Document data correcting apparatus

Abstract

To correct document data for printing on a windowless envelope without requiring time and effort for data processing.SOLUTION: The image forming system 100 to which a document data correction device is applied corrects document data for printing a windowed envelope constituted of a plurality of pages including a content into document data for printing a windowless envelope constituted of a plurality of pages including an envelope and the content, and includes a determination part 175 for determining a specific page including address information from each page of the document data for printing the windowed envelope according to a predetermined determination criterion, and a synthesis part 176 for synthesizing address information with a form page and synthesizing text information other than the address information with a content page.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a document data correction device that corrects document data when performing printing processing and enclosing and sealing processing. [Background technology]

[0002] When creating direct mail, the data for the direct mail is often designed for window envelopes.

[0003] Here, an image forming system is well known that includes an image forming device that prints destination information on an envelope based on image data and also prints the contents to be enclosed in the envelope, and an enclosing and sealing device that encloses the contents in the envelope with the printed destination information and seals it.

[0004] When creating direct mail using such an image forming system capable of printing on both the envelope and the contents, it is necessary to process data intended for window envelopes into address information and body information.

[0005] Patent document 1 discloses a technology relating to a manuscript data correction device that corrects manuscript data consisting of multiple pages including an envelope and contents, and that includes a judgment unit that judges specific pages that contain specific image information (e.g., addressee) from each page of the manuscript data according to predetermined judgment criteria, and a correction unit that corrects the specific image information based on the correction information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-132086 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Here, data for window envelopes may contain address information and body information (plus additional information) mixed on one page.

[0008] When printing on a windowless envelope based on data for a windowed envelope, there is a problem in that if the body information is printed on the envelope, anyone can view the body information. The technology described in Patent Document 1 corrects specific image information based on correction information, but processing the data for a windowed envelope into address information and body information must be done manually, which poses a problem in that the data processing is cumbersome.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an original data correction device that corrects original data for printing on windowless envelopes without the need for laborious data processing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the document data correction device according to the present invention is characterized by: A document data correction device for correcting document data for printing a windowed envelope, which is composed of a plurality of pages including contents, into document data for printing a windowless envelope, which is composed of a plurality of pages including an envelope and contents, a determination unit that determines a specific page including address information from each page of the document data for printing on a windowed envelope according to a predetermined determination criterion; The electronic document processing device further includes a synthesizing unit that synthesizes the address information onto the form page and synthesizes the main text information other than the address information onto the content page. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the features of the document data correction device of the present invention, data can be converted for printing on windowless envelopes without the need for data processing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system to which a manuscript data correction device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of a printing device included in the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating exceptional cases in a determination unit included in an image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows a normal case for comparison, and (b) and (c) show exceptional cases. [Figure 4] 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams illustrating processing by a combining unit included in the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing processing contents in the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent parts and components are designated by the same or equivalent reference numerals throughout the drawings. However, it should be noted that the drawings are schematic and may differ from the actual product. Furthermore, the drawings may include parts with different dimensional relationships and ratios.

[0014] Furthermore, the embodiments shown below are merely examples of devices that embody the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention does not limit the arrangement of each component to that shown below. Various modifications can be made to the technical concept of the present invention within the scope of the claims.

[0015] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system 100 to which a manuscript data correction device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming system 100 includes a printing device 1, an inserting and sealing device 2 connected to the printing device 1, and a computer 5 connected to the printing device 1 via a network 4.

[0016] The computer 5 has a general computer configuration including a CPU (not shown) that executes various processes based on a control program, etc. This CPU is connected to RAM that functions as a working area, ROM that stores data, etc., and is also connected via various interfaces to an input unit consisting of a keyboard, mouse, etc., and an output unit consisting of a liquid crystal display, etc.

[0017] Then, the CPU of the computer 5 executes the envelope creation application based on user operation to generate an envelope creation job for causing the printing device 1 and the enclosing and sealing device 2 to create an envelope, and sends the generated envelope creation job (job data) to the printing device 1 via the network 4.

