JP2004172874A - Image scanner, and image forming apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image scanner capable of shortening a period of time required for transmitting image data to a transmission destination and reducing a use amount of capacity of a storage medium at the transmission destination, and to provide an image forming apparatus provided with the scanner. <P>SOLUTION: In the image scanner, images (image "A", image "B" and image "C") of an original which is read by an image reading part are thumb nail-displayed on a display screen 122 of an operation display part 12. A page is selected based on the image which is thumb-nail-displayed and resolution is set. Thus, image data (image data on image "A" and image "B") of the selected page are multi-address-distributed to transmission destinations (personal computers of addresses AD1, AD2 and AD3) at resolution which is set. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading an image of a document and an image forming apparatus including the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an image reading apparatus (such as a network scanner apparatus) capable of transmitting image data of a read document to a destination (such as a personal computer) connected via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Have been.
This type of image reading apparatus includes an automatic document feeder that automatically feeds a plurality of set originals one by one to an image reading unit. In some cases, data can be transmitted to a plurality of transmission destinations by using. According to this configuration, image data for a plurality of pages can be transmitted to a plurality of destinations with a simple operation, which is convenient.
[0003]
However, in the above-described image reading apparatus, even when there is an unnecessary page depending on the transmission destination, the image data of all pages is transmitted to the transmission destination. In addition, all image data are transmitted at the same resolution even though the resolution may be low depending on the image data.
Therefore, there has been a problem that the network load is increased more than necessary, and it takes time to transmit data, and the capacity of a storage medium (such as a memory) of a transmission destination is used more than necessary.
[0004]
On the other hand, there has been proposed a printing apparatus capable of displaying an image of each page based on image data received from a personal computer in a reduced size (thumbnail display) and printing only image data of a page selected by an operator based on the display. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-282476 A
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-80142 A
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made under such a background, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a more convenient image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus having the same.
[0007]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus having a transmission function, comprising: an image reading unit for reading an image of a document; and an image reading unit for reading the image read by the image reading unit. Data storage means (9) capable of storing image data, and image display means (12, 122, 2, T5, E5) for displaying an image of a document based on the image data stored in the data storage means for each page Means (12, 2, T6, T9, E6, E9) for selecting a page to be transmitted and the resolution of the image of the page from among the images of the document displayed by the image display means; Transmission data generating means (2, T10, E10) for reading out image data corresponding to the image of the image data from the data storage means, converting the image data into a selected resolution, and generating transmission data; An image reading apparatus which comprises a data transmitting means for transmitting (2, T12, E12) the transmission data.
[0008]
It should be noted that the alphanumeric characters in parentheses represent corresponding components in the embodiments described below. Hereinafter, the same applies in this section.
According to this configuration, by selecting the image of the document displayed by the image display unit for each page, only the necessary page is selected from the read image data of a plurality of pages, and only the image data of the page is selected. Can be sent to the destination. Further, the resolution of the image data to be transmitted can be converted for each page.
[0009]
Therefore, the time required for transmitting the image data to the transmission destination can be shortened, and the amount of the storage medium used at the transmission destination can be reduced, which is convenient.
A plurality of originals can be set in the image reading apparatus, and an automatic original feeder (5) for automatically sending out the set originals one by one and causing the image reading means to read the originals is provided. It may be provided.
The invention according to claim 2 is capable of selecting a broadcast distribution mode or an individual distribution mode (S3). In the individual distribution mode, the transmission data generation means (2, E10) generates transmission data for each transmission destination. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is capable of performing the following.
[0010]
According to this configuration, it is possible to select a necessary page from among the read image data for a plurality of pages for each of a plurality of destinations and transmit the selected page to each of the destinations. Therefore, when image data of different pages is transmitted to a plurality of destinations, the amount of space used in the storage medium of the destination can be reduced to a necessary minimum, which is convenient.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the broadcast mode, the transmission data generated by the transmission data generation means (2, T10) can be transmitted (broadcast) to a plurality of destinations (T12). An image reading apparatus according to claim 2.
