JPH01136758A - Printer control apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a plurality of prints in different transfer sizes through one scanning operation by providing a means for selecting at least one printer out of a plurality of printers in accordance with the designation by a print mode designating means and a changeover means for changing over the flow of image data in accordance with the designation by the same designating means. CONSTITUTION:An original is read into image data, and the image data are transformed into signals by means of a image data delivery means A and are delivered to a memory means B to be stored therein. These stored image data are interpolated by means of an interpolating means C when necessary. The number of prints as well as the sizes thereof are designated by means of a print mode designation means D, and at least one of a plurality of printers I, II having different transfer sizes, respectively, is selected in accordance with the designation by a printer selecting means E. In synchronism with this, the flow of the image data is changed over by means of a changeover means F in accordance with the designation by the printer mode designation means D so as to transfer the image data to the printers I, II having predetermined print sizes, respectively. Thus, it is possible to obtain a plurality of prints in different transfer sizes through one scanning operation.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is suitable for printer control devices, particularly for outputting images of one image data to multiple printers by using a reduced image of microfilm or the like as a document. The present invention relates to a printer control device.

[Prior Art] In general, paper sizes used when a transfer device is used to transfer a drawing or the like from a photographed 35IIl111 microfilm range from A4 size to AI size. Here, if the original photographed on film is A4 size or A3 size (hereinafter abbreviated as A4/A3 size), it is generally transferred to A4/A3 size paper, but if the original is ^2/Al size In case of a tie, A2/^
In addition to transferring to L size, reduced size transfer to A3 size was also performed at the same time.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in order to perform such transfers at different scales, conventionally, printers with different output sizes had to be connected to individual scanners, which resulted in the use of multiple printers. The problem was that it required a system of Also, it is impossible to use the same film in different systems at the same time, so when different sizes are needed, waiting time is required and the number of times the film has to be scanned increases. Met.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a printer control device that solves the problems of the conventional device and can obtain a plurality of prints with different transfer sizes by scanning twice.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image data transmitting means for converting image data into a signal and transmitting the signal, a storage means for storing image data from the image data transmitting means, and a memory. interpolation processing means capable of interpolating image data stored in the means; print format designation means for designating a predetermined size and number of prints; and at least one of the plurality of printers according to the designation of the print format designation means. The present invention is characterized by comprising printer selection means for selecting a printer and switching means for switching the flow of image data in accordance with the designation of the print format designation means.

[Operation] According to the present invention, image data obtained by reading a document is converted into a signal by the image data sending means and sent out. This image data is then stored in the storage means and subjected to interpolation processing by the interpolation processing means as necessary. Further, when the size and number of prints are specified by the print format specifying means, at least one of the plurality of printers having different transfer sizes is selected by the printer selection means, and
The switching means switches the flow of image data and sends it to a printer of a predetermined print size.

Therefore, a plurality of prints with different transfer sizes can be obtained by scanning twice.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, A is an image data sending means for converting image data read from a document into a signal and sending it out, B is a storage means for storing image data from the image data sending means A, and C is image data stored in the storage means B. This is an interpolation processing means that can perform interpolation processing as necessary.

D is a print format specifying means for specifying a predetermined size and number of prints; E is a printer selection means for selecting at least one printer from a plurality of printers according to the specification of the print format specifying means; F is a print format specifying means A switching means for switching the flow of image data according to the designation of the means, t is a printing means having printers with different transfer sizes and a printer I.

Next, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a microfilm scanner with an A4/A3 output size, 2 is a printer whose transfer size is A4/A3 and is synchronized with the scanner 1, and 3 is a microfilm scanner with an A4/A3 output size. A2/Al is the transfer size printer, 4 is the printer selection control circuit (details are shown in Figure 3),
5 is a keyboard. 11 is an image data transfer line from the microfilm scanner; 12 is an image data transfer line from the printer selection control circuit 4 to the printer 2; 13 is an image data transfer line from the printer selection control device 4 to the printer 3; 14. 15 and 16 are respective command communication lines.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of the printer selection control circuit 4. Reference numeral 41 is a control circuit composed of a CPU and the like, and performs communication with the keyboard 5 and control of each component. 42 is an image memory for storing image data;
It has a capacity of 16 Mbytes or more, which is enough to store 1-sized image data at a resolution of 400 dpi.

Reference numeral 43 denotes an image data interpolation processing circuit that performs image data interpolation processing, and performs processing according to instructions from the control circuit 41. 44
A switch is controlled by the control circuit 41 so that it is turned on when image data transferred from the microfilm scanner 11 is output to the A4/A3 printer 2, and turned off at other times.

Further, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 are also switches, and the switch 45 transfers the image data transferred from the microfilm scanner 11 to the image memory 42.
The switch 46 is turned on when transferring the image data from the microfilm scanner 11 to the interpolation processing circuit 43, and the switch 47 is turned on when transferring the image data from the image memory 42 to the interpolation processing circuit 43. The switch 48 is turned on when transferring the image data from the image memory 42 to the A4/A3 printer 2, and the switch 49 is turned on when transferring the image data from the interpolation processing circuit 43 to the A2/Al printer 2. Turn on when transferring to 3. Each of the above switches is controlled by the control circuit 41 so as to be turned off under conditions other than the above conditions.

Next, the operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be explained according to a flowchart shown as an example of a control procedure. Here, the original size of the drawing that has been reduced and photographed on microfilm will be referred to as the original size.

