JP2006087031A - Digital composite machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To finish image formations based on image data input to each image-data input means in a short time when the inputs of the image data are overlapped with a plurality of the image-data input means in a digital composite machine having a plurality of the image-data input means. <P>SOLUTION: When two or more of image data are input to a plurality of the image-data input means 7, 8 and 9, these image data are stored in storage sections 13b, 13c and 15 once and written in the same page memory 13a. An image based on at least two image data written in the same page memory 13a can be formed on one recording medium in this case. Accordingly, even when the inputs of the image data are overlapped with a plurality of the image-data input means, the images can be formed rapidly by a printer engine 15 based on each image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital multi-function peripheral having a plurality of image data input means and one printer engine.

  The current image forming apparatus takes advantage of having a digital function, and as an image data input means, an image scanner that optically reads an original image, a facsimile modem that receives facsimile image data from a facsimile connected via a public line, and an external computer Digital multi-function peripherals equipped with printer interfaces connected to are becoming mainstream.

  Since such a digital multi-function peripheral shares one printer engine for a plurality of image data input means, there are advantages in terms of cost and installation space.

  However, since there is one printer engine, when image data input overlaps two or more image data input means, image formation based on the image data input to any one of the image data input means is completed. Thereafter, image formation based on the image data input to the other image data input means is performed. For this reason, the image formation performed later has to wait until the preceding image formation is completed.

  For this reason, when the image forming operation performed in advance is based on long image data, a long time is required until another image forming operation to be performed later is started.

  Therefore, in a digital multi-function peripheral having a plurality of image data input means, image formation based on input image data is performed in units of pages, and image formation is performed when image formation based on certain image data is being performed. When image data to be prioritized for image formation is input, the previous image formation operation is temporarily interrupted for each page, and the image formation to be prioritized is performed first. An invention of a digital multi-function peripheral has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-32691

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the total time required for image formation based on all input image data is the same, and when two or more image data inputs overlap, priority is not given. It takes a long time to complete image formation.

  When it is desired to rush together image formation based on two or more input image data, one of them must wait until the other image formation is completed, which is inconvenient.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image based on image data input to each image data input means when the input of the image data overlaps with a plurality of image data input means in a digital multi-function peripheral having a plurality of image data input means. The formation is completed in a short time.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital multi-function peripheral that stores a plurality of image data input means for inputting image data, a storage section for storing image data input to the image data input section, and a storage section. A page memory in which at least two image data are written, a writing means for writing at least two image data stored in the storage unit into one page memory, and at least two written in the page memory A printer engine that forms an image based on the image data on a single recording medium.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first aspect, at least two pieces of image data written in the page memory are arranged in the page memory in accordance with the size of each image data. Positioning means for positioning is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the first or second aspect, a pixel density that matches the pixel density of at least two image data written in the page memory to a higher pixel density of the respective image data. Conversion means is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the digital copying machine according to any one of the first to third aspects further comprises means for converting binary image data written in the page memory into multi-valued image data.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the other image data input means during image formation based on the image data input to the one image data input means. On the basis of the input of image data, there is provided a writing switching means for starting writing of the image data inputted to at least two of the image data input means into the same page memory by the writing means.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, one of the image data input means is an image scanner that optically reads an image of a document.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, one of the image data input means is a facsimile modem that receives image data from a facsimile.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, one of the image data input means is a printer interface connected to an external computer.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when two or more pieces of image data are input to the plurality of image data input means, the image data are temporarily stored in the storage unit and then stored in the same page memory. An image based on at least two image data written and written in the same page memory can be formed on a single recording medium. Therefore, when input of image data overlaps with a plurality of image data input means, an image input to another image data input means until image formation based on the image data input to one image data input means is completed. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation where it is necessary to wait for completion of image formation based on data, and even when image data input overlaps two or more image data input means, image formation by a printer engine based on each image data is performed. Can be done quickly. Furthermore, the number of recording media used can be reduced, the time required for image formation can be shortened, running costs can be reduced, and power can be saved.

  According to the digital multi-function peripheral of the invention described in claim 2, at least two pieces of image data written in the page memory are positioned at least in the page memory according to the size of each image data. The two image data can be arranged in an appropriate range not exceeding the image forming area in the printer engine, and the image can be formed without protruding from the recording medium to be used.

  According to the digital multi-function peripheral of the invention described in claim 3, by adjusting the pixel density of at least two image data written in the page memory to the high pixel density of the respective image data, the input image data Even when the image densities are different, an image based on the image data can be formed on a single recording medium, and the image can be formed without degrading the image quality.

