JP2018006937A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To easily output a plurality of original images of different sizes as a composite image aggregated on one output sheet in an arrangement according to a user's intention. A relative position setting unit 54C selects a plurality of output element images G1, which are part or all of a plurality of original images G0, according to an operation on an operation unit 4A, and a relative positional relationship between the plurality of output element images G1. Relative position information Dx1 is set. The conversion magnification calculator 53C calculates a conversion magnification for reducing the composite image G2 including the plurality of output element images G1 arranged in accordance with the relative position information Dx1 to an image of the maximum size that can be accommodated in the effective area 920 of the output sheet 92. The preview screen control unit 54B causes the display unit 4B to display a preview screen F2 that includes a preview image G2x of a printed matter in which the composite image G2 that has been sized according to the conversion magnification is formed in the effective area 920 of the output sheet 92. . [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In general, the image forming apparatus acquires data of a plurality of original images, and forms a composite image including the plurality of original images reduced to a size that can be accommodated in a preset size output sheet on the output sheet. Processing can be executed.

  In addition, it is known that the image forming apparatus synthesizes the acquired plurality of original images according to format information included in pre-selected form data (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-86580 A

  By the way, there are cases where it is desired to output the plurality of original images having different sizes as the composite image aggregated on one output sheet in an arrangement according to the user's intention.

  In the above case, a user of a conventional image forming apparatus first creates a document of the composite image by reducing and copying each of the plurality of original images and cutting and pasting a plurality of sheets on which reduced copy images are formed. In addition, it is necessary to copy the original of the composite image. However, such complicated work is a heavy burden on the user.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that makes it easy to output a plurality of original images of different sizes as a composite image aggregated on one output sheet in an arrangement according to the user's intention. It is in.

  An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes an operation unit, a display unit, an original image acquisition unit, a selection screen control unit, a preview screen control unit, a relative position setting unit, and a conversion magnification calculation unit. A composite image data generating unit and an image forming unit. The original image acquisition unit acquires data of a plurality of original images. The selection screen control unit causes the display unit to display a selection screen on which the plurality of original images are displayed as selection targets. The preview screen control unit causes the display unit to display a preview screen on which a preview image of a printed material in which an image is formed in a preset effective area in an output sheet having a preset size is displayed. The relative position setting unit selects a plurality of output element images that are part or all of the plurality of original images from the plurality of original images included in the selection screen according to an operation on the operation unit, and the output Relative position information representing the relative positional relationship of the plurality of output element images within the effective area of the sheet is set. When the composite image including the plurality of output element images arranged according to the relative position information remains in the original size and does not fit in the effective area, the conversion magnification calculation unit converts the composite image of the original size in the effective area. The conversion magnification, which is the magnification for reducing the image to the maximum size image that fits in the image, is calculated. The composite image data generation unit generates composite image data representing the composite image whose size has been adjusted according to the conversion magnification. The image forming unit forms an image represented by the composite image data on the output sheet. The preview screen control unit causes the display unit to display the preview screen including the preview image of the printed matter in which the composite image whose size is adjusted according to the conversion magnification is formed in the effective area of the output sheet.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that makes it easy to output a plurality of original images having different sizes as a composite image aggregated on one output sheet in an arrangement according to the user's intention. Is possible.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of image composition processing in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of the composite image adjustment process in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a plurality of original images synthesized by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite layout setting screen in an initial state in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite layout setting screen when one output element image is selected in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite layout setting screen when two output element images are selected in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a condition designation screen in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of candidate composite images before reduction processing organized by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9A shows two non-character string type images in the first orientation. FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a first candidate composite image before reduction processing arranged, and FIG. 9B shows a second candidate composite image before reduction processing in which one of two non-character string type images is arranged in a second orientation. FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating a third candidate composite image before the reduction process in which the other of the two non-character string type images is arranged in the second orientation, and FIG. 9D illustrates two non-character string types. It is a figure which shows the 4th candidate synthetic | combination image before the reduction process in which the image was arranged in the 2nd direction. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of candidate composite images after reduction processing organized by the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10A shows two non-character string type images in the first orientation. FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a first candidate composite image after reduction processing arranged, and FIG. 10B shows a second candidate composite image after reduction processing in which one of two non-character string type images is arranged in a second orientation. FIG. 10C is a diagram illustrating a third candidate composite image after reduction processing in which the other of the two non-character string type images is arranged in the second orientation, and FIG. 10D is a diagram illustrating two non-character string types. It is a figure which shows the 4th candidate synthesized image after the reduction process in which the image was arranged in the 2nd direction. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a composite layout setting screen in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a combined layout setting screen in the middle of setting the overlapping state of two output element images in the image forming apparatus according to the application example. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a combined layout setting screen after the overlapping state of two output element images is set in the image forming apparatus according to the application example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the following embodiment is an example which actualized this invention, Comprising: It does not have the character which limits the technical scope of this invention.

