JP6818505B2 - Image cutting device, multifunction device, image cutting method and image cutting program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image cutting device, a multifunction device including the image cutting device, an image cutting method, and an image cutting program.

Some multifunction devices that have added a network connection function, a facsimile function, a data communication function, a data input / output function, a data storage function, etc. to an image copying device are equipped with a so-called photo crop function. The photo crop function cuts out the photos contained in the original read by the reading unit of the multifunction device, and the images such as receipts and business cards read by the reading unit while placed on the platen, and each image. The image data corresponding to the above can be saved in a storage device, a memory card, etc., or output to the outside via a network or the like.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-113075

Patent Document 1 discloses an invention in which parameters are adjusted so that the size of an image area becomes correct in a multi-crop function.

However, in the case of the normal photo crop function, the order in which the images are cropped is fixed, for example, according to the main scanning direction from right to left and the sub-scanning direction from top to bottom. In some cases, the images may be cut out in an order that does not match.

Further, in the case of the normal photo cropping function, the order in which the images are cut out is fixed, for example, according to the main scanning direction from right to left and the sub-scanning direction from top to bottom. In some cases, the images may be cut out in an order that does not match the page opening direction.

Therefore, the present invention is an image cutting device that enables the cut out images to be arranged in an order that matches the spelling direction and the grouping direction of the character string and that matches the page order in the case of two spread pages. An object of the present invention is to provide a multifunction device, an image cutting method, and an image cutting program.

According to the present invention
A means for cutting out one or more image data corresponding to one or more image areas from the original data representing the original, and
When the manuscript has one page spread, means for arranging the one or more image data in the order in which the position is detected from the manuscript data by two-dimensional scanning according to the character set direction in the manuscript.
When the manuscript has two spread pages, the one or more image data are arranged in the order in which the position is detected from the manuscript data by two-dimensional scanning according to the combination of the character set direction and the page order in the manuscript. Means for
An image clipping device is provided, which comprises the above.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a multifunction device including the above-mentioned image cutting device.

Further, according to the present invention
A step of cutting out one or more image data corresponding to one or more image areas from the original data representing the original, and
When the manuscript has one page spread, a step for arranging the one or more image data in the order in which the position is detected from the manuscript data by two-dimensional scanning according to the character set direction in the manuscript, and
When the manuscript has two spread pages, the one or more image data are arranged in the order in which the position is detected from the manuscript data by two-dimensional scanning according to the combination of the character set direction and the page order in the manuscript. Steps for and
An image cropping method characterized by having the above is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an image cutting program for making a computer function as the above-mentioned image cutting device.

According to the present invention, the cut-out images can be arranged in an order that matches the spelling direction and the grouping direction of the character string and that matches the page order in the case of two spread pages.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the image cutting apparatus according to 1st Embodiment of this invention. This is a state in which one spread page is specified on the screen displayed by the image cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a state in which two left-opening spreads are specified on the screen displayed by the image cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a state in which two right-opening spread pages are specified on the screen displayed by the image cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This is a state in which two spread pages of the upper opening are specified on the screen displayed by the image cutting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the image cutting apparatus according to the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the image cutting apparatus according to the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the input method by the image cutting apparatus by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the multifunction device by 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structure of the image cutting apparatus according to 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating Example 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating Example 2 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating Example 3 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating Example 4 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating Example 5 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating Example 6 of this invention. It is the first figure for demonstrating Example 7 of this invention. It is a 2nd figure for demonstrating Example 7 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating another input method by the image cutting apparatus by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating still another input method by the image cutting apparatus by the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

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

First, the terms will be explained.

The composition direction is related to how to compose characters, and is roughly divided into vertical composition and horizontal composition. Vertical writing is a character set in which characters are arranged vertically so as to form a column, and horizontal writing is a character set in which characters are arranged horizontally so as to form a line. There are two types of vertical writing: left vertical writing and right vertical writing.

