JPH10190899A - Image-recognition output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-recognition output device by which an input image is recognized and a print application is realized in real time by adding an OCR function to a scanner and interlocking a carrying path used for image recognition and print processing. SOLUTION: A print data generating section 2 of an image-recognition output device 1 that scans an image and converts it into internal code data, conducts paper carrying from paper feeding to paper discharge continuously in a series of motions that processes data and generates and outputs print data according to an application and acts as a center of control, obtains a proper print result, depending on the application by properly controlling a paper-feedling mechanism 5 while taking a time difference between a time from image scanning to print data output and a time required for image recognition and edit, based on the application into account. The output device realizes the application for recognizing an input image and to print it out in real time and since no manual operation between image recognition and print processing is required, and troubles in data conversion or the like is saved thus improving the operability.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recognition and output apparatus capable of recognizing an input image and printing data obtained by processing the recognition data in real time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A device for capturing an input image and printing the image,
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, scanner printers have been used as peripheral devices such as word processors and office processors. When creating a New Year's card or a fixed form document, an appropriate image such as a photograph is read by a scanner as a background image, and this is printed on a postcard or a pre-formatted document, and is separately generated by a word processor or an office processor. This is for combining with a document and performing combined printing.

[0003]

According to the above-mentioned prior art, image recognition by the scanner and printing by the printer function separately, so that a manual operation is required between the image recognition and the printing process, or Time and effort such as data conversion were required.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image recognition output device capable of recognizing an input image and realizing an application for printing in real time by adding an OCR function to a scanner and linking a conveyance path used for image recognition and printing processing. And

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image recognition and output apparatus, comprising: an image input section for converting an image into an electric signal by scanning an image; and an internal code data for recognizing the electric signal output from the image input section. An image recognizing unit that converts the internal code data output from the image recognizing unit into print data to generate print data according to an application; and a print that includes the recognition data and the processed data output by the print data generating unit. And an image output unit for outputting data. Further, the apparatus may further include a paper transport mechanism that is controlled by the print data generation unit and continuously transports the paper from paper supply to paper discharge in a series of movements from image scanning to print data output. Features. The print data generation unit controls the paper transport mechanism, taking into account the time required for image data output after scanning and the time required for image recognition and editing based on the application, and can obtain an appropriate print result according to the application. it can. The paper transport mechanism can feed paper unidirectionally or bidirectionally, and there are many variations such as controlling the transport speed, OCR recognition in one direction, and printing in the reverse direction.

Thus, an image recognition output device capable of realizing an application for recognizing and printing an input image in real time can be provided. Also, in a series of movements from image scanning to print data output, a paper transport mechanism that continuously transports the paper from feed to discharge in one direction, and the paper transport speed between the left and right of the paper By adjusting the speed on the left and right of the paper by making it variable, the degree of abnormal paper feeding is read by the image input unit under the control of the paper transport control unit or the print data generation unit that corrects abnormal paper feeding, and the degree , A print correction control unit that performs print correction on the processed data according to the above and supplies the print data to the image output unit can provide a highly reliable image recognition output device.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram cited for illustrating the principle of operation of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an image recognition output device in which a scanner and a printer for recognizing an image are integrated, and functionally serves as a control center of the image recognition output device of the present invention and processes various applications. A print data generation unit 2 and an O with an OCR recognition function added to the scanner
CR recognition unit 3, print control & mechanism unit 4, including print head,
The OCR recognition unit 3 and the print control & mechanism unit 4 are divided into a transport control & mechanism unit 5 which is commonly used in conjunction with the OCR recognition unit 3. The transport control & mechanism unit 5 has a mechanism for feeding paper unidirectionally or bidirectionally under the control of the print data generating unit 2 as described later.

Now, consider an application that recognizes the answer of a test, scores the result, and prints the result. First, OCR
The recognition unit 3 recognizes the content written on the paper, instructs the transport control & mechanism unit 5 to feed the paper to the printer control & mechanism unit 4, and the print data generation unit 2 displays the content read according to the application. Perform scoring. And
The result is transferred to the printer control & mechanism section 4 to perform desired printing, that is, printing of a so-called scoring test result, and the sheet is carried out via the transport control & mechanism section 5. Here, according to the difference between the time required for the application processing and the time required for paper transport, various embodiments of the paper feed control by the transport control & mechanism unit 5 can be considered as described later. This is controlled by the print data generator 2. The print data generation unit 2 has a built-in high-performance microprocessor and serves as a control center of the image recognition output device of the present invention.

