JP2502410B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of inputting image data from a plurality of image data generating sources and forming an image of the input image data on a recording material (hereinafter referred to as paper).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a recording apparatus for electrically recording an image using a laser or the like has appeared, and not only a manuscript is read and printed, but also a result of an office work calculation, a document prepared by a document preparation device, etc. An image forming apparatus that prints or prints data transmitted from a remote place is considered.

[0003]

The present invention is trying to solve, however, such
Image forming devices are output from multiple image data output devices.
Even if you receive and print multiple image data,
From which image data output device the printed sheet is
It was difficult for the user to recognize whether it was a thing.
Moreover, if a sorter is connected to such an image forming apparatus,
The printed sheet that the user needs
It's hard to tell immediately if it's in a bottle
It was.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a plurality of generators for generating image data.
Image data from the multiple generators connected to it
You can input different image data to multiple input methods.
Multiple storage means capable of storing each and the same storage means
The multiple image data can be stored without overlapping storage of different image data.
The image data input by each of the input means is
A transmission means for selectively transmitting to any of the storage means, and
Image recording on the recording material based on the supplied image data
Recording means and different images stored in the plurality of storage means
Any one of the image data is selectively supplied to the common recording means.
The recording means having a supply means for supplying and a plurality of storage parts
Select the recording material to be ejected from one of the storage sections.
Storage means for storing in each of the plurality of input means
The type of multiple generators connected to the
By corresponding to each of the plurality of storage units
Display means for displaying the generator .

[0005]

In the above structure, the recording means is a plurality of connected
Image on the recording material based on the image data from the generator
After recording, the storage unit selects the recording material discharged from the recording unit.
Alternatively, store it in one of the storage units and connect the display means.
By distinguishing each type of multiple generators
Displays generators for each of the multiple storage compartments
I do.

[0006]

1 and 2 are block diagrams showing an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, which are connected by the one-dot chain line portion of FIG. 1 and the one-dot chain line portion of FIG. Reference numeral 1 is a recording device that forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor by a laser according to input image information, and transfers it to paper after development. 2 is a sorter that stores the paper printed out from the printer unit 1 in a sorted manner. CCD
A document reading device that reads a document by using the CRT display device that outputs image information to the printer unit 4, a CRT display device that displays the status of the printer unit 1, a general-purpose computer that performs document creation, office calculation, and the like; Is a communication device that transmits and receives image information through the communication line.

The recording device 1 is controlled by the CPU 32.

The CPU 32 is a ROM 3 for storing programs.
1. The work RAM 30 is used to control the document reading device 3 via the printer unit, the image memory controller 10, and the interface circuit 34. Driving and stopping of the recording device 1 are performed by the operation keys 21 or the keys on the keyboard 206 of the CRT display device 4. When there is an input to the operation key 21, the CPU is connected via the interface circuit 23.
The data is transferred to 32, analyzed and executed. The display panel 26 allows the operator to know the status of execution, stop, standby, etc., and the display content is changed by the CPU 32.

Printer control circuit 17, main body drive system 21
Receives an instruction from the CPU 32, synchronizes an image data signal from the image memory controller 10 with the main body drive system 21, writes image data on the photoconductor 20 using the laser 13, and uses the electrostatic image forming method. An image is formed on paper or the like. The image-formed paper is sorted and stored by the sorter 2.
Signals to the sorter 2 are sent via the interface circuit 22. The image data signal from the image memory controller 10 is output as laser light via the interface circuit 11, the laser driver circuit 12, and the laser 13.
The laser light is a polygon mirror 1 that reflects and scans the laser light.
4 and the polygon motor 15 for rotating the same, the motor driver circuit 16 for controlling the polygon motor 15, and the beam detector 19 for detecting the position of the laser beam are synchronized, and an image is recorded on the photoconductor 20. Control signals for the CPU 32 and the image memory controller 10 are sent via the interface circuit 33.

The CPU 32 sends to the image memory controller 10 an operation command for image data, a switching signal to an input terminal of the image memory, a signal for inputting, outputting and stopping the image data. It is sent to the image memory controller 10. From the image memory controller 10, the image memory state,
Information such as the usage status of the input / output terminals is sent to the CPU 32.

The interface circuit 34 sends and receives control signals between the document reading device 3 and the CPU 32.

