JPH01126070A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print out a ruled line data at a high speed by providing a means converting a text code from a floppy disk into a raster code and a means converting the ruled line data from the read means into a picture signal at a high speed. CONSTITUTION:A prescribed picture is converted into an electric picture signal by a scanner 1. The picture signal and the raster data being the conversion of the text code read from the floppy disk in the floppy disk memory device 2 are preserved for one page and sent to the printer 3. Moreover, the ruled line data obtained from the scanner 1 is converted into a picture signal at a high speed and sent to the printer 3.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image processing device, and more specifically, it is applied to a multi-media copying machine that is capable of copying between different media in addition to copying from a paper original onto paper. The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, in multi-media copying machines, ruled line data is generally placed in a frame separate from document data, and is written in a file in vector data format.

Therefore, it is extremely difficult to process them in the same way as text codes. In the conventional method, a text code is first converted into bit data into a page memory using a character generator and then expanded, and then ruled line data is converted into bitmap data and expanded into the page memory. This method has the disadvantage that it takes a very long processing time because the amount of ruled line data converted to bitmap data is large.

〔the purpose〕

The present invention has been made to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art described above, and its purpose is to be applicable to a multi-media copying machine that can send ruled line data in a floppy disk to a printing device at high speed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device.

〔composition〕

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image processing device that can be used in a multi-media copying machine that enables not only copying from a paper original to paper but also copying between different media. an image signal conversion means for converting into an image signal; a reading means for reading data from a floppy disk;
data conversion means for converting a text code read from a floppy disk into raster data; storage means for storing one page of the image signal obtained by the image signal conversion means or the stylized data obtained by the data conversion means; an image forming means for forming an image from the data stored in the storage means; a recording means for recording the image signal obtained from the image signal converting means on a floppy disk; The invention is characterized in that it includes a conversion means for converting the image signal into an image signal.

Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given based on one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the entire digital copying machine embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system block diagram thereof. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an image reading device (scanner) which is an input section of a digital copying machine. Image information of a document placed on a document table in an R position is transferred to an electrical signal (image signal) by an image sensor such as a COD. ). Reference numeral 2 denotes a floppy disk memory device for recording/reproducing image signals, which records image signals (raster data) from a scanner and reproduces the recorded signals, or records image signals (raster data, It also has an internal page memory, scanner I/F (interface), printer I/F, and operation display section 1/F, and controls the entire device. Also performs image signal buffering.
Reference numeral 4 indicates an operation display section, and 3 indicates a printer which is an output section of the digital copying machine, and forms an image on a recording member (paper, etc.) using a laser beam printer or the like based on an image signal.

Hereinafter, the image reading device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
I will explain about it. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the image reading device 1, and FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram thereof.

In FIG. 3, 111 is a platen glass, and the original 11
2 is placed on this platen glass 111. Hara 1! I
jl12 is a light source (fluorescent lamp) 115 and 11 provided on a carriage 114 that moves on a slide rail 113;
6. The movable mirror unit 118 has 1. A mirror 119 and a mirror 119' are provided, which move on the slide rail 113, and in combination with a first mirror 117 provided on the carriage 114, send the optical image of the document 112 on the platen glass 111 to the lens reading unit 120. Put it in.

The carriage 114 and the movable mirror unit 118 are
The carriage 114 is driven at a speed of V, and the movable mirror unit 118 is driven at a speed of 1/2 in the same direction by the stepping motor 121 driven by a wire 126 via a wire 126. A standard white plate 12 is placed on the back side of the home position part of the platen glass 111.
7 is provided, and is configured to obtain a standard white signal before starting the original full reading scan. The lens reading unit 120 includes a lens 128 as a reading lens system.
and a line sensor 129 attached to a reading board. First mirror 117, mirror 119.1
The optical image of the original transmitted by 19' is focused by lens 128 and formed on the light receiving surface of line sensor CCD 129. The CCD 129 converts the shading of the original image into an electrical signal (image signal).

Image signal processing will be described below with reference to the block diagram of FIG. This image signal is amplified by an amplifier circuit 130, and converted into a multi-value digital image signal for each pixel by an A/D converter 131.

This digital image signal is sent to the shading correction circuit 132.
In this method, shading caused by (1) uneven light emission of the light source, (2) uneven light intensity distribution of the optical system (mirror, lens), (2) uneven sensitivity of the CCD, etc. is removed.

