JP3719537B2 - Digital copier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a digital copying machine, and more particularly to a digital copying machine that can use an image input / output function offline using a removable storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, digital copiers are required to have high speed and multiple functions, and so-called digital multi-function machines in which a facsimile function and a printer function are added in addition to a copying function have appeared. A conventional digital copying machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the flow of image signals in a conventional digital copying machine. The conventional digital copying machine shown in FIG. 13 scans a document and converts reflected light from the document into an electrical signal, and an A / D that converts an analog image signal from the image sensor 71 into a digital image signal. A converter 72; an image processing circuit 73 for performing image processing such as edge enhancement, trimming, halftone processing and editing processing on the digital image signal; and an image signal from the image processing circuit 73 is buffered, and a laser driver 78, a buffer memory 74 for adjusting the speed for output to 78, a laser driver 78 for driving the semiconductor laser 79, a CPU 85, a LAN controller 80, a page memory 84, a parallel I / F 81, connected by a CPU bus 83, Consists of CCU (communication control unit) 82 and compression / decompression circuit 86 It has been.
[0003]
The light emitted from the semiconductor laser 79 becomes a basis for forming an image on a recording sheet by a known laser printer method. The CPU 85 includes a RAM and a ROM (not shown) and controls the entire digital copying machine. The page memory 84 has a capacity capable of storing at least one page of image data, and is connected to the buffer memory 74. The image data stored in the page memory 84 is output to the laser driver 78 via the buffer memory 74 and recorded on the recording paper.
[0004]
The LAN controller 80 is for communicating with an external device via a local area network (LAN). When the digital copying machine is used as a remote printer, an external device such as a computer transmits a print control command and image data to the digital copying machine via a LAN. The CPU 85 expands the image data received via the LAN in the page memory based on the received print control command. It is also possible to connect a digital copying machine and an external device on a one-to-one basis using a parallel I / F 81. In this case, when the digital copying machine is used as a printer of an external device, the external device transmits a print control command and image data to the digital copying machine via the parallel I / F of the digital copying machine.
[0005]
The CCU 82 uses the modem 87 to communicate with an external facsimile apparatus via a public line. The image data received by facsimile is decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 86, transferred to the page memory 84, and printed out. The original image data read for facsimile transmission is stored in the page memory 84, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 86, and transmitted to the external facsimile apparatus via the CCU 82 and the modem 87. When the image scanner function of the digital copying machine is used from an external device, the external device transmits a document reading control command to the digital copying machine via the parallel I / F 81, and the read document image data is externally transmitted from the digital copying machine. Send to device.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In general, a high-speed digital PPC having a copying capacity of several tens or more per minute is often installed in a common space such as a copying room or a corridor. When copying multiple copies of a document created with a personal computer, the user outputs a manuscript with a nearby printer, takes the manuscript to the place where the digital copier is installed, and places a sorter with the digital copier. A plurality of copies will be made using it. In particular, when the personal computer used by the user is a notebook type or the like and is not connected to the LAN, the remote print function provided in the digital copying machine cannot be used. In these cases, since the original image is once printed on paper and then copied, there is a problem that the image is deteriorated.
[0007]
On the other hand, when the user's personal computer is connected to the digital copying machine via a LAN, the user can use the remote printing function of the digital copying machine. Accordingly, the user can directly use functions such as a sorter of the digital copying machine directly from his / her personal computer. However, even if the remote printing function of the digital copying machine is used, the user eventually has to go to the installation site of the digital copying machine at a remote location in order to take out the output of the printer. Further, when a large amount of copying is performed using the remote print function, there is a high possibility that a paper jam or a recording paper break will occur in a digital copying machine. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to go to a place where the digital copying machine is located at a remote location, even though the user uses the remote print function. That is, it can be said that the remote (online) printing function in a high-speed digital copier is a function that does not make much sense.
