JPH01144855A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To transmit ruled line data to a printer at high speed irrespective of the interval between characters printing the ruled line data by generating a character having a font for ruled larger in size than an ordinary font, and converting a text code read from a floppy disk to raster data. CONSTITUTION:The contents of a floppy disk(FD) generated by such as a word processor, a personal computer, etc., is stored in a working memory as text code data, converted to raster data by using a character generator 230, and developed in a page memory 228. Since character intervals are set at the time of preparing document, and since the data have to be printed with the set character intervals, the characters are deployed in the memory 228 in such coordinates so as to generate a character interval. This means that, other than the ordinary font ROM 230, the ruled line font ROM 231 of a larger size is provided. As a result, the ruled line data in the FD can be developed in a page memory with high definition irrespective of the character interval in printing.

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 paper to paper. The present invention relates to an image processing device capable of processing images.

[Prior art]

In the multi-media copying machine described above, the data format in the floppy disk varies widely depending on the computer and word processor used. Therefore, copying between paper and floppy disks has to be done using the copy software of the computer, word processor, and image scanner or printer, making it difficult to obtain copies easily. Furthermore, when ruled lines are marked with character codes, there is a problem in that the ruled lines are cut off depending on the spacing between printed characters.

〔the purpose〕

The present invention has been made to eliminate the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art, and its purpose is to easily copy from a floppy disk to paper, and to convert the ruled line data in the floppy disk into printed characters. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device that can be applied to a multi-media copying machine that can send images to a printing device at high speed regardless of the interval.

〔composition〕

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an image signal converting means for converting a predetermined image into an electrical image signal, a reading means for reading data from a floppy disk, and an image signal converting means for converting a predetermined image into an electrical image signal, a reading means for reading data from a floppy disk, and a font for a ruled line of a size larger than a normal font. character generating means that also has a font; data converting means that converts a text code read from a floppy disk into raster data by the character generating means; and an image signal obtained from the image signal converting means or by the data converting means. A storage means for storing one page of the obtained raster data, an image forming means for forming an image from the stored data in the storage means, and an image signal obtained from the image signal conversion means is recorded on a floppy disk. The apparatus is characterized by comprising a recording means.

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 (RW, L, etc.) is transferred to an electrical signal ( image signal). 2 is 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, vector data, text data, etc.). Also, internal page memory and scanner I/F (interface)
, a printer T/Fh, and an operation/display section I/F, and controls the entire device and also performs buffering of image No. 43. 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. Manuscript 11
2 is a carriage that moves on the slide rail 113]1
It is illuminated by light sources (fluorescent lamps) 115 and 116 provided at 4. The movable mirror unit 118 is provided with a mirror 119 and a mirror 119', and moves on the slide rail 113, and in combination with a first mirror 117 provided on the carriage 114, forms an optical image of the original 112 on the platen glass 111. The lens reading unit 1
Bring it to 20.

The carriage 114 and movable mirror unit) 118 are
By pulleys 122, 123, and 124 driven by the stepping motor 121 via a wire 126, the carriage 114 is driven at a speed of °■, and the movable mirror unit 118 is driven in the same direction at a speed of 1/2v. A standard white plate 127 is placed on the back side of the home position portion of the platen glass 111.
is provided, and is configured so that a standard white signal can be obtained before the start of document reading scanning. Lens reading unit 1
Reference numeral 20 is composed of a lens 128 as a reading lens system and a line sensor 129 attached to a reading board. The original light image transmitted by the first mirror 117 and mirrors 119 and 119' is focused by a lens 128,
An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the line sensor CCD 129. C.C.
D129 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 amplification circuit 130, and the A/D
A converter 131 converts each pixel into a multivalued digital image signal.

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 binarization circuit 133: (1) converts sharp black and white image signals such as characters and drawing manuscripts into a fixed binary level; That is, a method (threshold) in which a value processed by the CPU 134 is binarized at the pattern level of the latch circuit (RAM) 135.

■For things that require gradation, such as photographs, dither patterns (
ROM) 136 binarization method (dither processing).

is selected with the original select switch on the operation display section 4, and switched with the selector 137 to obtain the optimal copy image.The image data binarized for every 0 pixels is equivalent to one line, that is, for an A3 size scanner, it is A4 size (210 x 27 m) longitudinal feed resolution is 400 dpi (dots/inch), then 297 x 16 = 4752 dat (bit
) The serial image signal VD is outputted to the printer 3 by an output buffer 139 via a line buffer 138 constituted by a RAM.

