JP2010099970A - Image forming device and image forming method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device and an image forming method, capable of further quickening image processing effectively, while coping flexibly with various high resolutions. <P>SOLUTION: In this image forming device, an image processing controller 35 has: image processing parts 35Y, 35M, 35C, 35K for image-processing an image data; first to fourth connectors 35b, 35d, 35f, 35h connectable with the image processing parts 35Y, 35M, 35C, 35K; and a data transmission switching part 35a which is connected to the first to fourth connectors 35b, 35d, 35f, 35h, and switches transmission of the image data to the connector connected with the image processing part, out of the first to fourth connectors 35b, 35d, 35f, 35h. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field of an image forming apparatus and an image forming method for forming an electrostatic latent image on a latent image carrier by a line head having aligned light emitting elements.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image forming apparatus such as a printer, an image forming apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member that is a latent image carrier using a line head having light emitting elements such as aligned organic EL elements is known ( For example, see Patent Document 1). In the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, image data is included in an image formation command and image processing is performed by an image processing controller to form video data. The head controller controls the lighting of the light emitting elements of the line head based on the video data, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the latent image carrier.
JP 2008-137237 A.

  By the way, in an image forming apparatus using a line head, in recent years, higher speed and higher resolution are increasingly demanded. For this reason, high-speed processing is also required in image processing. However, the amount of image processing data associated with higher resolution and the like is increasing, which is an impediment to increasing the speed of image processing. In addition, the image forming apparatus is also required to have versatility so as to flexibly cope with various high resolutions.

  However, the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 does not have versatility, and it is difficult to flexibly cope with various high resolutions. In addition, since data is communicated on a one-to-one basis between the image processing controller and the head controller, it is difficult to further increase the speed of image processing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to form an image that can effectively increase the speed of image processing while flexibly supporting various high resolutions. An apparatus and an image forming method are provided.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, in the image forming apparatus and the image forming method according to the present invention, the image processing controller has two or more connector sections to which an image processing section that performs image processing of image data can be connected. Yes. In addition, the image processing controller has a data transmission switching unit that switches and transmits image data to one of two or more connector units.

  Therefore, one or more image processing units can be arranged in the image processing controller up to the number of connector units. That is, the number of image processing units corresponding to the increase in speed and resolution required for the image forming apparatus can be provided. Thereby, distributed processing of image processing can be performed on the divided image data obtained by dividing the image data. That is, it is possible to execute image processing of high-resolution and large-capacity image data even more quickly. In particular, real-time image processing can be realized for a high-speed image forming engine. In this manner, it is possible to effectively increase the speed of image processing while flexibly supporting various high resolutions required for the image forming apparatus.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically and partially showing an example of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 of this example includes a housing body 2. In the housing body 2, an image forming unit 3, a transfer unit 4, a transfer material supply unit 5 that accommodates a transfer material such as transfer paper, a fixing unit 6, an engine control unit 7, and a paper discharge tray 8 are disposed. ing.

The image forming unit 3 includes a first image forming station 9Y that is a yellow (Y) image forming station, a second image forming station 9M that is a magenta (M) image forming station, and a cyan (C) image forming station. And a fourth image forming station 9K which is a black (K) image forming station. The first to fourth image forming stations 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K are arranged in tandem in this order. The arrangement order of the first to fourth image forming stations 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K is arbitrary. Hereinafter, the first to fourth image forming stations 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K shown in FIG.

The first to fourth image forming stations 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K are all configured identically. Therefore, the first image forming station 9Y of yellow (Y) will be described, and detailed descriptions of the second to fourth image forming stations 9M, 9C, 9K of other colors will be omitted. Note that the constituent elements of the second to fourth image forming stations 9M, 9C, and 9K have the same reference numerals and subscripts of M, C, and K as the corresponding constituent elements of the yellow (Y) image forming station 4Y. Attached is shown.

