U.S. patent application number 15/936557 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-07 for image processing apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Akihiro MORO.
Application Number | 20190045071 15/936557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65230745 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-07 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190045071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MORO; Akihiro |
February 7, 2019 |
IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS
Abstract
An image processing apparatus comprises a memory configured to
store a scanned image obtained by scanning a document placement
area, and a processor configured to detect an image of each
original document from the scanned image, specify a placement state
of each original document, and generate data in a data format
corresponding to the placement state of each original document in
the image.
Inventors: |
MORO; Akihiro; (Sunto
Shizuoka, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
65230745 |
Appl. No.: |
15/936557 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K 9/46 20130101; H04N
1/00742 20130101; H04N 1/00795 20130101; G06K 9/00442 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 1/00 20060101
H04N001/00; G06K 9/46 20060101 G06K009/46 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 1, 2017 |
JP |
2017-148919 |
Claims
1. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a memory configured
to store a scanned image obtained by scanning a document placement
area; and a processor configured to detect an image of each
original document from the scanned image, specify a placement state
of each original document, and generate data in a data format
corresponding to the placement state of each original document in
the image.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
processor is configured to specify whether the original document is
placed vertically or horizontally as the placement state.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
processor is configured to determine as the data format
corresponding to the placement state of each original document in
the image, either a format in which each of the images of the
original documents is set as individual data or a format in which
the images of the original documents are set collectively as one
data.
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
processor is configured to store the individual data of the
original documents in respective separate files, and to store the
one data of the original documents in a single file.
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a scanner configured to generate the scanned image,
wherein the processor is configured to store data in the data
format corresponding to the placement state in a storage
device.
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a printer configured to print an image on a sheet based
on the data in the data format corresponding to the placement state
generated by the processor.
7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
processor is configured to perform a processing to correct an
inclination of the original documents extracted from the scanned
image.
8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the
processor is further configured to perform a processing to increase
an image quality of the image of the original documents extracted
from the scanned image.
9. The image processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
processing to increase the image quality includes at least one of a
filter processing, a variable magnification processing, a density
adjustment processing or a gradation processing on the document
image.
10. A method of processing a scanned image in image processing
apparatus, comprising: storing a scanned image obtained by scanning
a document placement area; detecting an image of each original
document from the scanned image; specifying a placement state of
each original document; and generating data in a data format
corresponding to the placement state of each original document in
the image.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said specifying the
placement state includes specifying whether the original document
is placed vertically or horizontally.
12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:
determining the data format corresponding to the placement state of
each original document in the image as either a format in which
each of the images of the original documents is set as individual
data or a format in which the images of the original documents are
set collectively as one data.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: storing
the individual data of the original documents in respective
separate files; and storing the one data of the original documents
in a single file.
14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: storing
data in the data format corresponding to the placement state in a
storage device.
15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: printing
an image on a sheet based on the data in the data format
corresponding to the placement state generated by the
processor.
16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:
performing a processing to correct an inclination of the original
documents extracted from the scanned image.
17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:
performing a processing to increase an image quality of the image
of the original documents extracted from the scanned image.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the processing to
increase the image quality includes at least one of a filter
processing, a variable magnification processing, a density
adjustment processing or a gradation processing on the document
image.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-148919, filed
Aug. 1, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD
[0002] Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image
processing apparatus.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There is an image processing apparatus which scans a
plurality of original documents at once and extracts an image of
each original document from a scanned image. The technology is
referred to as multi-cropping processing. The image processing
apparatus stores images of each extracted original document as a
file according to data format specified by a user through an
operation section or the like.
