Image Rotation Processor for Multi-Page Orientation Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image forming apparatuses face challenges in aligning the orientation of form images with document images across multiple pages, leading to inconsistent output when the direction of the upper edge of the document image differs from the form image.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes an image rotation processor that identifies the direction of the upper edge of the document image on the first page and rotates both the form image and subsequent document images to match the orientation of the upper edge of the first page, ensuring consistent alignment across all pages, and an image combination unit that combines the processed form image with the document images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the form image is rotated to match each page's orientation individually, then the orientation alignment between form image and document image is improved, but the processing time increases due to frequent rotations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by rotating all document images to match the orientation of the first page before combining with the form image. This upfront orientation standardization prevents the need for multiple subsequent rotations, thereby reducing total processing time while maintaining orientation alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the form image to match each document page's orientation (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by rotating all document images to match the form image's orientation. This inversion reduces the number of rotation operations needed and simplifies the processing workflow.
2Loss of time
If the form image orientation is fixed to the first page, then the processing time is reduced by minimizing rotations, but the adaptability to user-set orientations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamics by allowing the reference orientation to be dynamically selected from any page's orientation rather than being fixed to the first page. Users can choose which page's orientation serves as the reference, making the system adaptable to different user needs while still maintaining the efficiency benefit of minimal rotations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves universality by enabling the form image and document images to be processed according to a user-selected reference orientation from any page. This multi-functional capability allows the same processing logic to handle various orientation scenarios without requiring separate processing paths for each case.
3Stability of the object's composition
If document images are rotated to match the first page orientation, then the consistency across pages is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional rotation processing
Solution Approach 1:
The processing is segmented into two distinct phases: first, all document images are rotated to match the reference orientation (ensuring consistency), and second, the oriented document images are combined with the form image. This segmentation simplifies the overall process by breaking it into manageable, sequential steps with clear boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation standardization is performed as a preliminary action before the combination step. By completing all necessary rotations beforehand, the system simplifies the subsequent combination process, reducing overall processing complexity despite the added initial rotation step.
Data Source
AI summary
An image forming apparatus includes an image rotation processor and an image combination unit. The image rotation processor is configured to: rotate the form image such that the direction of the upper edge of the document image on the first page matches a direction of an upper edge of a form image if the direction of the upper edge of the document image on the first page differs from the direction of the upper edge of the form image based on the form image data; and rotate a document image on each page of the second page and the subsequent pages such that the direction of the upper edge of the document image on the first page matches a direction of an upper edges of the document image on each page of the second page and the subsequent pages in a similar case.