JP3440163B2 - Image processing system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing system which can be used in a copy mode, a scanner mode and a printer mode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image processing system, a scanner (image reading means) for reading an image of an original, a printer (image forming means) for forming an image on a sheet based on image data read by the scanner, and an operation panel. And a system control unit (system control means) for controlling the scanner and the printer in a centralized manner.

In this image processing system, when the start key on the operation panel is pressed, the system control unit instructs the scanner to transfer image data to the printer, and the image data read by the scanner is transferred to the printer. Then, an image is formed on the sheet based on the image data.

Further, in such an image processing system,
An expansion interface unit (hereinafter "interface" is referred to as "I / F") for transmitting / receiving data by directly connecting to an external processing device or via a printer controller.
In addition to the copy mode in which the printer forms an image on a sheet based on the image data read by the scanner, and the image data read by the scanner is externally processed via the expansion I / F unit. And a printer mode in which the printer forms an image on paper based on image data sent from an external processing device or printer controller via an expansion I / F unit. is there.

In this image processing system, when the start key is pressed in the scanner mode, the system control unit instructs transfer of image data from the scanner to the expansion I / F unit, and the image data read by the scanner is expanded. It is transmitted to an external processing device via the I / F unit. Further, when a print instruction is given from an external processing device, the system control unit sets a printer mode and gives an instruction to transfer image data from the expansion I / F unit to the printer. The sent image data is transferred to the printer via the expansion I / F unit, and an image is formed on a sheet based on the image data.

By the way, in the conventional digital copying machine which constitutes such an image processing system, although the logical architecture inside the copying machine is sufficiently modularized, the scanner and the printer are physically integrated. The copy function can be realized. Also,
A scanner function and a printer function can be realized by adding an expansion I / F unit.

However, since the digital copying machine in which the scanner and the printer are physically integrated as described above is difficult to disassemble and assemble, it is unavoidable to carry them all as a unit. There was a problem that it was not possible to easily respond to requests from sales personnel and users such as weight reduction. In addition, since it is necessary to integrate all modules in the production plant, it is possible to cite the problem that it hinders the improvement of production efficiency such as the division of production bases and the division of labor.

Therefore, in such an image processing system, a scanner, a printer, and a system control unit are connected by a common transmission line (such as a SCSI bus), as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-334822. It has been proposed that the disassembly and assembly is facilitated by attaching and detaching the transmission line.

[0009]

However, in such a conventional image processing system, the extended I / O as described above is used.
In the case of adding an F unit and connecting it to each unit such as a scanner through a common transmission path, various information such as control information is transferred between the system control unit and the expansion I / F unit during transfer of image data. I couldn't communicate, and even if I had information I wanted to send to an external processor, I couldn't immediately send it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and makes it possible to exchange information between the system control unit and the extended I / F unit even during the transfer of image data. It is intended to always enable transmission of information to an external processing device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises an image reading means for reading an image of an original,
The image reading means includes an image forming means for forming an image on a sheet based on image data, an expansion I / F unit for connecting to an external processing device to transmit and receive data, and an operation panel. Image forming means and extended I / F
And a system control means for centrally controlling the units in the image processing system connected to each of these means on a common transmission channel, characterized in that as follows.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the system control means and the expansion I / F unit are connected by a transmission line different from the common transmission line, and a character or image sent from an external processing device is connected.
A print that expands the code information of the image into image data and outputs it.
Controller controller for the expansion I / F unit
Control from the printer controller to the extension I / F unit
Means to convert information into control information for system control means
Be prepared .

The invention of claim 2 is an extension of the system control means.
The extension I / F unit and a transmission line different from the common transmission line described above.
Characters or images sent from an external processing device.
A print that expands the code information of the image into image data and outputs it.
A controller for the expansion I / F unit,
Serialized linter controller and expansion I / F unit
It is connected via an I / F.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the image processing system according to the first or second aspect , the printer controller and the extension I are provided.
/ F unit is detachably connected .

