JP5257250B2 - Image processing device, color image forming apparatus, image processing method, image processing program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing device, a color image forming apparatus, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium, and more specifically, an image processing device that can be commonly applied to image forming apparatuses having different maximum number of colors used, The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus equipped with an image processing device, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as copying apparatuses and composite apparatuses are equipped with integrated circuits for image processing, for example, ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), read image data with a scanner and stored in a memory, etc. In the ASIC, various image processing is performed to generate an output image, and output processing such as printing the output image with a printer is performed.

  On the other hand, in recent years, there has been a demand for higher quality output images in image forming apparatuses such as color composite apparatuses and large-sized image forming apparatuses, and C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black). In addition to four color toners (developer), special color toners such as transparent toner and white toner are added to form an image with five or more color toners to improve image quality ( (See Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  In such an image forming apparatus, for example, when a five-color image forming unit obtained by adding one special color to CMYK is provided, output image data is generated for each of the five-color image forming units. The image processing is performed on each of the output image data of the five colors by one engine ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), and each image is supplied to the corresponding image forming unit.

  In this case, normally, an engine ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) for image processing is mounted on an engine unit that controls the operation of the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus, and the processing is performed. The four-color image forming apparatus uses an engine ASIC dedicated to four colors, and the five-color image forming apparatus develops and mounts an engine ASIC dedicated to five colors. In other words, an ASIC for image processing has been developed exclusively for each color number because the number of gates increases as the number of colors to be processed increases and the cost of the ASIC increases.

  However, since the engine ASIC corresponding to the maximum number of colors for image formation of the image forming apparatus has been developed in the above prior art, the development cost is high, and the image processing device that is the engine ASIC and the image device There is a problem in that the price of an image forming apparatus equipped with is expensive.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an image processing device that can be shared by color image forming apparatuses having different numbers of processable colors while reducing the circuit scale, a color image forming apparatus equipped with the image processing device, an image processing method, and image processing The object is to provide a program and a recording medium.

First means of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, for the image forming unit for each color of those said respective color images formed on the recording medium in the order of a predetermined color on the basis of the image data of each color, an image processing device for outputting sequentially reads the image data of a predetermined number of colors in the memory, a data reading means for reading the image data of the predetermined number of colors from said memory, temporarily stored for temporarily storing image data of each color while have a memory, said data reading means said predetermined number of colors the image data of the read, the number and the data reading means of reading predetermined based on the color and color number of the person the image data of said image forming means predetermined number of outputs in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming means incorporating in capture sequence and store the skilled the temporary storage memory corresponding to the color of the person the image data Comprising an image output unit, and an image output switching means for outputting to said image forming means corresponding to the color of the person the image data receiving said image data output from the predetermined number of image output means, the predetermined number Each of the image output means includes two temporary storage memories, the number of the image forming means is larger than the number of the predetermined number of image output means, and the data reading means includes the predetermined number of image output means. When reading out the image data having a larger number of colors than the number, the image output unit corresponding to the capturing order captures the image data for the first recording medium read by the data reading unit, The image output switching is performed in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data using one of the temporary storage memories When the image data read by the data reading means exceeds the predetermined number of image output means, the image data is taken in again from the first image output means in the taking order, For the second recording medium read out by the data reading means and outputted to the image output switching means in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the temporary storage memory For the image data, the image data is sequentially fetched from the image output means next to the image output means that fetches the image data of the last color of the first recording medium in the fetch order, and the temporary storage memory stores the image data. The other is used to output the image according to the image formation timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data. And performing toggle capture output process of outputting the Toggles means.
According to a second means of the present invention, in the first means, the predetermined number of image output means has a larger number of the image forming means than the predetermined number of image output means, and the data reading means When reading out image data having a larger number of colors than the predetermined number of image output means, the image output means from the image output means that has taken in the image data again by the toggle capture output process on the first recording medium. The output timing of the image data is outputted at a predetermined timing after the image data fetched by the image output means in accordance with the fetch order is outputted to the image output switching means.
The third means of the present invention comprises a plurality of image forming means for forming images of different colors on the transported recording medium, reads image data of a predetermined number of colors on the memory by an image processing device, and A color image forming apparatus that outputs to the corresponding color image forming means and sequentially forms the color image on the recording medium by the image forming means to form a color image. The image processing device includes the image processing device of the first means or the second means.
According to a fourth means of the present invention, in the third means, there is provided a transport control means for controlling the transport of the recording medium, wherein the transport control means includes a number of the image forming means of the predetermined number of image output means. More than the number, and when the data reading means reads out the image data of the number of colors larger than the number of the predetermined number of image output means, the conveyance interval of the recording medium is set to the predetermined number of images of the image processing device. An image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data that is output again by the output unit to the one recording medium by the toggle capturing output process, and the same predetermined number of image outputs of the image processing device An image forming unit that forms an image on the basis of image data that the unit first captures and outputs avoids a state in which image formation is simultaneously performed on one recording medium. And controlling the that interval.

