JP2001346015A - Image storing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable output of image data at proper timing without performing a complicated operation even when an input/output device is changed. SOLUTION: A store control part 28 of an image storing device 24 provided in a copying system reads process speed of an image processor 14 and an image output device 16 to be detected by a main body controller 18, sets input process speed Is and output process speed Os and outputs the image data from a memory 26 to the image output device at timing set on the basis of the input process speed, the output process speed and data quantity of the image data to be inputted. Thus, efficient input/output of the image data is performed and productivity of the copying system is enhanced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage device such as a memory for storing image data input by being read in a similar manner to an input device such as an image reading device, and outputting the stored image data to an output device such as a printer. And an image storage device for outputting the image data to the image storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a copying system, an image recorded on an original is read as image data by an image reading device such as a scanner and stored in a memory. After this,
By outputting the image data stored in the memory to an output device such as a printer, the image recorded on the document is printed out.

Some of such copying systems include an editing device such as an image processing device, and can perform desired processing on image data read by an image reading device.

By the way, in a copying system, for example, after the accumulation of image data for one page in a memory is completed,
The image data stored in the memory is output to an output device. That is, FIGS. 5A and 5B
As shown in (1), the stored image data is output, for example, by using the timing of the end of the input when the input of the image data changes from on to off as a trigger.

For this reason, the time from the start of the input of the image data to the end of the output of the image data is the sum of the data input time t ₁ and the output time t ₂ , and this time is the production time of the copying system. The sex is low.

On the other hand, the time for inputting image data to the memory mainly depends on the amount of image data and the process speed of the input device. The time when image data is output from the memory to the output device mainly depends on the amount of image data and the process speed of the output device.

Here, in the copying system, output timing is set in advance based on an input process speed when image data is input from the input device to the memory and an output process speed when image data is output from the memory to the output device. Thus, there has been proposed a method of terminating the data output in accordance with the timing of terminating the data input.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D, the time t _{d at} which the output of image data is started is determined according to the amount of input image data.
Input process speed and may be stored output process speed, the input of the image data is to start, to operate the timer, when it reaches the time set t _d, starts to output the image data. Thus, the output of data can be terminated at the timing when the input of data ends. As described above, it has been proposed to improve productivity by transferring image data.

[0009]

However, in such a copying system, an input / output program is created in advance in consideration of the process speed of the input device and the output device. For this reason, when the input process speed or the output process speed is changed by replacing the input device or the output device, the program for controlling the input / output needs to be changed. That is, when an input device or an output device is replaced in order to improve productivity or processing capacity, it is necessary to change an input / output program or the like, which causes a problem of lack of versatility.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and aims to improve productivity when used in a copying system or the like, and to reduce the number of input / output devices such as input devices and output devices. Without performing any processing such as setting changes,
An object of the present invention is to propose an image storage device capable of maintaining high productivity.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a storage device for storing image data, stores image data input from an input device in the storage device, and stores the stored image data. An image storage device that outputs data to an output device, an input detection unit that detects an input process speed when the input device inputs image data to the storage device, and the output device outputs image data from the storage device. Output detection means for detecting an output process speed when reading the data, and the output from the storage device at a timing set based on the data amount of image data input from the input device and the input process speed and the output process speed. Output control means for outputting image data to the device. And wherein the door.

According to the present invention, it is possible to output image data at an optimal timing based on an input process speed, an output process speed, and a data amount while storing image data in a storage device.

On the other hand, an input detecting means for detecting the process speed of the input device and an output detecting means for detecting the process speed of the output device are provided, so that even when the input device or the output device is exchanged, an accurate input process speed can be obtained. And the output process speed can be set.

Thus, even if the input process speed or the output process speed changes due to replacement of the input device or the output device, the input process speed and the output process speed can be changed without performing complicated processing such as changing a program. Image data can be output at an accurate timing based on the speed.

In the present invention, an image reading device such as a scanner can be used as an input device.