First Embodiment: Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus 10
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment includes an image reading unit 1, an image forming unit 2, a data storage unit 3, a user interface 4, a control unit 5, and the like. The image forming apparatus 10 is, for example, a copying machine or a multifunction machine.

  The user interface 4 includes an operation unit 4A and a display unit 4B. In the present embodiment, the display unit 4B is a panel display device having a display panel, and the operation unit 4A includes a touch panel formed integrally with the display panel.

  The image reading unit 1 is a device that reads an image of a document 91. The image reading unit 1 includes a light source that emits light to the document 91, a line sensor that receives reflected light from the document 91 and outputs image data. An image read from the document 91 is an example of an original image G0 in an image composition process described later (see FIG. 4).

  The image forming unit 2 is an apparatus that executes an image forming process for forming an image on the output sheet 92 by a predetermined method such as an electrophotographic method or an ink jet method. In the present embodiment, the image forming unit 2 forms an image corresponding to the composite image data Ds0 generated by the image processing unit 53 described later on the output sheet 92.

  The data storage unit 3 is a computer-readable non-volatile memory. The data storage unit 3 can store programs and various data. For example, a hard disk drive or an SSD (Solid State Drive) is adopted as the data storage unit 3.

  The control unit 5 executes various calculations, data processing, and various electronic devices included in the image forming apparatus 10. The control unit 5 can exchange data and control signals with the data storage unit 3 through the bus.

  The control unit 5 includes an image reading control unit 51 that controls the image reading unit 1, a print control unit 52 that controls the image forming unit 2, an image processing unit 53, and a UI (User Interface) control that controls the user interface 4. Part 54.

  For example, the control unit 5 is realized by a processor that executes a program stored in advance in the data storage unit 3 or the like.

  The image forming apparatus 10 acquires data of a plurality of original images G0, and forms on the output sheet 92 a composite image G2 including the plurality of original images G0 reduced to a size that can be accommodated in the output sheet 92 having a preset size. The aggregate printing process can be executed (see FIG. 4).

  By the way, there are cases where it is desired to output a plurality of original images G0 having different sizes as a composite image G2 aggregated on one output sheet 92 in an arrangement according to the user's intention.

  In the above case, the user of the conventional image forming apparatus first creates a document of the composite image G2 by making a reduced copy of each of the plurality of original images G0 and cutting and pasting a plurality of sheets on which reduced copy images are formed. In addition, it is necessary to copy the original of the composite image G2. However, such complicated work is a heavy burden on the user.

  The image forming apparatus 10 executes a later-described image composition process, thereby combining a plurality of original images G0 having different sizes into a composite image G2 that is aggregated on one output sheet 92 in an arrangement according to the user's intention. It makes it easy to output.

  The image composition process is executed by the control unit 5. In order to execute the image composition processing, the UI control unit 54 of the control unit 5 includes a selection screen control unit 54A, a preview screen control unit 54B, a relative position setting unit 54C, a specified magnification setting unit 54D, and an output control unit 54E. . Furthermore, the image processing unit 53 of the control unit 5 includes an image type determination unit 53A, a candidate image organization unit 53B, a conversion magnification calculation unit 53C, and a composite image data generation unit 53D.

  Before the image composition process is started, the output control unit 54E of the UI control unit 54 sets the output sheet information Dx0 according to the user's operation on the operation unit 4A. The output sheet information Dx0 includes information such as the size, orientation, and margin of the output sheet 92.

  The effective area 920 is the maximum area in which the composite image G2 can be formed on the output sheet 92. The effective area 920 of the output sheet 92 is specified by the output sheet information Dx0.

  That is, the effective area 920 is obtained by removing the blank area represented by the blank information included in the output sheet information Dx0 from the entire area of the output sheet 92 represented by the size and orientation information included in the output sheet information Dx0. It is the remaining area.

[Image composition processing]
Hereinafter, an example of the procedure of the image composition process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, S101, S102,... Represent identification codes of steps executed by the control unit 5 in the image composition process.

<Step S101>
In the image composition process, the image reading control unit 51 causes the image reading unit 1 to read images of a plurality of documents 91. The plurality of image data obtained in this way is data of a plurality of original images G0 to be combined. The image reading unit 1 is an example of an original image acquisition unit that acquires data of a plurality of original images G0 by reading images of a plurality of documents 91.

