JP2005212120A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image forming apparatus for printing a stamp image while joining with a document image quickly. <P>SOLUTION: A compound unit 1 joins at least input image data with image data and prints out on a sheet by means of a monochrome laser printer (monochrome LP) 11 or a color laser printer (color LP) 12. Original stamp image data undergoes required image processing by means of an ASIC 65 or a CPU 61 to create registration stamp image data which is previously registered in a hard disc drive (HDD) 67. The input image data is joined with the registration stamp image data in the hard disc drive (HDD) 67 and printed out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus that quickly synthesizes and prints a stamp image on a document image.

  Conventionally, an image forming apparatus has been a single apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus, a copying apparatus, and a printer apparatus. However, in recent years, a plurality of functions (applications) such as a facsimile function, a copy function, and a printer function are installed. A compound device has appeared.

  Such a composite apparatus includes a reading unit that reads an image of a document, a facsimile communication unit that performs facsimile communication of a facsimile control signal and image data with a counterpart facsimile machine, and received image data and an image of a document that is read by the reading unit. It has a plurality of resources such as a recording unit that records and outputs on a recording sheet, and an operation unit that performs various operation instruction operations, and functions as one independent device. That is, the composite apparatus is provided with a plurality of types of applications, and is operated as a printer, a copy, a facsimile, and a scanner by switching the applications and operating resources necessary for the applications.

  However, recently, in an advanced information society, it has a network interface, is connected to a communication network together with a personal computer, etc., and can be used in the communication network, so that effective use of resources and high-speed processing of information are achieved. Yes.

  The functions of such a composite device change according to the user, and it is expected that more functions will be supported.

  On the other hand, an image forming apparatus such as a composite apparatus generally has a composite print function for combining and printing stamp images such as pages and dates with images of a read document (see Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, etc.). ).

  This stamp image is generally registered in advance in the hard disk of the image forming apparatus, and is synthesized and output during printing. Conventionally, a technique for managing a stamp image using a floppy disk (registered trademark) has been proposed (see Patent Document 3, Patent Document 4, and the like).

JP 2002-223330 A JP 2001-103271 A JP-A-8-16034 JP-A-8-97992

  However, in the above prior art, there is a need for improvement in order to shorten the processing time of the composite printing process for compositing and printing stamp images.

  That is, in a conventional image forming apparatus, even when managing on a floppy disk or storing on a hard disk, the document is converted into a data format suitable for the print format at the time of printing, Since the image data is combined with the image data, there has been a problem that the printing speed is reduced, and color printing may not be in time for preparation of an image to be printed.

  In addition, since this stamp image is registered based on the hardware specifications (image format) of the printing unit and the capacity of the hard disk, a program unique to the multifunction device is created and registered. There has been a demand for a composite device that can easily perform the above.

  In view of this, the invention described in claim 1 performs various image processing including conversion of resolution of image data when image data is synthesized on at least stamp image data as input image data and recorded on paper by an image forming means. An image processing means for applying to the input image data, and a stamp image data storage means for storing the stamp image data to be combined with the input image data, and the original stamp image data registered in the stamp image data storage means is an image required by the image processing means. Processing is performed to generate registered stamp image data, the registered stamp image data is registered in the stamp image data storage unit, and the registered stamp image data in the stamp image data storage unit is combined with the input image data and recorded and output. The stamp image data can be quickly combined with the image data of the other party An image forming apparatus having good usability is provided by processing the registered stamp image data and registering it in the stamp image data storage means, improving the processing speed when the stamp image is combined with the input image and recorded and output. The purpose is that.

  The invention according to claim 2 determines the type of image processing in the required image processing means based on the image format of the original stamp image data and the image data format at the time of recording output in the image forming means, and the image processing means By applying the image processing of the determined type in step 1, the stamp image data and image data format can be changed, and various stamp image data can be converted into model-specific format data and registered without changing the program. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus with good usability by improving the processing speed when a stamp image is combined with an input image and recorded and output simply and easily.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the type of image processing in the image processing means required based on the image format of the original stamp image data, the image data format at the time of recording output in the image forming means, and the capacity of the stamp image data storage means The image processing means performs image processing of the determined type, so that only the stamp image data and the image data format are changed, and the program of the registration destination stamp image data storage means is changed without changing the program. Converting and registering various stamp image data into model-specific format data in consideration of capacity, improving the processing speed when combining and recording the stamp image with the input image, and using it. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with good characteristics.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, if the image processing means does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the original stamp image data is stored in the stamp image data without performing the necessary image processing. By storing it in the means, the usability of the original stamp image data is improved, the processing speed when combining and recording the stamp image with the input image easily and appropriately is improved, and the image formation with good usability is achieved. The object is to provide a device.

