JP2006086635A - Copy system, and printer and scanner used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To output a copy with image quality set by a user, and to increase copying speed. <P>SOLUTION: A universal interface 5 for making connection to a printer 4 and a universal interface 6 for making connection to a controller unit 3 are provided in a scanner unit 2, and two universal interfaces 5, 6 are used according to a copy mode set by a user. In the case of a standard image quality mode, image data used by the universal interface 5 are outputted to the printer 4 directly. In the case of a high image quality mode, image data are sent to the controller unit 3 by using the universal interface 6 for performing processing for improving image quality before the image data are transmitted to the printer 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a copy system for copying a document by transmitting image data of a document read by a scanner to a printer and printing, and a printer and a scanner used in the system.

Conventionally, a system has been developed in which a scanner and a printer are connected to perform a copying operation easily. In such a system, the scanner and the printer are connected by a single general purpose or dedicated interface. In the multi-function system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-282642, two interfaces are connected. In this system, the IEEE 1394 bus provided between the scanner and the printer establishes a connection with a personal computer. It is used only to transmit the image data, and is not used to transmit image data read between the scanner and the printer.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-282464

  However, in the above-described copying system composed of a scanner and a printer, since the scanner has only one interface for connecting to the printer, when the scanner is directly connected to the printer via the interface, There was a problem that the image quality of the copy could not be improved and output. It is possible to improve the copy image quality and output the image data from the scanner with the controller unit, and output the image processed image data to the printer. When image data is output to a printer, image data that does not need to improve image quality is also sent to the printer via the controller unit, so that the copy speed of image data that does not need to improve image quality is delayed. There's a problem.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a copy system for copying image data by transmitting image data of a document read by a scanner to a printer and printing the image data. A first interface; and a second interface for outputting image data from the scanner to the control device and from the control device to the printer, and selects either the first interface or the second interface. The image data is transmitted to the printer.

  In addition to the above configuration, the image processing apparatus includes setting means for setting a processing method for image data in the printer, and selects either the first interface or the second interface according to the processing method set by the setting means. Should be sent to the printer.

  In addition, the control device is provided with a function for performing image processing on the image data, and the setting unit is set as an operator panel to set the copy mode. Further, the processing method of the image data set by the setting means may be set individually for a plurality of documents and stored in the control device.

  As yet another invention, the first interface or the second interface is selected according to the status of the printer, and the status of the printer is set as to whether or not image data can be received. Select the interface to send the image data directly from the scanner to the printer. If not, select the second interface to send the image data from the scanner to the control device, and then send from the control device to the printer. To.

  According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, the first interface or the second interface is selected in accordance with the image data processing method in the printer, and the image data is transmitted to the printer. When the interface is selected, the processing speed is increased.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a copy system according to a first embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 1, the copy system 1 according to the first embodiment mainly includes a scanner unit 2, a controller unit 3, and a printer 4. The scanner unit 2 is mounted with a general-purpose interface 5 (first interface) and a general-purpose interface 6 (second interface) for outputting image data. The scanner unit 2 is capable of continuously reading a plurality of documents in page units.

  An IEEE 1394 interface is used as the general-purpose interface 5 and is connected to the printer 4 by an IEEE 1394 cable 7. A USB 2.0 interface is used as the general-purpose interface 6 and is connected to the controller unit 3 by a USB 2.0 cable 8.

  The controller unit 3 includes a CPU 9 that controls the entire apparatus, an image processing unit 10 that performs various image processing on the image data acquired from the scanner unit 2, and a storage unit that stores the image data and stores various setting items. 11. A scanner management unit 12 that monitors a reading request to the scanner unit 2 and obtains image data and monitors the state of the scanner unit 2, and a printer management unit 13 that transfers print data to the printer 4 and monitors the state of the printer 4. It is equipped.

  An operation panel 14 is connected to the controller unit 3. The operation panel 14 is used by the user to input the start of copying, set the image quality at the time of copying, and the like.