<Step S102>
Next, the image type determination unit 53A of the image processing unit 53 executes character recognition processing for each of the plurality of original images G0. Accordingly, the image type determination unit 53A is a character string type image G01 that includes the character image G11 with each of the plurality of original images G0 exceeding a preset occupancy, or is a non-character string type image G02 other than that. Is determined (see FIG. 4).

  For example, the degree of occupancy may be the ratio of the number of pixels of the character image G11 to the total number of drawing pixels in the original image G0. The degree of occupation is set in advance through an operation on the operation unit 4A.

<Step S103>
Next, the UI control unit 54 causes the display unit 4B to display a composite layout setting screen F0 as shown in FIG. 5, for example. The composite layout setting screen F0 includes a selection screen F1 and a preview screen F2.

  The selection screen F1 is a selection menu screen on which a plurality of original images G0 obtained in step S101 are displayed as selection targets. In the selection screen F1 in the composite layout setting screen F0 in the initial state shown in FIG. 5, all the original images G0 obtained in step S101 are displayed as selection targets in a reduced state.

  The preview screen F2 is a screen on which a preview image G2x of a printed material on which an image is formed in a preset effective area 920 in the preset size output sheet 92 is displayed (see FIGS. 7 and 8).

  The composite layout setting screen F0 in the initial state shown in FIG. 5 is a screen before the image displayed on the preview screen F2 is still selected. Therefore, in FIG. 5, the preview image G2x does not yet include the composite image G2.

  In step S103, the selection screen control unit 54A of the UI control unit 54 displays the selection screen F1 on the display unit 4B, and the preview screen control unit 54B of the UI control unit 54 displays the preview screen F2 on the display unit 4B.

<Steps S104, S105, S106>
Next, when the composite layout setting screen F0 is displayed, the relative position setting unit 54C of the UI control unit 54 executes processing for detecting an arrangement setting operation on the operation unit 4A (S104). Similarly, the designated magnification setting unit 54D executes a process (S105) of detecting a designated operation on the operation unit 4A. Similarly, the output control unit 54E executes a process (S106) of detecting an output operation on the operation unit 4A.

  The arrangement setting operation includes an output element image selection operation and a relative positional relationship setting operation. The output element image selection operation is an operation of selecting a plurality of output element images G1 that are part or all of the plurality of original images G0 from the plurality of original images G0 included in the selection screen F1. The relative positional relationship setting operation is an operation for setting the relative positional relationship of the plurality of output element images G1 within the effective area 920 of the output sheet 92.

  For example, the output element image selection operation and the relative positional relationship setting operation may be a series of drag and drop operations. In the drag-and-drop operation, any one of the plurality of original images G0 on the selection screen F1 is a start point, and a target position in the preview screen F2 is an end point.

  In addition, the drag-and-drop operation may be an operation for changing the positional relationship between a plurality of output element images G1 already displayed on the preview screen F2. In this case, in the drag and drop operation, the position of the output element image G1 already displayed on the preview screen F2 is the start point, and the target position between the other output element images G1 in the preview screen F2 is the end point. It is.

  Further, the operation of touching the operation unit 4A with the finger 8 at the start point in the selection screen F1 is the output element image selection operation for selecting the original image G0 displayed at the start point as the output element image G1. Further, when the finger 8 is released from the operation unit 4A at the end point, the position of the end point is set to the relative position of the currently selected output element image G1 with respect to the other output element image G1 previously displayed on the preview screen F2. Is set as

  5 and 6, the finger 8 that performs the drag-and-drop operation is indicated by a virtual line (broken line).

  The designation operation is an operation for selecting an output element image G1 that is a target for designating conditions such as magnification and orientation in the composite image G2. In the following description, the output element image G1 selected by the specifying operation is referred to as a specified element image.

  In the present embodiment, an operation for the text image icon F3 included in the composite layout setting screen F0 is an example of the specifying operation. This designation operation is an example of an operation for selecting the character string type image G01 for the operation unit 4A. The designated magnification setting unit 54D can collectively select the character string type image G01 included in the plurality of output element images G1 as the designated element image in accordance with an operation on the text image icon F3.

  Further, an operation of long-pressing or double-touching a portion where the output element image G1 is displayed on the preview screen F2 is an example of the specifying operation for selecting one specified element image.

  On the other hand, the output operation is an operation for the print icon F4 or the save icon F5 included in the composite layout setting screen F0.

  The print icon F4 is an operation icon that instructs execution of the composite image forming process. The composite image forming process is a process of forming the composite image G2 displayed on the preview screen F2 on the output sheet 92. The save icon F5 is an operation icon for instructing execution of a process for saving the data of the composite image G2 in the data storage unit 3.