According to a fifth means of the present invention, image data of a predetermined number of colors on the memory is provided to the image forming means for each color that forms an image of each color on a recording medium in the predetermined color order based on the image data of each color. Is an image processing method for sequentially reading out and outputting image data in a data read processing step for reading the image data of the predetermined number of colors from the memory by a data read means and a data read processing step by the predetermined number of image output means. The acquired image data of the predetermined number of colors is captured in a predetermined capture order based on the number of the image forming means and the color and the number of colors of the image data read in the data read processing step, and is stored in the temporary storage memory. Then, a predetermined number of image output processing steps to be output in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data. And an image output switching processing step for receiving the image data output in the predetermined number of image output processing steps by the image output switching means and outputting to the image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data. In the predetermined number of image output processing steps, the predetermined number of image output means causes the number of the image forming means to be larger than the predetermined number of image output means, and the data reading means includes the predetermined number of image output means. When reading out image data having a larger number of colors than the number of image output means, the image output means corresponding to the capture order is used for the image data for the first recording medium read by the data read means. The image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data using one of the pair of temporary storage memories In addition to outputting to the image output switching means in accordance with the image formation timing, and when the image data read by the data reading means exceeds the predetermined number of image output means, the image output means at the head of the capture order starts again from the image output means. The image data is captured and output to the image output switching unit in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the pair of the temporary storage memories. With respect to the image data for the second recording medium read by the data reading unit, the image data is sequentially output from the image output unit next to the image output unit that has captured the image data of the last color of the first recording medium in the capturing order. Capture the data and use the other one of the pair of temporary storage memory for the image data To match the color to an image forming timing of the image forming unit corresponding and performs toggle capture output process of outputting to the image output switching means.

According to a sixth means of the present invention, image data of a predetermined number of colors on a memory is provided to an image forming means for each color that forms an image of each color on a recording medium in a predetermined color order based on the image data of each color. Is an image processing program executed by a computer that sequentially reads out and outputs the data, a data read processing step for reading out the image data of the predetermined number of colors from the memory by a data read-out means, and the image output means by the predetermined number of image output means. The image data of the predetermined number of colors read in the data reading processing step is read in a predetermined capturing order based on the number of the image forming means and the color and the number of colors of the image data read in the data reading processing step. At the image forming timing of the image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data that is captured and stored in the temporary storage memory And a predetermined number of image output processing steps to be output, and the image forming means for receiving the image data output in the predetermined number of image output processing steps by an image output switching means and corresponding to the color of the image data The predetermined number of image output processing steps are performed by the predetermined number of image output means so that the number of the image forming means is the predetermined number of image outputs. When the data reading means reads out image data having a larger number of colors than the predetermined number of image output means, the image data for the first recording medium read by the data reading means The image output means corresponding to the capture order captures the image data, and sets one of the temporary storage memories. Is output to the image output switching means in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data, and the image data read by the data reading means is the predetermined number of image output means. When the number of the image data exceeds the number, the image data is captured again from the first image output unit in the capture order, and the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the pair of the temporary storage memories The image data for the second recording medium read out by the data reading means is output to the image output switching unit in synchronization with the image formation timing of the first recording medium in the capturing order. The image data is sequentially fetched from the image output means next to the image output means that fetched the image data, Including a procedure for performing a toggle capture output process for outputting to the image output switching unit in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the pair of temporary storage memories. to. The seventh means of the present invention is a recording medium that records the image processing program of the sixth means and is readable by a computer.

According to the present invention, the number of image forming means is larger than the number of image output means and the number of data reading means is larger than the number of image output means by each image output means corresponding to a predetermined capture order. When reading a number of pieces of image data, the image data for the first recording medium and the image data for the second recording medium read by the data reading means are used separately for a pair of temporary storage memories at the image forming timing of the image forming means. In addition, since the toggle capture output processing to be output to the image output switching means is performed, the circuit scale in the image processing device can be reduced , and the image processing device can be shared by color image forming apparatuses having different processable colors.

1 is a block diagram of a main part of a color image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The principal part block block diagram of a controller unit. FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of an engine unit and a plotter of a five-color color image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of an engine unit and a plotter of a color image forming apparatus corresponding to four colors. The block block diagram of engine ASIC. The detailed block block diagram of an image output control part. The figure which shows an example of the register set of an image output control part. The figure which shows an example of the interface control signal between engine ASIC and write-in control part ASIC. Explanatory drawing of operation | movement at the time of 5 color image formation in engine ASIC of a color image forming apparatus corresponding to 5 colors. The figure which shows the usage method of the image output control part at the time of 5 color image formation in engine ASIC of a color image forming apparatus corresponding to 5 colors. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of register settings when a five-color image is formed in a five-color color image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram when forming a four-color image in the engine ASIC of the four-color-compatible color image forming apparatus. The figure which shows the usage method of the image output control part at the time of 4 color image formation in engine ASIC of a color image forming apparatus corresponding to 4 colors. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of register settings in a four-color color image forming apparatus. Explanatory drawing of operation | movement at the time of 4 color image formation in the engine ASIC of a color image forming apparatus corresponding to 5 colors. The figure which shows the usage method of the image output control part at the time of 4 color image formation in engine ASIC of a color image forming apparatus corresponding to 5 colors. The figure which shows the state machine in case an engine ASIC is shared by the color image forming apparatus corresponding to 4 colors and the color image forming apparatus corresponding to 5 colors. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a photosensitive member interval of each color in a plotter of a five-color color image forming apparatus. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram between papers in a plotter of a color image forming apparatus corresponding to five colors.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

  1 to 19 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image processing device, a color image forming apparatus, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a color image forming apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of a color image forming apparatus, an image processing method, an image processing program, and a recording medium are applied.

  In FIG. 1, a color image forming apparatus 1 includes a scanner 2, a controller unit 3, an engine unit 4, a plotter 5, and the like. Although not shown, an operation display unit that performs various operations and displays necessary information. A facsimile communication unit that performs facsimile communication using an external public line, a network communication unit that transfers image data via a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and the like. Good.

  As the scanner 2, for example, an image scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like is used, and generally includes an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder). A plurality of documents are set in the ADF, and the ADF feeds the set documents one by one to the document reading position of the scanner 2. The scanner 2 scans the document conveyed from the ADF, reads an image of the document with a predetermined resolution, binarizes it, and outputs it to the controller unit 3.