  If the image processing means does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the invention according to claim 5 rejects registration of the original stamp image data in the stamp image data storage means, Various types of stamp image data are converted into data of a format specific to the model and registered without pressing the capacity of the registration destination stamp image data storage means, and the stamp image is easily and appropriately combined with the input image and recorded and output. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus with good usability by improving the processing speed.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, if the image processing means does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the original stamp image data is converted into the necessary image processing according to the selection by the selection means. The stamp image data of the original stamp image data is stored in the stamp image data storage means without applying or the registration of the original stamp image data to the stamp image data storage means is rejected. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be selected for registration in a storage unit and has better usability.

  The image forming apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is an image forming apparatus having an image combining output function for combining at least stamp image data with input image data and recording and outputting it on a sheet by image forming means. Image processing means for performing various image processing including image resolution conversion on image data, and stamp image data storage means for storing the stamp image data to be combined with the input image data, the stamp image data storage means The original stamp image data to be registered is subjected to necessary image processing by the image processing unit to generate registered stamp image data, the registered stamp image data is registered in the stamp image data storage unit, and the stamp image data is registered in the input image data. By synthesizing and recording the registered stamp image data in the image data storage means, It has achieved the objective.

  In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the image forming apparatus is configured to provide the necessary image based on an image format of the original stamp image data and an image data format at the time of recording output by the image forming unit. The type of image processing in the processing unit may be determined, and the image processing unit may perform the determined type of image processing.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 3, the image forming apparatus includes an image format of the original stamp image data, an image data format at the time of recording output by the image forming unit, and a capacity of the stamp image data storage unit. The type of image processing required by the image processing unit may be determined based on the above, and the image processing of the determined type may be performed by the image processing unit.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 4, the image forming apparatus performs the necessary image processing if the image processing unit does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data. Instead, the original stamp image data may be stored in the stamp image data storage means.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 5, if the image processing unit does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the image forming apparatus includes the original stamp image data. Registration to the stamp image data storage means may be rejected.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 6, the image forming apparatus includes a predetermined selection unit, and the image processing unit does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data. According to the selection by the selection means, the original stamp image data is stored in the stamp image data storage means without performing the necessary image processing, or the original stamp image data is stored in the stamp image data storage means. The registration may be rejected.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, at least the stamp image data is combined with the input image data, and various images including the conversion of the resolution of the image data when the image forming means records and outputs it on the paper. Image processing means for performing processing on image data and stamp image data storage means for storing stamp image data to be combined with input image data are provided, and original stamp image data to be registered in the stamp image data storage means is image processing means To generate the registered stamp image data, register the registered stamp image data in the stamp image data storage means, and synthesize the registered stamp image data in the stamp image data storage means with the input image data. The stamp image data can be quickly combined with the image data of the other party. It is possible to process the registered stamp image data of the state and register it in the stamp image data storage means, improve the processing speed when combining the stamp image with the input image and recording and output, and improve the usability Can do.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the second aspect of the invention, the type of image processing in the required image processing means is determined based on the image format of the original stamp image data and the image data format at the time of recording output in the image forming means. Since the image processing means determines and performs the image processing of the determined type, various stamp image data can be converted into a model-specific format without changing the program, only by changing the stamp image data and the image data format. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability by improving the processing speed when the stamp image is combined with the input image and recorded and output easily and easily.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the invention described in claim 3, the necessary image processing means based on the image format of the original stamp image data, the image data format at the time of recording output by the image forming means, and the capacity of the stamp image data storage means Since the image processing type is determined and the image processing unit performs the image processing of the determined type, the registration destination can be changed without changing the program only by changing the stamp image data and the image data format. In consideration of the capacity of the stamp image data storage means, various stamp image data can be converted into model-specific data and registered, and the stamp image can be easily and appropriately combined with the input image and recorded and output. The processing speed can be improved and the usability can be improved.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fourth aspect of the present invention, if the image processing means does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the original stamp image is not performed without performing the necessary image processing. Since the data is stored in the stamp image data storage means, the usability of the original stamp image data can be improved, and the processing speed when combining and recording the stamp image with the input image can be improved. , Can improve usability.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the fifth aspect, if the image processing unit does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the original stamp image data is registered in the stamp image data storage unit. Therefore, it is possible to convert and register various stamp image data into data of a model-specific format without pressing the capacity of the registration destination stamp image data storage means, and input the stamp image easily and appropriately. It is possible to improve the usability by improving the processing speed when the image is synthesized and recorded and output.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the sixth aspect, if the image processing means does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the original stamp image data is selected according to the selection by the selection means. Is stored in the stamp image data storage means without performing the necessary image processing, or the registration of the original stamp image data in the stamp image data storage means is rejected. Registration of data in the stamp image data storage means can be selected, and the usability can be further improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 13 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a composite apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied.