The first image forming station 9Y has a first photoconductor 10Y which is a latent image carrier. The first image forming station 9Y has a first charging unit 11Y, a first line head 12Y as an image writing unit, a first developing unit 13Y, and a first developing unit around the first photoconductor 10Y. Photoconductor cleaner 14Y.
The first charging unit 11Y includes a conventionally known first charging roller 15Y. The first charging roller 15Y charges the surface of the first photoconductor 10Y to a preset surface potential.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first line head 12Y includes a first base substrate 16Y, a first LED array 17Y, a first driver IC 18Y, and a first rod lens array 19Y. The first LED array 17Y includes LED elements that are light emitting elements. In this case, the LED elements are arranged on the first base substrate 16Y along a first direction α (so-called main scanning direction) that is orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the transfer material conveyance direction (movement direction).

  The first driver IC 18Y is adjacent to the first base substrate 16Y adjacent to the LED element along a second direction β (so-called sub-scanning direction) β that is the same or substantially the same direction as the transfer material conveyance direction. And arranged along the first direction α. At this time, a preset number of LED elements are connected to one first driver IC 18Y. Accordingly, one first driver IC 18Y drives the connected LED element. In that case, when a video signal is given from the head controller 36 described later, the LED element emits light by driving the first driver IC 18Y based on the video signal.

  Furthermore, the first rod lens array 19Y has a first gradient index rod lens 20Y. The first gradient index rod lenses 20Y are arranged in a zigzag pattern in two rows along the first direction α, and are arranged facing the LED elements. The first gradient index rod lens 20Y optically forms an image of the light from the LED element to expose the first photoconductor 10Y, and a yellow (Y) static light is applied to the first photoconductor 10Y. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The first gradient index rod lens 20Y is not limited to two rows, and can be arbitrarily arranged in three or more rows.

The first developing unit 13Y has a first developing roller 21Y. The first developing roller 21Y supplies yellow (Y) toner to the first photoconductor 10Y. With this toner, the electrostatic latent image on the first photoconductor 10Y is developed, and a yellow (Y) toner image is formed on the first photoconductor 10Y.
The first photoconductor cleaner 14Y cleans the first photoconductor 10Y to which the toner image is transferred.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer unit 4 includes a yellow (Y) first transfer unit 22Y, a magenta (M) second transfer unit 22M, a cyan (C) third transfer unit 22C, and a black ( B) a fourth transfer portion 22K, an endless transfer belt 23 as a transfer medium, a fifth transfer portion 24, and a transfer belt cleaner 25.

The first transfer portion 22Y has a first transfer roller 26Y. The second transfer portion 22M has a second transfer roller 26M. Further, the third transfer portion 22C has a third transfer roller 26C. Further, the fourth transfer portion 22K has a fourth transfer roller 26K. The first transfer roller to the fourth transfer rollers 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26K press the transfer belt 23 to the corresponding first to fourth photoconductors 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K and The toner images of the first to fourth photoreceptors 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K are transferred to the transfer belt 23 by the transfer bias or the fourth transfer bias.

The transfer belt 23 is stretched between a driving roller 27 and a driven roller 28 and is rotated by the driving roller 27 in the arrow γ direction.
The fifth transfer unit 24 has a fifth transfer roller 29. The fifth transfer roller 29 brings the transfer material into pressure contact with the transfer belt 23 and transfers the toner image on the transfer belt 23 to the transfer material with a fifth transfer bias.
The transfer belt cleaner 25 cleans the transfer belt to which the toner image is transferred.

  The transfer material supply unit 5 includes a transfer material storage unit 5 a that stores a transfer material such as transfer paper, and a transfer material supply unit 5 b that supplies the transfer material from the transfer material storage unit 5 a to the fifth transfer unit 24. is doing. The transfer material supply unit 5 supplies transfer materials one by one from the transfer material storage unit 5a to the fifth transfer unit 24 during image formation.

  The fixing unit 6 includes a heating roller 30 and a pressure belt 31. The pressure belt 31 presses the transfer material on which the toner image is transferred by the fifth transfer unit 24 to the heating roller 30. The heating roller 30 heats the toner image transfer surface of the transfer material. As a result, the toner image is fixed on the transfer material, and an image is formed on the transfer material.

