JP2002190890A - Recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording system that can efficiently operate an image reader and a recorder. SOLUTION: The recording system of this invention is provided with the image reader 1 that reads an image light from an original to generate image data that are electric signals, an image processing unit 2 that processes the image data from the image reader 1, storage devices 3 that store the image data processed by the image processing unit 2 synchronously with the processing operation of the image processing unit 2, and the recorders 6 that read the image data stored in the storage devices 3 and record the data on recording paper synchronously with the storage operation of the storage devices 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording system for performing appropriate recording with a plurality of recording devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus has been disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 49314, 10-11240 and 7-13717 are known. These recording devices have a plurality of recording devices connected on a network, and print out with another recording device when printing becomes impossible during printing with one recording device. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
The recording device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 110160 is an IEEE 1
By using isochronous transfer (synchronous transfer) of the 394 interface, when a large number of texts of a plurality of pages are to be printed, a plurality of recording devices can print out at high speed. Also, JP-A-6-67823,
JP-A-6-143755, JP-A-11-1101
The recording apparatus described in JP-A-59-59 and JP-A-9-190314 has a plurality of recording apparatuses connected on a network, and selects an optimal recording apparatus according to a specification required by a user. The recording is performed by the selected recording device.

[0003]

However, in the conventional recording apparatus, there is a problem that only a plurality of recording apparatuses are efficiently operated, and the image reading apparatus and the recording apparatus are not efficiently operated. is there. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording system that can efficiently operate an image reading device and a recording device.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording system comprising: an image reading unit for reading image light from a document to generate image data as an electric signal; Image processing means for processing image data from the image reading means; a plurality of storage means for storing image data processed by the image processing means in synchronization with the processing operation of the image processing means; A plurality of recording means for reading out the image data stored in the storage means and recording the read out data on a recording sheet in synchronization with the storage operation of the storage means. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording system according to the first aspect, further comprising a plurality of γ correction units connected between the storage unit and the recording unit for performing γ correction on image data. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the system according to the second aspect, the system further includes a unit for detecting a maximum output density of each recording unit, and the γ correction unit is configured to detect each of the detected recording units. Γ correction is performed by setting the lowest maximum output density among the maximum output densities as the maximum density.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects,
In the recording system described in the paragraph, the system further includes a control unit that releases at least one of the recording units that are recording the image data on the recording paper and records another image data. And According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the system further comprises: at least one of the recording units is operating, and the recording unit performs recording. When the image data remaining in the storage unit is stored in the storage unit, the image data is recorded in the recording unit and the paused recording unit.
Characterized in that the control means is provided. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the image processing means has a CYMBk filter unit. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the recording system according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, further comprising a plurality of gradation correction means connected between the storage means and the recording means. And According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the recording system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the storage means is one of the recording means.
It is characterized by storing data for output.