  The composite apparatus 1 includes a software group 2, a composite apparatus activation unit 3, a hardware resource 4, and the like. The hardware resource 4 includes a monochrome laser printer (monochrome LP) 11 and a color laser printer (color) as image forming means. LP) 12 and hardware resources 13 such as a scanner and a facsimile.

  The software group 2 includes an application layer 5 and a platform 6 activated on an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) such as UNIX (registered trademark).

  The application layer 5 includes a program for performing processing specific to each user service related to image formation such as a printer, a copy, a fax, and a scanner, and an application for a printer (hereinafter referred to as an application as necessary). , Simply referred to as “app”), a copy application 22 that is a copy application, a fax application 23 that is a fax application, a scanner application 24 that is a scanner application, a stamp (SP) application 25, and the like. Is included. The stamp application (SP application) 25 is used by the user, such as hardware setting of the composite apparatus 1, memory clearing, hard disk drive (HDD) 67 (see FIG. 2) format, test pattern setting, etc. This is an application for setting the composite apparatus 1 that should not be performed.

  The platform 6 interprets the processing request from the application layer 5 and generates the acquisition request of the hardware resource 4. The control service layer 7 manages one or more hardware resources 4 and acquires from the control service layer 7. A system resource manager (SRM) 39 that arbitrates requests, and a handler layer 8 that manages hardware resources 4 in response to acquisition requests from the system resource manager (SRM) 39 are included.

  The control service layer 7 includes a network control service (NCS) 31, a delivery control service (DCS) 32, an operation panel control service (OCS) 33, a fax control service (FCS) 34, an engine control service (ECS) 35, and a memory control service. It includes one or more service modules such as (MCS) 36, user information control service (UCS) 37, and system control service (SCS) 38.

  The platform 6 has an API (Application Program Interface) 51 that can receive a processing request from the application layer 5 by a predefined function. The OS executes the software of the application layer 5 and the platform 6 in parallel as processes.

  The process of the network control service (NCS) 31 provides a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O, and distributes data received from the network side according to each protocol to each application. , Mediates when sending data from each application to the network side. For example, the network control service (NCS) 31 controls data communication with a network device connected via a network by HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Daemon) by HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol).

  The process of the delivery control service (DCS) 32 controls the distribution of stored documents and the like, and the process of the operation panel control service (OCS) 33 controls the operation panel serving as an information transmission means between the operator and the main body control. I do. Fax control service (FCS) 34 processes fax transmission / reception using PSTN or ISDN network from application layer 5, registration / quotation of various fax data managed in backup memory, fax reading, fax reception printing, etc. Provides an API to do.

  The process of the engine control service (ECS) 35 controls the engine unit such as the monochrome laser printer 11, the color laser printer 12, and the hardware resource 13, and the process of the memory control service (MCS) 36 acquires and releases the memory. Memory control such as use of the hard disk device is performed. A user information control service (UCS) 37 manages user information.

  The process of the system control service (SCS) 38 performs processing such as application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, hardware resource management, interrupt application control, and system resource manager (SRM). The process 39) controls the system and manages the hardware resources 4 together with the system control service (SCS) 38. For example, the process of the system resource manager (SRM) 39 performs execution control in accordance with an acquisition request from an upper layer using the hardware resource 4 such as the monochrome laser printer 11 or the color laser printer 12. Specifically, the process of the system resource manager (SRM) 39 specifically determines whether the requested hardware resource 4 is available (whether it is not used by another acquisition request). If available, the higher layer is notified that the requested hardware resource 4 is available. The process of the system resource manager (SRM) 39 performs scheduling for using the hardware resource 4 in response to an acquisition request from an upper layer, and requests contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, Memory allocation, file generation, etc.) directly.