[0018] Printing device 1 is a device that prints on envelopes and printing paper for their contents based on manuscript data included in an envelope creation job generated by computer 5 and then discharges the printed sheets. As shown in Fig. 1, printing device 1 has, inside or on the side of housing 10 that houses each part, multiple paper feed trays (P1 to P3) that store multiple types of paper (printing paper and envelope paper), introduction path 11 that takes out printing paper and envelope paper from the multiple paper feed trays (P1 to P3), and loop-shaped transport path 12 that transports envelopes and printing paper from introduction path 11.

[0019] The printing device 1 also includes a printing execution unit 13 consisting of four inkjet heads K, C, M, and Y that eject ink of each color, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), respectively, onto the envelopes and printing paper transported by the transport path 12; a first discharge path 14 that discharges printed envelopes, contents, and inserts to the enclosing and sealing device 2; a second discharge path 15 that discharges printed paper at the printing device 1 without discharging it to the enclosing and sealing device 2; a switchback path 16 that accepts printed paper transported along the transport path 12 and then reverses it back to the transport path 12 to invert the paper; a control unit 17 that controls the operation of each component of the printing device 1 and the enclosing and sealing device 2; and an input / display unit 18 that accepts user operations and displays various screens.

[0020] The enclosing and sealing device 2 is a device that receives printed envelopes, contents, and inserts sent from the first discharge path 14 of the printing device 1, folds the contents and inserts into the printed envelope paper, and seals them.It is equipped with a conveying path 21 that conveys the contents and inserts, which extends diagonally downward from the first discharge path 14 of the printing device 1, and a conveying path 22 that conveys the envelopes.

[0021] The inserting and sealing device 2 also includes an inserting and sealing section 25 that folds the contents and inserts conveyed along each of the conveying paths 21 and 22, seals them in the conveyed envelopes, and seals the envelopes with the contents and inserts sealed inside, and a storage section 26 into which the sealed envelopes (envelopes) are discharged and stored. In addition to the above components, the inserting and sealing device 2 also includes components that glue the envelope paper together, a conveying means for conveying the sealed envelopes to the storage section 26, and the like, although these are not shown in the figure.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 17 of the printing device 1 provided in the image forming system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] 2, the control unit 17 of the printing device 1 performs central control of the image forming system 100. The control unit 17 is electrically connected to the input / display unit 18 and the print execution unit 13, and includes an interface unit 171, a CPU 172, and a storage unit 173.

[0024] Interface unit 171 receives manuscript data (original data) included in an envelope creation job (job data) sent from computer 5 via network 4. Here, the received manuscript data (original data) is data for a windowed envelope in which address information and body information (+α information) are mixed on one page. Note that, while an example has been given in which manuscript data (original data) is obtained from computer 5 via network 4, this is not limiting, and manuscript data (original data) may also be read from a scanner (not shown).

[0025] The storage unit 173 is a storage medium such as a memory or an HDD, and stores the criteria used by the determination unit 175 (described later), correction information used by the synthesis unit 176, and address information and body information included in the received manuscript data (original data). The criteria are, for example, a density difference criterion for identifying a window area, folding method information for the contents, specific character information indicating the address (for example, "〒"), etc.

[0026] CPU (Central Processing Unit) 172 is a central processing unit that executes various types of calculations. Functionally, CPU 172 has a determination unit 175 and a composition unit 176, and corrects document data for printing a normal windowed envelope, which is made up of multiple pages including contents, into document data for printing a normal windowless envelope, which is made up of multiple pages including an envelope and contents.

[0027] The determination unit 175 determines, according to predetermined criteria stored in the storage unit 173, from each page of the document data for printing windowed envelopes, a specific page that includes address information.

[0028] For example, the determination unit 175 may determine a specific page that includes address information by identifying the window area from each page of the manuscript data for printing windowed envelopes using density differences based on density difference standards stored in the memory unit 173.