  According to the digital multi-function peripheral of the present invention, the binary image data written in the page memory can be converted into multi-value image data. Therefore, when the input image data is binary and multi-value However, it is possible to form an image on a single recording medium by matching those image data with multi-value image data.

  According to the digital multi-function peripheral of the fifth aspect, even when image data is input to another image data input unit during image formation based on the image data input to one image data input unit. The image data input to the at least two image data input means can be started to be written into the same page memory, and one image based on at least two image data written into the same page memory It can be formed on a recording medium.

  According to the digital multi-function peripheral of the invention described in claim 6, when one of the image data input means is an image scanner that optically reads an image of a document, the image from the image scanner and the other image data input means Even when data input is overlapped, an image based on the image data input to the image scanner and other image data input means can be formed on a single recording medium.

  According to the digital multi-function peripheral of the seventh aspect, when one of the image data input means is a facsimile modem for receiving image data from a facsimile, the image from the facsimile modem and the other image data input means. Even when data input overlaps, an image based on the image data input to the facsimile modem and other image data input means can be formed on a single recording medium.

  According to the digital multi-function peripheral of the eighth aspect, when one of the image data input means is a printer interface connected to an external computer, the image data from the printer interface and the other image data input means Even when the inputs overlap, an image based on the image data input to the printer interface and other image data input means can be formed on a single recording medium.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a digital multifunction machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital multi-function peripheral 1 has a controller 2 for controlling each part. The controller 2 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 3 that centrally controls each part, and a ROM that stores various programs executed by the CPU 3. (Read Only Memory) 4 and RAM (Random Access Memory) 5 functioning as a work area of the CPU 42 are connected by a bus line.

  A memory controller 6 that controls input / output of image data is connected to the controller 2, and the CPU 3 of the controller 2 selects image data size information, recording medium size information, image data path selection, An instruction such as selection of an image processing mode is given.

  Connected to the memory controller 6 are an image scanner 7 as an image data input means for inputting image data, a facsimile modem 8, and a printer interface 9. The image scanner 7 optically reads a document image and is connected to the memory controller 6 via the engine controller 10. The facsimile modem 8 receives image data transmitted from a facsimile (not shown) via the public line 11. The printer interface 9 is connected to the external computer 12 and receives image data transmitted from the external computer 12.

  An image processing unit 16 is provided in the memory controller 6. The image processing unit 16 converts the binary image data input to the printer interface 9 and the binary image data input to the facsimile modem 8 in the same manner as the multi-value image data input to the image scanner 7. The image data is converted into multiple values, or the pixel density of the image data input to the facsimile modem 8 is converted to the same pixel density as the image data input to the image scanner 7.

  The engine controller 10 includes an image scanner 7, a facsimile modem 8, an SDRAM 13 that temporarily stores image data input to the printer interface 9, an HDD 14 that is a storage unit to which image data stored in the page memory of the SDRAM 13 is transferred, A printer engine 15 for forming an image based on the input image data on a recording medium is connected. The engine controller 10 controls movement of the entire machine such as conveyance of a recording medium, image formation, transfer, and fixing, and a memory controller 6 and a controller 2 are connected to the engine controller 10.

  FIG. 2 shows the address assignment of the SDRAM 13. The SDRAM 13 includes a page memory 13 a that stores image data from the image scanner 7, a drawing area 13 b that is a storage unit that stores image data input to the printer interface 9, and image data input to the facsimile modem 8. Is assigned to a drawing area 13c which is a storage unit in which is stored. By separately preparing memory areas for storing image data input to the image scanner 7, printer interface 9, and facsimile modem 8, input of image data to the image scanner 7, printer interface 9, and facsimile modem 8 can be performed simultaneously. A parallel operation is possible in which each of the image data is stored simultaneously when it occurs.

  At the time of image formation based on image data input to the image scanner 7 (hereinafter referred to as “scanner image data” if necessary), the scanner image data stored in the page memory 13 a of the SDRAM 13 is read by the memory controller 6. Then, the read scanner image data is transmitted to the engine controller 10. The engine controller 10 performs gradation processing, format conversion, and the like on the received scanner image data, and transmits the image data to the printer engine 15. The printer engine 15 forms an image on a recording medium. When the electronic sort function is used, the scanner image data is temporarily transferred from the page memory 13a of the SDRAM 13 to the HDD 14, the scanner image data for all the pages is stored in the HDD 14, and then the scanner image data for the first page is ordered. Then, the data is transferred from the HDD 14 to the page memory 13a of the SDRAM 13 again and transmitted to the engine controller 10 from there.