  As the plotter 5, for example, an electrophotographic recording device or the like is used. The plotter 5 receives an image of a document read by the scanner 2 on a recording sheet or received by a facsimile communication unit or a network communication unit (not shown). In addition to recording and outputting images and the like, necessary reports are recorded on recording paper. As will be described later, the plotter 5 includes an image forming unit (image forming unit) that forms four or more colors such as four colors and five colors depending on the model of the color image forming apparatus 1 to form a color image. To do.

  The controller unit 3 controls the entire color image forming apparatus 1, performs image processing on an input image from the scanner 2 and the like, and executes various applications. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller unit 3 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). 11, a controller ASIC 12, a memory 13, a hard disk (HDD) 14, and the like.

  The memory 13 performs image processing in which a basic program as the color image forming apparatus 1 and an engine ASIC 25 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), which will be described later, are shared by the four-color and five-color color image forming apparatuses 1. A program and necessary system data are stored, and image data, primary data of the CPU 11 and a DMAC descriptor are also stored. The basic program, the image processing program, and the like may be stored in the hard disk 14.

  The CPU 11 includes an interface for the memory 13, and controls the entire color image forming apparatus 1 using the memory 13 as a work memory based on a program in the memory 13, and performs basic processing and processing as the color image forming apparatus 1. Image processing using an engine ASIC 25, which will be described later, in particular, print image generation and the like are performed.

  The controller ASIC 11 includes an interface to the hard disk 14, and image data input from the scanner 2, the program communication unit, and the network communication unit (in the following description, for the sake of clarity, the image data is the scanner 2). Only the image data read in the above will be described, but the same applies to image data received by a program and image data received from a network).

  In the hard disk 14, image data, a program, and the like are written by the controller ASIC 11 and read out.

  The engine unit 4 reads out image data on a memory such as the memory 13 and the hard disk 14 of the controller 3 and outputs the image data to the plotter 5 in accordance with a synchronization signal from the plotter 5, as shown in FIGS. Block configuration. 3 shows a five-color engine unit 4a and a five-color plotter 5a when the color image forming apparatus 1 is a five-color compatible color image forming apparatus. FIG. A four-color engine unit 4b and a five-color plotter 5b in the case of a four-color image forming apparatus are shown.

  3 and 4, the 5-color engine unit 4a and the 4-color engine unit 4b are engine CPUs 21a and 21b, ROMs (Read Only Memory) 22a and 22b, RAMs (Random Access Memory) 23a and 23b, and write control, respectively. The ASICs 24a and 24b, the engine ASIC 25, and the like are provided, and the engine ASIC 25 is commonly applied to the five-color engine unit 4a and the four-color engine unit 4b.

  The ROMs 22a and 22b store the basic program as the 5-color engine unit 4a and the 4-color engine unit 4b, the image processing program of the present invention, and the like, and the RAMs 23a and 23b serve as work memories for the engine CPUs 21a and 21b. Used. The engine CPUs 21a and 21b use the RAMs 23a and 23b as work memories based on the programs in the ROMs 22a and 22b, and control the write control units ASICs 24a and 24b and the engine ASIC 25 to control the 5-color engine units 4a and 4 colors. The processing as the corresponding engine unit 4b is executed, and the image processing as an engine unit using the five-color engine ASIC 25 of the present invention is executed.

  The engine ASIC 25 is an engine ASIC that supports image data of 5 colors and image data of 5 colors or less, and includes output terminals (output interfaces) for 5 colors as output terminals. After the image data on the memory (hard disk 14 or memory 13) of the unit 3 is read out and necessary image processing is performed, it is output to the write control unit ASIC 24a or the write control unit 24b.

  The writing controller ASIC 24a of the five-color engine unit 4a includes input terminals for five colors, and the input terminals (input interfaces) for the five colors are connected to the output terminals for the five colors of the engine ASIC 25. Then, writing control corresponding to five colors is performed. The write control unit ASIC 24b of the engine unit 4b for four colors includes input terminals for four colors, and an output terminal for four colors among the output terminals for five colors of the engine ASIC 25 is connected to the input terminals for four colors. Are connected to perform write control corresponding to four colors.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the five-color-compatible color image forming apparatus 1 has a plotter 5a having image forming portions (not shown) for five colors for CMYK colors and special colors T. The image forming unit includes CMYK color writing units 5ac, 5am, 5ay, 5ak and a special color T writing unit 5at. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the four-color corresponding color image forming apparatus 1 includes an image forming unit (not shown) as an image forming unit for four colors of CMYK. The unit includes writing units 5bc, 5bm, 5by, and 5bk for each color.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the engine ASIC 25 includes an image input I / F (interface) 31, an arbiter 32, four color (four channels) image output control units 33a to 33d, an image output switching unit 34, and the like. The image input I / F (data reading means) 31 reads image data from the memory (hard disk 14 or the like) of the controller unit 3 and passes it to the arbiter 32. The arbiter 32 performs arbitration when passing the image data from the image input I / F 31 to the 4-channel image output control units 33a to 33d, and the image output control units (image output means) 33a to 33d receive from the arbiter 32. The output control of the image data to the image output switching unit 34 is performed. The image output switching unit (image output switching means) 34 outputs to the 4-channel image output control units 33a to 33d and the writing units 5ac to 5ak and 5at of the plotter 5a outside the engine ASIC 25 or the writing units 5bc to 5bk of the plotter 5b. Switches the connection with the output channel.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each of the image output control units 33a to 33d includes a document image DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) 41a, a stamp image DMAC 41b, a tint block image DMAC 41c, and an image composition unit. 42, an image output control unit 43, line memories (temporary storage memories) 44a and 44b, a control signal generation unit 45, and the like.

  The document image DMAC 41a reads the image data of the document read by the scanner 2 from the hard disk 14 of the controller unit 3 via the arbiter 32 and outputs it to the image composition unit 42. The stamp image DMAC 41b is preliminarily connected to the controller via the arbiter 32. The stamp image stored in the hard disk 14 or the like of the unit 3 is read and output to the image composition unit 42. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image DMAC 41 c reads out a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image stored in advance in the hard disk 14 or the like of the controller unit 3 via the arbiter 32 and outputs it to the image composition unit 42.