  The relative position setting unit 54C repeats the processes of steps S104 to S106 when none of the arrangement setting operation, the condition specifying operation, and the output operation can be detected. In addition, when the relative position setting unit 54C detects the arrangement setting operation, the relative position setting unit 54C shifts the process to step S107. If the relative position setting unit 54C detects the condition specifying operation, the relative position setting unit 54C shifts the process to step S108. The relative position setting unit 54C shifts the process to step S109 when detecting an operation on the print icon F4, and shifts the process to step S110 when detecting an operation on the save icon F5.

<Step S107>
In step S107, the control unit 5 executes a composite image adjustment process. The composite image generation process is a process of generating data of a composite image G2 that fits within the effective area 920 of the output sheet 92 by adjusting the size and orientation of the plurality of output element images G1 selected in step S104. .

  In the following description, the data of the composite image G2 generated in step S107 is referred to as composite image data Ds0. A specific example of the composite image adjustment process will be described later. When the composite image adjustment process is completed, the control unit 5 shifts the process to step S104.

<Step S108>
In step S108, the designated magnification setting unit 54D displays the condition designation screen 7 as shown in FIG. 8 on the display unit 4B, and then designates the designated condition for the designated element image according to the operation on the operation unit 4A. Set.

  In step S108, the designated magnification setting unit 54D causes the display unit 4B to display a condition designation screen 7 as shown in FIG. 8, for example. The condition designation screen 7 includes a magnification input field F71 for inputting the designated magnification, an automatic magnification designation unit F72, a fixed magnification designation unit F73, a relative magnification designation unit F74, an automatic direction designation unit F75, and a first direction. A designation portion F76 and a second direction designation portion F77 are included.

  When an operation for selecting the automatic magnification designating unit F72 is performed, the designation of the magnification of the designated element image in the composite image G2 is canceled. In this case, the designated magnification input in the magnification input field F71 is ignored, and the conversion magnification calculator 53C automatically sets the magnification of the designated element image in the composite image G2 in the composite image adjustment processing.

  When an operation of selecting the fixed magnification designation unit F73 is performed, the designated magnification setting unit 54D sets the designated magnification input in the magnification input field F71 as the fixed magnification of the designated element image. When an operation for selecting the relative magnification designation unit F74 is performed, the designated magnification setting unit 54D sets the designated magnification input in the magnification input field F71 as the relative magnification of the designated element image.

  When an operation for selecting the orientation automatic designation unit F75 is performed, the designation of the orientation of the designated element image in the composite image G2 is canceled. In this case, the image processing unit 53 automatically sets the orientation of the designated element image in the composite image G2 according to a predetermined rule.

  When the operation of selecting the first orientation designating unit F76 is performed, the relative position setting unit 54C sets the orientation of the designated element image in the composite image G2 to the same first orientation as that of the original image G0. In addition, when an operation for selecting the second direction designating unit F77 is performed, the relative position setting unit 54C performs a second orientation in which the orientation of the designated element image in the composite image G2 is 90 degrees different from the orientation of the original image G0. Set to. That is, the relative position setting unit 54C can specify the orientation of some or all of the plurality of output element images G1 in accordance with the operation on the operation unit 4A in step S108.

  As described above, the designated magnification setting unit 54D can select a part of the plurality of output element images G1 as the designated element image in accordance with an operation on the operation unit 4A. Furthermore, the designated magnification setting unit 54D can designate one of the fixed magnification and the relative magnification as the designated magnification for the designated element image.

  The fixed magnification is a fixed magnification with respect to the size of the original image G0. The relative magnification is a relative magnification of the designated element image with respect to the output element image G1 other than the designated element image.

  The designated magnification setting unit 54D shifts the process following step S108 to step S104.

<Step S109>
On the other hand, when the printing operation is detected in step S106, the print control unit 52 acquires the composite image data Ds0 generated by the process of step S107 from the image processing unit 53, and forms the composite image G2 on the output sheet 92. The image forming unit 2 is caused to execute the processing to be performed. Thereafter, the print control unit 52 ends the image composition process.

<Step S110>
When the storage operation is detected in step S106, the output control unit 54E stores the composite image data Ds0 generated by the process of step S107 in the data storage unit 3. Thereafter, the output control unit 54E ends the image composition process.

  When a printing operation is performed on the operation unit 4A, the output control unit 54E reads the composite image data Ds0 from the data storage unit 3, and forms the composite image G2 represented by the composite image data Ds0 on the output sheet 92. The image forming unit 2 executes the process.

