JPH01106571A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow an image on a floppy disk directly to be copied from the disk by mounting a memory cartridge storing a corresponding processing program on a connector device and forming the image by converting the text code read from the floppy disk into image data. CONSTITUTION:A connector device 217 for memory cartridge is provided for a floppy disk memory device and is set to any one of floppy disk devices(FDD) 210-212. At the same time, a memory cartridge 223 corresponding to the data format of a set floppy disk(FD) is mounted on the connector device 217. The memory cartridge 223 stores the format data of the corresponding FD, an FDD I/F 220 controlling program, and character generators for developing read data into a page memory 228. Therefore, the image on a floppy disk can be copied directly from the floppy disk.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Field) The present invention relates to an image processing device, and in particular, to an image processing device that performs a copying function between different types of media in addition to copying from a paper original to paper, which is the main function of a digital plain paper copying machine. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus applicable to a multi-media copying machine, a so-called multimedia copying machine.

(Prior Art) Multimedia copying machines are being developed that are capable of copying between different media such as paper and floppy disks in addition to copying from paper originals to paper.

In this type of multimedia copy machine, for example, when considering the function of copying from a floppy disk to paper, the data format of the document file on the floppy disk created with a computer or word processor often differs depending on the creation function. The only way to make a copy between a floppy disk and paper is to use a computer or word processor and image scanner or printer that has created a data file on the floppy disk, and such a copy can be easily obtained. There wasn't.

Furthermore, the format of data stored on a floppy disk varies depending on the computer, word processor, or other information processing device that created the data. For such floppy disks, multi-media copying machines use the current 8-inch, 5.25-inch,
For the 3.5-inch physical format, it is easy to provide each drive (FDD), but for the internal format, that is, the data format, a processing program (control program, data translator program) that corresponds to all formats is required. It is not easy to prepare.

Conventionally, the only way to copy data stored on a floppy disk was to print out the data on the floppy disk using the information processing device that created the floppy disk, and then copy it using a copying machine. There wasn't.

(Purpose) The present invention provides a multimedia copy machine that has a function of copying between a floppy disk and paper, and when performing "copying from a floppy disk to paper," data stored on the floppy disk can be copied. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device capable of directly copying from a floppy disk, regardless of its format.

(Structure) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides means for reading a predetermined image and converting it into an electrical image signal, means for forming an image on copy paper based on the image signal, and a means for forming an image on a floppy disk. It is equipped with a means for reading the stored data file and a means for converting the read data into an image signal, as well as a connector that allows a memory cartridge to be attached and detached, and converts the dext code of the read floppy disk into the data format of the floppy disk. By attaching a memory cartridge storing a processing program corresponding to the above to the connector, the image data is converted into image data, and the converted image data is supplied to the image forming means to form an image. do.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a multi-media copying machine (multimedia copying machine) to which the present invention is applied, and Fig. 2 is a system block diagram thereof, where ■ is an image reading device (scanner); This is an input unit that converts image information of a document placed on a document table into an electrical signal (image signal) using an image pickup device such as a COD (charge-coupled device).

Further, 2 is a floppy disk memory device, 3 is a printer (image forming device), and 4 is an operation/display section.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a floppy disk memory device 2 records/reproduces image signals, and records image signals (raster data) from a scanner, and reproduces the recorded signals or records them using other systems. reproduces the image signal (raster data, vector data, text data, etc.).

It also has an internal page memory, scanner interface, printer interface, and operation/display interface, and also controls the entire device and buffers image signals. In addition, image data on the floppy disk is developed into a page memory using a memory cartridge, which will be described later.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image reading apparatus 1, in which 111 is a platen glass, 112 is an original, and the original 112 is placed on this platen glass. The original 112 is illuminated by light sources (fluorescent lamps) 115 and 11 provided on a carriage 114 that moves on a slide rail 113.
6. The movable mirror unit 118 is provided with mirrors 119 and 119', and the mirror unit 118 moves on the slide rail 113 and, in combination with a first mirror 117 provided on the carriage 114, reflects the light of the original 112 on the platen glass 111. The image is introduced into the lens reading unit 120. The carriage 114 and the movable mirror unit 118 are driven by pulleys 122, 123, and 124 that are driven by a stepping motor 121 via a wire 126, so that the carriage 114 is driven at a speed of 1, and the movable mirror unit 118 is driven in the same direction at a speed of 1/2V. Ru. A standard white plate 127 is provided on the back side of the home position portion of the platen glass 111, and is configured so that a standard white signal can be obtained before the start of document reading scanning. The lens reading unit 120 includes a lens 12B as a reading lens system and a line sensor 129 attached to a reading board. 1st
The original light image transmitted by mirror 117 and mirrors 119 and 119' is focused by lens 128 and formed on the light receiving surface of line sensor CCD 129. The line sensor CCD I 29 converts the density of the original image into an electric signal (image signal).

