JPH06315082A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain picture synthesis by a simple control without using a page memory. CONSTITUTION:The encoded data of one picture to be synthesized are preliminarily stored in the picture area of a picture memory 2, and the reading of the other picture to be synthesized is started by an original reader 6. Then, picture information read by each one line by decoding the encoded data in the picture memory 2 by a decoding device 5, and the picture information read by the original reading device 6 is successively transferred to the synthesis operating area of the picture memory 2 by one line unit, and synthesized. The synthesized picture information is transferred from the synthesis operating area to a print device 7, and print-outputted, or transferred to an encoding device 4 again, encoded, and transmitted from a facsimile communication equipment 8. The synthesis operating area for one line is sufficient, and it is not necessary to provide the page memory. Also, the control becomes simple svice the processing is done simply for every one line.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine which synthesizes a plurality of original images read by an original reading device and prints or sends them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image processing apparatus for combining and printing or transmitting a plurality of original images read by an original reading apparatus, the following techniques have been conventionally known. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an outline of a conventional image processing device. In FIG. 16, 1 is a control device, 2 is an image memory,
3 is a control panel, 4 is an encoding device, 5 is a decoding device, 6 is a document reading device, 7 is a printing device, 8 is a facsimile communication device, 9 is a data bus, 10 is a control bus,
Reference numeral 11 is a page memory.

(First Conventional Example) FIG. 16A shows a first conventional example. When the operator presses the start button after instructing to operate the control panel 3 to combine and print a plurality of originals, the control device 1 causes the original reading device 6 to operate.
To start. The document reading device 6 sequentially reads a plurality of documents, and the read image information is sequentially developed in the page memory 11. At this time, by designating an address to be developed in the page memory 11 for each page of each original, image information of a plurality of originals is combined as an output image for one page. When the image information for one page is combined on the page memory 11, it is sent to the printing device 7 and output.

(Second Conventional Example) FIG. 16B shows a second conventional example. Image information of a plurality of originals read by the original reading device 6 is once encoded by the encoding device 4 and then sequentially stored in the image memory 2. When it is printed out, the coded data read from the image memory 2 is decoded into the original image information by the decoding device 5 and then sent to the printing device 7 for output. At this time, for example, when the image information of two originals is combined with the output image of one page and is output, two decoding devices are used, or one decoding device is switched and used. The encoded data of two originals are simultaneously decoded line by line, and the lines are output while being combined line by line. When the combined image information is transmitted by facsimile, the combined image information is encoded as described above by the encoding device 4 and stored in the image memory 2. When one page of encoded data is stored in the image memory 2, the encoded data is read from the image memory 2 and transmitted by the facsimile communication device 8.

A conventional document relating to such an image processing apparatus is, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-26596.
There is No. 4 publication.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned first conventional example has a problem that a large-capacity page memory is required to develop image information of a plurality of originals as an output image of one page. there were. In the second conventional example,
The memory need only be a relatively small-capacity image memory for storing encoded data, and a large-capacity page memory is not required, but multiple decoding devices are required or one decoding device can be switched. However, there was a problem that complicated control such as synthesis was necessary. The present invention is
It is an object to solve the above problems.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, an original reading device for reading an original, an encoding device for encoding image information read by the original reading device, and the encoding device. An image memory for storing the image information encoded by the above, a decoding device for decoding the encoded data stored in the image memory, and one line for each line of the encoded data stored in the image memory by the decoding device. The decoded image information of one image to be combined and the image information of the other image read by the original document reading device for each line are sequentially output to a combining work area having a size of one line of the output image. An image composition control means for transferring and composition is provided.