[1] When printing out a film with original size ^4 or A3 (abbreviated as A4/A3) to ^4/A3 size (1) When printing a single sheet, the image data from microfilm scanner 1 is A4/A3.
It is synchronized with the A3 printer 2, transferred via the switch 44 in the on state, and output is obtained (steps S3, S4.
S7. S9゜SIO, Sll, S17. S18
．． S20. S21°S22. (See S23 sequentially).

In this case, the image memory 42 and the interpolation processing circuit 43 do not operate (see steps Sll and S18).

(2) When printing multiple sheets, the image data from microfilm scanner 1 is A4/
Synchronized with the A3 printer 2, as described above, it is transferred via the switch 44 in the on state, and simultaneously written to the image memory 42 via the switch 45 at the same time as this first sheet is output (
Step S17. S19. S20. S2
1 and S22).

For the second and subsequent sheets, the image data is transferred to the A4/A3 printer 2 via the switch 48 to obtain output (step S
23. S24. S25°527, S28.
S29. S31. S32. (See S33 and 534). In this case, the interpolation circuit does not operate (see step S24).

[2] When printing from original size A2/At film to A3 size (in this case, the output will be reduced when viewed from the original, and enlarged when viewed from above the film). The operation is performed according to the A3 printing operation described in [1] above.

[3] From original size A2/AI film to A2/^1
When printing out a size, the microfilm scanner 1 can only output image data up to a maximum of A3 size, so it is necessary to enlarge it using the interpolation processing circuit 43.

Further, in the case of an A2 size original, since the scanning directions of the printer and the microfilm scanner 1 are different, it is necessary to output the image data with the original rotated by 90 degrees.

(1) When printing out a single sheet, the image data from microfilm scanner 1 is A2/
In synchronization with the Al printer 3, the signal is sent to the interpolation processing circuit 43 via the switch 46, where it is subjected to interpolation processing, and then transferred to the A2/Al printer 3 via the switch 49 to obtain an output (steps S3, 55. S6, 37.S8
゜510, S12. S13. S14 or S
15°516, S17. S18. S20.52
1. S22. (See S23 sequentially).

(2) When printing out multiple sheets, the image data from microfilm scanner 1 is
Similarly to 1), the image is transferred to the A2/Al printer 3 and written to the image memory 42 via the switch 45 (
Step S17゜519, S20. S21.
(See S23).

For the second and subsequent sheets, the image data from the image memory 42 is transferred to the interpolation processing circuit 43 via the switch 47, and after being interpolated, the image data is transferred to the A2/Al printer 3 via the switch 49.
The output is obtained (steps S25 and S26).
．． S28. S30°S31. S32. S3
3. 334).

[4] When the original size is A2/Al and A3 printing is required in addition to A2/Al printing, in this case, the image data from the microfilm scanner 1 turns on switch 45 and switch 46, and the image memory 42 and and the interpolation processing circuit 43 (see steps 518 and S19).

It also issues an interpolation processing command to A2/83 to the interpolation processing circuit 43 (see step S12).

In the case of printing one sheet at a time, the image data from the microfilm scanner 1 is transferred to A4/A4 through the switch 44.
3 printer 2 and interpolation processing circuit 43 to switch 49
are sent to the A2/A1 printer 3 and printed respectively.

For the second and subsequent sheets, the image data is sent from the image memory 42 via the switch 48 to the A4/A3 printer 2, and is also sent to the interpolation processing circuit 43, and the interpolated image data is sent via the switch 49 to the A4/A3 printer 2. /A1 Sent to printer 3. Therefore, a predetermined number of A3 and A2/Al prints are placed.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the present invention is applied to an electronic file system.

A workstation 17 controls the following devices.

18 is an image scanner, 19 is an optical disk device, 20
is a hard disk device, 21 is a micro scanner, 22
is a printer selection control circuit, 23 is an A3 size printer,
24 is a shoulder size printer. This embodiment differs from the previously described embodiments in that it connects various image data sending means and uses a workstation in place of the keyboard.

In this case, image data sent out by various image data sending means connected to the workstation network can be simultaneously output in various sizes.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to simultaneously control a plurality of printers with different transfer speeds and transfer paper sizes, and it is possible to easily obtain a plurality of prints with different transfer sizes. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of the printer selection control circuit; The figure is a flowchart showing an example of the control procedure, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. A... Image data sending means, B... Storage means, C... Interpolation processing means, D... Printing means, E... Print format designation means, F... Printer selection means, G. ...Switching means, 1.21...Microfilm scanner, 2, 3.
23.24... Printer, 4.22... Printer selection control circuit, 5... Keyboard, 41... Control circuit, 42... Image memory, 43... Image interpolation processing circuit, 44. 45.46, 48.49...Switch. Fig. 4 (f glue Fig. 4 (possible 2)) Fig. 4 fa (ball 3) Fig. 4 (a)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Image data sending means for converting image data into a signal and sending it out; storage means for storing the image data from the image data sending means; and interpolation for performing interpolation processing on the image data stored in the storage means. processing means; print format designation means for specifying a predetermined size and number of prints; printer selection means for selecting at least one printer from a plurality of printers according to the designation of the print format designation means; and the print format designation. A printer control device comprising switching means for switching the flow of the image data according to a designation of the means.