[0004] Conventionally, the user has to manually specify the data
format.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus
according to an embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system processing section and
an image processing section according to the embodiment;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a setting table used in the
embodiment;
[0008] FIGS. 4-7 are each a diagram illustrating an example of a
data format used in the embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a document table used in the
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an operation in which the image
processing apparatus according to the embodiment generates and
stores the document table;
[0011] FIGS. 10-11 depict a flowchart of an operation in which the
image processing apparatus according to the embodiment stores a
file; and
[0012] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the operation in which the image
processing apparatus according to the embodiment stores a file.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] In accordance with an embodiment, an image processing
apparatus comprises a memory configured to store a scanned image
obtained by scanning a document placement area, and a processor
configured to detect an image of each original document from the
scanned image, specify a placement state of each original document,
and generate data in a data format corresponding to the placement
state of each original document in the image.
[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment is described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
[0015] An image processing apparatus according to the embodiment
executes a multi-cropping processing that includes scanning a
plurality of original documents at once and extracting an image of
the original document. The image processing apparatus stores an
image of each original document in a file in a predetermined data
format after the multi-cropping processing is executed. For
example, the image processing apparatus selects one data format
from a plurality of data formats, such as a data format for storing
each of the images in a separate file or a data format for storing
the images in one file.
[0016] The image processing apparatus may output the file to a
medium.
[0017] The image processing apparatus may print the file on a
sheet. The image processing apparatus may make a copy of the
original document according to the data format.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus
1. As shown in FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus 1 includes
the following hardware components: a system processing section 10,
an image processing section 20, a storage section 30, a scanner 40,
a printer 50, a control panel 60, an input and output device 70 and
a device interface 80.
[0019] The system processing section 10 controls the image
processing apparatus 1. The system processing section 10 transmits
and receives data to and from each section via a data bus line or
the like. For example, the system processing section 10 controls
the scanner 40 to acquire a scanned image obtained by scanning an
original document set in the scanner 40. The system processing
section 10 executes a multi-cropping processing based on the
scanned image. The system processing section 10 is described in
detail later.
[0020] The image processing section 20 processes the scanned image
acquired through the scanner 40. The image processing section 20
sends the scanned image to the system processing section 10. The
image processing section 20 carries out a process of increasing an
image quality of the scanned image. The image processing section 20
may transmit the scanned image to the printer 50. The image
processing section 20 is described in detail later.
[0021] The storage section 30 stores a document table under control
of the system processing section 10. The document table is
described later.
[0022] The storage section 30 is a nonvolatile memory in which data
can be written and rewritten. The storage section 30 is for
example, a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a SSD (Solid State Drive), an
EEPROM.RTM. or a flash memory.
[0023] The storage section 30 may be included in the system
processing section 10 as a memory.
[0024] The scanner 40 scans an original document placement area
(e.g., a documentplaten) in which the original document can be
placed. The scanner 40 generates a scanned image. The scanner 40
includes a sensor having a plurality of reading pixels (for
example, photoelectric conversion elements) in a main scanning
direction. The scanner 40 moves the sensor in a sub-scanning
direction that is orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The
scanner 40 reads out the original document on the document platen
by moving the sensor in the sub-scanning direction. The scanner 40
may have illumination for illuminating the original document. The
scanner 40 sends the scanned image to the image processing section
20 and the system processing section 10.
[0025] The scanner 40 may be provided with a sensor for sensing
light from a carriage moving in the sub-scanning direction.
[0026] The printer 50 prints an image on a sheet based on a signal
from the system processing section 10.
[0027] The printer 50 prints the image data on the sheet with, for
example, an inkjet system or an electrophotographic system. The
printer 50 may include a sheet supply section that supplies the
sheet on which an image is printed, a sheet conveyance section that
conveys the sheet, and a printing section that prints an image on
the sheet.
[0028] Various instructions are input to the control panel 60 by a
user of the image processing apparatus 1. The control panel 60
transmits a signal indicating the operation input by the user to
the system processing section 10. The control panel 60 includes,
for example, a keyboard, a numeric keypad, a touch panel, and the
like as an operation section.
[0029] The control panel 60 displays various information to the
user of the image processing apparatus 1. The control panel 60
displays a screen indicating various information based on the
signal from the system processing section 10. The control panel 60
includes, for example, a liquid crystal display as a display
section.