[The composite image adjustment process]
Next, an example of the procedure of the composite image adjustment process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the following description, S201, S202,... Represent identification codes of steps executed by the control unit 5 in the composite image adjustment process.

<Step S201>
In the composite image adjustment process, the relative position setting unit 54C selects the output element image G1 from the plurality of original images G0 included in the selection screen F1 according to the output element image selection operation detected in step S104. Further, the relative position setting unit 54C sets the position of the output element image G1 within the effective area 920 of the output sheet 92 according to the arrangement setting operation detected in step S104.

  By repeating the processes of step S104 and step S201 a plurality of times, some or all of the plurality of original images G0 are selected as a plurality of output element images G1.

  When the second and subsequent output element images G1 are selected, the relative position setting unit 54C determines the relative position relationship of the plurality of output element images G1 in the effective area 920 according to the arrangement setting operation detected in step S104. The relative position information Dx1 to be expressed is set.

  In step S201, the relative position setting unit 54C can also change the already set relative position information Dx1 in accordance with an operation on the operation unit 4A. In this case, the relative position setting unit 54C changes the relative position information Dx1 according to the drag and drop operation in the preview screen F2.

  In the following description, one and the other of the X axis direction and the Y axis direction in the effective area 920 are referred to as a main direction and a sub direction, respectively. The main direction and the sub direction are set in advance according to an operation on the operation unit 4A.

  For example, it is conceivable that the relative position information Dx1 is represented by a row number and a column number. The row number is a number representing an arrangement order in the sub direction of rows along the main direction. The column number is a number representing the arrangement order in the main direction of the output element images G1 belonging to the same row.

<Step S202>
Further, the selection screen control unit 54A updates the display content of the selection screen F1. Specifically, the selection screen control unit 54A causes the display unit 4B to display the selection screen F1 in which the output element image G1 is excluded from the selection target (see FIGS. 5 to 7).

<Step S203>
Further, the candidate image organization unit 53B of the image processing unit 53 executes the candidate image organization process. The candidate image organization process is a process for organizing a plurality of candidate composite images G20 from a plurality of output element images G1.

  FIGS. 9A to D and FIGS. 10A to 10D respectively show examples of four candidate composite images G20 organized from four output element images G1 including two character string type images G01.

  The plurality of candidate composite images G20 are images including a plurality of output element images G1 arranged according to the relative position information Dx1, respectively, and are candidates for the composite image G2.

  More specifically, in the plurality of candidate composite images G20, the character string type images G01 included in the plurality of output element images G1 are arranged in a predetermined standard orientation based on the orientation of the character image G11. This is an image obtained by arranging the non-character string type images G02 included in the plurality of output element images G1 in the first direction and the second direction, respectively.

  The standard orientation of the character string type image G01 is a predetermined orientation based on the orientation of the character image G11. Specifically, the standard direction is a direction in which the vertical direction of the character image G11 is along the Y-axis direction of the knitted image.

  The first direction of the non-character string type image G02 is the same as the direction of the original image G0. On the other hand, the second direction of the non-character string type image G02 is different from the first direction by 90 degrees.

<Step S204>
Next, the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C of the image processing unit 53 performs conversion magnification when the composite image G2 including a plurality of output element images G1 arranged in accordance with the relative position information Dx1 remains in the effective area 920 with the original size. Is calculated. The conversion magnification is a magnification for reducing the original size composite image G2 to an image of the maximum size that fits in the effective area 920.

  On the other hand, when the composite image G2 remains in the effective area 920 with the original size, the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C sets the conversion magnification to 100%.

  In the present embodiment, the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C first calculates a candidate magnification that is a magnification for reducing the original size candidate composite image G20 to the maximum size image that fits in the effective area 920 for each of the plurality of candidate composite images G20. To do. Then, the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C derives the largest candidate magnification as the conversion magnification. Accordingly, one candidate magnification that can use the effective area 920 most efficiently is adopted as the conversion magnification. The largest candidate magnification is the candidate magnification closest to 100%.

  When the designated element image and the designated magnification corresponding thereto are not set, the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C calculates the conversion magnification common to all output element images G1 in the composite image G2.

  On the other hand, when the designated element image and the designated magnification corresponding thereto are set in step S108 of FIG. 2, the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C sets the size of the designated element image in the composite image G2 according to the designated magnification. The conversion magnification for the output element image G1 other than the designated element image in the composite image G2 is calculated.

  The examples shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 are examples in which two character string type images G01 included in the four output element images G1 are the designated element images having the fixed magnification as the designated magnification. In this case, the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C adjusts the size of the two character string type images G01 in the composite image G2 to a size according to the specified magnification. Further, the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C calculates the conversion magnification for the remaining non-character string type image G02 in the composite image G2.