[0010] In addition to the test, an application that recognizes the contents of a receipt and prints an approval stamp is also conceivable.

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, reference numeral 11 denotes a paper feed cassette on which collected test answer sheets are stacked. The test answer sheets stacked in the sheet cassette 11 are fed one by one by a sheet feed roller 12 and conveyed along a guide on a conveyance path 13 and simultaneously scanned by a CCD sensor 14 and the contents thereof are read. The data is read out by the controller 15, and the scoring, that is, a so-called application is executed. The controller 15 is the main body of the image recognition output device shown in FIG. 1, and is mostly an electric component formed on a substrate, and will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. The test paper transported on the transport path 13 is further sent to a printer mechanism.
In the embodiment of the present invention, an electrophotographic page printer is exemplified as a printer, and an LED type printer (solid type optical writing head having no movable parts) particularly suitable for miniaturization is used. LED array 16
A latent image is formed by irradiating light onto the photosensitive drum 19, and the latent image is developed with the toner 18, and the score, which is the execution result of the application, is transferred and recorded on a sheet. 17 is a transfer unit, 20 is a heat roller, and 21 is a housing. Separately, a serial printer or the like may be used without being limited to the electrophotographic printer.
Some embodiments of the transport mechanism described below must be a serial printer, and are not limited to LED printers.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the controller. In the figure, reference numeral 31 denotes a scanning control device. The binarized data scanned by the CCD sensor 14 is given to a recognition device 32, and the result recognized here is converted into an internal code, and is written into a scan data memory 33 as a recognition image. Reference numeral 34 denotes a CPU which is a control center of the image recognition output device of the present invention. CPU3
Reference numeral 4 denotes a microprocessor which executes an application program stored in a program memory 36 by using a work memory 35 and outputs the result to a print control device 37.
To supply. As described above, the application according to the embodiment of the present invention checks whether or not the test answer recognized by the recognition device 32 is correct, and performs scoring. The result of the application execution is temporarily stored in the work memory 35, and is developed in the page buffer memory 38 via the print control device 37. Page buffer memory 3
The print image developed in 8 is supplied to the transfer recording control mechanism 39 at an appropriate timing, and a desired result is printed by the mechanism described with reference to FIG.

The CPU 34 also controls the paper transport control mechanism 40. More specifically, in order to optimize the paper feed control from the paper feeding for data recognition to the ejection of the printed paper, which is the result of application execution, in relation to the time required for application execution. Is performed. As will be described later, this may be a sheet feeding direction or time control.

FIGS. 4 to 11 are operation conceptual diagrams showing an embodiment for carrying control. In the figure, the blocks denoted by the same numbers as those in FIG. 1 are the same as those in FIG.

Hereinafter, FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the time required for paper conveyance from paper feeding to paper ejection matches the time required for recognition, application execution, and printing processing, ie, the processing time required for application execution is The case where the time is included in the time range required for the conveyance from the discharge to the discharge is shown. That is, O
CCD sensor 14 of CR recognition unit 3 and printing control & mechanism unit 4
This is suitable when the distance on the conveyance path 14 where the print heads 16 are arranged can be relatively long. In this case, the conveyance path 14 only needs to be operated in one direction from the paper supply to the paper discharge.

The example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is an example suitable for a case where the time required for the processing of the application is relatively long and the time required for the sheet conveyance from the sheet feeding to the sheet discharging is shorter. That is, it is suitable when the distance on the transport path 14 where the CCD sensor 14 in the OCR recognition unit 3 and the print head 16 in the print control & mechanism unit 4 are arranged cannot be long. In any case, the transport path 14 needs a structure capable of performing paper transport in both directions. In the example shown in FIG. 5, image recognition is performed by the scanner in the direction indicated by the paper feed direction 1, the paper is returned in the direction indicated by the paper feed direction 2, and the paper is discharged while being printed in the direction indicated by the paper feed direction 3. I do. FIG.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, a serial printer capable of bidirectional printing is used as a printer, and a CCD
The image is recognized by the scanner, printing is performed while returning the paper in the direction indicated by the paper feed direction 2, and the paper is discharged in the direction indicated by the paper feed direction 3.

