JPH09200416A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color copying machine which can use a read function for an image even while plural copies are taken. SOLUTION: When one copy is taken, color image data read out by an image read part 103 are sent from an image data control part 105 to a printer part 111 and outputted. When >=1 copies are taken, the color image data read by the image read part 103 are sent from the image data control part 105 to a page memory 108 and temporarily stored in the page memory 108. Then the color image data read out of the page memory 108 are outputted at a printer part 111 repeatedly as many times as the copies. During this period, the image read part 103, an image processing part 104, the image data control part 105, and a computer i/f part 106 are enabled to operate.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and is particularly suitable for application to, for example, an image processing apparatus connected to a digital electronic computer (referred to as "computer").

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The structure of a conventional color copying machine connected to a computer is shown in FIG.

A CPU 401 controls the entire apparatus.
The operation panel 402 is an operation unit, and includes a mode selection key for selecting a copy mode for performing normal copying and a transmission mode for sending image data to the computer 407, and a numeric keypad for designating the number of copies. Including. The image reading unit 403 is composed of, for example, a CCD or the like, and optically reads color image data from a document. The image processing unit 404 subjects the color image data read by the image reading unit 403 to a series of image processing such as edge enhancement processing and scaling processing. The image data control unit 405 determines whether the color image data sent from the image processing unit 404 is the printer interface (i / f) unit 408 or the computer interface (i / f) unit 406 according to the copy mode or the transmission mode. Selectively send to. Also, the signal form is converted into a signal form suitable for each interface. The printer unit 409 prints the color image data sent from the printer interface (i / f) unit 408 on recording paper and outputs it.

[0004]

In the conventional color copying machine described above, when the number of copies is plural, the number of copies is set as a series of operations from the image reading operation in the image reading section 403 to the output operation in the printer section 409. I was going to repeat for a minute.

However, in such a configuration, for example,
While copying a large number of copies, there is an inconvenience that the copying machine cannot be used for other purposes, especially as an image input device of a computer. Further, since the image is read for each number of copies, there is a problem that the copying process takes time correspondingly, and there is also a problem in the identity of the output images output from a plurality of copies. In particular, in the case of a color copying machine, the time required to make one copy is inevitably longer than that of a black-and-white copying machine, so copying a plurality of copies takes too much time and limits the functions of the computer. Was more serious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus which can shorten the processing time in copying a plurality of copies and can be used as an image input device of a computer even when printing a plurality of copies.

[0007]

An image processing apparatus of the present invention which solves the above-mentioned problems includes an input means for inputting an image as image data and a first means for printing out the image data.
The output means, the storage means for storing the image data from the input means, the read means for reading the image data stored in the storage means and supplying the read image data to the first output means, and the read means. A second output unit capable of outputting another image data input from the input unit to the outside through a predetermined interface even while repeatedly reading the image data from the storage unit. Have.

In one aspect of the present invention, the image data input from the input means is color image data, and the storage means is a memory capable of storing at least one page of the color image data.

In one aspect of the present invention, the interface is an interface for sending image data to an external computer.

In an aspect of the present invention, the first output means has a printing means as at least a part thereof.

In one aspect of the present invention, there is further provided a designating unit capable of designating the number of times the image data is repeatedly output by the first output unit.

In one aspect of the present invention, when the image data output from the first output means is once, the image data input from the input means is stored in the storage means without storing the image data. Output from the first output means.

An image processing apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is an image processing apparatus connectable to a computer, which comprises image reading means for reading image data from an original and printing the image data on recording paper for output. Printing means, a computer interface for sending image data to a connected computer, an image storage means for storing the image data, an image reading means for reading the image data from the image storage means, and the number of print copies. And a image data control unit for selecting the destination of the image data. When the number of print copies designated by the print number designation unit is 1, the image read by the image reading unit Data is sent from the image data control means to the printing means and is output from the printing means, and the print copy number designation When the number of print copies designated by 2 is 2 or more, the image data read by the image reading means is sent from the image data control means to the image storage means to be stored in the image storage means, and then the image reading is performed. The image data read from the image storage means by the means is sent to the printing means to be output from the printing means, and the image data read by the image reading means when the number of copies is two or more is stored in the image storage means. After storing, the image data is read by the image reading unit and the image data read at that time is sent from the image data control unit to the computer interface, and the image data is sent from the computer interface to the computer. Is configured to be possible.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described according to preferred embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a color copying machine.

In the figure, a CPU 101 controls the entire apparatus.

The operation panel 102 is an operation unit, and has a copy mode for performing normal copying and the computer 1.
A mode selection key for selecting a transmission mode for sending image data to 07, a ten-key for specifying the number of copies, a start key for instructing the start of copying, and the like.

The image reading section 103 is composed of, for example, a CCD or the like, and optically reads color image data from a document.

The image processing section 104 includes an image reading section 10
The color image data read in 3 is subjected to a series of image processing such as edge enhancement processing and scaling processing.

