JPH07123195A - Composite image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the function setting and to avoid complicated operation by allocating plural original feeders to each of composite functions of the image forming device. CONSTITUTION:The image forming means 11 is a reader section 1 converting an original into picture data for the input and a printer section 2 outputting picture data onto recording paper as a visual image, and an external device 3 has a composite function such as a facsimile function by a facsimile section 4 and an electronic file function by a file section 5. Then a control means 15 allocates each function of the composite functions to each feeder of plural original feeders and selects a job among the composite function by the selected feeder. That is, each function of the composite functions is designated to each feeder and when a function is automatically selected, an original is set to the feeder. Thus, when the original feeder is selected, the function is selected automatically.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite image forming apparatus having an interface with respective composite function units such as a facsimile, a printer and an electronic file.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus of a system having a composite function, a document feeding device is provided to read a document such as a FAX communication, an electronic file, and a copy. The same document feeder is also used when performing.

[0003]

However, in the apparatus having the composite function as described above, the feeding apparatus which detects the document after selecting the function by the function selecting means such as the operation unit of the image forming apparatus is used. Since the document is being conveyed for scanning, as the number of functions increases, it becomes necessary to select the function on the operation section every time the operation is performed, and the number of setting operations increases, which complicates the operation. There was a problem that

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a composite image forming apparatus in which setting of each function is easy and operation is not complicated. There is.

[0005]

A composite image forming apparatus of the present invention has an image forming means for outputting an input image as a visible image, is additionally provided with a facsimile function, an electronic file function, etc. The document feeder includes a document feeder and a control unit that assigns each function of the composite function to each document feeder.

[0006] Further, when each document feeder is selected, its assigned function is selected.

[0007]

In the composite image forming apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of original document feeding devices are provided, each function is assigned to each original document feeding device, and the original document feeding device is selected to automatically perform work. It becomes possible to set each function easily.

[0008]

1 is a block diagram showing the overall structure of a composite image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a reader unit (image input unit) for converting a document into image data and inputting the image data. Reference numeral 2 has a plurality of recording paper cassettes, and outputs image data as a visible image on the recording paper according to a print command. A printer unit (image output unit), and the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2 constitute an image forming unit 11.

An external device 3 is electrically connected to the reader unit 1 and has various functions. This external device 3
Is a fax unit (facsimile communication unit) 4 connected to the telephone line 12 and the hard disk 13, a file unit 5 having means for searching stored images, an external storage device 6 connected to the file unit 5 for storing images, Computer 14
A computer interface unit 7 for connecting to
Information from the formatter unit 8 and the reader unit 1 for expanding the coded image information from the computer 14 into bitmap data to form a visible image, or temporarily storing the information sent from the computer 14 is stored. The image memory unit 9 for temporarily storing the image data and the core unit 10 for controlling the operation of each of the functional units.

Reference numeral 15 is a control means for allocating each function of the above-mentioned composite functions to each of a plurality of document feeding devices (described later), and the selected function is selected by each document feeding device. Is to be selected.

The functions of the respective parts will be described in detail below.

[Description of Reader Unit] Details of the reader unit 1 will be described with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 2 and the block diagram of FIG.

The originals stacked on the original feeding devices 101A and 101B are sequentially conveyed one by one onto the mounting surface of the original glass 102. When the document is conveyed, the scanner unit 103
Lamp is turned on, and the scanner unit 104 moves to illuminate the original. The reflected light of this document is reflected by the mirror 1
After passing through the lens 108 through 05, 106, and 107, it is input to the CCD image sensor unit 109 (hereinafter abbreviated as CCD).

Next, the image processing in the reader unit 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The image information input to the CCD 109 is photoelectrically converted here and converted into an electric signal.
The color information from the CCD 109 is transferred to the amplifier 110 at the next stage.
The signals are amplified by R, 110G, and 110B according to the input signal level of the A / D converter 111. The output signal from the A / D converter 111 is input to the shading circuit 112, where the orientation unevenness of the lamp 103 and the sensitivity unevenness of the CCD 109 are corrected. This shading circuit 112
Signal is input to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 and the external I / F switching circuit 119.

The Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 obtains a Y signal by performing arithmetic processing of the following equation on the signal from the shading circuit 112.

Y = 0.3R + 0.6G + 0.1B Further, from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113, which has a color detection circuit for separating the R, G, B signals into seven colors and outputting a signal for each color. The output signal is input to the scaling / repeat circuit 114. At this time, the scaling in the sub-scanning direction is performed at the scanning speed of the scanner unit 104 in FIG. 2, and the scaling / repeat circuit 114 performs the scaling in the main scanning direction. Further, the scaling / repeat circuit 114 can output a plurality of identical images.

The contour / edge enhancement circuit 115 obtains edge enhancement and contour information by enhancing the high frequency component of the signal from the scaling / repeat circuit 114. This contour
The signal from the edge enhancement circuit 115 is input to the marker area determination / contour generation circuit 116 and the patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117.

The marker area determination / contour generation circuit 11
Reference numeral 6 reads a portion of the document written with a marker pen of a designated color to generate contour information of the marker, and the next patterning / thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 thickens or masks the contour information. Trimming.
Further, patterning is performed by the color detection signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113. Also, patterning, thickening,
The output signal from the masking / trimming circuit 117 is
The various processed signals input to the laser driver circuit 118 are converted into signals for driving the laser here. Then, the signal from the laser driver circuit 118 is input to the printer unit 2 of FIG.
The image formation is performed as a visible image.

Next, the external I / F switching circuit 119 which is an interface with the external device 3 will be described. When the external I / F switching circuit 119 outputs the image information from the reader unit 1 to the external device 3, the external I / F switching circuit 119 performs patterning.
The image information from the thickening / masking / trimming circuit 117 is output to the connector 120. When the reader unit 1 inputs the image information from the external device 3, the external switching circuit 119 inputs the image information from the connector 120 to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113.