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an image signal processing circuit.

In the figure, the image signal from the line sensor CCD 129 is amplified by the amplifier circuit 130, and the analog/digital (analog/digital)
The A/D) converter 131 converts each pixel into a multi-value digital image signal. This digital image signal is processed by the shading correction circuit 132 to detect (1) uneven light emission of the light source;
(2) Luminous intensity distribution unevenness of the optical system (mirror, lens), (3
) Eliminate shading caused by CCD sensitivity unevenness, etc. The binarization circuit 133 (1) converts black and white image signals such as characters and drawing manuscripts into a fixed binary level; that is, the central processing unit (CPU) 1'3
(2) Read-only memory for things that require gradation, such as photographs. :ROM13
The method of binarizing using the dither pattern stored in 6 (dither processing) is selected using the original select switch on the operation unit 4 (Figs. 1 and 2), and the optimum copy image is obtained by switching with the selector 137. obtain.

The image data that is binarized for each pixel corresponds to one line, that is, for an A3 size scanner, it is A4 size (210X
Assuming that the resolution of the longitudinal feed (297 m) is 400 dpi (dots/inch), a serial image signal V is sent through a line buffer 138 configured with a RAM of 297 x 16 = 4752 dots (bits). is output from the output buffer 139 to the printer 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The oscillation circuit 140 is a COD for driving the CCD 129.
A signal is given to a drive circuit 141 and an image (pixel) signal synchronization signal generation circuit 142. Note that Lsync is a laser beam position signal (scanning synchronization signal) of the printer.

The output of the oscillation circuit 140 is counted by a counter 143, the count value is input to a decoder 144, and the decoded output is used to generate a pulse for driving the CCD 1 29 in the COD drive circuit 141.

Other outputs of the decoder 144 are generated by the synchronization generation circuit 142, (clock ■ synchronized with 11 pixels), (2) main scanning synchronization signal (LGATE) in the line (main scanning) direction, and (3) sub-scanning signal (LGATE) in the sub-scanning direction. A synchronization signal (FGΔTE) is generated.

The CPU 134 (for example, Intel 8086)
It operates according to a control program written in M145, and is composed of a working memory RAM 146 and input/output (Ilo) ports 147, 148, and 149, and controls the entire scanner 1. The I10 port 147 controls on/off of actuators such as the drive pulse motor 121 and the fluorescent lamps 115 and 116 for illuminating the document, and also detects the scanner's home position switch and the sensor ls for detecting the document. The I10 port 149 is an interface for communicating with a control circuit within the floppy disk memory device, and performs parallel data transfer using a handshake method.

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are explanatory diagrams of the timing relationship of the scanner, and FIG. 5(a) is a timing chart,
The LSYNC signal is output from the printer 2 and is a synchronization signal for laser beam scanning. VD is read data (image signal) and is clocked by an image clock cK. Figure 5 (VD and VCIl shown at the bottom in al)
■ is shown above. , is an enlarged version of VCIl.

Figure 5(b) is a diagram showing the relationship between the paper, the main scanning signal (LGATE), and the sub-scanning signal (FGATE).
GATE).

Next, the structure and operation of the floppy disk memory device 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be explained.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a floppy disk memory device, in which 210 is an 8-inch floppy disk device, 211 is a 5.25-inch floppy disk device, and 212 is a 3.5-inch floppy disk device. In the figure, one floppy disk device with different media sizes is mounted, but such a configuration is not necessarily required, and the number of installed floppy disk devices of a specific size may be one or more. 21
3 is a control electronic circuit; 214 is an interface connector/cable that connects to the scanner; 215 is an interface connector/cable that connects to the printer;
16 is an interface connector cable connected to the operation/display unit, and 217 is a memory cartridge connector. Although a ROM cassette is used here, an IC card or the like may also be used.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control circuit for a floppy disk memory device. This control circuit is based on a general microcomputer system, and controls each peripheral via a so-called bus.