FIG. 7 shows another transport path A between the OCR recognition unit 3 and the print control & mechanism unit 4 for discharging paper.
Under the control of the CPU 34, feed paper in one direction (paper feed direction 1), wait for image recognition by the OCR recognition unit 3, and after finishing image recognition, feed paper in the reverse direction (paper feed direction 2). The print data processing unit 2 prints the processed print data while returning, and discharges the paper using the transport path A.

The examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are also suitable for the case where the time required for the processing of the application is relatively long and the time required for the paper transport from the paper supply to the paper discharge is shorter.
This is an example in which the transfer printer shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 8, the image recognition by the OCR recognition unit 3 is performed in the direction indicated by the paper feed direction 1, and the photosensitive drum is conveyed longer and longer than usual by a roller or the like with the print head 4. In this case, a special transport path B is provided to secure processing time for the application, and the paper is ejected while being printed by the print head. In the example shown in FIG. 9, the paper conveyance speed is made variable, image recognition is performed by the OCR recognition unit 3 in the direction indicated by the paper feed direction 1, and before the paper reaches the vicinity of the print head of the print control & mechanism unit 4. Then, the paper transport speed is reduced, the processing time by the application is secured, and the paper is discharged while being printed via the print head.

In order to make the transport speed variable, several types of speed levels are prepared in advance, and a sensor is arranged near the print head. Then, the transfer speed automatically set in step (1) may be switched to another level.

In the example shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, normal paper feeding is not possible when paper is fed obliquely or bent and fed due to inconvenience when setting paper in the cassette. 9 is an embodiment of a transport mechanism for improving the inconvenience in the case where there is not.

In the example shown in FIG. 10, first, the scanner reads the degree of abnormality of the sheet and determines whether or not the sheet can be corrected. If correction is not possible, the paper is discharged from the paper discharge port or paper feed port. If correction is possible, the paper transport speed is made variable between the left and right sides of the paper, and the OCR is performed in the paper feed direction 1 shown in the figure.
The image recognition by the recognition unit 3 is performed, the speed of the paper is adjusted right and left before the paper reaches the print head to correct a normal transport state, and the paper is discharged while being printed by the print head. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the scanner reads the degree of paper feeding abnormality and determines whether print correction is possible. If it is determined that the print correction is not possible, the paper is discharged from the paper feed port or the discharge port. When print correction is possible, the image recognition is performed by the OCR recognition unit 3 in the paper feed direction 1 shown in the figure, and when the paper is fed obliquely, the oblique print image is printed using a well-known print correction method. This is transmitted to the print head, and discharged while performing correction printing with the print head. Since the above-described printing correction method is well known in the related art, a description thereof will be omitted.

In any of the above-described embodiments, the CPU 34 for controlling the paper transport mechanism always monitors the image recognition, processing, and printing processes and the paper transport state and position while comparing them with each other. Alternatively, it controls the transport time.

As described above, according to the present invention, the scanner
Includes a CR recognition function, recognizes the contents written on paper, entrusts the application with the decision, and controls the transport path shared and used by the recognition system and the printing system by the application, so that printing suitable for the contents, for example, It can be realized without manual operation, such as recognizing the answer of the test, printing the score, recognizing the contents of the receipt, and printing the approval stamp.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, an OCR function is added to a scanner, and an image recognition and printing application for recognizing and printing an input image are linked in real time by linking a conveyance path used for image recognition and print processing. This eliminates the need for manual operation between image recognition and print processing, and saves time for data conversion and the like, thereby improving operability. Ideal for applications such as recognizing and scoring test answers or recognizing that there is no receipt and printing an approval stamp.
High reliability by adding a paper transport control unit that corrects abnormal paper feed or a print correction control unit that reads the degree of abnormal paper feed, performs print correction on the processed data according to the degree, and supplies it to the image output unit An image recognition output device can also be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram cited for illustrating the operation principle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a structure of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the controller shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation concept of an embodiment of a transport mechanism used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation concept of an embodiment of a transport mechanism used in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation concept of an embodiment of a transport mechanism used in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation concept of an embodiment of a transport mechanism used in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing an operation concept of an embodiment of a transport mechanism used in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an operation concept of an embodiment of a transport mechanism used in the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation concept of an embodiment of a transport mechanism used in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation concept of an embodiment of a transport mechanism used in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image recognition output device, 2 ... Print data generation part, 3 ... O
CR recognition unit, 4: print control & mechanism unit, 5: transport control & mechanism unit, 13: paper transport path, 15: controller board, 31
... Scan control device, 32. Recognition device, 34. CPU, 37
... a print control device, 39 ... a transfer recording control mechanism, 40 ... a paper transport control mechanism.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G06K 9/00 H04N 1/387 H04N 1/387 G06F 15/64 Z

