JP2000350003A - Image processing unit and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a facsimile terminal to print out image data without causing offsets without the need for provision of a special hardware device to the facsimile terminal. SOLUTION: An image processing section 103 uses a software working on a PC connected to a facsimile terminal, to add prescribed blank data, which are registered in a blank table 104 and used to match image data to a print area of the facsimile terminal, to the image data The blank table 104 has a plurality of blank data, in response to print layout of the image data, that is, blank data to be added to the image data in the upper, lower and left/right directions respectively, and the image processing section 103 selects the blank data on the basis of recording paper size, recording direction, resolution and print layout that are instructed externally.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method used for a facsimile apparatus used as an image recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a facsimile machine (hereinafter referred to as "FA
X device ”) and a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as“ X device ”).
In some cases, such a FAX device is used as a printer device by connecting a “PC”. Usually, the print area of the FAX apparatus is set to be larger than the print area of the printer apparatus. Therefore, such FAX
When printing certain image data that is printed in the center when printing with a printer device, the image data is printed in the center of the recording paper even though the PC instructs printing with the same image data Not happen.

[0003] Specifically, as shown in FIG.
The width of the paper is 210 mm. Assuming that the number of dots per mm is 8 dots, the width of A4 paper is 1680 dots. Of these, 2.5 mm at both ends are non-printable areas, so 205 mm (1640 dots) is a print area. On the other hand, the printing area of the FAX apparatus usually has a width of 216 mm and a number of dots of 1728 dots.

[0004] When printing on A4 paper having the above-described print area with a normal printer, the PC instructs the printer to print image data from the upper left end of the print area. As a result, the image data becomes A4
Printed in the center of the paper. However, when the same image data is printed on A4 paper by a facsimile apparatus, if the PC issues a print instruction in the same manner as the print instruction to the printer apparatus, the image data is printed shifted to the left because the size of the print area differs. Would.

[0005] In order to prevent such misalignment of printing on recording paper, such a FAX apparatus usually moves the origin of printing of image data received from a PC or adds margin data to the image data. A special hardware mechanism is installed inside the device.

[0006]

However, the conventional facsimile apparatus has a problem that the structure of the apparatus main body becomes complicated because the above-mentioned hardware mechanism is mounted inside the apparatus. Further, since it is necessary to incorporate the above-mentioned hardware mechanism at the manufacturing stage of the FAX apparatus, there is a problem that it takes time and cost to manufacture the FAX apparatus. In addition, when a facsimile machine not equipped with the above-described hardware mechanism, which has already been used in homes and businesses, is used as a printer, it is necessary to attach the hardware mechanism, and the installation work is troublesome. There is a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and does not require a special hardware mechanism for a facsimile apparatus, and enables an image processing apparatus and a facsimile apparatus to print image data without displacement. It is an object to provide an image processing method.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided software on a PC connected to a facsimile apparatus, which adds predetermined margin data to the print area of the facsimile apparatus to the image data, The printing was adapted to the recording paper by the device.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention has a first storage means for storing image data instructed to be printed, and an image processing apparatus for adjusting the image data to a print area of a facsimile apparatus. A second storage unit for storing margin data, and an image processing unit for adding the margin data to the image data and converting the image data into print data suitable for a print area of the facsimile apparatus are adopted.

According to this configuration, the image processing means converts the image data into print data to which margin data for matching the print area of the facsimile apparatus is added. Can be printed without any special processing.

In the image processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the margin data is an upper margin data added above the image data, a lower margin data added below the image data, The image processing unit has left and right margin data added to the left and right, and the image processing means adds the upper margin data, the lower margin data, and the left and right margin data to the image data in three stages.

According to this configuration, the image processing means adds upper margin data, lower margin data, and left and right margin data to the image data in three stages. For this reason, compared to the case where the process of moving the origin of the image data is performed, printing without deviation can be performed only by performing a simple operation such as adding margin data in order.