[0008]
Similarly, when using the image scanner function of the digital copying machine online from the user's personal computer using a parallel I / F or LAN, the user needs to set the read document in the image scanner section of the digital copying machine. For this reason, the user needs to go to a place where the digital copier is located at a distance. In other words, when the digital copying machine and the computer where the image scanner function is to be used are separated, online connection is not very meaningful.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional digital copying machine as described above, and the image can be printed using a removable storage medium. Image An object of the present invention is to provide a digital copier that can use the power function offline.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a digital copying machine according to the present invention includes a document reading unit that reads image information of a document and outputs an image signal, and forms a document image on the recording sheet based on the image signal. Forming image output means and means for accessing a removable storage medium, controlling the image formation means based on output control information stored in the storage medium, and storing the storage medium in the storage medium A digital copying machine that prints out image data, Concerned Stores print function information of the copying machine in the removable storage medium. The external device that has a function and creates the image data is loaded with the storage medium in which the print function information is stored, and in the external device, based on the print function information stored in the storage medium Based on the set output control information by generating output control information for printing out image data, storing the output control information and the image data in the storage medium, and mounting the output control information on the copying machine. The image data can be printed out. .
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a digital copying machine of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a digital copying machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the flow of image signals in the digital copying machine according to the present invention. The digital copying machine of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes an auto document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 50 provided on a document table 1, an image scanner unit 100 provided below the document table 1, and an image scanner. The laser printer unit 200 is provided independently of the unit 100, and the operation unit 300 is provided on the image scanner unit 100, for example. The operation unit 300 includes a PC card slot 89.
[0022]
The image scanner unit 100 includes an exposure lamp 101, a first mirror 102, a constant speed unit 103, a second mirror 104, a third mirror 105, a half speed unit 106, a lens 107, an image sensor 108, and the like. It is configured. The laser printer unit 200 includes a laser scanner unit 201 including a semiconductor laser, a polygon motor, a polygon mirror, and a laser optical system (not shown), a mirror 202, a photosensitive drum 203, a main charger 204, and a development unit. 205, transfer charger 206, cleaner 207, static elimination lamp 208, conveying belt 209, fixing device 210, guide 211, paper discharge roller 212, paper feed rollers 213, 214 and 215, guide 216, a timing roller 217, recording paper cassettes 218, 219, and 220, a sorter 221 and the like.
[0023]
The basic operation as a copying machine in the digital copying machine of the present invention configured as described above will be described. A plurality of documents placed on the ADF 50 are placed downward on the document table 1 made of a transparent glass plate one by one by the ADF. The exposure lamp 101 exposes the document. The first mirror 102 reflects the reflected light from the document in the direction of the second mirror 104. A constant velocity unit 103 comprising an exposure lamp 101 and a first mirror 102 moves at a constant speed in the direction of arrow P, and scans a document. The second mirror 104 and the third mirror 105 further reflect the reflected light from the first mirror 102. The half speed unit 106 composed of the second mirror 104 and the third mirror 105 moves in the same direction as the constant speed unit 103 at half the speed of the constant speed unit 103. The reflected light from the document is focused by the lens 107 and focused on the image sensor 108. The photosensitive drum 203 rotates in the direction of arrow R at a constant speed. The main charger 204 uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 203. The laser light emitted from the laser scanner unit 201 is reflected by the mirror 202, and the photosensitive drum 203 is exposed and scanned to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 203. The developing unit 205 develops the electrostatic latent image with toner and forms a toner image on the photosensitive drum 203.
[0024]
Each of the recording paper cassettes 218, 219, and 220 is detachable, and holds recording papers of different sizes within a predetermined number according to the required size and direction. The paper feed rollers 213, 214, and 215 feed the recording paper in the recording paper cassette one by one. The guide 216 guides the fed recording paper and guides it to the timing roller 217. The timing roller 217 performs registration for aligning the fed recording sheet with the toner image on the photosensitive drum 203 and adjusts the feeding timing. The toner image on the photosensitive drum 203 is transferred to the recording paper by the electric field generated by the transfer charger 206. The conveyance belt 209 moves in the direction of arrow Q and conveys the recording paper to the fixing device 210. The fixing device 210 fixes the toner on the recording paper to the recording paper by heat. The guide 211 guides the recording paper from the fixing device 210 to the paper discharge roller 212. The paper discharge roller 212 guides the recording paper from the fixing device 210 to the sorter 221. The sorter 221 includes a plurality of paper discharge trays (bins), and performs collation at the time of copying in units of copies. The sorter 221 has a staple (stapling) function and a punch function. The cleaner 207 removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 203 from the photosensitive drum 203. The static elimination lamp 208 erases the charge on the photosensitive member by exposing the photosensitive drum 203.
