Image reading device and image processing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a technique that, when dividing a read image of a long-size document, can identify a dividable area and an undividable area and prevent image division in the undividable area without requiring a user to designate the undividable area.SOLUTION: An image reading device has image reading means that reads a conveyance medium S, image division means that divides image data read by the image reading means at dividing positions, and dividing position correction means that corrects the dividing positions. The dividing position correction means corrects the dividing positions when the coordinates of the divining positions are in a character area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image reading device and an image processing device.

Background Art

[0002] There is known an image reading device having a long document reading function capable of transporting a long document. The image reading device can divide a read image of a long document into a plurality of images.

[0003] On the other hand, the long image generated by reading a long document may be divided at a position unintended by the user.

[0004] Therefore, in Patent Document 1, a technique for solving the above problem has been proposed. Specifically, the communication device acquires the capabilities of the destination, that is, the size of the recording paper and the resolution of the image data, performs optimal magnification processing according to the capabilities of the destination, performs division position adjustment processing on the magnified image data, and divides the long image into a plurality of images. The division position adjustment process is a process in which the user sets an undividable area from the read image so that division is not performed in the undividable area. This prevents the long image from being divided into a plurality of images at a position unintended by the user.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Thus, when dividing a long image at a specific length, division may be performed at a position unintended by the user. To avoid this, it has been necessary for the user to set an undividable area from the preview image displayed on the screen.

[0007] The present invention aims to solve the above problems. When dividing the image of a read long manuscript, it can identify the dividable area and the non-dividable area without the user specifying the non-dividable area, and prevent image division in the non-dividable area.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] According to the present invention, image reading means for reading a conveyance medium, storage means for storing the image data acquired by the image reading means, image processing means for dividing the image data acquired by the image reading means at a division position to generate a plurality of sub-image data, and an image reading apparatus is provided, wherein the image processing means corrects the division position when the coordinates of the division position are within a character area.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, when dividing the image of a read long manuscript, the non-dividable area can be automatically discriminated without the user specifying the non-dividable area, and image division on the non-dividable area can be prevented.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are essential for the invention. Two or more of the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. Also, the same or similar configurations are assigned the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted.

[0012] 1. Overview First, with reference to FIG. 1, the basic configuration of the image reading device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the image reading device 100 according to the present embodiment.

[0013] The image reading device 100 is a device that conveys one or a plurality of transport media S stacked on the mounting table 1 one by one into the device through the path RT, reads the image thereof, and discharges it to the discharge tray 2. The transport media to be read is, for example, a sheet such as OA paper, check, bill, or cards. It may be a thick sheet or a thin sheet. Examples of cards include insurance cards, driver's licenses, or credit cards. Cards also include booklets such as passports. In the present embodiment, as an example, a long document such as a receipt is assumed as the transport media S.

[0014] As a feeding mechanism for feeding the transport media S along the path RT, a first transport unit 10 is provided. The first transport unit 10 includes a feed roller 11 and a separation roller 12 disposed opposite to the feed roller 11, and sequentially transports the transport media S on the mounting table 1 one by one in the transport direction D1.

[0015] The mounting table 1 may be provided with a sheet sensor 80. The sheet sensor 80 detects the transport medium S loaded on the mounting table 1. The drive unit 3 is a motor. The drive unit 3 rotates the feed roller 11 via the transmission unit 5. The drive unit 3 rotates the separation roller 12 via the transmission unit 6.

[0016] A double-feed sensor 40 is provided on the downstream side of the feed roller 11. The double-feed sensor 40 detects double-feeding of the transport medium S. Double-feeding is a phenomenon in which a plurality of transport media S are fed from the mounting table 1.

[0017] The medium sensor 50 is disposed between the first transport unit 10 and the second transport unit 20, and detects the transport medium S transported from the first transport unit 10 to the second transport unit 20.

[0018] The second transport unit 20 has transport rollers 21 and 22. The transport rollers 21 and 22 transport the transport medium S while sandwiching it. The drive unit 4 is a motor. The drive unit 4 rotates the transport rollers 21 and 22 and the discharge rollers 31 and 32.

