Image processing apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image processing apparatus that can reduce time and effort in setting a condition for image processing when performing the image processing.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus 100 comprises a reading unit 91 and an image processing unit 92. The reading unit 91 reads a document image G2. The image processing unit 92 generates an additional image file G3 obtained by adding, to the document image G2 read by the reading unit 91, an image G1 obtained by encoding a condition for image processing on the document image G2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] An image processing apparatus according to the related art is capable of printing job data stored in a storage unit that can store a plurality of job data that are independent of each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2006 / 0050307 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In an image processing apparatus, a user must set image processing conditions (number of copies to be printed, print density, paper selection, sorter, binding margin, double-sided copying, etc.) for each job.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that can reduce the effort required to set image processing conditions when performing image processing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The image processing device according to the present invention includes a reading unit and an image processing unit. The reading unit reads an original image. The image processing unit generates an additional image file by adding an image in which image processing conditions for the original image are encoded to the original image read by the reading unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, when performing image processing, the time and effort required for setting image processing conditions can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an image processing apparatus. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating functional blocks of the image processing device. [Figure 3] 1A is a diagram showing a manuscript, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an additional image file, and FIG. 1C is a diagram showing a printed matter. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an encoded image. [Figure 5] 3 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing method of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 3 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing method of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0010] [Image processing device 100 (hardware configuration)] An image processing device 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the image processing device 100. In Fig. 1, the image processing device 100 is a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, or a multifunction peripheral having the functions of these. In detail, the image processing device 100 includes an operation display unit 1, an ADF 2, a reading unit 3, a supply unit 4, a printing unit 5, a discharge unit 6, a control unit 7, and a communication unit 8.

[0011] The operation display unit 1 displays various images under the control of the control unit 7. The operation display unit 1 is, for example, a touch panel or a touch screen. The touch panel or touch screen has, for example, a display 11 and a touch sensor 12. Note that the operation display unit 1 may include physical keys or buttons instead of the touch sensor 12.

[0012] The ADF 2 is an automatic document feeder that transports documents to be read by the reading unit 3 toward the reading unit 3. The ADF 2 has a supply tray 21, a discharge tray 22, a transport path 23, and transport rollers 24. Documents to be read are set in the supply tray 21. Documents that have been read are discharged to the discharge tray 22. The transport path 23 runs from the supply tray 21 to the discharge tray 22. The transport rollers 24 nip the documents being transported in the transport path 23 and send them downstream along the transport path 23.

[0013] The reading unit 3 optically reads an image (hereinafter also referred to as an original image) shown on an original document conveyed on the conveying path 23. The reading unit 3 includes, for example, a line sensor 31. The line sensor 31 emits light toward the original document and receives light reflected from the original document. The line sensor 31 performs photoelectric conversion and outputs image data representing the original document image to the control unit 7. The line sensor 31 is, for example, a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) or a reduction optical system.

[0014] The supply unit 4 supplies sheets to the printing unit 5. The sheets are, for example, paper or transparencies. The supply unit 4 has a supply cassette 41, a conveying path 42, and conveying rollers 43. The supply cassette 41 can hold multiple sheets. The conveying path 42 leads from the supply cassette 41 to the printing unit 5. The conveying rollers 43 nip the original document being conveyed in the conveying path 42 and send it downstream along the conveying path 42.

[0015] The printing unit 5 forms an image based on image data on a sheet conveyed by the supply unit 4 using an electrophotographic method to produce a printed product. In the case of an electrophotographic method, the printing unit 5 has photosensitive drums 51 for each of the colors YMCK. Y stands for yellow, M for magenta, C for cyan, and K for key plates. The printing unit 5 has a charging device 52, a developing device 53, and a primary transfer roller 54 on the circumferential surface of each photosensitive drum 51 and arranged along the circumferential direction of the photosensitive drum 51. The printing unit 5 further has an exposure device 55, an intermediate transfer belt 56, a secondary transfer roller 57, and a fixing device 58.

[0016] Each charging device 52 uniformly charges the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 51 for the same color. The exposure device 55 forms an electrostatic latent image on the circumferential surface of each photosensitive drum 51 based on image data. Each developing device 53 supplies toner of a predetermined color to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 51 for the same color to form a toner image. Each primary transfer roller 54 transfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum 51 for the same color to the intermediate transfer belt 56. As a result, a composite toner image composed of the Y, N, C, and K toner images is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 56. The secondary transfer roller 57 transfers the composite toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 56 to a sheet introduced into the printing unit 5. The fixing device 58 fixes the composite toner image transferred to the sheet. This completes the print. The printing unit 5 may form an image on the sheet using another method (e.g., inkjet recording) instead of electrophotography.

