JPH0375115B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records an image on recording paper based on input image information.

Conventionally, in an image reading device without a page memory, when outputting image information for one read document, it has been difficult to divide the image information and selectively output it. For this reason, copying machines, etc.
For example, when copying multiple images that are 1/4 of the size of the original platen, copy the original onto one sheet of paper on the platen, then cut it to the specified size, or cut the paper to a specified size. This was inefficient as it required copying while replacing the originals one by one.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and includes a document table on which a document is placed, a reading means for outputting image information by reading an image of the document placed on the document table, and a device for outputting image information by reading an image of the document placed on the document table. an image recording apparatus having a recording means for recording an image on a recording paper based on the recording paper, the first input means for inputting the size of the recording paper, the second input means for inputting the desired number of divided areas, and the document table. The recording paper is divided into a plurality of areas corresponding to the number of divided areas input from the second input means with a size corresponding to the size of the recording paper input from the first input means, and the image information from the reading means is divided into the plural areas. dividing means for dividing and outputting a plurality of pieces of image information each representing an image of an area, the dividing means having a division method determined according to the size of the recording paper inputted from the first input means; The image information of the document is divided according to the number of divided areas input from the second input means in a predetermined order according to the size of the recording paper input from the first input means. The recording means outputs image information, and the recording means divides the images of the plurality of areas represented by each of the plurality of image information divided and outputted from the dividing means into the number of divided areas inputted from the second input means. A configuration was adopted in which the data is recorded on multiple sheets of paper.

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

Figure 1 shows the original platen, for example, in four parts (Z1, Z2,
This explains how to read a document when it is divided into Z3 and Z4), and the document is read using the conventional reading method using a solid-state scanning device such as a CCD. That is, main scanning is performed along the direction of the arrow a, then sub-scanning is performed in a direction perpendicular to the arrow direction, and then main scanning is performed in the direction of b. Thereafter, main scanning and sub-scanning of c, d, . . . , g are repeated to sequentially read images.

The image information read in this way is sequentially stored in a predetermined memory area of an image memory such as a video RAM, as shown in FIG. That is, first, information of byte length l is stored in M1, and the information obtained by the first main scan a is
It is stored as address a across two areas, M1 and M2. In this way M1, M2 or M3,
When M4 is set, information corresponding to one main scan X is recorded at addresses b, . . . , g, etc., respectively. Therefore, the image information of Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4 will be stored in the areas of M1, M2, M3, and M4, respectively.

In FIG. 3, image information corresponding to divided portions Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4 on the document table is stored in the image memory.
A circuit for outputting the stored image is also illustrated as a block diagram. In the figure, 10 is an image memory, which will be explained in detail later.
Image information read from a reader section 30 equipped with a CCD is stored via a signal line Vd. When the reading of one line of the CCD is completed, a signal is input to the CPU 20 via the signal line LR(E), an address signal is generated on the read/write address setting line Ad, and reading of the next line begins.
The information is stored at the following address. In this way, the originals are read one after another, and the image information is transferred to the second
The data is stored in a predetermined memory area of the image memory 10 in the arrangement shown in the figure.

On the other hand, reading of information from the image memory 10 is performed in accordance with the signal CLK from the read clock 16. Byte counter 12 uses this signal CLK.
, the byte length of the transferred data is counted, and a count output C is generated. This counting output is comparator 1
It is compared by the comparator 14 with the byte number setting value L _B corresponding to the byte length l set in advance in 4.
When the set value is reached, the comparator 14 generates a count-up signal C _UP and outputs a reset signal RESET to the byte counter 12 .