Further, the present invention includes, as the input device, data editing means for performing predetermined image processing on image data, so that the storage device can store image data inputted from the data editing means. May be.

In the present invention, when the amount of image data for one page input to the storage device is D, the input process speed is Is, and the output process speed is Os, the storage device outputs the image data. The data amount d stored in the storage device when the output of the image data to the output device is started can be expressed as d = D− (D · Is / Os).

Thus, the output of image data can be started at an appropriate timing based on the amount of data input to and stored in the storage device.

Further, the output control means of the present invention may set the output timing of the image data from the time until the accumulated data amount reaches the data amount d.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a copying system 10 applied to the present embodiment.

The copying system 10 includes an image reading device 12 such as a scanner and an image processing device 14 as input devices, and an image output device 16 such as a printer as an output device. Further, the copying system 10 is provided with a main body control device 18 and a control panel 20.

Main body controller 18 and control panel 2
0 and the main body control device 18 and the image reading device 12, the image processing device 14, and the image output device 18 are connected by a control path (Control Path) 22. The control path 22 is a two-way communication line, and the main body control device 18 performs two-way communication with the image reading device 12, the image processing device 14, the image output device 18 and the control panel 20 by the control path 22. By doing so, the operation of the image reading device 12, the image processing device 14, and the image output device 18 is controlled based on the operation of the control panel 22.

Thus, in the copying system 10, for example, a document image is read by the image reading device 12 and converted into image data based on a switch operation of the control panel 20, etc., and the image processing device 14 provided as data editing means is provided. Output to The image processing device 14 performs image processing on input image data based on an operation on the control panel 20. Thereby, the image reading device 1
2 enables desired processing of the read image data.

The image output device 16 forms an image corresponding to the image data on a predetermined sheet (for example, a sheet of a size set by the control panel 20).
That is, the copying system 10 forms, for example, a copying machine for copying a document image.

In the copying system 10, when image data is input to, for example, the image processing device 14 via a communication line (not shown) or a storage medium for image data, an image corresponding to the image data is output from the image output device 16. Output is possible. That is, the copying system 10 can output images other than those read by the image reading device 12.

On the other hand, the copying system 10 is provided with an image storage device 24 to which the present invention is applied. This image storage device 24 includes a memory 26 forming a storage device.
And an accumulation control unit 28. The memory 26 is connected to each of the image processing device 14 and the image output device 16 by an image path (Image Path) 30.

The image path 30 has a general configuration including an image data line and a control signal line, and the memory 26 accumulates and stores image data input from the image processing apparatus 14 via the image path 30. I do. Also,
The memory 26 is capable of outputting the accumulated and stored image data to the image output device 16.

As the memory 26, conventionally known storage means such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory can be applied. Also, the memory 26
Is capable of accumulating and storing a plurality of image data.

The image reading device 12 and the image processing device 14 are also connected by an image path 30.
Image data read by the image reading device 12 is input to the image processing device 14 via the image path 30.

The accumulation controller 28 controls the control path 22
Is connected to the memory 26 and the main body controller 18. As a result, the accumulation control unit 28 controls the main body control device 18
Based on the control signal from the controller 26, the image storage in the memory 26 via the control path 22 and the output of the stored image data from the memory 26 are controlled.

In the copying system 10, the image reading device 1
2, the image data is stored in the memory 26 and the stored image data is output to the image output device 16 without delay, so that the image is copied. It has become. In the following, continuous processing from image reading for one page or image processing to image output processing is referred to as image copying. In addition, in the copying system 10, not only image copying but also image data for a plurality of pages is stored in the memory 26,
By sequentially or selectively outputting the image data for each page to the image output device 16 at a predetermined timing, an image of desired image data can be output.

In the copying system 10, the image reading device 12, the image processing device 14, and the image output device 16
Has become replaceable. That is, in the copying system 10, the processing performance is improved by making each device replaceable, and maintenance is facilitated.