A transmission line different from the above-mentioned common transmission line is used.
It may be a bus equivalent to the internal bus of the system control means.
Yes. Control information that passes through a transmission line different from the above-mentioned common transmission line
And standardize control information in a standard format.
Yes. The system control unit includes an image reading unit and an image forming unit.
Process the asynchronous event information sent from the stage
Means for outputting to the expansion I / F unit.

Even if the common transmission line is a SCSI bus,
Good. In this case, system control means
Of image data from other image reading means to image forming means
From the image reading means in the instruction / scanner mode to the extended I / F
Instructions for transferring image data to the unit and printer mode
Image from the extended I / F unit to the image forming means
The transfer instructions of the data are controlled by SCSI for almost the same control.
It is advisable to provide a means of using the information. Expansion I /
Characters sent from an external processing unit to the F unit
Is equipped with a means to expand image code information into image data.
May be.

[0017]

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the system control means and the expansion I / F unit are connected by a transmission line different from the common transmission line, so that the system control can be performed even during the transfer of image data. Information can be exchanged between the unit and the expansion I / F unit, and information can be transmitted to an external processing device at all times. Also, it is sent from an external processing device.
The character or image code information is expanded into image data and output.
Use a compatible printer controller for the expansion I / F unit.
Image data from an external processing device
Communication time is significantly shorter than when
It Expansion I / F unit from printer controller
Control information can be converted to control information for system control means
If this is set, the printer controller will use this image processing system.
You can also control the system directly.

The printer controller and the expansion I / F unit
To a serial I / F or other serial I / F.
By connecting the expansion I / F unit side connector
It can be simplified. Printer controller and expansion
By connecting the I / F unit detachably,
Connect multiple external processing units via the linter controller
It becomes possible to do.

A transmission line different from the above-mentioned common transmission line is used.
If a bus equivalent to the internal bus of the system control means is used,
Bus system control means and expansion I / F unit
It becomes easy to design related to the connection. With the common transmission line above
Is a standard form of control information for control information that passes through another transmission path.
The unified I / F unit can be used by using all the control information.
The system control means software even if the
You do not have to change a.

The system control means includes an image reading means and an image reading means.
Input the asynchronous event information sent from the image forming means.
Output and output to the expansion I / F unit.
The physical device is sent through the expansion I / F unit.
The user can display the information on a display device such as a display.
Can be informed. Therefore, the image processing system
If an abnormality occurs in the system, the user can immediately recognize it.
You can recognize and remove abnormalities.

The common transmission path is a SCSI bus.
And the transmission line makes it easy for other general-purpose peripheral devices.
Can be connected, making this image processing system more multifunctional
be able to. In this case, the system control means
Image data from the image reading unit to the image forming unit in the mode
Data transfer instructions and expansion from the image reading means in the scanner mode.
Image data transfer instruction to the I / F unit
From the extended I / F unit in image mode to the image forming means
Of the image data transfer instructions for SCSI
By using the control information that is passed through, the scanner
Also, it is not necessary to add a new command to the printer.

Whether the expansion I / F unit is an external processing device
Image or character code information sent from the image data
Image processing from an external processing device.
The communication time is much shorter than when the data is sent.
Become.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This image processing system includes a scanner 1 for reading an image of a document, a printer 2 for forming an image on a sheet based on image data, and an external processing device (hereinafter referred to as "host") such as a personal computer. Expansion I / F unit 3 for connecting and transmitting / receiving data
And a system control unit 5 having an operation panel 4 and controlling the scanner 1, the printer 2, and the extension I / F unit 3 in a centralized manner.
It is connected by a CSI (Small Computer System Interface) bus 6.

Further, the system control unit 5 and the expansion I /
The F unit 3 is connected by an ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) bus 7, which is a bus equivalent to the internal bus of the system control unit 5. Further, a printer controller 8 which develops character or image code information sent from a host into image data and outputs the image data is detachably provided to the expansion I / F unit 3, and these are connected by a video I / F 9. ing.

In the image processing apparatus configured as described above, when character or image code information is sent from the host, the code information is stored in the page memory in the printer controller 8 as image data in page units (video data). 2 is transferred to the data conversion unit 11 of the expansion I / F unit 3 as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2 and further transferred via the SCSI bus 6 as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. Then, the image is formed on a sheet based on the image data.

