JPH06217126A - Method and device for processing image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the formation of a prescribed image to inhibit image formation at a minimum in the case of image information and to suppress influences of processing for deciding whether it is the prescribed image or not on the throughput of an image formation sequence at a minimum. CONSTITUTION:Image signals successively inputted from an input system image processing part are outputted through respective processing parts 201-204 to a printer part 20 as image data and successively formed. At the same time, the image signals inputted from the input system image processing part are inputted to an image decision part 200, and the presence/absence of possibility for these images to be specified images to inhibit the image formation is decided. When there is the possibility of the specified image, the image forming operation of the printer part 20 is interrupted, the image decision part 200 decides whether it is the specified image or not by the image signals to be continuously inputted and when it is the specified image, image formation processing is stopped but when it is not the specified image, image formation processing is started again.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus having a function of preventing image formation on a predetermined image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a color image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine having a high degree of image reproducibility has been developed. In such a color image forming apparatus, an image forming method applying an inkjet technique scans an inkjet type recording head having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction and scans a recording medium in the sub-scanning direction. An image is formed by repeating the process of moving. The image forming apparatus having such a structure is advantageous in configuring a large-sized image forming apparatus or a light-weight and small-sized image forming apparatus as compared with an electrophotographic apparatus.

However, as the quality of an image to be formed becomes higher, there is a problem that an image which is not suitable for copying by using the above-mentioned image forming apparatus is copied. For this reason, it is indispensable for these image forming apparatuses to have a function of preventing the image formation of the specific document from the viewpoint of social responsibility. In order to prevent the image formation of the specific original, a specific original discriminating means is required. As such discrimination means, there are technologies already applied to cash dispensers of financial institutions and the like, and it is conceivable to apply these means to a color image forming apparatus.

[0004]

In the image forming apparatus using the electrophotographic system, the entire original image can be pre-scanned to determine the image. However,
In a color image forming apparatus having a structure in which an image is formed by scanning the recording head as described above, a process of scanning an image by scanning a reading head having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction is performed. It is common to read the entire image repeatedly. For this reason, a considerable amount of time is required for pre-scanning for determining whether or not the image is a specific original image, and the throughput of image formation is significantly impaired.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, there is a method of successively determining whether or not a document image is a specific document image while forming an image.

The width of the recording head in the image forming apparatus having the above structure is about 16 mm. It is theoretically possible to have a wider head, but it will be at this level for the time being due to the production cost.

In this case, the image is read with the width of the recording head, but an image having a width of about 100 mm is required to accurately determine the specific original. Therefore, at the time when the specific original is discriminated, images of several bands (the image formed by one main scan is one band) have already been formed. For this reason, when it is determined that the specific original is determined, when the determination of the specific original is completed, the recording paper is rewound by a predetermined width to fill the portion where the specific original is recorded.

However, in such a method, when a measure such as power-off is taken before the recording paper is rewound after the completion of the determination, the recording of the specific original having a considerable width is left in the apparatus depending on the case. Will be lost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in image formation, formation of a predetermined image for which image formation should be prohibited is minimized and whether or not the image is a predetermined image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing method and apparatus that minimize the influence of the determination processing on the throughput of the image forming sequence.

[0010]

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object has the following configuration.
That is, in an image processing apparatus that forms an image based on sequentially input image signals, the image formed based on the sequentially input image signals is a predetermined image whose image formation should be prohibited. First determining means for determining whether or not there is a possibility, and when the first determining means determines that the image may be a predetermined image, the formation of the image is interrupted and continued. A second image determination unit that determines whether the image is a predetermined image based on image signals that are sequentially input.
Determining means and the second determining means determine that the image is a predetermined image, the second determining means stops the formation of the image, and the second determining means determines that the image is the predetermined image. If it is determined that the image is not, restarting means for restarting the formation of the image is provided.