  Furthermore, the controller unit 3 is provided with general-purpose interfaces 15 and 16, and the USB 2.0 interface is used as the general-purpose interfaces 15 and 16. The general-purpose interface 15 is connected to the scanner unit 2 via a USB 2.0 cable 8, and the general-purpose interface 16 is connected to the printer 4 via a USB 2.0 cable 17.

  The printer 4 has a function of printing image data, and is provided with general-purpose interfaces 18 and 19. As the general-purpose interface 18, an IEEE 1394 interface is used, and is connected to the scanner unit 2 by an IEEE 1394 cable 7. A USB 2.0 interface is used as the general-purpose interface 19 and is connected to the controller unit 3 by a USB 2.0 cable 17.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation panel. 2, the operation panel 14 includes a display unit 31 for displaying various setting items, apparatus states, and execution results, a numeric keypad 32 for inputting numerical values, a cancel button 33 for canceling various settings, and various setting menus. A cursor key 34 for transition and selection, a select button 35 for confirming various settings to a selected value, a menu button 36 for shifting to a setting menu, a monochrome copy selection button 37 for selecting a monochrome copy, A color copy selection button 38 for selecting a color copy, a start button 39 for starting copying, and a stop button 40 for interrupting copying are provided.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. As an operation of the first embodiment, a method of using the two general-purpose interfaces 5 and 6 mounted on the scanner unit 2 according to the copy image quality will be described here.

  The user sets the image quality of the copy using the operation panel 14. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of the operation panel. First, the menu button 36 on the operation panel 14 is pressed. Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, various setting screens are displayed on the display unit 31, and as shown in FIG. 4B, the image quality setting item is selected with the vertical cursor key 34, and the select button is selected. The item selected in 35 is confirmed. That is, when the image quality mode item is determined here, the current image quality mode is displayed as shown in FIG.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4D, one of the image quality modes is selected with the horizontal cursor key 34, and the image quality mode selected with the select button 35 is confirmed. For example, when “photograph” is selected and confirmed, the image quality mode is set to “photograph” as shown in FIG.

  The image quality mode includes a high-speed mode as a normal image quality mode, and a photo mode, a catalog mode, and a text mode as high-quality modes. The normal image quality mode is standardly mounted on the scanner unit 2, and the high image quality mode is for performing image processing by the controller unit 3 as described later.

  After the image quality mode is set, the copy operation is started when the user presses the start button 39 (step 1). The set image quality information (set image quality mode) is sent to the controller unit 3, and the CPU 9 determines whether or not the set image quality mode is the high image quality mode (step 2).

  When the set image quality mode is the high image quality mode, that is, any one of the photo mode, catalog mode, and text mode, the CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 instructs the scanner unit 2 to start reading and from the general-purpose interface 6. An instruction to output image data is given (step 3). As a result, the scanner unit 2 reads a document and outputs image data from the general-purpose interface 6. As a result, the controller unit 3 acquires image data via the general-purpose interface 15 (step 4).

  In the controller unit 3, the image processing unit 10 performs processing necessary for improving copy image quality (step 5). That is, in the case of the photographic mode, the image quality is improved by performing image area separation processing using parameters suitable for this mode. In the catalog mode, noise removal or the like is performed, and in the text mode, edge enhancement is performed to improve the image quality.

  When the image processing of the image data is completed, the CPU 9 sends the image processed image data from the general-purpose interface 16 to the printer 4 via the USB 2.0 cable 17 (step 6). The printer 4 receives the image data via the general-purpose interface 19 and prints it with the image-processed image quality. As a result, the image quality (high image quality) set by the user is copied.

  When the CPU 9 determines in step 2 that the set copy mode is not the high image quality mode, i.e., the high speed mode, the CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 instructs the scanner unit 2 to start reading and from the general-purpose interface 5. Is instructed to output the image data (step 7). As a result, the scanner unit 2 reads the document and, after reading, performs image processing with the image quality that the scanner unit 2 has as a standard equipment (step 8). This image processing can be performed in a shorter time than the image processing in the controller unit 3 in step 5.