The image data control unit 105 controls the color image data sent from the image processing unit 104 according to the copy mode or the transmission mode, and in the case of the copy mode, the number of copies is one or more. Printer interface (i
/ F) unit 110, page memory 108, or computer interface (i / f) unit 106. Also, the signal form is converted into a signal form suitable for each interface.

The computer interface (i / f) unit 106 sends and receives image data and the like to and from the connected computer 107.

The page memory 108 is, for example, a DRAM.
And stores color image data.

The memory control unit 109 uses the page memory 10
The read control of the color image data stored in 8 is performed.

Printer interface (i / f) section 11
0 is the image data control unit 105 or the memory control unit 109.
The color image data sent from is converted into the printer language.

The printer unit 111 prints the color image data sent from the printer interface (i / f) unit 110 on a recording paper and outputs it.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The copying operation of the color copying machine of this embodiment will be described.

First, in step S201, it is determined through the operation panel 102 whether or not the number of copies has been set. If not set, the setting is waited for. As another embodiment, if the copy number is not set and a copy start instruction for the next step is issued, it is determined that the copy number is 1 and the subsequent processing is performed. May be.

Next, in step S202, it is determined whether or not there is a copy start instruction by pressing the start key in the operation panel 102. If there is no instruction, the process waits until there is an instruction.

In the next step S203, step S2
The number of copies is set in 01 and step S202
When there is a copy start instruction in (3), the image reading unit 103 reads, for example, color image data of a document placed on a document table.

In the next step S204, step S2
The image processing unit 10 is added to the color image data read in 03.
In 4, a series of image processing such as edge enhancement processing and scaling processing is performed.

In the next step S205, step S2
It is determined whether the number of copies set in 01 is one copy. If the number of copies is one, step S2
If the number of copies is not one, that is,
If there are two or more copies, the process proceeds to step S208.

In step S206, when the number of copies is 1, the image data control unit 105 directly sends the color image data sent from the image processing unit 104 to the printer interface (i / f) unit 110.

Then, in the next step S207, the printer interface (i / f) unit 110 is changed to the printer unit 11.
1, the color image data is sent to the printer 1, the printer unit 111 outputs the color image data to the recording paper, and the process is completed.

On the other hand, if the number of copies is two or more in step S205, the image data control unit 105 sequentially sends the color image data sent from the image processing unit 104 to the page memory 108 in step S208. All the color image data read by the image reading unit 103 is stored in the page memory 108.

Next, in step S209, the memory control unit 109 sequentially reads the color image data from the page memory 108.

Then, in the next step S210,
The memory control unit 109 sends the color image data read from the page memory 108 in step S209 to the printer interface (i / f) unit 110.

In the next step S211, the printer interface (i / f) unit 110 sends color image data to the printer unit 111, and the printer unit 111 outputs the color image data to recording paper.

Then, in the next step S212,
It is determined whether the output of the number of copies set in step S201 is completed. Then, if the output of the set number of copies has not been completed, the process returns to step S209, and if the output of the set number of copies has been completed, the process ends.

As described above, in the color copying machine of this embodiment, when the number of copies is 1, the color image data read by the image reading unit 103 is transferred from the image data control unit 105 to the printer interface (i / f). ) Part 1
Although it is sent directly to the printer unit 111 via the printer 10 and output from the printer unit 111, when the number of copies is two or more, all the color image data read by the image reading unit 103 is sent from the image data control unit 105 to the page memory
08, and temporarily stores it in the page memory 108. Then, the operation of reading the color image data from the page memory 108, sending it to the printer unit 111, and causing it to be output from the printer unit 111 is repeated for the number of copies.

That is, even in the case of copying a plurality of copies, the reading by the image reading unit 103, the image processing by the image processing unit 104, and the transfer of the color image data from the image data control unit 105 are required only once, respectively. Accordingly, the time required for copying can be shortened as compared with the conventional case.

Also, since there is no inconsistency in color image data that occurs mainly during reading, the identity of output images is guaranteed when a plurality of copies are made.

Next, referring to the flowchart of FIG.
The operation in the transmission mode for sending the color image data read by the image reading unit 103 to the computer 107 will be described.

This transmission mode is set by operating the mode selection key in the operation panel 102, for example.

In this transmission mode, first, step S3
In 01, it is determined whether or not there is a transmission start instruction by pressing the start key in the operation panel 102. If there is no instruction, the process waits until there is an instruction.

In the next step S302, step S3
When there is a transmission start instruction in 01, the image reading unit 103 reads, for example, color image data of a document placed on a document table.

In the next step S303, step S3
The image processing unit 10 is added to the color image data read in 02.
In 4, a series of image processing such as edge enhancement processing and scaling processing is performed.

In the next step S304, the image data control unit 105 converts the color image data sent from the image processing unit 104 into a computer interface (i / f).
Send to section 106.

Then, in the next step S305, the computer interface (i / f) unit 106 sends the color image data to the computer 107.

