JPH1127469A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To provide an image processing device capable of performing image synthesis with a simple configuration and an easy-to-understand operation method. A second document table is provided on a first document table. Both platens are made of clear glass. Also, the second
The document table 10 and the pressure plate 11 can be opened and closed, respectively. When performing image composition, for example, a photo document is set on the first document table 1, a character document is set on the second document table 10, and both documents are simultaneously scanned and read from below the document table. This makes it possible to easily obtain a composite image without performing complicated area designation or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for reading and processing a document image, such as an image reading apparatus (scanner) and an image reading section in a copying apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to combine a plurality of originals or an image of a part of each of the plurality of originals by a simple method, a copying machine is generally used. 2. Description of the Related Art In a copying apparatus having a composite copying function, two originals are usually read into a memory and images are superimposed and copied.

[0003]

However, the cost of a conventional copying apparatus having an image synthesizing function is expensive because, for example, it is necessary to mount a large amount of memory.

In addition, even if the price is not taken into account, the use of the image synthesizing function generally requires reading the image (original) many times and specifying a large number of areas, which makes the operation complicated for the user. There was a problem that it was difficult. In the case of simple image synthesis that occupies most of image synthesis (for example, inserting a photograph into a text document), similarly complicated and difficult operations are required.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art and to provide an image processing apparatus capable of synthesizing images with a simple configuration and an easy-to-understand operation method.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a platen on which a document is placed; and reading means for reading the document placed on the platen. The problem is solved by having the second document table provided with the upper surface openable and closable.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention proposes that the platen is larger than a document placing portion of the second platen. Further, the present invention proposes, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, to have an input unit in which settings necessary for reading a document image are registered.

Further, the present invention proposes that the registered contents of the input means can be set by a user in order to solve the above-mentioned problem.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This image processing apparatus is configured as an image reading unit of a copying apparatus. The configuration of the image forming unit and the like of the copying apparatus main body is the same as that of a conventional well-known one, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted, and the description will be limited to the image processing apparatus (image reading unit) according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a document table of the image processing apparatus.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this image processing apparatus comprises a first document table (document holding table) 1, a light source 2, a first scanning mirror 3, a second scanning mirror 4, an imaging lens 5, a CCD 6,
A lighting circuit 7, a DC motor 8, a video processing circuit 9, a second document table (document holding table) 10, a pressure plate 11, and the like are provided. The light source 2 and the first and second scanning mirrors 3 and 4 are configured so as to be able to travel integrally, as shown by a solid line and a broken line below the first platen 1 and the second platen 10 made of transparent glass. Moving.

The first document table 1 is fixed to the upper surface of the apparatus, but the second document table 10 and the pressure plate 11 are configured to be opened and closed by any means such as a hinge (not shown). A document guide 12 is provided on the second document table 10 so that the position of the document can be easily adjusted. The first platen 1 is configured to be wider (the vertical projection surface is larger) than the document placing portion of the second platen 10. That is, the area of the second document table 10 excluding the document guide 12 is smaller than that of the first document table 1.

When the original is used for normal copying without image synthesis, the original is positioned so as to be in contact with the original guide 12 and set on the second original platen 10 (image side down). A normal necessary setting is designated from the operation panel, and a start button (not shown) is pressed. As a result, the light source 2 emits light, the light source 2 and the first and second scanning mirrors 3 and 4 travel to scan the original, and the reflected light of the original is transmitted to the CCD.
The light is incident on the lens 6 to form an image and is photoelectrically converted. The photoelectrically converted signal is subjected to necessary processing in the video processing circuit 9 as image data. Further, the image data processed by the image processing circuit (not shown) is exposed on a photoreceptor by, for example, a laser diode in an image forming unit of the copying apparatus main body, and toner is applied from a developing unit to be visualized, and the toner image is transferred. Is transferred onto a recording material by a container. The recording material to which the unfixed toner image has been transferred is subjected to fixing of the toner image by the fixing unit, and is discharged outside the apparatus to complete copying. That is, a normal copying operation is the same as that of a general copying apparatus.

Next, referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, a case of performing image composite copying will be described. As shown in FIG.
Original 21 and B original 22 are combined and copied (recording paper) 2
In the case of creating the document No. 3, the B document 22 is first placed at an appropriate position on the first document table 1 with the image side down. Next, the second platen 10 is overlaid on the first platen 1 (with the pressure plate 11 opened), and the A original 21 is placed on the second platen 10 with the image side down, and the platen 11 To close. After that, the desired copy, that is, the recording paper 23, can be obtained by the same operation as in normal copying.

If the above-mentioned copy 23 is to be obtained by a conventional copying machine (having no synthesizing function), the A original 21 and the B original 22 are directly overlaid and turned upside down on a platen (contact glass). Need to be mounted. In this case, when the two originals are set upside down (image side down), the originals (especially smaller originals) tend to shift, and a desired copy cannot be obtained in many cases. Also,
Depending on the copying apparatus having the image synthesizing function, complicated operations such as area designation are required, which is troublesome.