[0019] The medium sensor 50 is disposed on the downstream side of the second transport unit 20, and detects the transport medium S transported from the second transport unit 20 to the image reading units 70a and 70b.

[0020] The image reading units 70a and 70b are image sensors disposed between the second transport unit 20 and the third transport unit 30. The image reading units 70a and 70b read images from the transport medium S.

[0021] The controller 8 executes transport control and reading control of the image reading apparatus 100.

[0022] 2. Hardware Configuration Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the electrical hardware configuration of the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

[0023] The CPU 200 is a controller and a processor (image processing means) that comprehensively controls each part of the image reading apparatus 100. The CPU is an abbreviation for the central processing unit. The ROM 201 is a storage device that stores the control program executed by the CPU 200. The ROM is an abbreviation for read only memory. The RAM 202 is a storage device that stores various data used by the CPU 200 in the execution of the control program. The RAM is an abbreviation for random access memory.

[0024] The CPU 200 serves as an image division module that performs image division, a division position correction module that performs division position correction, a blank area calculation module that calculates the blank area, and a division position correction amount calculation module that calculates the division position correction amount, which will be described later.

[0025] The input / output I / F 221 is an interface (input circuit, output circuit) for communicating control signals and detection signals between the CPU 200 and the actuator 220. The input / output I / F 221 is further an interface for communicating control signals and detection signals between the CPU 200 and the sensor group 222. The actuator 220 includes a drive unit 3, a drive unit 4, a transmission unit 5, a transmission unit 6, and the like. The transmission units 5 and 6 include, for example, an electromagnetic clutch that switches between transmission and interruption of the driving force. The sensor group 222 includes a double feed sensor 40, a medium sensor 50, 60, image reading units 70a, 70b, and a sheet sensor 80, and the like.

[0026] The operation unit 230 includes a switch, a touch panel sensor, and the like. The operation unit 230 displays information related to image reading and receives instructions and settings related to image reading from the user.

[0027] The communication I / F 210 is an interface (communication circuit) for performing information communication with an external device. The external device is, for example, a personal computer (PC) 240. The communication I / F 210 may be either wired communication or wireless communication.

[0028] The PC 240 receives instructions regarding image reading from the user and notifies the image reading apparatus 100, or receives the image data read by the image reading apparatus 100.

[0029] 3. Scanning Process Next, the basic scanning process (reading process) of the image reading apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0030] When the CPU 200 receives an instruction to start reading from the operation unit 230 or the PC 240, it starts driving the first transport unit 10 to the third transport unit 30. There may be a plurality of transport media S stacked on the mounting table 1. The transport media S are transported one by one from the transport media S located at the bottom among the plurality of transport media S.

[0031] The CPU 200 determines the presence or absence of double feeding of the transport media S using the double feed sensor 40. If it is determined that there is no double feeding, the transport continues. If it is determined that there is double feeding, the CPU 200 stops the transport and ends the reading.

[0032] The CPU 200 starts the image reading of the transport media S transported by the second transport unit 20 by the image reading units 70a and 70b at a timing based on the detection result of the media sensor 60. The CPU 200 generates image data based on the image signals transmitted from the image reading units 70a and 70b and stores it in the RAM 202. The CPU 200 may transmit the image data to the PC 240. The read transport media S are discharged to the discharge tray 2 by the third transport unit 30, and the scanning process of the transport media S ends.

[0033] 4. Method of Starting the Scanning Process from the Operation Unit 230 Next, with reference to FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), a method of executing scanning processing by the image reading apparatus 100 will be described by taking an operation from the operation unit 230 provided in the image reading apparatus 100 as an example. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show examples of screens displayed on the operation unit 230.