The above-mentioned image processing is executed by the CPU 122.
Instructions. The area generation circuit 121 generates various timing signals necessary for the image processing according to the values set by the CPU 122. further,
Communication with the external device 3 is performed using the communication function built in the CPU 122. The SUB / CPU 123 controls the operation unit 124, and at the same time, the SUB / CPU 123
Communication with the external device 3 is performed using the communication function built in the.

[Description of Printer Unit] The signal input to the printer unit 2 is converted into an optical signal by the exposure control unit 201, and the photoconductor 202 is illuminated according to the image signal.
The latent image formed on the photoconductor 202 by this irradiation light is
It is developed by the developing device 203.

On the other hand, the transfer sheet is conveyed from the transfer sheet stacking section 204 or 205 at the same timing as the development, and the developed image is transferred at the transfer section 206. The transferred image is fixed to the transfer paper by the fixing unit 207, and then discharged from the paper output unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus. The transfer paper output from the paper output unit 208 is discharged to each bin when the sort function is working in the sorter 220, or to the highest bin of the sorter when the sort function is not working. It

Next, the case where the sequentially read images are output to both sides of one output sheet will be described. in this case,
The output sheet fixed by the fixing unit 207 is temporarily output to the paper output unit 20.
After the sheet is conveyed up to 8, the sheet is turned upside down and conveyed to the re-transferred transfer sheet stacking section 210 through the conveyance direction switching section 209. Then, when the next original is prepared, the original image is read in the same manner as the above process, but since the transfer paper is fed from the re-feed transfer paper stacking unit 210, the surface of the same output paper is ended up. , Two document images can be output on the back side.

[Description of External Device] The external device 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 by a cable, and the internal core unit 10 controls signals and functions. In addition, in the external device 3, as described above, the fax unit 4 for performing fax transmission / reception, the file unit 5 for converting various document information into electric signals and storing the same, and the formatter unit for expanding the code information from the computer 14 into image information. 8, a computer interface section 7 for interfacing with the computer 14, an image memory section 9 for accumulating information from the reader section 1 and temporarily accumulating information sent from the computer 14, and each of the above. It is composed of a core unit 10 that controls functions.

Next, the function of each unit in the external device 3 will be described.

[Description of Core Unit] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the core unit 10. Connector 100 of core unit 10
1 is connected to the connector 120 of the reader unit 1 by a cable. The connector 1001 is connected to signal lines that send out four types of signals.

The signal on the signal line 1057 is an 8-bit multivalued video signal, and the signal on the signal line 1055 is
It is a control signal for controlling the video signal. The signal on the signal line 1051 is a communication signal with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1, and the signal on the signal line 1052 is a communication signal with the SUB / CPU 123 in the reader unit 1. Then, the communication signals of the signal lines 1051 and 1052 are subjected to communication protocol processing by the communication IC 1002, and the communication information is transmitted to the CPU 1003 via the CPU bus 1053.

The signal on the signal line 1057 is a bidirectional video signal, and the information from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the core unit 1
It is possible to receive with 0 and output the information from the core unit 10 to the reader unit 1. The signal line 1057 is also connected to the buffer 1010, where the bidirectional signal is separated into the unidirectional signals of the signal lines 1058 and 1070.

The signal on the signal line 1058 is read by the reader unit 1.
8-bit multi-valued video signal from the
1011 is input. The LUT 1011 converts the image information from the reader unit 1 into a desired value using a look-up table. From this LUT 1011 to signal line 1
The signal output to 059 is input to the binarization circuit 1012 and the selector 1013. The binarization circuit 1012 has a simple binarization function of binarizing a multi-valued signal output to the signal line 1059 at a fixed slice level, and a variation of the slice level from the values of pixels around the pixel of interest. It has a binarization function by the slice level and a binarization function by the error diffusion method.

The binarized information is 00H when 0,
When it is 1, it is converted into a multilevel signal of FFH, and the selector 1 of the next stage
Input to 013. The selector 1013 is the LUT 10
The signal from 11 or the output signal of the binarization circuit 1012 is selected. The signal output from the selector 1013 to the signal line 1060 is input to the selector 1014. The selector 1014 outputs video signals from the fax unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8 and image memory unit 9 to connectors 1005, 1006, 1007, 1 respectively.
Signal 1 input to the core unit 10 via 008, 1009
064 and the signal output from the selector 1013 to the signal line 1060 are selected by the instruction of the CPU 1003.

From the selector 1014 to the signal line 10
The signal output to 61 is input to the rotating circuit 1015 or the selector 1016. The rotation circuit 1015 has a function of rotating the input image signal by +90 degrees, -90 degrees, and +180 degrees. Further, the information output from the reader unit 1 is input to the binarization circuit 101 in the rotation circuit 1015.
It is stored after being converted into a binary signal at 2.

Further, the rotation circuit 1015 rotates and reads the stored information according to an instruction from the CPU 1003. The selector 1016 receives the signal output from the rotating circuit 1015 on the signal line 1062 and the rotating circuit 101.
5 is selected through the signal line 1061 and the selected signal is transmitted through the signal line 1063 to the connector 1005 with the fax unit 4, the connector 1006 with the file unit 5, and the connector 1007 with the computer interface unit 7. , A connector 1008 with the formatter unit 8 and a connector 1 with the image memory unit 9
009 and the selector 1017.

The signal line 1063 is a unidirectional 8-bit synchronous type which transfers image information from the core unit 10 to the fax unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8 and image memory unit 9. It is a video bus. The signal line 1064 is a synchronous 8-bit unidirectional video bus for transferring image information from the fax unit 4, the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8 and the image memory unit 9.