[0005]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a recording system according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a recording system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an image reading device (image reading device) 1, an image processing device (image processing device) 2, and a plurality of storage devices (storage device). ) 3, a plurality of CMYBkγ correction devices (γ correction means) 4, a plurality of gradation correction devices (gradation correction devices) 5, a plurality of recording devices (recording devices) 6, and a control device 7. ing. The image processing device 2 is connected to the image reading device 1. The plurality of storage devices 3 are connected to the image processing device 2. The plurality of CMYBkγ correction devices 4 are connected to the plurality of storage devices 3. The plurality of tone correction devices 5 are connected to the plurality of CMYBkγ correction devices 4. The plurality of recording devices 5 are connected to the plurality of gradation correction devices 5. The control device 7 includes an image reading device 1, an image processing device 2, a plurality of storage devices 3, a plurality of CMYBkγ correction devices 4, and a plurality of gradation correction devices 5.
Is connected to the plurality of recording devices 6 and controls these operations. The image reading apparatus 1 reads image light from a document, generates analog image data that is an electric signal, converts the image data into digital image data, and outputs the digital image data. The image processing device 2 performs various correction processes and the like on the image data from the image reading device 1 and performs document recognition such as line drawing recognition and color determination. The plurality of storage devices 3 store the image data processed by the image processing device 2 in synchronization with the processing operation of the image processing device 2. The plurality of CMYBkγ correction devices 4 perform γ correction on the image data. The plurality of tone correction devices 5 correct the tone of the image data. The plurality of recording devices 6 synchronize the image data stored in these storage devices 3 with CMYB in synchronization with the storage operation of the plurality of storage devices 3.
It is received via the kγ correction device 4 and the gradation correction device 5 and is recorded on a recording sheet. Note that here, the image reading device 1
Reads color image data of three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) (hereinafter referred to as RGB data), and the image processing device 2 converts the RGB data into C (cyan) and M (magenta). , Y (yellow) and Bk (black) color image data (hereinafter referred to as CMYBk data), and the recording apparatus 6 records a color image on recording paper based on the CMYBk data. I do.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the image processing apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing device 2
gamma correction unit 8, document recognition unit 9, delay unit 10, RGB
A filter unit 11, a color correction unit 12, a UCR unit 13,
It has a scaling unit 14 and a CMYBk filter unit 15. The RGBγ correction unit 8 and the document recognition unit 9 are connected to the image reading device 1. The delay unit 10 includes RGBγ
It is connected to the correction unit 8. The RGB filter unit 11
It is connected to the delay unit 8 and the document recognition unit 9. The color correction unit 12 is connected to the RGB filter unit 11. U
The CR unit 13 is connected to the color correction unit 12. The scaling unit 14 is connected to the UCR unit 13. The CMYBk filter unit 15 is connected between the scaling unit 14 and the plurality of storage devices 3. The RGBγ correction unit 8 receives the RGB data from the image reading device 1 and receives the reflectance data (RGB
Is converted into density data (RGB data). Based on the RGB data received from the image reading device 1, the document recognizing section 9 determines whether the area is a character area or a picture area, outputs a C / P signal to an RGB filter section 11 at the next stage, Determines whether it is a chromatic or achromatic area and RGB
The B / C signal is output to the filter unit 11. Delay unit 10
Receives the RGB data from the RGBγ correction unit 8 and delays the RGB data in order to synchronize with the output result of the document recognition unit 9. The RGB filter unit 11 performs MTF correction on the RGB data. The color correction unit 12 converts the RGB data into CMY data by primary masking or the like. The UCR unit 13 converts a common part of the CMY data into a UCR (additive color removal).
Process to generate Bk data. The scaling unit 14 performs enlargement, reduction, or equal magnification processing in the main scanning direction on the image data.
The CMYBk filter unit 15 performs a smoothing process and a sharpening process on the image data, and provides the image data to the plurality of storage devices 3. The plurality of storage devices 3 have the same configuration,
This is a memory (storage means) capable of storing one copy of the output of the CMYBk filter unit 15 (data of one output of the recording device 6). These storage devices 3
The image data and the C / P signal are compressed and stored. CMYBk
The γ correction unit 4 performs γ correction on the image data according to the output of the storage device 3 and the recording characteristics of the recording device 6. Gradation processing unit 5
Performs quantization such as dither processing or error diffusion processing on image data, and outputs a signal or MG. The C / P signal output from the document recognition unit 9 is a 2-bit signal. C
The / P signal is "3" to indicate a character edge area, the C / P signal is "1" to indicate a character area, and the C / P signal is "0".
Indicates a pattern area. The C / P signal is supplied to an RGB filter unit 11, a color correction unit 12, a UCR unit 13, and a scaling unit 1
4 is cascaded to the CMYBk filter unit 15, the CMYBkγ correction device 4 and the gradation processing device 5, and outputs a signal IMG in synchronization with image data. Also, the signal I
MG is plane-sequential one-color data that outputs one color among C, M, Y, and Bk. That is, by reading the document four times, full-color (four colors) data is generated.

