JP2006244249A - Image forming device system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain affinity between printing and reuse after accumulation, while saving on a storage area in the accumulation, in a system printing a document of a computer terminal, and accumulating it in the storage area of an image forming device to be reused. <P>SOLUTION: This system has a means for selecting an output destination for printing or accumulating print data in the image forming device, just after developed into an image by a developing means, when generating the print data in the computer terminal, information in the selected output destination is transmitted to the developing means together with the print data, the selected output destination determines either of the printing in the image forming device or the accumulation in the image forming device, from information of the selected output destination selected by the developing means, and a color space is switched to be developed in response to the determined output destination. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus system including an image forming apparatus providing a controller function and a computer terminal.

  Conventionally, a document handled on a computer is not printed immediately on the image forming apparatus by using a printer driver in the image forming apparatus, but is stored as an image in the storage area of the image forming apparatus, and printed as necessary. Or an image storage function that converts the file format used by a computer terminal and transmits the file to another computer terminal again. In general, when printing, the Cyan / Magenta / Yellow / Black (CMYK) color space used for image formation of a printer is used, and the Red / Green / Blue RGB color space or YCbCr color space used in a computer terminal is used. A three-dimensional color space such as is used. In general, in an image forming apparatus that prints from a computer terminal, it is possible to obtain a high-quality print by developing the PDL received from the computer terminal as an image in the color space of CMYK and generating an image in the color space used by the printer. I am doing so. On the other hand, when an image once stored is converted again into a file format such as JPEG which is handled by a computer terminal, an RGB three-dimensional color space is used.

  When developing PDL into an image, a color conversion table called a profile is used to manipulate the color space of the developed image. This profile can be developed into an image in the RGB color space by using the RGB profile, and can be developed into an image in the CMYK color space by using the CMYK profile. As described above, in the image used for printing, the CMYK color space has a higher affinity with the printer. However, when re-converting to a file format handled by a computer terminal, the RGB three-dimensional color space has a higher affinity. high.

As a conventional example, for example, Patent Document 1 can be cited.
JP 2003-338944 A

  However, when the developed image is stored in the image forming apparatus and used for both print / file format conversion, both the compatibility with the printer and the file format handled by the computer terminal are required. , CMYK and RGB images need to be held, and a double storage area is required.

  On the other hand, in the method of storing only in the RGB system and converting to CMYK at the time of printing, color unadjustment considering the image characteristics on the computer and the image reproduction characteristics of the printer reflected when the PDL is developed into an image is omitted. For this reason, the print quality at the time of printing may be inferior to the case where the image is developed into a CMYK image.

  On the other hand, when saving as a CMYK image, a mechanism for performing a CMYK → RGB color space for file format conversion is required. In general, in an image forming apparatus, the color space of an image input from a scanner is often an RGB color space, and therefore has an RGB → CMYK color space conversion function for printing a scanned image. In most cases, however, the CMYK → RGB color space conversion function causes additional costs, and therefore does not have the CMYK → RGB color space conversion function.

  In order to efficiently print the stored image and convert the file format, there are problems such as double consumption of the storage area and an increase in cost.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an image forming apparatus system according to the present invention includes a computer terminal and an image forming apparatus connected to a network, and the computer terminal prints a document handled by the computer terminal with the image forming apparatus. Print data conversion means for converting the data into data for transmission, and sending means for sending the print data converted by the conversion means to the image forming apparatus via the network, the image forming apparatus being sent by the sending means Receiving means for receiving the sent print data, developing means for developing the print data received by the receiving means into an image in a plurality of different color spaces, and an image developed by the developing means, Storage means for storing in the image forming apparatus, and the storage means Operation instruction means for instructing printing of a stacked image or conversion of a file format, printing means for printing an image instructed by the operation instruction means, and an image instructed by the operation instruction means in another file format And when the print data is generated by the computer terminal, the image is printed by the image forming apparatus immediately after being developed to the image by the developing means or stored in the image forming apparatus. Means for selecting an output destination to be sent, the information on the selected output destination is sent together with the print data to the development means, and the selection is made from the information on the output destination selected by the development means. Determining whether the output destination is to be printed by the image forming apparatus or stored in the image forming apparatus, Having means for switching the color space of the image to be deployed in accordance with the serial discriminated destination.