The video control circuit 1004 controls the synchronous bus of the signal line 1063 and the signal line 1064.
Control is performed by the signal output from 04 to the signal line 1056.

The connectors 1005 to 1009 are provided with
In addition, the signal lines 1054 are respectively connected.
This signal line 1054 is a bidirectional 16-bit CPU.
It is a bus that exchanges data commands asynchronously. Then, the transfer of information with the fax unit 4, the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8, the image memory 9, and the core unit 10 is performed by the signal line 106 which is the above two video buses.
3, 1064 and the signal line 1054 which is a CPU bus.

Output signals from the fax unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8 and image memory unit 9 to the signal line 1064 are input to the selector 1014 and the selector 1017. The selector 1016 outputs the signal of the signal line 1064 to the rotation circuit 101 of the next stage according to the instruction of the CPU 1003.
Enter in 5. In addition, the selector 1017 uses the signal line 1
063 and the signal of the signal line 1064 are selected by the instruction of the CPU 1003.

Signal line 1065 from selector 1017
The signal output to the pattern matching circuit 1018
Is input to the selector 1019. The pattern matching circuit 1018 performs pattern matching on the input signal from the signal line 1065 with a predetermined pattern,
When the patterns match, a predetermined multilevel signal is output to the signal line 1066. If they do not match in the pattern matching, the signal of the signal line 1065 is output to the signal line 1066.

The selector 1019 has a signal line 1065.
And the signal on the signal line 1066 are selected by the instruction of the CPU 1003. From the selector 1019 to the signal line 1
The signal output to 067 is input to the LUT 1020 in the next stage. The LUT 1020 converts the input signal from the signal line 1067 according to the characteristics of the printer when outputting the image information to the printer unit 2.

The selector 1021 outputs the signal output from the LUT 1020 to the signal line 1068 and the signal line 1068.
The signal of 65 is selected by the instruction of the CPU 1003. The output signal of the selector 1021 is used as the expansion circuit 10 of the next stage.
22 is input. The enlargement circuit 1022 is the CPU 100.
It is possible to set the enlargement ratio independently in the X and Y directions by an instruction from 3.

The expansion method of the expansion circuit 1022 is a linear interpolation method of the first order, and the signal output from the expansion circuit 1022 to the signal line 1070 is the buffer 1010.
Entered in. The signal on the signal line 1070 input to the buffer 1010 becomes the above-described bidirectional signal according to an instruction from the CPU 1003, and the bidirectional signal output on the signal line 1057 is sent to the printer unit 2 via the connector 1001 and printed. Will be out.

Next, the signal flow of the respective parts including the core part 10 will be sequentially described.

[Operation of Core Unit According to Information of Fax Unit] First, a case of outputting information to the fax unit 4 will be described. The CPU 1003 communicates with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via the communication IC 1002 and issues a document scan command. The reader unit 1 causes the scanner unit 104 to scan an original according to this instruction,
The image information is output to the connector 120.

The reader unit 1 and the external device 3 are connected by a cable, and the information from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the core unit 1.
0 is input to the connector 1001. This connector 10
The image information input to 01 is input to the buffer 1010 through the multi-level 8-bit signal line 1057. The buffer circuit 1010 inputs the above-described bidirectional signal on the signal line 1057 as a one-way signal to the LUT 1011 via the signal line 1058 according to an instruction from the CPU 1003.

The LUT 1011 converts the image information from the reader unit 1 into a desired value using a look-up table. At this time, for example, it is possible to remove the background of the document. From the LUT 1011 to the signal line 105
The signal output to 9 is input to the binarization circuit 1012 in the next stage. The binarization circuit 1012 has its signal line 10
The 8-bit multilevel signal of 59 is converted into a binary signal. At this time, the binarization circuit 1012 converts the binarized signal into 00H when it is 0, and FFH when it is 1 into two multilevel signals.

The output signal of the binarizing circuit 1012 is transmitted through the selector 1013 and the selector 1014 to the rotating circuit 1.
015 or the selector 1016. Further, the signal output from the rotation circuit 1015 to the signal line 1062 is also input to the selector 1016, and the selector 1016
Selects the signal on either signal line 1061 or signal line 1062. This signal is selected by the CPU 100
3 is determined by communicating with the fax unit 4 via the signal line 1054 which is a CPU bus. Also,
The signal output from the selector 1016 to the signal line 1063 is sent to the fax unit 4 via the connector 1005.

Next, the case of receiving information from the fax unit 4 will be described. The image information from the fax unit 4 is transmitted to the signal line 1064 via the connector 1005. The signal on the signal line 1064 is input to the selector 1014 and the selector 1017.

The printer unit 2 is instructed by the CPU 1003.
When the image at the time of receiving a fax is rotated and output, the signal line 1064 input to the selector 1014 is input.
The rotation circuit 1015 rotates the signal from the. The signal output from the rotation circuit 1015 to the signal line 1062 is input to the pattern matching circuit 1018 via the selectors 1016 and 1017. This time,
The signal on the signal line 1064 is directly input to the signal line 10
Output to 65.

When the image at the time of fax reception is output as it is to the printer unit 2 according to the instruction of the CPU 1003, the signal 1064 input to the selector 1017 is input to the pattern matching circuit 1018. The pattern matching circuit 1018 has a function of smoothing the rattling of an image when received by fax. And
The pattern-matched signal is input to the LUT 1020 via the selector 1019.

The LUT 1020 can change the internal table by the CPU 1003 in order to output the image received by fax to the printer unit 2 at a desired density.

From this LUT 1020 to the signal line 106
The signal output to 8 is input to the expansion circuit 1022 via the selector 1021. The enlarging circuit 1022 converts the 8-bit multivalue having the two values (00H, FFH) into
Enlargement processing is performed by the first-order linear interpolation method. The 8-bit multi-valued signal with many values from this expansion circuit 1022 is
It is sent to the reader unit 1 via the buffer 1010 and the connector 1001.