The image forming unit 3, the transfer unit 4, the transfer material supply unit 5, and the fixing unit 6 constitute an engine unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 1.
The engine control unit 7 controls the engine unit 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the engine control unit 7 includes a power circuit board (not shown), a main controller 33, an engine controller 34, an image processing controller 35, and a head controller 36.

When an image formation command is given from an external device (not shown) such as a host computer, the main controller 33 sends a control signal for starting the engine unit 32 to the engine controller 34 via a UART (general purpose asynchronous transmission / reception) communication line. Send.
When the engine controller 34 receives a control signal from the main controller 33, the engine controller 34 starts initialization and warm-up of the engine unit 32. When initialization and warm-up are completed and the image forming operation is ready, the engine controller 34 outputs a synchronization signal that triggers the start of the image forming operation to the head controller 36 via the UART communication line. To do. Further, in the communication between the engine controller 34 and the head controller 36, in addition to the transmission of the synchronization signal, the line heads 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11K
(Transmission and reception of signals of these control parameters is the same as that of the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 described above, and therefore, details thereof will be described.) Will be omitted).

  Further, the main controller 33 divides the image data included in the image formation command into an arbitrary number of divided data. The divided data is configured, for example, as band data obtained by dividing image data of one page into an arbitrary number of two or more using several lines (rows) as one band data. Alternatively, the divided data is configured as page data obtained by dividing, for example, several pages of image data into two or more arbitrary numbers, with one page as one page data. The main controller 33 attaches an address to the head of these divided data and outputs it to the image processing controller 35. The number of divided data is divided into more than the number of image processing units 35 provided in the image processing controller 35.

  The image processing controller 35 includes a data transfer switching unit 35a. The image processing controller 35 is detachably attached to the first connector 35b and the first image processing unit 35c detachably connected to the first connector 35b, the second connector 35d, and the second connector 35d. The second image processing unit 35e connected to the third connector 35f, the third image processing unit 35g detachably connected to the third connector 35f, and the fourth connector 35h and the fourth connector 35h. A fourth image processing unit 35i is detachably connected to the connector 35h. Furthermore, the image processing controller 35 includes a first image processing side module 35j, a second image processing side module 35k, a third image processing side module 35m, and a fourth image processing side module 35n. Further, although not shown, the image processing controller 35 includes an image processing unit detection unit that detects the number of image processing units arranged, the number of image processing units detected by the image processing unit detection unit, or preset image processing. An image processing number storage unit that stores the number of copies is provided. When the number of image processing units is stored in advance in the image processing unit number storage unit, the image processing unit detection unit can be omitted.

  Then, the divided data is supplied from the main controller 33 to the data transfer switching unit 35a of the image processing controller 35. Then, the data transfer switching unit 35a transmits the divided data processed by the first image processing unit 35c based on the address of the divided data among the supplied divided data via the first connector 35b. The image is output to the image processing unit 35c. The first image processing unit 35c performs image processing on the supplied divided data, and generates video data (Video Data) for each toner color related to the divided data.

Similarly, the data transfer switching unit 35a includes first to fourth connectors 35d and 35f corresponding to the divided data processed by the second image processing unit to the fourth image processing units 35e, 35g, and 35i. , 35h to the corresponding second image processing unit to fourth image processing unit 35e, 35g, 35i. Thus, the image data is divided and transmitted to the first to fourth lanes 35o, 35p, 35q, and 35r through the data transfer switching unit 35a.

The divided image data used in the image forming apparatus 1 of this example is image data in an interleave format. For example, if the image data is RGB (full color image) data of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), the image data in the interleave format is as shown in FIG. This is image data in which image data is color-expanded into four toner colors of YMCK for each pixel. The divided image data is composed of several pixels of data per line. Furthermore, one page of image data is divided into several lines in the second direction (sub-scanning direction) and configured as band data, or several pages of image data are divided into one page as page data. Composed. Therefore, the divided image data is not data in a format divided for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

By the way, in the image processing controller 35 shown in FIG. 3, the first to fourth connectors 35b, 35d, 35f, and 35h include all of the first image processing unit to the fourth image processing units 35c, 35e, 35g and 35i are connected. However, the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the image processing controller 35 is provided with four first to fourth connectors 35b, 35d, 35f, and 35h. Of the connectors 35b, 35d, 35f, and 35h, the first image processing unit 35c and the second image processing unit 35e may be connected to the first connector 35b and the second connector 35d. Is possible. In this case, the third image processing unit 35g and the fourth image processing unit 35i are not connected to the third connector 35f and the fourth connector 35h. Of course, it is also possible to connect the first image processing unit to the third image processing units 35c, 35e, and 35g to the first connector to the third connector 35b, 35d, and 35f. In this case, the fourth image processing unit 35i is not connected to the fourth connector 35h.