The binary circuit 133 converts black and white sharp image signals such as characters and drawing manuscripts to a constant 2 (fi level). In other words, the CPU 134
A method (threshold) of converting the calculated value into a binary value at the pattern level of the Rudge circuit (RAM) 135
.

■For things that require gradation, such as photographs, dither patterns (
ROM) 136 to select the binarization method (dither processing) with the original select switch on the operation display section 4, and switch with the selector 137 to obtain the optimal copy image.The image data binarized for every 0 pixels is 1 For a line, that is, for an A3 size scanner, if the resolution of the longitudinal feed of A4 size (210 x 27 m) is 400 dpi (dots/inch), serial data is transmitted via a line buffer 138 configured with a RAM of 297 x 16 = 4752 dat (bits). The output buffer 139 outputs the image signal V to the printer 3.

The oscillation circuit 140 is a CO for driving the CGDI 29.
The output of the 0 oscillation circuit 140, which is applied to the D drive circuit 141 and the image (element) signal synchronization signal generation circuit 142, is counted by a counter 143, and the count value is sent to the decoder 14.
4 and the COD drive circuit 141 by the decoded output.
generates a pulse to drive CGD 129.

The other outputs of the decoder 144 are generated by the synchronization generation circuit 142: ■ A clock VCII synchronized with the pixels; ■ A main scanning synchronization signal LGAE in the line (main scanning) direction; and ■ A sub-scanning synchronization signal FC; ATE in the sub-scanning direction. 0 pixel signal Vゎ, clock v0, main scanning synchronization signal L
The timings of GATE and sub-scanning synchronization signal FGATE have the relationship shown in FIG. 5A.

The CPU 134 (for example, Intel 8086) is a ROM
It operates according to the control program written in the working memory RAM 146, l10 (input/output) port 1.
47, 148, and 149, and controls the entire scanner 1. ■10 boat 147 controls actuators such as drive pulse motor 121 and fluorescent lamps 115 and 116 for illuminating documents, and also controls scanner l.
The I10 port 149 is an I/F C interface for communicating with the control circuit in the floppy disk memory device, and performs parallel data transfer using a handshake method. .

Figure 5A is a diagram showing the relationship between the paper, the main scanning signal (L(1,ATE)), and the sub-scanning signal (FGATE).
LGATE).

Figure 5B is a timing diagram, and the LSYNC signal is output from the printer, and is a synchronization signal for laser beam scanning.
That is, it is a laser beam position signal of the printer.

■. is the read data (image signal) and the image clock ■.

clocked at VC, , v in the lower part of FIG. 5B are enlarged versions of VC1+v in the upper part.

Next, the configuration and operation of the floppy disk memory device will be explained. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a floppy disk memory device, and FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram thereof. In FIGS. 6 and 7, 210 represents an 8-inch floppy disk device, 211 represents a 5.25-inch floppy disk device, and 212 represents a 3.5-inch floppy disk device. In this embodiment, floppy disks with different media sizes are used. Although one device is installed in each device, such a configuration is not necessarily essential, and the number of devices installed may be one or more, with only a specific size medium floppy disk device. 213 is a control electronic circuit;
The broken line part in the block diagram of FIG. 7 is shown, 214 is an interface connector/cable connected to the scanner, 2
15 is an interface connector/cable connected to the printer; 216 is an interface connector/cable connected to the operation display section.

Next, a control circuit block diagram will be explained.

The control circuit is based on a general microcomputer system, and controls each peripheral via a so-called bus. 221
is a microprocessor that supplies data, address, and control signals to bus 229. Floppy disk devices (hereinafter referred to as FDD) 210, 211, and 212 are FDs.
Through the DI/F 220, physical control lI (read,
writing) is performed. The RAM 222 is a working RAM and is operated under the MPU 221. ROM22
3 is the part where the program of this system is stored,
The program controls the FDD, the scanner, the printer, and the page memory. 224 is a scanner I/F constituted by a parallel data I/F, which controls the operation of the scanner. Data read from the scanner is serially read without going through this scanner I/F.
This is done via parallel data converter 226. Data from this serial-parallel data converter 226 is developed into page memory 228. Page memory 228
has the data capacity to hold the printer output paper as a full dot image. Further, the image data in the page memory is transferred to the printer 3 through the parallel-serial data converter 227. The printer I/F 225 is used to perform printer operations (print start, stake read, etc.) and serves as a parallel data I/F. It is connected to the operation display unit 4 through 228 I10 ports.

