JP4452745B2 - Document reading apparatus and document reading system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a document reading device and a document reading system, and more particularly to a document reading device and a document reading system that can perform arbitrary image processing on a document image in an area designated by a user.

  A document reading apparatus that reads an image of a document and generates image data is well known. An apparatus capable of executing arbitrary image processing on read original image data is known. For example, image processing includes, for example, image erasure, color change, scaling, and enhancement processing. Image editing such as image composition is also exemplified as image processing.

When the image processing as described above is executed, if a partial area of the read image data is designated and arbitrary image processing can be executed on the image data in the designated area, higher convenience for the user can be obtained. It is done.
For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses an in-frame region detection apparatus that is intended to detect a region within a specific frame from an image signal and facilitate image editing of the detected in-frame region. Patent Document 2 discloses a decolorizing ink whose color disappears when heated to a specific temperature.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-17787 JP 2006-63238 A

When a partial area of a document is designated and image processing such as image erasure, color change, scaling, enhancement processing, and editing is performed on the designated area, there is difficulty in a conventional document reading apparatus. For example, if an area is specified by writing on the document itself, the document will be soiled, which is a problem.
In addition, there is a method that scans the document image once, displays the image data on the display screen, and allows the user to specify the area by operating the display screen. However, there is a problem that the editing operation for the read image data is necessary and the operation becomes complicated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an original reading apparatus and an original in which an area specification for executing arbitrary image processing can be surely executed by a simple operation without contaminating the original. An object of the present invention is to provide a reading system.

In order to solve the above problems, a first technical means of the present invention is a document reading apparatus including an image reading unit that reads a document image and generates image data, and heats the document in a document transport path. Equipped with a heater. By comparing the image data read by the image reading unit without being heated by the heater and the image data read by the image reading unit after being heated by the heater, it is denatured and decolored by heating. possess the image data extraction unit for extracting a drawing image data rendered by the colored material, the document transportation speed when reading an original image by performing the heating by the heater, reading a document image without performing the heating by the heater When the page number of the document from which drawing image data is to be extracted is specified, the heater is set to heat the document with the specified page number. In which was characterized by the control.

In the first technical means, in the first technical means, when the image data extraction unit extracts the drawing image data, the image reading unit performs an operation of reading the same document twice continuously,
When the first original image is read, the original image is read without heating by the heater, and when the second original image is read, the original image is read by heating with the heater.

A third technical means includes a designated area determination unit that determines a designated area surrounded by the drawing image data based on the drawing image data extracted by the image data extraction unit in the first or second technical means, and a designation And an image processing unit that performs specified image processing on the image data of the specified region determined by the region determining unit.

According to a fourth technical means, in any one of the first to third technical means, the heater is provided so as to heat both the front and back surfaces of the document.

According to a fifth technical means, in the fourth technical means, the heater selectively heats the front surface and the back surface of the document.

A sixth technical means is the fifth technical means, wherein the heater comprises a first heater for heating the front surface of the original and a second heater for heating the back surface of the original. This is characterized in that they are opposed to each other across the conveyance path.

The seventh technical means includes an image reading unit that reads an original image and generates image data, and a heater that erases the drawing unit on the original drawn with a coloring material that heats the original and denatures and decolorizes by heating. A drawing image data extraction unit that extracts drawing image data drawn by a coloring material, and a designated area surrounded by the drawing image data based on the drawing image data extracted by the image data extraction unit performing a specified area determination unit determines, with respect to image data of the designated area specified area determination unit determines, possess an image processing unit that performs specified image processing, the document reading apparatus, the heating by the heater The document conveyance speed when reading the document image is slower than the conveyance speed when reading the document image without heating by the heater, and the page number of the document from which the drawing image data is to be extracted. There when specified, it is obtained by and controls the heater to heat the document for the specified page number.

According to the present invention, the area designation for executing arbitrary image processing can be surely executed by a simple operation without contaminating the document.
Furthermore, in the present invention, since the original can be written using the decoloring ink that is decolored by being denatured by heating, the user can directly write an arbitrary area on the original while referring to the original. This eliminates the need for complicated operations. In addition, since the original reading apparatus is provided with a heater, and the color erased ink is erased by heating the original with the heater, it is possible to easily designate an area without making the original dirty.

(Overall system configuration)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a document reading system according to the present invention. The document reading system includes a document reading device 1, a designated area determination unit 2, and an image processing unit 3.
The document reading device 1 reads a document image and generates image data. The designated area determination unit 2 determines a designated area surrounded by predetermined drawing image data from the image data read by the document reading apparatus 1. The drawing image data is image data drawn with a coloring material that is decolored by being denatured by heating, or image data drawn with a coloring material of a specific color.