  In particular, in the image forming apparatus system, the developing unit includes a function of developing an image in a color space of Cyan / Magenta / Yellow / Black, and a developing unit of an image in a color space of Red / Blue / Green. In the case where the output destination determined by the developing means is a print by the modeling apparatus, the output destination is developed with an image of a color space of Cyan / Magenta / Yellow / Black, and the determined output destination is the image forming apparatus. In the case of storage, the image data is developed with an image in a color space of Red / Blue / Green.

  As described above, according to the present invention, a controller in an image forming apparatus does not have a color space conversion function from four colors of CMYK → RGB (or YCbCr) to three colors, and stores an image stored in a box. An image in a file format used in a computer terminal can be generated and transmitted to a desired computer terminal. Also in printing, it is possible to print with image quality that is color-adjusted for printing in the color space to be printed.

[System overview]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an implementation system of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus in the implementation system. An overview of the functions of this system will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The image forming apparatus 101 is a color scanner / printer device capable of scanning or printing in full color, and is connected to an external controller 104 via an internal network 102 and a video cable 103 for transferring image data, and further to an external device. The controller 104 is connected to a network system to which the computer terminal 106 is connected via the other external network 105.

  The image forming apparatus 101 includes a scanner unit 201 and a printer unit 202, and has a copy function for printing an image read from the scanner unit 201 by the printer unit 202. In addition, an operation unit 203 is provided for the user to instruct the execution of the function of the image forming apparatus 101, to set the operation when the function is executed, or to notify the user of the state of the image forming apparatus 101.

  The operations of the scanner unit 201 and the printer unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 101 and the user instruction / status display from the operation unit 108 are processed by the in-device controller 204 inside the image forming apparatus. The in-device controller 204 also processes image data handled by the scanner unit 201 and the printer unit 202 and transmits / receives data to / from a network connected to the internal network 102 with an external controller. Overall operation control, state management, and image processing are performed by the in-device controller 204. A finisher unit 205 that performs post-processing such as stapling is connected to the end of the printer unit 202.

  Further, in this system, a document created by the computer terminal 106 is transmitted as PDL data to the external controller 104 via the external network 105, and the received PDL data is developed into an image by the external controller 104, and is sent to the image forming apparatus 101. The printable data format is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 101 via the video cable 103, and the operation settings at the time of printing and various information of the image data transmitted via the video cable 103 are communicated via the internal network 102. The printer also has a network printer function for printing. The external controller 104 uses a profile for performing color space conversion on the PDL sent from the computer terminal 106, and uses a Red / Green / Blue (RGB) color space or Cyan / Magenta / Yellow / Black (CMYK). It has a function of developing an image in two kinds of color spaces, and images on two kinds of color spaces of RGB and CMYK can also be transferred on the video cable 103.

  Further, this system has a network scan function for displaying / saving an image scanned by the image forming apparatus 101 on the computer terminal 106. The network scan function is roughly classified into a pull scan function / push scan function according to its operation mode. In the pull scan function, the user issues a scan instruction on the computer terminal 106, and in the push scan function, the user performs a scan instruction in which the scan instruction is performed on the operation unit 203 of the image forming apparatus 101. . Regardless of the pull scan / push scan function, the image forming apparatus 101 reads a document image previously placed on the scanner unit 201 in accordance with an instruction from the user, and handles the read image on the computer terminal 106. It is realized by transferring to the computer terminal 106 via the internal network 102, the external controller 104, and the external network 105 in a suitable format.