The document reading device 3 is an automatic document feeder 10
A document 101 sent with 0 is a lens 102, a CCD 103
Read in, CCD driver 104, image control circuit 1
05 through the interface circuit 106, and outputs the image data signal to the image memory controller 10. The apparatus further includes a CPU 110, a program storage ROM 111,
Various timings are set by the work RAM 112, the interface circuit 113, the interface circuit 114, and the optical system drive circuit 107, and information such as the type state of the image memory controller 10 and the device is transmitted and received via the control circuit 108 and the interface circuit 109. .

The CRT display device 4 is used as a terminal of the recording device 1 and the general-purpose computer 5 via the interface circuit 200, and includes a CPU 201 and a program storage ROM 20.
2. Work RAM 203, keyboard 206, interface circuit 205, CRT control circuit 207, graphic control circuit 208, character generator 210 for generating dot pattern signals, interface circuit 209, CRT 211, and input / output of arbitrary character data Display and graphic display are possible. The fixed-form work in which the image operation and the number of copies to be performed in the recording device 1 are determined are input from the keyboard in the form of a program on the CRT display device 4, transferred in a form executable by the recording device 1, and transmitted via the interface circuit 28. It can be stored in the magnetic bubble 29. By doing this, a series of routine work can be automatically and continuously performed with a simple operation.
It is possible to do.

The general-purpose computer 5 comprises a CPU 300, a program storage ROM 301, a work RAM 302, an interface circuit 303, a floppy disk 304, an interface circuit 305, a magnetic disk 306, and an interface circuit 308, and a CRT display device 4 is used. , Create documents and perform office calculations. The document to be recorded by the recording device 1 and the calculation result are the control circuit 307, the character generator 310, and the interface circuit 311.
Is output as image data to the image memory controller 10. The interface circuit 309 transmits / receives information such as the type and status of the apparatus to and from the image memory controller 10.

The communication device 6 includes a communication line 412 and a modem 4.
The image data signal is transmitted and received via 03.
CPU 400, program storage ROM 401, work RAM 402, reception circuit 404, image conversion circuit 406 for converting compressed image data to a data format handled by the image memory controller 10, interface circuit 408, interface circuit 409, image memory controller The image conversion circuit 407 and the transmission circuit 405 are configured to compress the above data and convert it into data for a communication line. The image memory controller 10 and the communication device 6 are connected via an interface circuit 411 and a control circuit 410.
Sends and receives information such as device type and status.

The document reading device 3, the general-purpose computer 5, and the communication device 6 are selected by a command from the keyboard 206.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an image memory controller 10 is a document reading device 3, a general-purpose computer 5, a communication device 6, a printer section centering on a laser 13, and image data,
The control signal line is transmitted and received, the image data format,
The format of the control signal line is standardized and has versatility. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a device for generating image data,
By dividing the device for storing / managing the image data and the device for recording the image data and unifying the signal formats, it becomes easy to design each component of the system. In addition, when a new terminal is needed in the future, it can be dealt with without changing the design of the entire system.

Next, the image memory controller 10 will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the configuration of the image memory controller.

In FIG. 3, I ₁ , I ₂ , and I ₃ are image data input terminals for inputting image data from the document reading device 3, the general-purpose computer 5, and the communication device 6, and CI ₁ , CI ₂ , and CI. ₃
Are control signal input / output terminals corresponding to the image data input terminals I ₁ , I ₂ , and I ₃ . O ₁ and O ₂ are image data input terminals, and similarly, CO ₁ and CO ₂ are control input / output terminals corresponding to O ₁ and O ₂ . Terminals I ₁ , I ₂ , I ₃ , CI ₁ , CI ₂ , C
I ₃ , O ₁ , O ₂ , CO ₁ and CO ₂ correspond to similar symbols in the blocks of the image memory controller 10 of FIG. I ₄ , O ₃ are input and output terminals used for data transfer in the image memory controller 10, and are internally connected. Through this internally connected signal path, data transfer between different image memory channels is enabled.

As the image memory channel, the CPU 55 which operates the image memory 59 and the image memory 60 through the image memory 59 using the conductor memory, the image memory 60, and the system bus 62 to perform image data processing such as image editing There is a channel 1, a channel 2 composed of the magnetic disk 1, and a channel 3 composed of the magnetic disk 2. Each channel inputs image data at terminals ICH ₁ , ICH ₂ and ICH ₃ and outputs terminals OCH ₁ , OCH ₂ and OC.
Image data is output at H ₃ .