[0025]
Next, the configuration of the digital copying machine according to the present invention based on the flow of image signals will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the digital copying machine of the present invention scans an original and converts reflected light from the original into an electrical signal, and converts an analog image signal from the image sensor 71 into a digital image signal. An A / D converter 72 that performs the image processing circuit 73 that performs image processing such as edge enhancement, trimming, halftone processing, and editing processing on the digital image signal, and an image signal from the image processing circuit 73 is buffered. The buffer memory 74 for adjusting the speed for output to the laser driver 78, the laser driver 78 for driving the semiconductor laser 79, the CPU 85, the LAN controller 80, the page memory 84, and the parallel connected by the CPU bus 83. I / F 81, CCU (communication control unit) 82, compression / decompression circuit 86, It is composed of a C card controller 88 or the like.
[0026]
The light emitted from the semiconductor laser 79 becomes a basis for forming an image on a recording sheet by a known laser printer method. The CPU 85 includes a RAM and a ROM (not shown) and controls the entire digital copying machine. The page memory 84 has a capacity capable of storing at least one page of image data, and is connected to the buffer memory 74. The image data stored in the page memory 84 is output to the laser driver 78 via the buffer memory 74 and recorded on the recording paper.
[0027]
The LAN controller 80 is for communicating with an external device via a local area network (LAN). When the digital copying machine is used as a facsimile transmission server, an external device such as a computer transmits a destination telephone number and image data to the digital copying machine via a LAN. The CPU 85 compresses the image data received from the external device via the LAN by the compression / decompression circuit 86 as necessary. A CCU (communication control unit) 82 uses the modem 87 to transmit the image data compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 86 to the external facsimile apparatus via the public line.
[0028]
Note that it is also possible to connect the digital copying machine and the external device on a one-to-one basis using the parallel I / F 81. In this case, the digital copying machine can be controlled from a nearby computer. By executing dedicated digital copier control software on a computer connected to the digital copier, for example, the number of copies / number of copies, recording paper size, copy density, enlargement ratio, and the need for double-sided copying are not necessary and output. In addition to copying mode settings such as the sorting method for recording paper to be printed, complex image editing processing settings such as the presence / absence of frame erasing, trimming area setting, area setting for editing processing such as negative / positive reversal, etc. It becomes possible using.
[0029]
The image data received by facsimile is decompressed by the compression / decompression circuit 86, transferred to the page memory 84, and printed out. The original image data read for facsimile transmission is stored in the page memory 84, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 86, and transmitted to the external facsimile apparatus via the CCU 82 and the modem 87.
[0030]
The PC card controller 87 controls access from the CPU 85 of the memory card installed in the PC card slot 89. When a print job command file in which print output control information is stored and an image data file to be printed exist in a memory card mounted in the PC card slot 89, the digital copying machine of the present invention is based on the print output control information. Print image data. In the case of a digital copying machine, the mounting state of optional equipment such as a sorter and finisher and editable functions that can be set often vary depending on the option configuration. For this reason, it is preferable to store function information provided as a printer in a memory card as a print function information file. Details of the offline print function will be described later.
[0031]
If a scan job command file in which read control information is stored is present in a memory card mounted in the PC card slot 89, the copying machine of the present invention can set a document image set on the basis of the read control information. Is stored in the memory card as an image data file. After the user sets the original, the user presses a start button (not shown) of the operation unit 300 to start reading the original. In the case of a digital copying machine, the mounting state of an optional device such as an ADF and the image reading function often vary depending on the option configuration. For this reason, the digital copying machine of the present invention stores image reading function information provided as an image scanner in the memory card as an image reading function information file. Details of the offline image input function will be described later.
[0032]
(Offline print function)
Next, an off-line print function in the digital copying machine of the present invention will be described. The user inserts his / her memory card in the digital copying machine of the present invention in advance and downloads the print function information file to the memory card. The contents of the print function information file are shown in FIG. The contents of the print function information file shown in FIG. 3 will be described below.
[0033]
The format of the print function information file is described as follows for each line.
[Function items] [List of selectable functions]
Or
[Function items] [Function capabilities]
The setting value written first in the list of selectable functions is the default value.
[0034]
The meaning of each line of the print function information file shown in FIG. 3 is shown below.
First line: A4, A4R, B4, A3, B5, and B5R can be set as the recording paper size, and the default is A4.
Second line: 400 DPI and 600 DPI can be selected as the recording resolution, and the default is 400 DPI.
3rd row: Gray level (number of data bits per pixel) can be selected from 1, 2, 4, 8 bits, and the default value is 1 bit.