Left vertical writing mode is a character set in which characters are arranged from top to bottom in each column and character columns are arranged from left to right. Right vertical writing mode is a character set in which characters are arranged from top to bottom in each column and character columns are arranged from right to left. There are two types of horizontal composition: left horizontal composition and right horizontal composition. Left horizontal writing is a character set in which characters are arranged from left to right and lines are arranged from top to bottom in each line. Right-horizontal writing is a character set in which characters are arranged from right to left on each line and lines are arranged from top to bottom.

Left vertical writing mode is a rare grouping direction, right vertical writing mode is a grouping direction used in Japanese novels, for example, and left horizontal writing mode is used in books such as Japanese and English written horizontally. The right horizontal composition is, for example, the composition direction used in Arabic.

The grouping direction detection unit 111 detects a character string from the image data and detects the grouping direction. For example, in the case of horizontal writing Japanese and English, the composition direction is left horizontal composition, in the case of vertical writing Japanese, it is right vertical composition, and in the case of horizontal writing Arabic, it is right horizontal composition. .. The language may be detected from the character string in order to detect the grouping direction.

The opening direction indicates which side of the two-page spread will open if it is in the bookbinding state, and includes left opening, right opening, and top opening. The left opening corresponds to the left binding, the right opening corresponds to the right binding, and the top opening corresponds to the upper binding.

Left-opening is, for example, the opening direction used in left-horizontal books, right-opening is, for example, the opening direction used in ordinary Japanese newspapers, and top-opening is, for example, a wall-mounted calendar. The opening direction.

[First Embodiment]
Referring to FIG. 1, the image cutting device 101 according to the first embodiment includes a document reading unit 103, a user interface 105, a character direction detecting unit 107, an image area detecting unit 109, a grouping direction detecting unit 111, and an opening direction input. A unit 115, a heavenly direction detection unit 117, a coordinate detection unit 119, a coordinate rotation unit 123, a region order determination unit 125, and an image rearrangement unit 127 are included.

The document reading unit 103 reads the document and generates image data thereof. This corresponds to, for example, the document reading device 820 described later.

The user interface 105 performs input / output with and from the user, and includes, for example, an operation panel 217 described later.

The character direction detection unit 107 detects characters from the image data and detects the direction of each of the detected characters.

The image area detection unit 109 detects an image area from the image data. The image area is an area including, for example, a photograph, an animation, and the like.

The grouping direction detection unit 111 detects a character area from the image data and detects the grouping direction from the character area. The grouping direction is detected, for example, as follows.

Detects characters arranged in rows or columns from the character area. In this way, first, it is determined whether the composition is vertical or horizontal.

In the case of vertical writing mode, character recognition is performed over a plurality of columns, and based on the result of character recognition, it is determined whether the character recognition is left vertical writing mode or right vertical writing mode. The language may be specified before recognition. You may recognize the paragraph and use it to determine whether it is in left vertical or right vertical writing mode. If it is in vertical writing mode, it may always be in right vertical writing mode.

The language to be used is determined by the place where it is installed or character recognition, and if it is in vertical writing mode, it may always be in left vertical writing mode or right vertical writing mode depending on the language. For example, in the case of vertical writing in Japanese, right vertical writing is used. If it is in Mongolian, it should be in left vertical writing mode.

In the case of horizontal writing mode, character recognition is performed over a plurality of lines, and based on the result of character recognition, it is determined whether the character recognition is left horizontal writing mode or right horizontal writing mode. The language may be specified before recognition. You may recognize the paragraph and use it to determine whether it is left-horizontal or right-horizontal. Depending on the country or region where it is installed, if it is horizontal, it may always be left horizontal or right horizontal.

The language to be used is determined by the place where it is installed or character recognition, and if it is in horizontal writing mode, it may always be left horizontal writing mode or right horizontal writing mode depending on the language. For example, if it is horizontal composition in Japanese, it is left horizontal composition. If it is horizontal in English, it should be left horizontal. Furthermore, if it is horizontal in Arabic, it should be right horizontal.

