JP2004050724A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which eliminates a missing part of an image based on data transferred from an external device and enables the effective use of a printable area of a printer. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus is equipped with a means for inputting the data from from the external device, at least two printer functions for outputting the data from the external device, which are capable of black-and-white or color output, a means for converting the transferred data into bit map data, and a storage means in which the data from the external device or formed data can be stored. In the image forming apparatus, the printer function to receive the output is selected according to the size of an image area on paper, which is based on the data transferred from the external device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a printer function and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, when data described in a page description language is externally printed on such an image forming apparatus, data of a minimum print area in a connected printer group is generated and output, or printing performed by the printer is performed. Output was performed without considering possible areas.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, when the data of the minimum print area is generated and output, or the output is performed without considering the printable area of the printer, depending on the output destination printer, in a printer having a large printable area, the Cannot be used effectively, and an image smaller than the printable area is output, or in a printer having a small printable area, there is a possibility that the image is missing.
[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide an image capable of effectively using data that has been transferred from an external device without missing a picture and using a printable area of a printer. An object of the present invention is to provide a forming apparatus.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a data input means from an external device, and has at least two black-and-white or color output printer functions for outputting data from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: a data input unit; a conversion unit that converts transferred data into bitmap data; and a storage unit that can store data from an external device or formed data. The printer function of the output destination is selected according to the size of the image area of the data transferred from the printer on the paper.
[0006]
Therefore, according to the present invention, in the conversion to the bitmap data, the conversion means for the bitmap data converts the printer connected to the printer according to the size of the image area on the paper of the data transferred from the external device. The data that is selected and transferred from the external device can be used without any image defects, and the printable area of the printer can be effectively used.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0008]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reader unit 1 reads an image of a document and outputs image data corresponding to the original seat image to the printer unit 2 and the image input / output control unit 3. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to image data from the reader unit 1 and the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet. The image input / output control unit 3 is connected to the reader unit 1 and includes a facsimile unit 4, a file unit 5, a computer interface unit 7, a formatter unit 8, an image memory unit 9, a core unit 10, and the like.
[0009]
The facsimile unit 4 decompresses the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the decompressed image data to the core unit 10, and compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 to be compressed. The compressed image data is transmitted via a telephone line. A hard disk 12 is connected to the facsimile unit 4, and can temporarily store the received compressed image data.
[0010]
A magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 is connected to the file unit 5, and the file unit 5 compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 and sends the compressed image data to the magneto-optical disk drive unit 6 together with a keyword for searching the image data. The data is stored in the set magneto-optical disk. The file unit 5 searches compressed image data stored in the magneto-optical disk based on the keyword transferred via the core unit 10, reads out the searched compressed image data, decompresses the decompressed image data, and The data is transferred to the core unit 10.
[0011]
The computer interface unit 7 is an interface between the personal computer or workstation (PC / WS) 11 and the core unit 10. The formatter unit 8 expands code data representing an image transferred from the PC / WS11 into image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2. The hard disk 13 is connected to the formatter unit 8, and transferred from the PC / WS11. It is possible to temporarily store the code data or the image data representing the image that has been output.
[0012]
The image memory unit 9 temporarily stores data transferred from the PC / WSll. Although the core unit 10 will be described later, the core unit 10 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 1, facsimile unit 4, file unit 5, computer interface unit 7, formatter unit 8, and image memory unit 9. It is.
[0013]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2.
[0014]
The document feeding device 101 of the reader unit 1 feeds a document one by one in order from the last page onto the platen glass 102, and after the reading operation of the document is completed, discharges the document on the platen glass 102. When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, and the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started to expose and scan the document. The light reflected from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD) 109 by mirrors 105, 106, 107 and a lens 108. In this manner, the scanned document image is read by the CCD 109, and the image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to predetermined processing and then transferred to the printer unit 2 and the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3. Is done.
[0015]
The laser driver 22l of the printer unit 2 drives the laser light emitting unit 201, and causes the laser light emitting unit 201 to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the reader unit l. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer is attached to a portion of the latent image on the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203. Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, the recording paper is fed from one of the cassettes 204 and 205, is conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and the developer attached to the photosensitive drum 202 is transferred to the recording paper. I do.
[0016]
The recording paper on which the developer is loaded is conveyed to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed on the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207. The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 is discharged by a discharge roller 208, and the sorter 220 stores the discharged recording paper in each pin and sorts the recording paper. The sorter 220 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin when the sorting is not set. If double-sided recording is set, the recording sheet is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the recording paper is guided to the re-feed conveyance path by the flapper 209. When the multiple recording is set, the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path by the flapper 209 so as not to be conveyed to the discharge roller 208. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path is supplied to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the reader unit l.
