JP2005277894A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus capable of extending use life of an electromagnetic clutch of an original transportation system at an original reading part and the light source of an optical reading system. <P>SOLUTION: The image of an original is read by a reading part 19, and the data which has been read is stored in an image memory 20 and then compressed and encoded by a codec21. After that, the image data which has been compressed and encoded is transferred to an option board 13 for storing in an image memory 32. The time required for transferring the image data is measured. If the transfer is not completed when the measured time reaches a prescribed time, energization to the electromagnetic clutch of the original transportation system of the reading part 19 is stopped, and it is resumed when the transfer is completed. The energization and interruption of the light source of the optical reading system of the reading part 19 are controlled at the same timing with the electromagnetic clutch. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a facsimile apparatus.

  Generally, in this type of image processing apparatus, image data read from a document is taken in as image data, and the image data is compressed and encoded and then transferred to a required location.

  However, in such a data processing operation, if the amount of image data read from the document is large or if the image on the document is in a special expression format, it takes a long time to compress and encode the image data. During this time, the image memory is occupied, and reading of the next document cannot be started until the compression encoding and transfer of the image data is completed.

  In this case, the electromagnetic clutch provided between the feeding roller and the driving motor of the document conveying system is energized for a long time in the document reading unit even though the document is not read. Therefore, the service life of the electromagnetic clutch is shortened. Similarly, the light source provided in the optical reading system of the document reading unit is also maintained in the energized state, and there is a problem that the service life of the light source is shortened.

Further, as an image forming apparatus that stops energization of an electromagnetic clutch of a document conveying system under a specific condition and extends the service life of the electromagnetic clutch, for example, a configuration as disclosed in Patent Document 1 It has been known. That is, in this conventional apparatus, energization of the electromagnetic clutch and the drive motor is stopped for a certain period of time when each document is conveyed for a predetermined distance or for a predetermined time or while the protocol is exchanged at the time of image data transmission. I have to.
JP 2003-63676 A

  However, in this conventional apparatus, the energization is stopped for each original document for a certain period of time, so that the number of times the electromagnetic clutch is turned on and off is extremely increased, which adversely affects its life. In addition, since the electromagnetic clutch is kept energized during the processing of the image data read from the document, it takes time to process the image data, such as when the amount of image data is large. In the case where the electromagnetic clutch is required, the electromagnetic clutch is also maintained in an on state, which adversely affects its life.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems existing in the prior art. The object is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of effectively extending the service life of the electromagnetic clutch.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of effectively extending the service life of a light source of a document reading unit.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 stores a reading unit for reading an image of a document, a storage unit for storing image data read by the reading unit, and a storage unit. In the image processing apparatus comprising a transfer means for transferring image data, a measuring means for monitoring the status of the image data stored in the storage means and measuring the time in which the image data cannot be stored in the storage means And a control means for stopping energization of the electromagnetic clutch of the paper transport system and resuming energization upon release of the memory impossibility state when a predetermined time or more has elapsed in the time measurement. To do.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided reading means for reading an image of a document, storage means for storing image data read by the reading means, and transfer means for transferring the stored image data. In the image processing apparatus comprising: a measuring means for measuring the time required to transfer the image data, and when a predetermined time or more has elapsed in the time measurement, the energization to the electromagnetic clutch of the paper transport system is stopped, And a control means for resuming energization upon completion of transfer.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided reading means for reading an image of a document, storage means for storing image data, and data conversion means for compressing and encoding image data read by the reading means. In the image processing apparatus comprising a transfer means for transferring the compression-encoded image data to the outside, a measuring means for measuring the time required for compression encoding in the data conversion means, and in the time measurement And a control means for stopping energization of the electromagnetic clutch of the paper conveying system when the predetermined time or more has elapsed and resuming energization upon completion of compression encoding.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the electromagnetic clutch of the sheet conveying system is an electromagnetic clutch of the original conveying system in the reading unit. And

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a main board and an option board, wherein the storage means is mounted on the main board, and an option is provided. Another storage means is mounted on the board, and image data stored in the storage means of the main board is transferred to the option board and stored in the storage means of the option board.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the storage unit on the main board includes a first storage unit that binarizes and stores the read image data, and an encoding unit. And a second storage unit for storing the compression-encoded image data.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the control means performs energization and deactivation of the light source of the optical reading system of the reading means with respect to the electromagnetic clutch. It is characterized by controlling at the same timing.