  When the image processing is completed, the image data is output from the general-purpose interface 5 to the printer 4 via the IEEE 1394 cable 7 (step 9). The printer 4 receives the image data via the general-purpose interface 18 and prints with the image-processed image quality. As a result, the image quality (standard image quality) set by the user is copied.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when priority is given to speed over image quality, image data is sent directly from the scanner unit 2 to the printer 4. Copy speed. When the image quality is prioritized over the speed, the controller unit 3 performs image quality processing on the image data. Therefore, the image data is copied with higher image quality than when the image data is sent directly from the scanner unit 2 to the printer 4. It is possible. In other words, there is an effect that it is possible to perform copying according to the user's request.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. The configuration of the copy system according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The second embodiment makes it possible to set the processing method of each page in copying a plurality of documents, that is, the color mode and copy mode (image quality mode) of each page at one time. The interface is used properly.

  The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment. FIG. 1 is used for the description of the operation.

  First, the user creates a copy program using the operation panel 14 (step 11). The copy program 21 describes a processing method related to copying to be executed, and is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a page column 22, a color mode column 23, a copy mode column 24, and an image processing parameter group 25 are provided, and a color mode and a copy mode are set for each page.

  “RGB” in the color mode column 23 means color copying using 24-bit RGB image data and high-quality copying, and “MONO” means black-and-white copying using 1-bit black-and-white image data and standard-quality copying. “GRAY” means a black and white copy using 8-bit GRAY image data and a high quality copy. Although not shown, “CMYK” means a color copy using 4-bit CMYK image data and a standard image quality copy. “QUALITY” in the copy mode column 24 means high quality copy, and “NORMAL” means standard quality copy. The image processing parameter group 25 indicates parameters necessary for image processing corresponding to the set value of the image quality mode.

  The copy program 21 is created as follows. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing copy program creation processing. FIG. 7 shows the display unit 31 of the operation panel 14.

  First, various setting items are displayed with the menu button 36, the setting item is selected with the vertical scroll key 34, the copy program is selected, and the copy program is confirmed with the select button 35 (FIG. 7A, ( b), (c)). Next, a start page is input using the numeric keypad 32, and the start page is determined by the select button 35 (FIG. 7D). Next, an end page is input using the numeric keypad 32, and the end page is determined by the select button 35 (FIG. 7 (e)).

  Next, the image quality mode is selected with the horizontal scroll key 34, and the image quality mode is determined with the select key 35 (FIG. 7 (f)). Next, the color mode is determined by pressing the monochrome copy selection button 37 or the color copy selection button 38 (FIG. 7G). To continue the setting operation, when the user presses the Yes button on the screen shown in FIG. 7 (h), the process shifts to the “start page” input waiting state shown in FIG. 7 (c). When the No button is pressed on the screen shown in FIG. 7 (h), the copy standby state is entered.

  The copy program 21 created by the user is stored in the storage unit 11 in the controller unit 3 (step 12). As a result, the copy program 21 is registered.

  After shifting to the copy standby state, the copy operation is started based on the copy program 21 by pressing the select button 35 (step 13). The CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 refers to the copy program 21 (step 14) and determines whether it is necessary to send the image data to the controller unit 3 in the first page copy, that is, whether the copy mode is the high image quality mode. (Step 15).

  If it is determined that image processing in the controller unit 3 is necessary, the CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 instructs the scanner unit 2 to start reading and output image data from the general-purpose interface 6 (step 16). As a result, the scanner unit 2 reads a document and outputs image data from the general-purpose interface 6. As a result, the controller unit 3 acquires image data via the general-purpose interface 15 (step 17).

  In the controller unit 3, the image processing unit 10 performs processing necessary for improving copy image quality (step 18). That is, as in the first embodiment, in the case of the photographic mode, the image quality is improved by performing image area separation processing using parameters suitable for this mode. In the catalog mode, noise removal or the like is performed, and in the text mode, edge enhancement is performed to improve the image quality.