The reader unit 1 inputs the input signal to the external I / F switching circuit 119 via the connector 120. The external I / F switching circuit 119 is used by the fax unit 4
The signal from is input to the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113. The output signal from the Y signal generation / color detection circuit 113 is output to the printer unit 2 after being subjected to the above-described processing, whereby an image is formed on the output paper.

(Operation of the core part based on the information of the file part)
First, the case of outputting information to the file unit 5 will be described. The CPU 1003, via the communication IC 1002,
It communicates with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 and issues a document scan command. The reader unit 1 outputs image information to the connector 120 when the scanner unit 104 scans a document according to this command.

The reader unit 1 and the external device 3 are connected by a cable, and the information from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the core unit 1.
0 is input to the connector 1001. This connector 10
The image information input to 01 is converted into the above-described unidirectional signal by the buffer 1010 and output to the signal line 1058. This signal line 1 which is a multi-valued 8-bit signal
The 058 signal is converted into a desired signal by the LUT 1011.

From the LUT 1011 to the signal line 105
The signal output to 9 is the selector 1013, selector 1
014 and the connector 1006 via the selector 106
Entered in. That is, without using the functions of the binarization circuit 1012 and the rotation circuit 1015, 8-bit multi-value data is transferred to the file unit 5 as it is.

When filing the binarized signal by communicating with the file unit 5 via the signal line 1054 which is the CPU bus of the CPU 1003, the functions of the binarization circuit 1012 and the rotation circuit 1015 are used. . The binarization process and the rotation process are the same as those in the case of the fax described above, and therefore the description thereof is omitted.

Next, the case of receiving information from the file section 5 will be described. The image information from the file unit 5 is input to the selector 1014 or the selector 1017 from the signal line 1064 via the connector 1006. At this time, it is possible to input to the selector 1017 in the case of 8-bit multi-valued filing and to the selector 1014 or the selector 1017 in the case of binary filing.

The above-mentioned binary filing is omitted because it is similar to the fax processing, but in the case of multi-level filing, the signal output from the selector 1017 to the signal line 1065 is sent to the LUT 102 via the selector 1019.
Enter 0. In the LUT 1020, a look-up table is created according to an instruction from the CPU 1003 in accordance with a desired print density. The signal output from the LUT 1020 to the signal line 1068 is input to the expansion circuit 1022 via the selector 1021.

Then, 8 bits of the signal line 1070 expanded to a desired expansion ratio by the expansion circuit 1022.
The multilevel signal is sent to the reader unit 1 via the buffer 1010 and the connector 1001. The information of the file portion sent to the reader unit 1 is output to the printer unit 2 and image formation is performed on the output paper, as in the above-mentioned fax.

(Operation of Core Unit According to Information of Computer Interface Unit) The computer interface unit 7 interfaces with the computer 14 connected to the external device 3 and has SCSI, RS232C, Centronics as a computer interface. is doing.

The computer interface section 7 has the above three types of interfaces, and information from each interface is sent to the CPU 1003 via the connector 1007 and the signal line 1054 which is a data bus. The CPU 1003 performs various controls based on the sent contents.

(Operation of Core Unit Based on Information of Formatter Unit) The formatter unit 8 has a function of expanding command data such as a document file sent from the computer interface unit 7 into image data. Then, when the CPU 1003 determines that the data sent from the computer interface unit 7 via the signal line 1054 is the data relating to the formatter unit 8, the CPU 1003 transfers the data to the formatter unit 8 via the connector 1008. Formatter section 8
Develops the transferred data in a memory as a visible image.

Next, a procedure for receiving information from the formatter unit 8 and forming an image on an output sheet will be described. The image information from the formatter unit 8 is output to the connector 10
08 through two values on the signal line 1064 (00
H, FFH) and is transmitted as a multilevel signal. The signal on the signal line 1064 is input to the selector 1014 and the selector 1017. At this time, the selector 1014 and the selector 1017 are controlled by the instruction of the CPU 1003. The subsequent steps are the same as in the case of the above-mentioned fax, and therefore omitted.

(Operation of Core Unit According to Information of Image Memory Unit) First, the case of outputting information to the image memory unit 9 will be described. The CPU 1003 is a communication IC 1
It communicates with the CPU 122 of the reader unit 1 via 002 to issue a document scan command. The reader unit 1 outputs image information to the connector 120 when the scanner unit 104 scans a document according to this command.

The reader unit 1 and the external device 3 are connected by a cable, and information from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the core unit 1.
0 is input to the connector 1001. This connector 10
The image information input to 01 is sent to the LUT 1011 via the multi-level 8-bit signal line 1057 and the buffer 1010.
Sent to. The signals output from the LUT 1011 to the signal 1059 line are the selectors 1013, 1014, 10
It is transferred as multi-valued image information to the image memory unit 9 via 16 and the connector 1009.

The image information stored in the image memory unit 9 is sent to the CPU 1003 via a signal line 1054 which is a CPU bus connected to the connector 1009. The CPU 1003 transfers the data sent from the image memory unit 9 to the computer interface unit 7 described above.

The image information stored in the image memory unit 9 is sent to the CPU 1003 via a signal line 1054 which is a CPU bus connected to the connector 1009. The CPU 1003 transfers the data sent from the image memory unit 9 to the computer interface unit 7 described above. Computer interface section 7
Are the three types of interfaces (SCSI, RS
232C, Centronics) to the computer 14 using a desired interface.

Next, the case of receiving information from the image memory unit 9 will be described. When image information is sent from the computer 14 to the core unit 10 via the computer interface unit 7, the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10
Determines whether the data sent from the computer interface section 7 via the signal line 1054 is data relating to the image memory section 9.