  During image formation of image data (image data input to the printer interface 9 and image data input to the facsimile modem 8) stored in the drawing areas 13b and 13c of the SDRAM 13, these image data are temporarily stored in the SDRAM 13. After being transferred to the page memory 13a, the image data is transmitted to the engine controller 10, and the printer engine 15 forms an image on a recording medium. When these image data are electronically sorted, the image data is temporarily copied from the drawing areas 13b and 13c of the SDRAM 13 to the HDD 14, the image data for all the pages is stored in the HDD 14, and then the vertical and horizontal arrangements of the data are arranged as necessary. The image data of the first page is transferred from the HDD 14 to the page memory 13a of the SDRAM 13 in order from the first page, and transmitted to the engine controller 10 from there.

  FIG. 3 shows the recording of one sheet of image formation based on the scanner image data input to the image scanner 7 and the image data input to the printer interface 9 (hereinafter referred to as “printer image data” if necessary). A path of image data when performed on a medium is shown. All the paths of the image data are installed independently, and are configured to be able to operate in parallel.

  Both the scanner image data and the printer image data are set to A4 size. The size of the recording medium on which the image is formed is A3 size. First, the CPU 3 informs the memory controller 6 of scanner image data size (= A4), printer image data size (= A4), and recording medium size (= A3) on which image formation is performed. The memory controller 6 receiving the information secures the A3 size as the page memory 13a of the SDRAM 13. Then, the page memory 13a is divided and managed for two pages of A4 size.

  The printer image data input to the printer interface 9 is first stored in the drawing area 13 b of the SDRAM 13. The printer image data is binary data. Then, the binary printer image data read from the drawing area 13b by the memory controller 6 is sent to the image processing unit 16 to be multi-valued. The printer image data may have a different image resolution from the scanner image data. In this case, the image processing unit 16 performs pixel density conversion, and the image processing unit 16 functions as a pixel density conversion unit. For example, when the scanner image data is 600 dpi and the printer image data is 300 dpi, the pixel density conversion is performed by the image processing unit 16 with double density processing to match the higher pixel density of the image data. The multi-value processing performed here includes binary edge processing, jaggy correction processing, and the like, and processing suitable for the printer image format is selected and used. These technologies are no different from existing ones.

  The image processing unit 16 is provided to unify the formats of printer image data, scanner image data, and image data input to the facsimile modem 8 (hereinafter referred to as “facsimile image data” as necessary). The printer image data unified in the scanner image data format by the image processing unit 16 is stored in the page memory 13 a of the SDRAM 13. In parallel with these operations, the scanner image data from the image scanner 7 is also stored in the page memory 13 a of the SDRAM 13. The scanner image data is multi-value data. Since the image data in the page memory 13a needs to match the data format, the printer image data is multivalued. Each image data (scanner image data, printer image data) is stored in an A4 size divided into areas for two pages.

  FIG. 4 is an image diagram showing a state in which A4 size scanner image data and A4 size printer image data are written in the A3 size page memory 13a. At this time, based on the size of the printer image data (= A4), the size of the scanner image data (= A4), and the size of the recording medium on which the image is formed (= A3), the printer image data and the scanner image The CPU 3 determines an arrangement position with respect to the data, and positioning means for positioning the arrangement position of the image data in the page memory area 13 a according to the size of the image data is executed as a function of the controller 2. In this positioning, the ROM 4 is a table storing data that sets how to position according to the size of the input image data, the number of input image data, the size of the recording medium that can be used, and the like. And is selected from the table.

  The two image data (scanner image data and printer image data) stored in the same page memory 13a in this way are read out as A3 size image data by the memory controller 6, and the read image data is stored in the engine controller. 10 and the printer engine 15 forms an image on a recording medium.

  FIG. 5 shows a path of image data when scanner image data, printer image data, and facsimile image data are input in an overlapping manner and image formation based on the image data is performed on a single recording medium. Yes. All the paths of the image data are installed independently, and are configured to be able to operate in parallel.

  Assume that the scanner image data is A4 size, the printer image data is A3 size, and the facsimile image data is A4 size, each of which has a plurality of pages. The size of the recording medium on which the image is formed is A0 size.

  Similarly to the case shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 3 sends the scanner image data size (= A4), the printer image data size (= A3), the facsimile image size data (= A4) to the memory controller 6. Information on the size (= A0) of the recording medium on which image formation is performed is notified. The memory controller 6 that has received the information secures an A1 size that is half the A0 size as the page memory 13 a of the SDRAM 13. Further, the A1 size page memory 13a is divided and managed into two A4 size pages for scanner image data, two A3 size pages for printer image data, and two A4 size pages for facsimile image data. The size that can be secured as the page memory is the maximum A0 size, but not all is used for the page memory, but half of the A1 size is secured as the work area for the scanner image data.