[0018]
The image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to analog / digital conversion in the A / D / SH unit 110 and is subjected to shading correction. The image data processed by the A / D / SH unit 11 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the image processing unit 11 and to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via the interface unit 113. You.
[0019]
The CPU 114 controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface 113 in accordance with the settings set by the operation unit 115. For example, when a copy mode in which a copy is performed by performing a trimming process using the operation unit 115 is set, the image processing unit 111 performs the trimming process and transfers the image data to the printer unit 2.
[0020]
If the facsimile transmission mode is set in the operation unit 115, the interface 113 transfers image data and a control command corresponding to the set mode to the core unit 110. Such a control program of the CPU 114 is stored in the memory 116, and the CPU 114 performs control while referring to the memory 116. The memory 116 is also used as a work area of the CPU 114.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the core unit 10.
[0022]
The image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and the control command from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the CPU 123. The data processing unit 121 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing. Image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 121 is converted into a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. Accordingly, the data is transferred to the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, and the computer interface unit 7 via the interface 120.
[0023]
The code data representing the image input via the computer interface unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then transferred to the formatter unit 8 to be expanded into image data. Is transferred to the facsimile unit 4 and the printer unit 2. The image data from the facsimile unit 4 is transferred to the data processing unit 121 and then to the printer unit 2, the file unit 5, and the computer interface unit 7.
[0024]
The image data from the file unit 5 is transferred to the data processing unit 121, and then to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, and the computer interface unit 7. The CPU 123 performs such control according to a control program stored in the memory 124 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. The memory 124 is also used as a work area of the CPU 123. In this way, it is possible to perform processing combining functions such as reading of an original image, printing of an image, transmission and reception of an image, storage of an image, input and output of data from a computer, and the like, centering on the core unit 10. .
[0025]
When receiving the code data representing the image transferred from the PC / WSll from the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8 notifies the core unit 10 of the start of the job. Thereafter, after receiving the job start reception from the core unit 10, the formatter unit 8 develops the data into bitmap image data that can be recorded by the printer unit 2, and temporarily stores the image data on the hard disk 13. At this time, output operation setting information such as the paper feed stage, the number of output copies, and single / double-sided printing is also temporarily stored. Thereafter, the image data and the output operation settings are transferred to the printer via the bus, and printing is performed. The printing of a plurality of copies is realized, for example, by outputting three copies of three pages by repeating printing of one to three pages three times.
[0026]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0027]
This is a configuration in which two engines are connected to a controller, and a reader unit l ′ and a printer unit 2 ′ are added to FIG.
[0028]
Images from the facsimile unit 4, the file unit 5, the computer interface unit 7, the formatter unit 8, and the image memory unit 9 are transferred to the printer units 2, 2 'via the core unit 10. At this time, the core unit 10 selects the output destination printer unit 2 or the printer unit 2 '.
[0029]
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the printable area of the printer unit 2 is 5 mm from each corner of the paper and the printable area of the printer unit 2 ′ is 3 mm from each corner of the paper.
[0030]
[Example 1]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the present invention.
[0031]
In the present invention, the formatter unit 8 receives the format data from the computer via the computer interface unit 7 in 6-1. In step 6-2, the data is developed into bitmap image data that can be recorded by the printer unit. If the data received here is one page, the number of copies is one, and the image area of the data in the format is 3 mm from each corner of the paper, the formatter unit 8 sends the data received by 6-3 to the printer unit 2. Determine whether printing is possible.
[0032]
The printable area of the printer unit 2 is 5 mm at the four corners from the paper edge, and the received data is received at the printer unit 2 at 6-7 because the image area is 3 mm at the four corners from the paper edge and the printer unit 2 causes image loss. It is determined whether the data can be printed by the printer unit 2 '. Since the printable area of the printer unit 2 'is 3 mm from the corners of the paper and the received data image area is 3 mm from the corners of the paper, the printer unit 2' is selected as the output destination printer in 6-8. , 6-9, the bitmap image data developed in 6-2 is transferred to the printer unit 2 'via the core unit 10 and output.
[0033]
[Example 2]
In the present invention, the formatter unit 8 receives format data from the computer via the computer interface unit 7 in 6-1. In step 6-2, the data is developed into bitmap image data that can be recorded by the printer unit. If the data received here is one page, the number of copies is one, and the image area of the format data is at the four corners 7 mm from the end of the paper, the formatter unit 8 can print the data received at 6-3 by the printer unit 2. Judge. Since the printable area of the printer unit 2 is 5 mm from the corners of the paper and the received data is the image area is 7 mm from the corners of the paper, the printer unit 2 is selected as the output destination printer in 6-4, In step 6-5, the bitmap image data expanded in step 6-2 is transferred to the printer unit 2 via the core unit 10 and output.