Further, the image processing method according to the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the following steps. That is, it is an image processing method for forming an image based on sequentially input image signals, and the image formed based on the sequentially input image signal is a predetermined image whose image formation should be prohibited. A first determination step of determining whether there is a possibility,
When it is determined by the first determination step that the image may be the predetermined image, the formation of the image is interrupted, and the image is the predetermined image based on the image signals that are continuously input. A second determination step of determining whether or not the image is a predetermined image, and a stop step of stopping the formation of the image when the image is determined to be a predetermined image by the second determination step; If the image is determined not to be the predetermined image by the determination step, the restarting step of restarting the formation of the image is provided.

[0012]

With the above-described structure, the image forming process is performed based on the sequentially input image signals, and the first determining means determines whether or not the image may be a predetermined image. To do. When it is determined that the image may be the predetermined image, the second determination unit interrupts the formation process of the image and determines the predetermined image based on the image signals that are continuously and sequentially input. It is determined whether or not it is the image. When it is determined that the image is not the predetermined image, the resuming unit restarts the image forming process, and when it is determined that the image is the predetermined image, the stopping unit stops the image forming process.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital color copying machine according to the first embodiment.

The digital color copying machine 10 is roughly composed of two elements. As a first major element, the original document image located above is read in color,
A color image scanner unit (hereinafter abbreviated as “reader unit”) 12 that outputs digital color image data is provided. The reader unit 12 has a built-in controller unit 14 that performs various types of image processing of digital color image data and controls the entire apparatus. In addition, as a second major element, a printer unit 20 is provided below the reader unit 12 for recording color digital image signals output from the controller unit 14 of the reader unit 12 on recording paper. There is.

The reader unit 12 is composed of documents of various shapes and sizes such as a three-dimensional or sheet-shaped or large-sized sheet-shaped document placed downward on a document table (not shown) below the document pressing plate 16. It has a built-in mechanism for reading image information. In addition, on one side of the upper surface of the reader unit 12,
An operation unit 18 connected to the controller unit 14 is provided. The operation unit 18 is for inputting various kinds of information as a copying machine, an operating finger, and the like.

Further, the controller unit 14 includes an operation unit 18
It has a function of giving an operation instruction to the reader unit 12 and the printer unit 20 according to the information input via the. or,
When complicated processing or the like needs to be performed, a digitizer or the like that can be connected to the controller unit 14 is attached instead of the document pressing plate 16, whereby higher-level image processing becomes possible.

On the other hand, in the printer section 20 of the present embodiment, a full-color ink jet printer using a print head of an ink jet recording system as described in JP-A-54-59936 is used.

The above-mentioned two main elements are separable from each other, and they are set so that they can be installed at positions separated from each other by extending the connecting cable.

Next, the above-mentioned major elements will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the digital color copying machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the side.

(Reader section 12) First, referring to FIG.
The configuration of the reader unit 12 of the digital color copying machine 10 will be described.

In the reader unit 12, the exposure lamp 2
2, a lens 24, and an image sensor 26 capable of reading a full-color line image (in this embodiment, C
An image of a document placed on the platen glass 28, a projected image by a projector, or an image of a sheet-shaped document by the sheet feeding mechanism 30 is read by a CD sensor). Exposure lamp 22, lens 24, image sensor 2
6 is housed in one carriage (hereinafter referred to as a leader carriage).

FIG. 3 is a view of the inside of the reader unit 12 seen from above, and 90 is the above-mentioned reader carriage, which is installed on the main scanning rail 91. The reader carriage 90 can reciprocate on the main scanning rail in the main scanning direction, and its power is supplied by a main scanning drive motor (not shown). The entire main scanning rail is installed on the sub scanning rail 92, and the entire main scanning rail 92 including the reader carriage 90 can reciprocate on the sub scanning rail in the sub scanning direction. With such a mechanism, the reader 12 can read an image at an arbitrary position on the platen.

The controller unit 14 in the reader unit 12 performs various image processes on the image information read by the reader unit 12 in this manner, and then the read and image-processed information is sent to the printer unit 20. , Which will be recorded on the recording paper.