The image processing unit 3 performs specified image processing on the image data of the specified area determined by the specified area determining unit 2. As the image processing, for example, image erasing, color change, scaling, enhancement processing, image editing processing such as image composition, etc. can be executed.
As image editing processing such as image composition, for example, it is possible to erase the image data in the designated area and synthesize other image data. In this case, the other image data is automatically matched with the size of the designated area. Processing to scale and combine, processing to combine multiple image data in a specified order for multiple specified areas, processing to convert text data into bitmap data and combine it into the specified area, conceal the original image It is possible to execute processing for combining image data indicating that the image data is in the designated area, and the like.

  In the system configuration example of FIG. 1, the designated area determination unit 2 and the image processing unit 3 are configured externally to the document reading device 1, for example, a control unit of a digital multi-functional peripheral including the document reading device 1. Or may be included in an information processing apparatus (such as a PC) connected to the document reading apparatus 1. The designated area determination unit 2 and the image processing unit 3 may be built in the document reading apparatus 1. In this case, an embodiment of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention is configured. Image processed image data can be printed out by a printer, displayed and processed by a PC, or sent by e-mail.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a document reading apparatus according to the present invention. The document reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided on an upper part of a copying machine (not shown). The document reading apparatus 1 mainly includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 100 that houses a second image reading unit 50, and a first one. The main scanning unit 200 accommodates one image reading unit 10.
The ADF 100 and the main scanning unit 200 are connected by a hinge (not shown), and the ADF 100 can be opened and closed with respect to the main scanning unit 200 by the rotation of the hinge.

The main scanning unit 200 mainly includes a housing 30, a platen plate 40 made of a transparent glass plate, and a first image reading unit 10 accommodated in the housing 30.
The first image reading unit 10 includes a light source unit 21 that holds the light source 11 and the first mirror 12a, a mirror unit 22 that holds the second mirror 12b and the third mirror 12c, a lens 13, and a CCD 14. This is an image reading means of a reduction optical system.

  The main scanning unit 200 performs both an image reading by an original fixing method for reading an original image placed on the platen plate 40 by a user and an original moving method for reading an original image while automatically conveying the original by the ADF 100. It corresponds to the method.

When reading an original image by the original fixing method, the light source unit 21 and the mirror unit 22 move to home positions corresponding to the original fixing method, respectively. FIG. 2 shows a state where the light source unit 21 and the mirror unit 22 are at the home position.
After that, the light source unit 21 moves in the sub-scanning direction (left and right direction with respect to the paper surface) at a constant speed while irradiating light on the document, and scans the image of the document. Similarly, it moves in the sub-scanning direction at a movement speed ½ of the movement speed of 21.

  The light irradiated from the light source unit 21 and reflected from the document is reflected by the first mirror 12a provided in the light source unit 21, and then the light path is changed by 180 ° by the second and third mirrors 12b and 12c provided in the mirror unit 22. . The light reflected by the third mirror 12c forms an image on the CCD 14 through the lens 13 and is converted into electrical image data.

  On the other hand, when a document image is read by the document movement method, the light source unit 21 and the mirror unit 22 remain stationary at the home position shown in FIG. 2 and are conveyed by the ADF 100 so as to pass above the home position. Is scanned with light from the light source 11. Then, the light reflected on the surface of the original is reflected by the first mirror 12a as in the above-described original fixing method, and then the optical path is changed by 180 ° by the second and third mirrors 12b and 12c of the mirror unit 16, and the lens 13 Then, the image is formed on the CCD 14 via the image data and converted into electrical image data.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ADF 100 mainly feeds the originals placed on the original placement table 101 one by one into the ADF 100, and conveys the called originals along the original conveyance path F. A plurality of pairs of conveying rollers 71, a registration roller 72 for adjusting the paper feed timing, and a paper discharge roller 73 for discharging the document after image reading to the paper discharge tray 102. The unitized second image reading means 50 is disposed so as to be accommodated in the document conveyance path F that draws an arc in a substantially U shape.

The second image reading means 50 is an image reading means of a reduction optical system composed of a first mirror 52a, a second mirror 52b, a third mirror 52c, a fourth mirror 52d, a lens 53, and a CCD 54. Are unitized so as to form one aggregate and are accommodated in the unit housing 60.
In the second image reading unit 50, the light source 51, the lens 53, and the CCD 54 are the same as the elements constituting the first image reading unit 10.

  The second image reading unit 50 reads an image on the back side of the document conveyed on the document conveyance path F when a user requests double-sided reading. Specifically, after the image on the front side of the document is read by the first image reading unit 10, the document is transported along the document transport path F toward the paper discharge tray 102. At that time, the document passes under the light source 51 of the second image reading means 50.