  Since the image forming apparatus 101 of this system handles a full-color image, the image forming apparatus 101 has an image quality adjustment function for the purpose of improving the image quality in the printer unit 202. This includes two types of color adjustments: density adjustment for the image forming apparatus 101 alone and printing of an electronic document from the computer terminal 106.

  For color adjustment of the image forming apparatus 101 alone, the printer unit 202 prints a prescribed image, and the scanner unit 201 reads the image, thereby adjusting the characteristics of the printer unit 202 by the image processing of the internal controller 204. This is reflected in the adjustment value so that a stable image can be printed. The rule image used for printing at this time is generated by the in-device controller 204.

  Color adjustment in printing an electronic document from the computer terminal 106 is performed by the external controller 104, and the external controller 104 transmits and prints the prescribed image to the image forming apparatus 101, and the printed image is scanned by the scanner unit. When the external controller 104 receives the image read in 201 and the read image, the external controller can recognize the image characteristics of the image forming apparatus 101. This recognized characteristic is held as a value that the external controller 104 considers when developing PDL data from the computer terminal 106 into an image.

[Configuration of In-Device Controller 109]
The configuration of the in-device controller 204 will be described with reference to FIG. The in-device controller 204 includes a CPU 301, a work memory 302, an image processing unit 303, an image memory 304, and a mass storage device (hereinafter referred to as HDD) 305. The image processing unit 303 is connected to image signal lines 306/307/308. Are connected to the external controller 104 via the scanner unit 201 / printer unit 202 and the video cable 103, respectively. Further, the image processing unit 303 is also connected to an image memory 304, and a facsimile communication unit 306 is connected to the end of the image memory 304. That is, image data is stored in the image memory 304 and HDD 305 via the image processing unit 303 from the scanner unit 201, and the stored image data is sent to the printer unit 202 via the image memory 304 and image processing unit 303 again. . Similarly, image data can be input from the external controller 104 via the video cable 103. The facsimile communication unit 306 can input / output image data used for facsimile transmission / reception. Using this image storage function in the HDD 305, an image input from the scanner unit 201 or an image input from the external controller 104 via the video cable 103 is stored in the HDD 305 without being printed immediately. Also, a box function such as printing / faxing from the operation unit 203 when a user wants to print or fax, or sharing an image stored in the HDD 305 among a plurality of users is realized.

  Further, the image stored in the HDD 305 is converted into an image (for example, Jpeg) having a file format generally used in a computer terminal by the image memory 304 and the image processing unit 303, and the converted file is converted into the network interface unit 307. Also, a file transmission function of sending to a desired computer terminal via the internal network 102, the external controller 104, and the external network 105 and reusing the computer terminal is also provided.

  The CPU 301 operates according to a program stored in the HDD 305 and further controls the operation unit 203. The CPU 301 also controls each processing unit such as the facsimile communication unit 306 in the device, and further performs communication with the printer unit 202 / scanner unit 201 to synchronize image data transmission / reception. Similarly, the network interface unit 307 is also accessed for communication with the external controller 104 via the internal network 102.

  In the in-apparatus controller, the data stored in the HDD 305 is referred to the state of the apparatus on the computer terminal 106 via the internal network 102 and the external controller 104 by a Web service or the like, or the image forming apparatus 101 from the computer terminal 106 is referred to. A remote operation service that allows you to configure settings.

[Operation unit 203]
The operation unit 203 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation unit 203 has an LCD display screen 401 on which settings and status of the image forming apparatus 101 are displayed. In FIG. 4, the operation setting screen 402 shows a copy screen as a reference, and displays zoom settings, paper feed stage settings, the number of copies, and the like during copying. The operation setting screen 402 can be changed to a facsimile function screen or a print function screen from the external controller 104 by a function key 403. Further, at the bottom of the LCD display screen 401, there is a status message display unit 404 indicating the status of the image forming apparatus 101 and the status of functions other than the selected function screen, and at the lower right is the status of the image forming apparatus 101. In addition, there is a system status key 405 for transitioning to a screen for referring to details of the status of functions other than the selected function screen.