(Printer Unit 20) Next, the printer unit 20
Will be described with reference to FIG. The recording paper is a paper feed cassette 32 that stores cut sheets of small standard size (A4 to A3 size in this embodiment) and roll paper for recording a large size (A2 to A1 size in this embodiment). It is selectively supplied from 34. In the present embodiment, it is also possible to manually feed the recording paper one by one along the paper feed unit cover 38 through the manual feed port 36 (paper feed from outside the apparatus). .

Paper feed is started by a print start instruction from the controller unit 14, and the supplied recording paper is first conveyed to the position of the first paper feed roller 44 by the following path.

The case of paper feeding from the paper feeding cassette 32 mounted on the printer unit 20 will be described. On the upper surface of the sheet feeding end of the recording sheet setting surface of the sheet feeding cassette 32, the sheet feeding cassette 32
A pick-up roller 40 is provided to take out the cut sheets one by one. Therefore, this pick
By driving the up roller 40, the uppermost recording sheet set in the sheet feeding cassette 32 is taken out and sent to the cut sheet feeding roller 42. Then, the cut paper feed roller 42 conveys the paper to the first paper feed roller 44.

On the other hand, when the paper is fed from the roll paper 34, it is continuously fed by the roll paper feed roller 46, cut into a fixed length by the cutter 48, and then the above-mentioned paper feed first roller 44 is used. It is transported to the position.

Similarly, when the paper is fed manually from the manual feed port 36, the manually fed recording paper is conveyed by the manual feed roller 50 to the paper feed first roller 44.

Here, the pick-up roller 40, the cut paper feed roller 42, the roll paper feed roller 46, the first paper feed roller 44, and the manual feed roller 50 are a paper feed motor (not shown) (DC in this embodiment). It is driven by a servo motor), and an electromagnetic clutch attached to each roller can be used to perform on / off control of the rotational drive at any time.

The recording paper thus fed from any of the above-mentioned paper feed paths is conveyed to the paper feed first roller 44. In order to remove skew of recording paper,
A predetermined amount of paper loop is formed on the recording paper before the first paper feed roller 44, and then the first paper feed roller 44 is turned on to be rotationally driven to convey the recording paper to the second paper feed roller 52. become.

Further, the paper feed roller 64 disposed above the recording head 56 and the paper feed second roller 5 disposed below the recording head 56.
In order to perform an accurate paper feeding operation between the first and second sheet feeding rollers, the recording sheet is slackened between the first sheet feeding first roller 44 and the second sheet feeding roller 52 to form a buffer. The buffer amount detection sensor 5 for detecting the amount of slack of the recording paper, that is, the buffer amount is provided in this buffer.
4 are provided. By always forming a buffer on the recording paper during the conveyance of the recording paper, the load on the paper feed roller 64 and the second paper feed roller 52 is reduced especially when a large-sized recording paper is conveyed. Therefore, the accurate paper feeding operation becomes possible.

In the printer section 20 having the above-described recording sheet conveying system, the recording operation by the recording head 56 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4. At the time of recording on the recording paper, the scanning carriage 58, on which the recording head 56 is mounted, reciprocates on the carriage rail 60 in the front and back directions of FIG. 2 (directions A and B in FIG. 4). Is configured to let. As a result, the scanning carriage 58 scans the recording paper in the main scanning direction. Then, in the forward scan of the scanning carriage 58, an image is recorded on the recording paper by the recording head 56. Further, during the backward scan, the paper feed roller 64
And the feeding operation in the sub-scanning direction is performed by feeding the recording paper by a predetermined amount by the paper feeding second roller 52. The paper feed roller 6
4 and the second sheet feeding roller 52 are driven by the scanning motor 68.