At that time, the light source 51 of the second image reading unit 50 irradiates light toward the back side of the document. Then, the light reflected from the back side of the document passes through a reading window 55 formed of a transparent member such as glass, is sequentially converted in optical path by the first to fourth mirrors 52 a, 52 b, 52 c, 52 d, and passes through the lens 53. The image is formed on the CCD 54 and converted into electrical image data. The first image reading unit 10 and the second image reading unit 50 correspond to an image reading unit of the present invention that reads an original image and generates image data.
Further, the lower surface of the ADF 100 serves as a pressing plate 80 that presses a read document placed on the platen plate 40 of the main scanning unit 200 from above. The pressing plate 80 is a lid 81 that can be opened at a portion facing the light source 11 of the first image reading means 10.

  A heater unit 90 including a first heater 91 and a second heater 92 is provided in the transport path of the ADF 100. These first and second heaters 91 and 92 are provided for erasing the decoloring ink added to the original, and the first heater 91 erases the decoloring ink on the front (front) surface of the original. Then, the second heater 92 erases the decoloring ink on the back side of the document. The first heater 91 and the second heater 92 are disposed so as to face each other across the document conveyance path. As a result, the original can be efficiently heated from the front and back without heat being dispersed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the main part of the electrical configuration in one embodiment of the document reading apparatus.
The document reading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a control unit 301, a scanner unit 302, an image processing unit 303, a storage unit 304, a communication unit 305, an operation panel unit 306, a driver 307 that drives and controls a document scanning unit drive motor 307a, It comprises a driver 308 that drives and controls a document conveying roller drive motor 308a.

The control unit 301 is a part that manages operation control of the entire apparatus, and is configured by a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown). The control unit 301 implements an image data extraction unit, a designated area determination unit, and an image processing unit of the present invention.
The scanner unit 302 constitutes a scanning optical system of the first and second image reading units 10 and 50 shown in FIG. The CCDs 14 and 54 of the first and second image reading means 10 and 50 are optical reduction type CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices) in the above description, but they may be CIS (Contact Image Sensor) of equal magnification optical type.

The image processing unit 303 converts the optical data read by the first image reading unit 10 or the second image reading unit 50 into electrical image data in units of pages.
The storage unit 304 includes, for example, a RAM, an EEPROM, a hard disk, an MO, and the like. Data under control controlled by the control unit 301, various input instructions, image data of a document read by the scanner unit 302, and the like. Remember.

  The communication unit 305 is a communication unit that performs bidirectional communication with the external device 4 such as a connected computer or printer, and transmits data processed by the image processing unit 303 to the external device 4. In addition, a memory is provided for expanding data transmitted from the external device 4 into data that can be handled by the present apparatus.

  Although not shown, the operation panel unit 306 is arranged on the front side of the document reading apparatus 1 shown in FIG. Specifically, the main scanning unit 200 is extended to the near side from the ADF 100 and is disposed on the upper surface portion thereof. The operation panel unit 306 is used when inputting an operation mode (designation such as single-sided reading or double-sided reading) at the time of document reading.

The document scanning unit driving motor 307 a is a motor for moving the light source unit 21 and the mirror unit 22 in the sub-scanning direction at an appropriate speed when reading a document image by the document fixing method. The driver 307 controls driving appropriately.
The document transport roller drive motor 308 a is a motor that drives each roller such as the calling roller 70, the transport roller 71, the registration roller 72, and the paper discharge roller 73 disposed in the document transport path F, and is controlled by the control unit 301. The driver 308 appropriately controls the drive.

  The first heater 91 is controlled to be turned on / off by the driver 309 according to the control of the control unit 301. Similarly, on / off of the second heater 92 is controlled by the driver 310 in accordance with the control of the control unit 301.

In order to perform image processing using the document reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the user draws so as to surround an arbitrary area using decoloring ink. The inside of the enclosed area is a designated area for performing arbitrary image processing.
The decolorizing ink is denatured by being denatured by heating, and various types have been proposed. In the present invention, the composition and characteristics of the decolorizing ink are not limited, and any ink that is colored and decolored by heating can be applied as appropriate. For example, the technology of decoloring ink is disclosed in the above Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-18642.

  By reading the original drawn with the decoloring ink with the original reading apparatus of the present embodiment, the image can be read without being affected by the decoloring ink, and the designated area drawn with the decoloring ink can be used. Can be identified. As a result, arbitrary image processing can be performed on the image in the designated area.

The document reading apparatus is provided with the heater unit 90 for heating and decoloring the decoloring ink as described above. In order to detect the designated area using this, a document drawn with the decoloring ink is read twice by the document reading device.
Here, the user first draws the original so as to surround an arbitrary area using decoloring ink. For example, the user performs arbitrary drawing on a document using a magic pen or the like containing decolorizing ink. The area surrounded by the decoloring ink is the designated area.