[0030] The input and output device 70 is used for storing a file in
which the document image of the original document extracted from
the scanned image is stored in the predetermined data format. For
example, the input and output device 70 is a removable memory
(e.g., a USB memory). The input and output device 70 may support
LAN connection. In this case, the system processing section 10
sends the file to an external device via the LAN connection.
[0031] The input and output device 70 may provide a scanned image
to the image processing section 20.
[0032] The device interface 80 is used for transmitting and
receiving data to and from the input and output device 70. The
system processing section 10 transmits and receives data to and
from the input and output device 70 through the device interface
80. For example, the device interface 80 may support a USB
connection.
[0033] Next, the system processing section 10 and the image
processing section 20 are described.
[0034] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system processing section
10 and the image processing section 20.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the system processing section 10
includes a processor 11, a page memory 12, a document detection
processing section 13 and a NVM 14. The processor 11 is connected
to each section via a data bus line or the like.
[0036] The processor 11 has a function of controlling the overall
operation of the system processing section 10. The processor 11 may
include an internal memory and various interfaces. The processor 11
executes various processing by executing programs stored in advance
in the internal memory or the NVM 14.
[0037] A part of the various functions realized by the processor 11
executing the program may be realized by a hardware circuit.
[0038] The page memory 12 stores the scanned image from the image
processing section 20. If the scanner 40 completes the scanning,
the page memory 12 stores the scanned image from the scanner 40.
For example, the page memory 12 stores the scanned image in a
volatile manner.
[0039] The document detection processing section 13 detects the
individual document image from the scanned image. The document
detection processing section 13 specifies an order, a position and
a size of the document image from the scanned image. For example,
the document detection processing section 13 specifies an area of
the original document by extracting edges from the scanned image.
The document detection processing section 13 specifies the order,
the position and the size of the document area. The document
detection processing section 13 determines the order of each
original document in the sub-scanning direction. The document
detection processing section 13 determines a reading order of each
original document. The document detection processing section 13
specifies coordinates in the scanned image as the position. Here,
the main scanning direction is an X axis, and the sub scanning
direction is a Y axis. The document detection processing section 13
identifies the X coordinate and the Y coordinate as the position of
the original document. The document detection processing section 13
may specify a center of the original document as the position of
the original document or specify a predetermined vertex of the
original document as the position of the original document.
[0040] The document detection processing section 13 specifies a
length in the X axis direction and a length in the Y axis direction
as the size of the original document.
[0041] If a plurality of the original documents is in the scanned
image, the document detection processing section 13 specifies the
position and the size of each image.
[0042] The function of document detection processing section 13 may
be realized by execution of the program by the processor 11.
[0043] The NVM 14 is a nonvolatile memory in which data can be
written and rewritten. The NVM 14 maybe for example, a HDD (Hard
Disk Drive), a SSD (Solid State Drive), an EEPROM.RTM. or a flash
memory. The NVM 14 stores control programs, applications, various
data and the like according to an operation purpose of the system
processing section 10.
[0044] The NVM 14 has a storage area 14a for storing a setting
table. The setting table is described in detail later.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing section 20 includes
an input processing section 21 and a high image quality processing
section 22. The input processing section 21 and the high image
quality processing section 22 are connected to each section via a
data bus line or the like.
[0046] The input processing section 21 acquires a scanned image
from the scanner 40. The input processing section 21 stores the
scanned image in the page memory 12. The input processing section
21 may execute a processing for correcting a gradation with respect
to the scanned image. For example, the input processing section 21
executes a gradation correction by correcting relatively low
density image data, e.g., near white portions, to be of even lower
density, e.g., entirely white or almost entirely white. The input
processing section 21 may acquire the scanned image from the input
and output device 70.
[0047] The high image quality processing section 22 executes a
processing of increasing the image quality of the document image
extracted from the scanned image. For example, the high image
quality processing section 22 executes a filter processing, a
variable magnification processing, a density adjustment processing
or a gradation processing on the document image.