The oscillation circuit 140 is a CCD for driving the CCD 129.
It is applied to a CD drive circuit 141 and a synchronization signal generation circuit 142 for image (elementary) signals. The output of the oscillation circuit 140 is counted by a counter 143, and the count value is sent to the decoder 1.
44 and the CCD drive circuit 14 by the decoded output.
1 to generate a pulse to drive the CGD 129.

As other outputs of the decoder 144, a synchronization generating circuit 142 generates (1) a clock vcK synchronized with the pixels, (2) a main scanning synchronization signal LGAE in the line (main scanning) direction, and (2) a sub-scanning synchronization signal FGATE in the sub-scanning direction. Pixel signal ■. , clock VCK, 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 RO
It operates according to the control program written in M145, and consists of working memory T-RAM 146, l10 (input/output) ports 147, 148, and 149.
control the entire The r10 boat 147 performs ON10FF control of actuators such as the drive pulse motor 121 and the fluorescent lamps 115 and 116 for illuminating the document, and also detects the home position switch of the scanner 1 and sensors such as document detection. The I10 port 149 is an I/F (
interface) and parallel data transfer using a handshake method.

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

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.

VD is read data (image signal), image clock VC
It is clocked at K. VcK in the lower part of Fig. 5B,
V. is VCK+V! above it. This is an expanded version of 1.

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, 21O 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, one floppy disk device with different media sizes is installed.
Such a configuration is not necessarily essential, and the number of installed devices may be one or more, with only a specific size medium floppy disk device. Reference numeral 213 denotes a control electronic circuit, which is indicated by a broken line in the block diagram of FIG. 214 is an interface connector/cable for connecting to the scanner, 21
5 is an interface connector/cable connected to the printer, and 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.
Physical control (reading, writing) is performed through the DI/F 220. RAM222 is a working RAM
M and is operated under the MPU 221. The ROM 223 is a part where the program of this system is stored, and the program controls the FDD, scanner, printer, and page memory. 224 is a scanner r/F configured by a parallel data I/F. It controls the operation of the scanner. Data read from the scanner is processed via the serial-parallel data converter 226 without passing through the scanner I/F. Data from this serial-parallel data converter 226 is developed into page memory 228. The page memory 228 has a data capacity to hold printer output paper as a full dot image. In addition, the image data in the page memory is passed through a parallel-serial data converter 227.
Transferred to printer 3. Printer I/F 225 controls printer operations (print start, status read, etc.)
It serves as a parallel data I/F. It is connected to the operation display section 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, one page's worth of data is format-converted and transferred to a ruled line data generator to be described later. This ruled line data is converted into an image signal at high speed within the ruled line data generator, and is sent to the parallel-serial data converter 227, bypassing the page memory 228.

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, 31 is a beam position detection circuit, 319 is a laser driver circuit, 320A and 320B are toggle line buffers, 321 is an address counter for the line buffer memory; 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 to
, 326 is the working memory of the CPU 324, RA.
M, 327 is Ilo (input/output boat) to which the printer 3 drive motor, fixing heater actuator, paper presence/absence, size detection sensors, etc. are connected; 328 is LGA
I10 port such as the reset signal 331 of the counter 321 that inputs the TE330 and counts the FGATE counter,
Reference numeral 329 is an I10 port that transmits and receives control signals to and from the printer I/F 225 in the floppy disk memory device 2.

Synchronous signal L G from floppy disk memory device
A T E , F G A T E , an image signal Vt synchronized with V CK (Fig. 5) is input to the input buffer 32.
3 and writes it to line memory 320A or 320B.

The line memories 320A and 320B are toggled by the toggle switching signal 331 of the CPtJ 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 counts at VeK opened at LGATE, is reset by the toggle switching signal 331, and is always read/written 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 to the width of the photoreceptor drum 310. 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 electrically charged by a charging charge 302, exposed to light by a laser, and visualized by a developer 303, and the image is conveyed from a paper feed cassette 304 by a paper feed conveyance unit 305. The registration rollers 306 are used to align the leading edge of the paper with the timing. And this paper is the photoreceptor drum 3
01, the image is transferred to paper by a transfer separation charge 307, conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and fixed by a fixing device 308. Thereafter, the paper is ejected to a paper ejection 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. The CPU 3 is controlled by the ROM 325 that stores these control programs.
24 is operated.

Further, control is performed via l10329 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 a paper jam in the printer 3.