  According to the present invention, when it takes time to process the read image data, the energization to the electromagnetic clutch of the original conveying system in the original reading unit is stopped, so that the service life of the electromagnetic clutch can be effectively extended. . Further, according to the present invention, since the energization is stopped at the same timing for the light source of the optical reading system, the service life can be effectively extended.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is embodied in an image processing system including an image processing apparatus having a facsimile function (hereinafter referred to as a multi-function machine).

  As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the image processing system 11 includes a multifunction machine 12, an option board 13 connected to the multifunction machine 12, and a personal computer 14 connected to the multifunction machine 12. .

  The multifunction machine 12 includes a control unit 15 having an MPU 16 and a ROM 17, a storage unit 18, a reading unit 19, an image memory 20, a codec 21, a recording unit 22, a display unit 23, an operation unit 24, a modem 25, an NCU (network control). Circuit) 26 and a power supply circuit 27. Each unit 15 to 26 is connected to the main board 12 a of the multifunction machine 12 via the bus 28.

  The MPU 16 of the control unit 15 constituting the control unit controls each component of the multifunction machine 12. The ROM 17 of the control unit 15 stores a program for controlling the multifunction machine 12. The storage unit 18 includes a RAM, and temporarily stores various types of information related to the multifunction machine 12.

  The reading unit 19 constituting the reading unit is composed of a scanner, an automatic document feeder, and the like as will be described later, and reads an image on the document and outputs a signal corresponding to the image data. An image memory 20 serving as a storage unit temporarily stores image data of a document read by the reading unit 19. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the image memory 20 stores the first storage unit 20a for binarizing and storing the read image data, and the image data compressed and encoded by the codec 21 described later. And a second storage unit 20b.

The codec 21 constituting the encoding unit and the conversion unit performs compression encoding and decoding of image data for image processing transmission / reception and the like.
The recording unit 22 includes an electrophotographic printer, and records the image read by the reading unit 19 and the received image data on a recording sheet.

  The display unit 23 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and displays various types of information indicating the operation state of the multifunction machine 12. The operation unit 24 includes a numeric keypad (including * and # keys) for inputting a telephone number, abbreviated number registration, an abbreviated key for calling from the abbreviated number, a start key for starting a document reading operation, Various operation keys such as a communication / copy key for setting a “communication (FAX)” operation or a “copy” operation are provided.

  The modem 25 modulates transmission data and demodulates reception data based on an image processing transmission control procedure. The NCU 26 controls the connection with the telephone line L, and has a function of sending a dial signal corresponding to the telephone number of the other party and a function of detecting an incoming call.

The power supply circuit 27 supplies power to the units 15 to 26 constituting the multifunction machine 12 based on a command signal from the control unit 15.
The option board 13 is equipped to connect the multifunction machine 12 to a network such as a LAN, and includes a control unit 29 having an MPU 30 and a ROM 31, an image memory 32 as a storage means, and the like. The units 29 to 32 are communicably connected to the units of the multifunction machine 12 via the bus 33.

  The MPU 30 of the control unit 29 of the option board 13 controls each component of the option board 13 and performs communication processing between the multifunction machine 12 and the personal computer 14. The ROM 31 of the control unit 29 stores a program for controlling the option board 13. The image memory 32 stores image data that has been compression-encoded by the codec 21 on the main board 12a of the multifunction machine 12 and transferred to the option board 13 as will be described later.

Next, the mechanical configuration of the reading unit 19 of the multifunction machine 12 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, a document feeding unit 41, a stationary document placing unit 42, and a document reading mechanism unit 43 are installed on the upper part of the multifunction machine 12. The document feeding unit 41 constitutes a transport path T for transporting a plurality of documents continuously when the images on both the front and back sides are read. The stationary document placing unit 42 places and supports the document when reading a still image from the document. Although not shown in FIG. 2, a well-known recording paper supply unit, the recording unit 22, and a recording paper discharge unit are installed below the multifunction machine 12.

