JP2813417B2 - Copier - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying apparatus for obtaining a copy sheet corresponding to image data of a document.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, for example, in a copying machine, when the same image is obtained on a plurality of sheets, the same original is covered with a carrier sheet, which is a sheet for protecting and transporting the original, for example.
The original was sent many times and read, and the image was formed on paper.

However, while the original was sent many times, the same image could not be obtained because the original was shifted or skewed.

Therefore, when obtaining a plurality of identical copy sheets, the original image data is stored in the semiconductor memory element, the data of the original image is read from the semiconductor memory element, an image is formed, and a plurality of identical copy sheets are obtained. (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 55-4037).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in this proposal, since a storage element corresponding to the maximum document size is required, for example, a 32 Mbyte semiconductor memory is required for the maximum document size A0 size, and cost is reduced. However, there was a problem that the size was greatly increased.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and, for example, the same white portion of the original image data becomes the same signal, so that the signal and the subsequent distance of the signal are encoded, By using a compression technique of compressing the portion, the cost can be reduced by reducing the storage capacity of the storage element, and if the compressed data is larger than the storage data allowance, a display and / or warning is given to that effect. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus that emits light.

Means for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, a copy number setting switch for setting the number of copies, and whether or not the number of copies set by the copy number setting switch is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of copies is determined. If the number is smaller than the number of copies, a normal copy operation command is output,
When the number of copies is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of copies, a determination command means for outputting a compression copy operation command, and based on the determination command means, when a normal copy operation command is issued, the original is read by the number of copies by the normal copy operation to generate image data of the document. The original reading means obtains the original image data by reading the original by performing the normal copying operation at least once at the time of the compression copy operation command, and the original reading means obtains the original image data when the judgment instruction of the judgment instruction means is the compression copy operation. Compression means for encoding and compressing the read image data obtained, comparison means for comparing the amount of data compressed by the compression means with a predetermined storage data allowance, and based on a comparison result of the comparison means. When the compressed data amount is equal to or smaller than the storage data allowable amount, the image data compressed by the compression means is stored, and the storage data allowable amount is stored. Storage means, read means for reading data stored in the storage means, decompression means for decompressing the read image data, and image forming means for forming an image using the decompressed image data. It is provided with.

[Operation] In the present invention, the number of copies is set by the number-of-copies setting switch, and the determination command means determines whether or not the number of copies set by the number-of-copies setting switch is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of copies. If the number is smaller than the number of copies, a normal copy operation command is output. When the document reading means issues a normal copy operation command based on the determination command means,
The original is read by the normal copying operation for the number of copies to generate the image data of the original, and in the case of the compressed copying operation command, the original is read by performing the normal copying operation at least once to obtain the original image data, and the compression means issues the determination command. When the determination instruction of the means is a compression copying operation, the read image data obtained by the document reading means is encoded and compressed. The comparing means compares the amount of data compressed by the compressing means with a predetermined storage data allowance, and based on the comparison result of the comparing means, the compressed data amount is equal to or less than the storage data allowance. At this time, the storage means having the storage data allowance stores the image data compressed by the compression means, the reading means reads the storage data of the storage means, and the decompression means reads the read image data. And the image forming means forms an image using the decompressed image data, so that the cost can be reduced and a plurality of identical copies can be easily made.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the copying apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a copying apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the copying apparatus according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a document is placed on a document table 2 and sent by a document feeder 1. Then, the optical system 10 scans the original, and uses the light emitting function of the LED array (light emitting diode) 20 arranged on the upper part of the photoreceptor 3 to apply an electrostatic latent image to the photoreceptor 3 charged by the main charger 4. make. Then, the developing device 5, the transfer device 6, the separator 7, and the cleaning device 9 arranged around the photoreceptor 3 perform copying and the like, and are fixed on the sheet by the fixing device 18. And the paper is
The sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 19. Paper is supplied at the paper supply location
Supplied through rollers 13 from 11 or a manual feed tray
Supplied from 15.

Next, with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of an embodiment of the copying apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

The copy number setting switch 21 is a switch for setting the number of copies by the operator. Specifically, the copy number setting switch
Reference numeral 21 denotes a numeric keypad on an operation panel of the copying apparatus, for example, which is used to set the number of copies.

The determination command means 22 determines whether or not the number of copies set by the number-of-copies setting switch 21 is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of copies.
A normal copy operation command is output, and when the number of copies is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, a compression copy operation is output. In particular,
It may be realized by software using a microcomputer, or may be realized by assembling a dedicated hardware circuit. Here, the normal copy operation of the normal copy operation command is
By moving the optical system or the document by the number of copies, image data of the document is obtained and copied by the number of copies.