The opening direction input unit 115 inputs a selection of one of a two-page spread, a two-page spread on the left, two two-page spreads on the right, and two two-page spreads on the top. The opening direction input unit 115 may determine the number of pages and, in the case of two pages, the opening direction based on the page number detected from the image data output by the image reading unit 103 and its position. Further, regarding whether or not the spread is spread, the page dividing line may be recognized based on the continuity and blanks of the characters and images near the vertical or horizontal center line of the original image to determine whether or not the spread is spread. Regarding the opening direction, the opening direction may be determined by the grouping direction from the grouping direction detecting unit 111 and the position of the page dividing line. Specifically, if there is a page break in the center of the top and bottom of the manuscript, it will open upward. If there is a page break in the center of the left and right of the document, open it to the right for right vertical writing, open left for left vertical writing, open left for left horizontal writing, and right horizontal writing. If there is, open it to the right.

The top direction detection unit 117 detects the top direction of the document. For detection, for example, the character direction is used. The character direction may be input from the character direction detection unit 107, or may be input from the set direction detection unit 111.

The coordinate detection unit 119 detects the coordinates corresponding to the positions in the image data of each image area detected by the image area detection unit 109. As the coordinates, for example, the center coordinates of the image area are selected.

The coordinate rotation unit 123 sets the coordinates (x, y) of each image area detected by the coordinate detection unit 119 so that the heavens detected by the heaven direction detection unit 117 at a predetermined point (x ₀ , y ₀ ) face upward. Rotate to obtain the coordinates (x', y') after rotation expressed by the following equation.

x'= (x−x ₀ ) ・ cosθ− (y−y ₀ ) ・ sinθ + x ₀
y'= (x−x ₀ ) ・ sinθ + (y−y ₀ ) ・ cosθ + y ₀
If the heaven detected by the heaven direction detection unit 117 is already facing upward, the coordinate rotation unit 123 does not rotate the coordinates (x, y) of each image area, and coordinates as coordinates (x', y'). (X, y) is used as it is.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the opening direction input unit 115 inputs one spread page due to the selection of the off button, the area order determination unit 125 has the group direction detected by the group direction detection unit 111. The order in which the coordinates of each image area output by the coordinate rotating unit 123 are detected by the two-dimensional scanning according to the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction determined based on the above is determined as the order of each image area.

Further, in the area order determination unit 125, for example, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 or 5, when the left-open button, the right-open button or the top-open button is selected, the opening direction input unit 115 has these. When two pages spread in the direction are input, the coordinate rotating unit 123 outputs a two-dimensional scan similar to the case where the opening direction input unit 115 inputs one page spread for each page arranged according to the opening direction. For the position of each image area to be processed, the page order is performed according to the opening direction. Then, the order in which the position of each image area output by the coordinate rotating unit 123 is detected is determined as the order of each image area.

The order of each image area may be displayed on the screen provided in the user interface 105. The order of each image area may or may not be superimposed on the preview screen based on the image data acquired from the document reading unit 103. Instead of the preview screen, a screen that shows the layout of the original may be used.

The image rearrangement unit 127 rearranges the image data in the image area detected by the image area detection unit 109 according to the order determined by the area order determination unit 125.

The sorted image data is given, for example, a file name including a number according to the sorted order. The page number may be included in the file name. The order may be known by the combination of the page number and the in-page number, or the page number may be concatenated with the numbers according to the order. Further, the rearranged image data is saved, transmitted, printed, or output according to the order after the rearrangement, for example. When saving, sending, printing, or outputting, each page may be grouped in page order. Within the group, the sorted order may be maintained.

In the above, as the coordinates of the image area, the center coordinates of the image area are selected as an example, but the coordinates may be the coordinates corresponding to the two-dimensional scanning. For example, if the main scan is performed from left to right and the sub scan is performed from top to bottom, the coordinates corresponding to the position may be the coordinates of the upper left corner of the image area so that the upper left corner is detected. .. The coordinate detection unit 119 detects the coordinates of the four corners, and switches the coordinates to be used so that the first operated corner is detected according to the determined main scan and sub scan directions of the two-dimensional scan. Alternatively, the center coordinates may be corrected by using the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image area according to the determined two-dimensional scan.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the assembly direction is detected by the assembly direction detection unit 111, but in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the assembly direction input unit is used instead of the assembly direction detection unit 111. 111B is provided, which inputs the assembly direction via the user interface 105. The grouping direction may be selected from the menu. In addition, a figure that shows the direction of the set or characters laid out so that the direction of the set may be known may be added to the menu.