The document recognizing section 9 determines whether there is a certain number of image data other than black and white image data (chromatic image data).
It is determined whether the document is a color document or a monochrome document. In the case of black and white copying, one image formation of the Bk image is sufficient. Since the number of times of image formation corresponding to the image of the document recognized by the document recognition unit 9 is sufficient, the operator does not need to determine whether the document is a color document or a black and white document according to the document and copy the document. Also, the logic of the B / C signal (1 bit signal) indicates an achromatic region by H,
L indicates a chromatic area. The B / C signal is cascaded to the RGB filter unit 11, the color correction unit 12, and the UCR unit 13, and is output in synchronization with image data. RGB
The filter unit 11 is a filter that performs MTF correction on RGB data, and is configured by an N × N matrix.
The RGB filter unit 11 performs a sharpening process when the C / P signal is “3”, and performs a smoothing process when the C / P signal is “0, 1” and outputs the result as it is. The UCR unit 13 is for improving the color reproduction of the image data, and
The common part of the CMY data input from step 2 is subjected to UCR (additive color removal) processing to generate Bk data, and the CMYBk data is output. Here, when the C / P signal is other than “3”,
The UCR unit 13 generates skeleton black Bk. When the C / P signal is "3", the UCR unit 13 performs a full black process. Further, when the C / P signal is “3” and the B / C signal is H, the UCR unit 13
Erases C, M, and Y data. This is because black characters are represented only by black components. CMYBk
The filter unit 15 performs smoothing and sharpening processing using an N × N spatial filter according to the gradation characteristics of the recording device 6 and the C / P signal. The CMYBkγ correction unit 4 changes and processes the γ curve according to the frequency characteristics of the recording device 6 and the C / P signal. The CMYBkγ correction unit 4 sets the C / P signal to “0,
In the case of [1], a gamma curve that faithfully reproduces the image is used, and C /
When the P signal is "3", the contrast is emphasized by forming a γ curve.

The tone correction device 5 performs quantization such as dither processing according to the tone characteristics of the recording device 6 and the C / P signal.
The gradation correction device 5 performs a process emphasizing gradation when the C / P signal is “0” and performs a process emphasizing resolution when the C / P signal is other than “0” in Bk image formation. . The tone correction device 5 performs a tone-oriented process when the C / P signal is “0, 1” during image formation other than Bk, and performs resolution when the C / P signal is other than “0, 1”. Perform emphasis processing. As is clear from the configuration of each part of the image processing device 2,
In the image processing device 2, when the picture processing (C / P signal = 0) is performed, the RGB filter unit 11 performs a smoothing process,
The skeleton black processing is performed by the unit 13 and the CMYBk
The gamma correction device 4 selects a curve emphasizing linearity (gradation), and the CMYBk filter unit 15 and the gradation correction device 5 perform a process emphasizing gradation. On the other hand, character processing (C
When (/ P signal = 3 and B / C signal = L), the RGB filter unit 11 performs an emphasis process, the UCR unit 13 performs a full black process, and the CMYBkγ correction device 4 selects a curve that emphasizes contrast. , CMYBk filter unit 1
5 and the tone correction device 5 perform processing emphasizing the resolution. Black character processing (C / P signal = 3 and B / C signal =
As H), in CMY except for Bk, CMY data is not printed. This is to prevent the surroundings of the black characters from being colored due to misalignment. Further, the RGB filter 11 of Bk data at this time may be made stronger and sharper than in the case of color characters. Further, when processing in a character (C / P signal = 1), the RGB filter unit 11 performs a smoothing process, the UCR unit 13 performs a skeleton black process, and the CMYBkγ correction device 4 performs a linear (gradation) process. The CMYBk filter unit 15 performs a process that emphasizes the gradation. The control device 7
The entire flow is managed, and particularly, an abnormality of the recording device 6 is detected. The recording device 6 has a density adjusting mechanism for making the image density constant, and constantly controls the maximum density. The density adjusting mechanism of the recording device 6 tries to match the output density with the target density.

Next, a more specific operation of the recording system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, a case where the number of copies is 30 and the number of originals is 1 will be described. An operator sets a document on the image reading device 1 and inputs information of a recording device (here, three recording devices) 6 to be used and information of the number of copies of 30 using an operation unit (not shown). The control device 7 creates the γ of the CMYBN γ correction device 4 such that the density of the image recorded by the recording device 6 having the lowest density among the maximum densities of the images recorded by the three recording devices 6 is recorded as the maximum density. I do. As a result, any recording device 6 can output a copy having the maximum density. Next, the document reading device 3 synchronizes the document with the reading speed, and
To output image data. The image processing device 2 sequentially processes each block in synchronization with the reading speed of the document reading device 1, and stores the processing result in the storage device 3. The image processing device 2 outputs image data to the storage device 3 and sequentially processes the image data according to the recording speed of the recording device 6. When recording image data of a black-and-white original, the recording device 6 performs recording on one sheet of recording paper only with Bk image formation, and repeats this ten times. When recording image data of a color original, the recording device 6 performs four image formations of C image formation, M image formation, Y image formation, and Bk image formation, and performs recording on one sheet of recording paper. And repeat this 10 times. When the recording is completed, each recording device 9 notifies the control device 7 that the output has been completed. When the recording of all the recording devices 6 is completed, the recording operation ends. At the time of reading an image, processing can be performed sequentially at the reading speed of the image reading device 1, and at the time of recording, processing can be performed according to the recording speed of each recording device 6, so that the copying operation can be performed efficiently.
Further, even if the recording speed of the recording device 6 is different for each recording device 6, there is a storage device 3 corresponding to each, so that each recording device 6 can operate independently according to each recording speed. The speed recording device 6 can operate simultaneously.