  When the image processing of the image data is completed, the CPU 9 sends the image processed image data from the general-purpose interface 16 to the printer 4 via the USB 2.0 cable 17 (step 19). The printer 4 receives the image data via the general-purpose interface 19 and prints it with the image-processed image quality. The printer 4 prints the colors set by the copy program 21. For example, the first page of the copy program 21 shown in FIG. 6 is “RGB”. In this case, RGB image data with high gradation reproducibility is sent to the printer 4 to perform printing. As a result, the image quality (high image quality) set by the user is copied.

  Next, the CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 confirms whether or not all the originals have been read (step 20). If there are still originals to be read, the process returns to step 14, and the CPU 9 refers to the copy program 21. The image data processing method in the next page copy is acquired.

  If it is determined in step 15 that image data need not be sent to the controller unit 3, that is, the copy mode is the standard image quality mode, the CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 instructs the scanner unit 2 to start reading and An instruction to output image data from the interface 5 is given (step 21). As a result, the scanner unit 2 reads the original and, after reading, performs image processing with the image quality that the scanner unit 2 is equipped as standard (step 22). This image processing can be performed in a shorter time than the image processing in the controller unit 3 in step 5.

  When the image processing is completed, the image data is output from the general-purpose interface 5 to the printer 4 via the IEEE 1394 cable 7 (step 23). The printer 4 receives the image data via the general-purpose interface 18 and prints with the image-processed image quality. The printer 4 prints the colors set by the copy program 21. For example, the fourth page of the copy program 21 shown in FIG. 6 is “MONO”. In this case, monochrome printing is performed. As a result, the image quality (standard image quality) set by the user is copied.

  Next, the CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 confirms whether or not all the originals have been read (step 20). If there are still originals to be read, the process returns to step 14 and the subsequent steps are repeated. When it is confirmed in step 20 that all the originals have been read, a standby state is entered.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the copy program 21 is created in advance, and the copy processing route is changed with reference to the created program. Can be copied continuously.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. The configuration of the copy system according to the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In the third embodiment, the two general-purpose interfaces are properly used depending on the printer status, so that the decrease in copy speed is minimized even when the printer cannot receive image data during the warm-up process, for example. It is a thing.

  That is, image data cannot be transmitted to the printer when the printer is in the warming up state. If the scanner and printer are directly connected via a single interface, the image data will be sent from the scanner to the printer after waiting for the warm-up process in the printer to complete, so the copy process will be delayed. become. The third embodiment solves this problem.

  The operation of the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the third embodiment. FIG. 1 is used for the description of the operation.

  First, the user sets the image quality of the copy using the operation panel 14. This is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The copy operation is started by pressing the start button 39 on the operation panel 14. The set image quality information (set image quality mode) is sent to the controller unit 3, and the CPU 9 determines whether or not the set image quality mode is the image quality mode, and instructs the scanner unit 2 to start reading and the general-purpose interface 5. Is instructed to output image data from (step 31).

  Further, the CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 acquires the status of the printer 4 using the printer management unit 13 (step 32). Here, the CPU 9 determines whether or not the printer 4 is warming up (step 33). If the printer 4 is warming up, the CPU 9 instructs the scanner unit 2 to start reading and the image data from the general-purpose interface 6. Is output (step 34).

  As a result, the scanner unit 2 reads a document and outputs image data from the general-purpose interface 6. As a result, the controller unit 3 acquires image data via the general-purpose interface 15 (step 35).

  When the set image quality mode is set to the high image quality mode (step 36), the controller unit 3 performs processing necessary for improving the copy image quality in the image processing unit 10 as in the above embodiment (step 37). . The image data for which image processing has been completed is stored in the storage unit 11 (step 38). If the set image quality mode is set to the standard image quality mode, the image data is stored in the storage unit 11 without performing image processing (step 38).

  The CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 acquires the status of the printer 4 again using the printer management unit 13 before executing the reading of the next page (step 32). Here, when the printer 4 is warming up, the operation after step 34 described above is performed.