  The document feeding unit 41 is equipped with a document table 44 for placing a plurality of documents before reading in a stacked state, and a document discharge table 45 for mounting documents after reading in a stacked state. ing. The conveyance path T extends from the document feed port of the document table 44 to the document discharge port of the document discharge table 45.

  A shutter 46 that can be opened and closed is disposed in the vicinity of the document feed port of the document table 44 so as to abut the front ends of a plurality of documents placed on the document table 44. A pickup roller 47 is disposed on the upstream side of the shutter 46 to abut against the uppermost document among a plurality of documents on the document table 44 and send the document to the transport path T side. . On the downstream side of the shutter 46, a separation roller 48 and a separation pad 48a for separating the originals sent through the shutter 46 by the pickup roller 47 one by one and feeding them into the conveyance path T are disposed. Yes.

  On the downstream side of the separation roller 48 of the document feeding section 41, a registration roller 49, a first feeding roller 50, a second feeding roller 51, a front surface reading roller 52, a third feeding roller 53, and a rear surface reading roller. A roller 54 and a fourth feeding roller 55 are arranged along the transport path T in the order of transport of the original. Among these rollers 49 to 55, the registration rollers 49, the first feeding roller 50, the second feeding roller 51, the third feeding roller 53, and the fourth feeding roller 55 include idle rollers 49a, 50a, 51a, 53a, and 55a are arranged in contact with each other.

  The rollers 47 to 55 from the pickup roller 47 to the fourth feed roller 55 are operatively connected to a step motor 56 as one drive motor shown in FIG. Further, between the pickup roller 47 and the separation roller 48 and the step motor 56, between the registration roller 49 and the step motor 56, and between each of the other rollers 50 to 55 and the step motor 56, the electromagnetic shown in FIG. Clutches 57A, 57B, and 57C are interposed, respectively, so that the operation connection between each of the rollers 47 to 55 and the step motor 56 is cut off as necessary. Further, a contact image sensor 59 having a light source 59a and an image sensor (CCD) 59b is disposed at a position corresponding to the back surface reading roller 54. FIG. 3 shows the electrical configuration related to the reading unit 19 of the multifunction machine 12 with the control unit 15 at the center.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the stationary document placement section 42 is provided with a transparent document placement plate 60 for placing a document on the upper surface, and on the document placement plate 60 so as to be openable and closable. The presser lid 61 is provided. The document table 44 and the document discharge table 45 of the document feeding unit 41 are disposed on the presser lid 61 of the stationary document loading unit 42.

  The document reading mechanism 43 is equipped with a translucent plate 62, a light source 63, a first mirror 64, a second mirror 65, a third mirror 66, a condensing lens 67, and an image sensor 68. The translucent plate 62 is disposed opposite to the surface reading roller 52 of the document feeding unit 41. The light source 63 irradiates the original passing through the translucent plate 62 or the original placed on the original placing plate 60 with light. The first to third mirrors 64 to 66 change the optical path of the reflected light from the document. The condensing lens 67 converges the light from the third mirror 66 on the image sensor 68. The image sensor 68 reads an image of a document based on light incident through the condenser lens 67 and outputs an image signal of the read document.

  The light source 63 and the first mirror 64 are supported on a first carriage 69 that is movable in the sub-scanning direction. Further, the second and third mirrors 65 and 66 are supported on a second carriage 70 that is also movable in the sub-scanning direction. The first carriage 69 is moved at twice the moving speed of the second carriage 70 by a known moving mechanism (not shown).

  As a result, during continuous conveyance of a plurality of documents by the document feeder 41, the first and second carriages 69 and 70 are located directly below the translucent plate 62 from the standby position P1 set almost at the center of the movement range. Is moved and arranged at a reading position P2 opposite to the position. When reading a still image on a document placed on the stationary document placement unit 42, both carriages 69 and 70 are positioned directly below the end on the document feeding unit 41 side of the document placement plate 60. The position P3 is moved between the position P3 and a position P4 that is oppositely positioned directly below the opposite end of the document placing plate 60.