According to the second embodiment, the assembling direction and the opening direction can be specified before scanning the original, but in order to specify the assembling direction and the opening direction after scanning the original, the second embodiment Can also be applied. In addition, the second embodiment can be applied to correct the assembly direction detected in the first embodiment.

[Third Embodiment]
Referring to FIG. 7, in the third embodiment, the assembly direction input unit 111C is provided instead of the assembly direction detection unit 111. The grouping direction input unit 111C determines the grouping direction according to the input from the user interface 105.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, if the user inputs an arrow (that is, a two-dimensional vector) 201 that overlaps the preview screen displayed by the user interface 105, the grouping direction is determined based on the direction. Note that FIG. 8 shows a state in which two two-dimensional vectors 201 are input, but the spelling direction and the assembling direction are the same for both the case of one page spread and the case of two pages spread. If it is assumed that this is the case, only one two-dimensional vector 201 is required. As will be described later, in the case of two-page spreads, if it is assumed that the grouping direction may differ between pages, a two-dimensional vector is input for each page.

Specifically, if an arrow in the direction shown in FIG. 11 (the minimum number is sufficient) is input via the user interface 105, the grouping direction is set to left horizontal grouping.

Further, if the arrows in the direction shown in FIG. 12 (the minimum number is sufficient) are input via the user interface 105, the grouping direction is set to right vertical grouping.

Further, when the arrows in the direction shown in FIG. 13 (the minimum number is sufficient) are input via the user interface 105, the grouping direction is set to right horizontal grouping.

Here, both the arrow shown in FIG. 12 and the arrow shown in FIG. 13 are common in that they go from the upper right to the lower left, but they have different angles, so that they can be identified.

As an arrow input method, a method in which the user traces the touch panel in that direction, a method in which a button corresponding to the direction is pressed, or the like is used.

Further, if the page dividing line input unit 116 provided instead of the opening direction input unit 115 inputs a page dividing line 203 that overlaps the preview screen displayed by the user interface 105, for example, as shown in FIG. , The scanning order determination unit 121 determines that the manuscript has two spread pages. The page dividing line 203 may be input directly to the touch panel, or may be input by a button operation corresponding to drawing of the page dividing line. In this case, it may be necessary to specify the opening direction, but instead of using the screens of FIGS. 3 to 5, the page dividing line input unit 116 inputs only that the spread is two pages. Instead of specifying the opening direction, enter the specification of the page order. In a state where the off button cannot be selected, it may be possible to select as shown in the screens of FIGS. 3 to 5. Further, if the assembling direction has already been detected, the opening direction may be determined based on the assembling direction. For example, when the dividing line is a vertical line in the center, if it is right vertical composition, it is opened right, if it is left vertical composition, it is opened left, if it is left horizontal composition, it is opened left, and right horizontal. If it is a set, open it to the right. If the dividing line is a horizontal line in the center, it may be opened upward.

Input of the page dividing line, the two-dimensional vector, and the page order or opening direction according to the third embodiment can be executed before or after reading the original. If you want to execute it after scanning, you can display the preview screen at the same time and enter an arrow and a page divider so that it overlaps.

The diagonal two-dimensional vector shown in FIGS. 8 and 19 (a) may be replaced by the two two-dimensional vectors shown in FIGS. 19 (b) and 19 (c). In that case, the vector indicating the horizontal or vertical composition and the vector indicating the arrangement direction of the rows or columns may be used separately. If you make a distinction, you don't have to look at the relative length between the two. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, the grouping direction may be specified by the direction and position of one vector in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. The vector of FIG. 20 (a) specifies left horizontal composition, the vector of FIG. 20 (b) specifies right vertical composition, and the vector of FIG. 20 (c) specifies right horizontal composition.

[Fourth Embodiment]
In the first to third embodiments, in the case of two spread pages, it is assumed that the grouping directions of both pages are the same, but on the premise that the grouping directions of both pages may be different, the grouping directions of each page are different. The position of the image area may be detected by the two-dimensional scanning determined for each page by detecting or inputting to.