[0011]
According to this configuration, it is possible to select only a necessary page from the read image data of a plurality of pages and transmit the image data of the page to a plurality of destinations. Therefore, when transmitting image data of the same page to a plurality of transmission destinations, the image data can be transmitted in a shorter time, which is convenient.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an image based on image data of a document read by the image reading device according to any one of the first to third aspects and the image reading means (6) is formed on a recording sheet. And an image forming means (14).
[0012]
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus having the same effects as the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. That is, it is possible to provide a more convenient image forming apparatus that can reduce the time required for transmitting image data to a destination and reduce the amount of storage capacity of the destination storage medium.
In this case, the data transmission unit may be configured to transmit the image data to the transmission destination after the image formation by the image forming unit.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a digital copying machine, and forms an image based on image data on a sheet to be used.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes, for example, a microcomputer including a CPU 2 for controlling the entire image forming apparatus 1, a ROM 3 in which software is stored in advance, a RAM 4 in which data necessary for control is written, and the like. The image forming apparatus 1 includes an automatic document feeder 5, an image reading unit 6, an image processing circuit 7, a selector 8, a memory 9, a resolution conversion circuit 10, an image format conversion circuit, in addition to the CPU 2, the ROM 3, and the RAM 4. An operation display unit 12, a network I / F circuit 13, an image forming unit 14, and the like are provided, and these units are communicably connected to each other via a dedicated bus (CPU bus).
[0014]
The image forming unit 14 includes, for example, a photoconductor, a developing device, a transfer device, and the like. The configuration of the image forming section 14 is conventionally known. During image formation, for example, the surface of a cylindrical photosensitive member is uniformly charged, and the charged photosensitive member surface is selectively charged based on image data. Exposed. As a result, a so-called electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor, and the toner to be transferred to paper is adhered by a developing device onto the surface of the photoreceptor on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed. An image is formed. Then, the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor is transferred to a sheet by a transfer device, whereby image formation on the sheet is achieved.
[0015]
The image forming apparatus 1 can be connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) via a network I / F circuit 13, and external devices (for example, 1 Or a plurality of personal computers).
The data of the image to be formed on the paper can be read into the image forming apparatus 1 from an external device via a network, or can be obtained by reading the image of the original in the image reading unit 6 provided in the image forming apparatus 1. Can be Although not shown, the image data of the document is obtained by, for example, detecting the reflected light of light emitted toward the document from a scanner provided in the image reading unit 6 with a CCD image sensor and converting the reflected light into an electric signal. .
[0016]
The automatic document feeder 5 automatically sends one or a plurality of documents set on the document tray 51 to the image reading unit 6 one by one to read the image. The automatic document feeder 5 is, for example, openably and closably (rotatably) mounted above the image reading unit 6. When the automatic document feeder 5 is opened, the image reading unit 6 reads an image of a document. A contact glass (not shown) as a mounting table at that time appears.
[0017]
According to this configuration, it is also possible to obtain one page of image data by opening the automatic document feeder 5, setting documents one by one on the contact glass, and reading the image by the image reading unit 6. Alternatively, one or more originals may be set on the original tray 51, and the originals may be conveyed one by one to the image reading unit 6 by the automatic original feeder 5, and the images may be read (so-called drift reading). It is also possible to obtain image data for one or more pages.
[0018]
The automatic document feeder 5 may have a function of turning a document upside down. In this case, the document is turned upside down, and the image reading unit 6 reads both sides of the document, so that two pages of image data can be obtained from one document.
The image data of each page of the document read by the image reading unit 6 is subjected to predetermined image processing (for example, shading correction processing for correcting sensitivity variation for each read pixel of the CCD image sensor, image data Input gamma correction processing for giving a tone characteristic proportional to the density of the original, filter processing for emphasizing or smoothing edges of image data, and correcting gamma characteristics in the image reading unit 6. After the exposure γ correction process is performed, the data is stored in the memory 9 via the selector 8.
[0019]
The image data for a plurality of pages to be stored in the memory 9 is once sent to an image format conversion circuit 11, compressed by a compressor provided in the image format conversion circuit 11, and then sent to the memory 9 via a selector 8. May be stored in the memory 9 or may be compressed by software processing of the CPU 2 and stored in the memory 9. As described above, if image data for a plurality of pages is compressed and stored in the memory 9, the amount of memory 9 used can be reduced.