  The image composition unit 42 synthesizes images input from the document image DMAC 41 a, the stamp image DMAC 41 b, and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image DMAC 41 c and outputs them to the image output control unit 43, and the image output control unit 43 controls the control signal from the control signal generation unit 45. Based on the signal, the line memory 44a and the line memory 44b are toggled, and the image data sent from the image composition unit 42 is temporarily stored in the line memory 44a or the line memory 44b, and is stored in the image output switching unit 34. Output.

  The control signal generation unit 45 outputs a control signal to the image output control unit 43 and the image output switching unit 34 to control image output.

  The image output control units 33a to 33d include two register sets R1 and R2 as registers for DMAC (particularly, the original image DMAC 41a), for example, as shown in FIG. R2 includes descriptor pointer registers DP1 and DP2 for designating descriptor addresses, memory width registers MWIDTH1 and MWIDTH2, image width registers IWIDTH1 and IWIDTH2, and execution registers EXEC1 and EXEC2, respectively. As will be described later, in the case of the color image forming apparatus 1 for five colors, one image output control unit 33a to 33d is used twice to perform one (one page) image output process. This is because it exists.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, interface control signals are exchanged between the engine ASIC 25 and the write control ASICs 24a and 24b. FIG. 8 shows interface control signals between the writing control ASIC 24a and the engine ASIC 25 of the five-color color image forming apparatus 1. The writing control ASICs 24a and 24b output an IFGATE_N signal indicating a paper area and an ILSYNC_N signal which is a main scanning synchronization signal to the engine ASIC 25. The engine ASIC 25 matches the clock CLK and the main scanning image area in accordance with these signals. And the OFGATE_N signal indicating the sub-scanning image area are output to the write control ASICs 24a and 24b.

  The color image forming apparatus 1 includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), An image processing program for executing the image processing method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a DVD (Digital Video Disk), an SD (Secure Digital) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) is read. By introducing the controller 13 into the memory 13, the hard disk 14, the ROM 22 a of the engine unit 4 a, or the engine unit 4 b, an engine ASIC 25, which will be described later, is used in the four-color corresponding color image forming apparatus 1 and the five-color corresponding color image forming apparatus 1. Image processing method for image processing using in common It is constructed as an image forming apparatus to execute. This image processing program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark) or an object-oriented programming language, and is stored in the recording medium. Can be distributed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In the color image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the engine ASIC 25 is shared by the four-color corresponding color image forming apparatus 1 and the five-color corresponding color image forming apparatus 1.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the engine ASIC 25 includes four image output control units 33a to 33d, and the image output switching unit 34 receives image data from the four image output control units 33a to 33d. It has a 4-channel input interface and a 5-channel output interface to the write control ASICs 24a, 24b.

  When the engine ASIC 25 is mounted on the engine unit 4a of the five-color-compatible color image forming apparatus 1 and performs image formation output with five colors of CMYK color and special color T, for the first sheet, FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the engine unit 4 a sequentially receives CMYK image data Dc, Dm, Dy, and Dk from the arbiter 32 to the four image output control units 33 a to 33 d of the engine ASIC 25. After being input and temporarily stored in one of the line memories 44a and 44b, the image output control units 33a to 33d are transferred to the image output switching unit 34 in accordance with the image forming timing in the image forming unit of the plotter 5a of the color. The image output switching unit 34 passes from the output channel corresponding to each color of CMYK to the corresponding input channel of the writing control ASIC 24a. The image data Dt of the special color T, which is the fifth color, is input from the arbiter 32 to the leading image output control unit 33a as shown in the last column of the first sheet of FIG. 9 and FIG. Then, after temporarily storing in the other of the line memories 44a and 44b, the head image output control unit 33a to the image output switching unit 34 are synchronized with the image forming timing in the image forming unit of the plotter 5a for the special color T. Then, the image output switching unit 34 outputs from the fifth output channel to the corresponding input channel of the write control ASIC 24a.

  Next, for the second sheet, the engine unit 4a outputs an image among the four image output control units 33a to 33d of the engine ASIC 25 as shown in the column for the second sheet of FIG. 9 and FIG. Since the control unit 33a is used for the fifth color (special color T) of the first sheet of paper, the CMY image data Dc, Dm, and Dy are sequentially input from the arbiter 32 to the next image output control units 33b to 33d. The image data is temporarily stored in the other of the line memories 44a and 44b, and then transferred from the image output control units 33b to 33d to the image output switching unit 34 in accordance with the image forming timing in the image forming unit of the plotter 5a of the color. The image output switching unit 34 outputs from the output channel corresponding to CMY to the input channel corresponding to the write control ASIC 24a, and the K color image data Dk and special Are sequentially input from the arbiter 32 to the image output control unit 33a and the image output control unit 33b, temporarily stored in one of the line memories 44a and 44b, and then the image in the image forming unit of the plotter 5a of the color. In accordance with the formation timing, the image output control units 33a and 33b transfer the image output switching unit 34 to the image output switching unit 34. The image output switching unit 34 corresponds to the write control ASIC 24a from the output channel corresponding to K color and the fifth output channel. Output to the input channel.