[0008]

[Operation] The coded data of one image to be combined is stored in the image memory in advance, and the reading of the other image to be combined is started by the document reading device.
Then, the image synthesis control means reads the encoded data in the image memory for each line and decodes the image information by the decoding device, and the image information read by the document reading device for each line. The lines are sequentially transferred to the combining work area and combined. Therefore, the composition work area is 1
The line memory is enough and the page memory is unnecessary. In addition, one decoding device is sufficient for the decoding device, and
It is not necessary to perform complicated switching control by only decoding encoded data in the image memory line by line.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of the image processing apparatus of the present invention. The reference numerals correspond to those in FIG. 16,
Reference numeral 1a is an image composition control means. The image memory 2 has an image area for storing coded image information and a combination work area for one line of an output image for performing a work for combining images. The image composition control means 1a first stores the encoded data of one image to be composed in the image memory 2. Then, the encoded data stored in the image memory 2 is read line by line and the image information decoded by the decoding device 5 and the other image to be combined are read by the document reading device 6 line by line. The image information is sequentially transferred to the combining work area having the size of one line of the output image and combined. The image information for one line combined in the combining work area is
The data is transferred to the printing device 7 and printed out, or after being encoded by the encoding device 4, stored in the image memory 2 as encoded data for facsimile transmission.

The control panel 3 has a "main scanning direction combination function selection button", a "sub-scanning direction combination function selection button", an "overlay combination function selection button", an "extraction combination function selection button", and a "composition number setting button". , "Extraction area setting button", "transmission function selection button", "print function selection button", "reading start instruction button" and the like. Various processes are selected by pressing these buttons in combination. For example, after pressing the "main scanning direction combination function selection button", the "extraction combination function selection button" and the "print function selection button" and setting the combination number "2" with the "composition number setting button", "reading start" is performed. When the "instruction button" is pressed, a part of each image is extracted from the two originals, combined in the main scanning direction, and printed.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to various synthesis processing examples. (Composition and Printing in Main Scanning Direction) First, a case where two original images are combined and printed in the main scanning direction will be described. The operator sets two originals on the original reading device 6, presses the "main scanning direction combination function selection button" and the "print function selection button" on the control panel 3, and presses the "composition number setting button". After setting "2",
Press the "Read start instruction button". The control device 1 starts image synthesis control when an instruction is given from the control panel 3.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a process when two original images are combined in the main scanning direction and printed. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an outline of the process.
(B) is a timing chart for explaining the process. In addition, the dotted arrow in FIG. 2B indicates the flow of data. Note that these points are common to the following similar drawings. In period A in FIG. 2B, the document reading device 6 reads the image of the document line by line (A
₁ ), which is encoded line by line by the encoding device 4 (A ₂ ) and then written in the image memory 2 (A ₃ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected.
As a result, the encoded data CD for one document shown in FIG. 2A is stored in the image memory 2.

In the period B of FIG. 2B, the encoded data of the original written in the image memory 2 is read out for one line (B ₂ ), and is decoded by the decoding device 5 (B ₃ ). Write to the composition work area of No. 2 (B ₄ ). At the same time, the image of the original is read by the original reading device 6 for one line (B ₁ ), and is written behind the portion where one line of the original is written in the composition work area (B ₄ ). By doing so, the synthesis for one line is completed. When the composition of one line is completed, the image information of the composition work area is printed by the printing device 7.
And print it (B ₅ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2A, a print output PD is obtained in which a document and images of the document are connected and combined in the main scanning direction.

Next, the above processing will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when two original images are combined and printed in the main scanning direction. This process is called the "read start instruction button"
It is started by pressing and is executed by the control device 1. Step 1 ... The control device 1 activates the encoding device 4. Step 2 ... The document reading device 6 is activated to start reading the document. Step 3 ... Read one line of the document. Step 4 ... The read one line is transferred to the encoding device 4 and encoded. Step 5 ... Transfer the encoded image information to the image memory 2 and write it. Step 6 ... It is determined whether or not the reading position of the document is at the rear end of the document. Step 7 ... When the trailing edge of the document is reached, the encoding device 4 is stopped.

Step 8: The printing device 7 is activated. Step 9 ... Start the decryption device 5. Step 10: The document reading device 6 starts reading the document. Step 11: When reading the encoded data of the image memory 2, it is determined whether or not the read position of the image memory 2 has reached the rear end of the area in which the encoded data of the document is stored. Step 12 ... If the trailing end has not been reached, the encoded data of the image memory 2 is extracted for one line. Step 13 ... Decoding device 5 for the coded data taken out
To the composite work area of the image memory 2 for writing and decoding.