Here, the feeding amount of the recording paper along the sub-scanning direction is the length corresponding to the width of the recording head 56 along the sub-scanning direction, that is, the surface portion of the platen 74 facing the recording head 56. Is set to a length corresponding to the width of the suction line (not shown) formed by the above. This suction line is for bringing the recording paper into close contact with the platen 74.

Further, in the recording paper drive control by the scanning motor 68 during the backward scanning, the buffer amount is detected by the buffer amount detection sensor 54 and is always controlled to be the predetermined buffer amount.

Then, the recording paper on which the image is recorded is discharged to the paper discharge tray 66, and the series of printing operations described above are completed.

(System Configuration) Next, the processing and control of the image signal of the control system in the digital color copying machine 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system in the digital color copying machine 10 of this embodiment.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 100 denotes a main CPU, which controls the entire apparatus. The main CPU 100 includes a printer control CPU 10 that controls the printer control operation.
2. Reader control CPU 104 that controls the reading control operation,
A main image processing unit 106 for processing an image forming operation and an operation unit 108 for various inputs by an operator are connected. Here, the printer control CPU 102 and the reader control CPU 104 respectively include a printer unit 20 and a reader unit 12.
Of the master CPU 100 and the master CPU 100 are set in a relationship of master and slave.

The main image processing unit 106 described above performs image processing such as masking, black extraction, quaternarization, and γ correction.
Further, the printer control CPU 102 and the main image processing unit 1
The synchronous memory 110 is connected to 06. The synchronous memory 110 absorbs the time variation in the image input operation and corrects the delay due to the mechanical arrangement of the recording head 56 described above, and outputs the image data to be recorded to the recording head 56.

The printer control CPU 102 is the printer unit 2
It is connected to a printer unit drive system 114 that controls 0 input drive.

Further, the reader control CPU 104 includes an input system image processing unit 116 for performing necessary correction processing in the reading system such as shading correction, color correction, and γ correction, and the reader 12.
Is connected to a reader unit drive system 118 that controls the input drive of.

Further, the input system image processing unit 116 has a CCD
Is connected to the image sensor 26, and the input system image processing unit 116 is connected to the main image processing unit 106.

Here, the reader unit 12 is the main CPU 10
0, reader control CPU 104, main image processing unit 10
6, an operation unit 108, an input system image processing unit 115, a reader unit drive system 118, and an image sensor 26 having a CCD line sensor. In addition, the printer unit 20
Includes a printer control CPU 102, a synchronous memory 110, a recording head 56, and a printer unit drive system 114.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, the main image processing unit 10
6 will be described in more detail. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the control configuration of the main image processing unit 106 according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 6, the image signal from the input system image processing unit 116 is sent to the black extraction unit 201. Here, C, M, Y
The black data is extracted from the minimum value of the image components of. On the other hand, the image signal is also sent to the image determination unit 200. Image determination unit 2
At 00, a method such as pattern recognition is used to determine whether the input image signal is a specific image (referred to as a specific image) for which image formation should be prohibited. A publicly known technique is used for a specific method, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

Reference numeral 202 denotes an output masking section for performing output masking processing on an image, 203 for a γ correction section for γ correction, and 204 for a binarization processing section for binarizing a multi-valued image signal. The image signal binarized by the binarization processing unit 204 is sent to the printer processing unit 20. Each processing unit (200-2
Parameters necessary for 04) are set by the main CPU via the data bus 205. In addition, the image determination unit 200
The judgment result in the main C is also sent via the data bus 205.
Sent to PU. The image signal is sent to the printer unit 20 as image data through each processing unit (200 to 204),
The printer unit 20 forms an image based on this image data.

Next, the main CPU 10 in this embodiment
0, printer control CPU 102, reader control CPU 10
7 shows details of the copy sequence executed in FIG.
Also, description will be made below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when a start key (not shown) provided on the operation unit 108 is pressed, a copy sequence task program is called from a program memory (not shown), and the main CPU 100 advances the process to step S1 in FIG.