  The engine unit 4a performs the toggle capture output process for the third sheet of paper, as described in the process for the second sheet of paper from the image output control unit 33c following the second sheet, although not shown. I do. That is, among the four image output control units 33a to 33d of the engine ASIC 25, the image output control unit 33b is used in the fifth color (special color T) of the second sheet of paper, so that the next image output control unit from the arbiter 32 is used. After the CM image data Dc and Dm are sequentially input to 33c to 33d and temporarily stored in one of the line memories 44a and 44b, the image is synchronized with the image forming timing in the image forming unit of the plotter 5a of the color. From the output control units 33c to 33d to the image output switching unit 34, the image output switching unit 34 outputs from the output channel corresponding to the CM to the corresponding input channel of the write control ASIC 24a, and Y-color image data Dy, The K color image data Dk and the special color T image data Dt are sequentially input from the arbiter 32 to the image output control units 33a to 33c. Then, after temporarily storing in the other of the line memories 44a and 44b, the image output control units 33a to 33c pass the image output switching unit 34 to the image output switching unit 34 in accordance with the image forming timing in the image forming unit of the plotter 5a of the color. The image output switching unit 34 outputs the output channel corresponding to the Y color and the K color and the fifth output channel to the corresponding input channel of the write control ASIC 24a.

  That is, on the first sheet of paper, the first color C image data Dc is sent to the image output control unit 33a, the second color M image data Dm is sent to the image output control unit 33b, and the third color Y image data. Dy is input to the image output control unit 33c, the K color image data Dk of the fourth color is input to the image output control unit 33d, and the image data Dt of the fifth special color T is input to the image output control unit 33a. Then, the first color C image data Dc, the second color M image data Dm, the image output control unit 33c, and the third color Y image data Dy are image output control units. In 33d, while performing a toggle capture output process in which the image data Dk of the fourth color K is input to the image output control unit 33a and the image data Dt of the fifth special color T is input to the image output control unit 33b, each It controls to process the data in the image output control section 33a~33d do not overlap.

  In addition, the image output switching unit 34, for the first sheet of paper, at the timing of the first color (C color) and the image output control unit 33a and the output channel (output channel 1) corresponding to the C color, the second color (M color). The image output control unit 33b at the timing and the output channel corresponding to the M color (output channel 2), and the output channel corresponding to the Y color at the timing of the third color (Y color) (output channel 3), 4 Corresponding to the image output control unit 33d and the special color T at the timing of the color (K color) and the output channel (output channel 4) corresponding to the K color and the fifth color (special color T) at the timing of the color (K color) The output channel (output channel 5) is selected, and the second sheet of paper is the output channel (output channel) corresponding to the C color and the image output control unit 33b at the timing of the first color (C color). 1) The image output control unit 33c at the timing of the second color (M color) and the output channel (output channel 2) corresponding to the M color to the image output control unit 33d and the Y color at the timing of the third color (Y color) Image output control unit 33a at the timing of the corresponding output channel (output channel 3), the fourth color (K color) and the output channel (output channel 4) corresponding to the K color, and the image output at the timing of the fifth color (special color T) An output channel (output channel 5) corresponding to the control unit 33b and the special color T is selected. Thereafter, switching is performed while rotating the image output control units 33a to 33d and the output channels 1 to 5 with the image data of five colors (CMYK and T).

  In the color image forming apparatus 1 for five colors, the register sets R1 and R2 are set in the image output control units 33a to 33d of the engine ASIC 25 as shown in FIG. That is, when the five-color-compatible color image forming apparatus 1 forms an image with five colors, as shown in FIG. 11, first, the first sheet of paper is stored in the register set R1 of the image output control units 33a to 33d. A register set for CMYK color is performed, the register set R1 and the register set R2 are toggled, and the register set for the special color T is set in the register set R2 of the image output control unit 33a.

  Further, the color image forming apparatus 1 performs a register set for each color of CMY on the register set R2 of the image output control units 33b to 33d for the second sheet of paper, and sets the register set R1 of the image output control units 33a and 33b. Register settings for K color and special color T are performed.

  That is, for the first sheet of paper, setting of the register set R1 of the image output control unit 33a for the first color (C color), setting of the register set R1 of the image output control unit 33b for the second color (M color), third color Setting of register set R1 of image output control unit 33c for (Y color) Setting of register set R1 of image output control unit 33d for fourth color (K color) Image output control unit for fifth color (special color) The register set R2 of 33a is set, and the second sheet of paper is set by the register set R2 of the image output control unit 33b for the first color (C color) and the image output control unit 33c for the second color (M color). Setting of the register set R2, setting of the register set R2 of the image output control unit 33d for the third color (Y color), setting of the register set R1 of the image output control unit 33a for the fourth color (K color), fifth color ( To set the register set R1 of the image output control unit 33b for Koto color). Thereafter, the image output control units 33a to 33d are controlled to be rotated while the register sets R1 and R2 are toggled.

  Next, when the engine ASIC 25 is mounted on the engine unit 4a of the four-color-compatible color image forming apparatus 1 and performs image formation output with four colors of CMYK, one sheet of FIG. 12 is used for the first sheet. As shown in the eye column and FIG. 13, the engine unit 4 a sequentially inputs CMYK image data Dc, Dm, Dy, Dk from the arbiter 32 to the four image output control units 33 a to 33 d of the engine ASIC 25. After temporarily storing in one of the line memories 44a and 44b, the image output control units 33a to 33d are transferred to the image output switching unit 34 in accordance with the image forming timing in the image forming unit of the plotter 5b of the color, and the image output switching is performed. The unit 34 outputs the output channel corresponding to each color of CMYK to the corresponding input channel of the write control ASIC 24a.

  Next, the engine unit 4a uses all four image output control units 33a to 33d of the engine ASIC 25 as shown in the column of the second sheet of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 for the second sheet. Since the first sheet is processed, the CMYK image data Dc, Dm, Dy, and Dk are sequentially input from the arbiter 32 to the image output control units 33a to 33d as in the case of the first sheet, and the line memory After temporarily storing in one of 44a and 44b, the image output control unit 33a to 33d transfers the image output switching unit 34 to the image output switching unit 34 in accordance with the image forming timing in the image forming unit of the color plotter 5b, and the image output switching unit 34 outputs from the output channel corresponding to CMYK to the corresponding input channel of the write control ASIC 24a.