The CPU 55 is a ROM 5 for storing programs.
6. Using the work RAM 57, in addition to the above image operations, using the peripheral control circuit 63 via the system bus 62, interface circuits 50, 51, 52, 66, 67, multiplexers 53, 65, input / output changeover switches 68, 72, the image memory channel 2, and the image memory channel 3 are controlled.

Since the image data signal is serial data in the present embodiment, the serial / parallel conversion circuit 54 converts serial data input once to the terminal ICH ₁ into parallel data and stores it in the image memory 59 or 60 to store it in the CPU.
Used at 55 to allow manipulation of image data.
Generally, serial data is used for data transfer because the number of signal lines is small. For this reason, in this embodiment, serial image data is input / output to / from the image memory controller 10 and basically input / output to / from the internal image memory channel.

On the contrary, the parallel / serial conversion circuit 64 converts the image data of the image memory 59 and the image memory 60 into serial data and outputs it to the terminal OCH ₁ . Cereal·
Parallel conversion circuit 54, parallel / serial conversion circuit 6
By using 4, the image memory channel 1 can be treated as an image memory of apparent serial input / output. Further, by unifying the serial data signal formats between the channels, mutual image data transfer becomes possible. The DMA circuit 58 uses the serial / parallel conversion circuit 54 → image memory 59 or 6 without using the CPU 55.
0, the image memory 59 or 60 is used for high-speed data transfer of the parallel / serial conversion circuit 64. The high-speed arithmetic unit 61 is used for the purpose of strengthening the arithmetic capacity of the CPU 55 when complicated and large amount of arithmetic such as image rotation is required.

The interface circuit 76 is the CPU 3
2. Various control signals are transmitted to the CPU 55 via the interface circuit 33.

The image memory channel 2 and the image memory channel 3 are image memories having the same structure.
72, synchronization circuits 69, 73 for synchronizing the input / output image data with the image data stored / reproduced on the disc,
Disk control circuits 70, 73 for controlling the magnetic disk,
It is composed of magnetic disks 71 and 75. The multiplexers 68 and 72 are used by connecting them in the directions of the terminals ICH ₂ and ICH ₃ when storing the image data on the magnetic disk and in the directions of the terminals OCH 2 and OCH ₃ when reproducing the image data.

The multiplexer 53 has terminals ICH ₁ and IC
Terminals I ₁ , I ₂ , I ₃ , I ₄ connected to H ₂ and ICH _3.
Is switched as shown by the broken line in the figure. Terminal ICH ₁ , IC
The H _2, ICH _3, selects one of the input terminals _{I 1, I 2, I 3} , I 4, connection, or must not connected, for example, terminals I ₁ to the terminal ICH _1, I ₂ Since it is difficult to synchronize the two signals, it is forbidden to connect them redundantly. However, conversely, for example, the terminals ICH ₁ and ICH ₂ can be connected to the terminal I ₁ in an overlapping manner, and at the same time, image data can be stored in a plurality of image storage recording channels.

The multiplexer 65 has terminals OCH ₁ , OC.
H _2, the output is connected to OCH ₃ terminal O _1, O _2, O ₃
Is switched like the multiplexer 51 as shown by the broken line in the figure. In this case, the terminals OH ₁ , OH ₂ , and OH ₃ can be overlapped and the image data can be transferred to a plurality of devices or image memory channels at the same time, but again, it is difficult to synchronize the two signals at the same time. Overlapping connection to the output terminals O ₁ , O ₂ and O ₃ is prohibited.

The switching of the above multiplexers 53 and 65 is performed by the CPU 55, and it is automatically judged whether or not overlapping connection is possible, and the connection is made.

Next, control signal input / output terminals CI ₁ , CI ₂ , C
The control signal lines for I ₃ , CO ₁ and CO ₂ will be described. In this embodiment, each control signal line is composed of 8 bits and is determined as described below.

(A) Control signal lines 0 to 2 Signal lines for determining the type of connected device. As shown in Table 1, information transfer is from device to CPU 55.

[0032]

[Table 1]

(B) Control signal line 3 This is a signal line showing the flow of signals between the device and the image memory channel, and information transfer is from device to CPU 55. (B-1) When the control signal line 3 is 1, image data is transferred from the device to the image memory channel. (B-2) When the control signal line 3 is 0 Image data is transferred from the image memory channel to the device.

(C) Control signal line 4 A signal line for the CPU 55 to confirm whether the device is in a usable state. (C-1) When the control signal line 4 is 1, the device can be used. (C-2) When the control signal line 4 is 0 The device cannot be used.