In the image processing apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the second storage means has at least a plurality of blank data according to a print layout of the image data. The image processing means selects the margin data based on the print layout instructed from the outside.

According to this configuration, since the image processing means selects the margin data based on the externally designated print layout, it is possible to print from the facsimile apparatus in accordance with the designated print layout. Further, the image processing means is not limited to the print layout designated externally, but may select margin data based on, for example, a print size designated externally.

In an image processing method according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, image data instructed to be printed is stored, and margin data for matching a print area of a facsimile apparatus is added to the image data. The print data is converted into print data suitable for the print area of the facsimile machine.

According to this method, the image data is converted into print data to which margin data for matching the print area of the facsimile apparatus is added. Printing without deviation can be performed without processing.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment is, for example, a PC connected to a facsimile apparatus via a network such as a LAN.
U is realized by using a ROM and a RAM connected via a bus. Hereinafter, the configuration of the image processing apparatus will be described.

The operation unit 101 shown in FIG.
And a keyboard for inputting data or inputting various processing instructions. From the operation unit 101, the user inputs a print setting parameter of the print setting table 102, a print instruction to the image processing unit 103, and the like.

In the print setting table 102, print setting parameters are registered. The print setting parameters include a recording paper size, a recording direction, a resolution, a layout, a print size (the number of print lines, the number of print digits), the number of print copies, and the like. The print setting table is displayed on a display of the PC when a print instruction is issued from the user. The user selects desired print parameters from the print setting table using the operation unit 101.

When the user instructs printing, the image processing unit 103 refers to the print setting table 102 and the margin table 104 and adds predetermined margin data to the image data input from the operation unit 101. At this time,
In a predetermined case, the image processing unit 103 adds margin data to each line of image data.

The image processing section 103 has the functions of a line counter 103A and a page counter 103B. The line counter 103A counts the number of lines to which margin data is added when margin data is added to image data for each line. Page counter 103B
Counts the number of pages to which margin data has been added when there are a plurality of pages of image data. By determining the count values of these counters, the image processing unit 10
3 ends the operation of adding the margin data to the image data.

In the margin table 104, margin data added to the image data is registered. The margin data is the recording paper size selected in the print setting table,
The data includes upper margin data, left and right margin data, lower margin data, and the like associated with the recording direction, resolution, and layout. The upper margin data, the left and right margin data, and the lower margin data are margin data having a predetermined size corresponding to the size of the print area of the FAX machine.

The image memory 105 and the buffer 106
An image storage area and a buffer area secured on the RAM. The image memory 105 stores image data input from the operation unit 101 or the like. Buffer 106
Stores image data to which margin data has been added by the image processing unit 103. In the present embodiment, the buffer 106 stores one page of image data, but is not limited to storing one page of image data, and stores plural pages or half pages of image data. It may be.

The compression section 107 performs compression processing such as MH on the image data stored in the buffer 106.

The spooler 108 spools the compressed image data and the print job. In addition, spooler 10
Reference numeral 8 transfers the spooled image data and the print job to the FAX device connected to the PC.

Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus having the above configuration for adding margin data to image data will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and the conceptual diagram of buffer image data shown in FIG.

First, when the user instructs printing of image data from the operation unit 101 (ST201), the print setting table 102 is displayed on the display of the PC. The user selects a desired print parameter from the print setting table 102 (ST202). From now on,
The operation of adding the margin data is performed based on the print parameters selected here. Here, the printing parameters selected by the user are as follows: the recording paper size is A4 paper, the recording direction is vertical, the resolution is 200 dpi, and the layout is centering.

When a print parameter is selected from the print setting table 102, the image data instructed to be printed is stored in the image memory 105 (ST203). At this time,
The buffer 106 is in a state where no image data is stored, as shown in FIG. 3A.

When the image data is stored in the image memory 105, the image processing unit 103 starts the upper margin adding process with reference to the print parameters of the print setting table 102 and the margin table 104 (ST204).