On the other hand, the main controller 18 detects the process speed when the image processing device 14 outputs image data to the memory 26 and the process speed when the image output device 16 reads image data output from the memory 26. It is possible.

The storage control unit 28 is configured to control the main body control device 18 in advance.
Are read and stored as the input process speed and the output process speed, respectively, of the image processing device 14 and the image output device 16 that have been detected.

Here, when the image copy is set, the accumulation control unit 28 reads the data amount of one page of image data input from the image processing device 14 to the memory 26, and determines the data amount and the input process speed. And the timing at which image data is output from the memory 26 based on the output process speed. Thereafter, the accumulation control unit 28 accumulates the image data input from the image processing device 14 in the memory 26, and starts outputting the image data accumulated in the memory 26 when the predetermined timing is reached.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the accumulation control unit 28 determines the timing at which the input of the image data to the memory 26 is completed, and the timing at which the image data is transferred from the memory 26 to the image output device 16. The timing at which the output of the image data to the CPU ends is adjusted.

That is, based on the data amount D _f , which is the size of one page of image data input to the memory 26, the input process speed Is, and the output process speed Os, the time required for image data to be input to the memory 26. Tin is, Tin = D _f / is, and the time Tout required for the memory 26 to output the image data, Tout = D _f / O
s. In the following description, it is assumed that the output process speed Is is faster than the input process speed (Os> Is).

From this, the time Tt which is the timing for starting the output of the image data from the memory 26 is given by Tin = T
from t + Tout, Tt = (D f / Is) - the _{(D f / Os) = D} f · (Os-Is) / (Is · Os).

When the output of image data from the memory 26 is started, the data amount d
Is as follows: d = Tt · Is = D _f −D _f (Is / Os) Therefore, the output of the image data from the memory 26 is started with a delay of the time Tt after the storage of the image data in the memory 26 is started, or the image data is stored after the data amount stored in the memory 26 reaches the data amount d. Just start the output.

As described above, the accumulation control unit 28 sets the output timing of the image data from the memory 26 based on the input process speed Is and the output process speed Os, so that, for example, when reading an image, Productivity is improved by shortening the processing time from reading an image by the device 12 or performing image processing by the image processing device 14 to outputting an image corresponding to the image data by the image output device 16. .

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

In the copying system 10, the image reading device 1
After the image data read in step 2 is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing unit 14, the image data is input to the memory 26, and the image data is sequentially stored in the memory 26. Further, in the copying system 10, an image can be formed on recording paper (recording paper) of a predetermined size by outputting the image data accumulated and stored in the memory 26 to the image output device 16.

Incidentally, in the copying system 10, the image reading device 12, the image processing device 14, and the image output device 16
Is replaceable.

On the other hand, when an image is copied in the copying system 10, the image storage device 24 stores the image data input from the image processing device 14 in the memory 26, while controlling the data amount of the input image data and the input process. By starting the output of the image data to the image output device 16 at a timing set based on the speed and the output process speed, the processing time is reduced.

Generally, the transfer speed of image data between the image processing device 14 and the memory 26 is determined by the process speed of the image processing device 14, and the transfer speed of image data between the memory 26 and the image output device 16 is Output device 1
6 depending on the process speed. That is, the process speed (input process speed) when input from the image processing device 14 to the memory 26 is determined by the process speed of the image processing device 14,
The output process speed when outputting image data from the image output device 6 to the image output device 16 is determined by the process speed of the image output device 16.

Therefore, when the image processing device 14 or the image output device 16 is replaced, the input process speed and the output process speed change.

Here, the accumulation control unit 2 for performing image copying.
8 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

The storage controller 28 performs an initial setting when the power switch (not shown) is turned on and the operation of the copying system 10 is started. At this time, the accumulation control unit 28
The input / output process speed is read by executing the flowchart shown in FIG.