Then, in the next step S306,
It is determined whether transmission of all pages of the manuscript has been completed. Then, if the transmission of all pages has not ended, the process returns to step S302, and if the transmission of all pages has ended, the process ends.

With the above operation, the color copying machine of this embodiment functions as an image input device of the computer 107. The computer 107 that has received the color image data from the color copying machine of the present embodiment sends the image data from the built-in modem 112 to the communication line 113, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, and performs the image communication.

The color copying machine of this embodiment can execute the above-described transmission mode even while copying a plurality of copies. Therefore, the function will be described next.

In step S208 of FIG. 2, when the storage of all the color image data of the original in the page memory 108 is completed, the image data control unit 105 causes the CPU 10 to operate.
1 is notified by an interrupt signal or the like that the storage of the color image data is completed. When the CPU 101 receives the interrupt signal or the like, it issues a start instruction and an instruction regarding the number of copies to the memory control unit 109, and after the end, holds the standby state. After that, the mode becomes a mode for accepting an external interrupt by the operator indicating the setting of the transmission mode (until that time, such an external interrupt is normally prohibited).

In this state, when the user sets the transmission mode, the CPU 101 accepts the external interrupt and starts the execution of the transmission mode described above. However, this state is a mode in which, unlike the normal transmission mode, a copying operation for a plurality of copies and a transmitting operation are executed in parallel. That is, the CPU 101 appropriately sends a control signal while timing the input / output of each part of the apparatus by an input / output interrupt or the like, reads the color image data from the page memory 108 by the memory control part 109, and the printer interface (i / f). ) Copying operation of a plurality of copies consisting of transfer of color image data to the printer section 111 by the section 110 and output to recording paper by the printer section 111, image reading by the image reading section 103, image processing by the image processing section 104, image Transfer of color image data to the computer interface (i / f) unit 106 by the data control unit 105 and computer interface (i / f)
A transmission operation including transmission of color image data to the computer 107 by the unit 106 is executed in parallel.

With this operation, the color copying machine of this embodiment can be used as an image input device of the computer 107 even during a large number of copying operations, and can be used for image communication and the like.

In the above embodiments, the case where the image processing apparatus of the present invention is used as an image input apparatus of a computer has been mainly described, but the image processing apparatus of the present invention is used as an image input / output apparatus of a computer. Is also good. That is, it may be a device that provides image data to a computer and a device that prints and outputs image data received from the computer. Further, the image reading unit 103 in the above-described embodiment may be an electronic camera or the like in addition to the image scanner.

[0056]

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, for example, it is possible to shorten the processing time when copying a plurality of copies and to ensure the consistency of output images of a plurality of copies.

Further, even when printing a plurality of copies, it can be used as an image input device for an external device such as a connected computer, and the operation of the external device is not restricted in time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a color copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a copying operation of the color copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a transmission operation of the color copying machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a conventional color copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 CPU 102 Operation Panel 103 Image Reading Unit 104 Image Processing Unit 105 Image Data Control Unit 105 Computer Interface (i / f) Unit 107 Computer 108 Page Memory 109 Memory Control Unit 110 Printer Interface (i / f) Unit 111 Printer Unit 112 Modem 113 communication line

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting an image as image data, a first output unit for printing out the image data, a storage unit for storing the image data from the input unit, and a storage unit for storing the image data in the storage unit. The image data read from the input means is read even while the read means for reading the read image data and supplying it to the first output means and the read means repeatedly read the image data from the storage means. An image processing apparatus comprising: second output means capable of outputting another image data to the outside via a predetermined interface. 2. The image data input from the input means is color image data, and the storage means is a memory capable of storing at least one page of the color image data. Image processing device. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the interface is an interface for sending image data to an external computer. 4. The first output means has a printing means as at least a part thereof.
The image processing device according to any one of 1 to 3. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a designation unit capable of designating the number of times image data is repeatedly output by the first output unit. 6. The first output means without storing the image data input from the input means in the case where the number of times the image data is output from the first output means is one. It outputs from 1
The image processing device according to claim 1. 7. An image processing apparatus connectable to a computer, comprising image reading means for reading image data from an original, printing means for printing the image data on recording paper and outputting the image data to a connected computer. A computer interface for transmitting the image data, an image storage unit for storing the image data, an image reading unit for reading the image data from the image storage unit, a print copy number designating unit for designating the number of print copies, and an image data delivery Image data control means for selecting a destination, and when the number of print copies designated by the print copy number designating means is 1, the image data read by the image reading means is transferred from the image data control means to the printing means. When the number of prints designated by the number-of-prints designating means is two or more, the printout is sent and output from the printing means. The image data read by the image reading means is sent from the image data control means to the image storage means to be stored in the image storage means, and then the image data read by the image reading means from the image storage means After the image data read by the image reading unit is stored in the image storage unit while being sent to the printing unit and output from the printing unit, the image by the image reading unit is stored. The reading of data and the image data read at that time are sent from the image data control means to the computer interface,
An image processing apparatus, which is configured to be capable of sending the image data from the computer interface to the computer.