Further, S read by the scanner 1
After the image data for CSI is transferred to the data conversion unit 11 of the expansion I / F unit 3 as shown by the arrowed line C,
The data is transferred to the printer controller 8 as indicated by the arrowed line A and further transmitted to the host. On the other hand, the control information is made up of four types of command groups shown in (1) to (4) below, and the flow of these is shown by arrows D, E, F, and G in FIG.

(1) Main command group: related to transfer of control right and transfer of status information, event information and the like. (2) Scanner command group: Control commands in the scanner mode. (3) Printer command group: related to control in printer mode. (4) Panel command group: related to screen control, key input control, buzzer ON / OFF control on the operation panel 4.

Control information (commands) belonging to the main command group is transferred from the printer controller 8 to the system control unit 5 via the command conversion unit 12 of the expansion I / F unit 3 as shown by the arrowed line D in FIG. Mode control unit 1
3 is sent. The control information belonging to the scanner command group is scanned from the printer controller 8 through the command conversion unit 12 of the expansion I / F unit 3 and the scanner / printer control unit 14 of the system control unit 5 in sequence as indicated by the arrow E. Sent to 1.

The control information belonging to the printer command group is
As indicated by an arrowed line F, the data is sent from the printer controller 8 to the printer 2 through the command conversion unit 12 of the expansion I / F unit 3 and the scanner / printer control unit 14 of the system control unit 5 in sequence. The control information belonging to the panel command group is sent from the printer controller 8 via the command conversion unit 12 of the expansion I / F unit 3 and the panel control unit 15 of the system control unit 5 in sequence as shown by the arrowed line G in FIG. Sent to.

Here, the expansion I / F unit 3 and the system control unit 5 will be described in a little more detail.
The data conversion unit 11 of the expansion I / F unit 3 converts the image data (video signal) sent from the printer controller 8 into SCSI image data and transfers it to the printer 2 or sends it from the scanner 1. The incoming image data is converted into image data for the video I / F 9 and transferred to the printer controller 8.

The command conversion unit 12 converts the control information sent from the printer controller 8 into control information for API (application interface) and sends it to the system control unit 5, or sends it from the system control unit 5. The incoming control information is converted into control information for the video I / F 9 and sent to the printer controller 8.

Mode control section 1 of system control unit 5
Upon receiving the control information belonging to the main command group from the extended I / F unit 3, the 3 sets the mode (copy mode, scanner mode, printer mode) according to the control information. The scanner / printer controller 14 uses the extended I / F
When receiving the control information belonging to the scanner command group from the unit 3, the control information is converted into SCSI control information and sent to the scanner 1. When receiving the control information belonging to the printer command group, the control information is converted into SCSI control information and sent to the printer 2.

Upon receiving the control information belonging to the panel command group from the extended I / F unit 3, the panel control unit 15 converts it into display data or voice data and sends it to the display or buzzer of the operation panel 4. When a signal corresponding to a key operation is input, the signal is converted into API or SCSI control information and sent to the extended I / F unit 3, scanner 1, or printer 2.

Next, the data flow in the printer mode in this image processing system will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

(1) The printer controller 8 receives the print start command (extended I
/ F unit 3 issues an instruction to transfer image data to the printer 2). (2) The extended I / F unit 3 converts the print start command received from the printer controller 8 into a print start command for API, and sends it to the system control unit 5.

(3) The system control unit 5 uses the expansion I
The print start command received from the / F unit 3 is converted into a SCSI copy command (extended I / F unit ID), and this is sent to the printer 2. This copy command is substantially the same as the copy command used in the copy mode, and is different only in that the ID number designating the transfer destination of the image data is the ID number designating the extended I / F unit 3. It should be noted that the copy command used in the copy mode specifies the scanner 1
Contains the D number.

(4) Upon receiving the copy command from the system control unit 5, the printer 2 sends a read command to the extended I / F unit 3 designated by the ID number. Note that the device specified by the ID number of the printer 2 is the scanner 1 by the SCSI bus 6.
It is not necessary to know whether it is the expansion I / F unit 3 or the transfer source ID number included in the copy command as the destination ID number of the read command. Therefore, the printer 2
There is no need to change your control software.