  Then, the document reading device starts the specified area determination process. In the document reading apparatus, an operation for starting the specified area determination process using the decoloring ink is set in advance. The user can start the designated area determination process by performing an operation on the document reading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the designated area determination process in the document reading apparatus of the present invention. This will be described below with reference to the configuration of FIG.
When the designated area determination process is started, the document reading apparatus 1 waits for a first document image reading instruction (step S1). An instruction to read a document image can be executed when the user sets a document on a document tray and turns on a start button of the document reading apparatus 1.
When the first reading of the original image is instructed (step S1-YES), the original reading device 1 reads the original image while feeding the original at a normal conveyance speed, and stores the read image data (step S1). Step S2).

  After the reading of the first original image is completed, a second original image reading instruction is awaited (step S3). In this case as well, the user instructs the reading by setting the document again on the document tray and turning on the start button of the document reading apparatus 1. In this example, the user sets the original twice on the original tray and performs an operation of reading the original image. However, the paper conveyance path is set so that the original reading apparatus can automatically read the image twice. And a control system may be configured.

  In the document reading apparatus 1, when the second document image reading is instructed (step S3-YES), the heater is turned on (step S4). At this time, when the document reading apparatus 1 is set to the single-sided reading mode, only the first heater 91 is turned on, and when the double-sided reading mode is set, the first heater 91 and the second heater 92 are turned on. turn on.

  Then, the document reading apparatus 1 reads the document image by reducing the document transport speed by decreasing the speed of the document transport roller drive motor 108a, and stores the read image data (step S5). Here, by lowering the document conveyance speed, the heating time by the heater is secured and the document is sufficiently heated.

  When a page number for reading a document image is designated in advance, the document reading device 1 stores the designated page number and counts the page number every time a document is transported. Control may be performed so that the heater is turned on when the printed page is conveyed and the heater is turned off when the image reading of the designated page is completed. Such control can also be applied to a case where a plurality of pages are designated and the designated area is determined for the designated pages. This control can save power consumption.

Then, after the reading of the second original image is completed, the original reading device 1 compares the first and second image data, and extracts drawing image data that is image data of the drawing portion with the decoloring ink (step). S6).
Here, it is possible to read the image data of the document including the drawing portion with the decoloring ink by the first image reading, and in the second image reading, the decoloring ink is erased by turning on the heater. The image data of the original can be read. Then, by comparing these image data, it is possible to extract the image data (drawing image data) of the drawing portion with the decoloring ink (step S7). The drawing image data can be extracted by the control unit 301 using the first and second image data stored in the storage unit 304.

  The user can specify the inside of the surrounding area by drawing so as to surround the specific area with the decoloring ink. In the document reading apparatus, it is determined whether or not a specific area is surrounded by drawing image data with decoloring ink, and image data in the surrounded area is determined as a designated area. The determination process for the designated area is also executed by the control unit 301. A specific example of the designated area determination process will be described later.

  Then, the document reading apparatus executes image processing designated by the user on the image data in the designated area (step S8). Examples of image processing that can be designated include image deletion, color change, scaling, and enhancement processing. Alternatively, the color of the image data in the designated area can be changed. In addition, as image editing, it is possible to perform processing for deleting image data in a designated area and replacing it with correction data separately transferred from an external device such as a PC. These image processes are executed by the control unit 301 in accordance with an operation input to the operation panel unit 306.

  In addition, for a page for which the designated area has been determined before image processing is performed, the first read image data and the second read image data are read from the image memory and the liquid crystal display provided in the operation panel unit 106 or the like. May be displayed to prompt the user to confirm. The document reading apparatus 1 executes image processing when the user confirms the display screen of the display unit and presses the OK button. Further, when the user presses the cancel button, the stored image data may be cleared and the flow may be restarted to re-execute a series of processes.

  Then, the document reading apparatus executes copying, FAX transmission, SCAN to Email (scan to email), etc., which are processes designated by the user, on the image data after the image processing (step S9). These processes are executed using the function of the communication unit 305 under the control of the control unit 301.

5A and 5B are diagrams for specifically explaining an example of the designated area determination process. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an example of a first document image reading result, and FIG. 5B is a second diagram. FIG. 5C is a diagram showing an example of a document image reading result, and FIG. 5C is a diagram showing an example of extracted drawing image data. This will be described below with reference to FIG.
Assume that image data 400 as shown in FIG. 5A can be acquired from the image processing unit 303 by the first document image reading process. The image data 400 includes drawing image data 401 that is image data of a portion drawn using decoloring ink.

Then, in the second document image reading process, the drawing portion with the decoloring ink is erased by the heating of the heaters (first heater 91, second heater 92), and image data 410 as shown in FIG. 5B is acquired. can do. These image data are temporarily stored in the storage unit 304.
Then, the control unit 301 compares the first image data 400 and the second image data 410, and acquires different portions of image data in the first time and the second time. Drawing image data 401 as shown in FIG. 5C is acquired as the image data of this different portion. An image data range 420 in FIG. 5C indicates the range of image data acquired at the first time and the second time. This image data range 420 is a range of image data for one page of the document.