[0048] The function of the high image quality processing section 22
may be realized by execution of the program by the processor
11.
[0049] Next, the setting table is described.
[0050] The setting table is a table in which the placement state of
the original document is associated with the data format of the
document image. The setting table is used for setting the data
format according to the placement state of the original
document.
[0051] The placement state of the original document indicates the
orientation of the original document based on a shape of the
original document. For example, the placement state is the
orientation in which the user places the original document on the
scanner 40. Here, there are two types of the placement state of the
original document; they are vertical placement and horizontal
placement. The vertical placement is a state in which a long side
of the original document is placed along the main scanning
direction (X axis direction). The horizontal placement is a state
in which the long side of the original document is placed along the
sub-scanning direction (Y axis direction).
[0052] The data format indicates the data format of the document
image. The data format is a structure of a file that stores the
document image.
[0053] FIG. 3 shows an example of the setting table.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 3, the setting table stores the "placement
state" and the "data format" in an associated manner. Here, the
setting table defines the data format according to the placement
state of the two original documents.
[0055] The "placement state" is defined for a "first sheet" and a
"second sheet".
[0056] The "first sheet" indicates the placement state of the
original document preceding in the sub-scanning direction. The
"first sheet" indicates the placement state of the original
document read first.
[0057] The "second sheet" indicates the placement state of the
original document following the original document after the "first
sheet" in the sub-scanning direction. The "second sheet" indicates
the placement state of the original document which is read
second.
[0058] The setting table indicates whether the placement state of
the "first sheet" or the "second sheet" is "vertical" or
"horizontal". The "vertical" indicates the vertical placement. The
"horizontal" indicates the horizontal placement.
[0059] Next, the "data format" is described.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 3, the "data format" is one of "store
individually", "store collectively", "store collectively by
changing order" and "store by adding a margin".
[0061] The "store individually" indicates a format in which each of
the document images is stored as individual data. The "store
individually" indicates that a file for storing the first original
document and a file for storing the second original are
generated.
[0062] The "store collectively" indicates a format in which each
document image is set as one data. The "collectively store"
indicates that a file, in which the first document is stored on the
first page and the second document is stored on the second page, is
generated.
[0063] The "store collectively by changing order" indicates a
format in which each document image is set as one data in a reverse
order to the reading order of the original document. The "store
collectively by changing order" indicates that a file, in which the
second original document is stored on the first page and the first
original document is stored on the second page, is generated.
[0064] The "store collectively by adding margin" indicates a format
in which a blank page is inserted between the document images. The
"store collectively by adding margin" indicates that a file, in
which the first original document is stored on the first page, the
blank is stored on the second page, and the second original
document is stored on the third page, is generated.
[0065] The "data format" may be a data format such as 2 in 1 which
combines the two document images on one page. The "data format" may
be a data format in which the document image is color data or
monochrome data.
[0066] The "placement state" maybe the orientation of one original
document or three or more original documents.
[0067] Next, the relationship between the "placement state" and the
"data format" is described.
[0068] FIG. 4 shows an example of a case in which the user
vertically places the two original documents. FIG. 4(a) shows the
"placement state" of the original documents. FIG. 4(b) shows the
"data format". Here, the user sets the original document A and the
original document B in the scanner 40.
[0069] As shown in FIG. 4(a), both the original document A and the
original document B are vertically placed. Therefore, the "data
format" is "store individually".
[0070] As shown in FIG. 4(b), the processor 11 stores the original
document A in one file and stores the original document B in a
different file.
[0071] FIG. 5 shows an example in the case in which the user
horizontally places the second original document B and places the
first original document A vertically. FIG. 5(a) shows the
"placement state" of the original documents. FIG. 5(b) shows the
"data format".
[0072] As shown in FIG. 5(a), the original document A is vertically
placed. The original document B is horizontally placed. Therefore,
the "data format" is "collectively store".
[0073] As shown in FIG. 5(b), the processor 11 stores the original
document A and the original document B in the file. Here, the
original document A is larger than the original document B. In the
example shown in FIG. 5(b), a size of the page in the file is
adjusted to match the original document A. The original document B
is located at the center of the second page.