[0034]
[Example 3]
In the present invention, the formatter unit 8 receives format data from the computer via the computer interface unit 7 in 6-1. In step 6-2, the data is developed into bitmap image data that can be recorded by the printer unit. If the data received here is one page, the number of copies is one, and the image area of the format data is 2 mm at the four corners from the end of the paper, the formatter unit 8 can print the data received at 6-3 by the printer unit 2. Judge.
[0035]
The printable area of the printer unit 2 is 5 mm from the corners of the paper, and the received data is received at 6-7 because the image area is 2 mm from the corners of the paper and the printer unit 2 has image loss. It is determined whether the data can be printed by the printer unit 2 '. Since the printable area of the printer section 2 'is 3 mm from each corner of the paper and the received data image area can print 2 mm from each corner of the paper, the printer connected to the output destination printer in step 6-10 is shown in FIG. Select the printer with the largest print area.
[0036]
In this example, since the printable area of the printer unit 2 is 5 mm from each corner of the paper and the printable area of the printer unit 2 ′ is 3 mm from each corner of the paper, the printer unit 2 ′ is selected. At 6-11, the bitmap image data developed at 6-2 is transferred to the printer unit 2 'via the core unit 10 and output.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain the effect that the data transferred from the external device can be effectively used without missing the image and the printable area of the printer can be effectively used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a reader unit and a printer unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a reader unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a core unit of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 reader unit 2 printer unit 3 image input / output control unit 4 facsimile unit 5 file unit 7 computer interface unit 8 formatter unit 9 image memory unit 10 core unit 11 personal computer or workstation

Claims (9)

It has data input means from an external device, has at least two printer functions capable of outputting data from the external device in black and white or color, and has means for inputting data from the external device and data transferred from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: a conversion unit for converting to bitmap data; and a storage unit capable of storing data from an external device or formed data.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the printer function as an output destination is selected according to the size of an image area on paper of data transferred from the external device. It has data input means from an external device, has at least two printer functions capable of outputting data from the external device in black and white or color, and has means for inputting data from the external device and data transferred from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: a conversion unit for converting to bitmap data; and a storage unit capable of storing data from an external device or formed data.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the printer function as an output destination is selected according to the size of an image area on paper of data transferred from the external device. It has a data input means from an external device, has a printer function capable of monochrome or color output having at least two different printable areas for outputting data from the external device, and has a data input means from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for converting transferred data into bitmap data; and storage means capable of storing data from an external device or formed data.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the printer function as an output destination is selected according to the size of an image area on paper of data transferred from the external device. It has a data input means from an external device, has a printer function capable of monochrome or color output having at least two different printable areas for outputting data from the external device, and has a data input means from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for converting transferred data into bitmap data; and storage means capable of storing data from an external device or formed data.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the printer function as an output destination is selected according to the size of an image area on paper of data transferred from the external device. It has a data input means from an external device, has a printer function capable of monochrome or color output having at least two different printable areas for outputting data from the external device, and has a data input means from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for converting transferred data into bitmap data; and storage means capable of storing data from an external device or formed data.
The converting means for converting the transferred data into bitmap data includes at least a printable function of a printer having a large printable area among black and white or color output printer functions having at least two different printable areas. An image forming apparatus having a function of converting data transferred from an external device into bitmap data in an area size. It has a data input means from an external device, has a printer function capable of monochrome or color output having at least two different printable areas for outputting data from the external device, and has a data input means from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for converting transferred data into bitmap data; and storage means capable of storing data from an external device or formed data.
The means for converting the data into bitmap data has a function of converting data transferred from an external device into bitmap data with a size of a printable area larger than the printable area of the connected printer function. An image forming apparatus comprising: It has a data input means from an external device, has a printer function capable of monochrome or color output having at least two different printable areas for outputting data from the external device, and has a data input means from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: means for converting transferred data into bitmap data; and storage means capable of storing data from an external device or formed data.
The means for converting the data into bitmap data has a function of converting bitmap data into data having an area of the same size as the paper size for each paper size regardless of the printable area of the connected printer function. An image forming apparatus comprising: It has data input means from an external device, has at least two printer functions capable of outputting data from the external device in black and white or color, and has means for inputting data from the external device and data transferred from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: a conversion unit for converting to bitmap data; and a storage unit capable of storing data from an external device or formed data.
When the size of the image area on the paper of the data transferred from the external device cannot be printed by the connected printer function, the printer function having the largest printable area among the printer functions is selected. An image forming apparatus comprising: It has data input means from an external device, has at least two printer functions capable of outputting data from the external device in black and white or color, and has means for inputting data from the external device and data transferred from the external device. An image forming apparatus comprising: a conversion unit for converting to bitmap data; and a storage unit capable of storing data from an external device or formed data.
When the size of the image area on the paper of the data transferred from the external device cannot be printed by the connected printer function, the printer function having the largest printable area among the printer functions is selected. An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images