After the ruled line data from the FDD is stored in the working RAM 222 together with the text data, the data for one page is format-converted and then sent to the ruled line data generator 231.
will be forwarded to. This ruled line data is generated by the ruled line data generator 23.
1, it is converted into an image signal at high speed and stored in the page memory 22.
8 and bypassing the parallel-to-serial data converter 22
Sent on 7th.

Next, the printer 4 will be explained. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer, and FIG. 9 is a block circuit diagram thereof. In FIGS. 8 and 9, reference numeral 301 is a photosensitive drum, 302 is an electrostatic charger, 303 is a developing section, 304 is a paper feed cassette, 305 is a paper feed conveyance section, and 306
is a registration controller, 307 is a transfer separation charger, 308
309 is a fixing device, 309 is a paper output tray, 310 is a cleaning device, 311 is a laser, 312 is a collimator lens, 31
3 is a polygon mirror, 314 is an fθ lens, 315 is a mirror, 316 is a beam detect mirror, 317 is a beam position detector, 318 is a beam position detection circuit, 319 is a laser driver circuit, 320A and 320B are Torgue line buffers, 321 323 is an input buffer that receives and receives image signals from the floppy disk memory device 2; 324 is a CPU that controls the printer 3; and 325 stores a control program for the printer 3 and the FGATE counter. ROM
, 326 is the working memory of the CPU 324, RA.
M, 327 is connected to the printer 3 drive motor, fixing heater actuator, paper presence/absence, size detection, etc. ■10 (input/output port), 328 is LGAT
I10 port, 3 such as the reset signal 331 of the counter 321 that inputs the E330 and counts the FGATE counter.
29 is a printer I in the floppy disk memory device 2
/F225 is an I10 boat that sends and receives control number 43.

Synchronous signal L G from floppy disk memory device
AT E, F G AT E, V c
Image signal ■ synchronized with * (Figure 5). is received by the input buffer 323 and written to the line memory 320A or 320B.

The line memories 320A and 320B are toggled by the toggle switching signal 331 of the CPLI 324, and when the line memory 320A is currently in the write state, the other line memory 320B is in the read state. The line memory counter 321 was opened at LGATE. , and is reset by the toggle switching signal 331, so that read/S is always performed from address O.

The reading-side memory 320B controls the lighting of the laser 311 with a laser driver circuit 319, and the emitted light is shaped into parallel light by a collimator lens 312, and scanned by a polygon mirror 313 across the width of the photoreceptor drum 3100 to form f-θ.
Distortion is corrected by a lens 314, and the light is exposed onto the photosensitive drum 301 via a mirror 315.

On the other hand, the image forming system is transferred and fixed onto paper by the electrophotographic process shown in FIG. That is, the photosensitive drum 30
1 rotates in the direction of the arrow, is charged by a charging charge 302, exposed to the laser, developed by a developing device 303, and conveyed from a paper feed cassette 304 by a paper feed conveyance unit 305 to the leading edge of the paper and the leading edge of the image. It is adjusted and conveyed by registration rollers 306. This paper contacts the photoreceptor drum 301 and the developed image is transferred to the paper by the transfer separation charger 307.
The paper is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, fixed by a fixing device 308, and discharged to a paper discharge tray 309. On the other hand, residual toner is collected from the photosensitive drum 301 by cleaning 310. The configuration and operation described above are of a well-known electrophotographic process laser printer. ROM that stores these control programs
325 operates the CPU 324. It also controls via 110329 in order to notify the floppy disk memory device of start and stop commands from the operation display unit 4 and abnormal conditions such as paper jams in the printer 3.

Next, the operation display section 4 will be explained with reference to the schematic plan view of FIG. 1O.

The operation display section 4 includes a standard operation section 460, a dot liquid crystal display LCD465, and a special operation section 461 having soft keys 466 as a copying machine. The standard operation section 460 is for when using the "paper-to-paper copying" 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
This is used in copy mode for recording/playing D. Soft keys (for data input) 466, LCD display 4
65.

These are connected to the microcomputer system through the I10 port (232) in the floppy disk memory device 2 (see Figure 6).The meaning of the soft keys 466 and the display data on the liquid crystal display 465 are all within this microcomputer system. Determined by the program.

The feature that characterizes the present invention is that in addition to the conventional digital copier function of ``paper-to-paper copying function of outputting image signals read from a scanner to a printer,'' it is also capable of ``transferring image signals read from a scanner to a floppy disk.'' A paper-to-FD copying function that records data on a FD (hereinafter referred to as an FD) and an FD that reproduces image signals recorded on an FD (handles three types of data: raster data, vector data, and text data) and outputs them to a printer. 3. Copy function from to paper
There are two functions.