The document reading means 23, based on the determination command means 22,
In the case of a normal copy operation command, the original is read by the normal copy operation for the number of copies to generate image data of the original, and in the case of the compression copy operation instruction, the original is read by performing the normal read operation at least once to obtain the original image data. Things. More specifically, the document reading means 23 is for reading an original by an optical system and generating image data. In the case of a normal copying operation command, the document reading means 23 reads the original a number of times and outputs the read image data to an image forming means to be described later. 31 is
In each case, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 3 charged by the main charger 4 by using the light emitting function of the LED array 20 shown in FIG. 1, and an image forming operation is performed. In the case of the compression copy operation command, the obtained image data is sent to the compression means 24 described later.

The compression means 24 encodes and compresses the read image data obtained by the document reading means 23 when the judgment command of the judgment command means 22 is a compression copying operation. In a specific compression operation, for example, since the same white portion in the image data of the document becomes the same signal, the signal and the distance following the signal are encoded, and the portion is compressed.

The comparison unit 25 compares the amount of data compressed by the compression unit 24 with a predetermined storage data allowable amount of the storage unit 26 described later. Comparison means
More specifically, 25 may be realized by software using a microcomputer, or may be realized by assembling a dedicated hardware circuit. The amount of compressed data may be counted by either the compression unit 24 or the comparison unit 25, but in the present embodiment, the comparison unit 25 performs the counting.

The storage unit stores the image data compressed by the compression unit based on the comparison result of the comparison unit when the compressed data amount is equal to or smaller than the storage data allowable amount. Specifically, it is a page memory such as a RAM.

The reading means 27 is means for reading the stored data stored in the storage means 26 by the number of copies set by the copy number setting switch 21.

The expansion means 28 expands the image data read by the reading means 27, and the read image data is compressed by the compression means 24, and returns it to the original image data. It is.

The image forming unit 31 forms an image using the image data expanded by the expanding unit 28. Specifically, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 3 charged by the main charger 4 by using the light emitting function of the LED array 20 shown in FIG. 1
The image forming operation is performed as described with reference to FIG.

The display warning means 29 provided in the present invention according to the present invention, when the amount of data compressed by the compression means 24 is larger than the storage data allowable amount and overflows, based on the comparison result of the comparison means 25, Display status and / or
Or, it warns about overflow. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a portion of the document image data stored in the storage means 26 is represented by a solid line, and a portion which is not stored and overflows is indicated by a broken line. May be displayed, only the amount not stored in the storage means 26 may be displayed, or only the stored amount may be displayed. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the stored amount may be displayed as a percentage of the total amount. Next, as a specific method of warning, the operator may be notified by sounding a buzzer, or the lamp may be turned on at the same time. Among such displays and warnings, the display warning means 29 may perform both display and warning, or may perform either one of them. The location of the display warning means 29 is as follows.
The operation panel of the copying apparatus is considered to be appropriate, but is not limited to this.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the comparison means 25 overflows data according to the comparison result of the comparison means 25, the storage operation of the storage means 26, the reading operation of the reading means 27, and the decompression operation of the decompression means 28 Alternatively, the image forming operation of the image forming means 31 is stopped.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the comparing means 25 overflows data according to the comparison result of the comparing means 25, the reading operation, the decompression operation, and the image forming operation are continued only with the stored image data. It is.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the comparison means 25 overflows data according to the comparison result of the comparison means 25, an image is formed in the normal copying operation from the first copy number. Specifically, the document reading unit 23 reads the image data, and the image forming unit 31 reads the image data.
The image is formed for the number of copies.

Note that a selection switch for selecting the operation of the present invention according to claims 3, 4, and 5 may be provided.

The selection switch 30 in that case, when data overflows due to the comparison result of the comparing means 25, the storing operation of the storing means 26, the reading operation of the reading means 27, the expanding operation of the expanding means 28, or the operation of the image forming means 31. To stop the image forming operation, or to continue the reading operation, decompression operation, and image forming operation only with the stored image data, or the number of copies in the normal copying operation from the first copy. This is a switch for selecting one of the following operations: image formation. Specifically, the selection switch 30 may be, for example, a changeover switch as shown in FIG.
A push-button changeover switch as shown in FIG. 6B may be used, or another selectable switch may be used.

Next, the operation of one embodiment of the copying apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

First, the operator sets the number of copies to, for example, five using the multiple-number setting switch 21. Then, the judgment command means 22
The number of these five copies is a predetermined number of copies (for example, two).
It is determined that the value is larger than the predetermined value, and a compression copy operation command is output to the document reading means 23. If the set number of copies is smaller than the predetermined number, a normal copy operation command is output to the document reading means 23 to perform the above-described normal copy operation. Next, since the document reading means 23 is the compression copy operation command, the normal reading operation is performed once to read the document and obtain document image data. Then, the compression means 24 encodes and compresses the image data. More specifically, as described above, the portion where the same signal continues encodes the signal and the distance that the signal continues. And comparing means 25
First, the compressed data is counted, the amount is obtained, and then the amount is compared with a predetermined storage data allowable amount (that is, the storage capacity of the storage means 26).
Then, as a result of the comparison, if it is determined that the compressed data amount is equal to or smaller than the storage data allowable amount, the storage unit 26 stores the compressed image data. And reading means
27 reads out the stored data stored in the storage means 26,
Decompression means 28 decompresses the read image data. That is, the compressed data is restored.
Then, the image forming means 31 forms an image using the decompressed data. Since the number of copies is five, the data in the storage means 26 is read out four more times, decompressed, and an image is formed.