  The handler layer 8 includes a fax control unit handler (FCUH) 41 that manages a fax control unit (FCU) 80 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, and an image memory that allocates memory for the process and manages the memory allocated to the process. And a handler (IMH) 42. The system resource manager (SRM) 39 and the FCUH 40 make a processing request for the hardware resource 4 by using an engine I / F 52 that can transmit a processing request for the hardware resource 4 by a predefined function.

  The composite apparatus 1 can centrally process processes commonly required by the applications 21 to 25 on the platform 6.

  The composite device activation unit 3 is executed first when the composite device 1 is powered on to activate the application layer 5 and the platform 6. For example, the composite device activation unit 3 reads the programs of the application layer 5 and the platform 6 from a hard disk device or the like corresponding to the external storage unit, transfers the read programs to the memory area, and activates them.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the composite apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the multifunction apparatus 1 includes a controller 60, an operation panel 70, a fax control unit (FCU) 80, a USB device 90, an IEEE 1394 device 100, an engine unit 110, and the like.

  The controller 60 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 61, a system memory (MEM-P) 62, a north bridge (NB) 63, a south bridge (SB) 64, an ASIC 65, a local memory (MEM-C) 66, and a hard disk device (HDD). ) 67 and a network interface PHY 68 and the like.

  The operation panel (selection means) 70 is connected to the ASIC 65 of the controller 60, and the fax control unit (FCU) 80, USB device 90, IEEE 1394 device 100 and engine unit 110 are connected to the ASIC 65 of the controller 60 via the PCI bus 120. Has been.

  In the controller 60, a local memory 66, a hard disk device (HDD) 67, and the like are connected to the ASIC 65, and the CPU 61 and the ASIC 65 are connected via a north bridge (NB) 63 of a CPU chipset. As described above, if the CPU 61 and the ASIC 65 are connected via the north bridge (NB) 63, it is possible to cope with a case where the interface of the CPU 61 is not disclosed.

  The ASIC 65 and the north bridge (NB) 63 are connected not via a PCI bus but via an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 69.

  In this way, in order to control execution of one or more processes forming the application layer 5 and the platform 6 in FIG. 1, the ASIC 65 and the North Bridge (NB) 63 are connected via the AGP 69 instead of the low-speed PCI bus. Prevents performance degradation.

  The CPU 61 performs overall control of the composite apparatus 1, and includes a network control service (NCS) 31, a delivery control service (hereinafter referred to as DCS) 32, an operation panel control service (OCS) 33, and a fax control service (FCS) 34. Engine control service (ECS) 35, memory control service (MCS) 36, user information control service (UCS) 37, system control service (SCS) 38, system resource manager (SRM) 39, FCUH 40, and image memory handler (IMH) 42 is started and executed as a process on the OS, and the printer application 21 and the copy application that form the application layer 5 2, it is executed to start the facsimile application 23, and the scanner application 24.

  The north bridge (NB) 63 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 61, the system memory 62, the south bridge (SB) 64, and the ASIC 65, and the system memory 62 is a memory used as a drawing memory or the like of the composite apparatus 1. The south bridge (SB) 64 is a bridge for connecting the north bridge (NB) 63 to the ROM, PCI bus, and peripheral devices, and the local memory 66 is a memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer.

  The ASIC 65 is an image processing IC having hardware elements for image processing. The hard disk device (HDD) 67 stores image data, document data, programs, font data, and form data. In this embodiment, in particular, stamp image data is stored. Accordingly, the hard disk device (HDD) 67 functions as stamp image data storage means for storing stamp image data. The operation panel 70 includes various operation keys, a display, and the like, receives input operations from the various operation keys by the operator, and displays various information on the display to the operator. The composite apparatus 1 functions as an image processing unit in which the ASIC 65 and the CPU 61 use the work memory to perform various image processing such as rotation processing including the resolution of the original stamp image data.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment is characterized in that it efficiently manages and registers stamp image data.

  First, stamp image data registration processing will be described with reference to FIGS. In the stamp image data registration process, as shown in FIG. 3, the registration screen 200 of the stamp application (SP application) 25 is displayed on the display of the operation panel 70, and the stamp image data is converted into data on the stamp registration screen 200. It is possible to set whether or not to perform registration when the data conversion unit (data conversion function) to be registered is not provided or whether to register without performing data conversion. .