(5) Upon receiving the read command from the printer 2, the extended I / F unit 3 sends a frame synchronization signal to the printer controller 8 to prompt the transfer of image data. When the printer controller 8 detects the frame synchronization signal, it expands the character or image code information sent from the host into image data (print data) in page units on the page memory, and expands the image data (print data). Transfer to. (6) The extended I / F unit 3 converts the image data sent from the printer controller 8 into SCSI image data and transfers it to the printer 2.

Next, the data flow in the scanner mode in this image processing system will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

(1) The printer controller 8 issues a scan start command (an instruction to transfer image data from the scanner 1 to the extended I / F unit 3) in response to an instruction from the host. (2) The extended I / F unit 3 converts the scan start command received from the printer controller 8 into a scan start command for API, and sends it to the system control unit 5.

(3) The system control unit 5 has the expansion I
The scan start command received from the / F unit 3 is converted into a SCSI copy command (scanner ID), and this is sent to the extended I / F unit 3. (4) Upon receiving the copy command from the system control unit 5, the extended I / F unit 3 sends a read command to the scanner 1 designated by the ID number.

(5) When the scanner 1 receives the read command from the extended I / F unit 3, it starts (starts) the scanning operation to read the original image, and reads the image data (scan data) from the extended I / F. Transfer to F unit 3. (6) The extended I / F unit 3 synchronizes the image data transferred from the scanner 1 with the frame synchronization signal sent from the printer controller 8, transfers the image data to the printer controller 8, and sends it to the host.

Next, the data flow in the printer mode in this image processing system will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. In this image processing system, the printer 2 sends a scan command (read start control information) and a read command to the expansion I / F unit 3 in order to make the printer mode common to the copy mode.

That is, when the printer controller 8 issues a print start command according to an instruction from the host, the print control unit 22 of the expansion I / F unit 3 converts the print start command into a print start command for API and controls the system. The printer manager 25 sends the print start command to the unit 5 and the copy command for SCSI (extended I / O).
(F unit ID) and sends it to the printer 2, the printer 2 converts the copy command into a scan command and sends it to the extended I / F unit 3, and also sends a read command to the extended I / F unit 3. .

Further, the printer controller 8 issues a mode set command for setting a mode to the extended I / F unit 3 prior to sending the print start command, and knows the set contents of the mode if necessary. Issue a mode read command.

When the extended I / F unit 3 receives the mode set command, it converts it into a mode set command for API and sends it to the system control unit 5, and the printer manager 25 sends the mode set command for SCSI. To a printer 2, and the printer 2 sets various conditions such as a paper feed tray (paper size) and a paper discharge tray designated by the mode select command.

The mode control section 21 of the extended I / F unit 3
When the mode read command is received, the API
To the system control unit 5, and the printer manager 25 converts the mode read command into a SCSI mode sense command and sends it to the printer 2.

Upon receiving the mode sense command, the printer 2 sends information indicating the current contents of the mode set to the system control unit 5, and the system control unit 5 uses the information as control information belonging to the main command group to the extended I / F. The information is sent to the printer controller 8 via the unit 3, and the printer controller 8 sends the information to the host.

The printer 2 asynchronously sends event information (AEN) indicating the change to the system control unit 5 when an internal state changes such as a paper jam (jam) or paper exhaustion. To do. Upon receiving the event information, the system control unit 5 sends it as control information belonging to the main command group to the printer controller 8 via the extended I / F unit 3, and the printer controller 8 sends the information to the host. .

On the other hand, when the extended I / F unit 3 receives a read command from the printer 2, the synchronization control unit 2
3 sends a frame synchronization signal to the printer controller 8 to prompt transfer of the image data, and when the image data is transferred from the printer controller 8, the FI
Once stored in the FO memory 24, the printer 2 reads it and then reads it.
Transfer to.

Next, the data flow in the scanner mode in this image processing system will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. In this image processing system, the extended I / F unit 3 issues a scan command in the scanner mode.