When it is judged that the data is data relating to the image memory unit 9, the CPU 1003 determines that the connector 10
The data is transferred to the image memory unit 9 via 09. The image memory unit 9 transmits the 8-bit multilevel signal of the signal line 1064 input via the connector 1009 to the selector 1014 and the selector 1017. The output signal from the selector 1014 or the selector 1017 is output to the printer unit 2 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 1003, similarly to the above-described fax, and an image is formed on an output sheet.

[Description of Fax Unit] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the fax unit 4. The fax unit 4 is connected to the core unit 10 via the connector 400 and exchanges various signals.

Binary information from the core unit 10 is stored in the memory A40.
5 to the memory D 408, the signal sent from the connector 400 to the signal line 453 is input to the memory controller 404, and the memory A 405 and the memory B 40 are controlled by the memory controller 404.
6. The memory controller 404 stores any one of the memory C407 and the memory D408 in a cascade connection of two sets of memories. The memory controller 404 stores the memory A405, the memory B406, the memory C407, and the memory D408 according to an instruction from the CPU 412. CODEC of the CODEC 411 having a mode for exchanging data with the signal line 462 which is a CPU bus and an encoding / decoding function
A mode for exchanging data with the signal line 463 which is a bus, a memory A405, a memory B406, and a memory C
407, and a scaling circuit 403 to which data in which the contents of the memory D408 are controlled by the DMA controller 402 is transmitted.
And a mode for exchanging data with the signal line 454 from the memory A405 to D, and the binary video input data of the signal line 454 under the control of the timing generation circuit 409.
408, a mode of storing in any one of 408
It has five functions of a mode in which the memory contents are read from any one of the memories D408 and output to the signal line 452.

Further, the memory A405, the memory B406,
Memory C407 and memory D408 are 2M each
It has a capacity of bytes and has a JI resolution of 400 dpi.
Image information corresponding to S standard A4 is stored. The timing generation circuit 409 is connected to the connector 400 by a signal line 459, and is connected to the control signal (HSYN) from the core unit 10.
C, HEN, VSYNC, VEN) to generate signals to achieve the following two functions. Part 1
One is a function of storing an image signal from the core unit 10 in any one of the memories A405 to D408 or two memories, and the second is a function of memories A405 to D405.
This is a function of reading data from any one of 408 and transmitting the data to the signal line 452.

The dual port memory 410 includes the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the signal line 461 and the CPU 41 of the fax unit 4 via the signal line 462.
It is connected to 2. Then, each CPU exchanges commands via the dual port memory 410. The SCSI controller 413 interfaces with the hard disk 13 connected to the fax unit 4 of FIG. The hard disk 13 stores data at the time of fax transmission and fax reception.

The CODEC 411 reads out the image information stored in any of the memories A405 to D408, encodes the image information by a desired method of the MH, MR, and MMR methods, and then stores it in any of the memories A405 to D408. Is stored as encoded information. Also, the memory A405
~ Read out the coded information stored in the memory D408, decode it by a desired method of MH, MR, and MMR, and then store it as decoded information, that is, image information in any of the memories A405 to D408. .

The MODEM 414 has a function of modulating the coded information from the hard disk 13 connected to the CODEC 411 or the SCSI controller 413 in order to transfer it to the telephone line, and demodulates and codes the information sent from the NCU 415. Convert to information, CODEC41
1 or has a function of transferring encoded information to the hard disk 13 connected to the SCSI controller 413. The NCU 415 exchanges information with an exchange installed directly in the telephone line 12 or the like in a telephone office by a predetermined procedure.

Next, an example of fax transmission will be described.
The binary image signal from the reader unit 1 is input from the connector 400, passes through the signal line 453, and reaches the memory controller 404. Then, this signal is stored in the memory A 405 by the memory controller 404.
The timing stored in the memory A 405 is determined by the signal generated by the timing generation circuit 409 based on the timing signal of the signal line 459 from the reader unit 1.

Further, the CPU 412 sets the memory A 405 and the memory B 406 of the memory controller 404 to COD.
The CODEC 411 is connected to the signal line 463 which is a bus line of the EC 411, and the CODEC 411 reads the image information from the memory A 405 and writes the encoded information encoded by the MR method in the memory B 406. When the CODEC 411 encodes the A4 size image information, the CPU 412 connects the memory B 406 of the memory controller 404 to the signal line 462 which is the CPU bus. The CPU 412 sequentially reads the encoded information from the memory B406 and transfers it to the MODEM 414. MODEM 414 modulates the encoded information,
The fax information is sent over the telephone line via NCU 415.

Next, an example of fax reception will be described.
The information sent from the telephone line 12 is input to the NCU 415 and is output to the telephone line by the NCU 415 in a predetermined procedure. The information from this NCU 415 is MO
It enters the DEM 414 and is demodulated. The CPU 412 stores the information from the MODEM 414 in the memory C407 via the signal line 462. Then, when the information of one screen is stored in the memory C407, the CPU 412 controls the memory controller 404 to cause the memory C4 to operate.
The signal line 457 which is the data line of 07 is CODE
Connect to signal line 463 from C411.

The CODEC 411 sequentially reads the coded information of the memory C407 and stores it in the memory D408 as coded information, that is, image information. The CPU 412 is
CP of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 410
The printer unit 2 communicates with the U1003, and sets the printer unit 2 to print out an image from the memory D408 through the core unit 10.

When the above setting is completed, the CPU 412
The timing generation circuit 409 is activated, and the signal line 460 is activated.
A predetermined timing signal from the memory controller 404
Output to. The memory controller 404 reads the image information from the memory D408 in synchronization with the signal from the timing generation circuit 409, and transmits it to the signal line 452.
Output to the connector 400. The output from the connector 400 to the printer unit 2 is omitted because it has been described above.