  The first and second pages of the scanner image data are stored in the A4 size area for scanner image data in the page memory 13a. The scanner image data for the third and subsequent pages is temporarily stored in the scanner image data work area and then transferred to the HDD 14.

  The printer image data is temporarily stored in the drawing area 13 b of the SDRAM 13 and then transferred to the HDD 14. Similarly, the facsimile image data is temporarily stored in the drawing area 13 c of the SDRAM 13 and then transferred to the HDD 14. The printer image data transferred to the HDD 14 is first read out by the memory controller 6 for the first and second pages of A3 size, and is converted into multi-valued and pixel density converted by the image processing unit 16. The image data format is unified. In order to write and output in parallel with the scanner image, it is necessary to unify the format. The printer image data whose format has been converted by the image processing unit 16 is stored in the A3 size area for printer image data in the page memory 13a reserved for the A1 size. Similarly to the printer image data, the facsimile image data transferred to the HDD 14 is read by the memory controller 6 for two pages of A4 size of the first page and the second page and sent to the image processing unit 16. Since the format of the FAX image data is binary data, it is multi-valued here. If the pixel density is different from that of the scanner image, pixel density conversion is also performed at the same time. In many cases, the facsimile image data has a pixel density of 400 dpi, and if the scanner image data has a multi-valued pixel density of 600 dpi, the image processing unit 16 performs 1.5-fold density conversion on the FAX image data to obtain a scanner. Unify pixel density with image. The A4 size of 2 pages of FAX image data whose format is unified with the scanner image data by the image processing unit 16 is stored in the A4 size area for FAX image data of the page memory 13a reserved for the A1 size.

  FIG. 6A shows the first and second pages of A3 size printer image data, the first and second pages of A4 size facsimile image data, and the A4 size scanner image data in the A1 size page memory 13a. It is an image figure which shows the state by which the 1st and 2nd pages were written. FIG. 6B shows the A3 size page image 13a in the A3 size printer image data pages 3 and 4, the A4 size facsimile image data pages 3 and 4, and the A4 size scanner image data. It is an image figure which shows the state by which the 3rd, 4th page was written. As shown in FIG. 6A, when the page memory 13a for A1 size is filled with three types of image data of printer image data, facsimile image data, and scanner image data, the image data is image data of A0 size. Is transmitted to the engine controller 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the A1 size page memory 13a is replaced with a scanner image data work area. Then, the subsequent pages (page 3 and page 4) of the printer image data, facsimile image data, and scanner image data are stored in the newly set A1 size page memory 13a in the same manner as the first and second pages. . As shown in FIG. 6B, when the page memory 13a for A1 size is filled with three types of image data of printer image data, facsimile image data, and scanner image data, the image data is A0 size. It is transmitted to the engine controller 10 as part of the image data.

  As described above, when an image is formed on an A0 size recording medium, the A1 size page memory 13a and the scanner image data work area are toggled to store the scanner image data in the HDD 14 and the page memory. The operation of storing the image data in 13a and the operation of transmitting the image data in the page memory 13a to the engine controller 10 are realized simultaneously.

  For a recording medium of A0 size or larger such as long roll paper, continuous page printing of scanner image data, printer image data, and facsimile image data can be performed by repeating the toggle operation as described above. It can be realized.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an image forming operation of the digital multi-function peripheral 1. The controller 2 determines whether or not image data has been input to the image data input means (step S1). If there has been input of image data, the image data input means to which image data has been input is 2. It is determined whether or not there are two or more (step S2).

  When there is input of image data to two or more image data input means (Y in step S2), at least two image data input to different image data input means are written in the same page memory 13a. (Step S3), where the writing means is executed. When writing this image data, as described above, pixel density conversion is performed to match the pixel density of at least two image data written in the same page memory 13a to the higher pixel density of the respective image data. Positioning means for positioning the arrangement position of each image data in the page memory 13a is executed.

  At least two pieces of image data written in one page memory 13a are read by the memory controller 6 and transmitted to the engine controller 10, and the printer engine 15 forms an image on the recording medium (step S4). .

  When the image data is input to one image data input means (N in step S2), the image data is read from the page memory 13a by the memory controller 6 and transmitted to the engine controller 10, An image is formed on the recording medium by the printer engine 15 (step S4).