[0074] FIG. 6 shows a case in which the user horizontally places
the first original document A and vertically places the second
original document B. FIG. 6(a) shows the "placement state" of the
original documents. FIG. 6(b) shows the "data format".
[0075] As shown in FIG. 6(a), the original document A is
horizontally placed. The original document B is vertically placed.
Therefore, the "data format" is "store by changing order".
[0076] As shown in FIG. 6(b), the processor 11 stores the original
document A and the original document B in a file by changing the
order. The first page of the file is the original document B, and
the second page is the original document A. The size of the page in
the file matches the original document A. The original document B
is placed at the center of the first page.
[0077] FIG. 7 shows a case in which the user horizontally places
the first original document A and the second original document B.
FIG. 7(a) shows the "placement state" of the original documents.
FIG. 7(b) shows the "data format". As shown in FIG. 7(a), the
original document A and the original document B are both
horizontally placed. Therefore, the "data format" is "store
collectively by adding margin".
[0078] As shown in FIG. 7(b), the processor 11 adds a blank page
therebetween and stores the original document A and the original
document B in the file. The first page of the file is the original
document A, the second page is the blank page, and the third page
is the original document B. The size of the page in the file
matches the original document A. The original document B is placed
at the center of the third page.
[0079] The setting table is stored in the storage area 14a in
advance. The setting table may be stored in the storage area 14a at
the time of manufacturing the image processing apparatus 1. The
setting table may be updated as appropriate. For example, the
setting table may be updated according to an operation by the
user.
[0080] Next, functions realized by the processor 11 are described.
The following functions are realized by execution of the program
stored in the NVM 14 by the processor 11.
[0081] First, the processor 11 has a function of presenting the
content of the setting table to the user.
[0082] The processor 11 controls the control panel 60 to display
the content of the setting table. For example, the processor 11
controls the control panel 60 to display an image indicating the
placement state of the original document and the data format
corresponding to the placement state in an associated manner. The
processor 11 may receive an operation of updating the content of
the setting table.
[0083] The processor 11 has a function of acquiring the scanned
image obtained by scanning the original document.
[0084] For example, the processor 11 receives an operation to start
the scan through the control panel 60. Here, the user sets the
original document on the document platen of the scanner 40, and
inputs an operation to start the scan to the control panel 60.
[0085] Upon receiving the input of the operation, the processor 11
transmits a signal to start the scan to the scanner 40. The scanner
40 receives the signal to perform the scan. The scanner 40 sends
the scanned image to the image processing section 20. The input
processing section 21 of the image processing section 20 stores the
scanned image in the page memory 12 after executing a predetermined
processing on the scanned image.
[0086] The processor 11 has a function of acquiring the order, the
position and the size of each original document in the scanned
image.
[0087] The processor 11 acquires the order, the position and the
size of the original document from the acquired scanned image using
the document detection processing section 13. For example, the
processor 11 transmits a signal for specifying the order, the
position and the size of each original document from the scanned
image stored in the page memory 12 to the document detection
processing section 13. The processor 11 acquires the order, the
position and the size of each original document from the document
detection processing section 13.
[0088] The processor 11 generates the document table indicating the
order, the position and the size of each original document.
[0089] FIG. 8 shows an example of the document table. As shown in
FIG. 8, the document table stores a "reading order" and "document
information" in association with each other. The "document
information" includes a "position" and a "size".
[0090] The "reading order" indicates the order in which the scanner
40 reads the original documents. The "reading order" is an order in
which the original documents are placed in the sub-scanning
direction.
[0091] The "position" indicates a position where the original
document is placed. The "position" is defined by the X coordinate
(dxn) and the Y coordinate (dyn).
[0092] The "size" indicates the size of the original document. The
"size" is defined by a length (Xn) in the X axis direction and a
length (Yn) in the Y axis direction.
[0093] The processor 11 stores the generated document table in the
storage section 30.