[Explanation of File Section] FIG. 6 shows the file section 5.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. This file section 5
The connector 500 is connected to the core unit 10 and exchanges various signals.

The multi-valued input signal sent to the signal line 551 is input to the compression circuit 503, where multi-valued image information is converted into compressed information and input to the memory controller 510. At this time, from the compression circuit 503 to the signal line 5
The signal output to 52 is under control of the memory controller 510, the memory A506, the memory B507, and the memory C5.
08 and the memory D509, or two sets of memories connected in cascade.

The memory controller 510 is a CPU
According to the instruction of 516, the memory A 506, the memory B 50
7, memory C508, and memory D509, a mode for exchanging data with the signal line 560, which is a CPU bus, and a CODEC 517 COD for encoding / decoding
A mode in which data is exchanged with the signal line 570 which is an EC bus, and a scaling circuit 5 in which data in which the contents of the memory A 506, the memory B 507, the memory C 508, and the memory D 509 are controlled by the DMA controller 518 is transmitted is sent.
11, a mode in which data is exchanged with the signal line 562 from the signal line 562, a mode in which the signal on the signal line 563 is stored in any one of the memories A506 to D509 under the control of the timing generation circuit 514, and the modes from the memory A506 to the memory D.
It has five functions of a mode in which the memory content is read from any one of 509 and output to the signal line 558.

Further, the memory A 506, the memory B 507,
Memory C508 and memory D509 are 2M each
A4 with a resolution of 400 dpi with a capacity of bytes
Store considerable image information. Timing generation circuit 514
Are connected to the connector 500 by a signal line 553, and control signals (HSYNC, HEN,
VSYNC, VEN) to generate signals to accomplish the following two functions. One of them is a function of storing information from the core unit 10 in any one of the memories A506 to D509 or two memories,
The second is a function of reading data from any one of the memories 506 to D509 and transmitting the data to the signal line 556.

The dual port memory 515 is connected to the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the signal line 554, and the CPU 516 of the file unit 5 via the signal line 560.
Connected with. Then, each CPU exchanges commands via the dual port memory 515. The SCSI controller 519 interfaces with the external storage device 6 connected to the file unit 5 of FIG. The external storage device 6 is specifically composed of a magneto-optical disk, and stores data such as image information.

The CODEC 517 reads out the image information stored in any of the memories A506 to D509, encodes it according to a desired method of the MH, MR, and MMR methods, and then performs any encoding in any of the memories A506 to D509. Is stored as encoded information. In addition, the memory A506
-Reading the coded information stored in the memory D509 and performing decoding by a desired method of the MH, MR and MMR methods, and then storing the decoded information, that is, image information in any of the memory A506 to the memory D509. .

Next, an example of storing file information in the external storage device 6 will be described. The 8-bit multi-valued image signal from the reader unit 1 is input from the connector 500, passes through the signal line 511, and is input to the compression circuit 503. The signal input to the compression circuit 503 is converted into compression information here and sent to the signal line 552.

The compression information on the signal line 552 is input to the memory controller 510. The memory controller 510 stores the compressed signal in the memory A 506 according to the timing signal of the signal line 559 generated by the timing generation circuit 559 based on the signal transmitted from the core unit 10 to the signal line 553.

The CPU 516 also CODs the memory A 506 and the memory B 507 of the memory controller 510.
The CODEC 517 is connected to the signal line 570 that is a bus line of the EC 517, and the CODEC 517 reads the compressed information from the memory A 506 and writes the encoded information encoded by the MR method in the memory B 507. And CO
When the DEC 517 finishes encoding, the CPU 516
The memory B 507 of the memory controller 510 is connected to the signal line 560 which is a CPU bus. CPU516
Reads the encoded information sequentially from the memory B 507 and transfers it to the SCSI controller 519. SC
The SI controller 519 stores the encoded information of the signal line 572 in the external storage device 6.

Next, an example in which information is taken out from the external storage device 6 and output to the printer unit 2 will be described. When a command to retrieve / print information is received, C
The PU 516 receives the encoded information from the external storage device 6 via the SCSI controller 519 and transfers the encoded information to the memory C508. At this time, the memory controller 510 is instructed by the CPU 516 to send the CP
The signal line 560, which is a U-bus, is connected to the signal line 566 from the memory C508.

When the transfer of the encoded information to the memory C508 is completed, the CPU 516 causes the memory controller 5
By controlling memory C508 and memory D
509 is connected to signal line 570 from CODEC 517. Then, the CODEC 517 is the memory C508.
The coded information is read from and sequentially decoded, and then transferred to the memory D509.

Here, when scaling such as enlargement / reduction is required when outputting to the printer, the memory D509 is connected to the signal line 562 from the scaling circuit 511, and the memory D509 of the memory D509 is controlled under the control of the DMA controller 518. Scale the contents. The CPU 516 communicates with the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 515, and makes settings for the printer unit 2 to print out an image from the memory D509 through the core unit 10.

When the above setting is completed, the CPU 516
The timing generation circuit 514 is activated, and the signal line 559
A predetermined timing signal from the memory controller 510
Output to. The memory controller 510 reads the decoded information from the memory D509 in synchronization with the signal from the timing generation circuit 514 and transmits it to the signal line 556. The data on the signal line 556 is stored in the expansion circuit 504.
The information is decompressed here. The signal output from the expansion circuit 504 to the signal line 555 is input to the core unit 10 via the connector 500. The output from the connector 500 to the printer unit 2 is omitted because it has been described above.

[Description of Computer Interface Unit] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the computer interface unit 7. The connector A700 and the connector B701 are connectors for SCSI interface, and the connector C702 is a connector for Centronics interface. Also, the connector D703
Is a connector for RS232C interface,
The connector E707 is a connector for connecting to the core unit 10.