As described above, in the image forming apparatus 1 of this example, the image processing controller 35 is provided with two or more arbitrary ones of the four first image processing units to fourth image processing units 35c, 35e, 35g, and 35i. (The maximum number of connectors, that is, four) of image processing units can be provided.
Further, by arranging two or more arbitrary number of image processing units, the image data to be printed is divided into a number equal to or more than the number of image processing units, and these divided image data are divided into each image processing unit. The image is processed in parallel and distributed.

Incidentally, since an arbitrary number of image processing units can be arranged, it is necessary to detect the number of image processing units included in the image processing controller 35 of the image forming apparatus 1.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a processing flow for detecting the number of image processing units (that is, devices) provided in the image processing controller.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the number of devices is detected in step S1. Next, it is determined whether or not the number of devices detected in step S2 is zero. If it is determined that the number of devices is 0, the device detection process ends. If it is determined in step S2 that the number of devices is not 0, information relating to one device (for example, information on what number of divided image data is processed in which number of devices, etc.) is acquired in step S3. Is done. The device information acquired in step S4 is stored in the memory of the main controller 33, for example. Next, in step S5, it is determined whether information on all devices has been acquired. When it is determined that all device information has been acquired, the device detection process ends. If it is determined in step S5 that all device information is not acquired, the process proceeds to step S3, and the processes in steps S3 to S5 are repeatedly executed.

  The head controller 36 includes a first head side module 36a, a second head side module 36b, a third head side module 36c, and a fourth head side module 36d. The head controller 36 has a head control module 36e and a page memory 36f.

The first image processing module 35j and the first head module 36a are capable of bidirectional communication. Then, from the first head side communication module 36a to the first image processing side communication module 35j, the page request signal Preq indicating the head of the image data of one page, the first band data of the image data, and the fifth A line request signal Lreq for requesting video data for one line among the lines constituting the band data is transmitted.

  In addition, the first video data and the fifth video data are output from the first image processing side communication module 35j to the first head side communication module 36a. That is, the first image processing side communication module 35j receives the page request signal Preq from the first head side module 36a and then receives the line request signal Lreq from the first head side module 36a. The video data is sequentially output to the first head-side module 36a by one line from the beginning of the band data. Further, similarly, the video data is sequentially output to the first head side module 36a by one line from the head portion of the fifth band data.

  Similarly, the second image processing side module 35k and the second head side module 36b can communicate bidirectionally. Then, from the second head side communication module 36b to the second image processing side communication module 35k, the page request signal Preq indicating the head of the image data of one page, the second band data of the image data, and the second A line request signal Lreq for requesting video data for one line among the lines constituting the band data of 6 is transmitted.

  Further, the second video data and the sixth video data are output from the second image processing side communication module 35k to the second head side communication module 36b. That is, the second image processing side communication module 35k receives the page request signal Preq from the second head side module 36b and then receives the line request signal Lreq from the second head side module 36b. The video data is sequentially output to the second head side module 36b by one line from the head portion of the band data. Further, similarly, the video data is sequentially output to the second head side module 36b by one line from the head portion of the sixth band data.

  Further, the third image processing side module 35m and the third head side module 36c can communicate bidirectionally. Then, from the third head side communication module 36c to the third image processing side communication module 35m, the page request signal Preq indicating the head of the image data of one page, the third band data of the image data, and the first The line request signal Lreq for requesting video data for one line among the lines constituting the band data 7 is transmitted.