  Then, the control unit 301 applies a search routine to be described later to the drawing image data 401, and determines whether or not the drawing image data 401 is drawn so as to form a specific enclosed area. If the enclosed area is formed, the area inside the enclosed area is determined as the designated area.

When comparing the first image data 400 and the second image data 410, the control unit 301 converts each of the image data 400 and 410 into low-resolution binary data of about 100 dpi as preprocessing. 5A and 5B show the image data after the preprocessing.
Then, the control unit 301 performs an EX-OR process (comparison process) for all the dots one by one between the first image data 400 and the second image data 410. By this EX-OR process, only the different data portion of the two image data 400 and 410, that is, the drawn image data 401 remains as a comparison result.

A point to be noted in the EX-OR process is that when a document is set on a document tray and a document image is read, the document image is not always read at the same position, and a deviation of about 1 mm occurs at the maximum. That is.
Therefore, when comparing the first image data and the second image data, not only the image data of the dots at the same position in the two image data but also one dot of one image data is compared. On the other hand, a dot at the same position in the other image data is compared with a dot shifted several dots vertically and horizontally from that dot to obtain a plurality of post-comparison image data. Then, among the plurality of pieces of image data after comparison, the image data in which the different data is the minimum is set as the true drawing image data 401.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a processing example for determining a surrounding area of the drawing image data. The control unit 301 of the document reading apparatus 1 extracts the drawing image data 401 by the EX-OR process, and then applies a search routine to the drawing image data 401 so that a specific surrounding area is defined by the drawing image data 401. Determine whether it is formed.

The search routine searches for whether there is an area surrounded by the drawing image data 401. In this search routine, the presence or absence of the drawing image data 401 is searched while moving the search dots. Here, starting from an arbitrary dot in the image data range 420 of one page, the search dot is moved in units of dots, and it is searched whether or not the dot of the drawing image data 401 is reached.
If the search dot is not surrounded by the drawing image data 401 at this time, the search dot will eventually reach the end of the image data range 420 of one page. If the search dot is surrounded by the drawing image data 401, the search dot does not reach the end of the image data range 420 of one page. Therefore, the designated area to be image-processed can be determined by filling the enclosed area of the drawing image data 401 while moving the search dot.

  In the search routine, the process of moving the search dot is performed twice for one start dot. The first search starts to move from any start dot to either the right or left. In the second search, movement starts from the same start dot in the opposite direction to the first. When the drawing image data 401 is reached while moving, the drawing image data 401 is returned to the front of the moving direction and moved to one of the upper and lower dots, and the search is continued by changing the left and right moving directions. The up and down movement directions are opposite in the first and second searches. If the end of the image data range 420 is reached while moving, the search is terminated. This is because it can be determined that there is no search dot in the enclosed area of the drawing image data 401.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the search dot is sequentially moved rightward from the start dot S and searched. This searched route is indicated as Q1. When the search dot moves to the right and reaches the dot of the drawing image data 401, it moves to the lower dot before the dot of the drawing image data 401. This time, the dots are moved sequentially toward the left. Similarly, when the dot of the drawing image data 401 is reached, the dot returns to the previous dot and moves to the lower dot, and this time sequentially moves to the right.

  At this time, when attempting to move to the lower dot just before the dot of the drawing image data 401, if the drawing image data 401 is present and cannot move, the dot returns to the previous dot and moves to the lower dot. Moving. Again, if it cannot move to the lower dot, the process of returning to the previous dot is repeated.

  Thus, when the search of the drawing image data 401 is executed, and finally the search dot cannot be moved due to the presence of the drawing image data 401, it is understood that the search area is surrounded by the drawing image data 401. The search process so far is the first search process.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, returning to the first start dot S, the second search process is performed. The searched route is indicated as Q2. This time, the search dot is moved in the direction opposite to the first search process (here, the left direction). When the drawing image data 401 is reached, the process returns to the previous dot and moves to the upper dot in the direction opposite to the first search process. Then, the search dot is moved in the right direction. Here, similarly to the first search process, when there is a dot in the drawn image data 401 when moving upward, the process of returning to the previous dot is repeated.

In the second search process, if the search dot cannot be finally moved by the drawing image data 401, it is understood that the search area is surrounded by the drawing image data 401.
If the first and second search processes are performed in this manner and it is found that the search area is surrounded by the drawing image data 401, it can be determined that there is a surrounding area by the drawing image data 401. The enclosed area of the drawing image data 401 is a designated area designated by the user.