  In addition to the LCD display screen 401, there is a numeric keypad 406 for inputting numerical values. Further, when using each function such as copying and faxing in the image forming apparatus 101, an ID key 407 is also provided for transition to a screen for inputting an ID for identifying a user to be used. A reset key 408 is used to return the operation setting screen 402 to the specified function, and a detailed setting key 409 is used to transit to a screen for performing details of operation settings of the image forming apparatus 101 and network settings. A start key 410 and a stop key 411 are buttons for starting and stopping the operation of each function.

[Configuration of Scanner Unit 106]
The configuration of the scanner unit 201 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 501 denotes a platen glass on which a document 502 to be read is placed. A document 502 is irradiated by an illumination lamp 503, and the reflected light is imaged on a CCD 508 by a lens 507 through mirrors 504, 505 and 506. The first mirror unit 510 including the mirror 504 and the illumination lamp 503 moves at a speed v, and the second mirror unit 511 including the mirrors 505 and 506 moves at a speed 1 / 2v, thereby scanning the entire surface of the document 502. The first mirror unit 510 and the second mirror unit 511 are driven by a motor 509. The operations of the units 510 and 511 of the scanner unit 201 are controlled by signals from the scanner controller unit 512. The scanner controller unit 512 controls the operations of the units 510 and 511 in accordance with instructions from the internal controller 204.

  Next, image processing in the scanner controller unit 512 will be described with reference to FIG. The input optical signal is converted into an electric signal by the CCD sensor 601. The CCD sensor 601 is an RGB line color sensor, and is input to the A / D converter 602 as R / G / B image signals. After the gain adjustment and the offset adjustment are performed here, each color signal is converted into 8-bit digital image signals R0, G0, and B0 by the A / D converter. Thereafter, a known shading correction using a read signal of the reference white plate is performed for each color by the shading correction 603. Further, since the color line sensors of the CCD sensor 601 are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other, the line delay adjustment circuit (line interpolation unit) 604 corrects the spatial deviation in the sub-scanning direction.

  Next, the input masking unit 605 is a part that converts the reading color space determined by the spectral characteristics of the R / G / B filter of the CCD sensor 601 to the NTSC standard color space. 3 × 3 matrix operation using device-specific constants taking into account various characteristics such as spectral characteristics, and the input (R0, G0, B0) signal is converted into a standard (R, G, B) signal. Convert. Further, the luminance / density conversion unit (LOG conversion unit) 606 is configured by a look-up table (LUT), and converts the RGB luminance signals into C1, M1, and Y1 density signals. The converted signal is sent to the in-device controller unit 109.

[Configuration of Printer 107]
FIG. 7 shows an overview of the printer unit. Reference numeral 701 denotes a polygon mirror having a semiconductor laser driving unit, which receives four emitted laser beams. One of them scans the photosensitive drum 705 through the mirrors 702, 703 and 704, the next one scans the photosensitive drum 709 through the mirrors 706, 707 and 708, and the next one scans the mirror 710. , 711, 712, and the photosensitive drum 713 is scanned. The next one scans the mirrors 714, 715, 716, and scans the photosensitive drum 717.

  On the other hand, a developing device 718 supplies yellow (Y) toner, forms a yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 705 in accordance with the laser beam, and a developing device 719 supplies magenta (M) toner. , A magenta toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 709 in accordance with the laser beam, and a developing device 720 supplies cyan (C) toner. A cyan toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 713 in accordance with the laser beam. , 721 is a developing device for supplying black (K) toner, and forms a black toner image on the photosensitive drum 717 in accordance with the laser beam. The four color (Y, M, C, K) toner images are transferred onto the sheet, and a full-color output image can be obtained.