[0034] When the power of the image reading apparatus 100 is turned on, the operation unit 230 displays the reading start screen shown in FIG. 3(a). When the image division size setting button 302 is pressed on the operation unit 230, the CPU 200 accepts the setting of the division position. In the present embodiment, the designation unit of the image division position is the document size, but this is only an example. When the image division unit selection button 301 is pressed, the CPU 200 changes the designation unit to a unit that can identify a position, such as a length (number of lines, pixels, etc.) or coordinates. The user makes an arbitrary setting from the pull-down menu and presses the reading start button 303. When the CPU core detects the pressing of the reading start button 303, it starts the scanning process.

[0035] 5. Flowchart of Image Division Position Correction Next, with reference to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, the division position correction in the present embodiment will be described. The division position correction is a process of correcting the position where a read image (which may be referred to as a document image or a main image) is divided into a plurality of sub-images. For example, a document image may include a character area. When the document image is divided within the character area, the visibility and readability of the characters may decrease. Therefore, the image division position is corrected to avoid image division within the character area. As a result, division is executed within the blank area of the document image.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the image division position correction of the image reading apparatus 100. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the blank area calculation. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the division position correction. FIG. 7 shows a table showing the area information of the blank area. FIG. 8 shows a table showing the division position correction information.

[0037] In the area information table shown in FIG. 7, the number of lines indicating the range of the blank area is calculated and stored. The area information table stores the upper line position and the lower line position, which indicate the values indicating which line number from the upper end of the long document the upper end and the lower end of the blank area are located at.

[0038] In the correction table shown in FIG. 8, the value of the number of lines indicating the split position before correction, the value of the number of lines indicating the split position after correction, and the split position correction amount are stored. The split position correction amount is the number of lines indicating how much the split position is corrected. The initial values of the storage destinations of the value of the split position before correction and the value of the split position after correction are both -1. The initial value of the storage destination of the split position correction amount is 0. This is for determining whether a value is stored in the table.

[0039] When the user presses the read start button 303 displayed on the operation unit 230, the CPU 200 starts the following processing.

[0040] In S401, the CPU 200 stores in the RAM 202 the length (size) for dividing the image set by the user.

[0041] In S402, the CPU 200 performs long document reading processing. In this embodiment, the length for dividing the set image is the document size. Therefore, the CPU 200 converts the document size into the sub-scanning coordinates (number of lines) of the split position using the resolution. For example, when the set split size is A4 size (210 mm × 297 mm) and the resolution of the image is 300 DPI, the number of lines indicating the sub-scanning coordinates of the split position is 3508 lines (= 297 / 25.4 × 300). DPI is an abbreviation for dots per inch. When the long document reading process is completed, the CPU 200 proceeds from S402 to S403.

[0042] In S403, the CPU 200 initializes the split position number.

[0043] Here, the calculation of the blank area included in the long document reading process of S402 will be described using the flowchart of FIG. 5.

[0044] In S501, the CPU 200 performs a reading process line by line on the document being conveyed.

[0045] In S502, the CPU 200 checks whether the read data for one line has been acquired. If the read data has been acquired, the CPU 200 proceeds from S502 to S503. If the read data has not been acquired, the CPU 200 proceeds from S502 to S511. When the document is conveyed obliquely, the read image becomes oblique. To prevent this, the reading process may be executed while performing oblique correction every predetermined number of lines.

[0046] In S503, the CPU 200 increments the line number. The line number is a number indicating the position of the line on which the reading process has been performed, and indicates the number of lines starting from the upper end of the image as the counting start point.

[0047] In S504, the CPU 200 acquires the color information of each pixel included in the read one line.

[0048] In S505, the CPU 200 determines whether the read one line contains characters by applying a white line determination method to the read image.

[0049] The white line determination method is as follows, for example. The CPU 200 stores in the RAM 202 in advance a determination threshold value for determining whether a pixel is white. The CPU 200 determines whether all the pixels of one line are white. For example, the CPU 200 determines whether all the pixels constituting one line acquired during document reading are greater than or equal to the determination threshold value using the determination threshold value. If all the pixels included in one line are white, that line is determined to be white. If all the pixels included in one line are below the determination threshold value, it is determined that the line contains characters.