In step S1, the reader control circuit 104
Data necessary for initial setting to the reader unit 1
2. Make the initial settings. When this initial setting is completed, the process proceeds to the next step S2, and the printer control CPU 102
Then, the data necessary for the initial setting is transmitted to the printer unit 20, and the printer unit 20 is initialized.

When the above processing is completed, the main CPU 1
In step 00, the process proceeds to step S3 to set an image processing parameter. Here, necessary data sets are performed on the image determination unit 200, the output masking unit 202, and the γ correction unit 203. Then, in step S4, the image determination unit 200 is turned on to start image determination.

When it is confirmed in step S5 that the reader unit and the printer unit are ready for the main scanning scan (ready), the process proceeds to step S6 to start the main scanning scan. During the main scanning scan, the image determination unit 200
Monitors the incoming image signal and determines whether or not it may be a specific image. After confirming that the main scanning scan is completed in step S7, the process proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the main CPU 100 reads the data from the image determination unit 200 and determines whether or not there is a possibility of a specific image. If there is no possibility of the specific image, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, it is determined whether image formation for all bands is completed, that is, whether copying is completed. If YES, the copy sequence is completed. If NO, the process proceeds to step S10, the sub-scanning is performed in the reader unit 12 and the printer unit 20, and then the process returns to step S5 to repeat the above process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S8 that there is a possibility of a specific original, the process proceeds to step S11 in FIG. In step S11, it is confirmed that the reader unit 12 is ready to scan, and then the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the reader unit 12 scans only the original image, and the image determination unit 200 determines whether the image is a specific image.

After the scan is completed, the determination result of the image determination unit 200 is checked again in step S13, and if it is determined that the read image is not the specific image, step S1
Go to 5. In step S15, the reader carriage 90 is
The image discriminating unit 200 detects that there is a possibility of a specific image (step S8) and moves the sub-scanning position. After that, the process returns to step S9 to restart the image forming operation.

On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S13 that the image is a non-specific image, the process proceeds to step S14. If it cannot be determined that the image is the specific image in step S14, the process proceeds to step S16, the sub-scanning is performed in the reader unit 12, and the process returns to step S11. Step S1
If the image is determined to be the specific image in step 4, the process proceeds to step S17. Here, in the image recorded for one line at the time when it is determined that there is a possibility of the specific image in the previous step S8, the area in which the specific image is recorded is solidly printed and filled, and then the copy operation is stopped. To do.
Note that the determinations in steps S14 and S15 can be normally set after 5 and 6 scans after detecting the possibility of a specific image.

The above sequence will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a view of the reader / document table viewed from above.
Reference numeral 8 is a platen glass, and 90 is a reader carriage. Further, 99 is a specific original having a specific image.

As shown in the figure, the specific original 99 is the original table glass 2
It is assumed that the image determination unit 200 detects that there is a possibility of a specific image at position A in the sub-scanning direction. At this time, the printer 20 once suspends the recording operation, and only the reader 12 performs the scanning operation for image discrimination. When it is determined that the image is the specific image at the position B, the printer 20 solidly prints and fills the area of the specific image recorded at the position A, and immediately stops the copy operation. If it is determined that the image is not the specific image at the position B, the reader carriage 90 is returned to the position A, and the reader and the printer perform sub-scan feed, and then the image formation for the band after the band A is performed. Here, after the reader carriage 90 is once returned to the position A, the sub-scanning is fed to the position of the band to be formed next, as a countermeasure against backlash in each transport mechanism.

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment, the recording of the specific image is prevented with the minimum difficulty.
It is possible to prevent the formation of a specific image. Further, since the scan for image discrimination is executed only when there is a possibility of a specific image, it is possible to suppress a decrease in throughput in image formation.

<Embodiment 2> In Embodiment 1 described above, the scanning operation in the reader unit 12 when detecting a specific image is the same as that during normal image formation, but the present invention is not limited to this.