  However, when part or all of the plurality of output element images G1 are designated in step S108 of FIG. 2, the candidate image organization unit 53B outputs the output element images G1 arranged in a direction opposite to the designated direction. Is excluded from the target for deriving the conversion magnification.

  After the process of step S204 is performed, the preview screen control unit 54B and a composite image data generation unit 53D described later process the candidate composite image G20 corresponding to the largest candidate magnification as the composite image G2.

  In the example shown in FIG. 10, the candidate composite image G20 shown in FIG. 10D and the candidate candidate magnification corresponding thereto are employed as the composite image G2 and the conversion magnification corresponding thereto.

<Step S205>
Further, the composite image data generation unit 53D of the image processing unit 53 generates composite image data Ds0 representing the composite image G2 whose size has been adjusted according to the conversion magnification calculated by the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C.

  In step S205, the composite image data generation unit 53D generates composite image data Ds0 using the candidate composite image G20 corresponding to the largest candidate magnification as the composite image G2.

  When the designated element image and the designated magnification corresponding thereto are not set, the composite image data generation unit 53D sets, as a composite image G2, an image including all the output element images G1 whose sizes are adjusted according to the common conversion magnification. adopt.

  On the other hand, when the designated element image and the designated magnification corresponding thereto are set in step S108 of FIG. 2, the composite image data generation unit 53D performs the size adjustment according to the designated magnification and the conversion magnification. An image including the output element image G1 other than the specified element image whose size has been adjusted is employed as the composite image G2.

<Step S206>
Further, the preview screen control unit 54B updates the display content of the preview screen F2. Specifically, the preview screen control unit 54B displays the preview screen F2 including the preview image G2x of the printed matter in which the composite image G2 whose size is adjusted according to the conversion magnification is formed in the effective area 920 of the output sheet 92. 4B is displayed.

  Further, the preview screen control unit 54B displays the conversion magnification adopted for the size adjustment of the composite image G2 in the conversion magnification display field F6 in the display unit 4B (see FIGS. 6 to 8).

  The relative position setting unit 54C updates the relative position information Dx1 every time the output element image G1 is selected (S201). The conversion magnification calculation unit 53C calculates the latest conversion magnification every time the relative position information Dx1 is updated. Further, every time the latest conversion magnification is calculated, the composite image data generation unit 53D generates composite image data Ds0 corresponding to the conversion magnification (S205). Further, every time the latest conversion magnification is calculated, the preview screen control unit 54B causes the display unit 4B to display the preview image G2x including the composite image G2 corresponding to the conversion magnification (S206).

  When the designated element image and the designated magnification corresponding thereto are not set, the preview screen control unit 54B generates an image including all output element images G1 whose sizes are adjusted according to the common conversion magnification as a composite image G2. Adopt as.

  On the other hand, when the designated element image and the designated magnification corresponding thereto are set in step S108 of FIG. 2, the preview screen control unit 54B determines the size according to the designated element image adjusted in size according to the designated magnification and the conversion magnification. An image including the adjusted output element image G1 other than the designated element image is employed as the composite image G2.

  The preview screen control unit 54B ends the composite image adjustment process after the process of step S206.

  If the image forming apparatus 10 is employed, it becomes easy to output a plurality of original images G0 having different sizes as a composite image G2 aggregated on one output sheet 92 in an arrangement according to the user's intention. .

  Each time the output element image G1 is selected and each time the relative position information Dx1 is updated, the preview screen control unit 54B causes the display unit 4B to display a preview of the latest composite image G2. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the arrangement state and size balance of the plurality of output element images G1 in the composite image G2.

  In step S203 of FIG. 3, the candidate image knitting unit 53B knitting a plurality of candidate composite images G20 including a plurality of output element images G1 arranged in accordance with the relative position information Dx1. In the candidate composite image G20, the character string type image G01 is arranged in the standard orientation based on the orientation of the character image G11. In this case, since the character strings included in the composite image G2 are arranged in the standard orientation, the composite image G2 that allows easy reading of the character strings is obtained.

  Further, in step S108 of FIG. 2, it is possible to select the designated element image and set the designated magnification which is the fixed magnification or the relative magnification for the designated element image. Thereby, the conversion magnification having a high degree of freedom reflecting the user's intention can be set.

  In step S108 of FIG. 2, the designated magnification setting unit 54D can select a character string type image G01 included in a plurality of output element images G1 as the designated element image in response to an operation on the text image icon F3. . As a result, it is possible to prevent the character string type image G01 from being excessively reduced in the composite image G2 and making the character string difficult to read.