[0029] Furthermore, determination unit 175 may determine a specific page that includes address information by detecting the pattern of the address area from each page of the document data for printing on a windowed envelope, based on the folding method information for the contents stored in storage unit 173. For example, in the case of a Z-fold, two patterns are detected at the top and bottom edges of the paper; in the case of an inner fold, two patterns are detected at the top and center of the paper; and in the case of an outer fold, two patterns are detected at the top and bottom edges of the paper.

[0030] Furthermore, determination unit 175 may read characters from each page of the document data for printing windowed envelopes using pattern recognition, detect the character "〒", and determine that the page is a specific page that includes address information in an area that includes the character "〒", based on the specific character information indicating the address stored in storage unit 173. In this case, if an exceptional case described below applies, the page may be excluded from the candidate destination area.

[0031] 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating exceptional cases in the determination unit 175 included in the image forming system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. (a) shows a normal case for comparison, and (b) and (c) show exceptional cases.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3(a), if data D11 in the document data for printing a windowed envelope, which is located in the scan detection area A11, which is the area inside the specified detection area A12, contains the character "〒", the judgment unit 175 judges it to be a normal case.

[0033] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3(b), when data D21 in the document data for printing on a windowed envelope protrudes outside the scan detection area A11, the determining unit 175 determines that this is an exceptional case.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3(c), even if data D31 falls within the scan detection area A11 of the manuscript data for printing windowed envelopes, if multiple characters "〒" are included as shown in data D31, it is highly likely that it is not address information but a list of addresses, i.e., body information, and therefore the judgment unit 175 judges it to be an exceptional case.

[0035] That is, in the examples shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 3(c), the determining unit 175 determines that only the example shown in FIG. 3(a), which is determined to be a normal case, is a destination area candidate.

[0036] Combining section 176 has form combining section 176a and content combining section 176b, and corrects manuscript data for printing windowed envelopes to manuscript data for printing windowless envelopes by combining the form and content of the manuscript data.

[0037] The form synthesis unit 176a synthesizes the address information into a form page, and corrects the address information laid out for a windowed envelope based on the correction information stored in the memory unit 173 so that it matches the layout of the form page.

[0038] The content combining unit 176b combines the main text information other than the address information into a content page.

[0039] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating processing by the combining unit 176 included in the image forming system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] As shown in Figure 4, manuscript data (original data) G1 is manuscript data for printing a regular window envelope consisting of multiple pages including contents, and includes data G11 including address information G11a and body information G11b, data G21 including body information G21b but not address information, and data G22 including body information G22b but not address information.

[0041] The synthesis unit 176 synthesizes the address information on the form page and synthesizes the body information other than the address information on the content page for the manuscript data (original data) G1, thereby obtaining corrected data G2.

[0042] As shown in Figure 4, the corrected data G2 is manuscript data for printing a regular windowless envelope consisting of multiple pages including an envelope and contents, and includes data G12 including address information G11c, data G13 including address information G11a and body information G11b, data G21 including body information G21b but not address information, and data G22 including body information G22b but not address information.

[0043] Address information G11c is the same address information as address information G11a, but based on the correction information stored in memory unit 173, the printing position has been corrected to be positioned lower to match the layout of the form page (page) instead of the layout for a windowed envelope.

[0044] Data G13 includes address information G11a, but since this information overlaps with address information G11c, it may be deleted.

[0045] In this way, the synthesis unit 176 synthesizes the address information G11a onto the form page and synthesizes the body information other than the address information G11a onto the content page, thereby correcting the manuscript data (original data) G1 having data G11 including the address information G11a and body information G11b into corrected data G2 having data G12 including the address information G11c and data G13 including body information G11b, thereby eliminating the need to convert manuscript data intended to be printed on contents to be enclosed in windowed envelopes so that they can be printed on windowless envelopes.

[0046] In addition, during correction work, even if address information and main text information (+α information) are mixed on one page, the address information can be separated onto the envelope page and the main text information (+α information) onto the contents page.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing contents in the image forming system 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 5, in step S101, the determination unit 175 starts a process of specifying a window portion, that is, a specific page including address information.