Reference numeral 18L is a line buffer memory (hereinafter abbreviated as line buffer) for outputting image information for one main scan of the CCD, and in this embodiment, two systems are provided to speed up the process. 18
C is a controller such as a multiplexer for selectively using these two lines of line buffer memory 18L. Reference numeral 40 denotes an operation instruction input section consisting of a keyboard etc. for giving operation instructions to the CPU 20, 40A a display section for displaying the number of divided areas to be used, 40B a display section for indicating the number of copies, 40C a mode selection key, 40D is the original platen division size instruction key, and the other input section 40E has numeric keys 0 to 9.
In addition to clear key C, read start input key 40e
is provided. Reference numeral 50 denotes a printer unit that hard copies the readout output from the line buffer 18L, and this printer unit 50 is equipped with a microprocessor 52 (hereinafter referred to as
It is a line printer using a laser beam or the like and is composed of a CPU (called a CPU) and a paper feed system 54. Paper feed system 5
4, 54A is a paper feed driver that drives the paper feed roller 54B in accordance with a command from the CPU 20, and 54C and 54C' are for example A6 originals and A3 originals, respectively.
54D is a cassette detector, and the detection signal from this detector 54D is
It is sent to the CPU 20.

One embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, and its operation will be described next. Now consider the case where the image information of Z1 is retrieved from the image memory 10 in FIG. As described above, the image information of Z1 is stored in the area indicated by M1 in the image memory 10 as shown in FIG. Here, with one main scan of the CCD provided in the reader section 30,
Assuming that the byte length of the image information obtained from Z1 is l, a one-line byte number setting signal L _B corresponding to l is input to the comparator 14. By programming the CPU 20, a transfer start address is set in the image memory 10 by the read/write address setting signal Ad in response to the specification of the size and position of the extraction area such as by key input, and the read start address is set.
Transfer of image information to the line buffer 18L is started by LPW(S). The byte counter 12 outputs the transfer byte length to the comparator 14 by counting the number of clocks, and the comparator 14 compares it with the set value L _B. When the transfer byte length reaches L _B ,
A signal _CUP indicating that one transfer in the main scanning direction has been completed is output to the CPU 20, and the byte counter 12 is reset by a reset signal RESET. The CPU 20 receives the transfer end signal _{C_UP} from the comparator 14 and sets the address value of the built-in address counter from a to b (see FIG. 2). During that time, the signal R read out from the line buffer 18L according to the read clock CLK.
is input to the printer section 50, and a predetermined count 5 is input.
An image corresponding to the byte length l is recorded on the recording paper fed from 4C to 54C'. Printer section 50
When the recording is completed, it generates a 1-line write end signal L _W (E).

When the CPU 20 receives this signal L _W (E), it is a signal to start transferring image information by the next main scan, that is, a read/write start signal for one line L _RW (S).
is sent to the image memory 10 and the byte counter 12, and the line buffer 18L is switched via the controller 18C by the switching signal S _f synchronized with this signal, and the line buffer 18L is switched to the address b in the same way as M1 of the address a.
The information stored in M1 is read out and printed.
Next, the CPU 20 receives the signal C _UP from the comparator 14 indicating the end of one main scan transfer, sets the address value of the address counter from b to c, and receives the 1 line write end signal L _W from the printer 50.
(E), it issues a signal to the image memory 10 and byte counter 12 to start transferring image information by the next main scan, and also sends a signal to the line buffer 18L.
Switch. Similarly, the CPU 20 calculates the length in the sub-scanning direction (the number of main scans) corresponding to the Z1 area.
The transfer of the image information of Z1 is completed by setting it in the data RAM in the CPU, comparing the value with the current number of main scans, and repeating the above operation until they match. In this way, the CPU 1 sets the reading start address settings in the image information areas M2 to M4 corresponding to Z2 to Z4, respectively, and outputs them separately onto sheets of predetermined size.

Note that the byte length l set in the comparator is
If set programmably by the CPU 20, the length in the sub-scanning direction is already programmable in the above-described embodiment, so the division size of the document table can be freely determined within the constraints of the output paper size with the same device configuration.

Next, reading an image by the reader section 30 and storing it in the image memory 10 will be explained in relation to the document table.