  Further, in step S108 of FIG. 2, there are cases where the direction of some or all of the plurality of output element images G1 is designated. In this case, in steps S204 to S206 in FIG. 3, the conversion magnification calculation unit 53C, the composite image data generation unit 53D, and the preview screen control unit 54B may include a part of the plurality of output element images G1 arranged in the designated direction or An image including all of them is defined as a composite image G2. Thereby, the composition image G2 having a high degree of freedom reflecting the user's intention can be organized.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an image forming apparatus 10 </ b> A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 11, and 12. Hereinafter, differences between the image forming apparatus 10A and the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

  The image forming apparatus 10 </ b> A has a configuration in which a date extracting unit 53 </ b> E is added to the image processing unit 53 of the image forming apparatus 10.

  In step S103 of FIG. 2, the UI control unit 54 of the image forming apparatus 10A causes the display unit 4B to display a composite layout setting screen F00 as shown in FIG. 12, for example. The composite layout setting screen F0 includes a date order icon F8 in addition to the selection screen F1 and the preview screen F2.

  When the relative position setting unit 54C detects an operation on the date order icon F8 while the combined layout setting screen F00 is displayed on the display unit 4B, the date extraction unit 53E causes the date information G12 from each of the plurality of output element images G1. To extract. Further, the relative position setting unit 54C automatically sets the relative position information Dx1 representing the positional relationship in which the plurality of output element images G1 are arranged according to the date information G12.

  The date extraction unit 53E executes character recognition processing for each of the plurality of output element images G1, and recognizes an arrangement of numbers and characters or symbols expressed in a predetermined date format as date information G12.

  In step S202 of FIG. 3, the relative position setting unit 54C can change the automatically set relative position information Dx1 in accordance with an operation on the operation unit 4A.

  According to the image forming apparatus 10A, it is easy to generate a composite image G2 in which a plurality of output element images G1 are arranged in date order.

[Application example]
Next, an application example of the image forming apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. In this application example, the relative position setting unit 54C can set the overlapping state of some or all of the plurality of output element images G1 in the composite image G2 in accordance with the overlap setting operation on the operation unit 4A.

  In the following description, one of the two output element images G1 in which the morning state is set in the plurality of output element images G1 displayed on the preview screen F2 is referred to as a first output element image G1a, and the other is a second output. This is referred to as an element image G1b.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the overlap setting operation may include the following two operations. The first operation is an operation of selecting the first output element image G1a in the preview screen F2 by an operation of touching the operation unit 4A with the first finger 8a. The second operation is the second output element in the preview screen F2 by the drag-and-drop operation with the second finger 8b in a state where the first output element image G1a is selected by the first operation. This is an operation for moving the position of the image G1b to a position overlapping the first output element image G1a.

  The relative position setting unit 54C includes, in the relative position information Dx1, overlap information indicating an overlap state of the first output element image G1a and the second output element image G1b according to the overlap setting operation.

  Then, the candidate image organizing unit 53B, the conversion magnification calculating unit 53C, and the composite image data generating unit 53D form the first output element image G1a and the second output element image G1b that are overlapped according to the overlap information as one output element image G1. Each process is executed.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, a composite image G2 including the first output element image G1a and the second output element image G1b overlapped according to the overlap information is generated. According to the application example, it is possible to generate the synthesized image G2 having a high degree of freedom reflecting the user's intention.

  Further, it is conceivable that the image forming apparatuses 10 and 10A include a communication unit that can communicate with other apparatuses. In this case, it is conceivable that the communication unit acquires data of a plurality of original images G0 from the other device. The communication unit in this case is also an example of the original image acquisition unit.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention can be freely combined with the above-described embodiments and application examples, or can be appropriately modified within the scope of the invention described in each claim. Alternatively, it may be configured by omitting a part.

1: Image reading unit 2: Image forming unit 3: Data storage unit 4: User interface 4A: Operation unit 4B: Display unit 5: Control unit 7: Condition specifying screen 8: Finger 8a: First finger 8b: Second Finger 10, 10A: Image forming apparatus 51: Image reading control unit 52: Print control unit 53: Image processing unit 53A: Image type determination unit 53B: Candidate image organization unit 53C: Conversion magnification calculation unit 53D: Composite image data generation unit 53E : Date extraction unit 54: UI control unit 54A: Selection screen control unit 54B: Preview screen control unit 54C: Relative position setting unit 54D: Designated magnification setting unit 54E: Output control unit 91: Document 92: Output sheet 920: Effective area Ds0 : Composite image data Dx0: Output sheet information Dx1: Relative position information F0 and F00: Composite layout setting screen F1: Selection screen F2: Preview Surface F3: Text image icon F4: Print icon F5: Save icon F6: Conversion magnification display field F71: Magnification input field F72: Magnification automatic designation part F73: Fixed magnification designation part F74: Relative magnification designation part F75: Automatic direction designation part F76 : First direction designation part F77: second direction designation part F8: date order icon G0: original image G01: character string type image G02: non-character string type image G1: output element image G11: character image G12: date information G1a: First output element image G1b: Second output element image G2: Composite image G20: Candidate composite image G2x: Preview image

