JP2002320057A - Image data processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To revise a copy condition in response to a residual capacity of a memory recording image data in a copying machine so as to reserve the capacity of the memory for required copies. SOLUTION: Image data of each page of originals is automatically carried are read, compressed at a prescribed compression level, and recorded in the memory (S51), the residual capacity of the memory is detected (S52), whether or not the residual capacity is a specified capacity or below is discriminated (S53), when the residual capacity is equal to or more than the specified capacity, the processing returns to the S51 and the original of the next page is carried and the similar operations above are repeated. When the discrimination in the S53 shows that the residual capacity is equal to or less than the specified capacity, the processing continues to S54 and the copy condition is revised.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process for recording image data in a memory in a copying machine or the like and performing a copying process by outputting the image data, and to a technique for improving the efficiency and the image quality of a reproduced image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent copiers, image data of a document is photoelectrically converted and read as digital data. After compression and other processing, the image data is temporarily stored in a memory, and then decompressed and output for copying. It is generally done.

[0003]

The processing of image data of such a digital copying machine has conventionally had various problems as described below. In a case where the image data of all the originals is compressed in the automatic original feed mode and recorded in the memory at once, the capacity may be insufficient depending on the setting of the compression level. If the compression level is set too high so that the capacity is not insufficient, the image quality is degraded. Therefore, it has been demanded to secure the image quality while preventing the capacity shortage.

[0004] Next, as a problem in continuous copying in the automatic document feeding mode, in the automatic document feeding mode, a mode in which image data of one side of a plurality of documents is sequentially copied one by one on both sides of a copy sheet. Means that if the number of manuscripts is odd, the back side of the copy sheet of the first page will be blank and the appearance will often be bad if the number of documents is odd There is.
Therefore, in the related art, the original is automatically fed or the number of originals is set to an odd number only for counting the number of originals before recording in the memory, and the back side of the copy surface of the first page is blank. However, the former involves a time loss due to automatic document feeding for counting, and increases the possibility of jams, while the latter has a problem that operability is significantly reduced. there were.

[0005] Further, as a problem when a document is a blank document having no image data, the conventional compression processing is performed by assuming that image data is present even when a blank document is set. , Unnecessary data such as the density of the paper itself is compressed and copied as dirt,
In addition, since unnecessary compressed data is recorded in the memory although it is small, there is a problem that the capacity is wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image data processing apparatus which addresses various problems in the above image data processing.

[0007]

For this reason, a first invention which addresses the problem of compression processing in a copying machine having automatic document feeding means is provided with each means as shown in FIG. I have. The remaining amount detecting means detects the remaining amount of the recording capacity of the memory, and the copying condition switching means switches the copying condition according to the remaining amount of the memory detected by the remaining amount detecting means.

An automatic document feeder is provided, which reads image data of the automatically fed document and records the read image data in a memory, and thereafter outputs the image data recorded in the memory to perform copying. As the copy mode, a mode in which image data of one page of one side of each document is sequentially recorded in a memory, and image data of all the documents are recorded, and then sequentially copied to both sides of a copy sheet one by one in the recorded order. A second invention for coping with the problem in the mode in the copying machine including the apparatus includes various means shown in FIG.

The odd / even discriminating means discriminates the odd / even number of document pages read each time image data is read in the mode, and the blank page area assigning means determines whether the final document page number is odd by the discriminating means. When it is determined that a blank page area having no image data is continuously provided to the image data recording area of the last page of the document in the memory.

A third invention which addresses the problem when a blank document is set is provided with each means shown in FIG. Blank document discriminating means discriminates whether or not the document is a blank document, and reproducing operation stopping means stops copying and reproducing the blank document when the blank document discriminating means determines that the document is a blank document. It is.