[0017] The discharge unit 6 discharges the sheet to the outside of the image processing device 100. The discharge unit 6 has a discharge tray 61, a conveying path 62, and conveying rollers 63. The printed material is discharged and placed on the discharge tray 61. The conveying path 62 leads from the fixing device 58 to the discharge tray 61. The conveying rollers 63 send the printed material conveyed in the conveying path 62 downstream of the conveying path 62 to a nip.

[0018] The control unit 7 includes a storage unit and a central processing unit (hereinafter also referred to as CPU). The storage unit stores various data and computer programs. The storage unit includes a main storage device such as a semiconductor memory and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive. The CPU controls each component of the image processing device 100 by executing the computer programs stored in the storage unit.

[0019] The communication unit 8 is capable of communicating with electronic devices equipped with communication devices that use the same communication method (protocol). In this embodiment, the communication unit 8 communicates with external devices via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The communication unit 8 is, for example, a communication module (communication device) such as a LAN board. The external device is, for example, a personal computer.

[0020] [Image processing device 100 (functional block configuration)] The image processing device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the image processing device 100. FIG. 3(a) is a diagram showing an original D1. Specifically, FIG. 3(a) shows a two-page original D1 as the original D1. Specifically, in FIG. 3(a), original D1a with A written thereon indicates the front side of the first page of original D1, original D1b with B written thereon indicates the back side of the first page of original D1, original D1c with C written thereon indicates the front side of the second page of original D1, and original D1d with D written thereon indicates the back side of the second page of original D1. FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing an additional image file G3. FIG. 3(c) is a diagram showing a printed matter P1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an encoded image G1.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing device 100 includes, as functional blocks, a reading unit 91, an image processing unit 92, a communication unit 93, and an input unit 94.

[0022] The reading unit 91 reads an original document image. In this embodiment, the reading unit 91 is a line sensor 31 (see FIG. 1) that optically reads an image on an original document (hereinafter also referred to as an original document image). In this example, the reading unit 91 reads an original document image G2 of an original document D1 shown in FIG. 3(a). The reading unit 91 outputs image data representing the original document image G2 to the control unit 7.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3B, the image processing unit 92 generates an additional image file G3. The additional image file G3 is a file (data) in which an image G1, which encodes image processing conditions for the original image G2, is added to the original image G2. In this specification, the image G1, which encodes image processing conditions for the original image G2, may be referred to as the encoded image G1. As shown in FIG. 4, the encoded image G1 includes a two-dimensional code C1, a printing condition type T1, and setting contents V1. For example, the image processing unit 92 generates an additional image file G3 by adding an image, which encodes the image processing conditions input to the input unit 94, to the original image G2 read by the reading unit 91. For example, the image processing unit 92 generates the additional image file G3 by inserting the encoded image before the first page of the original image G2. Alternatively, the image processing unit 92 may generate the additional image file G3 by inserting the encoded image after the last page of the original image G2. In this embodiment, the two-dimensional code C1 is a QR Code (registered trademark).

[0024] The type of printing condition corresponds to an example of an "image processing condition." Examples of types of printing conditions include print orientation, color mode, collated printing, double-sided printing, and page aggregation. The setting for print orientation is either "portrait" (portrait orientation) or "landscape" (landscape orientation). The setting for color mode is either color, monochrome, or automatic color selection. The setting for collated printing is either on or off for collated printing. The setting for double-sided printing is whether or not to perform double-sided printing. The setting for page aggregation is the number of pages of the original that are aggregated on one side of a sheet. Note that the types of printing conditions may be other than print orientation, color mode, collated printing, double-sided printing, and page aggregation.

[0025] The printing unit 5 prints the original image G2 included in the additional image file G3 onto a sheet in accordance with the image processing conditions included in the encoded image G1. For example, the printing unit 5 prints the original image G2 read by the reading unit 91 onto a sheet in accordance with the type of printing conditions included in the additional image file G3. Alternatively, the printing unit 5 prints the original image G2 included in the additional image file G3 onto a sheet in accordance with the type of printing conditions included in the additional image file transmitted from an external device. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the printing conditions are set as follows: print orientation is "portrait," color mode is "monochrome," collate is "off," double-sided printing is "none," and page aggregation is "2 in 1." Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4(c), a printed matter P1 with A and B printed on the front side of the first page and a printed matter P1 with C and D printed on the front side of the second page are printed in monochrome.

[0026] The communication unit 93 transmits the additional image file G3 to an external device. When the reading unit 91 reads the original image G2, the image processing unit 92 may generate the additional image file G3 and print the original image G2 included in the additional image file G3 on a sheet. Thereafter, the communication unit 8 may transmit the additional image file G3.

[0027] Image processing conditions are input to the input unit 94. More specifically, the image processing conditions are input in response to a user operation via the input unit 94. The image processing conditions are, for example, the type of printing conditions. In this embodiment, the input unit 94 is the operation display unit 1 (see FIG. 1).

