JPH0429467A - Image data generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce time and labor to copy an original for several times by providing a storage means which stores the data of an original image or the data deformed based on the data of the original image, and a comparison means which compares the size of the original image with image size storable in the storage means. CONSTITUTION:The time and labor to copy the original for several times can be reduced by providing the storage means which stores the data of the original image and that deformed based on the data of the original image, and the comparison means which compares the size of the original image with the image size storable in the storage means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is an image data generation method in which a document reading unit reads a document, obtains document image data, and generates target image data from the document image data. Regarding equipment.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, for example, in a copying machine, when obtaining the same image on multiple sheets of paper, the same original is covered with a Chiaria sheet, which is a sheet that protects and transports the original, and the required number of sheets is removed. , the original was sent and read many times to form the image on the paper.

However, after sending the original many times, the original may become misaligned or skewed, resulting in the same image not being obtained.

Therefore, when obtaining multiple sheets of the same copy paper, it is possible to store the original image data in a memory element, read out the original image data from this memory element, form an image, and print multiple sheets of the same copy paper. It has been proposed (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 55-4037
Publication No.).

However, this proposal requires a memory element that can accommodate the maximum document size, resulting in a significant increase in cost.

Therefore, in the original image data, for example, the same white part,
Since the signals are the same, an attempt is made to reduce costs by reducing the storage capacity of the storage element by using a compression technique that encodes the signal and the distance it continues and compresses that part. was considered.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, even if compression technology is used, there is a problem that, depending on the state of the original image, there may be a small number of identical signal parts, and the amount of image data will not be reduced. To be more specific, photographs, for example, have few identical signals and can only be compressed by about 99%.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and by using a memory element with a small storage capacity without using a document multiple times or using compression technology, It is an object of the present invention to provide an image data generation device that obtains a plurality of identical images.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an image data generation device that reads a document using a document reading means and then generates document image data. a storage means for storing transformed data; a comparison means for comparing the size of the original image with an image size that can be stored in the storage means; If the size of the original image is smaller than the size of the original image, the first scaling means reduces the data of the original image and stores it in the storage means, and the data stored in the storage means is read out and enlarged. back to
and a second variable magnification means for generating data of a target image.

[Operation] In the present invention, the storage means stores the data of the original image or the data transformed based on the data of the original image, and the comparison means compares the size of the original image and the image size that can be stored in the storage means. compare. Based on the comparison result of the comparison means, if the image size that can be stored in the storage means is smaller than the size of the original image, the first scaling means reduces the data of the original image and stores it in the storage means. The second scaling means reads out the data stored in the storage means, enlarges it, restores it, and generates the data of the target image, so the storage capacity of the storage means is small. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image data generation device that reduces costs.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the image data generation device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus including an image data generation apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an image data generation device according to the present invention. Note that the embodiments described below are not limited to the same magnification, but also include cases of reduction/enlargement variable magnification.

In FIG. 1, a document is placed on a document table 2 and is fed by document feeding means 1. As shown in FIG. Then, the optical system 10 scans the document and uses the light emitting function of an LED (light emitting diode!) 20 arranged in a part of the photoconductor 3 to charge the photoconductor 3 charged by the main charger 4. Create an electrostatic latent image.And,
Copying is performed by a developing device 5, a transfer device 6, a separator 7, and a cleaning device 9 arranged around the photoreceptor 3,
The fixing device 18 fixes the image onto the paper. The paper is then ejected to the ejection tray. Also, the paper is fed from the paper supply location 11 through the rollers 13 or from the manual feed tray 15.

Next, referring to the block diagram shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of an embodiment of the image data generation device according to the present invention will be described.

The document reading unit 21 reads a document and obtains document image data. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, an original is placed, the original feeding means l feeds the original, and the optical system 10 scans the original to obtain image data.

The storage means 24 stores data of the original image or data transformed based on the data of the original image,
Specifically, an example is a page memory using RAM or the like.

The comparison means 22 compares the size of the original image and the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24. What is specifically compared is the size of the area.

Here, since the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24 does not change, the comparison means 22 stores it. Since the size of the original image is the target image size in the case of the same magnification mode, the target image size will be described below. That is, the method of determining the size of the target image differs depending on the image forming apparatus, but typical examples will be described. First, there are devices that have a target image size selection switch on the operation panel of the device, whereby the size of the target image can be determined. Further, the sheet selection means (that is, the means for selecting the cassette for supplying sheets) included in a typical image forming apparatus determines the sheet on which the target image is to be copied, and thereby the size of the target image. Alternatively, you can use the copy magnification selection switch on the operation panel of the device to determine the magnification for reduction or enlargement.
By calculating the document size set by the document size setting switch and this magnification, the target image size can be determined. Furthermore, the automatic document size detection means of the apparatus and the copy magnification selection switch determine the document size and its set magnification, and by calculating them, the target image size can also be determined. Also, in the case of the original size, the original size can of course be known.