Fourth line: TIFF, JPRG, and PCL5 can be selected as the image data file format, and the default is TIFF.
5th line: When TIFF is selected as the image data file format, G3 (MH), G4 (MMR), RLE (run length), and LZW can be selected as the data compression method, and the default is G3.
6th line: There is a double-sided printing function, and the necessity of double-sided printing can be set. By default, single-sided printing is set.
Line 7: A saddle stitch printing function is provided, and when the saddle stitch printing function is used, the pages can be rearranged and printed on a recording sheet having an area size twice as large as the image data, so that two pages can be printed on each side. By default, the saddle stitch function is not used.
8th line: In the sorter operation setting, it is possible to designate either sorter non-use, stack for each page, or collation for each unit. The default setting is no sorter.
Ninth line: indicates that the number of the discharge trays (bins) of the sorter is 20. You cannot collate more than 20 parts on a sorter.
10th line: When the sorter function is used, the maximum number of recording sheets that can be stacked in each bin is shown.
11th line: The presence or absence of stapling (stapling) can be specified.
12th line: The stop position for stapling can be specified, and one of four types 1 to 4 can be selected. The default is 1. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the stapling position and the designated number.
13th line: When the stapling function is used, the maximum number of recording sheets that can be stapled is shown.
14th line: The presence or absence of punching (drilling) can be specified. The default is no punch.
15th line: Indicates the maximum number of recording sheets that can be punched when the punch function is used.
[0035]
The user creates a document / image using document / image creation application software such as a word processor or DTP (desktop publishing) software executed on a personal computer. The printer driver software for the digital copying machine of the present invention is installed in a personal computer used by the user in advance. When a user-created document or image is printed off-line using the digital copying machine of the present invention, a memory card having a print function information file downloaded is loaded into the user's personal computer. The user activates the printer driver from the document / image creation application software. The printer driver refers to the print function information file stored in the memory card and displays a dialog box for allowing the user to set the print function of the digital copying machine on the display of the personal computer.
[0036]
Next, FIG. 5 shows a schematic display of the dialog box corresponding to the print function information file shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, a rectangular area on the right side of the characters “START Page-ENDPage”, “Copies”, and “Data File Name” is an edit box, and a print start page, an end page, the number of copies, and an image data file name are input. The circles in the other rows are radio buttons that can be selected by alternative. ● indicates items that have been selected. Only when TIFF is selected as the image data file format, the selection item of TIFF Compression is effective. If the sorter is set to be used in the dialog box, the printer driver checks the value of Max Sort or Max Stack in the print function information file, and warns the user if it is inconsistent with the setting of the number of copies or pages. Similarly, when the staple function or punch function is used, the Max StapleSheets and Max Punch values of the print function information file are checked, and the user is warned if they are inconsistent with the setting of the number of copies or pages.
[0037]
After setting each item in the dialog box, the user clicks the OK button in FIG. 5 with the mouse. The printer driver creates a print job command file and an image data file based on the settings in the dialog box and stores them in the memory card. FIG. 6 shows the contents of the print job command file corresponding to the settings in the dialog box of FIG. The first line (Reset) of the print job command file in FIG. 6 indicates that the print function setting value is reset to the default value. In the “Data File” section, the name of an image file to be printed is described. In the case of FIG. 5, the image file name is sample. tif. In the image file, a multi-page (multiple page) image is stored in one file. Note that the print job command file can combine a plurality of jobs into one file. That is, a plurality of image files can be output with different print function settings.
[0038]
A flowchart of the process of the printer driver is shown in FIG. The printer driver reads the print function information file from the memory card, and displays a print function setting dialog box based on the read file. The user clicks an OK button after setting each setting item in the dialog box. The printer driver checks whether there is a contradiction in the dialog box settings, displays a warning if there is a contradiction, and prompts the user to reset the dialog box. If there is no contradiction, a print job command file and an image data file are created and stored in the memory card.
[0039]
The user extracts the memory card storing the print job command file and the image data file from the user's personal computer and inserts it into the PC card slot 89. The CPU 85 detects that a memory card has been inserted via the PC card controller 87 and searches for a print job command file on the memory card. When the print job command file exists, the CPU 85 analyzes the print job command file and makes necessary settings for the control circuit (not shown) of the laser printer unit and the sorter unit. The CPU 85 refers to the image data file name in the print job command file, reads the image data file from the memory card, and prints it. When the image data is compressed, the CPU 85 expands the image data in the page memory 84 using the compression / decompression circuit 86. When performing saddle stitch printing or the like, the page order of the image data file and the printing order are not the same, so the CPU 85 controls to print each page in the image data file in an appropriate order. When all the print outputs specified in the print job command file are completed, the CPU 85 deletes the print job command file and the image data file stored in the memory card.