First, the image processing unit 103 checks the printing paper size, printing direction, resolution, and layout associated with the margin table 104 among the printing parameters (ST401). At this time, as described above, the recording paper size, recording direction, resolution and layout are A4 paper, vertical direction, 200 dpi, and centering, respectively. Then, the image processing unit 103 checks the margin data associated with these print parameters in the margin table.

Here, the margin table 104 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, margin data (upper margin, left / right margin, lower margin) associated with the recording paper size, recording direction, resolution, and layout are registered in the margin table 104. The margin data is, in other words, non-image data. By adding these margin data to the image data, printing desired by the user can be performed. In this case, the image processing unit 1
03 is the selected print parameter, A4 paper,
Recognize margin data associated with the vertical direction, 200 dpi, and centering. That is, the image processing unit 10
3 is non-image data of 7 lines as upper and lower margin data,
Recognize 5-dot non-image data as left and right margin data.

After recognizing the blank data, the image processing unit 103 transfers the upper blank data of the recognized blank data to the buffer 106. Specifically, the image processing unit 103 transfers non-image data of seven lines from above the buffer 106 as image data. At this time, the buffer 106 is in a state where image data as shown in FIG. 3B is stored. In FIG. 3, the hatched portions represent non-image data as margin data.

When the upper margin data is stored in the buffer 106 as image data, the image processing section 103 starts left margin addition processing (ST205). The image processing unit 103
The left blank data for one line among the recognized blank data is transferred to the buffer 106. More specifically, the image processing unit 103 determines the fifth line from the left in the eighth line of the buffer 106.
The non-image data for the dots is transferred as image data.
At this time, the buffer 106 is in a state where image data as shown in FIG. 3C is stored.

Next, the image processing unit 103 includes the image memory 1
05 in the first line of the image data stored in the buffer 1
06 (ST206). At this time, buffer 1
Reference numeral 06 indicates a state in which image data as shown in FIG. 3D is stored.

Next, image processing section 103 starts right margin addition processing (ST207). The image processing unit 103 transfers one line of right margin data of the recognized margin data to the buffer 106. Specifically, the image processing unit 1
03 transfers the non-image data of 5 dots from the right end of the image data on the eighth line of the buffer 106 as image data. At this time, the buffer 106 is in a state where image data as shown in FIG. 3E is stored.

In this manner, the left and right margin addition processing for one line of the image data is completed. When the margin adding process for one line is completed, the image processing unit 103 increases the count value of the line counter 103A by one. Image processing unit 10
No. 3 compares this count value with the print size (the number of print lines) of the print setting table to determine whether the left and right margin addition processing has been completed up to the last line of the image data (ST20).
8).

If the left and right margin addition processing has not been completed up to the last line of the image data, the image processing unit 103 proceeds to ST20 until the left and right margin addition processing is completed up to the last line.
5 to ST208 are repeated. When the left and right margin processing is completed up to the last line of the image data, the buffer 10
6 is in a state where image data as shown in FIG. 3F is stored.

On the other hand, when the image data to which the left and right margin data are added is stored in the buffer 106 up to the last line, the image processing section 103 starts the lower margin addition processing (ST20).
9). The image processing unit 103 transfers the lower margin data of the recognized margin data to the buffer 106. Specifically, the image processing unit 103 transfers non-image data of seven lines from the last line of the image data in the buffer 106 as image data. At this time, the buffer 106 is in a state where image data as shown in FIG. 3G is stored.

In this manner, the margin adding process for one page of the image data is completed. When the margin addition processing of the image data for one page is completed, the compression unit 107 performs compression processing such as MH on the image data to which the margin data is added, which is stored in the buffer 106 (ST21).
0). The buffer 10 compressed by the compression unit 107
6 is transferred to the spooler 108 (ST
211). If a print instruction is given, the spooler 10
At 8, the print job is spooled.

The image data for one page is stored in the spooler 108.
, The image processing unit 103 increases the count value of the page counter 103B by one. Image processing unit 103
Compares the count value with the number of pieces of image data stored in the image memory 105, and determines whether the last page of the image data has been transferred to the spooler 108 (ST21).
2).

