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h, the image rotation process is performed at a rotation angle of 180 degrees. Data is generated and output to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c (step S5). Then, the printing unit 4 performs printing on the vertically set paper based on the sequentially input image data.

  If the left side of the single-sided document is determined to be the top direction in step S6 in step S2, the image processing unit 7e stores the image on the first side of the single-sided document stored in the storage unit 3. The compressed data is sequentially read from the Nth page, which is the last page, and the image is expanded. Further, based on the determination result of the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h, image rotation processing is performed with a rotation angle of −90 degrees. Data is generated and output to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c (step S7). Then, the printing unit 4 performs printing on the horizontally set paper based on the sequentially input image data.

  On the other hand, if it is determined to be landscape in step S2 and the right direction of the single-sided document is the top direction in step S6, the image processing unit 7e stores the image of the first side of the single-sided document stored in the storage unit 3. The compressed data is read out in order from the Nth page as the last page, the image is expanded, and further, image rotation processing at a rotation angle of 90 degrees is performed based on the determination result in the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h, and image data for landscape paper Is output to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c (step S8). Then, the printing unit 4 performs printing on the horizontally set paper based on the sequentially input image data.

  If the sheet is formed on the second surface in step S1, the sheet orientation determination unit 7g uses the read one-side original sheet in portrait or landscape orientation based on the reading result in the image reading unit 2. Whether it is vertically long or horizontally long is determined (step S10, step S13).

  If it is determined that the image is vertically long in step S9 and the upward direction of the single-sided document is the top direction in step S10, the image processing unit 7e stores the compressed data of the image on the first side of the single-sided document stored in the storage unit 3. Are sequentially read from the first page, the image is expanded, image data for portrait paper is generated, and is output to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c (step S11). At this time, since the determination result by the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h is 0 degrees, the image rotation processing is not performed. Then, the printing unit 4 performs printing on the vertically set paper based on the sequentially input image data.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the image is vertically long in step S9 and the downward direction of the single-sided document is the top direction in step S10, the image processing unit 7e stores the image of the first side of the single-sided document stored in the storage unit 3. The compressed data is read sequentially from the first page, the image is decompressed, and further, image rotation processing is performed at a rotation angle of 180 degrees based on the determination result in the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h, and image data for portrait paper is generated. The data is output to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c (step S12). Then, the printing unit 4 performs printing on the vertically set paper based on the sequentially input image data.

  If the left side of the single-sided document is determined to be the top direction in step S13 in step S9, the image processing unit 7e stores the image of the first side of the single-sided document stored in the storage unit 3. The compressed data is read sequentially from the first page, the image is decompressed, and further, image rotation processing at a rotation angle of −90 degrees is performed based on the determination result in the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h to generate image data for landscape paper. Then, the data is output to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c (step S14). Then, the printing unit 4 performs printing on the horizontally set paper based on the sequentially input image data.

  On the other hand, if it is determined to be landscape in step S9 and the right direction of the single-sided original is the top direction in step S13, the image processing unit 7e stores the image of the first side of the single-sided original stored in the storage unit 3. The compressed data is read sequentially from the first page, the image is expanded, and further, image rotation processing is performed at a rotation angle of 90 degrees based on the determination result in the rotation processing angle determination unit 7h, and image data for landscape paper is generated. The data is output to the printing unit 4 via the output unit 7c (step S15). Then, the printing unit 4 performs printing on the horizontally set paper based on the sequentially input image data.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 2 ... Image reading part, 3 ... Memory | storage part, 4 ... Printing part, 5 ... Operation display part, 6 ... Staple part, 7 ... Print control apparatus, 7e ... Image processing part, 7f ... Order determination part , 7g... Paper orientation determination unit, 7h... Rotation processing angle determination unit.

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet of paper read from a single-sided document and stored in a storage unit, and performs post-processing on the sheet using a post-processing unit.
An image reading unit for reading images of the first side and the second side of the one-sided document;
An order determination unit that determines the order of image formation on the paper based on a reading result of the image reading unit;
Based on the reading result of the image reading unit, it is determined whether the single-sided original paper is used in portrait or landscape orientation, and a paper orientation determination unit that determines the orientation of the single-sided document;
A rotation processing angle determination unit that determines a rotation processing angle of the image based on a determination result in the paper orientation determination unit;
An image processing unit that sequentially reads out images from the storage unit based on the determination result in the order determination unit, and performs image rotation processing on the read image based on the determination result in the rotation processing angle determination unit;
An image forming apparatus that forms an image on a vertically or horizontally long sheet according to a processing result of the image processing unit.   The paper orientation determination unit determines whether the paper of the document is used in portrait or landscape orientation based on the distribution of the image on the first or second surface of the document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotation processing angle determination unit determines the rotation processing angle based on a distribution of the image on the first or second surface of the document. .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display unit configured to display a preview in order to confirm a determination result in the sheet orientation determination unit. An image forming method in which an image read from a single-sided original and stored in a storage unit is imaged on a sheet using an image forming apparatus, and post-processing is performed on the sheet using a post-processing unit.
An image reading step of reading images of the first side and the second side of the one-sided document;
An order determination step for determining the order of image formation on the paper based on the reading result in the image reading step;
Based on the reading result in the image reading step, it is determined whether the single-sided original paper is used in portrait or landscape orientation, and a paper orientation determination step for judging the orientation of the single-sided document;
A rotation processing angle determination step for determining a rotation processing angle of the image based on a determination result in the paper orientation determination step;
An image processing step of sequentially reading out images from the storage unit based on the determination result in the order determination step, and performing image rotation processing on the read image based on the determination result in the rotation processing angle determination step;
An image forming method comprising an image forming step of forming an image on a portrait or landscape sheet according to a processing result of the image processing step.

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