In the case of the same magnification, the first magnification changing means 23 calculates the size of the original image when the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24 is smaller than the size of the original (target) image based on the comparison result of the comparing means 22. The data is reduced and stored in the storage means 24.

In the case of the same magnification, the second variable magnification means 25 reads the data stored in the storage means 24, enlarges it and returns it to the original size, and obtains the data of the target image.

In addition to reduction, the first variable magnification means 23 also enlarges or enlarges the original image when the target image is different from the original image (reduction or enlargement mode).
It also has a function to leave it as is.

Further, the second culture changing means 23 is arranged in the enlargement pond to reduce or enlarge the target image with respect to the original image when the target image is scaled (reduction or enlargement mode).
It also has a function to leave it as is.

Here, the method of reduction/enlargement by the first variable magnification means 23 will be specifically described.
The method of scaling is different in the sub-scanning direction Y. The main scanning direction X is a direction in which l scanning lines are scanned, and a line memory is conventionally provided to record data for one scanning line.

Generally, it is not possible to write to and read from memory at the same time. Therefore, in order to shorten the processing time for writing and reading, normally a line memory for two scanning lines is provided, and while writing data to one memory, data is read from the other memory. (See Figure 3 (B) and (C)). In such a main scanning direction X, for example, in the case of 1/2 reduction, the data of the original image in the line memory is read out every other document image.

Further, for example, in case of double enlargement, the same data of the document image in the line memory is read out twice.

Furthermore, in the sub-scanning direction Y, there are two methods. One of the conventional methods is to increase the moving speed of the document table (or optical system) and widen the width of a scanning line on the document corresponding to one pixel. In enlarging, the moving speed of the document table (or optical system) is slowed down, and the width of a scanning line on the document corresponding to one pixel is narrowed. Another method is to thin out the data of the original image at regular intervals and read it during reduction, and read out the same data of the original image in duplicate during enlargement.

Incidentally, reduction/enlargement may be performed directly without using the above-mentioned line memory.

Next, to describe the method of reduction/enlargement by the second variable magnification means 25 in detail, the method of variable magnification is different in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Do the same as. Further, in the sub-scanning direction, when reducing, the data of the original image is thinned out at regular intervals and read out, and when expanding, the same data of the original image data is read out redundantly.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the image data generation apparatus according to the present invention will be described separately for when the target image is the same size as the original image and when the target image is scaled (reduced or enlarged).

First, a case where the target image is the same size as the original image will be described.

First, assume that the operator sets a plurality of copies using the copy number set key on the operation panel. Then, first, the document image size (target image size) is determined by one of the methods described above, and the target image size (here, it is the same size, so it is equal to the document image size) and is stored in the storage means 24. Comparison means 22 compares the image size that can be stored (storage capacity of storage means 24). Then, when the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24 is smaller than the target image size, the first scaling means 23 can record the document image data in the storage means 24 using one of the reduction methods described above. The image size is reduced to a capacity of a suitable image size and stored in the storage means 24. Then, the data stored in the storage means 24 is
The second variable magnification means 25 reads out and enlarges the image using the above-described enlargement method, thereby obtaining data of the generated target image. Here, since the size of the target image is the same as the size of the original image, the above-mentioned operation is performed by the first scaling means 23.
The reduction in size is restored by the enlargement of the second variable magnification means 25. Further, based on the comparison result of the comparison means 22, when the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24 is larger than the target image size, the first scaling means 23 stores the original image data as it is in the storage means 24. to be memorized. Then, the second variable magnification means 25 reads out the stored document image data from the storage means 24 and uses it as target image data without reducing or enlarging it.

Next, a case will be described in which the target image is reduced in size with respect to the original image.

First, the size of the target image is determined by one of the methods described above, and the comparison means 22 compares the size of the target image with the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24. When the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24 is smaller than the target image size, for example, if the original image size is AO
If the target image size is A2 and the storable document size is A4, first, the first scaling means 23
reduces the document image data from AO size to A4 size using one of the multiple reduction methods, and stores it in the storage means 24.
to be memorized. Next, the second scaling means 25 reads out the reduced A4 size data stored in the storage means 24 and enlarges it to A2 size using the aforementioned enlargement method. Thereby, generated image data is obtained.