Spooler 10 up to the last page of image data
If the image data has not been transferred to the spooler 108, the image processing unit 103 repeats the processing from ST202 to ST212 until the last page of the image data is transferred to the spooler 108. On the other hand, if the last page of the image data has been transferred to the spooler 108, the spooler 108 transfers the spooled print job and the image data to the FAX device connected to the PC (ST213).

The facsimile apparatus receives the print job and the image data, and prints the image data based on the print job. At this time, the image data transferred from the spooler 108 has upper margin data, left and right margin data, and lower margin data added thereto, as shown in FIG. 3G. For this reason, fax
The apparatus can print the centered image data desired by the user without adding any image processing to the received image data.

In this embodiment, a case has been described in which, in the print setting table, the recording paper is selected to be A4 paper, the recording direction is set to the vertical direction, the resolution is set to 200 dpi, and the layout is set to centering. However, when the user selects a print parameter other than these, the image processing unit 103
The margin data corresponding to the selected print parameter is referred to from the margin table, and the margin data is added to the image data instructed to be printed. Then, the image data to which the margin data has been added is transferred to the FAX device. FAX
The apparatus receives the image data and performs printing in accordance with the image data. As a result, the facsimile apparatus does not perform any image processing on the received image data,
Printing desired by the user can be performed.

For example, if the print parameters selected by the user are A4 paper, the recording direction is vertical, the resolution is 200 dpi, and the layout is left-aligned, the image processing unit 103 sets the margin table 104 shown in FIG. Then, margin data corresponding to the print parameter is added to the image data. Specifically, the image processing unit 103 adds seven lines of non-image data as upper and lower margin data, two dots of non-image data as left margin data, and eight dots of non-image data as right margin data to image data. Then, the image data to which the margin data is added is FA
Transferred to X device. The FAX device receives the image data and performs printing in accordance with the image data. As a result, the FAX apparatus can perform the left-justified printing desired by the user without adding any image processing to the received image data.

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the image processing unit 103 refers to the margin table in which the margin data for matching the size of the print area of the FAX apparatus is registered, and Since the necessary margin data is added to the image data instructed to be printed by the user, the connected facsimile apparatus can print the image data without displacement without requiring a special hardware mechanism.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, since the margin data can be added to the image data on the software of the PC, a facsimile apparatus having no special hardware mechanism can be used. By connecting to this PC, FA without special hardware mechanism is installed.
Also in the X apparatus, the image data can be printed without displacement.

Also, in the present embodiment, the facsimile apparatus connected to the PC has been described.
The present invention is not limited to the FAX device, and can be applied to an image printing device other than the FAX device.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The image data can be printed by the facsimile device without shifting without requiring a special hardware mechanism in the facsimile device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of image data in a buffer of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a margin table of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a print area of the FAX apparatus and a print area of A4 paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 operation unit 102 print setting table 103 image processing unit 104 margin table 105 image memory 106 buffer 107 compression unit 108 spooler

Claims (4)

[Claims] A first storage unit for storing image data instructed to be printed; a second storage unit for storing margin data for matching the image data with a print area of a facsimile apparatus; An image processing unit for adding the margin data and converting the data into print data suitable for a print area of the facsimile apparatus. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the margin data includes upper margin data added above the image data, lower margin data added below, and left and right margin data added leftward and rightward. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit adds the upper margin data, the lower margin data, and the left and right margin data to the image data in three stages. 3. The image processing device according to claim 2, wherein the second storage unit has at least a plurality of margin data according to a print layout of the image data, and the image processing unit stores the margin data based on the print layout specified from the outside. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein data is selected. 4. The image data instructed to be printed is stored, and margin data for matching with the print area of the facsimile apparatus is added to the image data, and the image data is converted into print data suitable for the print area of the facsimile apparatus. An image processing method characterized by converting.