[0011]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the copying condition is switched while detecting the remaining amount of the recording capacity of the memory, a good image quality can be obtained by lowering the compression level as much as possible within a range where the capacity is not insufficient. Can be. In the second invention,
When the number of originals is odd, a blank blank page area having no image data is continuously provided in the image data recording area of the last page of the original in the memory, so that the back side of the copy surface of the last page of the original becomes blank. The next page is copied on the back side of the first page, and the requested copy is performed.

In the third aspect, when a blank document is set, the operation of reproducing the blank document is stopped, so that a dirty image is not reproduced and unnecessary consumption of memory is prevented. Is done.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus (copier) including the image data processing apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a copying machine main body; 2, an image data reading unit that reads image data of a set original; 3, an image data processing unit that performs processing such as compression of the read image data; A memory 5 for temporarily recording the image data, an exposure scanning unit 5 for exposing the laser beam modulated by the image data output from the memory to the photosensitive drum 31 to scan and form an electrostatic latent image; 6
Is a developing unit that supplies a developer from a developing unit to apply toner to the electrostatic latent image to perform development, 7 is a copy paper supply unit that supplies copy paper to the photosensitive drum 31, and 8 is a photosensitive drum A copy paper transport unit that transports the copy paper on which the image data has been transferred from 31, a fixing unit 9 that heats the transported copy paper to fix the image data, and 10 has only one side when performing duplex copying. A reversing / discharging switching section for reversing the reversing / discharging operation so that the reversing copy paper is turned over and discharging the replied copy paper. A reversing conveyance unit that conveys the toner to the body drum 31 side, a double-sided recording paper conveyance unit (ADU), and an automatic document conveyance unit (ADF) 13.

As shown in FIG. 4, the automatic document feeder 13, which is an automatic document feeder, is provided on the main body 1 of the copying machine. Feeding unit 15 for separating and sending one original D from the feeding unit;
An intermediate transport unit 17 and a transport unit 18 for transporting the original D fed from 15 to a predetermined reading position on the platen glass 16, and the original D sent from the transport unit 18 after completion of image exposure is discharged to a discharge tray. And a sheet reversing unit 19 for reversing the original whose first side has been read in the double-sided original copy mode and feeding the inverted original onto the platen glass 16 again.

An embodiment of the first invention, that is, an embodiment in which the copy condition is changed while detecting the remaining amount of the memory will be described with reference to a flowchart. Such processing is performed by the image data processing unit 3 (the same applies to other embodiments). In FIG. 5 showing the main flow, in step 51, the image data of the automatically fed original is read one page at a time and recorded in the memory 4 after compression processing at a predetermined compression level.

In step 52, the remaining capacity of the memory 4 is detected. This is obtained by subtracting the consumed capacity corresponding to the integrated amount of the compressed image data from the maximum capacity of the memory 4 when it is not used. For simplicity, it may be obtained from the address of the memory 4 where the last recorded data is recorded. In step 53, it is determined whether the remaining amount obtained in step 52 is equal to or less than a specified value.

If the value does not reach the specified value or less,
Returning to step 51, the original of the next page is fed, and the same operation is repeated. If it is determined in step 53 that the remaining amount is equal to or smaller than the specified value, the flow advances to step 54 to change the copy condition.
FIG. 6 shows an example of the copy condition changing process.

At step 61, a warning is displayed to prompt the user to select whether or not to continue copying with the current compression level set once the reading operation is stopped. In step 62, it is determined whether or not the selection is to continue setting. If it is determined that the setting is to be continued, the process proceeds to step 63 to read the image data of the document of the next page with the current setting and record it in the memory. Continue stopping operation. During this time,
The user is recorded in the memory 4. The image data is expanded and output and a desired number of pages are copied. Thereby, the remaining amount of the memory 4 is increased, and the image data of the document of the next page and subsequent pages can be recorded in the memory 4. Note that the remaining amount of the memory 4 after copying is detected again and compared with the specified remaining amount. If the remaining amount exceeds the specified remaining amount, the warning is released, and copying is continued until the warning is released. A configuration may be adopted in which the original of the next page is fed and image data is recorded.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of another embodiment in which the copying operation and the data recording operation are automatically performed based on the remaining amount of the memory as another example of changing the copying condition. In step 71, the recording data is expanded and output from the memory 4 to start the copying operation. In step 72, it is determined whether or not the copy recorded in the memory 4 is output and the copying is completed. Then, the original document of the next page and subsequent pages is fed and data is recorded.