In the same figure, 213 is the control electronic circuit 213 of FIG.
-221 is a microprocessor (MPU) that supplies data, address, and control signals to the bus 229. Floppy disk devices (hereinafter referred to as FDD) 210, 211, and 212 are physically controlled (continued, written) through an FDD interface (1/F) 220. RAM222 is RA for one working
It is operated by liver υ221 at M. The ROM 223 is a part where the program of this system is stored, and this program controls the FDD 210, 211, 212, the scanner (image reading device) 1, the printer 3,
Controls the page memory 228. 224 is a scanner I/F composed of a parallel data interface.
It controls the operation of the scanner 1. Data read from the scanner 1 is not passed through the scanner I/F 224, but is carried out via a serial/parallel (S/P) converter 226. Data from S/P converter 226 is expanded to page memory 228. The page memory 22
8 has a data capacity to hold printer output paper as a full dot image.

Further, the image data in the page memory 228 is transferred to the printer 3 through the parallel/serial CP/S) data converter 227. Printer interface (1
/F) 225 indicates the operation of printer 3 (print start,
status read, etc.), and serves as a parallel data interface. It is connected to the operation/display section 4 through an I10 boat 230. 2
31 is a memory cartridge.

Next, the configuration of the printer 3 will be explained.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a laser printer for electrophotographic process, in which the photosensitive drum 3.01 rotates in the direction of the arrow;
It is charged by a charger 302 , a latent image is formed by exposure to a laser 311 , and the latent image is visualized by a developer 303 .

The paper conveyed from the paper feed conveyance unit 305 from the paper feed force roller 304 is moved to the registration roller 3 that aligns the leading edge of the paper with the leading edge of the image.
Adjustment and conveyance is carried out at 06. This paper comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 301, and the image developed by the transfer separation charger 307 is transferred to the paper, which is conveyed in the direction of arrow B, fixed by the fixing device 308, and then discharged to the ejection tray 309. . On the other hand, residual toner on the photoreceptor drum 301 is collected by a cleaning section 310. In addition, in the same figure, 312 is a collimator lens,
313 is a polygon mirror, 314 is an f-θ lens, 31
5 is a mirror. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the laser printer, in which synchronizing signals LG A T E and F G from the floppy disk memory device 2 are used.
An image signal VD synchronized with A TE and V CK is received by a power buffer 323 and written into a line memory 320A or 320B. Line memory 320A and 320
B is toggled by a toggle switching signal 331 of the CPU 324, and when one line memory, for example, line memo +J 320A, is in a writing state, the other line memory 320B is in a reading state. Line memory address counter 321 is LGATE
■Opened at. It is reset by the toggle switching signal 331, and reading/writing is always performed from address zero. The readout side memory 320B controls the lighting of the laser 311 by a laser driver circuit 319, and the emitted light is made into parallel light by a collimator lens 312, and scanned by a polygon mirror 313 to the width of the photoreceptor drum 301, and then
The distortion is corrected by the -θ lens 314 and the light is exposed onto the photoreceptor 301 via the mirror 315. In FIG. 9, 316 is a beam detection mirror (BD mirror), 317 is a beam position detector, 318 is a beam position detection circuit, 323 is a large-capacity buffer that receives and takes the image signal from the floppy disk memory device, and 325 is a large-capacity buffer that receives and takes the image signal from the floppy disk memory device. Printer control and LGATE
ROM, 3, which stores a control program for the counter 334;
26 is a RAM which is a working memory of the CPU 324;
327 is an input/output (Ilo) boat to which the printer drive motor M, fixing heater actuator HA, paper presence/absence, size detection sensor S, etc. are connected; 328 is L
Input GATE330 and convert it to LGATE counter 3
Count by 34 and add FGATE335 to AND gate 333
At the same time, the address counter 3 of the line memory
I10 port for outputting the reset signal 331 etc. of 21, 329 is the floppy disk I10 port 149
This is an I10 port that transmits and receives control signals between the printer interface 225 and the printer interface 225. Therefore, the CPU 324 is operated by the ROM 325 that stores the control program. Further, control is performed via the I10 port 329 to transmit start and stop commands from the operation unit 4, abnormal conditions such as a paper jam in the printer 3, and copy paper size to the floppy disk memory device 2.