  The operation when the data conversion unit is not included is determined according to the selection setting on the registration screen 200 of the stamp application (SP application) 25.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the execution key is pressed on the stamp registration screen 200 of the stamp application (SP application) 25, the multifunction apparatus 1 sends a registration request from the operation panel 70 to the system control service (SCS). 38 (system resource manager (SRM) 39) is notified to the image memory handler (IMH) 42, and the image memory handler (IMH) 42 registers the stamp image data in the hard disk drive (HDD) 67. When the image memory handler (IMH) 42 completes the registration of the stamp image data in the hard disk device (HDD) 67, the SP application terminates the registration via the system control service (SCS) 38 (system resource manager (SRM) 39). 25.

  Next, stamp registration processing in the image memory handler (IMH) 42 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The stamp image data is stored as data in the program. As shown in FIG. 5, the stamp ID, the resolution, the size X, the size Y, and the data storage address (shown as ADD1 to ADD4 in FIG. 5). And the image data thereof. FIG. 5 shows a case where four stamp image data are stored. The stamp image data are all binary images, and the start address of the image data is notified by a registration request from the system control service (SCS) 38 (system resource manager (SRM) 39).

  When the print data format of the composite apparatus 1 is binary 600 dpi, binary 400 dpi, and binary 300 dpi, the stamp image data to be registered is binary 600 dpi, binary 400 dpi, and binary 300 dpi. The original stamp image data table and the registered stamp image data table are provided as shown in FIG. 6, and the first data in the table is the number of formats and the format thereafter.

  Assuming that 600 dpi stamp image data is to be registered, the stamp image data registration process will be described below.

  FIG. 7 is a data conversion selection table. When the format to be registered is 600 dpi and the original stamp image data is 300 dpi, data conversion is performed from the high-priority 300 dpi original stamp image data, and the hard disk device (HDD). Register to 67.

  Here, the priority order of stamp conversion in the data conversion selection table is set in the following order of priority in order to minimize deterioration of the stamp image data.

a. Same resolution b. What can be converted by multiplying by an integer, and in order of 2 and 4 in order of multiples of 2, c. What can be converted by integer multiple d. What can be converted by a factor of 1/2 times 1/2 times, 1/4 times e. What can be converted in the direction of enlargement 4/3 times, etc. f. Others Next, the composite apparatus 1 copies the stamp image data from the stamp storage area to the work memory managed by the image memory handler (IMH) 42. This copy process is performed by READ / WRITE (read / write) by direct memory access of the CPU 61. The multi-function device 1 performs 300 dpi → 600 dpi conversion based on the data copied to the work memory, and determines whether or not it has an X2 data conversion unit based on the data conversion unit presence / absence table shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, since the X2 data conversion unit is provided, the original stamp image data is converted from 300 dpi to 600 dpi and registered using the data conversion unit. The conversion function used by this data conversion unit is a function in the image memory handler (IMH) 42, and is a function that simply doubles 1 dot to 2 dots.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the composite apparatus 1 rotates the data converted to 600 dpi by 180 degrees, 90 degrees, and 270 degrees, attaches an image ID to each image data, and hard disk apparatus (HDD). 67. The composite apparatus 1 performs rotation conversion of the image data by means of READ / WRITE of the memory by the CPU 61.

  Similarly, when registering 400 dpi stamp image data, the multifunction apparatus 1 does not have a 4/3 times data conversion unit as shown in FIG. 8, so the registration of the stamp application (SP application) 25 is performed. Depending on the selection setting on the screen 200, registration is not performed or registration is performed without conversion.

  In other words, the composite apparatus 1 performs the stamp image data registration process as shown in FIG. First, the multifunction apparatus 1 determines a data conversion unit necessary for registering stamp image data (step S101), and determines whether there is the determined necessary data conversion unit of the data conversion unit illustrated in FIG. It is determined from the presence / absence table (step S102).

  If there is a necessary data conversion unit in step S102, the composite apparatus 1 converts the original stamp image data in the data conversion unit and registers the registered stamp image data converted in the data in the hard disk device (HDD) 67. Then, the process ends (step S103).

  If there is no necessary data conversion unit in step S102, the multifunction apparatus 1 checks whether registration is selected and set without conversion in the selection setting on the registration screen 200 of the stamp application (SP application) 25 (step S102). If registration is selected and set without conversion, the original data is registered in the hard disk device (HDD) 67 without being converted, and the process is terminated (step S105).

  If not registered is selected and set in step S104, the multifunction apparatus 1 ends the process without registering the stamp image data in the hard disk device (HDD) 67 (step S106).

