JP4417870B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for recording image information on a sheet-like member.

  Conventional image processing apparatuses (image forming apparatuses) such as printers and copiers ignore information on sheet-like members such as print paper and OHP, or rely on settings from the user.

  That is, when performing a printing operation on a sheet-like member on which image information as a background is printed in advance, there is a possibility that the ink is mixed and an unintended image output may occur. I don't know, and the user still sets the type of print paper.

On the other hand, although the technical field is different, the applicant of the present application has proposed a document security system in which an ID chip such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is incorporated in a document and security information can be read and written (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-094949 A

  As described above, in the conventional image processing apparatus, the information on the sheet-like member is ignored or relied on the setting by the user. Since this makes it difficult to obtain the image output intended by the user, the inventor of the present application applies the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 in a different technical field, uses the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member, and prints. I thought that it would be possible to read the information of the sheet-like member every time and perform appropriate printing.

  Further, it is conceivable that image data stored in an ID chip incorporated in a sheet-like member and data read from an image reading device such as a scanner are analyzed during a copy operation to suppress image quality deterioration due to the copy operation. It is also conceivable to write image output data to the ID chip simultaneously with image output.

  Further, as described above, when a printing operation is performed on a sheet-like member on which a background is printed in advance, there is a possibility that ink is mixed and an unintended image output is obtained. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an intended image output by analyzing preprinted background information (when and how much ink of which color is ejected to where on the sheet-like member) and information to be printed from now on. It is considered a thing.

  In the current image processing apparatus, the user sets the paper type and the like, but the member information (thickness, paper type, front and back, manufacturing date, etc.) of the sheet-like member is included in the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member. ) Is stored in advance, it is considered that automatic recognition is possible without setting by the user during printing.

  Further, when copying an image printed on a sheet-like member, the image is inevitably deteriorated by the conventional techniques. However, if print information is stored in an ID chip incorporated in a sheet-like member and is not read by a scanner when copying, it is considered that image deterioration will be eliminated by printing from the information in the ID chip. . However, since it may be written by hand on a sheet-like member, it becomes possible to copy the handwritten part by analyzing the information read by the scanner together with the information of the ID chip, or the handwritten part is not printed and the ID is not printed. It seems that only the original information in the chip can be output as an image.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an image processing apparatus capable of obtaining a more appropriate image output at the time of printing or copying using an ID chip incorporated in a sheet-like member. It is intended to provide.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an ID chip information reading unit that reads information on a sheet-like member stored in an ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member, and the sheet-like member read by the ID chip information reading unit. Analyzing information and output print data and outputting an image, image data analyzing means for outputting the analyzed information, and ID chip information writing means for writing the information output from the image data analyzing means to the ID chip The information of the sheet-like member stored in the ID chip is at least background image information that indicates at least where and how much ink is ejected on the sheet-like member, and the image data The analysis means includes the background image information read by the ID chip information reading means, print data, It analyzes, in which so as to determine the type and amount of ink to control the printing operation discharged.

The ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member is image information is stored that is printed on the sheet-like member, the ID chip information reading means may read the image information stored in the ID chip .

The image data analysis means may control the printing operation by analyzing the image information read by the ID chip information reading means and the output print data from the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member.

When the image data analysis means writes the image information obtained by the analysis to the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing means, the data stored until then is not left. It is good to overwrite.

The image data analyzing means, when writing the image information obtained by the analysis ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing means, among contents analyzed, only the information to be written from now Additional writing is recommended.

The image data analysis means converts the image information obtained by the analysis into ID chip writing data and outputs the data, and writes the ID chip information written in the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing means. Good.

The ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member stores member information of the sheet-like member, and the ID chip information reading means may read the member information stored in the ID chip.

The image data analyzing means may control the printing operation by analyzing the member information read by the ID chip information reading means and the output print data from the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member.

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention as described above, it is information on the sheet-like member stored in the ID chip embedded by embedding in the sheet-like member, and what kind of ink is in which part of the sheet-like member. It is possible to obtain more appropriate image output by analyzing the background image information that represents at least how much ink has been ejected and the print data, and controlling the printing operation to determine the type and amount of ink to be ejected. such an effect that can Ru.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the present invention. An image processing apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes an output from an image reading apparatus 101 that reads an image of a sheet-like member such as print paper or OHP, and the sheet-like member. An output from the ID chip information reading unit 102 that reads information stored in the embedded ID chip, or an output from the ID chip information reading unit 102 and print data 103 from a PC (personal computer) or the like is an image data analysis unit 104. The image data analysis unit 104 analyzes them and outputs an image, and the output of the image data analysis unit 104 is written to the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing unit 105. It is configured.