  In the color image forming apparatus 1 corresponding to four colors, the number of colors used is the same as the number of image output control units 33a to 33d or less than the number of image output control units 33a to 33d. Is not used in the toggle, and processing is performed using only one of the register sets R1, R2, for example, the register set R1. That is, in the color image forming apparatus 1 corresponding to four colors, when image formation is performed with four colors, first, as shown in FIG. The CMYK register is set in the register set R1 of the image output control units 33a to 33d for the first sheet, and the image output control units 33a to 33d for the second sheet are the same as the first sheet. The register set for CMYK is set in the register set R1.

  The case of forming an image with four colors or less in the five-color color image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. In the color image forming apparatus 1 for five colors, for example, without using Y (yellow), two colors of red and black by C (cyan), M (magenta), and K (black) are used, and a special color T is transparent (transparent) When copying using toner, the operation is as shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the engine ASIC 25 uses the image output control unit 33 a for the first color, the image output control unit 33 a for the second color, and the image output control unit 33 b for the third color, for the third color. The image output control unit 33c is used for the K color, and the image output control unit 33d is fixedly used for the fourth special color (T color). The image output switching unit 24a includes an image output control unit 33a and an output channel ch1, an image output control unit 33b and an output channel ch2, an image output control unit 33c and an output channel ch4, and an image output control unit 33d for all sheets. Output channel ch5 is fixed and selected.

  A state machine when the engine ASIC 25 is shared by the four-color corresponding color image forming apparatus 1 and the five-color corresponding color image forming apparatus 1 is shown in FIG.

  That is, the engine ASIC 25 starts from the state s0, and when “1” is written to the exec of the register set R1, the state transitions to the state s1. The engine ASIC 25 is in the state s1, is in the state s1 during the transfer, and transitions to the state s2 when the transfer is completed. Further, in the state s2, the engine ASIC 25 makes a transition to the state s3 when “1” is written in exec of the register set R2 in the color image forming apparatus 1 for five colors. The engine ASIC 25 transitions to the state s1 when “1” is written to exec of the register set R1 in the color image forming apparatus 1 for four colors. In the state S2, in both exec1 and exec2, the state between “0” is the state s2.

  The engine ASIC 25 is in the state s3, is in the state s3 during the transfer, and transitions to the state s4 when the transfer is completed.

  The engine ASIC 25 transitions to the state s1 when “1” is written in the exec of the register set R1 in the color image forming apparatus 1 for five colors in the state s4.

  As described above, the engine ASIC 25 includes four image output control units 33a to 33d, line memories 44a and 44b, and two register sets R1 and R2, and these four image output control units 33a to 33d. When using the line memory 44a, 44b and the register sets R1, R2 to share the engine ASIC 25 between the four-color corresponding color image forming apparatus 1 and the five-color corresponding color image forming apparatus 1, Since the image forming apparatus 1 forms an image of four colors or less, the image formation can be performed by using four image output control units 33a to 33d for each color of the image formation. 1, when five-color image formation is performed, four image output control units 33 are formed using five-color image data used for image formation as described above. 9 to 11, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the same image output control unit is used by using the line memories 44 a and 44 b and the register sets R 1 and R 2 with a toggle to print on one sheet of paper. 33a-33d is used twice to form an image.

  Therefore, in the plotter 5a of the five-color color image forming apparatus 1, when the first color image forming unit and the last color image forming unit operate simultaneously, image formation using the same image output control units 33a to 33d is performed. Therefore, proper image formation cannot be performed.

  Therefore, in the case of performing image formation using five colors, the color image forming apparatus 1 corresponding to five colors according to the present embodiment has an image forming unit (image forming station) for the CMYK color and the specific color T as shown in FIG. The interval between the photoconductors 5sc to 5st is the first image in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the length in the sub-scanning direction (paper transport direction) of the maximum paper size that can be formed by the color image forming apparatus 1 for five colors. An interval is provided such that the photoconductor 5sc of the forming unit and the photoconductor 5st of the last image forming unit do not operate simultaneously.

  In addition, when performing image formation using five colors, the color image forming apparatus 1 corresponding to five colors according to the present embodiment is the first in the sub-scanning direction (paper transport direction) even in the transport of paper. The photosensitive member 5sc of the first image forming unit and the photosensitive member 5st of the last image forming unit are transported in a state where there is a gap between sheets where they do not operate simultaneously. That is, as shown in FIG. 19, the five-color color image forming apparatus 1 always performs sheet conveyance control in a state where the photoconductors 5sc to 5st of one image forming unit are not used. FIG. 19 shows a case where the photoreceptor 5sy is in an unused state. Therefore, when the five-color-compatible color image forming apparatus 1 forms an image with five colors, for example, when the paper size is shorter than the interval between the photoconductors 5sc to 5st of the two image forming units, the two papers are used. Since the image forming unit does not operate across the photoconductors 5sc to 5st at the same time, if the paper does not overlap, the image forming unit forms an image on the continuously conveyed paper. Can be packed to the extent possible. Further, as described above, the five-color-compatible color image forming apparatus 1 does not use the same image forming unit a plurality of times on one sheet when an image is formed with four or less colors. As shown in FIG. 13, since the output channels of the image output control units 33a to 33d and the engine ASIC 25 are fixed, if the sheets do not overlap with each other, the image forming unit applies to the continuously conveyed sheets. The space between the sheets can be reduced to a range where image formation is possible.