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

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 "Gi-to-Gi 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 and display section 470 for setting copy conditions, 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 110 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 stored in the program in this microcomputer system. determined by

The feature that characterizes the present invention is that in addition to the conventional digital copying machine function of ``a paper-to-paper copying function that outputs the image signal read from the scanner to the printer,'' it also ``transmits the image signal read from the scanner to a floppy disk.'' A paper-to-FD copying function that records on an rFD (hereinafter referred to as an FD) and an FD that reproduces image signals (handles three types of raster data, vector data, and text data) recorded on an rFD and outputs them to a printer. , copying function to paper''.

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 (the flowchart in FIG. 11), first the original to be recorded on the FD is set on the scanner, and the operation display unit 4 is operated to set copy conditions. 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 name or file name for file identification in FD, etc. Thereafter, the print start key 464 in FIG. 10 is pressed to complete 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 464, the program starts from FDI/F220.
Check the FD through.

The FD check mentioned here includes, for example, whether the FD is set in the FDD, whether it is formatted, and whether the file name or file name is registered twice.

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.

The user sets the FD on which the file to be copied is recorded into an FDD that matches its size, and operates the operation display section 4 to set copy conditions. The copying condition settings here include selecting the copying mode from FD to paper, setting the number of copies, and the FDDO size to be copied (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 via the I10 boat 228 and on the liquid crystal display 465 and soft keys 466 of the special operation section 461 in the operation display section 4.

RO when the operator finishes setting the copy conditions.
The program stored in M, 223 is FD1/F220
Check the FD through ■F
Is D set in the FDD and ready? ■Is there any abnormality in the FDD hardware? (2) Whether the file format can be processed by the program in the ROM 223 or 0, 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 vegetable memory as is, and if the data is text code data ( (data from computers, word processors, etc.) are stored in working memory. Furthermore, the ruled line data in this case is stored in the ruled line data buffer of the ruled line data generator after being converted into that format.

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. In this case, the printing format is repeated from the execution of the FD reading operation if the file contains zero-order page data using the format stored in the FD. Furthermore, when the number of copies is two or more, the contents of the page memory are repeatedly output for the number of copies.

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

As mentioned above, FDs created with word processors, computers, etc.
The contents are stored in the working memory as text code data, converted to raster data using a character generator, and developed in the page memory.

Here, since the character spacing is set when creating the document, it is necessary to print at the set character spacing.

For this reason, it is possible to develop characters at coordinates that create character spacing when expanding to page memory, but the problem is that gaps also occur in ruled lines.

In order to solve this problem, one of the features of the present invention is to have a large-sized ruled line font in addition to the normal font ROM.

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram, and FIG. 14 shows an operation flow.

In FIG. 13, the RAM 222 has an FDDI/F22
The contents of the FD read by FDD 210.211.212 through 0 are stored. The contents of the FD include document character spacing information, text codes, and the like. First, character spacing information is read from the RAM 222. From this information, the number of dots to be spaced between characters is set, and the reading start and end positions of the ruled line font are set.

Next, text code data is read from the RAM 222. The MPU 221 determines whether this code is a ruled line. If it is a ruled line, it is a ruled line phono)
The ruled line font between the reading start and end positions set from the ROM 231 is read out, and the page memory 2
28. If the font is not a ruled line font, the font is read from the font ROM 230 and developed in the page memory 228 at the set character spacing. These operations are repeated until the expansion of the text code is completed. This is performed by a program written in the ROM 221.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, ruled line data in a floppy disk can be developed into a page memory with good quality regardless of the spacing between characters to be printed.

Further, documents created using different types of media can be easily copied at the character spacing set at the time of document creation.

[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, shows the synchronization signals LGATE, F.
FIG. 5B is a timing chart of synchronizing signals and image data; FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a floppy disk memory device; FIG. 7 is a block diagram of its control circuit; FIG. is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer, Figure 9 is its block circuit diagram, and Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer.
The figure is a schematic plan view showing the operation display section, Figure 1I is a flowchart of copying from paper to a floppy disk (FD),
Figure 12 is a flowchart of copying from FD to paper.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a ruled line data generation circuit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a flowchart thereof. 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, 231
... ruled line data generator, 461 ... special operation section. Figure 1 Figure 5 (a) Figure 5 (b) Figure 1I Section 13

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 character generating means having a font for ruled lines having a size larger than a normal font, and data for converting a text code read from the floppy disk into raster data by the character generating means. a converting means, a storing means for storing one page of the image signal obtained by the image signal converting means or the raster data obtained by the data converting means, and an image for forming an image from the stored data in the storing means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a forming means; and a recording means for recording the image signal obtained from the image signal converting means on a floppy disk.