Furthermore, if the size of the memorizable document is larger than the target image size based on the comparison result of the comparing means 22, either or both of the first scaling means 23 and the second scaling means 25 It shrinks. More specifically, the storable original size (storage capacity of the storage means) and the original image size are compared (the point to note here is that the object to be compared is
This differs from the target image size in that it is the original image size). If the document size that can be stored is greater than or equal to the document image size, the first variable magnification means 23 stores the data of the document image as it is in the storage means 24, and the second variable magnification means 2
5 reduces the data of the original image stored in the storage means 24 to the data of the target image using the method described above. Also, compare the document size that can be stored and the document image size,
If the storable original size is smaller than the original image size, the first scaling means 23 reduces the original image data to the target image data in the above-described manner, stores it in the storage means 24, and then reduces the original image data to the target image data. The multiplying means 25 reads out the data of the target image stored in the storage means 24 as it is without reducing or enlarging it. In addition, the following cases may occur. If the document size that can be stored is smaller than the document image size,
The first scaling means 23 reduces the data of the original image to data of a storable original size and stores it in the storage means 24,
The second scaling means 25 reads out the data from the storage means 24 and reduces it to the data of the target image.

Next, a case will be described in which the target image is enlarged and magnified with respect to the original image.

First, the comparison means 22 compares the size of the target image and the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24.

When the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24 is smaller than the target image size, for example, the target image size is AO and the document size that can be written is A.
4, and the size of the original image may be A3, B5, or A4. Considering the case where the size of the original image is 83, the first scaling means 23 reduces the size of the original image A3 to a memorizable original size A4 by any of the above-mentioned methods, and stores it in the storage means 24. . Then, the second scaling means 25 reads out the data stored in the storage means 24, and enlarges the data size A4 to the target image size AO using the method described above. Further, considering the case where the size of the original image is B5, the first scaling means enlarges the B5 size to A4 size using any of the methods described above, and the second scaling means 25 enlarges the A4 size to A4 size using any of the methods described above. AO resize and enlarge depending on the method. or,
Considering the case where the size of the original image is A4 (that is, when it is equal to the storable original size), the first scaling means 23 neither reduces nor enlarges, and the second scaling means 25 uses the method described above. Enlarge A4 size to AO resize.

Next, the comparison means 22 compares the size of the target image and the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24, and if the image size that can be stored in the storage means 24 is norther than the size of the target image, the first change is performed. Either the magnifying means 23 or the second variable magnification means 25 magnifies the original image data to the target image data using the method described above.

Next, a flowchart of a program that performs such operations is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, first, in step St, the operator inputs the number of copies. Then, in step S2, the number of copies is 1.
Determine whether it is a piece or not. If the number of copies is one, the process advances to step S3 and normal copying without using the storage means 24 is performed. If the number of copies is plural, the process advances to step S4. In step S4, the first scaling means 23 scales the original image to a predetermined value (reduction, enlargement) or leaves it as it is, and stores it in the storage means 24. Then, in step S5, the second scaling means 25 outputs the stored contents of the storage means 24 with predetermined scaling (reduction, enlargement) or as is. Then, in step S6, it is determined whether the number of copies manually set has been reached. If the number of copies has not been reached or reached, the process returns to step S4.

Further, when the number of copies is reached, the process ends.

In the above flowchart of the present embodiment, when a plurality of copies are to be made, the first copy may be made as the target image and copied without using the storage means 24.

In addition, in this embodiment, in the case of copying a plurality of sheets, the storage means 24
As mentioned above, a changeover switch is provided, and when it is necessary to make exact copies of blueprints, etc. that are close to the original image, the changeover switch can be used to avoid using the storage means 24 and normally In addition, if the operator determines that exact copying of posters, etc. is not necessary, the worker can use the selector switch to copy the posters, etc., from the storage means 2.
4 may be used for copying, and the operator may make a selection using a changeover switch.

[Effects of the Invention] In the present invention, even in the case of copying a plurality of sheets, the first scaling means reduces the original image and stores it in the storage means,
The second variable magnification means reads out the memory contents of the storage means,
Since the document can be enlarged to a predetermined value and output, it is advantageous that, for example, in a copying machine, the document does not need to be used many times for copying. In addition, since large original images are not stored as they are, the storage capacity of the storage means is small.
The cost can be further reduced compared to the case where a storage means having a storage capacity to store all the data of the original image is provided. Furthermore, since no compression technology is used, there is no need for the image data to exceed the capacity of the storage means.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image forming apparatus including an embodiment of an image data generation device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the image data generation device according to the present invention, and FIG. The figure is a plan view showing the method of reducing/enlarging the same embodiment.
The figure is a flowchart showing the operation of the same embodiment. 21... Original reading means, 22... Comparison means, 2
3... First magnification changing means, 24... Storage means, 25...
-Second magnification variable means, P...manuscript.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image data generation device that reads a document by a document reading means and then generates document image data,
a storage means for storing the data of the original image or data transformed based on the data of the original image; a comparison means for comparing the size of the original image with an image size that can be stored in the storage means; and the comparison means. a first scaling means for reducing the data of the original image and storing it in the storage means when the image size that can be stored in the storage means is smaller than the size of the original image based on a comparison result of the storage means; and a second variable magnification means for reading the data stored in the storage means, enlarging it, and restoring it to the original size to generate data of a target image.