[0028] The control unit 7 encodes the identified type and settings of the printing conditions according to a predetermined algorithm. As a result, the control unit 7 generates a two-dimensional code representing the type and settings of the printing conditions. The two-dimensional code is image data that represents the type and settings of the printing conditions at least by a pattern.

[0029] [Detailed Processing of Image Processing Device 100] Next, the processing of the image processing device 100 will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing an image processing method of the image processing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Image processing of the original image G2 is performed by executing the processing of steps S102 to S122 shown in Fig. 5.

[0030] Step S102: The control unit 7 identifies the reading conditions for the document D1 and the transmission conditions for the document image G2. More specifically, in the image processing device 100, the control unit 7 displays a dialog box for "Setting reading conditions for the document D1 and transmission settings for the document image G2" (hereinafter also simply referred to as the reading setting image and transmission setting image) on the display 11 as one of various images in response to a user operation via the operation display unit 1. By displaying the reading setting image and transmission setting image, the image processing device 100 presents the types of reading conditions and transmission conditions that can be set in the image processing device 100. The image processing device 100 also prompts the user to set the reading conditions and transmission conditions. The control unit 7 identifies the type and setting contents of the usage conditions specified by the user operation via the touch sensor 12. The process proceeds to step S104.

[0031] Step S104: The reading unit 3 reads the document image G2. Specifically, the user places a stack of documents to be scanned on the supply tray 21. The reading unit 3 then optically reads the images shown on the documents D1 conveyed by the ADF 2 in sequence, and outputs the image data to the control unit 7.

[0032] Step S106: The control unit 7 determines whether the job QR setting is valid. If the control unit 7 determines that the job QR setting is not valid (Step S106: No), the process proceeds to Step S122. If the control unit 7 determines that the job QR setting is valid (Step S106: Yes), the process proceeds to Step S108. The job QR setting indicates a setting for generating an additional image file G3 in which an image G1 in which the type of printing conditions is encoded is used as an original image G2.

[0033] Step S108: In the image processing device 100, the control unit 7 displays a "print settings" dialog box (hereinafter also simply referred to as a print settings image) on the display 11 as one of various images in response to a user operation via the operation display unit 1. By displaying the print settings image, the image processing device 100 presents the types of printing conditions that can be set in the image processing device 100. The printing conditions are an example of "image processing conditions" in this disclosure. Processing proceeds to step S110.

[0034] Step S110: The image processing device 100 prompts the user to set printing conditions. The control unit 7 identifies the type and setting content of the printing conditions specified by the user's operation via the touch sensor 12. The process proceeds to step S112.

[0035] Step S112: The control unit 7 encodes the type and settings of the printing conditions identified in step S102 according to a predetermined algorithm. As a result, the control unit 7 generates a two-dimensional code representing the type and settings of the printing conditions. The two-dimensional code is image data that represents the type and settings of the printing conditions at least by a pattern. The process proceeds to step S114.

[0036] Step S114: The control unit 7 generates an additional image file G3 (see FIG. 3(b)). More specifically, the control unit 7 generates an additional image file G3 by adding an image G1, which encodes the image processing conditions for the original image G2, to the original image G2 read by the reading unit 3. The process proceeds to step S116.

[0037] Step S116: The control unit 7 determines whether the sending and printing settings are valid. If the control unit 7 determines that the sending and printing settings are not valid (Step S116: No), the process proceeds to Step S120. If the control unit 7 determines that the sending and printing settings are valid (Step S116: Yes), the process proceeds to Step S118. The sending and printing settings refer to settings for sending the additional image file G3 to an external device and printing the original image G2 on a sheet.

[0038] Step S118: The control unit 7 controls the communication unit 8 so that the communication unit 8 transmits the additional image file G3 (see FIG. 3(b)). Furthermore, the control unit 7 controls the printing unit 5 so that the printing unit 5 prints the original image G2 included in the additional image file G3 on a sheet in accordance with the type of printing conditions included in the encoded image G1 (see FIG. 3(c)). The processing then ends.

[0039] Step S120: The control unit 7 controls the communication unit 8 so that the communication unit 8 transmits the additional image file G3 (see FIG. 3(b)), and the process ends.

[0040] Step S122: The control unit 7 controls the communication unit 8 so that the communication unit 8 transmits the document image G2, and the process ends.

[0041] Next, the processing of the image processing device 100 will be further described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 and Fig. 6. In detail, the processing of the image processing device 100 when receiving a print job and performing printing will be described. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an image processing method of the image processing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Image processing of the original image G2 is performed by executing the processing of steps S202 to S212 shown in Fig. 6.