The main controller 18 controls the control path 2
2, the process speed of the image processing device 14 and the image output device 16 can be detected.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a main controller 1 prior to image data storage processing.
8, the process speeds of the image processing device 14 and the image output device 16 are read and stored.

That is, in the first step 100, information including the process speed of the image reading device 12 detected by the main controller 18 is read. In step 102, the image processing device 14
The information is read, and the process speed of the image processing device 14 is set as the input process speed Is. When image data is input from the image reading device 12 to the memory 26 without the intervention of the image processing device 14, step 1
The process speed of the image reading device 12 read at 00 is set as the input process speed Is.

In step 104, information including the process speed of the image output device 16 is read, and the process speed of the image output device 16 is set as the output process speed Os.

As described above, the image storage device 24 reads the process speeds of the image processing device 14 and the image output device 16 prior to the start of the operation and reads the input process speed I.
Initial setting including setting of s and output process speed Os is performed. For this reason, even when the image processing device 14 and the image output device 16 are exchanged, it is possible to appropriately set the output timing of the image data when performing image copying.

On the other hand, in the copying system 10, when image copying is set and image data is read by the image reading device 12, the image data is subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing device 14 and input to the memory 26. At this time,
When detecting that image data has been input to the memory 26, the accumulation control unit 28 stores the input image data in the memory 2.
6, and outputs the image data stored in the memory 26 to the image processing device 16 at a predetermined timing.

Here, the outline of the output control of the image data from the memory 26 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that when image data is accumulated and stored in the memory 26 without performing continuous processing, conventionally known control is performed.

This flowchart is based on the main controller 18.
Storing image data when performing image copying is performed by being instructed by a control signal from, the first step 110 reads the image data amount D _f which is output from the image processing apparatus 14, the next step 112 And memory 2
6 is set for the output timing of the image data.

[0056] setting of the output timing of the image data is already read input process speed Is, performed on the basis of the output process speed Os and the data amount D _f.

[0057] For example, when determining the output timing of the image data on the basis of the amount of data stored and accumulated in the memory 26, the data amount d, set from _{· d = D f -D f (} Is / Os).

When the setting of the output timing of the image data is completed in this way, in a step 114, it is confirmed whether or not the input of the image data to the memory 26 has been started.

When image data is input from the image processing device 14 to the memory 26, the memory 26 starts storing the image data. At the same time, an affirmative determination is made in step 114 and the process proceeds to step 116. This step 11
6, the data amount stored in the memory 26 is equal to the data amount d.
To see if it's reached.

[0060] Incidentally, the timing of outputting the image data, when setting on the basis of the time from the image data is inputted, the time Tt in step _{112, Tt = (D f /} Is) - (D f / Os ) = D _f · (Os−Is) / (Is · Os), and activates a timer (not shown) when the input of image data is detected in step 114. Thus, in step 116, it may be determined whether or not the time measured by the timer has reached the time Tt.

Here, if the data amount stored in the memory 26 reaches the data amount d and an affirmative determination is made in step 116,
The process proceeds to step 118 to start outputting the image data stored in the memory 26. Thereby, in the memory 26,
Accumulation of image data input from the image processing device 14,
Output of image data to the image output device 16 is performed in parallel. In addition, as a method of performing input and output of image data in parallel, any conventionally known method such as a time division method can be used.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 2C, when the data amount stored in the memory 26 reaches the data amount d, the data amount gradually decreases and the input of the image data to the memory 26 ends. At the timing, the output of the image data from the memory 26 ends. That is, when the input of the image data ends, the output of the image data ends slightly later.

In step 120, it is confirmed whether or not the output of the image data has been completed, and the output of the image data has been completed.
If an affirmative determination is made in step 120, the process moves to step 122 and ends.

As described above, in the image storage device 24, while the input image data is being stored, the image data output is ended in accordance with the end of the input of the image data. Process speed (input process speed Is) of the processing device 14 and the image output device 16
The image data transfer process can be performed efficiently while absorbing the speed difference of the process speed (output process speed Os).