[0020]
The image forming apparatus 1 includes one or more pages of image data stored in the memory 9 (when the image data is compressed and stored in the memory 9, the compressed image data is converted into an image format conversion circuit again). 11 to perform image formation in the image forming unit 14 based on image data expanded by an expander provided in the image format conversion circuit 11 or expanded by software processing of the CPU 2). An image forming mode) and a mode (scanner mode) for transmitting the image data to an external device connected to the network can be selected and executed.
[0021]
However, the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to the configuration in which the image forming mode and the scanner mode can be selected and executed as described above. A configuration that can transmit data to an external device may be used.
When the scanner mode is selected, the image data for one or more pages stored in the memory 9 is sent to the resolution conversion circuit 10 and converted to a predetermined resolution after the image reading is completed. It is sent to the operation display unit 12 via the memory 8 and the memory 9.
[0022]
The operation display unit 12 is used to set the operation content of the image forming apparatus 1 and to display the setting content and operation status, and is disposed on the upper surface of the image forming apparatus 1, for example. The operation display unit 12 includes, for example, a key input unit 121 such as a numeric keypad, and a display screen 122 formed of a liquid crystal display with a touch panel (see FIGS. 4 and 6). In the scanner mode, the image of each page of the document is reduced (thumbnail display) on the display screen 122 based on the image data after the resolution conversion sent to the operation display unit 12.
[0023]
One of the features of this embodiment is that, in the scanner mode, the operator selects an image based on the image of each page of the document displayed as a thumbnail on the display screen 122 of the operation display unit 12, and the selected page is displayed. Or a page selected for each of a plurality of destinations connected to the image reading apparatus 1 via a network, or to a plurality of destinations connected to the image forming apparatus 1 via a network. In the individual distribution mode for transmitting (individual distribution) the image data.
[0024]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the control contents by the CPU 2 after the end of the image reading in the scanner mode. When the image reading is completed, when the original is set on the contact glass and read, the image of one page of the original is read, and the original is read using the automatic document feeder 5. Is a point in time when the series of stream reading is completed.
Referring to FIG. 2, in the scanner mode, CPU 2 constantly monitors whether or not the image reading unit 6 has finished reading the image of the document (step S1). The display screen 122 of the unit 12 displays a screen (distribution mode selection screen) for prompting the operator to select whether to distribute the image data in the broadcast distribution mode or the individual distribution mode (step S2).
[0025]
If the operator selects the broadcast distribution mode on the distribution mode selection screen (YES in step S3), CPU 2 distributes the read image data of the original in the broadcast distribution mode (step S4) and distributes the image data. When the operator selects the individual distribution mode on the mode selection screen (NO in step S3), CPU 2 distributes the read document image data in the individual distribution mode (step S5).
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the control contents of the CPU 2 in the broadcast distribution mode. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific mode of the broadcast distribution.
[0026]
In the broadcast distribution mode, first, the CPU 2 displays a screen (format selection screen) for selecting a file format (format) of image data to be distributed on the display screen 122 (step T1). On the format selection screen, for example, a format such as a PDF (Portable Document Format) format or a TIFF (Tag Image File Format) format can be selected.
When the operator selects a format on the format selection screen (YES in step T2), CPU 2 causes display screen 122 to display a screen (address selection screen) for selecting an address of a transmission destination for broadcasting image data. (Step T3).
[0027]
Then, when the operator selects all the addresses of the plurality of transmission destinations to be broadcast and performs an operation for ending the address selection (YES in step T4), the CPU 2 reads the image by the image reading unit 6. The image of each page of the document is displayed as a thumbnail on the display screen 122 (step T5).
In FIG. 4, for example, images of the document (image “A”, image “B”, and image “C”) of three pages read by the image reading unit 6 are displayed as thumbnails on the display screen 122 of the operation display unit 12. ing. At this time, if the images of all the pages read by the image reading unit 6 cannot be displayed on the display screen 122, the display content is displayed in response to a predetermined operation (for example, pressing a scroll key). The display (scroll display) may be performed so as to flow in a predetermined direction on the screen 122.