[0042] Step S202: The communication unit 8 receives a print job from an external device. More specifically, the user sends a print job from the external device (for example, a personal computer) to the image processing device 100 via a printer driver. When using the QR setting, the user enables the QR setting in the print setting dialog box displayed on the external device. If the QR setting is enabled, the external device sends an additional image file G3 including the encoded image G1 and the original image G2 to the image processing device 100 via the printer driver. On the other hand, if the QR setting is not enabled, the external device sends a file including only the original image G2 to the image processing device 100 via the printer driver. The process then proceeds to step S204.

[0043] Step S204: The control unit 7 determines whether the print job includes a QR setting. Specifically, the control unit 7 determines whether the encoded image G1 is included in the first page of the file to be printed by the print job. If the control unit 7 determines that the print job does not include a QR setting (Step S204: No), the process proceeds to Step S210. If the control unit 7 determines that the print job includes a QR setting (Step S204: Yes), the process proceeds to Step S206.

[0044] Step S206: The control unit 7 decodes the QR data and sets the printing conditions. The process proceeds to step S208.

[0045] Step S208: The control unit 7 controls the printing unit 5 to print the document image G2 according to the printing conditions set in step S206, and then the process ends.

[0046] Step S210: The control unit 7 sets the printing conditions to the printing conditions set by the user of the external device. The process proceeds to step S212.

[0047] Step S212: The control unit 7 controls the printing unit 5 to print the document image G2 according to the printing conditions set in step S210, and then the process ends.

[0048] As described above with reference to Figures 1 to 6, in the image processing device 100, the image processing unit 92 generates an added image file G3 by adding an image G1, which encodes image processing conditions for the original image G2, to the original image G2 read by the reading unit 91. Therefore, when the original image G2 is read, the image processing conditions for the original image G2 can be added. As a result, the effort required to set the image processing conditions when performing image processing can be reduced.

[0049] Furthermore, the encoded image G1 is a two-dimensional code that represents the image processing conditions at least by a pattern. Therefore, the image processing conditions can be set by decoding the two-dimensional code. As a result, the time and effort required to set the image processing conditions can be reduced when performing image processing.

[0050] The image processing unit 92 is also a printing unit 5 that prints the original image G2 included in the additional image file G3 on a sheet according to the conditions included in the encoded image G1. This reduces the time and effort required to set the type of printing when printing.

[0051] The image processing device 100 also includes a communication unit 93. The communication unit 93 transmits the additional image file G3 to an external device. When the reading unit 91 reads the original image G2, the image processing unit 92 generates the additional image file G3 and prints the original image G2 included in the additional image file G3 on a sheet. This allows the original D1 to be copied. Furthermore, the additional image file G3, in which the printing type is set, can be transmitted to an external device. As a result, if the user wants to print the original image G2 again, the additional image file G3 can be transmitted from the external device to the image processing device 100 via a printer driver. This allows the original image G2 to be printed according to the conditions included in the encoded image G1 without having to set the printing type. This reduces the effort required to set image processing conditions when performing image processing.

[0052] The image processing device 100 further includes an input unit 94. Image processing conditions for the original image G2 are input to the input unit 94. The image processing unit 92 generates an image G1 by encoding the image processing conditions input to the input unit 94 into the original image G2 read by the reading unit 91, and adds the image G1 to the original image G2 read by the reading unit 91 to generate an additional image file G3. This reduces the effort required to set the image processing conditions when performing image processing.

[0053] The embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 6). However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be embodied in various forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The drawings mainly show each component in a schematic manner for ease of understanding, and the thickness, length, number, etc. of each component shown in the drawings may differ from the actual components due to the convenience of creating the drawings. Furthermore, the materials, shapes, dimensions, etc. of each component shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples and are not particularly limited, and various modifications are possible within a range that does not substantially depart from the effects of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0054] The present invention can be used in the field of image processing devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 91 Reading unit 92 Image processing section 93 Communications Department 94 Input section 100 Image processing device C1 2D code D1 manuscript G1 coded image G2 manuscript image G3 Additional Image Files

Claims

1. a reading unit that reads an original image; an image processing unit that generates an additional image file by adding an image obtained by encoding conditions for image processing on the document image to the document image read by the reading unit; An image processing device comprising:

2. The image processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the image is a two-dimensional code that represents the condition by at least a pattern.

3. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit is a printing unit that prints the original image included in the additional image file on a sheet in accordance with the condition included in the encoded image.

4. a communication unit that transmits the additional image file to an external device; When the reading unit reads the document image, The image processing apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the image processing unit generates the additional image file and prints the original image included in the additional image file on the sheet.

5. further comprising an input unit into which the conditions are input; 3. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit generates the additional image file by adding the image in which the conditions input to the input unit are encoded to the original image read by the reading unit.

Images