  FIG. 8 shows a recording medium on which each image data is positioned in the page memory 13a by the positioning means described as one of the processes in step S3 of FIG. 7, and an image is formed based on the positioned image data. It is an image figure. In FIG. 8A, A4 size scanner image data and A4 size printer image data are positioned so as to correspond to an A3 size recording medium, and image formation based on these two image data is performed simultaneously. A3 size recording medium is shown. FIG. 8B shows that two A4 size scanner image data, two A4 size facsimile image data, and one A2 size printer image data correspond to an A1 size recording medium. It shows an A1 size recording medium that has been positioned and image formation based on these three image data has been performed simultaneously.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an image forming operation of the digital multi-function peripheral 1. FIG. 9 shows a case where image data is input to another image data input unit while image formation based on the image data input to the image data input unit is being performed.

  In the digital copying machine 1, image formation is performed based on the image data input to the image data input means (step S11), and whether or not image data has been input to other image data input means during this image formation. (Step S12), it is determined whether the image forming operation is completed (step S13).

  If it is determined in step S12 that image data has been input to another image data input unit (Y in step S12), at least two image data input to different image data input units are the same page memory. 13a is written (step S14), and a writing switching unit is executed to start writing the image data input into at least two image data input units into the same page memory 13a by the writing unit. In this case, as described in step S3 of the flowchart of FIG. 7, pixel density conversion is performed in which the pixel density of at least two image data written in the same page memory 13a is matched with the higher pixel density of the respective image data. Further, positioning means for positioning the arrangement position of each image data in the page memory 13a is executed. At this time, the size of the recording medium on which an image is formed is changed as necessary.

  At least two pieces of image data written in one page memory 13a are read by the memory controller 6 and transmitted to the engine controller 10, and the printer engine 15 forms an image on a recording medium (step S11). .

FIG. 10 shows that image data is inputted to another image data input means during image formation based on the image data inputted to one image data input means, and the image data is written into the page memory by the write switching means. It is an image figure which shows the mode of the image formation on the recording medium at the time of switching.
FIG. 10A shows a state in which an A4 size printer image data is formed on an A4 size recording medium. FIG. 10B shows an example in which A4 size scanner image data is input during image formation based on A4 size printer image data, and the printer image data and the scanner image data are written in the same page memory. In this state, image formation based on image data is performed on one recording medium. The recording medium used at this time is automatically changed from an A4 size recording medium to an A3 size recording medium. FIG. 10C shows a state in which the image formation based on the scanner image data is completed and the image formation based on the A4 size printer image data is resumed.

1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a digital multi-function peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows allocation of the address of SDRAM. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a path of image data when image formation based on scanner image data and printer image data is performed on one recording medium. FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing a state in which A4 size scanner image data and A4 size printer image data are written in an A3 size page memory. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a path of image data when image formation based on scanner image data, printer image data, and facsimile image data is performed on one recording medium. FIG. 5 is an image diagram showing a state in which A3 size printer image data, A4 size facsimile image data, and A4 size facsimile image data are written in an A1 size page memory. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming operation of the digital multifunction peripheral. FIG. 8 is an image diagram showing a recording medium on which each image data is positioned in the page memory by the positioning means described as one of the processes in step S3 of FIG. 7 and an image is formed based on the positioned image data. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming operation of the digital multifunction peripheral. When image data is input to another image data input means during image formation based on the image data input to one image data input means, and writing of the image data into the page memory is switched by the write switching means. It is an image figure which shows the mode of image formation on a recording medium.

Explanation of symbols

7 Image data input means, image scanner 8 Image data input means, facsimile modem 9 Image data input means, printer interface 13a Page memory 13b, 13c, 15 Storage unit 15 Printer engine 16 Pixel density conversion means

Claims (8)

A plurality of image data input means for inputting image data;
A storage unit for storing image data input to the image data input means;
A page memory in which at least two image data stored in the storage unit are written;
Writing means for writing at least two image data stored in the storage unit into one page memory;
A printer engine for forming an image based on at least two image data written in the page memory on a single recording medium;
A digital multi-function peripheral.   2. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising positioning means for positioning at least two image data written in the page memory in the page memory in accordance with a size of each image data.   3. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising pixel density conversion means for adjusting a pixel density of at least two image data written in the page memory to a high pixel density of the respective image data.   4. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising means for converting binary image data written in the page memory into multi-value image data.   An image input to at least two image data input means based on the input of image data to another image data input means during image formation based on the image data input to one image data input means 5. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, further comprising a write switching unit that starts writing data into the same page memory by the writing unit.   6. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein one of the image data input means is an image scanner that optically reads an image of a document.   6. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein one of the image data input means is a facsimile modem that receives image data from a facsimile. 6. The digital multi-function peripheral according to claim 1, wherein one of the image data input means is a printer interface connected to an external computer.

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