In the present embodiment, however, the B original 22 which is easily shifted is fixed by being sandwiched between the first original plate 1 and the second original plate 10, so that when the A original 21 to be superimposed thereon is set, Positioning can be easily performed. Therefore, the desired copy 23 can be easily performed.
Can be reliably obtained. Further, by replacing the A original 21 with another original while leaving the B original 22 as it is, it is possible to easily perform image synthesis on another original. Further, the obtained image can be easily and intuitively imagined, and the operation is also easy.

As shown in FIG. 4, a C original 31 and a D original 3
Similarly, when a copy (recording paper) 33 is created by synthesizing the original document 2 with the D document 32, the D document 32 is first set on the first document table 1, and is sandwiched between the first document table 1 and the second document table 10. Fix with.
Next, the C document 31 is placed on the second document table 10. The D document 32 is a document having only a frame decoration whose center is cut out in a square. In this composite copy, the D original 32
Is intended to obtain a copy in a fixed format by inserting the text portion of the C original 31 into the frame decoration (cutout) of the D original 32. Here, the outer size of the D original 32 is larger than that of the C original 31. Has become. Then, in order to match the size of the completed copy with the size of the C original 31, a setting required for reduced copy is input from an operation panel (not shown). Thereafter, the target copy 33 can be obtained by the same operation as in normal copying, so that image composition can be performed by an easy operation. Of course, when the outer size of the D original 32 is the same as that of the C original 31, the setting of the reduced copy is unnecessary.

Although the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment has been described as having the pressure plate 11, an automatic document feeder (ADF) can be attached instead of the pressure plate. If the automatic document feeder is mounted on the second document table 10, for example, in the case of FIG. 3, it is possible to obtain a composite copy in which the A document 21 is successively changed with respect to the B document 22. Become like Similarly, in the case shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to successively obtain a composite copy in which only the document portion is replaced with a frame decoration (D original 32) in a fixed format.

Further, input means such as dedicated buttons and keys for automating the setting required for performing the synthesizing mode are provided. For example, the reduction ratio and the like at the time of synthesizing copying in FIG. 4 can be set (registered) in advance. If this is the case, the operation at the time of composite copying can be further facilitated. The dedicated buttons and keys may be configured so that the registered contents are fixed or the registered contents can be set (changed) by the user. Since the user can set the registered contents such as the dedicated buttons and keys, it is possible to automate the settings necessary for various combined copies, and the operability of the apparatus can be further improved. Note that the contents registered in the dedicated buttons and keys are not limited to the reduction magnification. For example, it is possible to register necessary settings such as a density specification, a color specification, and a specification of a paper feed unit (paper feed cassette) in addition to a change in magnification for reduction / enlargement.

In the present embodiment, the document can be fixed between the first document table 1 and the second document table 10 (set on the first document table 1) even when the image is not synthesized. Since the document can be viewed through the second platen 10, even a curled document, a document with folds and wrinkles, or a cloth that is difficult to flatten such as cloth can be easily set on the document table and confirmed.

According to the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, image synthesis can be realized by an intuitive and easy operation with a simple apparatus configuration, and the apparatus costs as low as a conventional copying apparatus having an image synthesis function. It does not cause climbing or operation difficulty. Also, since the second original plate is superimposed on the original set on the first original plate and the original is read in a state where the second original is set thereon, how the output image, that is, the synthesized image is It is easy to imagine what will be done, and it is possible to easily obtain a desired composite image.

Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and may be configured as a single image reading apparatus. Alternatively, it may be configured as a facsimile image reading unit. Of course, it is possible to configure as an image reading device connected to a printer or a computer.

[0022]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the second plate provided so that the upper surface of the platen can be opened and closed.
, The image combining can be realized by a simple apparatus configuration and an easy operation. Further, the image of the obtained composite image can be easily grasped.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the size of the first platen is larger than the document placing portion of the second platen, the document placed between the first platen and the second platen. The degree of freedom (size, set position, etc.) can be increased, the operability can be improved, and various image synthesis can be supported.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to automate necessary settings at the time of synthesizing an image, so that a synthesized image can be obtained by a simpler operation. According to the configuration of the fourth aspect, the user can register necessary settings corresponding to various image synthesizing, so that the operability of the apparatus can be further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a document table of the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of image synthesis in the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another example of image synthesis in the image processing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state of a document set in the image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 first document table 2 light source 3, 4 mirror 6 CCD 10 second document table 11 pressure plate 12 document guide 21, 31 character document 22 photo document 23, 33 copy (recording paper) 32 frame decoration document

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus having a document table on which a document is placed and reading means for reading the document placed on the document table, a second document provided to be capable of opening and closing the top of the document table. An image processing apparatus comprising a table. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platen is larger than a platen of the second platen. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an input unit in which settings necessary for reading a document image are registered. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a registered content of said input means can be set by a user.