[0040]
Image data such as a document created by a personal computer or the like and output control data (print job command file) of the image data are generated and stored in a removable recording medium from the user's personal computer, and this storage medium is stored in the PC card slot 89. It is possible to output the image data stored in the storage medium offline in a desired output form. Therefore, the user can specify the number of copies and the sorting or stapling method at the time when the document is created by the personal computer. For this reason, it is not necessary to print with a nearby printer once as in the prior art, and it is not necessary to copy the printed document, and there is no deterioration in the image quality of the copy. In particular, notebook type computers are often not connected to external devices via a LAN or the like in order to be portable. Even in such a case, according to the digital copying machine of the present invention, offline printing can be easily performed using a memory card or the like.
[0041]
Furthermore, in the case of a high-speed copying machine, the configuration of optional devices such as a sorter and a finisher is various, so it is difficult to specify the printing function of the copying machine. In the schematic configuration diagram of FIG. 1, FIG. 8 shows the configuration of a digital copier equipped with a finisher 222 instead of the sorter 221. As shown in FIG. A finisher is a device that stacks and then staples in units of copies. In particular, in a digital copying machine, an electronic finisher is used to collate in units of units instead of a sorter. The electronic finisher has a large-capacity storage means such as a hard disk device in the digital copying machine, temporarily stores the read image data of a plurality of pages of the document, performs printing in units of copies, and performs collation in units of copies. This eliminates the need for a mechanical sorter.
[0042]
When the finisher 222 is attached to the digital copying machine instead of the sorter 221, a hard disk device is also added to the digital copying machine. Some finisher functions have a function of folding printed recording paper. In some cases, duplex printing cannot be performed unless an optional device called an automatic duplex unit is installed in the digital copying machine. As described above, depending on the mounting state of the optional device of the copying machine, the print output function of the copying machine may be different even if the main body is the same model. Since the digital copying machine of the present invention can download the printing function information possessed by the copying machine to a storage medium, the user can use all the printing functions possessed by the digital copying machine.
[0043]
(Offline image input function)
Next, the offline image input function in the digital copying machine of the present invention will be described. The user inserts his / her memory card in the digital copying machine of the present invention in advance and downloads the reading function information file to the memory card. The contents of the reading function information file are shown in FIG. The contents of the reading function information file shown in FIG. 9 will be described below.
[0044]
The format of the reading function information file is described as follows for each line.
[Function items] [List of selectable functions]
Or
[Function items] [Function capabilities]
The setting value written first in the list of selectable functions is the default value.
[0045]
The meaning of each line of the reading function information file shown in FIG. 9 is shown below.
First line: A4, A4R, B4, A3, B5, and B5R can be set as the read document size, and the default is Auto. “Auto” means to automatically detect the document size.
Second line: The following three types of document placement methods can be specified. A document is fed from an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) and scanned until there is no more scanned document (ADF). One sheet of document placed on the document table is read (Flat Bed). When an original is placed on the ADF, the original from the ADF is read. Otherwise, the original on the original table is read (Auto). The default is Auto.
Third line: The maximum value of the reading resolution is 400 DPI.
4th line: The minimum value of the reading resolution is 250 DPI.
5th line: Gray level (number of data bits per pixel) can be selected from 1, 2, 4, 8 bits, and the default value is 1 bit.
6th line: As the halftone processing method, one of simple binarization processing (BI), dither processing (DT), and error diffusion processing (ED) can be selected. The default is simple binarization processing (BI).
7th line: TIFF, BMP, or JPEG can be selected as the image data file format, and the default is TIFF.
Line 8: When TIFF is selected as the image data file format, G3 (MH), G4 (MMR), RLE (run length), and LZW can be selected as the data compression method, and the default is G3.
9th line: There is a double-sided reading function of the original, and the necessity of double-sided scanning can be set. By default, single-sided scanning is set.
10th line: When reading, there is a contrast adjustment function, and Auto (automatic), -2 (low contrast) to 2 (high contrast) can be selected. The default is Auto.
11th line: There is a read density adjustment function, and Auto (automatic), -2 (light) to 2 (dark) can be selected. The default is Auto.