  The image processing apparatus (image forming apparatus) 100 of the present invention has the functions as shown in FIG. 1, but the image reading apparatus 101 including a scanner or the like can be implemented outside or without the image processing apparatus 100. There is also.

  The ID chip information reading unit 102 and the ID chip information writing unit 105 are the same as those disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, and an ID chip such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is the same as that disclosed in Patent Document 1. 1 is realized, and can be embedded in a sheet-like member such as print paper or OHP. The image data analysis unit 104 is realized by a CPU or the like.

  As described above, the image data analysis unit stores the image information of the sheet-like member read by the image reading apparatus 101, the ID chip information of the sheet-like member read by the ID chip information reading unit 102, and the print data 103 to be output. By analyzing at 104, an appropriate image output can be obtained, and by writing the analyzed information into the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing unit 105, an information terminal such as a PC It is possible to use the printed digital information even if there is not.

  Further, background image information such as where and how much ink is ejected to where on the sheet-like member is stored in an ID chip such as RFID embedded in the sheet-like member (paper, OHP, etc.). Thus, this background image information can be read by the ID chip information reading unit 102 in the image processing apparatus 100 immediately before the printing operation. A sheet-like member on which the background is printed in advance by analyzing the print data 103 printed thereon and the image data analysis unit 104 to determine the type and amount of ink to be ejected by controlling the printing operation. When performing a printing operation on the top, it is possible to prevent a problem that ink is mixed and an unintended image output is generated.

  Further, by storing member information (sheet type, thickness, serial number, etc.) of the sheet-like member in the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member, this member information is stored in the image processing apparatus 102 immediately before the printing operation. It can be read by the ID chip information reading unit 102 inside. By analyzing the print data 103 printed thereon and the image data analysis unit 104, the type and amount of ink to be ejected and the ejection method (carriage height, etc.) are determined by controlling the printing operation. More appropriate image output suitable for the sheet-like member can be obtained.

  An outline of another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding parts.

  The user may write on the printed sheet-like member himself. Although the print information is stored in the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member, the contents written by the user are not stored. Therefore, the information read by the image reading apparatus 101 and the ID chip information reading unit 102 is combined and analyzed by the image data analysis unit 104.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 2, information read by the image reading apparatus 101 is data 1, and information read by the ID chip information reading unit 102 is data 2. The subtraction of these data is performed by the image data analysis unit 104, and the data that comes out is a newly added portion.

  As described above, since the part added by the user is also converted into data, this is converted into ID chip program data (ID chip writing data), and the obtained data 3 is written into the ID chip information. The part 105 writes the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member.

  By doing so, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of image quality due to the copying operation and to copy the handwritten part, or it is possible to output only the original information in the ID chip without printing the handwritten part. Further, since the ID chip functions as a page memory, the page memory can be reduced.

  An outline of still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 and 2 indicate the same or corresponding parts.

  As described above, the data 2 obtained by reading the background image information of the sheet-like member stored in the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member by the ID chip reading unit 102 and the print data 103 to be printed from now on. Certain data 4 is input to the image data analysis unit 104, and an appropriate ink type, ink amount, etc. are analyzed by the image data analysis unit 104 to output an image. By performing such an analysis, it is possible to obtain a more appropriate image output than when discharging without analysis on a sheet-like member printed in advance.

  Further, as described above, the data 2 obtained by reading the member information of the sheet-like member stored in the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member by the ID chip reading unit 102 and the data 4 to be printed from now on are obtained. By inputting the data into the image data analysis unit 104, the image data analysis unit 104 analyzes an appropriate ink type, ink amount, ink ejection method (carriage height, etc.), and the like, and outputs an image. By performing such an analysis, setting by the user is not necessary, and the member information of the sheet-like member is automatically recognized, and an appropriate image output can be performed.

  Also, when the data analyzed by the image data analysis unit 104 is output as an image, it is converted into data 5 for writing ID chips, and written to the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing unit 105. By overwriting all previously stored data, it is possible to prevent the capacity of the ID chip from being insufficient.