[0050] If, as a result of the determination, the line contains characters, the CPU 200 proceeds from S505 to S506. If it is a white line that does not contain characters, the CPU 200 proceeds from S505 to S509.

[0051] At S505, since the CPU 200 has determined that the read line is a white line, it determines whether a value is stored at the upper line position of the area information table shown in FIG. 7. If a value is stored, the CPU 200 returns from S509 to S501 and continues the process from S501. This means that the start position of the blank area has already been detected in at least the previously read line and the blank area continues.

[0052] On the other hand, if no value is stored at the upper line position (if the determination result at S509 is No), the CPU 200 proceeds from S509 to S510. At S510, the CPU 200 stores the current line number at the upper line position of the area information table shown in FIG. 7. This means that characters have been detected up to the previous line and is in agreement with detecting the start position of the blank area. Then, the CPU 200 returns from S510 to S501 and continues the process.

[0053] At S506, the CPU 200 stores at the lower line position of the area information table shown in FIG. 7 a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the current line number.

[0054] At S507, the CPU 200 determines whether values are stored at the upper line position and the lower line position of the area information table shown in FIG. 7.

[0055] If it is determined that no values are stored at the upper line position and the lower line position respectively, the CPU 200 returns from S507 to S501 and continues the process. This indicates that character areas have been continuously detected, and the CPU 200 performs the same detection process for the next line.

[0056] On the other hand, when it is determined that values are stored at the upper line position and the lower line position respectively, the CPU 200 proceeds from S507 to S508.

[0057] In S508, since the CPU 200 has detected the end of the blank area, it increments the number of blank areas in order to calculate the area information of the next blank area. That is, 1 is added to the number of blank areas. After that, the CPU 200 returns from S508 to S501 and continues the process. By incrementing the number of blank areas every time the range of the blank area is determined, the storage destination of the area information table shown in FIG. 7 is changed.

[0058] There may be a case where it is determined in S502 that the read data for one line cannot be obtained. That is, there may be a case where the reading of one line cannot be performed. In this case, the CPU 200 proceeds from S509 to S511. In S511, the CPU 200 recognizes that the reading has reached the end of the long document, and determines whether a value is stored at the upper line position of the area information table shown in FIG. 7. If a value is stored, the CPU 200 proceeds from S511 to S512. In S512, the CPU 200 stores the line number at the lower line position of the area information table shown in FIG. 7. After that, the CPU 200 ends the process. On the other hand, if no value is stored at the upper line, the CPU 200 proceeds from S511 to S513.

[0059] In S513, the CPU 200 determines whether the line reading is normal. If the reading is normal, the CPU 200 ends the process as it is. There may also be a case where an error occurs during the reading and the line data cannot be obtained normally. In this case, the CPU 200 proceeds from S513 to S514. In S514, the CPU 200 displays an error screen on the operation unit 230 and ends the series of processes.

[0060] Note that in FIG. 7, in accordance with the flowchart of FIG. 5, it is shown that blank areas have been detected from the first line to the 350th line, which is the beginning of the image. For example, another blank area has been detected from the 1403rd line to the 1753rd line. Yet another blank area has been detected from the 3156th line to the 3300th line.

[0061] In the above description, an example where an error screen is displayed on the operation unit 230 has been described, but this is merely an example. The CPU 200 may send the error screen to the PC 240, and the error screen may be displayed on the PC 240.

[0062] Returning again to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 4.

[0063] When the original document reading process is completed in S402, the CPU 200 proceeds from S402 to S403. In S403, the CPU 200 initializes the division position number and stores the division position number in the RAM 202.

[0064] In S404, the CPU 200 calculates the pre-correction division position. Here, the division position number is a value indicating which division position, among the division positions to be corrected, is located at what position from the top end of the original document. That is, the division position number is identification information or an index for distinguishing a plurality of division positions. The pre-correction division position is a value indicating the division position before correction. For the first division position, the division position number may be multiplied by the length set in S401 to obtain a product, and the pre-correction division position may be calculated by subtracting the division position correction amount from the product.