  A sheet fed from one of the sheet cassettes 722 and 723 and the manual feed tray 724 is adsorbed onto the transfer belt 726 via a registration roller 725 and conveyed. The toner of each color is developed in advance on the photosensitive drums 705, 709, 713, and 717 in synchronization with the sheet feeding timing, and the toner is transferred to the sheet as the sheet is conveyed. The sheet on which the toner of each color is transferred is separated and conveyed by a conveying belt 727, and the toner is fixed to the sheet by a fixing device 728. The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 728 is once guided downward by a flapper 729, and after the trailing edge of the sheet has passed through the flapper 729, the sheet is switched back and discharged. As a result, the sheets are discharged face down, and the correct page order is obtained when printing is performed in order from the first page.

  Note that the four photosensitive drums 705, 709, 713, and 717 are arranged at equal intervals with a distance d, and the sheet is conveyed at a constant speed v by the conveyance belt 724, and this timing synchronization is performed. Thus, the semiconductor laser of the polygon mirror 701 is driven.

[Configuration of Finisher 205]
FIG. 8 shows an overview of the finisher unit 205. The sheet exiting the fixing unit 728 of the printer unit 202 enters the finisher unit 205. The finisher unit 205 includes a sample tray 801 and a stack tray 802, which are switched and discharged according to the type of job and the number of discharged sheets.

  There are two sort methods: a bin sort method that has a plurality of bins and distributes the bins, and an electronic sort function and a bin (or tray), which will be described later, are shifted in the front direction to distribute output sheets for each job. Sorting can be performed by the shift sort method. The electronic sort function is called collate. If you have the large-capacity memory described in the core section above, the so-called collate function is used to change the buffered page order and discharge order using this buffer memory. It can also support electronic sorting functions. Next, the group function is a function for sorting by page, while sorting is sorted by job.

  Further, when discharging to the stack tray 802, it is also possible to store the sheets before being discharged for each job and bind them by the stapler 805 immediately before discharging.

  In addition to the above two trays, there are a Z-folder 804 for folding paper into a Z-shape and a puncher 806 for punching two (or three) holes for files, depending on the type of job. Each process.

  Further, the saddle stitcher 807 binds the central portion of the sheet at two places, and then folds the sheet in half by biting the central portion of the sheet with a roller, thereby creating a booklet such as a weekly magazine or pamphlet. . The sheets bound by the saddle stitcher 807 are discharged to the booklet tray 808.

  In addition, although not shown in the drawing, it is also possible to add binding by glue (glue) for bookbinding or trim (cutting) for aligning the end surface opposite to the binding side after binding.

  An inserter 803 is for sending a sheet set on the tray 809 to one of the trays 801, 802, and 808 without passing the sheet through the printer. As a result, the sheet set in the inserter 803 can be inserted (inserted) between the sheets fed into the finisher 205. The tray 809 of the inserter 803 is set in a face-up state by the user, and is fed in order from the uppermost sheet by the pickup roller 810. Therefore, the sheet from the inserter 803 is discharged to the trays 801 and 802 as it is and discharged in a face-down state. When sending to the saddle stitcher 807, the face is aligned by sending it back to the puncher 806 and then switching back.

  Next, document printing and box storage, and printing of a document stored in a box and a file transmission method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In S901 of FIG. 9, the user inputs a desired document into the image forming apparatus 101. At this time, the user uses the print driver to determine whether to perform image formation (printing) on recording paper as an output destination in the image forming apparatus 101 or storage (box accumulation) in the HDD 305 of the controller 204 in the apparatus. 10 is selected in the output destination setting 1002 of the printer driver screen 1001. The selected output destination is notified to the external controller 104 via the external network 102 together with the PDL when the execution key 1003 is pressed.

  In step S <b> 902, the external controller determines whether the output destination of the image forming apparatus 101 added to the PDL is print or box storage.