  Then, when registering 300 dpi stamp image data, the composite apparatus 1 does not perform data conversion, but performs only rotation conversion and registers it in the hard disk device (HDD) 67.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the composite apparatus 1 attaches a 32-bit unique image ID to the stamp image data according to the stamp ID, the resolution, and the rotation angle.

  Further, in order to manage the size of the stamp image data in the image memory handler (IMH) 42, the composite apparatus 1 stores a table of stamp ID, resolution, size X, and size Y as shown in FIG. The area and the hard disk drive (HDD) 67 have a stamp to be combined at the time of printing, transferred from the hard disk drive (HDD) 67 to the work memory based on the designated stamp ID, format, stamp rotation angle, and data size. It can be used when compositing with images.

  Note that the capacity of the hard disk device (HDD) 67 included in the composite apparatus 1 is small, and there is a restriction on the capacity of the hard disk device (HDD) 67 when registering stamp image data. When all the stamp image data cannot be registered, as shown in FIG. 13, by setting a registration data format table, only 300 dpi stamp image data is registered. In the case of the registered data format table of FIG. 13, the original stamp image data has 300 dpi and 400 dpi.

  As described above, the composite apparatus 1 of the present embodiment combines at least the stamp image data with the input image data, and records and outputs the resultant image on the paper by the monochrome laser printer (monochrome LP) 11 or the color laser printer (color LP) 12. In this case, an ASIC 65 and a CPU 61 for performing various image processing including conversion of image data resolution on the image data, and a hard disk device (HDD) 67 for storing stamp image data to be combined with the input image data are provided. The original stamp image data to be registered in the HDD 67 is subjected to necessary image processing by the ASIC 65 or the CPU 61 to generate the registered stamp image data, and the registered stamp image data is registered in the hard disk device (HDD) 67 to be input image data. The registration star of the hard disk device (HDD) 67 Are recorded outputs flop image data synthesized by.

  Therefore, the stamp image data can be registered into the hard disk device (HDD) 67 after being processed into registered stamp image data ready to be combined with the image data of the other party of the combination, and the stamp image is combined with the input image and recorded. The processing speed at the time of outputting can be improved and the usability can be improved.

  Further, the composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment is necessary based on the image format of the original stamp image data and the image data format at the time of recording output by the monochrome laser printer (monochrome LP) 11 or color laser printer (color LP) 12. The type of image processing performed by the ASIC 65 or CPU 61 is determined, and the determined type of image processing is performed by the ASIC 65 or CPU 61.

  Therefore, by simply changing the stamp image data and image data format, it is possible to convert various stamp image data into model-specific data and register it without changing the program. It is possible to improve the usability by improving the processing speed when the image is combined with the input image and recorded and output.

  Further, the composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment includes an image format of the original stamp image data, an image data format at the time of recording output by the monochrome laser printer (monochrome LP) 11 or the color laser printer (color LP) 12, and a hard disk device (HDD). ) The type of image processing required by the ASIC 65 and CPU 61 is determined based on the capacity of 67, and the determined type of image processing is performed by the ASIC 65 and CPU 61.

  Therefore, only by changing the stamp image data and the image data format, and without changing the program, the various types of stamp image data are converted into model-specific data in consideration of the capacity of the registration-destination hard disk device (HDD) 67. Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability by improving the processing speed when the stamp image is combined with the input image and recorded and output easily and appropriately.

  Further, if the ASIC 65 or the CPU 61 does not have an image processing function necessary for converting the original stamp image data, the composite apparatus 1 of the present embodiment stores the original stamp image data on the hard disk without performing the necessary image processing. It is stored in a device (HDD) 67.

  Therefore, it is possible to improve the usability of the original stamp image data, and it is possible to improve the usability by improving the processing speed when combining and recording the stamp image with the input image easily and appropriately.

  Furthermore, if the ASIC 65 or the CPU 61 does not have an image processing function necessary for converting the original stamp image data, the composite apparatus 1 of the present embodiment rejects registration of the original stamp image data to the hard disk device (HDD) 67. doing.

  Therefore, various types of stamp image data can be converted into data of a model-specific format and registered without squeezing the capacity of the registration-destination hard disk device (HDD) 67, and the stamp image can be easily and appropriately converted into an input image. The processing speed at the time of combining and recording and outputting can be improved, and usability can be improved.