In the case of the first embodiment, in the case of two-page spread, the grouping direction detection unit 111 may detect the spelling direction and the grouping direction from any page, but if the fourth embodiment is followed. , The assembly direction detection unit 111 detects the assembly direction for each of both pages.

In the case of the second embodiment, in the case of two-page spread, the group direction input unit 111B may input one group direction common to both pages, but if the fourth embodiment is followed, The grouping direction input unit 111B inputs the grouping direction for each page.

In the case of the third embodiment, even if the two pages are spread, the specification of the grouping direction by the vector may be applied to both pages, but if the fourth embodiment is followed, each page may be specified. Enter the specification of the set direction by the vector.

[Fifth Embodiment]
A fifth embodiment relates to a multifunction device 800 including a document reader according to the first to fourth embodiments. 9 and 10 show the configuration of the multifunction device 800 and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the multifunction device 800 includes a document reading device 820 that reads an image of a document, a multifunction device main body (image forming unit main body) 215 that forms an image on a sheet, and a document reading device 820 and a composite. It includes an operation panel unit 217 for operating the machine main body 215, and an arithmetic processing unit 213 for controlling the document reading device 820 and the multifunction device main body 215 based on the operation by the operation panel unit 217. The operation panel 217 constitutes a part of the user interface 105.

In addition to using the document reading device 820 alone for image reading and using the image forming unit main body 215 alone for image formation, these can also be linked to copy an image. Further, the multifunction device 800 may include a storage device and a facsimile machine (not shown). The storage device can store the image read by the document reading device and the image received by the facsimile machine. The facsimile machine can transmit the image read by the document reading device and the image stored in the storage device, and can receive the image from the outside. Further, the multifunction device 800 may include an interface for connecting to a personal computer via a network. The personal computer connected to the multifunction device 800 can use the function of the multifunction device for the data that can be managed by the personal computer.

The document reading device 820 includes a document automatic feeding unit SPF (Single Pass Feeder) 824 for automatically feeding the document, and a scanning device main body 822 for reading the image of the document. In addition to the components shown in FIG. 10, the document reading device 820 also includes components not shown in FIG. 10 but shown in FIG.

The multifunction device main body 215 is formed on a sheet feeding unit 10 for feeding a sheet, a manual feeding unit 20 capable of manually feeding a sheet, and a sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit 10 or the manual feeding unit 20. An image forming unit 30 for forming an image is provided.

The sheet feeding unit 10 includes a sheet loading unit 11 for loading sheets and a separate feeding unit 12 for separately feeding the sheets loaded on the sheet loading unit 11 one by one. The seat loading portion 11 includes a middle plate 14 that rotates about a rotation shaft 13, and the middle plate 14 rotates when feeding the seat to lift the seat upward. The separate feeding unit 12 includes a pickup roller 15 that feeds the sheet lifted by the middle plate 14, and a separation roller pair 16 that separates the sheets fed by the pickup roller 15 one by one. ..

The manual feed feeding unit 20 includes a manual feed tray 21 capable of loading sheets and a separate feeding unit 22 for separately feeding the sheets loaded on the manual feed tray 21 one by one. The manual feed tray 21 is rotatably supported by the main body 215 of the multifunction device, and when manually feeding and feeding, the sheet can be loaded by fixing the manual feed tray 21 at a predetermined angle. The separation feeding unit 22 includes a pickup roller 23 that feeds the sheets loaded on the manual feed tray 21, a separation roller 24 and a separation pad 25 that separate the sheets fed by the pickup roller 23 one by one. I have.

The image forming unit 30 includes four process cartridges 31Y to 31K for forming images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), and photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K described later. 32, and a transfer unit (transfer means) 33 for transferring a toner image formed on the surfaces of the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K onto a sheet.
A fixing portion 34 for fixing the transferred toner image to the sheet is provided. The alphabet (Y, M, C, K) attached to the end of the code indicates each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black).

Each of the four process cartridges 31Y to 31K is configured to be removable from the multifunction device main body 215 and is replaceable. Since the four process cartridges 31Y to 32K have the same configuration except that the colors of the images to be formed are different, only the configuration of the process cartridge 31Y that forms the yellow (Y) image will be described, and the process cartridge 31M will be described. The description of ~ 31K will be omitted.