The SCSI interface has two connectors (connector A700 and connector B701). When connecting a device having a plurality of SCSI interfaces, connector A700 and connector B are used.
701 is used for cascade connection. In addition, the external device 3
When connecting to the computer 14 with one body, connect the connector A700 and the computer 14 with a cable,
Connect a terminator to the connector B701, or connect the connector B701 and the computer 14 with a cable,
Connect a terminator to connector A700.

Connector A700 or Connector B701
Information input from the SC is sent via the signal line 751 to the SC.
SI / I / F-A704 or SCSI / I / F-B7
08 is input. And SCSI I / F-A70
4 or SCSI I / F-B 708 outputs data to the connector E707 via the signal line 754 after performing the procedure according to the SCSI protocol.

The connector E707 is the CPU of the core unit 10.
The CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 is connected to the signal line 1054 that is a bus, and the SCSI / I / F connector (connector A700,
The information input to the connector B701) is received. In addition, the data from the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 is sent to the SCS.
I connector (connector A700, connector B701)
To output to, perform the procedure reverse to the above.

The Centronics interface is connected to the connector C702, and its signal is input to the Centronics I / F 705 via the signal line 752. The Centronics I / F 705 receives data according to the procedure of the determined protocol, and outputs the signal to the connector E707 via the signal line 754. The connector E707 is connected to the signal line 1054 that is the CPU bus of the core unit 10, and the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 outputs the information input from the signal line 1054 to the Centronics I / F connector (connector C702). receive.

The RS232C interface is connected to the connector D703, the signal of which is the signal line 7
It is input to the RS232C I / F 706 via 53. The RS232C I / F 706 receives data according to the procedure of a predetermined protocol, and outputs the signal to the connector E707 via the signal line 754. The connector E707 is connected to the signal line 1054 which is the CPU bus of the core unit 10, and the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 receives the RS signal from the signal line 1054.
The information input to the 232C I / F connector (connector D703) is received. In addition, the CPU 1 of the core unit 10
When the data from 003 is output to the RS232C I / F connector (connector D703), the procedure is reversed.

[Description of Formatter Unit] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the formatter unit 8. The data from the computer interface unit 7 described above is
When the data is determined by the core unit 10 and is data related to the formatter unit 8, the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 transfers the data from the computer 14 to the dual port memory via the connector 1008 of the core unit 10 and the connector 800 of the formatter unit 8. Transfer to 803.

The CPU 809 of the formatter unit 8 receives the code data of the computer 14 from the dual port memory 803. The CPU 809 sequentially develops this code data into image data, and the memory controller 8
The image data is transferred to the memory A 806 or the memory B 807 via 08. The memory A806 and the memory B807 each have a capacity of 1 Mbytes, and one memory (memory A806 or memory B807) has a capacity of 30.
A resolution of 0 dpi can be applied up to A4 paper size.

Then, with a resolution of, for example, 300 dpi, A
In the case of supporting up to 3 sheets, the memory A 806 and the memory B 807 are connected in cascade to develop the image data. Control of these memories is performed by the memory controller 808 according to an instruction from the CPU 809. Further, when it is necessary to rotate a character or a graphic when expanding the image data, the image data is rotated by the rotation circuit 804 and then transferred to the memory A 806 or the memory B 807.

Memory A806 or memory B807
When the development of the image data is completed, the CPU 809
Controls the memory controller 808, and the memory A80
6, the signal line 858 which is the data bus line of No. 6 or the signal line 85 which is the data bus line of the memory B807.
Connect to 5. Next, the CPU 809 communicates with the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 803, and sets a mode in which image information is output from the memory A 806 or the memory B 807.

The CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 is
CPU 1 of the reader unit 1 via the communication circuit 1002 in 0
The CPU 122 is set to the print output mode by using the communication function built in 22. When the print output mode is set, the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 causes the connector 1008 and the connector 800 of the formatter unit 8 to operate.
The timing generation circuit 802 is activated via. Then, the timing generation circuit 802 causes the memory controller 808 to notify the memory A8 in accordance with the signal from the core unit 10.
06 or a timing signal for reading image information from the memory B807 is output.

Memory A806 or memory B807
The image information from is input to the memory controller 808 via signal line 858. The output image information from the memory controller 808 is transferred to the core unit 10 via the signal line 851 and the connector 800. Further, the processes from the core unit 10 to the output of the printer unit 2 are omitted because they have been described above.

[Description of Image Memory Unit] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image memory unit 9. The image memory unit 9 is connected to the core unit 10 by a connector 900 and exchanges various signals.

The multi-valued input signal sent to the signal line 954 is stored in the memory 90 under the control of the memory controller 905.
4 is stored. The memory controller 905 is a CPU
According to the instruction of 906, a mode for exchanging data with the memory 904 and the signal line 957 which is the CPU bus,
The signal line 9 is controlled under the control of the timing generation circuit 902.
It has three functions: a mode for storing the signal of 54 in the memory 904 and a mode for reading the memory contents from the memory 904 and outputting it to the signal line 955.

The memory 904 has a capacity of 32 Mbytes, has a resolution of 400 dpi, and has A3 with 256 gradations.
Store considerable image information. Timing generation circuit 902
Are connected to the connector 900 by a signal line 952, and control signals (HSYNC, HEN,
VSYNC, VEN) to generate signals to accomplish the following two functions. One is a function of storing information from the core unit 10 in the memory 904, and the second is a function of transmitting the information to the signal line 955 read from the memory 904.

The dual port memory 903 includes a CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via a signal line 953 and a CPU of the image memory unit 9 via a signal line 957.
It is connected to 906. Then, each CPU exchanges commands via the dual port memory 903.