Also, as a result of comparing the compressed data amount with a predetermined storage data allowable amount (that is, the storage capacity of the storage device 26), the compressed data amount is larger and overflows. In such a case, the display / warning means 29 displays and warns to that effect.

Next, according to the comparison by the comparing means 25, the subsequent operation when the amount of compressed data is larger and overflows will be described with respect to the case of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention according to claim 3. After the warning of the overflow by means 29,
The comparing means 25 automatically stops the storing operation of the storing means 26, the reading operation of the reading means 27, the expanding operation of the expanding means 28, or the image forming operation of the image forming means 31. Here, the storage operation, the reading operation, the decompression operation, and the image forming operation are listed as the storage operation of the storage unit 26 at the stage where the comparison unit 25 is performing the comparison, or the reading operation may be performed. This is because the dipping operation may be performed, the operation may be advanced to the decompression operation, or the operation may be advanced to the image forming operation, and the operation may be stopped at the advanced stage. .

Next, by comparing the comparison means 25, if the subsequent operation when the amount of compressed data is larger and overflows is performed by the selection switch 30, the display warning means 29 indicates that overflow has occurred. After the warning, the operator selects one of the operation stop, the continuation operation and the normal copying operation by using the selection switch 30.

First, when the operator selects to stop the operation, the storage operation, the reading operation, the decompression operation, or the image forming operation is stopped, as in the embodiment of the present invention.

Next, when the operator selects the continuous operation, the overflowing amount of the compressed data is ignored, and only the stored image data is read by the reading means 27, and the decompression means is used.
The decompression by 28 and the image forming operation by the image forming means 31 are continuously performed to form an image.

Next, when the operator selects the normal copying operation, the respective operations of the original reading unit 23, the compression unit 24, and the storage unit 26 are ignored, and the normal reading operation is performed again by the original reading unit 23. . That is, the document reading unit 23 reads the document each time the number of copies is five, and the image forming unit 31 forms an image based on the data.

In the present embodiment, the comparison unit 25 stops the subsequent operation when the amount of compressed data is larger and overflows, and the comparison unit 25 stops the operation. It is not necessary to use the comparing means 25. For example, the display warning means 29 may be stopped.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, since a plurality of copies can be made by a storage unit having a small storage capacity, there is an effect that cost is not increased.

Further, according to the present invention, when the amount of data compressed by the compression operation by the compression means is larger than the storage data allowable amount and overflows, the operator can be displayed and / or warned.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus including an image data generating apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the image data generating apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a display example of an example display warning means, and FIG. 4 is a plan view of a selection switch of the embodiment. 21: Copy number setting switch, 22: Judgment command means, 23
Document reading means, 24 Compression means, 25 Comparison means, 26 Storage means, 27 Reading means, 28 Decompression means, 29 Display warning means, 30 Selection means, 31 image forming means.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A copy number setting switch for setting the number of copies, and whether or not the number of copies set by the number of copies setting switch is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of copies. A copy operation command is output, and when the number of copies is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, a determination command unit that outputs a compression copy operation command, based on the determination command unit,
In the case of a normal copy operation command, the original is read by the normal copy operation for the number of copies to generate image data of the original, and in the case of the compression copy operation instruction, the original is read by performing the normal read operation at least once to obtain the original image data. Document reading means, compression means for encoding and compressing the read image data obtained by the document reading means when the judgment command of the judgment command means is a compression copying operation, and amount of data compressed by the compression means Comparing means for comparing with a predetermined storage data allowable amount, and
Based on the comparison result of the comparing unit, when the compressed data amount is equal to or less than the storage data allowable amount, stores image data compressed by the compression unit, the storage unit having the storage data allowable amount, Reading means for reading data stored in the storage means, decompressing means for decompressing the read image data, and image forming means for forming an image by using the decompressed image data. A copying apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. When the amount of data compressed by the compression means overflows and exceeds the permissible storage data based on the comparison result of the comparison means, the storage state is displayed and / or 2. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a display warning unit that warns about overflow. 3. When the data overflows due to the comparison result of the comparing means, the storing operation of the storing means, the reading operation of the reading means, the expanding operation of the expanding means, or the image forming operation of the image forming means are performed. 3. The copying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said copying apparatus is stopped. 4. A copying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when data is overflowed as a result of the comparison by said comparing means, the reading operation, the decompressing operation and the image forming operation are continued only with the stored image data. apparatus. 5. The copying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when data is overflowed as a result of the comparison by said comparing means, an image is formed by the normal copying operation from the first copy number.