[0094] The processor 11 also has a function of extracting the
document image from the scanned image.
[0095] The processor 11 acquires the document table. The processor
11 acquires the "position" and the "size" from the document table.
The processor 11 extracts the document image from the scanned image
based on the "position" and the "size".
[0096] The processor 11 may execute a processing of correcting a
skew on the document image. The processor 11 may improve the image
quality of the document image using the high image quality
processing section 22.
[0097] The processor 11 also has a function of determining the
placement state of each original document based on the document
table. The processor 11 determines whether each original document
is placed vertically or horizontally.
[0098] The processor 11 acquires the document table from the
storage section 30. The processor 11 acquires the "size" from the
document table. The processor 11 determines the placement state of
the original document from Xn and Yn in the "size".
[0099] If Xn>Yn, the processor 11 determines that the original
document is placed vertically. If Xn<Yn, the processor 11
determines that the original document is placed horizontally.
[0100] The processor 11 also has a function of storing the document
image in the file with the data format corresponding to the
placement state of each original document.
[0101] Here, the processor 11 selects the data format corresponding
to the placement state of the first original document and the
placement state of the second original document.
[0102] The processor 11 refers to the setting table to acquire the
data formats corresponding to the placement state of the first
original document and the placement state of the second original
document. The processor 11 generates the file of each document
image according to the acquired data format.
[0103] The processor 11 controls the control panel 60 to display
the file generated according to the determined data format. The
processor 11 stores the generated file according to the operation
from the user.
[0104] For example, the processor 11 may store the file in the
input and output device 70. The processor 11 may cause the
generated file to be transmitted to the external device.
[0105] If the image processing apparatus 1 copies the original
document, the processor 11 stores the file in an internal memory
such as the NVM 14. The processor 11 may control the printer 50 to
print the file stored in the internal memory. The printer 50 prints
each document image according to the data format.
[0106] The processor 11 may store the third and subsequent original
documents according to the data formats corresponding to the
placement state of the first original document and the placement
state of the second original document.
[0107] The processor 11 may store the document image according to
the data format corresponding to the placement state of the first
original document. The processor 11 may store the document image
according to the data format corresponding to the placement state
of three or more original documents.
[0108] Next, an operation example of the image processing apparatus
1 is described.
[0109] First, an operation example in which the image processing
apparatus 1 stores the document table is described. FIG. 9 is a
flowchart illustrating an operation example in which the image
processing apparatus 1 stores the document table.
[0110] First, the processor 11 of the image processing apparatus
sets a document extraction mode for executing the multi-cropping
processing (ACT 11). For example, the processor 11 sets the
document extraction mode based on an operation from the user or in
a default state.
[0111] If the document extraction mode is set, the processor 11
controls the control panel 60 to display a guide for presenting the
content of the setting table to the user (ACT 12). If the guide is
displayed, the processor 11 controls the scanner 40 to scan the
original document (ACT 13). For example, if the processor 11
receives an operation to start the scan, the processor 11 proceeds
to the processing in ACT 13.
[0112] If the original document is scanned, the processor 11 stores
the scanned image in the page memory 12 (ACT 14). If the scanned
image is stored, the processor 11 executes a detection processing
for detecting the original document using the document detection
processing section 13 to generate the document information (ACT
15).
[0113] If the detection processing is executed, the processor 11
determines whether or not the detection processing is executed on
the entire scanned image (ACT 16). If it is determined that the
detection processing is not executed on the entire scanned image
(No in ACT 16), the processor 11 returns to the processing in ACT
15.
[0114] If it is determined that the detection processing is
executed on the entire scanned image (Yes in ACT 16), the processor
11 generates the document table based on the generated document
information (ACT 17). If the document table is generated, the
processor 11 stores the generated document table in the storage
section 30 (ACT 18). If the document table is stored in the storage
section 30, the processor 11 ends the operation.
[0115] Next, an operation example in which the image processing
apparatus 1 stores the file is described.