[0028]
During the thumbnail display, the CPU 2 determines whether or not a portion corresponding to the image of each page displayed as a thumbnail on the display screen 122 is pressed (whether or not YES is determined in Step T6). Alternatively, it is monitored whether or not an operation for ending the page selection is performed (whether or not YES is determined in step T7). Then, when the operator presses a portion corresponding to an image of one of the pages displayed as thumbnails on the display screen 122, the page is selected (YES in step T6), and the CPU 2 executes image data of the page. Is displayed on the display screen 122 (step T8) for setting the resolution at the time of broadcasting.
[0029]
When the operator sets the resolution on the resolution setting screen (YES in step T9), the CPU 2 performs thumbnail display again (step T5), and a portion corresponding to the image of each page displayed as a thumbnail on the display screen 122. Is monitored (YES in step T6) or whether an operation for ending the page selection is performed (YES in step T7). I do.
When the operator selects all the pages to be broadcasted, sets the resolution of each image data, and performs an operation to end the page selection (YES in step T7), the CPU 2 After reading out the image data of the selected page from the memory 9 and converting each image data to the resolution set in step T9 by the resolution conversion circuit 10 (step T10), the format of the image data is converted by the image format conversion circuit 11 The format is converted to the format selected in step T2 (step T11).
[0030]
Thereafter, the CPU 2 broadcasts the format-converted image data to the plurality of destinations selected in step T4 (step T12). Thereby, the image data (for example, the image data of the image “A” and the image “B”) of the selected page is stored in the transmission destination (for example, the personal computer of the address AD1, AD2, AD3) selected on the address selection screen. Is distributed (see FIG. 4).
In the broadcast mode, by selecting, for each page, an image of a document thumbnail-displayed on the display screen 122 of the operation display unit 12, only necessary pages are selected from the read image data of a plurality of pages. Only the image data of the page can be transmitted to the transmission destination. Further, the resolution of the image data to be transmitted can be converted for each page.
[0031]
Therefore, the time required for transmitting the image data to the transmission destination can be shortened, and the amount of the storage medium used at the transmission destination can be reduced, which is convenient.
In particular, since only a necessary page is selected from the read image data of a plurality of pages and the image data of the page can be transmitted to a plurality of destinations, the image data of the same page can be transmitted to a plurality of destinations. When transmitting, image data can be transmitted in a shorter time, which is convenient.
[0032]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the control contents of the CPU 2 in the individual distribution mode. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific mode of individual distribution.
In the individual distribution mode, first, the CPU 2 causes the display screen 122 to display a screen (format selection screen) for selecting a file format (format) of image data to be distributed (step E1). On the format selection screen, as in the case of the broadcast distribution mode, for example, a format such as a Portable Document Format (PDF) or a Tag Image File Format (TIFF) can be selected.
[0033]
When the operator selects a format on the format selection screen (YES in step E2), CPU 2 displays a screen (address selection screen) for selecting an address of a transmission destination to which image data is individually distributed (step S2). E3).
Then, when the operator selects one address of the transmission destination to be individually distributed (YES in step E4), the CPU 2 displays the image of each page of the document read by the image reading unit 6 on the display screen 122 as a thumbnail ( Step E5).
[0034]
In FIG. 6, for example, the images (image “A”, image “B”, and image “C”) of three pages read by the image reading unit 6 are displayed as thumbnails on the display screen 122 of the operation display unit 12. ing. At this time, if the images of all the pages read by the image reading unit 6 cannot be displayed on the display screen 122, the display content is displayed in response to a predetermined operation (for example, pressing a scroll key). The display (scroll display) may be performed so as to flow in a predetermined direction on the screen 122.
[0035]
During the thumbnail display, the CPU 2 determines whether or not a portion corresponding to the image of each page displayed as a thumbnail on the display screen 122 is pressed (YES in step E6). Alternatively, it is monitored whether or not an operation for ending the page selection is performed (whether or not YES is determined in step E7). Then, when the operator presses a portion corresponding to an image of any of the pages displayed as thumbnails on the display screen 122, the page is selected (YES in step E6), and the CPU 2 executes the image data of the page. Is displayed on the display screen 122 (step E8) for setting the resolution at the time of individual distribution.
[0036]
When the operator sets the resolution on the resolution setting screen (YES in step E9), the CPU 2 performs thumbnail display again (step E5), and displays a portion corresponding to the image of each page displayed as a thumbnail on the display screen 122. Is monitored (YES in step E6) or an operation for ending the page selection is performed (YES in step E7). I do.