FIG. 4 shows an A3 size document table, and seven pairs of LEDs 1, 1', . . . 7, 7' are provided around the periphery for displaying the document position. Now, the document platen division mode is designated by the mode selection key 40C in the operation section 40,
For example, among the document platen division size instruction keys 40D
If A6 is inserted, LEDs 1 to 3 are turned on in FIG. 4 to indicate the location where the original is to be placed, as shown by the dotted line in the figure. In this case, up to eight originals can be set, but the number of originals to be set is arbitrary within the settable number, and the number is input using the numeric keypad 40E and displayed as the number of divided areas to be used. If the number of images exceeds the settable number, the display section will be lit to display the information and key input will be disabled. Due to CCD scanning, the order in which the originals are set is A, B, and B.
If the order is unambiguously defined as C, D, E, H, G, and C, the sub-scanning length can be shortened, leading to a reduction in reading time. In other words, in the case of 4 A6 originals, A, B, C,
If they are loaded in the order of (d) and placed on the document table, the sub-scanning can be completed at the location of LED1, and the device can be simplified by uniquely determining the order of reading from the image memory.

Reading starts with the reading start key 40e shown in FIG.
One main scan end signal L _R (E) (Hsync) from 0
is counted and compared with the number of completed main scans (sub-scan length) determined by the division size and the number of used areas, and the reading is completed. The portion is read out and outputted to the printer section 50.

In this case, the comparator 14 is set with the image data byte length corresponding to the length from the reading start point S to LED2, and the memory is set with the image data byte length corresponding to the length from the reading start point S.
Output data is controlled by setting the Hsync number (number of main scans) indicated by L _R (E) up to LED3. In addition, by inputting the document platen division size instruction key 40D, the cassette is set to that size (the fourth
In the illustration, select A6). Mode selection key 40C
When is in the normal mode, the original platen division size instruction key 40D simply functions as a paper selection key.
Note that the number of copies is displayed on the display section 40B by the display output D _SP from the CPU 20.

In addition to the above-described embodiment, the cassette size of the printer section can be used in place of the document table division size key. In this case, the platen division size key is not required. Instead, when the original platen division mode is selected by mode selection, the original platen division size is determined based on the paper size of the cassette placed in a specific cassette holder.

As described above, according to the image information output method in the image memory device according to the configuration of this embodiment, in the image memory device that reads an image pixel by pixel using a solid-state scanning element and stores and stores the obtained image information, The reading scanning range, such as By addressing the memory area, necessary image information can be output separately, so multiple documents can be read at the same time by one scan of the document table, and each image can be printed separately on a designated sheet of paper corresponding to each document. It has excellent effects such as being able to reproduce large numbers of small originals and making large copies of small originals.

As described above, according to the present invention, the document table is divided into a plurality of areas corresponding to the number of divided areas inputted, each having a size corresponding to the size of the recording paper inputted,
Based on this, images corresponding to multiple areas of the document are recorded on multiple different recording papers, so the original image placed on the document table can be recorded on a desired number of recording papers of a desired size. This makes it possible to efficiently perform divided recording.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a reading scanning range of a document table, etc., which is assumed to be divided into a plurality of parts of a desired size based on the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of an image memory device for carrying out the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the division of the reading range of a document. It is an explanatory diagram. 10...Image memory, 12...Byte counter, 20...CPU, 30...Reader section, 40
...Operation instruction input section, 50...Printer section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A document table on which a document is placed, a reading means for outputting image information by reading an image of the document placed on the document table, and a device for outputting image information on recording paper based on the image information. In an image recording apparatus having a recording means for recording, a first input means for inputting the size of recording paper, a second input means for inputting a desired number of divided areas, and an input means for inputting the document table from the first input means. The recording paper is divided into a plurality of areas corresponding to the number of divided areas input from the second input means, and the image information from the reading means is used to represent the image of each of the plurality of areas. dividing means for dividing the image information into a plurality of pieces of image information and outputting the divided image information; dividing the image information and outputting a plurality of pieces of image information corresponding to the number of divided areas input from the second input means in a predetermined order according to the size of the recording paper input from the first input means; The recording means divides the images of the plurality of areas represented by each of the plurality of pieces of image information divided and outputted from the dividing means into a plurality of recording papers corresponding to the number of divided areas inputted from the second input means. An image recording device characterized by recording.