[0065] For example, when the division size is the A4 size, the division size set in S401 is 3508 lines. Therefore, the first pre-correction division position is 3508 (= 3508×1 - 0).

[0066] The subsequent pre-correction split positions before the second one are calculated by subtracting the subsequent split position correction amount described below from the previous pre-correction split position to obtain a difference, and adding the set length to the difference. That is, the subsequent pre-correction split positions before the second one are calculated by adding the set length to the post-correction split position obtained in S409.

[0067] The above calculation method is only an example. Other calculation methods may be applied as the calculation methods for the pre-correction split position and the post-correction split position.

[0068] The initial value of the split position correction amount is 0 as described above, but the actual value of the split position correction amount is calculated in S409.

[0069] When the pre-correction split position is calculated in S404, the CPU 200 proceeds from S404 to S405.

[0070] In S405, the CPU 200 compares the pre-correction split position with the manuscript length of the read manuscript and determines whether the pre-correction split position is greater than the manuscript length. If the pre-correction split position is greater than the manuscript length, the CPU 200 proceeds with the process from S405 to S415. In S415, the CPU 200 transmits the completed image data to the PC 240 and ends a series of processes. If the pre-correction split position is less than or equal to the manuscript length, the CPU 200 proceeds from S405 to S406.

[0071] In S406, the CPU 200 determines whether there is a blank area based on the area information table shown in FIG. 7. If there is no blank area, the CPU 200 proceeds from S406 to S413. In S413, the CPU 200 notifies the user that no blank area has been detected. For example, the CPU 200 notifies the user that no blank area has been detected by displaying on the operation unit 230 the blank area undetected screen shown in FIG. 3(b). When the CPU 200 detects the pressing of the OK button 304, it proceeds from S413 to S414. In S414, the CPU 200 divides the original manuscript image into a plurality of sub-images based on the correction table shown in FIG. 8, and stores the plurality of sub-images in the RAM 202. Then, in S415, the CPU 200 transmits the plurality of sub-images (sub-image data) to the PC 240, and ends a series of processes. However, this is only an example. It would be sufficient to notify the user that the blank area could not be detected.

[0072] If there is a blank area, the CPU 200 proceeds from S406 to S407. In S407, the CPU 200 determines whether the pre-correction division position calculated in S404 is within the blank area. As the criterion for determining whether there is a blank area, the upper line position and the lower line position may be obtained from the area information table, and whether the upper line position and the lower line position are equal to the initial values may be used as the criterion.

[0073] As described above, in S407, from the area information table shown in FIG. 7, the upper line position and the lower line position of the blank area corresponding to the number of existing blank areas are obtained, and it is determined whether the division position is within the area of the upper line position and the lower line position. As a result of the determination, if the division position is within the blank area, the CPU 200 proceeds from S407 to S408. In S408, the CPU 200 stores the division position as it is in the post-correction division position in the correction table shown in FIG. 8. The CPU 200 proceeds from S408 to S411. In S411, the CPU 200 increments the division position number in order to calculate the next division position. On the other hand, if the division position is outside the blank area, the CPU 200 proceeds from S407 to S409. In S409, the CPU 200 executes the calculation of the correction amount of the division position, which will be described later.

[0074] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the calculation of the correction amount of the division position. In S601, the CPU 200 acquires the division position before correction from the RAM 202, and acquires the lower line position of the blank area located on the upper end side of the manuscript from the division position before correction. For example, the division position before correction may be 3508, and the lower line of the blank area may be 3300.

[0075] In S602, the CPU 200 obtains a difference by subtracting the value of the lower line position of the blank area acquired in S601 from the division position before correction, and stores the difference in the division position correction amount. The division position correction amount is the number of lines used when correcting the division position as described above. In the present embodiment, the division position correction amount is "208" obtained by subtracting the division position before correction "3508" from the lower line "3300" shown in the correction table shown in FIG. 8.