  Further, if the ASIC 65 or the CPU 61 does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the composite apparatus 1 of this embodiment converts the original stamp image data into the corresponding one according to the selection on the operation panel 70. It is stored in the hard disk drive (HDD) 67 without performing necessary image processing, or registration of the original stamp image data in the hard disk drive (HDD) 67 is rejected.

  Therefore, registration of the original stamp image data to the hard disk device (HDD) 67 can be selected according to the user's usage form, and the usability can be further improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  When combining a stamp image with a document image, the stamp image data is preliminarily developed and stored as image data of various resolutions, and can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a composite apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, or a printer that performs high-speed printing processing. it can.

1 is a block diagram of a composite apparatus to which an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The block diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the compound apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a stamp image data registration screen displayed on the operation panel of the composite apparatus in FIG. 2. The figure which shows the flow of the stamp registration process by the composite apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of stamp image data registered in the composite apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an original stamp image data table and a registered stamp image data table used in stamp registration processing by the composite apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a data conversion selection table indicating priority order from which original stamp image data is converted and registered in stamp registration processing by the composite apparatus of FIG. 1. The figure which shows an example of the presence or absence table of the data conversion part used by the stamp registration process by the composite apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of original stamp image data in stamp registration processing by the composite apparatus in FIG. 1 and registered stamp image data that has been rotated after conversion. 3 is a flowchart showing stamp registration processing by the composite apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an image ID to be added to registered stamp image data in stamp registration processing by the composite apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of stamp management data in an image memory handler (IMH) of the composite apparatus in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration data format table when the capacity of a hard disk device (HDD) that is a stamp registration memory included in the composite device of FIG. 1 is small.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compound apparatus 2 Software group 3 Compound apparatus starting part 4 Hardware resource 5 Application layer 6 Platform 7 Control service layer 8 Handler layer 11 Monochrome laser printer (monochrome LP)
12 Color laser printer (Color LP)
13 Hardware resources 21 Printer application 22 Copy application 23 Fax application 24 Scanner application 25 Stamp application (SP application)
31 Network Control Service (NCS)
32 Delivery Control Service (DCS)
33 Operation Panel Control Service (OCS)
34 Fax Control Service (FCS)
35 Engine Control Service (ECS)
36 Memory Control Service (MCS)
37 User Information Control Service (UCS)
38 System Control Service (SCS)
39 System Resource Manager (SRM)
41 Fax control unit handler (FCUH)
42 Image memory handler (IMH)
51 API
52 Engine I / F
60 controller 61 CPU
62 System memory (MEM-P)
63 North Bridge (NB)
64 South Bridge (SB)
65 ASIC
66 Local memory (MEM-C)
67 Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
68 PHY
69 AGP
70 Operation Panel 80 Fax Control Unit (FCU)
90 USB device 100 IEEE 1394 device 110 Engine unit 200 Stamp registration screen

Claims (6)

  In an image forming apparatus having an image composition output function of combining at least stamp image data with input image data and recording and outputting the image on paper with image forming means, various image processing including conversion of image data resolution is performed on the image data. Image processing means for applying to the input image data, and stamp image data storage means for storing the stamp image data to be combined with the input image data. The image processing means stores original stamp image data to be registered in the stamp image data storage means. Perform necessary image processing to generate registered stamp image data, register the registered stamp image data in the stamp image data storage unit, and synthesize the registered stamp image data in the stamp image data storage unit with the input image data An image forming apparatus that records and outputs the image.   The image forming apparatus determines a type of image processing in the image processing unit required based on an image format of the original stamp image data and an image data format at the time of recording output in the image forming unit, and the image 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit performs the determined type of image processing.   The image forming apparatus performs image processing in the image processing unit necessary based on an image format of the original stamp image data, an image data format at the time of recording output in the image forming unit, and a capacity of the stamp image data storage unit The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the type of image is determined, and the image processing unit performs image processing of the determined type.   If the image processing unit does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the image forming apparatus converts the original stamp image data into the stamp image data without performing the necessary image processing. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is stored in a storage unit.   The image forming apparatus rejects registration of the original stamp image data in the stamp image data storage means if the image processing means does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a predetermined selection unit, and if the image processing unit does not have an image processing function necessary for conversion of the original stamp image data, the original stamp is selected according to the selection by the selection unit. 3. The image data is stored in the stamp image data storage means without performing the necessary image processing, or registration of the original stamp image data in the stamp image data storage means is rejected. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

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