[0049] In step S103, determination unit 175 detects the address area by detecting a pattern from the checked copy of the window envelope printing manuscript data, based on the folding method information for the contents stored in memory unit 173. Thereafter, checks are made for each copy (page).

[0050] If the destination area cannot be detected (step S105: NO), the process proceeds to step S121.

[0051] On the other hand, if an address area is detected (step S105: YES), in step S107, the judgment unit 175 reads characters from the corresponding page to be checked of the manuscript data for printing windowed envelopes using pattern recognition based on the specific character information indicating the address stored in the memory unit 173, detects the character "〒", and judges whether the detected character "〒" is the only one on the page.

[0052] If it is determined that the detected character "〒" exists multiple times on the page (step S107: NO), the determining unit 175 excludes the checked letter from the destination area candidates in step S109.

[0053] On the other hand, if it is determined that the detected character "〒" is the only one on the page (step S107: YES), in step S111, the determination unit 175 determines whether or not the data protrudes outside the scan detection area.

[0054] If it is determined that the data protrudes outside the scan detection area (step S111: NO), the determining unit 175 excludes the page to be checked from the destination area candidates in step S109.

[0055] On the other hand, if it is determined that the data does not extend outside the scan detection area (step S111: YES), in step S113, the form synthesis unit 176a synthesizes the address information onto the form page, and corrects the address information laid out for a windowed envelope based on the correction information stored in the memory unit 173 so that it matches the layout of the form page.

[0056] In step S115, the content combining unit 176b determines whether or not there is any printing in the +α area, that is, whether or not there is any body information other than the address information.

[0057] If it is determined that printing has been performed in the +α area (step S115; YES), the content combining unit 176b combines the main text information other than the address information into the content page.

[0058] On the other hand, when it is determined that printing has not been performed in the +α area (step S115; NO), the content composition unit 176b deletes it and does not print it.

[0059] In step S121, when the checked pass is the last pass (YES), in step S123, the image forming system 100 starts printing.

[0060] (Appendix) This application discloses the following inventions.

[0061] (Appendix 1) A manuscript data correction device that corrects manuscript data for printing on an envelope with a window, which is composed of a plurality of pages including contents, into manuscript data for printing on an envelope without a window, which is composed of a plurality of pages including an envelope and contents, A determination unit that determines a specific page including addressee information from each page of the manuscript data for printing on an envelope with a window according to a predetermined determination criterion; A composition unit that composes the addressee information on a form page and composes the text information other than the addressee information on a content page; A manuscript data correction device, characterized by comprising:

[0062] Thereby, when printing the manuscript data intended for printing on the contents to be enclosed in an envelope with a window on an envelope without a window, there is no need to change the layout of the manuscript data or adjust the number of pages, etc., so labor can be saved. Further, if the manuscript data is data that is difficult to edit, such as a PDF file, etc., even more labor can be saved.

[0063] Also, in the correction work, even in the case where the addressee information and the text information (+α information) are mixed on one page, the addressee information can be separated onto the envelope page and the text information (+α information) can be separated onto the content page.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0064] 1 Printing device 2 Enclosing and sealing device 4 Network 5. Computer 13 Printing Execution Unit 16 Switchback Road 17 Control Unit 18 Input and display section 25 Enclosure and sealing section 26 Storage section 100 Image forming system 171 Interface section 173 Storage section 175 Judgment section 176 Synthesis Section 176a Form synthesis section 176b Contents Synthesis Department

Claims

[Claim 1] A document data correction device for correcting document data for printing a windowed envelope, which is composed of a plurality of pages including contents, into document data for printing a windowless envelope, which is composed of a plurality of pages including an envelope and contents, a determination unit that determines a specific page including address information from each page of the document data for printing on a windowed envelope according to a predetermined determination criterion; a synthesizing unit that synthesizes the address information onto a form page and synthesizes body information other than the address information onto a content page; A manuscript data correction device comprising:

Images