Next, a case where a recording operation cannot be performed due to some abnormality (paper jam, paper missing, etc.) in the recording device 6 will be described. One recording device 6 informs the control device 7 that the recording operation cannot be performed when an abnormality occurs during the recording and the recording cannot be performed. Control device 7
Causes the display device (not shown) to display that the recording operation of the one recording device 6 cannot be performed. The other two recording devices 6 perform the recording operation as they are. The other two
Even if one recording device 6 completes recording, if the one recording device 6 cannot record, the unrecorded number of recording sheets of this recording device 6 are recorded by the other two recording devices 6. . For example,
If the unrecorded number of one recording device 6 is 6, another 2
Each of the recording devices 6 performs recording on each of three recording sheets.
As described above, by responding to the abnormal situation of the recording device 6, the recording operation can be efficiently performed.

Next, an example in which one recording device 6 records an image of another document while three recording devices 6 are recording an image of one document will be described. An operator sets a document on the image reading device 1 and inputs information of a recording device (here, three recording devices) 6 to be used and information of the number of copies of 30 using an operation unit (not shown). The control device 7 creates the γ of the CMYBN γ correction device 4 such that the density of the image recorded by the recording device 6 having the lowest density among the maximum densities of the images recorded by the three recording devices 6 is recorded as the maximum density. I do. As a result, any recording device 6 can output a copy having the maximum density. Next, the document reading device 1 outputs image data to the image processing device 2 in synchronization with the reading speed of the document. The image processing device 2 sequentially processes each block in synchronization with the reading speed of the document reading device 1, and stores the processing result in the storage device 3. The image processing device 2 includes a storage device 3
, And sequentially processes the image data according to the recording speed of the recording device 6. When recording image data of a black-and-white original, the recording device 6 performs recording on one sheet of recording paper only with Bk image formation, and repeats this ten times.

Here, when three recording apparatuses 6 want to record an image of another original by one recording apparatus 6 while recording an image of one original, the following is performed. The operator puts another document on the image reading device 1, terminates the operation of one recording device 6 using an operation unit (not shown), and inputs information on the recording device 6 to be used and the number of copies. The control device 7 creates γ of the CMYBN γ correction device 4 so that the maximum density of the image recorded by each recording device 6 is recorded as the maximum density. Next, the document reading device 1 outputs image data to the image processing device 2 in synchronization with the reading speed of the document. The image processing device 2 sequentially processes each block in synchronization with the reading speed of the document reading device 1, and stores the processing result in the storage device 3. The image processing device 2 outputs image data to the storage device 3 and sequentially processes the image data according to the recording speed of the recording device 6. The recording device 6
When recording image data of a black-and-white document, recording is performed on a single recording sheet only with Bk image formation, and this is repeated a plurality of times. When recording image data of a color original, the recording device 6 performs four image formations of C image formation, M image formation, Y image formation, and Bk image formation, and performs recording on one sheet of recording paper. And repeat this multiple times. When the recording is completed, each recording device 6 notifies the control device 7 that the output has been completed. When the recording of all the recording devices 6 is completed, the recording operation ends. Here, if the storage device 3 has a capacity of two or more pages, after the recording of one document of one recording device 6 is completed, the other two recording devices 6 are in front of the one document. If the recording operation of the original is performed, the one recording device 6 also performs the recording operation of the previous original. For example, when the number of unrecorded images is 20, three recording devices 6 each have 7
The setting is changed so that recording is performed on 7, 7, or 6 recording sheets. This makes it possible to copy efficiently. If the storage device 3 has a capacity of two or more pages, the image data may not be stored only in one storage device 3 but may be stored in another storage device 3 at the same time. Thus, even if one recording device 6 finishes recording the image of the original document that has started recording first, the one recording device can record the image of the subsequent document. . When a plurality of recording devices 6 having different recording speeds are used,
The number of recordings may be set in each recording device 6 so that the recording ends at the same time. In one embodiment of the present invention, image data is directly stored in the storage device 3 from the storage device 3.
May be configured to be sent to