That is, when the printer controller 8 issues a scan start command in response to an instruction from the host, the scan control unit 33 of the expansion I / F unit 3 converts the scan start command into a scan start command for API and controls the system. The scan start command is sent to the unit 5, the scan start command is converted into a SCSI copy command (scanner ID) and sent to the extended I / F unit 3, and the extended I / F unit 3 sends the copy command. The scan command is converted and sent to the scanner 1, and the read command is also sent to the scanner 1.

The scanner 1 has been described above so as to start the scan operation when it receives the read command from the extended I / F unit 3. However, in reality, when the scan command is received, the scan operation is started and the original image is read. Is read, the image data (scan data) is sequentially stored in the internal memory, and when the read command is received, the image data is read and the extended I / F unit 3 is read.
Transfer to.

Before sending the scan start command, the printer controller 8 sends a mode set command to the extended I / F unit 3, a window set command to set the reading area (window) of the scanner 1, and automatic document feeding. ADF command to automatically feed the document set on the platen of the device (ADF) and set it on the contact glass, and to read the mode read command and window read command to know the window if necessary Is sent.

Mode control section 21 of expansion I / F unit 3
When the mode set command is received, the API
To the system control unit 5, the scanner manager 34 converts the mode set command into a SCSI mode select command and sends it to the scanner 1, and the scanner 1 sends the mode select command. Sets various conditions specified by.

Mode control section 21 of expansion I / F unit 3
When the mode read command is received, the API
To the system control unit 5, and the scanner manager 34 converts the mode read command into a SCSI mode sense command and sends it to the scanner 1.

When the scanner 1 receives the mode sense command, it sends information indicating the current contents of the mode set to the system control unit 5, and the system control unit 5 uses the information as the control information belonging to the main command group to the extended I / F. The information is sent to the printer controller 8 via the unit 3, and the printer controller 8 sends the information to the host.

Upon receiving the window set command, the window control section 31 of the extended I / F unit 3 converts it into an API window set command and sends it to the system control unit 5, and the scanner manager 34 of the window set command outputs the window set command. The set command is converted into a set window command for SCSI and sent to the scanner 1, and the scanner 1 sets the window of the size specified at the position specified by the set window command.

Upon receiving the window read command, the window control unit 31 of the extended I / F unit 3 converts it into an API window read command and sends it to the system control unit 5, and the scanner manager 34 of the window read command. The read command is converted into a SCSI get window command and sent to the scanner 1.

When the scanner 1 receives the get window command, it sends the information indicating the set contents of the current window to the system control unit 5, and the system control unit 5 uses the information as the control information belonging to the main command group to the extended I / O. The information is sent to the printer controller 8 via the F unit 3, and the printer controller 8 sends the information to the host.

ADF control unit 32 of extended I / F unit 3
When it receives an ADF command, it sends it to the API for API.
The DF command is converted and sent to the system control unit 5, and the scanner manager 34 converts the ADF command into a SCSI object position command and sends it to the scanner 1. Upon receiving the object position command, the scanner 1 automatically feeds the document set on the ADF platen and sets it on the contact glass.

The scanner 1 asynchronously sends event information (AEN) to the system control unit 5 when the internal state changes such as a paper jam (jam). Upon receiving the event information, the system control unit 5 sends it as control information belonging to the main command group to the printer controller 8 via the extended I / F unit 3, and further the printer controller 8
Sends the information to the host.

On the other hand, the extended I / F unit 3 stores the image data transferred from the scanner 1 in the FIFO memory 24.
Once stored in the printer, the synchronization controller 23 reads the frame synchronization signal from the printer controller 8 in synchronization with it, transfers it to the printer controller 8, and the printer controller 8 sends the image data to the host.

Next, the data flow in the copy mode in this image processing system will be briefly described. When the start key on the operation panel 4 is pressed, the system control unit 5 sends a copy command (an instruction to transfer image data from the scanner 1 to the printer 2) to the printer 2.