Generally, in the image forming apparatus having the structure as in the first embodiment, only one direction of the main scanning direction is scanned during image formation. This is for each color (C,
(M, Y, K) the difference in the recording order affects the tint of the image, and it is necessary to guarantee the mechanical accuracy in each direction during bidirectional recording. It is because of the difficulty.

However, the printer 20 does not operate in determining whether or not the image is the specific image, which is executed after it is determined that the image may be the specific image. Therefore, the reader unit 1
If the mechanical accuracy of 2 is guaranteed, reciprocal reading can be performed when determining whether or not it is a specific image. This makes it possible to improve the throughput of the sequence for determining whether or not the image is the specific image.

Further, the scan area in the main scanning direction when determining whether or not it is the specific original image may be limited to the area where the specific image may exist. For example, in FIG. 9, the scanning is performed only in the area from C to D in the main scanning direction where the specific original may exist. As a means for discriminating this area, it is obvious that it can be realized by providing a counter that counts up for each pixel in the main scanning and a RAM that temporarily stores the value according to a signal from the image determination unit. Is. According to this method
Throughput at the time of determining whether or not the image is a specific image can be further improved.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the scanning for determining whether the image is the specific image can be performed more efficiently, and the throughput of image formation can be further improved.

As described above, the present invention is not limited to the scanning method for determining whether the image is a specific image.

<Third Embodiment> In the above description, the present invention is applied to a digital color copying machine, but it can also be applied to a scanner or printer having a similar structure.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a scanner, in which 303 is an image data bus through which an image signal flows, 300 is a gate unit for applying a gate to the image signal, and 302 is a gate unit which is turned on. , A gate control signal for turning off, 301 is an external I / F such as SCSI for sending an image signal to the outside, and 304 is an external I / F bus. Thirty
A scanner image processing unit 5 has a reading head for reading a document image. When the image determination unit 201 determines that there is a possibility of a specific image, the CPU 10
1 turns off the gate control signal 302 and external I / F 30
4 prevents image data from being output. Then, as in the first embodiment, only the scan for determining the original is performed, and when it is determined that the image is not the specific image, the gate control signal 3
02 is turned on to restart the transmission of the image signal to the outside.

The operation of the above-mentioned scanner will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, step S2
In step 1, the gate 300 is turned on so that the image signal can be output. Next, in step S22, reading of the original image by the scanner image processing unit 305 is started. Since the gate 300 is in the ON state, the read image signal output from the scanner image processing unit 305 is output to the outside via the external I / F 301. The image determination unit 201 also monitors the image signal output from the scanner image processing unit 305 to determine whether the document image is a specific image. In step S23, if the result of the determination by the image determination unit 201 is “there is no possibility of a specific image”, the process proceeds to step S24.
In step S24, it is determined whether or not the reading of the document image is completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S23, and if completed, this process is completed.

On the other hand, in step S23, if the result of the determination by the image determination unit 201 is "there is a possibility that it is a specific image", the process proceeds to step S25. Step S25
Then, the gate 300 is turned off by the control signal 302 to cut off the output of the image signal to the outside. In step S26, the image determination unit 200 determines whether or not the document image is a specific image based on the image signal continuously output from the scanner image processing unit 305. In step S27,
Processing is branched according to the result of the determination. If the image determination unit 200 determines that the image is the specific image, step S
In step 28, the reading operation of the scanner is stopped, and this processing ends. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S27 that the document image is not the specific image, the process proceeds to step S29,
The read head is returned to the position where the gate 300 was turned off in step S25. Then, the process returns to step S21, the gate 300 is turned on, and the output of the image signal to the outside is restarted.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printer, and the position of the gate 300 and the position of the image taking-in port of the image judging section 202 are reversed from those in FIG. The components having the same functions as those in FIG. 10 are designated by the same reference numerals.