Next, an example in which the image information is stored in the image memory unit 9 and the information is transferred to the computer 14 will be described. The 8-bit multi-valued image signal from the reader unit 1 is input from the connector 900, and the signal line 9
It is input to the memory controller 905 via 54.
The memory controller 905 stores the signal on the signal line 954 in the memory 904 according to the timing signal on the signal line 956 generated by the timing generation circuit 902 based on the signal on the signal line 952 from the core unit 10. The CPU 906 connects the memory 904 of the memory controller 905 to the signal line 957 which is a CPU bus.

The CPU 906 sequentially reads the image information from the memory 904, and the dual port memory 90
Transfer to 3. The CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 reads the image information of the dual port memory 903 of the image memory unit 9 via the signal line 953 and the connector 900, and the information is read by the computer interface unit 7.
Transfer to. This computer interface section 7
Transferring information from the computer to the computer 14 has been described above and is therefore omitted.

Next, an example in which the image information sent from the computer 14 is output to the printer unit 2 will be described. The image information sent from the computer 14 is sent to the core unit 10 via the computer interface unit 7. The CPU 1003 of the core unit 10
The image information is transferred to the dual port memory 903 of the image memory unit 9 via the signal line 1054 and the connector 1009.

At this time, the CPU 906 controls the memory controller 905 to connect the signal line 957 to the signal line from the memory 904. The CPU 906 transfers the image information from the dual port memory 903 to the memory 904 via the memory controller 905. And
When the image information is transferred to the memory 904, the CPU
906 controls the memory controller 905 to connect the data line of the memory 904 to the signal line 955.

Further, the CPU 906 communicates with the CPU 1003 of the core unit 10 via the dual port memory 903, and sets the printer unit 2 to print out an image from the memory 904 through the core unit 10. Upon completion of this setting, the CPU 906 activates the timing generation circuit 902 and outputs a predetermined timing signal from the signal line 956 to the memory controller 905.

The memory controller 905 synchronizes with the signal from the timing generation circuit 902 and outputs the data to the memory 904.
The image information is read out, transmitted to the signal line 955, and output to the connector 900. Since the process from the connector 900 to the output to the printer unit 2 has been described in the core unit 10, the description thereof will be omitted.

Here, for example, when a document is set during copying, the document feeding device 101A or 101B is selected by detecting the document. Then, when the start key is pressed, the document is conveyed onto the glass surface of the document table. Then, when the document is conveyed, the scanner reads the document. At this time, the input image data is sent to the printer unit 2, developed, and output.

Similarly, the document feeders 101A and 101B
Set the original in either of the
When the function is selected, the FAX number is input, and the start key is pressed, the conveyance of the original is started, the original is read and transferred. Further, when the electronic file mode is selected and the start key is pressed after the document is set in either of the document feeders 101A and 101B, the document is read and the image data thereof is filed.

In this way, if the procedure is repeated by setting the originals and then selecting the work, the work becomes complicated. However, in the present embodiment, each function of the plurality of document feeders is provided with each function. Since the function of automatically selecting the work from the composite functions by the assigned original feeding device is added, the operation is not complicated.

That is, in the operation unit of the system including a plurality of document feeding devices, the function is designated for each feeding unit.
That is, the functions are assigned to the document feeders 101A and 101B. Furthermore, a function automatic selection mode is added. Then, while this mode is selected, the document can be set on the document feeder 101A or 101B so that the function is automatically selected when the feeder is selected.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the operation panel. This device is an image forming device that combines the functions of copy, file, and FAX.
Reference numeral 103 is a key for selecting each function. 1105 is an AUTO key for assigning a function to the feeding device and automatically selecting a mode for selecting a function, 1106 and 1107 are selection keys, and 1108 is a determination key. 1110 is a display unit and 1109 is a start key.

First, the automatic selection mode is set to AUTO and the automatic function selection mode of the feeder is selected. Next, for example, the copying function is assigned to the feeding device 101A (DF1 in the display unit), and the FAX function is assigned to the feeding device 101B (DF2 in the display unit). Then, the selection keys 1106 and 1107 are used to move the cursor to DF1 and DF2 in the display unit 1110, and the keys 1101 and D are pressed with DF1.
The function of the key 1103 is assigned with F2, and the function is determined with the key 1108. Next, the function assigned in the operation unit is stored, and when the document is detected, the apparatus is automatically switched to the function which is cracked.

At this time, if a document is placed on the feeder 101B and selected, the FAX function is selected. FIG. 11 shows an example of the panel display when a document is placed on the feeding device 101B and the FAX mode is selected.

As shown in FIG. 12, if the FAX number is input and the start key 1109 is pressed, FAX communication is started. Next, if you place a document on the feeder 101A,
The COPY mode is selected. FIG. 13 shows an example of the panel display when the COPY mode is selected. At this time, if the start key 1109 is pressed, the COPY operation is started.

When the function is selected for each operation instead of the automatic selection mode, the AUTO key 1105 is used to turn off the automatic selection mode and the keys 1101, 1102 for each operation.
At 1103, selection is performed and operation is performed.

[0124]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of document feeders are assigned to respective functions of the composite function of the image forming apparatus, so that the user can operate the functions of the apparatus every time. Since it is not necessary to make settings on the operation section, the setting work can be simplified when many functions are used among a plurality of functions, and the operation is not complicated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a reader unit and a printer unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration inside a reader unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a core unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a fax unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a file section.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer interface unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a formatter unit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image memory unit.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an operation panel.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example during FAX.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example during FAX.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example at the time of copying.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reader section 2 Printer section 4 Fax section 5 File section 11 Image forming means 15 Control means 101A Document feeder 101B Document feeder

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ozaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming means for outputting an input image as a visible image, a facsimile function, an electronic file function and the like are additionally provided, and a plurality of document feeding devices and each document feeding device are provided with A composite image forming apparatus comprising a control means for allocating each function of the composite function. 2. A composite image forming apparatus, wherein the assigned function is selected when each original feeding device is selected.