  When the drawing image data 401 moves downward before the dot, the search is further performed in the same direction as before the movement, and when the drawing image data 401 is reached, the movement direction is changed to the opposite direction, thereby further improving the search accuracy. For example, when the search dot moving in the right direction reaches the dot of the drawing image data 401 and moves to the lower dot, the search is performed by moving in the same right direction. Then, when the dot of the drawing image data 401 is reached, the direction may be changed to the left and the search may be continued.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the start dot S is outside the box of the drawn image data 401, when the search dot is moved along the search path Q3, It reaches the end. As a result, it becomes clear that the search range is not within the enclosed area defined by the drawn image data 401, and thus the search process using the start dot ends here.

  By the search process as described above, it is possible to determine the enclosed area based on the drawing image data. When a plurality of drawing image data are extracted, a plurality of enclosed areas can be determined by executing a search routine for each drawing image data. Then, as described above, the area inside the enclosed area is set as the designated area, and image processing specified by the user is executed on the image data in the designated area. The image data after image processing can be processed by copying, FAX transmission, SCAN to Email, or the like.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining another embodiment of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the heater unit 90 composed of the first heater 91 and the second heater 92 is disposed on the conveyance path on the upstream side of the image reading unit (the first image reading unit 10 and the second image reading unit 50). In this embodiment, the heater unit 90 is provided in the conveyance path on the downstream side of the image reading unit. In this example, the heater unit 90 is provided inside the paper discharge roller 73. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the heater unit 90 can be disposed at an appropriate position in the conveyance path on the downstream side of the image reading unit. . The first heater 91 and the second heater 92 of the heater unit 90 are arranged to face each other with the document conveyance path interposed therebetween. The heater unit 90 can selectively heat the back surface and the surface of the document.

  In the document reading apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, drawing image data colored with a coloring material of a specific color (for example, red) is extracted from the image data read by the image reading unit. Then, the designated area surrounded by the drawing image data is determined, and the image processing designated by the user is performed on the image data in the designated area.

  In order to perform image processing using the document reading apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the user draws so as to surround an arbitrary region using a specific color erasing ink. A document drawn with a specific color erasing ink is read by the document reading device 1. After reading the original image, when conveying the original toward the paper discharge roller 73, one or both of the first heater 91 and the second heater 92 is energized to heat the original and erase the decoloring ink. . By using the decoloring ink of a specific color, even if it is not the person who performed writing by the decoloring ink, the designated area can be easily visually recognized. In addition, the user can quickly obtain a document from which the decoloring ink has been erased after the document reading is completed.

  The document reading device 1 extracts drawing image data drawn in a specific color from image data read from the document. Then, a search routine similar to that of the first embodiment is executed for the drawing image data of the specific color to search whether there is an area surrounded by the drawing image data of the specific color. If there is an area surrounded by drawing image data of a specific color, the area is specified as the designated area. The specified designated area can be subjected to image processing designated by the user.

  The document reading apparatus 1 of FIG. 7 has the same configuration as that of the above-described first embodiment except for the point that characterizes this embodiment as described above, and thus the repeated description thereof is omitted. The configuration of the functional block diagram of FIG. 3 can also be applied to this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the designated area determination processing in the document reading apparatus of the present invention. This will be described below with reference to the configuration of FIG.
When the designated area determination process is started, the document reading apparatus 1 waits for a document image reading instruction (step S11). An instruction to read a document image can be executed when the user sets a document on a document tray and turns on a start button of the document reading apparatus 1.

  Then, in the document reading device 1, when reading of the document image is instructed (step S11-YES), the heater of the paper discharge roller is turned on (step S12). At this time, when the document reading apparatus 1 is set to the single-sided reading mode, only the first heater 91 is turned on, and when the double-sided reading mode is set, the first heater 91 and the second heater 92 are turned on. turn on. Then, the original image is read while the original is fed at a conveyance speed slower than the normal conveyance speed, and the read image data is stored (step S13). The original on which the original image has been read is heated by the heater on the conveyance path, and the portion drawn with the decoloring ink is erased.

  When a page number for reading a document image is designated in advance, the document reading device 1 stores the designated page number and counts the page number every time a document is conveyed, and is designated in advance. Alternatively, the heater may be turned on when a new page is conveyed, and the heater may be turned off when image reading of the designated page is completed. Such control can also be applied to a case where a plurality of pages are designated and the designated area is determined for the designated pages. This control can save power consumption.

  After the reading of the document image is completed, drawing image data that is image data of a drawing portion of a specific color is extracted from the read image data (step S14). The drawing image data is extracted by the control unit 301.

  The user can designate the inside of the surrounding area by drawing so as to surround the specific area with the decoloring ink of the specific color. In the document reading apparatus 1, it is determined whether or not the specific area is surrounded by the drawing image data with the decoloring ink, and the image data of the surrounded area is determined as the designated area (step S15). The determination process for the designated area is also executed by the control unit 301.