  On the other hand, when the data analyzed by the image data analysis unit 104 is output as an image, it is converted into data 5 for writing ID chips, and written to the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing unit 105. , Keeping previously stored data, and storing only newly added data in the ID chip, it is possible to minimize the update data, and it is also possible to utilize only the previous information It becomes.

  Further, as described above, simultaneously with image output, data 5 obtained by converting the image output data into ID chip writing data using the ID chip program in the image data analysis unit 104 is created, and the ID By writing to the ID chip by the chip information writing unit 105, it is possible to efficiently write to the ID chip. This embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that information obtained from the image reading apparatus 101 is not used.

The present invention as described above is such that the information is read from the medium or consumables to which the ID chip is attached at the time of use, and the information in the ID chip is also updated when the data is updated. Is also applicable.
Specifically, if the image information printed on the sheet-like member is stored in the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member, it can be read at the time of image formation. Can be prevented.
Also, if the member information (product type, thickness, serial number, etc.) of the sheet-like member is stored in the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member, it can be read at the time of image formation, so the user needs to set it. Disappears.
Further, the image information printed on the sheet-like member stored in the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member and the image information read by the image reading means are analyzed, and the image information read from the ID chip is newly added. If the added image information is used, image quality deterioration due to the copying operation can be suppressed and the handwritten part can be copied, or the handwritten part is not printed and only the original information in the ID chip is imaged. It is also possible to output. If the ID chip functions as a page memory, the page memory can be reduced.
Also, image data may be stored in the ID chip simultaneously with image output.
Also, by analyzing the preprinted image information stored in the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member and the print data to be printed from now on and controlling the printing operation, the type and amount of ink to be ejected Is determined, an image output with better image quality can be obtained.
Also, by analyzing the member information of the sheet-like member stored in the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member and the print data to be printed from now, and controlling the printing operation, the type and amount of ink to be ejected And the ejection method (carriage height, etc.) can be determined, so that more appropriate image output can be obtained.
Further, when the image information obtained by the analysis is written to the ID chip, if the previously stored data is overwritten without remaining, the capacity of the ID chip does not become insufficient.
In addition, when writing image information obtained by analysis to the ID chip, it is possible to minimize the update data by adding only the changed part from the previously stored data. It is also possible to use only the data excluding the changed portion (other than the data read by the image reading means).
Further, if the image information obtained by the analysis is converted into ID chip writing data, it can be written on the ID chip embedded in the sheet-like member.

The block diagram which shows the outline | summary of this invention. The block diagram which shows the outline | summary of other embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the outline | summary of other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image processing apparatus 101 Image reading apparatus 102 ID chip information reading part 103 Print data 104 Image data analysis part 105 ID chip information writing part

Claims (8)

ID chip information reading means for reading information on the sheet-like member stored in the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member;
Image data analysis means for outputting the analyzed information and the output of the print data to be output and the information of the sheet-like member read by the ID chip information reading means;
ID chip information writing means for writing information output from the image data analysis means to the ID chip ,
The information on the sheet-like member stored in the ID chip is at least background image information indicating at what amount and what amount of ink is ejected to where on the sheet-like member,
The image data analyzing means analyzes the background image information read by the ID chip information reading means and print data, and controls the printing operation to determine the type and amount of ink to be ejected. An image processing apparatus. The ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member stores image information printed on the sheet-like member, and the ID chip information reading means reads the image information stored in the ID chip. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The image data analyzing unit analyzes image information read by the ID chip information reading unit and print data to be output from an ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member, and controls a printing operation. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 . When the image data analysis means writes the image information obtained by the analysis to the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing means, the data stored until then is not left. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein overwriting is performed. The image data analysis means only writes information to be written from among the analyzed contents when the image information obtained by the analysis is written to the ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein additional writing is performed. The image data analyzing means converts the image information obtained by the analysis into data for writing ID chips and outputs the data, and writes the ID information incorporated in the sheet-like member by the ID chip information writing means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: The ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member stores member information of the sheet-like member, and the ID chip information reading unit reads member information stored in the ID chip. Item 8. The image processing apparatus according to Item 1. The image data analyzing unit analyzes a member information read by the ID chip information reading unit and an output print data from an ID chip incorporated in the sheet-like member, and controls a printing operation. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7.

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