[0013]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, image reading means for reading image light from a document to generate image data as an electric signal, Image processing means for processing image data from the reading means, a plurality of storage means for storing the image data processed by the image processing means in synchronization with the processing operation of the image processing means, and these storage means And a plurality of recording units for reading out the image data stored in these storage units and recording them on a recording paper in synchronization with the storage operation of the above, so that the image reading apparatus and the recording apparatus can be operated efficiently. . According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus further includes a plurality of γ correction units connected between the storage unit and the recording unit for performing γ correction on the image data. Corrections can be made individually. According to the third aspect of the present invention, further, the maximum output density of the plurality of recording means is detected, and the γ correction data is created with the lowest value among the detected values as the maximum density. It is possible to obtain the same output at the maximum density. According to the invention of claim 4, at least one recording unit is further opened,
It is possible to realize a so-called interrupt function that preferentially records other image data. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when at least one recording device is performing an output operation and at least one recording device is not performing an output operation, the non-operating recording device is further provided. In addition, since the operating recording means causes the image data being recorded to be recorded, the efficiency of the system can be improved. In particular,
When the recording of a small number of copies is completed first, the processing efficiency can be expected to be extremely high by restarting the recording that has not been completed. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the image processing means has the CYMBk filter unit, it is possible to individually correct blur of a recorded image by a plurality of recording devices. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since there are further provided a plurality of tone correction means connected between the storage means and the recording means, correction of blurring of a recorded image by a plurality of recording devices can be individually performed. It is possible to do. According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the storage means stores the data for one output of the recording means, a plurality of recordings can be performed by one image reading operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a recording system as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus of the recording system of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image reading device (image reading means) 2 image processing device (image processing means) 3 storage device (storage means) 4 CMYBkγ correction device (γ correction device) 5 gradation correction device (gradation correction device) 6 recording device (recording) Means) 7 control device 8 RGB γ correction unit 9 document recognition unit 10 delay unit 11 RGB filter unit 12 color correction unit 13 UCR unit 14 scaling unit 15 CMYBk filter unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 1/21 B41J 3/00 A 5C077 1/60 H04N 1/40 D 5C079 1/407 101E 1/46 1 / 46 ZF term (reference) 2C262 AA24 AA26 AA30 AC04 AC07 BA10 BB03 BB06 BC10 EA04 EA13 FA20 GA13 GA57 GA59 5B047 AA01 CB01 CB25 EA02 5B057 AA11 CA01 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB01 CB08 CB12 AB17 CE17 AB02 AB42 AB53 AC04 AE15 5C073 AA02 AB07 CC02 CE06 5C077 PP01 PP15 PP32 PP33 PP37 PP43 PQ20 PQ22 SS01 SS02 5C079 HB03 LA11 LA12 MA02 NA05 NA13

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image reading unit that reads image light from a document to generate image data as an electric signal; an image processing unit that processes the image data from the image reading unit; and a process of the image processing unit. A plurality of storage means for storing the image data processed by the image processing means in synchronization with the operation of the storage means; and storing the image data stored in these storage means in synchronization with the storage operation of the storage means. A recording system, comprising: a plurality of recording means for reading and recording on recording paper. 2. The recording system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of gamma correction units connected between said storage unit and said recording unit, for performing gamma correction on said image data. . 3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising: means for detecting a maximum output density of each recording means, wherein said γ correction means comprises a maximum output density of each of the detected recording means. A recording system wherein gamma correction is performed with the lowest maximum output density among the output densities as the maximum density. 4. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises at least one of recording means for recording image data on recording paper.
A recording system comprising: a control unit that releases one of the image data and records another image data. 5. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said recording means is in operation, and said recording means performs recording. A recording system comprising: a second control unit that, when image data that remains is stored in the storage unit, causes the recording unit and the paused recording unit to record the image data. 6. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein said image processing means includes a CYMB
A recording system comprising a k-filter unit. 7. The recording system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of gradation correction means connected between said storage means and said recording means. Recording system. 8. The recording system according to claim 1, wherein said storage means stores data for one output of said recording means.