When the operator selects all the pages to be individually distributed, sets the resolution of each image data, and performs an operation for ending the page selection (YES in step E7), the CPU 2 selects the page. The read image data of the page is read from the memory 9 and each image data is converted by the resolution conversion circuit 10 to the resolution set in step E9 (step E10). The format is converted to the format selected in E2 (step E11).
[0037]
Thereafter, the CPU 2 individually distributes the format-converted image data to the one transmission destination selected in step E4 (step E12). As a result, the image data of the selected page is distributed to the transmission destination selected on the address selection screen. If the operation for ending the individual distribution mode is not performed after the individual distribution ends (NO in step E13), the process returns to step E3, and the CPU 2 displays the address selection screen on the display screen 122 again.
[0038]
In this way, the operator selects the addresses of the transmission destinations to be individually distributed one by one (step E4), selects the image data of the page to be individually distributed to the transmission destination, and sets the resolution of each image data. Is performed (steps E6 and E9), by performing an operation for ending the page selection (step E7), image data of a different page can be individually distributed for each selected destination (step E12). ). For example, in FIG. 6, the image data of the image "A" is stored in the personal computer at the address AD1, the image data of the image "B" is stored in the personal computer at the address AD2, and the image data "A" is stored in the personal computer at the address AD3. And the image data of the image “C” are individually distributed.
[0039]
In the individual distribution mode, by selecting, for each page, an image of a document thumbnail-displayed on the display screen 122 of the operation display unit 12, only necessary pages are selected from the read image data of a plurality of pages. Only the image data of the page can be transmitted to the transmission destination. Further, the resolution of the image data to be transmitted can be converted for each page.
Therefore, the time required for transmitting the image data to the transmission destination can be shortened, and the amount of the storage medium used at the transmission destination can be reduced, which is convenient.
[0040]
In particular, when necessary image data of different pages is transmitted to a plurality of destinations because a necessary page among the read image data of a plurality of pages can be selected for each of a plurality of destinations and transmitted to each destination. This is convenient because the used amount of the capacity of the storage medium of the transmission destination can be reduced to the minimum necessary.
The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.
[0041]
For example, a configuration may be employed in which an address is input on the address selection screen instead of selecting a desired address from pre-registered addresses.
The selection of the page of the image data to be transmitted is not limited to the configuration performed by pressing the display screen 122 configured by a liquid crystal display with a touch panel, but can be selected by pressing the key input unit 121. Is also good.
[0042]
Further, other various selections / settings (distribution mode selection, format selection, address selection, resolution setting, etc.) may be performed by pressing the display screen 122 or pressing the key input unit 121. It may be one that can be executed by an operation.
The display screen 122 is not limited to a liquid crystal display with a touch panel, and may be another display.
[0043]
The present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus 1 but can be applied to, for example, a network scanner device without the image forming unit 14.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining control contents by a CPU after image reading in a scanner mode is completed.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining control contents of a CPU in a broadcast mode;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific mode of broadcast distribution.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the control contents of a CPU in an individual distribution mode.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific mode of individual distribution.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Image forming apparatus
2 CPU
6 Image reading unit
9 Memory
12 Operation display section
122 Display screen
14 Image forming unit

Claims (4)

An image reading device having a transmission function,
Image reading means for reading an image of a document,
Data storage means capable of storing image data of the document read by the image reading means,
Image display means for displaying an image of a document based on image data stored in the data storage means for each page,
Means for selecting a page to be transmitted and a resolution of the image of the page from among the images of the document displayed by the image display means,
Transmission data generation means for reading image data corresponding to the image of the selected page from the data storage means, converting the data to a selected resolution and generating transmission data,
An image reading apparatus, comprising: data transmission means for transmitting generated transmission data. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a broadcast distribution mode or an individual distribution mode can be selected, and in the individual distribution mode, the transmission data generating means can generate transmission data for each transmission destination. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmission data generated by the transmission data generation means can be transmitted to a plurality of transmission destinations in the broadcast distribution mode. An image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An image forming device for forming an image based on the image data of the document read by the image reading device on a recording sheet.

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