According to this configuration, while monitoring the remaining amount of the limited memory capacity, the decompression copy is performed as appropriate to increase the remaining amount, and then data recording is resumed. Although the speed is inferior to that of the above-described embodiment, the compression rate can be reduced to improve the image quality. Next, in the automatic original feed mode, a mode in which image data of only one side of each original is recorded at once for all originals, and then one page of original is continuously copied on each side of the copy paper (single-sided original). An embodiment of the second invention for shortening the copying time in the double-sided copying mode will be described.

In this apparatus, the image data of the original is recorded in the memory in page units. In this case, for example, the recording surface for copying the originals stacked in page order is set downward. Then, the image data is sequentially fed from the uppermost document, the image data is read, and the image data is sequentially recorded in the memory for each page. After reading and recording the image data of all the documents, the image data is sequentially copied in the recorded order. It is going to go.

However, if the number of originals is odd, for example, three pages, the last page and the second page of the original are copied on both sides of the copy paper, and the first page is copied on one side of the copy paper. As a result, the back side of the copy sheet is left as a blank sheet. If the number of originals is even, there is no problem because both sides of all copy sheets are copied. Therefore, an embodiment in which a recording control process corresponding to such a copying method is performed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 81, the first original 1 in the memory 4
A recording area for a page is given as a blank page in which data is not recorded. In step 82, the image data for one page is sequentially recorded on the automatically fed original after the blank page, and the number of pages is counted. Steps
At 83, it is determined whether or not the number of pages of the document is an odd number when the feeding of the document is completed.

If it is determined in step 83 that the number of original pages is an odd number, the flow advances to step 84 to sequentially output the blank page area of the memory 4 and start a copying operation. Then, since there is no data for the blank page, the page is reversed without being copied on one side of the copy sheet, and the image data of the last page of the document is copied from the opposite side, and actual copying starts. Thereafter, the image data is copied one page at a time on both the front and back sides of the copy sheet from the end side to the top page side.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 83 that the number of original pages is an even number, the flow advances to step 85 to cancel the output of the blank page, and from the next page, that is, the last page, to the both sides of the copy paper by one page. Are copied one by one. In this way, even when the number of original pages is an odd number, it is possible to prevent double-sided copying from the first page to the copy paper, the last page being single-sided, and the first page being single-sided.

Further, in order to perform such normal double-sided copying, a feeding operation for counting the number of documents before reading image data is not required, so that it is possible to prevent an increase in time loss and a possibility of occurrence of a jam. Also, it is possible to prevent the operability from being lowered as in the case where the number of original pages is forcibly set as an odd number. In the present embodiment, the original page is read from the last page and applied to the method of copying from the last page. However, when applied to the method of reading from the first page and copying from the first page, all pages are read. When the image data of the original is read, the number of pages of the original is determined to be odd or even. If the number is odd, a blank page area may be added after the image data recording area of the last page of the memory.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention which deals with the case where a blank document is set will be described. Even when a blank document is set, the same reading as that of a document having normal image data is performed, compressed and recorded in the memory, and decompressed from the memory and copied. In that case, even though it is a blank page, the density of the
Since the decompression process is performed, unnecessary dirt may be discharged in a copied state due to processing such as error diffusion. In addition, although the amount of image data is small, a certain amount of memory is wasted, and in particular, when multi-value processing is performed as a measure for improving image quality, it is expected that such a loss will increase more and more. You.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when a blank document is set, it is detected that the document is a blank document, the copying of the image data is stopped, and the page is skipped and copied, or The copy paper is discharged in the state.
It should be noted that the information may be reproduced and displayed on a monitor or the like instead of copying. An embodiment of the former method will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

In step 91, information for determining the presence or absence of image data for each page of the document is input. This may be, for example, in a device having a density sensor for automatic density adjustment, density information from the density sensor, or information obtained by processing read image data.
(For example, density distribution information). In step 92, based on the information obtained in step 91, it is determined whether or not the original is a blank original having no image data.