The process cartridge 31Y includes a photoconductor drum 740Y as an image carrier, a charger 741Y for charging the photoconductor drum 740Y, a developing device 742Y for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 740Y, and photosensitivity. It includes a drum cleaner that removes toner remaining on the surface of the body drum 740Y. The developing device 742Y includes a developing device main body (not shown in detail) for developing the photoconductor drum 740Y, and a toner cartridge (not shown in detail) for supplying toner to the developing device main body. The toner cartridge is configured to be removable from the developing device main body, and when the stored toner is exhausted, the toner cartridge can be removed from the developing device main body and replaced.

The exposure apparatus 32 includes a light source for irradiating the laser beam (not shown), a plurality of mirrors (not shown) for guiding the laser beam to the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K, and the like. The transfer unit 33 is an intermediate transfer belt 35 that carries a toner image formed on the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K, and a primary transfer roller that first transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K to the intermediate transfer belt 35. It includes 36Y to 36K, a secondary transfer roller 37 that secondarily transfers the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 35 to a sheet, and a belt cleaner 38 that removes the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 35. The intermediate transfer belt 35 is hung on the driving roller 39a and the driven roller 39b, and is pressed against the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K by the primary transfer rollers 36Y to 36K. The secondary transfer roller 37 nips (sandwiches) the intermediate transfer belt 35 with the drive roller 39a, and transfers the toner image carried by the intermediate transfer belt 35 to the sheet at the nip portion N. The fixing portion 34 includes a heating roller 34a for heating the sheet and a pressurizing roller 34b for pressure contacting the heating roller 34a.

The operation panel unit 217 includes a display unit 211 that displays predetermined information, and an input unit 203 that allows the user to input instructions to the document reading device 820 and the multifunction device main body 215. In the present embodiment, the operation panel unit 217 is arranged on the front side of the reading device main body 822. The front side corresponds to the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 9, and the back side corresponds to the back side of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, the arithmetic processing unit 213 includes a CPU 213a that drives and controls the sheet feeding unit 10, the manual feeding unit 20, the image forming unit 30, and the document reading device 820, and various programs for operating the CPU 213a. It includes a memory 213b for storing various information and the like used by the CPU 213a. The arithmetic processing unit 213 integrates and controls the operations of the sheet feeding unit 10, the manual feeding unit 20, the image forming unit 30, and the document reading device 820 based on the operation of the operation panel unit 217 by the user. Let the sheet form an image.

The arithmetic processing unit 213 may include the image cutting device 101 shown in FIGS. 1, 6 or 7.

Next, an image forming operation (image forming control by the arithmetic processing unit 213) by the multifunction device 800 configured as described above will be described. In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 30 forms the image of the scanned document fed by the document automatic feeding unit 824 and read by the reading device main body 822 on the sheet fed by the sheet feeding unit 10. An image forming operation will be described as an example.

When the image formation start signal is transmitted by the input to the input unit 203 of the operation panel unit 217 by the user, the scanned document placed on the document automatic feeding unit 824 by the user is automatically directed toward the document reading position. The image is fed and the image is read by the reading device main body 822 at the document reading position.

When the image of the original document is read by the scanning apparatus main body 822, the exposure apparatus 32 irradiates the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K with a plurality of corresponding laser beams based on the image information of the scanned document. At this time, the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K are precharged by the chargers 741Y to 741B, respectively, and the corresponding electrostatic latent laser beams are irradiated on the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K. An image is formed. After that, the electrostatic latent images formed on the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K are developed by the developing devices 742Y to 742K, and yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are developed on the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K. ) And black (K) toner images are formed. The toner images of each color formed on the photoconductor drums 740Y to 740K are superimposed and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 35 by the primary transfer rollers 36Y to 36K, and the superimposed transferred toner image (full-color toner image) is the intermediate transfer belt. It is conveyed to the nip portion N while being carried on the 35.