  Then, the document reading apparatus 1 performs image processing designated by the user on the image data in the designated area (step S16). Examples of image processing that can be designated include image deletion, color change, scaling, and enhancement processing. Alternatively, the color of the image data in the designated area can be changed. In addition, as image editing, it is possible to perform processing for deleting image data in a designated area and replacing it with correction data separately transferred from an external device such as a PC. These image processes are executed by the control unit 301 in accordance with an operation input to the operation panel unit 306.

  In addition, for the page for which the designated area is determined before image processing is performed, the read image data is read from the image memory and displayed on a display unit such as a liquid crystal display provided in the operation panel unit 106, and the user is notified of the read image data. You may be prompted for confirmation. The document reading apparatus 1 executes image processing when the user confirms the display screen of the display unit and presses the OK button. Also, when the user presses the cancel button, the stored image data may be cleared and the flow may be restarted to re-execute a series of processes.

  Then, the document reading apparatus executes copying, FAX transmission, SCAN to Email (scan-to-email), etc., which are processes designated by the user, on the image data after the image processing (step S17). These processes are executed using the function of the communication unit 305 under the control of the control unit 301.

  A configuration in which a heater is provided in the document conveyance path on the downstream side of the image reading unit as shown in FIG. 7 can also be applied to the first embodiment. In this case, it is assumed that the image reading unit continuously reads the same original twice, and when reading the original image for the first time, heating by the heater is performed to heat the original after reading the original image. In reading the original image for the second time, the original image after being heated by the heater in the first time is read. As a result, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to specify the designated area with the decoloring ink and perform image processing on the designated area.

  Next, a specific example of image processing for a designated area colored with decoloring ink will be described. As described above, as the image processing (embodiment 1) executed in step S8 in FIG. 4 and the image processing (embodiment 2) executed in step S16 in FIG. There are image deletion, color change, scaling, and enhancement processing. Alternatively, the color of the image data in the designated area can be changed.

Further, as image editing, it is possible to perform processing for deleting image data in a designated area and combining correction data separately transferred from an external device such as a PC. That is, it is possible to perform processing for replacing the image data in the designated area with other image data (correction data).
At this time, the correction data transferred separately can be replaced by automatic scaling so as to match the size of the designated area. This can be realized by determining and setting the scaling factor of the correction data according to the ratio of the length of the designated area in the XY direction and the length of the correction data in the XY direction.
It is also possible to register the positions of a plurality of designated areas and process a plurality of correction data to be sequentially replaced. In this case, an ordinal number is assigned from the top to the bottom (or from left to right) to a plurality of identified designated areas, and correction data that matches the ordinal number is selected and replaced.

  When text data is designated as correction data, it can be converted into bitmap data and combined with the designated area. Furthermore, image data may be replaced in order to conceal personal information and confidential information, but image data indicating that the original image is concealed is prepared as modification data, and the modification data is stored in a designated area. You may make it synthesize | combine.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of image processing for image data in a designated area, and shows an example of image data replacement processing for hiding the original image.
For example, it is assumed that customer information (here, name 501 and address 502) and purchase history information 503 are included in the image data as shown in FIG. Then, when such image data is copied, it is assumed that customer information is hidden and only purchase history information is copied.

In such a case, as shown in FIG. 9B, the user surrounds the name 501 and address 502 of the document with decoloring ink. Then, the original is read by the original reading device, the designated area surrounded by the decoloring ink is discriminated, and an instruction to replace (synthesize) the correction data with the designated data is input to the designated area.
At this time, in the document reading apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9C, image data 505 including “secret” characters is prepared as correction data, stored in the storage unit 304, and a predetermined value for the operation panel unit 304 is stored. In accordance with the operation input, the original image data in the determined designated area is replaced with image data 505 including “secret” characters. In this case, the image data 505 including the characters “secret” is image data indicating that the original image is concealed, and the user can thereby know that the original image is concealed.

(Embodiment 3)
An embodiment according to the document reading system of the present invention will be described. The embodiment of the document reading apparatus includes means for realizing the functions of the first and second embodiments, and can perform the same image processing as those embodiments.
In the document reading system according to the present embodiment, a designated area determination unit that determines at least a specified area surrounded by drawing image data using decoloring ink, and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the determined specified area, A designated area is determined on the basis of image data output from the document reading device 1 and is configured outside the document reading device 1, and specified image processing is executed according to a predetermined user operation.

  These designated area determination unit and image processing unit may be realized by, for example, a control unit (CPU, memory, etc.) of a digital multi-function peripheral provided with the document reading device 1. Alternatively, it may be realized by a control unit (CPU, memory, etc.) of an information processing apparatus such as a PC connected to the document reading apparatus 1.