  As described above, in the color image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the engine ASIC 25 forms an image of the color on a sheet in a predetermined color order (CMYK order in the present embodiment) based on the image data of each color. In order to sequentially read out and output image data of a predetermined number of colors on the hard disk 14 or the memory 13 of the controller unit 3 to the image forming section for each color of the plotters 5a and 5b, the hard disk 14 or the memory is read by the image input I / F 31. The predetermined number (four) of image output control units 33a to 33d read the image data of a predetermined number of colors read from 13 and the number of image forming units (five or four) and the image data read from the hard disk 14 or the memory 13. Line memory 44a included in the image output control units 33a to 33d. 44b and output in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data of the plotters 5a and 5b, and the image output switching unit 34 is output from the image output control units 33a to 33d. Is output to the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data of the plotters 5a and 5b.

  Therefore, by adding the image output switching unit 34 to the engine ASIC 25, one type of engine ASIC 25 can be used for the color image forming apparatus 1 having a different maximum output color number, specifically, for five colors without increasing the circuit scale. The color image forming apparatus 1 and the color image forming apparatus 1 corresponding to four colors can be shared, and the number of lots and the development number of the engine ASIC are reduced to reduce the cost of the engine ASIC, and hence the cost of the color image forming apparatus 1. Can be reduced.

  Further, in the engine ASIC 25 of this embodiment, each of the image output control units 33a to 33d includes two line memories 44a and 44b, respectively, and the number of image forming units of the plotters 5a and 5b is equal to that of the image output control units 33a to 33d. When the image input I / F 31 reads image data having a larger number of colors than the number of the image output control units 33a to 33d, the image data for the first sheet is an image corresponding to the capturing order. The output control units 33a to 33d take in the image data, and use one line memory 44a to switch the image output in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data of the plotters 5a and 5b. Output to the unit 34, and when the read image data exceeds the number of the image output control units 33a to 33d, the capturing order The image data is captured again from the leading image output control units 33a to 33d, and the image output is switched in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data using the other line memory 44b. For the image data for the second sheet output to the section 34, the image output control section 33a next to the image output control sections 33a to 33d that captured the last color image data of the first sheet in the capturing order. ... Toggle capture output that sequentially captures image data from 33d and outputs to the image output switching unit 34 in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data using the other line memory 44b. Processing is in progress.

  Therefore, one type of engine ASIC 25 can be appropriately shared by the color image forming apparatuses 1 having different maximum output colors without increasing the circuit scale. Further, even when the number of image output means is larger than the number of output channels, all channels can be set before the operation starts, and software control becomes easy.

  Further, in the engine ASIC 25 of the present embodiment, the number of image forming units of the plotters 5a and 5b is larger than the number of image output control units 33a to 33d, and the number of image input I / Fs 31 is the number of the image output control units 33a to 33d. When reading out image data having a larger number of colors, each of the image output control units 33a to 33d receives image data from the image output control units 33a to 33d that has captured the image data for the first sheet again by the toggle capture output process. The output timing of the image data is a predetermined timing after the image output control units 33a to 33d output the image data previously captured in accordance with the capture order to the image output switching unit 34.

  Therefore, when the image output control units 33a to 33d process image data having a larger number of colors on a single sheet, image data of different colors are taken into the same image output control units 33a to 33d. Data confusion can be prevented and image data can be appropriately processed.

  Further, in the color image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the number of image forming units of the plotters 5a and 5b is larger than the number of image output control units 33a to 33d of the engine ASIC 25, and the image input I / F 31 is an image output control unit. When reading out image data having a larger number of colors than the number 33a to 33d, the image output control unit 33a to 33d re-acquires and outputs the sheet conveyance interval on one sheet by the toggle capture output process. An image forming unit that forms an image based on the data (specifically, the photoconductors 5sc to 5st) and an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data that the same image output control unit 33a to 33d captures and outputs first. (Specifically, the photoconductors 5sc to 5st) are controlled so as to avoid the state in which image formation is simultaneously performed on one sheet of paper.

  Accordingly, one type of engine ASIC 25 can be appropriately shared by the color image forming apparatuses 1 having different maximum output colors to appropriately form an image.

  Further, the color image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment forms an image by reducing the sheet interval when the number of colors used for image formation is small. Therefore, the productivity of image formation can be improved.

  Further, the color image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment forms an image with a smaller interval between sheets when the sheet size to be used is small. Therefore, the productivity of image formation can be further improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

  The present invention relates to an image processing device that can be shared by color image forming apparatuses having different numbers of colors, a color image forming apparatus having the image processing devices mounted thereon, and an image processing in which the image processing devices are shared by different color image forming apparatuses. It can be used for a method, an image processing program, and a recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Color image forming apparatus 2 Scanner 3 Controller unit 4 Engine unit 5, 5a, 5b Plotter 5ac, 5am, 5ay, 5ak Writing part 11 CPU
12 Controller ASIC
13 Memory 14 Hard disk 4a 5-color engine unit 4b 4-color engine unit 21a, 21b Engine CPU
22a, 22b ROM
23a, 23b RAM
24a, 24b Write control ASIC
25 Engine ASIC
31 Image input I / F
32 Arbiter 33a to 33d Image output control unit 34 Image output switching unit 41a Original image DMAC
41b Stamp image DMAC
41c Background pattern image DMAC
42 Image composition unit 43 Image output control unit 44a, 44b Line memory 45 Control signal generation unit R1, R2 Register set

JP 2009-58941 A JP 2009-37138 A

Claims (7)