On the other hand, in the copying system 10, the image reading device 12, the image processing device 14, and the image processing device 16 can be exchanged. In particular, the image processing device 14 and the image output device 16 connected to the memory 26 can be exchanged. Then, the input process speed Is and the output process speed Os change.

At this time, in the copying system 10, the main body controller 18 controls the image reading device 12, the image processing device 14
And the process speed of the image output device 16 is detected.
Prior to the storage in the memory 26, the process speed of the image processing device 14 and the process speed of the image output device 16 are read, and the input process speed Is and the output process speed Os are set.

Thus, the image storage device 24 can operate the image processing device 14 and the image output device 16 even when the input device or the output device is replaced, such as changing the program or the input / output process speed used for the program. , The input image data is always output at appropriate timing, and efficient transfer of the image data is possible.

The embodiment described above does not limit the configuration of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the main body control device 18 is used as input detection means and output detection means, and the main control device 18 detects the process speed of the image processing device 14 and the image processing device 16, and the accumulation control portion 28 Although the process speed is read, the accumulation control unit 28 may detect the process speed of the image processing device 14 or the image output device 16.

In the present embodiment, the image processing device 14 is mainly used as an input device. However, the input device may be the image reading device 12. That is, the image processing device 14 is omitted, and the image reading device 12
And a memory 26 may be applied to a copying system in which the copying system is connected by the image path 30.

Further, in the present embodiment, the copying system 10 forming a copying machine or the like has been described as an example.
The present invention can be applied to an image storage device having an arbitrary configuration that stores image data input from an input device in a storage device such as the memory 26 and outputs the stored image data to an output device.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, even when an input device or an output device is changed, input / output of image data can always be efficiently performed in accordance with the process speed of the input device and the output device. An excellent effect that can be done is obtained.

At this time, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically set an appropriate output timing without performing a complicated work of changing a program for input / output and setting of an input process speed and an output process speed. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copying system applied to an embodiment.

2A is a diagram illustrating input timing of data to a memory, FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating output timing based on the input timing of FIG. 2A, and FIG. A)
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a change in an amount of data stored and input / output based on FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of setting an input process speed and an output process speed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of output processing of input image data.

5A to 5D show conventional input / output timing, FIG. 5A is a diagram showing an example of input timing, and FIG. 5B is based on the diagram of FIG. FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating an example of an output timing, FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating an example of an input timing, and FIG. 5D is a diagram illustrating an example of an output timing based on the diagram of FIG.

[Description of Signs] 10 Copying system 12 Image reading device (input device) 14 Image processing device (input device, data editing means) 16 Image output device (output device) 18 Main body control device (input detecting means, output detecting means) 24 Image storage device 26 Memory (storage device) 28 Storage control unit (output control means, input detection means, output detection means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Satoru Miyazaki 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. In-house (72) Inventor Morio Oka 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Takashi Ajiro 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Ebina Business Center (72) Inventor Toru Aoki 2274 Hongo, Ebina-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Ebina Business Center F-term (reference) 5B047 AA01 CA23 CB07 CB30 EB04 5C073 BB09 BC01 CE0 Four

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image storage device comprising a storage device for storing image data, storing image data input from an input device in the storage device, and outputting the stored image data to an output device. An input detection unit that detects an input process speed when an input device inputs image data to the storage device; an output detection unit that detects an output process speed when the output device reads image data from the storage device; Output control means for outputting image data from the storage device to the output device at a timing set based on a data amount of image data input from the input device and the input process speed and the output process speed. An image storage device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input device includes a data editing unit that performs predetermined image processing on the image data, and the storage device can store the image data input from the data editing unit. 2. The image storage device according to 1. 3. The amount of image data for one page input to the storage device is D, and the input process speed is I.
s, when the output process speed is Os, the image data amount d stored in the storage device when the output of the image data from the storage device to the output device is started is represented by d = D− (D · Is The image storage device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein / Os).