No. 101ffl is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation/display section, and the operation/display section 4 is a standard operation section 460 for a copying machine.
and a special operation section 461 having a dot liquid crystal display section 465 and soft keys 466 for data input.

The standard operation section 460 is for when using the "paper-to-paper copy" function, and includes a numeric keypad 462 for setting the number of copies, a number display section 463, a print start key 464, a key for setting copy conditions, a display section 470, etc. configured.

The special operation section 461 is used in a copy mode for recording/reproducing data on a floppy disk, and is composed of soft keys 466 and a liquid crystal display section 465. These are the I10 port 2 in the floppy disk memory device 2.
It is connected to a microcomputer system through 30 (see FIG. 7). The meanings of the soft keys and the data displayed on the liquid crystal display are determined by a program within every microcomputer system.

In the above-described configuration, the present invention not only provides a conventional digital copying function called "paper-to-paper copying function" in which image signals read from a scanner are output to a printer, but also outputs image signals read from a scanner to a floppy disk. "Copy function from paper to FD" that records on (FD)
It has three functions: rFD-to-paper copying function that reproduces the image signals (handling three types of raster data, vector data, and text data) recorded on the FD and outputs them to a printer. "copying function", the data source must be capable of outputting from the FD to copy paper, regardless of whether it is created by any type of information processing device with a different data format. It is characterized by

That is, as described above, the floppy disk memory device shown in FIG.
DD210. 211 or 212, and the memory cartridge 223 (
Here, the ROM cassette is attached to the connector device 217.

This memory cartridge 223 includes, as described above,
Format data such as the sector length of the corresponding FD is stored, and characters and generators for expanding the FDDI/F 220 control program and data read from the FD into the page memory 228 are also stored.

With this configuration, by using a so-called translator that is compatible with various data formats with the FD as a memory cartridge, it is possible to obtain copy output from an FD created with any information processing device. Become.

Note that the memory cartridge may be installed separately as a ROM for frequently used FDs, or
It may be stored in the OM223 or the like.

In the above explanation, FD was used as the data source, but
Instead, data files in other formats such as IC cards may also be used.

(Effects) As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to store data in data files such as floppy disks created by various information processing devices such as combi-biners and word processors. By replacing the memory cartridge such as a ROM cassette, it is possible to output directly to copy paper, making it a multifunctional copying machine whose data source is data stored in a data file such as a floppy disk created with any information processing device. It is possible to provide an image processing device that can realize a machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multi-media copying machine that is compatible with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a system block diagram thereof, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image reading device, and FIG. 4 is an image Block diagram showing the signal processing circuit, FIG. 5(a)(b)
6 is an explanatory diagram of the timing relationship of the scanner, FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a floppy disk memory device, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram of the control circuit of a floppy disk memory device, Figure 8 is a configuration diagram of a laser printer, Figure 9 is a block diagram of a control circuit of a laser printer, and Figure 1O is a schematic diagram explaining the operation/display section. be. 1...Scanner, 2...Floppy disk memory device, 3...Printer, 4...
...Operation/display unit, 217...Connector device, 220...Floppy disk interface (FDI/F), 221...Microcomputer, 222...・Working RAM, 22
3... ROM, 226... Serial/parallel (S/P) converter, 228... Page memory, 230... Input/output (I 10 ) boat, 231... memory cartridge, 464
...Print start key, 466...
・Soft key O Figure 1 Figure 5 (a) 5th (b) LGATε

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image converting means for reading a predetermined image and converting it into an electrical image signal, an image forming means for forming an image on copy paper based on the image signal, and a file reading means for reading a data file stored on a floppy disk. and an image processing apparatus comprising a signal conversion means for converting the data read by the file reading means into an image signal for image formation by the image forming means, further comprising a connector device from which the memory cartridge can be directly removed; The text code of the floppy disk read by the file reading means is converted into image data by attaching a memory cartridge storing a processing program corresponding to the data format of the floppy disk to the connector device, and the converted image data is converted into image data. An image processing device configured to form an image by supplying the image to the image forming means.