  In addition, the third video data and the seventh video data are output from the third image processing side communication module 35m to the third head side communication module 36c. That is, the third image processing side communication module 35m receives the page request signal Preq from the third head side module 36c and then receives the line request signal Lreq from the third head side module 36c. The video data is sequentially output to the third head side module 36c by one line from the head portion of the band data. Further, similarly, the video data is sequentially output to the third head side module 36c by one line from the head portion of the seventh band data.

Furthermore, the fourth image processing side module 35n and the fourth head side module 36d can communicate bidirectionally. Then, from the fourth head side communication module 36d to the fourth image processing side communication module 35n, the page request signal Preq indicating the head of the image data of one page, the fourth band data of the image data, and the A line request signal Lreq for requesting video data for one line among the lines constituting the band data of 8 is transmitted.

  In addition, the fourth video data and the eighth video data are output from the fourth image processing side communication module 35n to the fourth head side communication module 36d. That is, the fourth image processing side communication module 35n receives the page request signal Preq from the fourth head side module 36d and then receives the line request signal Lreq from the fourth head side module 36d. The video data is sequentially output to the fourth head side module 36d by one line from the head portion of the band data. Further, similarly, video data is sequentially output to the fourth head side module 36d by one line from the beginning of the eighth band data.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the third image processing unit 35g and the third image processing side communication module 35m, and the fourth image processing unit 35i and the fourth image processing side communication module 35n are not provided. In this case, the page request signal Preq and the line request signal Lreq are not transmitted from the corresponding third head side communication module 36c and fourth head side communication module 36d.

As shown in FIG. 7, the head control module 36e includes a first FIFO buffer to a fourth FIFO buffer FIFO-1, FIFO-2, FIFO-3, FIFO-4, and a yellow (Y) Y line buffer 36e _1. , Magenta (M) M line buffer 36e ₂ , cyan (C) C line buffer 36e ₃ , and black (K) K line buffer 36e ₄ . The page memory 36f includes a yellow page data memory unit 36f ₁ , a magenta page data memory unit 36f ₂ , a cyan page data memory unit 36f ₃ , and a black page data memory unit 36f ₄ .

In the first lane, the interleaved divided image data shown in FIG. 4A is stored in the first FIFO buffer FIFO-1 via the first head-side communication module 36a. The divided image data stored in the first FIFO buffer FIFO-1 is color-coded as shown in FIG. 4B, and sequentially, a Y line buffer 36e ₁ , an M line buffer 36e ₂ , a C line buffer 36e ₃ , and It is stored so as to be distributed to K line buffer 36e _4. Also in the second lane through the fourth lane, other divided image data in the interleaved format is transmitted from the second FIFO buffer through the second head side communication module or the fourth head side communication module 36b, 36c, 36d. The data is stored in the fourth FIFO buffers FIFO-2, FIFO-3, and FIFO-4. The divided image data stored in the second FIFO buffer through the fourth FIFO buffer FIFO-2, FIFO-3, and FIFO-4 are color-coded, and sequentially, the Y line buffer 36e ₁ ,
M line buffer 36e ₂ , C line buffer 36e ₃ , and K line buffer 36e ₄
Sorted and stored.

When the data of the yellow one line in the Y line buffer 36e ₁ (Y) is accumulated, the line data is stored is transferred to the yellow pages data memory section 36f ₁ of the page memory 36f. Similarly, when one line of magenta (M) data, cyan (C) data, and black (K) data is accumulated in the M line buffer or K line buffer 36e ₂ , 36e ₃ , 36e _4. The line data is transferred to and stored in the magenta page data memory unit 36f ₂ , cyan page data memory unit 36f ₃ , and black page data memory unit 36f _{4 of the} page memory 36f.

At this time, when the line data is transferred from the line buffer to the page data memory unit, the data necessary for the line head is rearranged into the line data of each color. The line data of each color after the rearrangement is transferred to the corresponding memory address of each page data memory unit and stored. The head control module 3
6e retrieves line data of each color from the page memory 36f in response to a request and outputs it to the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K of the corresponding color. As a result, the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, 12
K writes the image of each color on the first to fourth photoreceptors 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K according to the supplied line data.

