Document image processor and method for setting a document format conforming to a document image

A word processor comprising:

• a memory;
• character extracting and recognizing means for scanning a document image which includes a plurality of character images appearing on a document page, for extracting one at a time the plurality of character images on the scanned document page, for producing a plurality of x and y coordinates corresponding to the extracted plurality of character images, for recognizing one at a time the plurality of character images to produce a plurality of character codes, and for causing said memory to store the produced plurality of character codes as document data;
• document form producing means for accessing the x and y coordinates produced by said character extracting and recognizing means, for producing left margin data based on a smallest one of the x-coordinates, and for producing top margin data based on a smallest one of the y-coordinates;
• form storage means for storing the left margin data and the top margin data produced by said document form producing means as document form data for printing the document data;
• and
• print control means for reading respective ones of the plurality of character codes stored as the document data in said memory, for developing the read plurality of character codes into a corresponding plurality of print character patterns, for rearranging the developed plurality of print character patterns in accordance with the left margin data and the top margin data stored as the document form data in said form storage means, and for outputting for printing purposes the rearranged print character patterns.

A word processing method comprising:

• scanning a document image which includes a plurality of character images appearing on a document page, extracting one at a time the plurality of character images on the scanned document page, producing a plurality of x and y coordinates corresponding to the extracted plurality of character images, recognizing one at a time the plurality of character images to produce a plurality of character codes, and storing the produced plurality of character codes as document data;
• accessing the produced plurality of character coordinates, calculating distances each between respective y-coordinates corresponding to two adjacent ones of the characters images, producing line spacing data based on at least one of the calculated distances, producing left margin data based on a smallest one of the x-coordinates, and producing top margin data based on a smallest one of the y-coordinates;
• storing as the produced line spacing data, paper direction data and arrangement direction data as document form data for printing the document data;
• and
• reading respective ones of the plurality of character codes stored as the document data, developing the read plurality of character codes into a corresponding plurality of print character patterns, rearranging the developed plurality of print character patterns in accordance with the line spacing data, the left margin data and the top margin data stored as the document form data, and outputting for printing purposes the rearranged print character patterns.