12th line: When reading, there is a function of adjusting the edge enhancement amount, and Auto (automatic), -2 (weak edge enhancement) to 2 (strong edge enhancement) can be selected. The default is Auto.
13th line: A reading area can be specified. The default is a setting that does not specify a reading area (reads the entire document size).
14th line: The designated unit of the reading area is millimeter (mm).
[0046]
When off-line printing is performed using the digital copying machine of the present invention, the user attaches the memory card having the reading function information file downloaded to his / her personal computer. The user executes scan job command file creation software for a digital copying machine that is installed in advance in a personal computer used by the user. This software refers to the reading function information file stored in the memory card, and displays a dialog box for allowing the user to set the reading function of the digital copying machine on the display of the personal computer.
[0047]
FIG. 10 shows a schematic display of a dialog box corresponding to the reading function information file shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, a rectangular area on the right side of Scanning Resolution, Scanning Area Position, Scanning Area Length, and Data File Name is an edit box. Enter the image data file name. The circles in the other rows are radio buttons that can be selected by alternative. ● indicates items that have been selected. Only when TIFF is selected as the image data file format, the selection item of TIFF Compression is effective. Also, only when Scanning Area Setting is Yes, the set values of Scanning Area Upper-Left Position and Scanning Area Length are valid. The scan job command file creation software checks the value of MAX Resolution and MIN Resolution of the reading function information file, and warns the user if it is inconsistent with the setting of Scanning Resolution in the dialog box.
[0048]
After setting the items in the dialog box, the user clicks the OK button in FIG. The scan job command file creation software creates a scan job command file based on the settings in the dialog box and stores it in the memory card. FIG. 11 shows the contents of the scan job command file corresponding to the dialog box setting of FIG. The first line (Reset) of the scan job command file in FIG. 11 indicates that the reading function setting value is reset to the default value. In the “Data File” section, the name of an image file storing read image data is described. In the case of FIG. 11, the image file name is sample. tif. In the image file, a multi-page (multiple page) image is stored in one file. The scan job command file can combine a plurality of jobs into one file. That is, a plurality of read originals can be read with different reading function settings.
[0049]
FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the process of the scan job command file creation software. This software reads the reading function information file from the memory card, and displays a reading function setting dialog box based on the reading function information file. The user clicks the OK button after setting each setting item in the dialog box. This software checks the dialog box settings for conflicts, displays a warning if there is a conflict, and prompts the user to reset the dialog box. If there is no contradiction, a scan job command file is created and stored in the memory card.
[0050]
The user extracts the memory card storing the scan job command file from the user's personal computer and inserts it into the PC card slot 89 of the digital copying machine of the present invention. The CPU 85 detects that a memory card has been inserted via the PC card controller 87, and searches for a scan job command file on the memory card. When the scan job command file exists, the CPU 85 analyzes the scan job command file and makes necessary settings for the control circuit (not shown) and the image processing circuit 73 of the image scanner unit and the ADF 50 unit. The read document image data is stored in the page memory 84. The CPU 85 uses the compression / decompression circuit 86 to compress the image data stored in the page memory, and stores the compressed image data in the memory card with the image data file name specified in the scan job command file.
[0051]
The user removes the memory card storing the image data file from the digital copying machine and attaches it to the user's personal computer. The user accesses the image data stored in the memory card using document creation / image editing software executed on a personal computer.
[0052]
As described above, when the image input function of the digital copying machine of the present invention is used, document reading control data (scan job command file) is stored in a removable recording medium, and this storage medium is stored in the digital copying machine. Insert it into the PC card slot. As a result, the digital copying machine of the present invention can output the read image data to the storage medium in a desired reading form offline, and the user can easily read the read control data using the user interface of the personal computer. Can be created. In particular, notebook computers are often not directly connected to external devices in order to be portable. Even in such a case, according to the digital copying machine of the present invention, it is possible to easily read an original image offline using a memory card or the like.
[0053]
Furthermore, in the case of a copying machine, the configuration of optional devices such as the presence or absence of ADF, the function of ADF (whether double-sided scanning is possible, whether or not there is an automatic document size detection function, etc.), and the presence or absence of a slide reader are various. It is difficult to specify the image reading function of the copying machine. Even if the main body is the same model, the image reading function of the copying machine varies depending on the mounting state of optional devices of the copying machine. However, by downloading the image reading function information of the copying machine to the storage medium, the user can use all the image reading functions of the digital copying machine.