The flow of image processing for the above image data will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing this flow.
As shown in FIG. 8, image data is first generated in step S11 upon the start of image formation. In step S12, the image data is divided into band data or page data to form divided data, and the divided data is sequentially sent to the data transfer switching unit 35a of the image processing controller 35. Next, in step S13, it is determined whether one divided data can be processed by the first image processing unit 35c. If it is determined that the divided data can be processed by the first image processing unit 35c, image processing is performed on the divided data by the first image processing unit 35c in step S14. The divided data subjected to the image processing is transferred to the first FIFO buffer FIFO-1 through the first lane in step S15. Next, in step S16, the divided data is divided for each color Y, M, C, and K plane by the first FIFO buffer FIFO-1, and is stored in the line buffers 36e ₁ , 36e ₂ , 36e ₃ , 36e ₄ for each color. Sent. next,
In step S17, plane data rearrangement processing is performed in each of the line buffers 36e ₁ , 36e ₂ , 36e ₃ , 36e ₄ . In step S18, the rearranged plane data (line data) is transferred to the page memory 36f and stored in each page data memory unit of the corresponding memory address. Thereafter, although not shown in the flow, as described above, the head control module 36e retrieves the line data of each color from the page memory 36f as required, and the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, The first to fourth photoconductors 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 12K according to the extracted line data of 12K
Write an image of each color in 10K. Thus, the image formation of this image data is completed.

If it is determined in step S13 that the divided data cannot be processed by the first image processing unit 35c, it is determined in step S19 whether the divided data can be processed by the second image processing unit 35e. If it is determined that the divided data can be processed by the second image processing unit 35e, the second image processing unit 35e performs image processing on the divided data in step S20. The divided data subjected to the image processing is transferred to the second FIFO buffer FIFO-2 through the second lane in step S21. Next, in step S16, the divided data is divided for each color Y, M, C, K plane by the second FIFO buffer FIFO-2, and the line buffers 36e ₁ , 36e ₂ ,
36e _3, sent to 36e _4. Next, in step S17, plane data is rearranged in each of the line buffers 36e ₁ , 36e ₂ , 36e ₃ , 36e ₄ . In step S18, the rearranged plane data is transferred to the page memory 36f and stored in each page data memory unit of the corresponding memory address. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the first to fourth photoreceptors 10Y, 10M, and 10C according to the line data taken out of the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K. , 10K image of each color is written. Thus, the image formation of this image data is completed.

Further, if it is determined in step S19 that the divided data cannot be processed by the second image processing unit 35e, it is determined in step S22 whether the divided data can be processed by the third image processing unit 35g. If it is determined that the divided data can be processed by the third image processing unit 35g, the third image processing unit 35g performs image processing on the divided data in step S23. The divided data subjected to the image processing is transferred to the third FIFO buffer FIFO-3 through the third lane in step S24. Then, each color Y in the divided data in step S16 is a third FIFO buffer FIFO-3, M, C, divided for each plane K, the line buffer 36e ₁ of each color, 36e _2,
36e _3, sent to 36e _4. Next, in step S17, each line buffer 36e ₁ , 36e ₂
, 36e ₃ , 36e ₄ perform rearrangement processing of plane data. In step S18, the rearranged plane data is transferred to the page memory 36f and stored in each page data memory unit of the corresponding memory address. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the first to fourth photoreceptors 10Y, 10M, and 10C according to the line data taken out of the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K. , 10K image of each color is written. Thus, the image formation of this image data is completed.

Furthermore, if it is determined in step S22 that the divided data cannot be processed by the third image processing unit 35g, it is determined in step S25 whether the divided data can be processed by the fourth image processing unit 35i. If it is determined that the divided data can be processed by the fourth image processing unit 35i, the fourth image processing unit 35i performs image processing on the divided data in step S26. The divided data subjected to the image processing is transferred to the fourth FIFO buffer FIFO-4 through the fourth lane in step S27. Next, in step S16, the divided data is divided for each color Y, M, C, K plane by the fourth FIFO buffer FIFO-4, and line buffers 36e ₁ , 36e ₂ ,
36e _3, sent to 36e _4. Next, in step S17, plane data is rearranged in each of the line buffers 36e ₁ , 36e ₂ , 36e ₃ , 36e ₄ . In step S18, the rearranged plane data is transferred to the page memory 36f and stored in each page data memory unit of the corresponding memory address. Thereafter, in the same manner as described above, the first to fourth photoreceptors 10Y, 10M, and 10C according to the line data taken out of the first to fourth line heads 12Y, 12M, 12C, and 12K. , 10K image of each color is written. Thus, the image formation of this image data is completed.