When the printer 2 receives the copy command, it converts it into a scanner command and sends it to the scanner 1, and then also sends a read command to the scanner 1. When the scanner 1 receives the scan command, it starts the scanning operation to read the document image, sequentially accumulates the image data in the internal memory, and when the read command is received, the image data is read out to the printer 2. Forward.

The data conversion unit 11 of FIG. 1 includes the synchronization control unit 23 and the FIFO memory 24, and the command conversion unit 12
Is a mode control unit 21, a print control unit 22, a window control unit 31, an ADF control unit 32, and a scan control unit 3.
Have 3 each. Also, the scanner / printer control unit 1
4 is a printer manager 25 and a scanner manager 3
It consists of 4.

In this embodiment, the extended I / F is also used.
Although the transmission path connecting the unit 3 and the system control unit 5 is the ISA bus equivalent to the ISA bus which is the internal bus of the system control unit 5, it may be another bus. Further, in this embodiment, the common transmission line connecting the scanner 1, printer 2, expansion I / F unit 3, and system control unit 5 is the SCSI bus 6, but it may be another bus.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the printer controller 8 for developing the character or image code information sent from the host into image data and outputting the image data is detachably provided to the expansion I / F unit 3. But I extended
The / F unit 3 may have a function of expanding code information of characters or images sent from the host into image data.

Further, in this embodiment, the printer controller 8 and the expansion I / F unit 3 are connected to the video I / F.
However, the connection may be made via another serial I / F or parallel I / F.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, information can be exchanged between the system control means and the extended I / F unit even during the transfer of image data. , It becomes possible to always send information to an external processing device. Moreover, image data from an external processing device
The communication time can be significantly shortened compared to when it is sent.
You can

Further, according to the invention of claim 1 , this image
The printer controller directly controls the image processing system
It also becomes possible. According to the invention of claim 2 , the extended I /
The connector on the F unit side can be simplified.
It According to the invention of claim 3, the printer controller
It is also possible to connect multiple external processing devices via
It

[0073]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a basic data flow in the image processing system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for specifically explaining the flow of data in the printer mode.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for specifically explaining the data flow in the scanner mode.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for more specifically explaining the data flow in the printer mode.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for more specifically explaining the data flow in the scanner mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Scanner 2: Printer 3: Expansion I / F unit 4: Operation panel 5: System control unit 6: SCSI bus 7: ISA bus 8: Printer controller 9: Video I / F 11: Data converter 12: Command conversion unit 13, 21: Mode control unit 14: Scanner / Printer Control Unit 15: Panel Control Unit 22: Print control unit 23: Synchronization control unit 24: FIFO memory 25: Printer manager 31: Window control unit 32: ADF control unit 33: Scan control unit 34: Scanner manager

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading an image of a document,
Image type that forms images on paper based on image data
Data transmission / reception by connecting to the processing means and an external processing device.
Expansion interface unit and operation panel
The image reading means, the image forming means, and the extension.
System system that controls the interface unit as a whole
Control means, and these means are connected by a common transmission line.
In the image processing system The system control means and the extension interface unit
And the transmission line other than the common transmission lineThen Copies of characters or images sent from the external processing device.
A printer controller that develops code information into image data and outputs it.
Install the controller to the expansion interface unit.
Ke The expansion interface unit is the printer
The control information from the controller is controlled by the system control means.
Have a means to convert to information Image processing characterized by
Management system. 2.Image reading means for reading the image of the original,
Image type that forms images on paper based on image data
Data transmission / reception by connecting to the processing means and an external processing device.
Expansion interface unit and operation panel
The image reading means, the image forming means, and the extension.
System system that controls the interface unit as a whole
Control means, and these means are connected by a common transmission line.
In the image processing system The system control means and the extension interface unit
And a common transmission line and a transmission line different from the common transmission line, Copies of characters or images sent from the external processing device.
A printer controller that develops code information into image data and outputs it.
Install the controller to the expansion interface unit.
Ke The printer controller and the extension interface unit
Connected to the unit via the serial interface.
An image processing system characterized by: 3. An image processing system, characterized in that in claim 1 or 2, wherein the image processing system, which is connected before the said extension interface unit and Kipu printer controller detachably.