For the image forming unit for each color of those said respective color images formed on a recording medium in the order predetermined color based on each color image data, the image to be output sequentially reads the image data of a predetermined number of colors in the memory A processing device,
A data reading means for reading the image data of the predetermined number of colors from said memory,
Wherein while have a temporary storage memory for temporarily storing image data of each color, the predetermined number of colors the image data of the read out of said data reading means, those the image data to be read and the number of said image forming means of said data reading means a predetermined number of the output combined with the image forming timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the takes in the color of the person the image data stored in those said temporary storage memory at a predetermined capture sequence based on the color and number of colors Image output means;
And an image output switching means for outputting to said image forming means corresponding to the image data received in those said image data color output from the predetermined number of image output means,
Each of the predetermined number of image output units includes two temporary storage memories, the number of the image forming units is larger than the number of the predetermined number of image output units, and the data reading unit includes the predetermined number of images. When reading out image data having a larger number of colors than the number of output means, the image output means corresponding to the take-in order takes in the image data for the first recording medium read by the data read-out means. Then, using one of the temporary storage memories, the image data is output to the image output switching unit in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data, and the image data read by the data reading unit is read When the number exceeds the predetermined number of image output means, the image data from the first image output means in the capture order is re-entered. The data is captured and output to the image output switching unit in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the temporary storage memory, and read by the data reading unit For the image data for the second recording medium, the image data is sequentially captured from the image output means next to the image output means that has captured the last color image data of the first recording medium in the capture order. An image having a toggle capture output process for outputting to the image output switching unit in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the temporary storage memory. Processing device. The image processing device according to claim 1.
The predetermined number of image output means has the number of image forming means larger than the predetermined number of image output means, and the data reading means has a larger number of colors than the predetermined number of image output means. When reading out the image data, the image output means indicates the output timing of the image data from the image output means that has acquired the image data again from the first recording medium by the toggle capture output process. images processing device the image data captured before you and outputs in a predetermined timing after the output to the image output switching means in accordance with. A plurality of image forming units that form images of different colors on a recording medium to be conveyed are provided, and image data of a predetermined number of colors on a memory is read by an image processing device, and a corresponding one of the plurality of image forming units A color image forming apparatus that outputs to a color image forming unit and sequentially forms an image of the color on the recording medium by the image forming unit to form a color image,
Wherein the image processing device, color image forming apparatus you comprising the image processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 3.
A conveyance control means for controlling conveyance of the recording medium;
The transport control unit has the number of image forming units larger than the number of the predetermined number of image output units, and the data reading unit stores image data having a number of colors larger than the number of the predetermined number of image output units. At the time of reading, the conveyance interval of the recording medium is determined based on the image data output by the predetermined number of image output means of the image processing device that is again captured and output to one recording medium by the toggle capture output processing. The image forming means for forming an image and the image forming means for forming an image based on the image data previously captured and output by the same predetermined number of image output means of the image processing device are simultaneously applied to one recording medium. And a color image forming apparatus that controls the interval to avoid a state in which image formation is performed . An image processing method for sequentially reading out and outputting image data of a predetermined number of colors in a memory to an image forming unit for each color that forms an image of each color on a recording medium in a predetermined color order based on the image data of each color Because
A data read processing step of reading the image data of the predetermined number of colors from the memory by a data read means;
The image data of the predetermined color number read in the data read processing step by the predetermined number of image output means, the number of the image forming means, the color and the number of colors of the image data read in the data read processing step, A predetermined number of image output processing steps that are captured in a predetermined capture order and stored in a temporary storage memory and output in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data;
An image output switching processing step for receiving the image data output by the image output switching means in the predetermined number of image output processing steps and outputting the image data to the image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data;
In the predetermined number of image output processing steps, the predetermined number of image output means causes the number of the image forming means to be greater than the predetermined number of image output means, and the data reading means includes the predetermined number of image output means. When reading out image data having a larger number of colors than the number of output means, the image output means corresponding to the take-in order takes in the image data for the first recording medium read by the data read-out means. Thus, one of the pair of temporary storage memories is used to output to the image output switching unit in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data, and the data reading unit reads When the image data exceeds the predetermined number of image output means, the first image output means in the capture order The image data is fetched every time and output to the image output switching means in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the pair of temporary storage memories. The image data for the second recording medium read by the data reading means is sequentially from the image output means next to the image output means that has fetched the last color image data of the first recording medium in the import order. Toggle capture output that captures image data and outputs to the image output switching means in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the pair of temporary storage memories images processing how to and performing processing. Computer for the image forming unit for each color of those said respective color images formed on a recording medium in the order predetermined color based on each color image data, and outputs sequentially reads the image data of a predetermined number of colors in the memory An image processing program executed by
And instructions from the memory of the data read processing step of reading image data of the predetermined number of colors by the data reading means,
The image data of the predetermined number of colors read in the data reading processing step by a predetermined number of image output means, the color and color number of the person the image data read out by the number and the data read processing step of said image forming means It takes in a procedure of a predetermined number of the image output processing step of outputting accordance with an image forming timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the person the image data stored in the temporary storage memory at a predetermined capture sequence based on bets ,
Anda procedure of the image output switching process step for outputting to said image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data by receiving the image data output by the image output processing step of the predetermined number of the image output switching means ,
In the procedure of the predetermined number of image output processing steps, the predetermined number of image output means causes the number of the image forming means to be larger than the predetermined number of image output means, and the data reading means includes the predetermined number of image output means. When reading out image data having a larger number of colors than the number of image output means, the image output means corresponding to the capture order is used for the image data for the first recording medium read by the data read means. And using one of the pair of temporary storage memories to output to the image output switching means in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data, and the data reading means When the read image data exceeds the predetermined number of image output means, the first image output means in the capture order Then, the image data is captured again and output to the image output switching unit in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming unit corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the pair of the temporary storage memories. As for the image data for the second recording medium read by the data reading means, from the image output means next to the image output means that fetched the last color image data of the first recording medium in the import order. Toggle capture that sequentially captures image data and outputs to the image output switching means in accordance with the image formation timing of the image forming means corresponding to the color of the image data using the other of the pair of temporary storage memories An image processing program comprising a procedure for performing an output process . 7. A recording medium that records the image processing program according to claim 6 and is readable by a computer .

Images