[0054]
In the above embodiment, a memory card is used as a removable storage medium. However, the same effect can be obtained by using a floppy disk, an optical disk, a removable hard disk, or the like. In the above embodiment, the case of a monochrome digital copying machine has been described, but the same applies to a color copying machine. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the function information file and the job command file are character data files, but may be files encoded into binary data.
[0055]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the digital copying machine of the present invention, a document reading unit (for example, an image scanner unit) that reads image information of a document and outputs an image signal, and a document image on a recording sheet based on the image signal. An image forming unit (for example, a laser printer unit) for forming and outputting a recording sheet, and a unit (for example, a memory card reader) for accessing a removable recording medium (for example, a memory card) are provided on the storage medium. Since the image forming means is controlled based on the stored output control information and the image data stored in the storage medium is printed out, the image data such as a document created by a personal computer or the like and the image Data output control data is stored in a detachable recording medium, and this storage medium is attached to the digital copying machine of the present invention to record the data. The image data stored in the medium can be output by the offline desired output form. As a result, it is not necessary to copy a document that has been printed using a nearby printer in advance, and a predetermined number of documents can be copied directly using a digital copying machine, so that the image quality of the copy is not deteriorated.
[0056]
And a sorter for collating the recording paper output from the image forming means, and controlling the sorter based on the output control information stored in the storage medium, or a finisher for stapling the recording paper output from the image forming means. By controlling the finisher based on the output control information stored in the storage medium, the user can specify the number of copies and the sorting or stapling method when a document or the like is created by a personal computer.
[0057]
Also, by storing the image forming means and sorter or finisher function information in a removable storage medium, the print function information of the copying machine can be downloaded to the storage medium, and the user can use all the printing functions of the digital copying machine. Is possible. Also, by encoding and compressing the image data and decoding the image data by the decompressing means, the capacity of data that can be stored in one storage medium can be increased. Also, the output of image data When finished Stored in a removable storage medium The By erasing the output control information and the image data, the free space of the storage medium can always be utilized to the maximum extent.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a digital copying machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the flow of image signals in the digital copying machine of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the contents of a print function information file
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a staple fixing position and a designated number.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a dialog box for allowing a user to set a print function.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of a print job command file
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of printer driver processing.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the configuration of another embodiment of the digital copying machine of the present invention equipped with a finisher.
FIG. 9 is a view showing the contents of a reading function information file
FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a dialog box for setting a reading function.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the contents of a scan job command file
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of processing of scan job command file creation software;
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the flow of image signals in a conventional digital copying machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: Document table
50: ADF (Auto Document Feeder)
71: Image sensor
72: A / D converter
73: Image processing circuit
74: Buffer memory
78: Laser driver
79: Semiconductor laser
80: LAN controller
81: Parallel I / F
82: CCU
83: CPU bus
84: Page memory
85: CPU
86: Compression / decompression circuit
87: Modem
88: PC card controller
89: PC card slot
100: Image scanner section
101: Exposure lamp
102: First mirror
103: Constant velocity unit
104: Second mirror
105: Third mirror
106: Half speed unit
107: Lens
108: Image sensor
200: Laser printer section
201: Laser scanner unit
202: Mirror
203: Photosensitive drum
204: Main charger
205: Developer
206: Transfer charger
207: Cleaner
208: Static elimination lamp
209: Conveyor belt
210: Fixing device
211: Guide
212: Paper discharge roller
213: Paper feed roller
214: Paper feed roller
215: Paper feed roller
216: Guide
217: Timing roller
218: Recording paper cassette
219: Recording paper cassette
220: Recording paper cassette
221: Sorter
222: Finisher

Claims (1)

A document reading means for reading image information of the document and outputting an image signal;
An image forming means for forming a document image on recording paper based on the image signal and outputting the recording paper; and means for accessing a detachable storage medium. Output control information stored in the storage medium A digital copier that controls the image forming unit based on the image data and prints out the image data stored in the storage medium;
Has a function of storing print function information possessed by the copying machine in the removable storage medium,
The storage device storing the print function information is attached to an external device that creates the image data, and the image data is printed out based on the print function information stored in the storage medium in the external device. Output control information is generated, and the output control information and the image data are stored in the storage medium and attached to the copying machine, whereby the image data based on the set output control information is stored. A digital copier characterized by enabling print output .

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