Reference numeral 306 denotes a printer image processing section,
An image is formed from the image data input through the gate 300, and an image is recorded on the recording medium. In the printer of the present order, when the image determination unit 202 detects the possibility of the specific image, the gate 300 is turned off and the image transmission to the printer image processing unit 306 is turned off. However, during this time, the image from the external I / F 301 is continuously received and the determination is continued. When it is determined that the image is not the specific image, a request for retransmitting the image is output to the external device, and recording from the time when the possibility of the specific image is detected is restarted.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the operation procedure of the printer in the third embodiment. When the image data is received in step S41, the process proceeds to step S42, and the gate 300 is turned on. When the gate 300 is turned on, the image data input via the external I / F 301 is input to the printer image processing unit 306, and an image is formed. Further, the image data input via the external I / F 301 is input to the image determination unit 202, and it is determined whether or not the image data may be a specific image. In step S43, if the result of the determination by the image determination unit 202 is “there is a possibility of a specific image”, the process proceeds to step S45, and if not, the process proceeds to step S44. In step S44, it is determined whether or not the reception is completed. If the reception is completed, this process is terminated, and if not, the step S43 is executed.
Return to.

If "there is a possibility of a specific image" in step S43, the process proceeds to step S45. In step S45, the gate 300 is turned off to cut off the input of the image signal to the printer image processing unit 306 and interrupt the image formation. In step S46, the image determination unit 202
However, it is determined from the image data continuously input via the external I / F 301 whether or not the image is a specific image. Then, depending on the determination result, the process branches from step S47. If the result of determination by the image determination unit 202 is a specific image, the process proceeds to step S48, and reception of the image data is stopped. On the other hand, if the image is not the specific image, the process proceeds to step S49 to request retransmission of the image data. In step S50, the image determination unit 202 monitors the retransmitted image data and waits until the image data at the time when the image formation is interrupted, that is, when the gate 300 is turned off (step S45) is received. When the image data at the time of the interruption is received, the process returns to step S42, and the gate 3
The image formation is restarted by turning 00 on.

As described above, according to each of the above-mentioned embodiments, when the image is read or the image is formed by repeating the scanning a plurality of times, the image is a specific image whose image formation should be prohibited. Detect the possibility. After the possibility that the image is the specific image is detected, the process for inhibiting the image formation is performed, and the scan for determining whether the image is the specific image is performed. Therefore, since the image formation is interrupted when the possibility of the specific image is determined, the formation of the specific image in the image forming process can be minimized. Further, since the scan for confirming whether the image is the specific image is performed after the possibility of the specific image is determined, it is possible to minimize the influence on the throughput of the image forming sequence.

As the processing after detecting the specific image, the CPU stores the information in the backup memory so that the apparatus cannot be used thereafter, or after connecting the management center and the image forming apparatus online, after detecting the specific image. However, the present invention does not specify this, although measures such as notifying appropriate institutions may be considered.

In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to an ink jet type printer, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other types of printers such as a thermal type.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0077]

As described above, according to the image processing method and apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to minimize the formation of a predetermined image for which image formation should be prohibited in image formation. It is possible to minimize the influence of the determination processing of whether or not the image is a predetermined image on the throughput of the image forming sequence.

[0078]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a digital color copying machine according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that schematically shows the internal configuration of the digital color copying machine according to the first embodiment as viewed from the side.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the inside of the reader unit is viewed from above.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a recording head of a printer unit and a mechanism around the recording head.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system in the digital color copying machine 10 of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of a main image processing unit 106 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a copy sequence according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a copy sequence according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a copy sequence according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration example of a scanner to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the scanner according to the third exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration example of a printer to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the printer according to the third exemplary embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 reader unit 20 printer unit 26 image sensor 56 recording head 100 main CPU 102 printer control CPU 104 reader control CPU 106 main image processing unit 108 operation unit 110 synchronous memory 114 printer unit driving system 116 input system image processing unit 118 reader unit driving system 200 Image judgment unit