  Further, when it is determined in step S25 that the divided data cannot be processed by the fourth image processing unit 35g, the process returns to step S13 again, and the confirmation is repeated until there is no image processing unit that can be processed.

Next, a specific example of image processing of image data in the image forming apparatus 1 of this example will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of image processing of one page of image data.
As shown in FIG. 9, in this specific example of image processing, one page of image data is divided into eight band data of first band data to eighth band data in the second direction (sub-scanning direction). ing. When these band data are input to the data transfer switching unit 35a, the data transfer switching unit 35a sends the first band data and the fifth band data to the first band data based on the addresses attached to the heads thereof. The data is transferred to the first image processing unit 35c via the first connector 35b. As described above, the first image processing unit 35c performs image processing on the first band data and the fifth band data. The data transfer switching unit 35a transfers the second band data and the sixth band data to the second image processing unit 35e via the second connector 35d. As described above, the second image processing unit 35e performs image processing on the second band data and the sixth band data. Further, the data transfer switching unit 35a transfers the third band data and the seventh band data to the third image processing unit 35g via the third connector 35f. As described above, the third image processing unit 35g performs image processing on the third band data and the seventh band data. Further, the data transfer switching unit 35a transfers the fourth band data and the eighth band data to the fourth image processing unit 35i via the fourth connector 35h. As described above, the fourth image processing unit 35i performs image processing on the fourth band data and the eighth band data.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of image processing of 8-page image data.
As shown in FIG. 10, in this specific example of image processing, image data of 8 pages is divided into 8 page data for each page. Then, when these page data are input to the data transfer switching unit 35a, the data transfer switching unit 35a converts the first page data and the fifth page data into the first page data based on the addresses attached to the heads thereof. The data is transferred to the first image processing unit 35c via the first connector 35b. As described above, the first image processing unit 35c performs image processing on the first page data and the fifth page data. In addition, the data transfer switching unit 35a transfers the second page data and the sixth page data to the second image processing unit 35e via the second connector 35d. As described above, the second image processing unit 35e performs image processing on the second page data and the sixth page data. Further, the data transfer switching unit 35a transfers the third page data and the seventh page data to the third image processing unit 35g via the third connector 35f. As described above, the third image processing unit 35g performs image processing on the third page data and the seventh page data. Further, the data transfer switching unit 35a transfers the fourth page data and the eighth page data to the fourth image processing unit 35i via the fourth connector 35h. As described above, the fourth image processing unit 35 i performs image processing on the fourth page data and the eighth page data.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of this example, the image processing controller 35 can connect the four first connector parts to the fourth connector parts 35c, to which the image processing unit that performs image processing of image data can be connected. 35e, 35g, 35i. In addition, the image processing controller 35
A data transmission switching unit 35a for switching and transmitting image data to any one of the first to fourth connector units 35c, 35e, 35g, and 35i is provided. As a result, one or more image processing units can be arranged in the image processing controller 35a up to the number of connector units. Therefore, the number of image processing units corresponding to the increase in speed and resolution required for the image forming apparatus 1 can be provided. As a result, distributed image processing can be performed on the divided image data obtained by dividing the image data. In this manner, according to the image forming apparatus 1 of this example, it is possible to execute image processing of high-resolution and large-capacity image data even more quickly. In particular, in the image forming apparatus 1 of this example, real-time image processing can be realized for a high-speed print engine. Therefore, it is possible to effectively increase the image processing speed while flexibly supporting various high resolutions required for the image forming apparatus.