[0116] FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are flowcharts illustrating an operation
example in which the image processing apparatus 1 stores the
file.
[0117] First, the processor 11 of the image processing apparatus 1
retrieves the document table from the storage section 30 (ACT 21).
If the document table is retrieved, the processor 11 extracts the
document image from the scanned image based on the document table
(ACT 22).
[0118] If the document image is extracted, the processor 11
corrects an inclination of the document image (ACT 23). If the
inclination of the document image is corrected, the processor 11
improves the image quality of the document image using the high
image quality processing section 22 (ACT 24).
[0119] If the image quality of the document image is improved, the
processor 11 determines whether or not there is a plurality of
document images (ACT 25). If it is determined that there is a
plurality of document images (Yes in ACT 25), the processor 11
specifies the placement state of each original document (ACT
26).
[0120] If the placement state of each original document is
specified, the processor 11 determines whether or not the first
original document is placed vertically and the second original
document is placed vertically (ACT 27). If it is determined that
the first original document is placed vertically and the second
original document is placed vertically (Yes in ACT 27), the
processor 11 generates individual files from each document image
according to the setting table (ACT 28).
[0121] If it is determined that the first original document is not
placed vertically and the second original document is not placed
vertically (No in ACT 27), the processor 11 determines whether or
not the first original document is placed vertically and the second
original document is placed horizontally (ACT 29). If it is
determined that the first original document is placed vertically
and the second original document is placed horizontally (Yes in ACT
29), the processor 11 generates one file from each document image
according to the setting table (ACT 30).
[0122] If it is determined that the first original document is not
placed vertically and the second original document is not placed
horizontally (No in ACT 29), the processor 11 determines whether or
not the first original document is placed horizontally and the
second original document is placed vertically (ACT 31). If it is
determined that the first original document is placed horizontally
and the second original document is placed vertically (Yes in ACT
31), the processor 11 generates one file by changing the order from
the first document image and the second document image according to
the setting table (ACT 32).
[0123] If it is determined that the first original document is
placed horizontally and the second original document is placed
vertically (No in ACT 31), the processor 11 generates a file from
the first document image and the second document image by adding
the blank page therebetween (ACT 33).
[0124] If it is determined that the number of the document image is
one (No in ACT 25), the processor 11 generates a file from the
document image (ACT 34).
[0125] If an individual file is generated from each document image
(ACT 28), if one file is generated from each document image (ACT
30), if one file is generated by changing the order (ACT 32), if
the file is generated by adding the blank page therebetween (ACT
33) or if the file is generated from the document image (ACT 34),
the processor 11 controls the control panel 60 to display the
generated file (ACT 35).
[0126] If the output file is displayed on the control panel 60 (ACT
35), the processor 11 stores the file in the input and output
device 70 (ACT 36). If the file is stored, the processor 11 ends
the operation.
[0127] In the case of make a copy of the scanned original document,
the processor 11 control the printer 50 to print the file. If the
individual file is generated from each document image, the
processor 11 may control the printer 50 to print each original
document on one side. The processor 11 may control the printer 50
to print each original document on a sheet that matches the largest
size of the original document. The processor 11 may control the
printer 50 to perform the printing on a sheet having a size
suitable for each original document.
[0128] If one file is generated from each document image, if one
file is generated by changing the order, or if the file is
generated by adding the blank page therebetween, the processor 11
may control the printer 50 to print each original document on both
sides. For example, the processor 11 may control the printer 50 to
print each original document on a sheet that matches the largest
size of the original document.
[0129] The image processing apparatus described above specifies the
placement state of the original document placed in the scanner. The
image processing apparatus stores the document image in the file
according to the data format corresponding to the specified
placement state. As a result, the image processing apparatus can
set the data format without receiving the input of the data format
from the user through the operation section or the like. Thus, the
image processing apparatus can efficiently set the data format.
[0130] While certain embodiments have been described, these
embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel
embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other
forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in
the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without
departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims
and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or
modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the
invention.
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