If it is determined that the original has normal image data, the process proceeds to steps 93 and 94, where the read image data is recorded in the memory and copied, but it is determined that the original is a blank original. In this case, the process proceeds to steps 95 and 96, and the recording and copying of the image data of the blank original page to the memory is stopped. An embodiment of a method of discharging a copy sheet in a completely blank state with respect to a blank document will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. .
If it is determined in step 102 that the document is a blank document,
At 105, only the page number is recorded in the memory 4, and at step 106, only the page number is copied, and the other portions are completely blank and the copy paper is discharged.

In this way, it is possible to prevent the dirty copy paper from being discharged without wasting the memory capacity.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect, a good image quality can be obtained by lowering the compression level as much as possible within a range where the memory capacity is not insufficient. Further, in the second invention, even when the number of documents is an odd number, the back surface of the copy surface of the last page of the document is blank, the next page is copied on the back surface of the first page, and the requested copy is performed. .

In the third invention, when a blank document is set, the reproduction operation of the blank document is stopped, so that the reproduction (copying) of the dirty image is not performed, and the memory is stored in the memory. Useless consumption of is also prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the second invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the third invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of hardware common to each embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a subroutine of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of the subroutine of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the first embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a second embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the third invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Image data reading unit 3 Image data processing unit 4 Memory 13 Automatic document feeder

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) H04N 1/21 H04N 1/21 (72) Inventor Atsushi Takahashi 2970 Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72 ) Inventor Susumu Kurihara 2970, Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Hiroshi Yamaguchi 2970, Ishikawacho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation (72) Inventor Jun Yokobori Ishikawa, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo 2970, Town Konica Corporation F term (reference) 2C061 AP04 AQ06 HK05 HK11 HN15 HV33 2C087 AA09 AC08 BA03 BB10 BC06 BD40 CB02 DA11 2H027 EE08 FA13 FA27 FD08 5C062 AA05 AB02 AB30 AB42 AC04 AC71 AC07 AC09 BC01 CC01 CE01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A function of reading and compressing image data of a document fed by an automatic document feeding means, recording the image data in a memory, and then expanding and outputting the image data recorded in the memory to perform copying. An image data processing apparatus including: a remaining amount detecting unit for detecting a remaining amount of recording capacity of the memory; and a copying condition switching unit for switching a copying condition according to the remaining amount of the memory detected by the remaining amount detecting unit. An image data processing apparatus, comprising: 2. The image data of a document fed by an automatic document feeder is read and recorded in a memory, and then the image data recorded in the memory is output to perform copying. Image data including a mode in which image data of one page of one side of each document is sequentially recorded in a memory, and image data of all the documents are recorded, and then sequentially copied to both sides of a copy sheet one by one in the recorded order. An odd / even discriminating means for discriminating an odd / even number of document pages read each time image data is read; and an image data of a last page of the document in the memory when the last document page number is odd. An image data processing apparatus, comprising: a blank page area assigning unit that assigns a blank blank page area having no image data continuously to a recording area. 3. An image data processing apparatus having a function of reading image data of a document, recording the image data in a memory, and then outputting the image data recorded in the memory to reproduce an image, wherein the document is a blank document. Blank document discriminating means for discriminating whether or not, and when the blank document discriminating means determines that the document is a blank document, a reproducing operation stopping means for stopping the reproducing operation of the blank document. Image data processing device.