In parallel with the image forming operation described above, the sheets loaded on the sheet loading unit 11 are fed to the sheet transport path 26 by the pickup roller 15 while being separated one by one by the separate feeding unit 12. Then, the resist roller pair 27 located upstream in the sheet transport direction of the nip portion N corrects the skew and is conveyed to the nip portion N at a predetermined transfer timing. A full-color toner image carried by the intermediate transfer belt 35 is transferred to the sheet conveyed to the nip portion N by the secondary transfer roller 37.

The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is heated and pressurized by the fixing unit 34 to melt and fix the toner image, and is discharged to the outside of the device by the discharge roller pair 18. The sheet discharged to the outside of the device is loaded on the discharge sheet loading unit 19.

When an image is formed on both sides (first surface and second surface) of the sheet, the discharge roller pair 18 is rotated in the reverse direction before the sheet on which the image is formed on the first surface is discharged to the outside of the apparatus. The image is conveyed to the double-sided transfer path 17, and is retransmitted to the image forming unit 30 via the double-sided transfer path 17. Then, as with the first surface, an image is formed on the second surface and discharged to the outside of the device. The sheet discharged to the outside of the device is loaded on the discharge sheet loading unit 19.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the case of two-page spread and left-horizontal composition, two-dimensional scanning is performed for each page with the main scan from left to right and the sub-scan from top to bottom. Since it can be seen that the page is open to the left, this scan is performed twice in the order of the left page and the right page. As a result, the images are rearranged in the order according to the numbers shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the case of two-page spread and right vertical writing mode, two-dimensional scanning is performed for each page with the main scanning from top to bottom and the sub scanning from right to left. Since it can be seen that the page opens to the right, this scan is performed twice in the order of the right page and the left page. As a result, the images are rearranged in the order according to the numbers shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the case of two-page spread and right-horizontal composition (for example, Arabic), two-dimensional scanning is performed for each page with the main scan from right to left and the sub scan from top to bottom. However, since it can be seen that it is open to the right because it is horizontally set to the right, this scanning is performed twice in the order of the right page and the left page. As a result, the images are rearranged in the order according to the numbers shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the case of two-page spread and left-horizontal composition, two-dimensional scanning is performed for each page with the main scan from left to right and the sub scan from top to bottom, but the spread in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is determined that the upper page is open, and this scanning is performed twice in the order of the upper page and the lower page. As a result, the images are rearranged in the order according to the numbers shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 15, in the case of two-page spread and right vertical writing mode, two-dimensional scanning is performed with the main scan from top to bottom and the sub-scan from right to left for each page, but the spread in the vertical direction. Therefore, it is determined that the upper page is open, and this scanning is performed twice in the order of the upper page and the lower page. As a result, the images are rearranged in the order according to the numbers shown in FIG.

In Examples 1 to 5, two pages spread are targeted, but when only one page (over the entire surface or one half surface) in these examples is targeted, two-dimensional in these examples. Scan only once.

For example, as shown in FIG. 16, in the case of a one-page spread and left-horizontal composition, a two-dimensional scan is performed once with the main scan from left to right and the sub scan from top to bottom. As a result, the images are rearranged in the order according to the numbers shown in FIG.

Example 1 is applied when the two-page spread of the upper sky as shown in FIG. 17 is targeted. In this case, the images are rearranged in the order indicated by the numbers assigned to the images in FIG. When targeting two double-page spreads on the left side as shown in FIG. 18, the images should be rearranged in the order indicated by the numbers assigned to the images in FIG. In this embodiment, for that purpose, the following is performed by using the heavenly direction detection unit 117, the coordinate rotation unit 123, and the like.

First, all image areas are detected. Then, the coordinates indicating their positions are acquired. Next, the acquired coordinates are converted into coordinates rotated 90 degrees to the right about any point of the image data. Next, the same scanning as in Example 1 is applied to the converted coordinates.

The above image cutting device can be realized by hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Further, the image cutting method performed by the above-mentioned image cutting device can also be realized by hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Here, what is realized by software means that it is realized by a computer reading and executing a program.

Programs can be stored and supplied to a computer using various types of non-transitory computer readable media. Non-temporary computer-readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-temporary computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (eg, flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), optomagnetic recording media (eg, optomagnetic disks), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD- Includes R, CD-R / W, semiconductor memory (eg, mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (random access memory)). The program may also be supplied to the computer by various types of transient computer readable media. Examples of temporary computer-readable media include electrical, optical, and electromagnetic waves. The temporary computer-readable medium can supply the program to the computer via a wired communication path such as an electric wire and an optical fiber, or a wireless communication path.