  The document feeder 41 and the document reading mechanism 43 configured as described above constitute an automatic document reader (ADF), and the first and second carriages 69 and 70 are arranged at the reading position P2. Then, the image on the original passing through the translucent plate 62 is read. Further, the stationary document placing portion 42 and the document reading mechanism portion 43 constitute a flat bed scanner (FBS), and both the carriages 69 and 70 are moved from the position P3 to the position P4 on the document placing plate 60. The image on the placed document is read.

Next, an electrical configuration related to the reading unit 19 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the image data read by the reading unit 19 is transferred to the outside via the personal computer 14, the control unit 15 transfers the image data from the image sensors 59b and 68 of the reading unit 19 to the first memory of the image memory 20 of the main board 12a. 1 storage unit 20a. After that, the control unit 15 converts the image data stored in the first storage unit 20a by data conversion in the codec 21 and performs compression encoding, and stores the compression-encoded image data in the second storage unit 20b. Then, the control unit 15 transfers the compression-encoded image data to the image memory 32 of the option board 13 in units of pages and stores it in the image memory 32. Then, the control unit 15 transfers the image data in the image memory 32 from the personal computer 14 to the outside.

  Further, the control unit 15 uses the automatic document reading apparatus including the document feeding unit 41 and the document reading mechanism unit 43 to read the plurality of documents, and to the image memory 32 of the option board 13. The time from the start to the end of image data is measured. When the transfer does not end even after the measurement time has elapsed for a predetermined time or more, the energization from the power supply circuit 27 to the electromagnetic clutches 57A, 57B, 57C of the document feeding unit 41 is stopped, and the energization is performed when the transfer ends. Let it resume. Furthermore, the control unit 15 also controls energization and deactivation of the light sources 59a and 63 of the document reading mechanism unit 43 at the same timing as the electromagnetic clutches 57A to 57C. Therefore, the control unit 15 constitutes a measuring unit.

  Next, in the multifunction machine 12 configured as described above, image data read by the automatic document reading device of the reading unit 19 is transferred to the outside via the personal computer 14 by using the multifunction machine 12 as a network scanner. The operation in this case will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is executed by the control of the MPU 16 based on a program stored in the ROM 17 of the control unit 15.

  First, in step S1, the document feeding unit 41 and the document reading mechanism unit 43 of the reading unit 19 are operated, and the document placed on the document table 44 is sent to the transport path T, and the image on the document is recorded. Starts reading. In step S2, the image data read from the document and generated from the image sensors 59b and 68 are binarized and stored in the first storage unit 20a of the image memory 20 on the main board, and the first data is also stored. The image data in the storage unit 20 a is compressed and encoded by the codec 21 and stored in the second storage unit 20 b of the image memory 20.

  In the next step S <b> 3, energization states (presence / absence of energization) of the electromagnetic clutches 57 </ b> A, 57 </ b> B, 57 </ b> C of the document feeding unit 41 are temporarily stored in the storage unit 18. In step S 4, the compression-encoded image data is transferred to the option board 13 in units of pages and stored in the image memory 32.

  In step S5, the operation status of the codec 21 is confirmed by the MPU 16, and it is determined whether or not the transfer of the image data to the option board 13 is completed. If the transfer has not ended, the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S6, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the transfer of the image data stored in the second storage unit 20b of the image memory 20 has started. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S6, and the image data transfer is continued. On the other hand, for example, because the amount of image data is large, if the transfer does not end even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of image data transfer, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, energization from the power supply circuit 27 to the electromagnetic clutches 57A to 57C is stopped, and at the same time, energization from the power supply circuit 27 to the light sources 59a and 63 of the document reading mechanism 43 is stopped. Thereafter, the process returns to step S6, and the transfer of the image data is continued.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S5 that image data has been transferred, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the electromagnetic clutches 57A to 57C are set to the original energized state stored in the storage unit 18, and energization to the light sources 59a and 63 is resumed. In step S9, it is determined whether or not there is a next document on the document table 44. If there is a document, the process returns to step S1, and the image reading operation for the next document is started. On the other hand, when there is no next original, the original reading and transferring operation ends.