Note that other configurations and other image operations in the image forming apparatus 1 of this example are substantially the same as those of the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples. For example, the number n of connector portions (2 ≦ n ≦ 4), the number m of image processing portions (1 ≦ m ≦ 3), and divided image data It is possible to arbitrarily set the number k (k ≧ 2). In short, various design changes can be made within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

1 is a diagram schematically and partially showing an example of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a fragmentary perspective view of the line head of the example shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the engine control part and engine part of the example shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of division | segmentation image data. FIG. 4 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 3, showing an engine control unit and an engine unit when the number of image processing units is changed. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of a process which detects the number of image processing parts. It is a block diagram explaining the image data processing in a head control module. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of the image process of image data. FIG. 4 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 3 for explaining a specific example of image processing of image data. FIG. 4 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 3 for explaining another specific example of image processing of image data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 3 ... Image forming unit, 7 ... Engine control part, 10Y ... 1st photoreceptor, 10M ... 2nd photoreceptor, 10C ... 3rd photoreceptor, 10K ... 4th photoreceptor, 12Y ... 1st line head, 12M ... 2nd line head, 12C ... 3rd line head, 12K ... 4th line head, 32 ... Engine part, 33 ... Main controller, 34 ... Engine controller, 35 ... Image Processing controller 35a ... Data transfer switching unit 35b ... First connector 35d ... Second connector 35f ... Third connector 35h ... Fourth connector 35c ... First image processing unit 35e ... First 2 image processing units, 35 g, third image processing unit, 35 i, fourth image processing unit, 35 j, first image processing module, 35 k, second image processing module, 35 3rd image processing module, 35n 4th image processing module, 35o 1st lane, 35p 2nd lane, 35q 3rd lane, 35r 4th lane, 36 head Controller 36a ... first head side module 36b ... second head side module 36c ... third head side module 36d ... fourth head side module 36e ... head control module 36e ₁ ... Y line buffer 36e ₂ ... M line buffer, 36e ₃ ... C line buffer, 36e ₄ ... K line buffer, 36f ... Page memory, 36f ₁ ... Yellow page data memory part, 36f ₂ ... Magenta page data memory part, 36f ₃ ... Cyan page Data memory section, 36f ₄ ... black page data memory section

Claims (8)

A latent image carrier on which a latent image is formed;
A line head for forming a latent image based on image data on the latent image carrier;
An image processing controller for image processing the image data;
With
The image processing controller includes:
An image processing unit for image processing the image data;
A first connector connected to the image processing unit;
A second connector connected to the image processor;
Data transmission switching connected to the first connector unit and the second connector unit and for switching transmission of the image data to the first connector unit or the second connector unit to which the image processing unit is connected And
An image forming apparatus comprising: A second image processing unit;
The image processing unit is connected to the first connector unit, and performs image processing on any of the divided image data obtained by dividing the image data into k (k ≧ 2),
The second image processing unit is connected to the second connector unit, and performs image processing on any other one of the divided image data,
The data transmission switching unit transmits any one of the divided image data to the first connector unit and transmits any other one of the divided image data to the second connector unit. Image forming apparatus. The image processing controller includes a third connector connected to the image processing unit;
A third image processing unit connected to the third connector unit,
The data transmission switching unit includes a first connector unit, a second connector unit, or a third connector to which the image processing unit is connected divided image data obtained by dividing the image data into k (k ≧ 2). The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus transmits the image to any one of the units. The image processing controller includes a fourth connector unit connected to the image processing unit,
A fourth image processing unit connected to the fourth connector unit,
The data transmission switching unit includes a first connector unit, a second connector unit, and a third connector unit to which the image processing unit is connected divided image data obtained by dividing the image data into k (k ≧ 2). The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus transmits the data to any one of the fourth connector unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image processing unit number storage unit that stores the number of the image processing units connected to the connector unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image processing unit number detecting unit that detects the number of the image processing units connected to the connector unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a head controller that outputs a latent image forming signal to the line head based on image data supplied from the image processing controller. Of the divided image data obtained by dividing the image data into k (k ≧ 2) pieces by the data transmission switching unit, any one of the divided image data pieces is divided into n (n ≧ 2) pieces of connector portions. Switch to one of the different connected connectors and send
Supplying the divided image data processed by the image processing unit to the line head;
A latent image is formed on a latent image carrier by the line head based on the divided image data supplied to the line head.

Images