The present invention can be used to cut out a photograph or the like included in a manuscript from image data obtained from the manuscript.

101 Image cutting device 103 Document reading unit 105 User interface 107 Character direction detection unit 109 Image area detection unit 111, 111B, 111C Group direction detection unit 115 Opening direction input unit 116 Page separation input unit 117 Top direction detection unit 119 Coordinate detection unit 123 Coordinate rotation part 125 Area order determination part 127 Image rearrangement part

Claims (18)

A means for cutting out one or more image data corresponding to one or more image areas from the original data representing the original, and
When the manuscript has one page spread, a means for determining the order in which positions are detected from the manuscript data by two-dimensional scanning according to the character set direction in the manuscript is determined as the order of the one or more image data. ,
When the manuscript has two spread pages, the order in which the position is detected from the manuscript data by two-dimensional scanning according to the combination of the character set direction and the page order in the manuscript is the order of the one or more image data . Means to decide as an order and
Equipped with a,
In the two-dimensional scanning according to the set direction of the characters in the document, the direction in which the characters are arranged in a line is the main scanning direction, and the direction in which the strings of the characters are arranged is the sub-scanning direction. An image clipping device characterized by. The image cutting device according to claim 1.
An image cutting device characterized in that when the manuscript has two spread pages, the direction of the character set direction in the manuscript is common to both pages or different for each page. The image cutting device according to claim 1 or 2.
An image clipping device comprising further means for determining the order of the pages according to the opening direction of the document. The image cutting device according to claim 3.
An image cutting device comprising further means for inputting the opening direction of the document from the outside. The image cutting device according to claim 3.
An image cutting device comprising further means for determining the opening direction of the document by inputting a language to be used from the outside. The image cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
An image cutting device comprising further means for detecting a set direction of characters in the original from the original data. The image cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
An image cutting device comprising further means for inputting a set direction of characters in the document from the outside. The image cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
An image cutting device comprising further means for determining a set direction of characters in the document by inputting a language to be used from the outside. The image cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A means of accepting drawing to specify the set direction of characters from the outside,
A means for determining the set direction of characters based on the content of the drawing, and
An image cutting device characterized by further comprising. The image cutting device according to claims 1 to 6.
A means of entering page dividers from the outside,
A means for accepting drawing from the outside to specify the set direction of characters for each page determined by the page delimiter.
For each page, a means for determining the set direction of characters based on the content of the drawing, and
An image cutting device characterized by further comprising. The image cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
If the heavenly direction of the document is different from the reference direction, the position of each detected image area is rotated with respect to a predetermined point until the heavenly direction becomes the reference direction, and then the position after rotation. An image clipping device, characterized in that the two-dimensional scanning is applied to the image. The image cutting device according to claim 11.
An image cutting device comprising further means for detecting the heavenly direction of the document. The image cutting device according to claim 11 or 12.
An image cutting device comprising further means for inputting the top direction of the document from the outside. The image cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
An image cutting device comprising further means for displaying the order in which the positions are detected for each image area. The image cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
An image cutting device comprising further means for displaying the order in which the positions are detected for each image area on the preview screen. A multifunction device including the image cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 15. A step of cutting out one or more image data corresponding to one or more image areas from the original data representing the original, and
When the manuscript has one spread page, the step of determining the order in which the position is detected from the manuscript data by two-dimensional scanning according to the character set direction in the manuscript is determined as the order of the one or more image data. ,
When the manuscript has two spread pages, the order in which the position is detected from the manuscript data by two-dimensional scanning according to the combination of the character set direction and the page order in the manuscript is the order of the one or more image data . Steps to determine as an order and
Have a,
In the two-dimensional scanning according to the set direction of the characters in the document, the direction in which the characters are arranged in a line is the main scanning direction, and the direction in which the strings of the characters are arranged is the sub-scanning direction. An image cropping method characterized by. An image cutting program for operating a computer as the image cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 15.