  As described above, in the multifunction machine 12, when image data read by the automatic document reader of the reading unit 19 is transferred to the outside, the time required for the transfer is measured. If the transfer does not end even when the measurement time exceeds a predetermined time, the energization of the electromagnetic clutches 57A to 57C of the document feeding unit 41 and the light sources 59a and 63 of the document reading mechanism unit 43 is stopped, and the transfer ends. Sometimes power to them is resumed. For this reason, for example, when the amount of data in the image data read from the document is large as described above and the processing takes a long time, the electromagnetic clutches 57A to 57C and the light source 59a are used over the long time. 63 are not maintained in the energized state. Therefore, the service life of the electromagnetic clutches 57A to 57C and the light sources 59a and 63 can be effectively extended.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is embodied in the energization control for the electromagnetic clutches 57A to 57C of the document feeding unit 41 and the light sources 59a and 63 of the document reading mechanism unit 43. The present invention may be embodied in the control of an electromagnetic clutch. In such a configuration, when an image of a document is read and recorded as it is, the energization control as in the above-described embodiment is performed on the electromagnetic clutch of the recording paper conveyance system of the recording unit 22, and the electromagnetic The life of the clutch can be extended.

  In the embodiment, the control unit 15 is configured to control the electromagnetic clutch and the like by measuring the time required to transfer the image data. Instead, the control unit 15 performs, for example, the first storage. The remaining capacity of the unit 20a or the second storage unit 20b is monitored, the time during which the image data read from the original cannot be stored is measured, or the codec 21 constituting the data conversion unit is compressed. The time required for encoding may be measured, or the electromagnetic clutch or the like may be configured to perform the same control as in the above embodiment.

1 is a block diagram of an image processing system including a multifunction machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating a configuration of a document reading unit of the multifunction peripheral. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration related to a document reading unit. 6 is a flowchart illustrating document reading and image data processing operations.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Image processing system, 12 ... Multi-function machine as image processing apparatus, 12a ... Main board, 13 ... Option board, 14 ... Personal computer as transfer means, 15 ... Control part which comprises measurement means and control means, 16 ... MPU , 17... ROM, 18... Storage section, 19... Reading section as reading means, 20... Image memory constituting the storage means, 20 a... First storage section, 20 b. And codec constituting the encoding means, 32... Image memory constituting the storage means, 41... Document feeding section, 43... Document reading mechanism section, 56... Step motor, 57 A, 57 B, 57 C. Sensor, 59a ... light source, 63 ... light source.

Claims (7)

In an image processing apparatus comprising a reading unit for reading an image of a document, a storage unit for storing image data read by the reading unit, and a transfer unit for transferring stored image data. The status of the image data stored in the storage means is monitored, and the measuring means for measuring the time during which the image data cannot be stored in the storage means, and when a predetermined time or more has elapsed in the time measurement, An image processing apparatus comprising: control means for stopping energization of the electromagnetic clutch and resuming energization upon release of the memory impossibility state. In an image processing apparatus comprising a reading unit for reading an image of a document, a storage unit for storing image data read by the reading unit, and a transfer unit for transferring stored image data. Measuring means for measuring the time required for transferring the image data, and for stopping the energization of the electromagnetic clutch of the paper transport system when the predetermined time or more has elapsed in the time measurement, and resuming energization upon completion of the transfer And an image processing apparatus. Reading means for reading an image of a document, storage means for storing image data, data conversion means for compression-encoding image data read by the reading means, and compression-encoded image data In an image processing apparatus comprising a transfer means for transferring to the outside, a paper for measuring a time required for compression encoding in the data conversion means, and when a predetermined time or more has elapsed in the time measurement An image processing apparatus comprising: control means for stopping energization of the electromagnetic clutch of the transport system and resuming energization upon completion of compression encoding. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet conveyance system electromagnetic clutch is a document conveyance system electromagnetic clutch in a reading unit. It has a main board and an option board, and the storage means is mounted on the main board, and another storage means is mounted on the option board, and the image data stored in the storage means of the main board is transferred to the option board The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is stored in the storage unit of the option board. The storage unit on the main board includes a first storage unit that binarizes and stores the read image data, and a second storage unit that stores the image data compressed and encoded by the encoding unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls energization and deenergization of the light source of the optical reading system of the reading unit at the same timing as the electromagnetic clutch.

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