[0076] By comparing the division position before correction with the lower line of each blank area, it is possible to discriminate the blank area located on the upper end side of the manuscript from the division position before correction.

[0077] In S603, the CPU 200 compares the division position correction amount with the division position correction upper limit value, and determines whether the division position correction amount is larger than the division position correction upper limit value. If the division position correction amount is larger than the division position correction upper limit value, the CPU 200 proceeds from S603 to S604. In S604, the CPU 200 sets the division position correction amount to 0 and ends the series of processes. Thereby, the correction of the division position is skipped. The division position correction upper limit value is the upper limit value that the division position correction amount can take. When the division position correction amount exceeds the upper limit value, it is impossible to correct the division position. In this case, since the manuscript image is divided at the division position before correction, 0 is stored (set) in the division position correction amount. If the division position correction amount is smaller than the division position correction upper limit value, the CPU 200 ends the series of processes.

[0078] Returning again to the description of the flowchart of FIG. 4.

[0079] When the calculation of the division position correction amount shown in S409 is completed, the CPU 200 proceeds from S409 to S410. In S410, the CPU 200 obtains a difference by subtracting the division position correction amount from the pre-correction division position, sets the difference as the post-correction division position, and stores it at the post-correction division position in the correction table shown in FIG. 8. Then, the CPU 200 proceeds from S410 to S411. In S411, the CPU 200 increments the division position number to calculate the next division position. The post-correction division position is the value of the division position after correction.

[0080] After the division position number is incremented in S411, the CPU 200 proceeds to S412. In S412, the CPU 200 compares the post-correction division position with the document length of the read document to determine whether the post-correction division position is greater than the document length. If the post-correction division position is greater than the document length, the CPU 200 proceeds from S412 to S414. In S414, the CPU 200 performs image division processing based on the correction table shown in FIG. 8 and stores a plurality of sub-image data in the RAM 202. In S415, the CPU 200 transmits the plurality of sub-image data to the PC 240 and ends the series of processes. If the post-correction division position is less than or equal to the document length, the CPU 200 returns from S412 to S404 to execute division position correction.

[0081] FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) are diagrams showing the flow of division position correction. FIG. 9(a) is a diagram showing the pre-correction division positions. Three pre-correction division positions are illustrated in FIG. 9(a). Therefore, the document image is divided into four sub-images.

[0082] Within the character region, there are a first pre-correction division position and a second pre-correction division position. The first pre-correction division position is line 3508. The second pre-correction division position is line 6808. Within the blank region, there is a third pre-correction division position. The third pre-correction division position is line 10088. Therefore, the division positions that need to be corrected are the first pre-correction division position and the second pre-correction division position.

[0083] FIG. 9(b) is a diagram showing the corrected division positions. The first pre-correction division position existing within the character area has been corrected from line 3508 to line 3300. The second pre-correction division position existing within the character area has been corrected from line 6808 to line 6580.

[0084] FIG. 9(c) is a diagram showing four sub-images generated by dividing the original manuscript image. Four sub-images have been generated by dividing the original manuscript image at three corrected division positions.

[0085] 6. Merging of Divided Images Image merging is described when a long image generated by reading a long manuscript such as a receipt is divided into a plurality of sub-images.

[0086] The CPU 200 arranges a plurality of sub-images generated from the long image along the sub-scanning direction within the A4-sized manuscript area. There may be a case where two or more sub-images fit within the A4 area. In this case, the CPU 200 merges two or more sub-images. The CPU 200 uses a predetermined merging method to merge a plurality of sub-images. For example, the CPU 200 rearranges the image data of each pixel included in the plurality of sub-images stored in the memory space of the RAM 202. As the rearrangement order, for example, the lines obtained by connecting each sub-image one by one are arranged as one line. The CPU 200 reads out the rearranged image data for the A4 area from the RAM 202 and transmits it to the PC 240. When two or more images do not fit within the A4 area, the CPU 200 transmits the sub-images as they are to the PC 240.