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image input unit for converting an image into an electric signal by scanning an image, an image recognition unit for recognizing an electric signal output from the image input unit and converting the image into internal code data, and an output from the image recognition unit. A print data generation unit that processes the internal code data to be generated in accordance with an application to generate print data, and an image output unit that outputs print data including recognition data and processing data output by the print data generation unit. Characteristic image recognition output device. 2. A printing apparatus further comprising a paper transport mechanism controlled by the print data generation unit and continuously transporting paper from paper feeding to paper discharging in a series of movements from image scanning to print data output. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The image recognition output device according to the above. 3. The print data generation unit according to an application by controlling a paper transport mechanism based on a time difference between a time required from image scanning to print data output and a time required for image recognition and editing based on the application. 3. The image recognition output device according to claim 2, wherein an appropriate print result is obtained. 4. The paper transport mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the paper transport mechanism transports the paper in a single direction from paper feed to paper discharge from image scanning to print data output under the control of a print data generator. The image recognition output device according to the above. 5. The paper transport mechanism has a structure in which paper is transported in both directions under the control of a print data generation unit, feeds paper in one direction, waits for image recognition by an image recognition unit, and waits for image recognition. 4. The image recognition output device according to claim 3, wherein after completion of the printing, the paper is returned in the reverse direction, and the print data processed by the print data generation unit is printed again in one direction and discharged. 6. The image output device has a bidirectional printing mechanism, and the paper transport mechanism feeds paper in one direction under the control of a print data generation unit and waits for image recognition by an image recognition unit. 3. The image recognition output device according to claim 2, wherein the processed print data is printed by the print data generation unit while returning the paper in the reverse direction, and after the printing is completed, the paper is discharged in one direction again. . 7. An additional conveyance path for discharging a sheet is added between the image input unit and the image output unit, paper is fed in one direction, and the image recognition unit waits for image recognition. ,
3. The image recognition output device according to claim 2, wherein the processed print data is printed by the print data generation unit while returning the paper in the reverse direction, and the paper is discharged using the transport path. 8. A transport mechanism between an image input unit and an image output unit, which takes into account a time difference between image scanning and print data output and a time required for image recognition and processing based on an application to absorb the time difference. The image recognition output device according to claim 4, wherein a special transport path is added to the image recognition output device. 9. The paper transport mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said paper transport mechanism controls a speed of paper transport under control of a print data control unit, and controls a series of paper transport speeds from feed to discharge from image scanning to print data output. 5. The image recognition output device according to claim 4, wherein optimal control is performed. 10. An image input unit for converting an electric signal by scanning an image, an image recognizing unit for recognizing an electric signal output from the image input unit and converting it into internal code data, and an output unit for outputting the image signal. A print data generation unit that processes the internal code data to be generated in accordance with an application to generate print data, an image output unit that outputs print data including recognition data and processing data output by the print data generation unit, and print data generation The paper transport mechanism, which is controlled by the printer unit and continuously transports the paper from feed to discharge in a series of movements from image scanning to print data output, and the paper transport speed A paper transport control unit for adjusting the speed on the left and right sides of the paper by correcting the right and left sides of the paper and correcting an abnormal paper feed. Output device. 11. An image input unit for converting an image into an electric signal by scanning an image, an image recognition unit for recognizing an electric signal output from the image input unit and converting the image into internal code data, and an output from the image recognition unit. A print data generation unit that processes the internal code data to be generated in accordance with an application to generate print data, an image output unit that outputs print data including recognition data and processing data output by the print data generation unit, and print data generation And a paper transport mechanism that continuously and unidirectionally transports the paper from paper feed to paper discharge in a series of movements from image scanning to print data output, and a print data generator. Under the control, read the level of abnormal paper feeding in the image input section, apply print correction to the processed data according to the degree, and output the image An image recognition output device comprising: a print correction control unit that supplies the print correction control unit to the unit.