(D) Control signal line 5 A signal line for the CPU 55 to confirm whether or not the device is operating. (D-1) When the control signal line 5 is 1, the device is operating. (D-2) When the control signal line 5 is 0, the device does not operate.

(E) Control signal line 6 A signal line for the device to request the CPU 55 to start operation. (E-1) When the control signal line 6 is 1 Operation request. (E-2) No request when control signal line 6 is 0.

(F) Control signal line 7 A response signal line of the CPU 55 to the control signal line 6. (F-1) When the control signal line 7 is 1, operation is permitted. (F-2) When the control signal line 7 is 0, operation is prohibited.

By using the control signal line determined as described above, the CPU 55 causes the image data input terminal CI
It is possible to know what device is connected to ₁ , CI ₂ , CI ₃ and the image data output terminals O ₁ , O ₂ , and to control each device.

The CRT display device indicates the use status of each device connected to the input / output terminal of the image memory controller 10, the use status of the image memory, the bin assignment of the sorter, and the use status by instructing with the keyboard 206. For example, it can be displayed as shown in FIGS.

In the present embodiment, the CRT terminal device is used for display, but a device for recording characters such as an ordinary printer is used and, if necessary, as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. Such information may be obtained.

When image data is transmitted to the communication device 6 from another while the document reading device 3 or the general-purpose computer 5 is being used, this image data may be stored using an unused image memory channel. It is possible.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an operation program for operating the above apparatus.

After the power is turned on, the RAM and the output ports are initialized in step SP ₁ . Step SP
_{From 1} onward, the loop operation is entered to control and display the sorter.

[0044] In Step SP ₂ to SP _6, or confirm the print request is issued from any device, when a print request, executes step SP ₃ to SP ₁₂ when no print request , the process proceeds to step SP _13.

[0045] At step SP ₃ to SP _6, reads the device ID that issued the print request, step SP ₇ to SP
_{In step 9} , the sorter bin assigned to the read device number is referenced from the sorter / bin assignment table.

The sorter / bin assignment table is a table showing which sorter bin is assigned to the device number, and the sorter / bin number is stored in the area assigned to each device by a ROM or a switch. Has been done.

In the present embodiment, it is arranged to check whether or not the communication device 6 is in the receiving state before reading the number of the device which has issued the print request.

At step SP ₁₀ , steps SP _{7 to} S
The sorter bin number read in P ₉ is output to the sorter, and the sorter bin is changed.

In step SP ₁₁ , printing is performed, and the print paper is output to the bin corresponding to the sorter device. In step SP _12, and stores information such as the number of printed sheets, when a display request, thereby enabling display.

[0050] In step SP _13, confirms whether there is a display request for information relating to the sorter, when a display request, the process proceeds to step SP _14, performs display.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Based on image data from multiple connected generators
An image is recorded on the recording material, and the recording material on which the image is recorded is selectively
Stored in one of the storage units and connected to multiple generators.
Multiple storage by distinguishing each type of storage
Since the generators corresponding to each of the parts are displayed, which
Even if such a generator is connected to the image forming apparatus, the user
Is the image data output from each of the multiple generators.
The recording material recorded based on the
You can easily know if it will be stored.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a part of a configuration of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of the configuration of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of an image memory controller.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display on a CRT.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of display on a CRT.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of display by a CRT.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Device 2 Sorter 3 Original Reading Device 4 CRT Display Device 5 General-purpose Computer 6 Communication Device 10 Image Memory Controller

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of generators for generating image data are provided.
Image data from the multiple generators connected to it
A plurality of input means for inputting each and a plurality of storage means capable of respectively storing different image data
To store different image data in the same storage means.
Input by each of the plurality of input means
Selectively transmitting image data to any of the storage means
Based on the transmission means and the supplied image data, an image is recorded on the recording material.
Recording means and different image data stored in the plurality of storage means.
Supplying means for selectively supplying the deviation to the common recording means
A record having a step and a plurality of storage units, which is ejected from the recording unit.
Storage means for selectively storing material in any of the storage sections
And a plurality of occurrences connected to each of the plurality of input means
By distinguishing each type of device,
Display that displays the generator corresponding to each storage compartment
An image forming apparatus comprising: the means. 2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the usage status of each of the plurality of storage units by determining the usage status of each of the storage units. Forming equipment.