[0087] The area where a plurality of sub-images are arranged along the sub-scanning direction may be an area other than the A4 size. The same setting as the division size selected in FIG. 3(a) may be used for this area. The area may be set in advance separately from the division size, or may be set by the user. Also, a plurality of sub-images may be arranged in the main scanning direction instead of the sub-scanning direction.

[0088] According to the method described in this embodiment, when dividing the document image, it is possible to prevent the division from being executed on the character area. Furthermore, it is not necessary for the user to specify an undividable area, and the usability of the image reading apparatus 100 is improved. The CPU 200 can correct the division position by treating the character area as an undividable area.

[0089] Also, as a method of reading by the user, a method in which an instruction to start reading is input from the operation unit 230 has been described, but this is only an example. For example, even if a reading instruction is input from an externally connected information processing apparatus such as a PC 240, the same effect can be obtained.

[0090] In this embodiment, the document to which image division is applied is a long document, but this is only an example. Even for a document different from a long document, the image division described in this embodiment may be applied. The same effect can be obtained in this case.

[0091] In this embodiment, in order to extract the area, the read image (document image) is analyzed line by line, and the coordinates of the area range are calculated. However, this is only an example. The CPU 200 may calculate the coordinates of the character area range using an area extraction module such as OCR. OCR is an abbreviation for optical character recognition.

[0092] As shown in FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b), in order to adjust the size of the sub-image, the CPU 200 may add margins to the sub-image. FIG. 10(a) shows four sub-images generated by dividing the document image at the corrected division position. At this stage, no margins have been added to the four sub-images yet. FIG. 10(b) shows four sub-images to which margins have been added for size adjustment.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 10(b), the position where the margin is added may be any of the upper part of the sub-image, the lower part, and both the upper and lower parts. Whether to adjust the sizes of the plurality of sub-images to the same size, the size of the adjusted sub-images (same-sizing), and the position where the margin is added may be set in advance, or may be set or selected by the user through the operation unit 230. Adding a margin is just one method for adjusting the size of the sub-image. Any process that can adjust the sizes of the plurality of sub-images is applicable to this embodiment.

[0094] In this embodiment, when a single image is not generated by combining a plurality of sub-images and transmitted to the PC 240, the order of the sub-images may become unclear because the divided images are saved as separate image files. Therefore, the CPU 200 may add or superimpose an image indicating the page number on each sub-image. The presence or absence and location of the page number may be set in advance, or may be set or selected by the user.

[0095] In this embodiment, the correction process for the division position and the division process for the read image are executed by the image reading apparatus 100, but this is merely an example. These processes may be executed by the PC 240 connected to the image reading apparatus 100.

[0096] FIG. 11 shows the details of the PC 240 that functions as an information processing apparatus. The CPU 1101 receives the image data 1123 of the document image from the image reading apparatus 100 via the communication I / F 1110 and stores it in the RAM area of the memory 1102. That is, the CPU 200 of the image reading apparatus 100 may only transmit the image data 1123 to the PC 240.

[0097] The memory 1102 is a storage device including a RAM area and a ROM area. The memory 1102 may include a hard disk drive and a solid state drive.

[0098] The blank area table 1121 is the table shown in FIG. 7. The correction table 1122 is the table shown in FIG. 8. The sub-image data 1124 to 1129 are the image data of sub-images generated by dividing the image data 1123 at the division positions.

[0099] The CPU 1101 realizes various functions by executing the programs stored in the ROM area of the memory 1102. The specific module 1111 applies the process shown in FIG. 5 to the image data 1123 to identify the blank area and create the blank area table 1121. The determination module 1112 determines the pre-correction division position by executing S404. The determination module 1113 determines whether the pre-correction division position is larger than the manuscript length. The determination module 1113 refers to the blank area table 1121 to determine whether a blank area exists. The determination module 1113 determines whether the pre-correction division position is within the blank area. The determination module 1113 determines whether the post-correction division position is larger than the manuscript length.