Of the above three functions, copying from paper to FD and FD
Copying from to paper will be described below.

In copying from paper to an FD (flowchart in FIG. 11), first record on the FD, set the desired document on the scanner 1, and set copy conditions by operating the operation display section 4.
The copy conditions here include, for example, selection of copy mode from paper to FD, setting of copy range, selection of FD type, input of file level or file name for file identification in FD, etc. After that, press the print start key 46 in Fig. 10.
Press 4 to end the operation.

To explain the flow and effect of a series of operations at this time, the copy conditions are set on a floppy disk memory device (hereinafter referred to as
The program stored in the ROM 223 in the FDM (FDM) is interactively executed via the I10 boat 232 using the liquid crystal display 465 and soft keys 466 of the special operation unit 461 in the operation display unit 4. In this case, the display method and operation are as follows: Since the method is not related to the gist of the present invention, detailed explanation will be omitted.

When the setting of copy conditions is completed and the operator presses the print start key, the program checks the FD through the FD I/F 220.The FD check here means, for example, whether the FD is set in the FDD or not. Check whether the format is correct, whether the file name or file name is registered twice, etc.

When the FD check is completed, the program executes the scanner reading operation through the scanner I/F 224. Data read from scanner 1 is developed into page memory 228 through serial-parallel data converter 226. Since the page memory capacity is reserved for the original paper, development in the memory continues until the original reading operation is completed.

When the reading operation is completed, the contents of the page memory are then recorded on the FD. This recording operation is performed through the FDDI/F 220.

Next, copying from FD to paper (flow chart in FIG. 12) will be explained.

Set the FD on which the file to be copied is recorded to the FDD that matches its size, and operate the operation display section 4 to set the copy conditions.The copy condition settings here include selecting the FD to paper copy mode, Setting the number of copies, FDDO size to copy (8', 5.25").

3.5') Selection etc.

This copying condition setting is performed interactively by a program stored in the ROM 223 in the FDM on the liquid crystal display 3465 and soft keys 466 of the special operation section 461 in the operation display section 4 through the I10 boat 228.

RO when the operator finishes setting the copy conditions.
The program stored in M223 checks the FD through FD1/F220.
Is it set in the FDD and ready? - Is there any abnormality in the FDD hardware? - Is the file format processable by the program in the ROM 223? etc. If a failure occurs during these checks, the operator is notified of the error occurrence through the operation display section 4, and an error handling routine is entered.

Since this error processing is not the gist of the present invention, its explanation will be omitted.

Next, the program reads the file directory to be copied, displays a file list on the special display section 461 of the operation display section 4, prompts the operator to select the file to be copied, and presses the soft key 466 on the operation display section 4 as well. to request input of selection information. At this point, the series of condition settings are completed, and the operator presses the print start key 464.

When the print start key 464 is pressed, the program executes the FD reading operation, and if the read data is raster data (data from a scanner or facsimile), it is expanded to the page memory as is, and if the data is a text code. In the case of data (data from a personal computer, word processor, etc.), it is stored in the working memory, and in this case, the ruled line data is converted into the format of the ruled line data buffer of the ruled line data generator and then stored.

The text data stored in the working memory is converted into a rask pattern according to the code using the character generator 230, and then developed in the page memory 228.

When the expansion into the page memory 228 is completed, the contents of the page memory 228 are output to the printer 3. The print format in this case uses the format stored in the FD. If the next page data exists in the file, the process repeats from the execution of the FD reading operation, and if the number of copies is two or more, the contents of the page memory are repeatedly output for that number of copies.

Copying ends when all data has been output to the printer 3.

Next, we will explain the ruled line data generator used in this embodiment. In the present invention, we focus on the fact that ruled line data consists of two types of straight lines, horizontal and vertical, and generate ruled line data using a simple hardware configuration. Use the generated gridline data generator.

FIG. 13 shows the relationship between output paper and dot coordinates.

The upper left point of the paper is defined as the origin. In this example, it is for A4 size and is shown at 400 dpi, so it is as follows.

Figure 14 shows an example of the relationship between output paper and ruled line data.
%111 is the first dot (x, y
)seat! From (100, 50) to the terminal dot (x, y
) Since it is a ruled line at position 1 (500, 50), the representation in the buffer of the ruled line data generator is Y-Addressl = 5
0. X-5tart=100, X-Length
-400. Note that these values are converted into binary and stored in a buffer. Also, what is the thickness of the ruled lines?
When the resolution is as high as 400 dpi, there are almost no ruled lines that are one dot wide, and they are often composed of several dots as shown in FIG. 15.