  The document reading apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit that reads a document image and generates image data, a heater that erases a drawing unit on the document drawn by a coloring material that heats the document and denatures and decolors by heating. It has. As the configuration of the heater, any of the configurations of the first and second embodiments can be applied. At this time, the drawing image data extraction unit for extracting drawing image data drawn with the decoloring ink may be realized on the document reading device 1 side, or may be realized on a device outside the document reading device 1. It may be a thing.

  Since the embodiment related to the document reading system has the same function as each of the embodiments of the document reading apparatus described above except for the above-described feature points, repeated description thereof is omitted.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a document reading system according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a document reading apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a main part of an electrical configuration in an embodiment of a document reading apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a specified area determination process in the document reading apparatus according to the present invention; It is a figure for demonstrating the example of determination processing of a designated area concretely. It is a figure for demonstrating the example of a process which discriminate | determines the surrounding area of drawing image data. It is a schematic block diagram for demonstrating other embodiment of the original document reading apparatus concerning this invention. 10 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the designated area determination processing in the document reading apparatus of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the image process with respect to the image data of a designated area.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Document reading apparatus, 2 ... Designated area determination part, 3 ... Image processing part, 4 ... External apparatus, 10 ... Image reading means, 100 ... ADF, 101 ... Document placing stand, 102 ... Paper discharge tray, 106 ... Operation panel , 108a: Document transport roller drive motor, 11: Light source, 12a ... Mirror, 12b ... Mirror, 12c ... Mirror, 13 ... Lens, 14 ... CCD, 16 ... Mirror unit, 21 ... Light source unit, 22 ... Mirror unit, 30 ... Case, 40 ... Platen plate, 50 ... Image reading means, 51 ... Light source, 52a ... Mirror, 52b ... Mirror, 52c ... Mirror, 52d ... Mirror, 53 ... Lens, 54 ... CCD, 55 ... Reading window, 60 ... Unit housing, 70 ... roller, 71 ... conveying roller, 72 ... registration roller, 73 ... discharge roller, 80 ... pressing plate, 81 ... lid, 90 ... heater unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Heater, 92 ... Heater, 200 ... Main scanning part, 301 ... Control part, 302 ... Scanner part, 303 ... Image processing part, 304 ... Memory | storage part, 305 ... Communication part, 306 ... Operation panel part, 307 ... Driver, 307a: Document scanning unit drive motor, 308 ... Driver, 308a ... Document transport roller drive motor, 309 ... Driver, 310 ... Driver, 400 ... Image data, 401 ... Drawing image data, 410 ... Image data, 420 ... Image data range, 501 ... Name, 502 ... Address, 503 ... Purchase history information, 504 ... Decolorized ink, 505 ... Image data including the characters "secret".

Claims (7)

A document reading apparatus including an image reading unit that reads a document image and generates image data, and includes a heater that heats the document in a document transport path,
By comparing the image data read by the image reading unit without being heated by the heater and the image data read by the image reading unit after being heated by the heater, it is denatured and erased by heating. image data extraction unit for extracting the drawn image data drawn by the coloring material which have a,
The document conveying speed when reading the document image by heating with the heater is slower than the conveying speed when reading the document image without heating by the heater,
An original reading apparatus , wherein when a page number of a document from which drawing image data is to be extracted is designated, the heater is controlled so as to heat the document of the designated page number . The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the image data extraction unit extracts the drawing image data, the image reading unit performs an operation of continuously reading the same document twice.
An original reading apparatus that reads an original image without heating by the heater when reading the original image for the first time, and reads the original image by heating with the heater when reading the original image for the second time. . 3. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a designated area determination unit that determines a designated area surrounded by the drawing image data based on the drawing image data extracted by the image data extraction unit;
An original processing apparatus, comprising: an image processing unit that performs specified image processing on image data of the specified region determined by the specified region determination unit. In the document reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the heater includes a document reading apparatus characterized by being arranged to be heated both surfaces of the front and back of the document. 5. The document reading apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the heater selectively heats a front surface and a back surface of the document. 6. The document reading apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the heater includes a first heater that heats the front surface of the document and a second heater that heats the back surface of the document, and the first and second heaters An original reading apparatus, wherein the original reading apparatus is disposed opposite to the conveyance path. An original reading device having an image reading unit that reads an original image and generates image data; and a heater that erases a drawing portion on the original drawn by a coloring material that is heated and denatured and decolored by heating. ,
A drawing image data extraction unit for extracting drawing image data drawn by the coloring material;
Based on the drawing image data extracted by the image data extraction unit, a designated region determination unit that determines a designated region surrounded by the drawing image data;
The image data of the designated area in which the specified area determination unit determines, possess an image processing unit that performs specified image processing,
In the document reading device, the document conveyance speed when reading the document image by heating with the heater is slower than the conveyance speed when reading the document image without heating by the heater,
An original reading system , wherein when a page number of a document from which drawing image data is to be extracted is designated, the heater is controlled to heat the document of the designated page number .

Images