[0100] The calculation module 1114 calculates the correction amount of the division position by executing the process shown in FIG. 6. The correction module 1115 executes S408 and S410, creates the correction table 1122 shown in FIG. 8, and stores it in the memory 1102. For example, the correction module 1115 corrects the pre-correction division position with the correction amount calculated by the calculation module 1114 to obtain the post-correction division position. The division module 1116 divides the image data 1123 based on the post-correction division position to create a plurality of sub-image data 1124 to 1129. The number of the plurality of sub-image data 1124 to 1129 varies according to the division length set in S401 by the setting module 1117. The setting module 1117 receives various settings input by the user through the keyboard or pointing device included in the operation 1130.

[0101] The notification module 1118 displays various notification information on the display included in the operation 1130. For example, the notification module 1118 executes S413.

[0102] The CPU 1101 also executes the processes such as page number assignment, arranging a plurality of sub-images within a predetermined area, combining a plurality of sub-images, and adjusting the sizes of a plurality of sub-images, which were described as being executed by the CPU 200. The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0103] 40 Redundancy Detection Sensor 60 Media Detection Sensor 70a Image Reading Unit 70b Image Reading Unit 80 Paper Presence / Absence Sensor 100 Image Reading Apparatus 200 CPU 230 Operation Unit 240 PC

Claims

1. image reading means for reading a conveyance medium; storage means for storing the image data acquired by the image reading means; image processing means for dividing the image data acquired by the image reading means at a division position to generate a plurality of sub-image data, and the image processing means corrects the division position when the coordinates of the division position are within a character area, an image reading apparatus.

2. The image processing means calculates a division position correction amount and corrects the division position based on the division position correction amount, according to the image reading apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The image processing means identifies a blank area of the image data, and calculates the division position correction amount based on a difference between a value of a pre-correction division position, which is a division position before correction, and a value of a lower end line position of the blank area on the upper end side of the image data from the pre-correction division position, according to the image reading apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The image processing means notifies a user when the blank area does not exist in the image data, according to the image reading apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The image processing means compares the division position correction amount with a division position correction upper limit value, and skips correction of the division position when the division position correction amount is greater than the division position correction upper limit value, according to the image reading apparatus according to claim 2.

6. The image processing means combines two or more sub-image data out of the plurality of sub-image data when the two or more sub-image data can be arranged within a predetermined area, according to the image reading apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The image processing means accepts a user setting regarding the division position, according to the image reading apparatus according to claim 2.

8. The image processing means adds margins to the plurality of sub-image data and adjusts the sizes of the plurality of sub-image data, according to the image reading apparatus according to claim 1.

9. The image processing means adds page numbers to the plurality of sub-image data, according to the image reading apparatus according to claim 1.

10. receiving means for receiving image data from an image reading apparatus that reads a conveyance medium; storage means for storing the image data acquired by the image reading apparatus; image processing means for dividing the image data acquired by the image reading device at a division position to generate a plurality of sub-image data, The image processing apparatus, wherein the image processing means corrects the division position when the coordinates of the division position are within a character region. **Claim 11** The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image processing means calculates a division position correction amount and corrects the division position based on the division position correction amount. **Claim 12** The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image processing means identifies a blank region of the image data, and calculates the division position correction amount based on a difference between a value of a pre-correction division position, which is a division position before correction, and a value of a lower end line position of the blank region on the upper end side of the image data from the pre-correction division position. **Claim 13** The image processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the image processing means notifies a user when the blank region does not exist in the image data. **Claim 14** The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image processing means compares the division position correction amount with a division position correction upper limit value, and skips the correction of the division position when the division position correction amount is greater than the division position correction upper limit value. **Claim 15** The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image processing means combines two or more of the plurality of sub-image data when the two or more of the plurality of sub-image data can be arranged within a predetermined region. **Claim 16** The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image processing means receives a user setting regarding the division position. **Claim 17** The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image processing means adds margins to the plurality of sub-image data and adjusts the size of the plurality of sub-image data. **Claim 18** The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image processing means adds page numbers to the plurality of sub-image data.

Images