  If it is determined in step S902 that printing is to be performed, in step S903, the external controller 104 develops an image in a color space of Cyan / Magenta / Yellow / Black (CMYK) as in the system 1101 in FIG. 204 receives an image in the CMYK color space from the external controller 104 via the video cable 103, and remains in the CMYK color space as in the system 1102 in FIG. 11 via the image processing unit 303 and the image memory 304. An image in the CMYK color space is sent to the printer unit 202 and printed.

  On the other hand, if the external controller 104 determines in S902 that the output destination of the image forming apparatus 101 added to the PDL is box storage, in S905, the external controller 104 determines that the Red / Red as shown in the system 1103 in FIG. In step S906, the in-device controller 204 receives an image in the RGB color space from the external controller 104 via the video cable 103 as shown in 1104 in FIG. Accumulate in HDD 305.

  After accumulation in the HDD 305 in S906, the user operates the document accumulated by the operation unit 203 in S907. At this time, the user operates “print” 1202 or “file transmission” 1203 on the operation selection key of the operation screen 1201 of the document stored in the box of FIG. The selected operation is notified to the in-device controller 204 as indicated by 1105 in FIG.

  If the user selects “print” 1202 at this time, the in-device controller 204 displays a document as an image in the RGB color space stored in the HDD 305 in accordance with a “print” instruction notified from the operation unit 203 in step S908. In the image memory 304 and the image processing unit 305, the RGB color space is converted into the CMYK color space, and an image in the CMYK color space is sent to the printer unit 202 for printing.

  On the other hand, if “file transmission” is selected in step S907, the in-device controller 204 reads out the image of the corresponding document stored in the HDD 305 in step S909 as in the system 1107 in FIG. An image file in Jpeg format is created from an image in the RGB color space using 303.

  In step S910, the file converted into the jpeg format is transmitted to the computer terminal designated by the user as indicated by 1108 in FIG.

The figure which shows the whole system of embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram of an entire image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a controller in the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a scanner unit of the image forming apparatus. 1 is a block diagram of a scanner controller of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a printer unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a finisher unit of the image forming apparatus. The flowchart which shows the Example of this invention. 7 is an example of a printer driver screen for selecting an output destination in the image forming apparatus. The block diagram in the Example of this invention. 6 is an example of an operation unit screen for operating a document stored in an image forming apparatus.

Claims (2)

In a computer terminal and an image forming apparatus connected to a network,
The computer terminal includes a print data conversion unit that converts a document handled by the computer terminal into data to be printed by an image forming apparatus;
Sending means for sending the print data converted by the converting means to the image forming apparatus via the network;
The image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives the print data sent by the sending unit;
A developing unit that develops the print data received by the receiving unit into an image in a plurality of different color spaces; a storage unit that stores the image developed by the developing unit in the image forming apparatus;
Operation instruction means for instructing printing of an image stored by the storage means or conversion of a file format;
Printing means for printing an image instructed by the operation instruction means;
Means for converting the image instructed by the operation instruction means into another file format,
When generating the print data at the computer terminal, immediately after the image is expanded by the expansion unit, an output destination to be printed by the image forming apparatus or stored in the image forming apparatus is selected. Means for sending the selected output destination information together with the print data to the developing means, and the output destination selected from the information on the output destination selected by the developing means is the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus system comprising: means for determining whether to print in the image forming apparatus or storing in the image forming apparatus, and switching a color space of an image to be developed according to the determined output destination.   2. The image forming apparatus system according to claim 1, wherein the developing unit includes a function of developing an image in a color space of Cyan / Magenta / Yellow / Black and a developing unit of developing an image in a color space of Red / Blue / Green. When the output destination discriminated by the developing means is a print by a modeling apparatus, the output destination is developed with an image of a color space of Cyan / Magenta / Yellow / Black, and the discriminated output destination is an image. An image forming apparatus system comprising means for developing an image in a red / blue / green color space when stored in the forming apparatus.

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