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for forming an image based on sequentially input image information, wherein the image formed based on the sequentially input image information may be a predetermined image. First to determine whether or not
And the first determining means determines that the image may be a predetermined image for which image formation should be prohibited, the formation of the image is interrupted, and continuous input is performed. Second determining means for determining whether or not the image is a predetermined image based on the image information, and the image if the second determining means determines that the image is the predetermined image. Image processing comprising: a stopping unit that stops the formation of the image, and a restarting unit that restarts the formation of the image when the second determining unit determines that the image is not the predetermined image. apparatus. 2. An image input unit for obtaining the image information sequentially input by scanning an image by scanning a reading head having a predetermined reading width in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image input means reads the image by scanning the reading head in one direction during image formation, and bidirectional scanning of the reading head in executing the second determining means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a scanning method changing unit that reads the image. 4. The image input means further comprises scanning width changing means for changing the amount of movement of the reading head in the main scanning direction to a range in which at least a predetermined image exists when the second determining means is executed. 3. The method according to claim 2,
Alternatively, the image processing apparatus according to item 3. 5. The recording device further comprises recording means for sequentially recording the images formed on the basis of the sequentially input image information, and the stopping means judges that the image is a predetermined image by the first judging means. 5. When any of the above is caused, the formation of the image is stopped, and the predetermined recording is performed in the range in which at least the predetermined image of the images already recorded by the recording unit exists. The image processing device according to claim 1. 6. An image processing apparatus for sequentially reading an image and outputting it as image information, wherein the image is a predetermined image whose image formation should be prohibited based on the image information obtained by sequentially reading the image. A first determination unit that determines whether or not there is a possibility, and if the first determination unit determines that the image may be a predetermined image, the output of the image information is interrupted. And a second determining whether the image is a predetermined image based on image information obtained by continuously reading the image.
Determining means, the second determining means determines that the image is a predetermined image, the stopping means for stopping the output of the image information of the image, and the second determining means An image processing apparatus comprising: a restarting unit that restarts image information output of the image when it is determined that the image is not the predetermined image. 7. An image processing method for forming an image based on image information that is sequentially input, wherein an image formed based on the image information that is sequentially input is a predetermined image formation prohibited image formation. A first determining step of determining whether the image may be an image, and interrupting the formation of the image when the image is determined to be a predetermined image by the first determining step Then, the second determination step of determining whether or not the image is a predetermined image based on the image information that is continuously and sequentially input, and the image is a predetermined image by the second determination step. If it is determined that the formation of the image is stopped, if it is determined by the second determination step that the image is not a predetermined image, a restart step of restarting the formation of the image. Image prescription characterized by having . 8. An image input step for obtaining the image information sequentially input by scanning an image by scanning a reading head having a predetermined reading width in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning direction. The image processing method according to claim 7. 9. The image input step reads the image by scanning the reading head in one direction during image formation, and bidirectional scanning of the reading head in execution of the second determination step. 9. The image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising a scanning method changing step of reading the image in step. 10. The image inputting step further comprises a scanning width changing step of changing a moving amount of the reading head in the main scanning direction to a range in which at least a predetermined image exists when the second determining step is executed. The image processing method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein: 11. A recording step of sequentially recording images formed on the basis of sequentially input image information, wherein the stopping step is performed when the image is determined to be a predetermined image by the determination step. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the formation of the image is stopped, and the predetermined recording is performed in a range where at least the predetermined image of the images already recorded by the recording step exists. Image processing method. 12. An image processing method for sequentially reading an image and outputting the image as image information, wherein the image is a predetermined image based on image information obtained by sequentially reading the image and the formation of the image is prohibited. A first determination step of determining whether or not there is a possibility, and if it is determined by the first determination step that the image may be a predetermined image, the output of the image information is interrupted. And a second determining whether the image is a predetermined image based on image information obtained by continuously reading the image.
If the image is determined to be a predetermined image by the determination step, the stop step of stopping the output of the image information of the image, and the image is determined by the second determination step. An image processing method comprising: a restart step of restarting the output of image information of the image when it is determined that the image is not the predetermined image.