In this case, as shown in Figure 15, A-Address is not only the center line address, but also all addresses as ruled line data.
Store in buffer. In the example of FIG. 15, one ruled line is expressed by three dots, so it is divided into three.

The ruled line data generator will be explained with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17. FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the ruled line data generator, and FIG. 17 is a timing chart of its operation. First, pass the datum address 50 lines to the ruled line data.
All ruled line data of the page is stored in the buffer 502 according to the above-described format. Pointer 501 indicates which ruled line data in the ruled line data buffer is to be compared with comparator 504, and when initialized, Y -
It points to Address 1. After data has been stored in the ruled line data buffer 502, printing starts, the main scanning synchronization clock is input, and the main scanning counter 503 starts incrementing.

The output of this counter is sequentially sent to the ruled line data buffer 502.
Y-Address (data pointed to by pointer 501) is compared with comparator 504, and if they match, EN signal 511 of X-Start counter 505
Output. The X-3tart counter 505 is preloaded to output a carry after counting the number of dots equal to the value of X-Start in the ruled line data buffer 502, and starts counting after the EN signal 511 is output, and the carry is When output, the flip-flop (F
F) 506 is set. At this point, the ruled line ON signal 5
10 is output and printing of ruled lines starts. after that,
When the X-Length counter 50B starts counting and prints a predetermined number of dots, the flip-flop 506
is reset, and at the same time, the pointer 501 is also incremented by one, and a ruled line can be printed by an operation of 0 or more that enters the next comparison.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, in an image processing device that can be used in a multi-media copying machine that enables copying between different media in addition to copying from a paper original to paper, a predetermined image is electrically processed. an image signal conversion means for converting into an image signal; a reading means for reading data from a floppy disk; a data conversion means for converting a text code read from the floppy disk into raster data; a storage means for storing one page of image signals or slatter data obtained by the data conversion means; an image forming means for forming an image from data stored in the storage means; and an image obtained from the image signal conversion means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a recording means for recording a signal on a floppy disk, and a converting means for converting the ruled line data obtained from the reading means into an image signal at high speed, so that it is possible to copy from paper to a floppy disk and the latter. It is possible to provide an image processing device that is equipped with a function that enables copying from the floppy disk to the former, and has the effect of being able to send ruled line data in a floppy disk to a printing device at high speed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the entire digital copying machine implementing the present invention, FIG. 2 is a system block diagram thereof, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image reading device, and FIG. 4 is its block diagram. The circuit diagram, Figure 5A is 4LGATE1 for synchronous signal.
FIG. 5B is a timing chart of synchronization signals and image data; FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a floppy disk memory device; FIG.
The figure is a block diagram of its control circuit, Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer, Figure 9 is its block circuit diagram, and Figure 1.
Figure 0 is a schematic plan view showing the operation display section, Figure 11 is a flowchart for copying from paper to a floppy disk (FD), Figure 12 is a flowchart for copying from FD to FD,
Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between output paper and dot coordinates, Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between output paper and ruled line data, and Figure 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between output paper and ruled line data.Figure 15 shows that one ruled line has a width of several dots. FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the ruled line data generator, and FIG. 17 is a timing chart explaining its operation. 1... Image reading device (scanner), 2... Floppy disk memory device, 3... Printer (image forming device), 4... Operation display unit, 210, 211, 212
... Floppy disk device, 226 ... Serial-parallel data converter, 227 ... Parallel-serial data converter, 228 ... Page memory, 23
1... ruled line data generator, 461... special operation section. Figure 1 Figure 5B Figure 5A GArE Figure 1I Figure 13 Figure 15 FIA Y-Address3

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image processing device that can be used in a multi-media copying machine that enables copying between different media in addition to copying from a paper original to paper, an image signal conversion means for converting a predetermined image into an electrical image signal; a reading means for reading data from a floppy disk; a data converting means for converting a text code read from the floppy disk into raster data; and an image signal obtained by the image signal converting means or an image signal obtained by the data converting means. Slata data 1
a storage means for storing pages, an image forming means for forming an image from data stored in the storage means, a recording means for recording an image signal obtained from the image signal conversion means on a floppy disk, and a reading means. 1. An image processing device comprising: converting means for converting ruled line data obtained from the above into an image signal at high speed.