Claims (8)

An operation unit;
A display unit;
An original image acquisition unit for acquiring data of a plurality of original images;
A selection screen control unit that causes the display unit to display a selection screen on which the plurality of original images are displayed as selection targets;
A preview screen control unit that causes the display unit to display a preview screen on which a preview image of a printed material in which an image is formed in a preset effective area in an output sheet having a preset size is displayed;
In accordance with an operation on the operation unit, a plurality of output element images that are part or all of the plurality of original images are selected from the plurality of original images included in the selection screen, and the output sheet is within the effective area. A relative position setting unit that sets relative position information representing a relative positional relationship between the plurality of output element images;
When a composite image including the plurality of output element images arranged in accordance with the relative position information remains in the original size and does not fit in the effective area, the composite image having the original size is converted into an image having the maximum size that can be fit in the effective area. A conversion magnification calculation unit for calculating a conversion magnification which is a magnification to be reduced;
A composite image data generation unit that generates composite image data representing the composite image whose size has been adjusted according to the conversion magnification;
An image forming unit that forms an image represented by the composite image data on the output sheet,
The preview screen control unit causes the display unit to display the preview screen including the preview image of the printed matter in which the composite image whose size is adjusted according to the conversion magnification is formed in the effective area of the output sheet; Image forming apparatus. An image type determination unit that determines whether each of the plurality of original images is a character string type image including a character image exceeding a preset occupation degree or a non-character string type image other than that,
A candidate image knitting unit for knitting a plurality of candidate composite images each including the plurality of output element images arranged according to the relative position information,
In the plurality of candidate composite images, the character string type images included in the plurality of output element images are arranged in a predetermined standard direction based on the direction of the character image, and the plurality of output element images Is an image obtained by arranging the non-character string type images included in the image in a first orientation that is the same as the orientation of the original image and a second orientation that is 90 degrees different from the first orientation. ,
The conversion magnification calculating unit calculates a candidate magnification that is a magnification for reducing the candidate composite image of the original size for each of the plurality of candidate composite images to an image of a maximum size that fits in the effective region, and Let the candidate magnification be the conversion magnification,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the preview screen control unit and the composite image data generation unit use the candidate composite image corresponding to the largest candidate magnification as the composite image. According to an operation on the operation unit, a part of the plurality of output element images is selected as a specified element image, and a fixed magnification for the specified element image or the specified element image for the output element image other than the specified element image It further includes a designated magnification setting section for setting a designated magnification that is a relative magnification,
When the designated magnification is set, the conversion magnification calculation unit adjusts the size of the designated element image in the synthesized image to a size according to the designated magnification, and the output other than the designated element image in the synthesized image Calculate the conversion magnification for the element image,
When the designated magnification is set, the preview screen control unit and the composite image data generation unit are other than the designated element image whose size is adjusted according to the designated magnification and the designated element image whose size is adjusted according to the conversion magnification. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image including the output element image is used as the composite image. An image type determination unit for determining whether each of the plurality of original images is a character string type image including a character image exceeding a preset occupation degree or a non-character string type image other than that,
The designated magnification setting unit can collectively select the character string type images included in the plurality of output element images as the designated element image according to an operation of selecting the character string type image on the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relative position setting unit is capable of setting an overlapping state of some or all of the plurality of output element images in the composite image in accordance with an operation on the operation unit. The image forming apparatus described in 1. The relative position setting unit can specify the orientation of some or all of the plurality of output element images according to an operation on the operation unit.
When some or all of the orientations of the plurality of output element images are designated, the conversion magnification calculation unit, the preview screen control unit, and the composite image data generation unit are arranged in the designated orientations. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image including a part or all of an output element image is used as the composite image. A date extracting unit that extracts date information from each of the plurality of output element images;
The relative position setting unit can automatically set the relative position information indicating a positional relationship in which the plurality of output element images are arranged according to the date information, and further, the relative position automatically set according to an operation on the operation unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information can be changed.   8. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the original image acquisition unit includes an image reading unit that acquires data of the plurality of original images by reading images of a plurality of documents. apparatus.