  If the printer 4 has recovered from the warm-up in step 33, that is, if it is determined that the image data can be received, it is confirmed whether the image data is stored in the storage unit 11 (step 39). Is stored, the CPU 9 sends the image data in the storage unit 11 from the general-purpose interface 16 to the printer 4 via the USB 2.0 cable 17 (step 40). The printer 4 receives the image data via the general-purpose interface 19 and prints with the image quality set by the user. As a result, the image quality set by the user is copied.

  If no image data is stored in the storage unit 11 in step 39, the CPU 9 of the controller unit 3 determines whether or not the set image quality mode is the high image quality mode (step 41). When the CPU 9 determines that the set image quality mode is not the high image quality mode, that is, determines that the image quality is the standard image quality, it instructs the scanner unit 2 to start reading and output image data from the general-purpose interface 5 ( Step 42). As a result, the scanner unit 2 reads the document and, after reading, performs image processing with the image quality that the scanner unit 2 is equipped as standard (step 43).

  When the image processing is completed, the image data is output from the general-purpose interface 5 to the printer 4 via the IEEE 1394 cable 7 (step 44). The printer 4 receives the image data via the general-purpose interface 18 and prints with the image-processed image quality. As a result, the image quality (standard image quality) set by the user is copied.

  When the CPU 9 determines in step 41 that the set copy mode is the high image quality mode, the CPU 9 instructs the scanner unit 2 to start reading and output image data from the general-purpose interface 6 (step 45). As a result, the scanner unit 2 reads a document and outputs image data from the general-purpose interface 6. As a result, the controller unit 3 acquires image data via the general-purpose interface 15 (step 46).

  In the controller unit 3, the image processing unit 10 performs processing necessary for improving the copy image (step 47). When the image processing of the image data is completed, the CPU 9 sends the image processed image data from the general-purpose interface 16 to the printer 4 via the USB 2.0 cable 17 (step 48). The printer 4 receives the image data via the general-purpose interface 19 and prints it with the image-processed image quality. As a result, the image quality (high image quality) set by the user is copied.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, when the printer is warming up and image data cannot be received, the image data waiting to be output to the printer is stored in the storage unit in the controller unit. It is possible to suppress a decrease in copy speed due to the printer warming up.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, IEEE 1394 and UBS 2.0 are used as the two general-purpose interfaces, but other interfaces such as USB 1.1, IEEE 1284, or LAN can be used.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a copy system according to a first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an operation panel. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of an operation panel. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows a copy program. It is explanatory drawing which shows a copy program creation process. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copy system 2 Scanner unit 3 Controller unit 4 Printer 5, 6 General-purpose interface 9 CPU
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image processing part 11 Memory | storage part 13 Printer management part 14 Operation panel

Claims (8)

In a copy system that copies a document by sending image data of the document read by a scanner to a printer and printing it,
A first interface for outputting the image data from a scanner to a printer;
A second interface for outputting the image data from the scanner to the control device and from the control device to the printer;
A copy system, wherein either the first interface or the second interface is selected and the image data is transmitted to a printer. A setting unit for setting a processing method of image data in the printer;
The copy system according to claim 1, wherein either the first interface or the second interface is selected according to a set processing method and the image data is transmitted to a printer. The control device has a function of performing image processing on image data,
The copy system according to claim 2, wherein the setting means is an operator panel and sets a copy mode.   3. The copy system according to claim 2, wherein the image data processing method set by the setting means is individually set for a plurality of documents and stored in the control device.   The copy system according to claim 1, wherein the first interface or the second interface is selected according to a state of a printer.   The status of the printer is whether or not image data can be received. If the image data can be received, the first interface is selected to transmit the image data directly from the scanner to the printer. 6. The copy system according to claim 5, wherein the image data is transmitted from the scanner to the control device and further transmitted from the control device to the printer. In a printer that prints image data of a document read by a scanner,
A first interface for directly inputting the image data from a scanner;
A second interface for inputting the image data from the scanner via a control device;
A printer which selects either the first interface or the second interface and inputs the image data. In the scanner that sends the scanned image data to the printer for printing,
A first interface for outputting the image data directly to a printer;
A second interface for outputting the image data to a printer via a control device;
A scanner that selects either the first interface or the second interface and transmits the image data to a printer.

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