Step 14 ... It is judged whether or not the reading position of the original has reached the rear end of the original. Step 15: If the trailing edge of the original has not been reached, one line of the original is read. Step 16: The read one line is written after the image information of the original document in the combining work area of the image memory 2 to connect and combine the original line and the original line. Step 17 ... Transfer the image information for one line after the composition of the composition work area to the printing device 7 for printing. Step 18 ... It is determined whether or not both the reading position of the image memory 2 and the document reading position of the document reading device 6 have reached the rear end. Step 19 ... When the trailing end is reached, the decoding device 5 is stopped. Step 20 ... Stop the printing device 7.

(Combining and Sending in Main Scanning Direction) Next, a case where two original images are combined and sent in the main scanning direction will be described. The operator presses the "main scanning direction combination function selection button" and the "transmission function selection button" on the control panel 3 to set the number of composite images, and then starts the processing.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the processing when two original images are combined in the main scanning direction and transmitted.
In the period A of FIG. 4B, the encoded data CD ₁ for _one original shown in FIG. 4A is stored in the image memory 2 in the same manner as in the case of combining and printing in the main scanning direction. Remember.

In the period B of FIG. 4B, the encoded data of the original written in the image memory 2 is read out for one line (B ₄ ), and is decoded by the decoding device 5 (B ₅ ). Write to the composition work area of No. 2 (B ₆ ). At the same time, the image of the original is read by the original reading device 6 for one line (B ₁ ), and is written behind the portion where one line of the original is written in the composition work area (B ₆ ). By doing so, the synthesis for one line is completed. When the synthesizing for one line is completed, the image information of the synthesizing work area is transferred to the coding device 4 and coded line by line (B ₂ ) and then written in the image memory 2 (B ₃ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result,
Encoded data CD for one page of an image obtained by connecting and synthesizing an original and images of the original in the main scanning direction as shown in FIG.
₂ is written in the image memory 2. Period C in FIG. 4B
Then, the facsimile communication device 8 reads the encoded data of the composite image written in the image memory 2 (C ₁ ),
Send (C ₂ ).

Next, the above processing will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when two original images are combined in the main scanning direction and transmitted. Step 1 to Step 16 are Step 8
Since it is the same as that of FIG. 3 except that the printing device 7 or the encoding device 4 is activated in, the description thereof will be omitted here. Step 17 ... Transfers the image information for one line after the composition of the composition work area to the encoding device 4 for encoding. Step 18: The encoded image information for one line is written in the image memory 2 again. Step 19 ... It is determined whether both the reading position of the image memory 2 and the document reading position of the document reading device 6 have reached the rear end. Step 20 ... When the trailing end is reached, the decoding device 5 is stopped. Step 21 ... Stop the encoding device 4. Step 22 ... It is determined whether or not to combine the next document. Step 23 ... When there are no more originals to be combined, the facsimile communication device 8 is activated to read the encoded data written in the image memory 2 and to transmit it.

(Combining and printing in the sub-scanning direction) Next,
A case where two original images are combined in the sub-scanning direction and printed will be described. The operator presses the “sub scanning direction combination function selection button” and the “print function selection button” on the control panel 3 to set the number of composite sheets, and then starts the processing.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the processing when two original images are combined in the sub-scanning direction and printed. In the period A of FIG. 6B, the encoded data CD for one original shown in FIG. 6A is stored in the image memory 2 in the same manner as in the case of combining and printing in the main scanning direction. Let

In the period B of FIG. 6B, the encoded data of the original written in the image memory 2 is read out for one line (B ₁ ), and is decoded by the decoding device 5 (B ₂ ). Write to the composition work area of No. 2 (B ₃ ). Then, the image information for one line written in the composition work area is transferred to the printing device 7 and printed (B ₄ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, the document portion is printed out of the print output PD shown in FIG. Immediately after the trailing edge of the document is detected, in period C in FIG.
The image of the original is read by 1 line (C ₁ ) and written in the composition work area (C ₂ ). Then, the image information for one line written in the composition work area is transferred to the printing device 7 and printed (C ₃ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, FIG.
As shown in (a), the print output PD is obtained in which the original and the image of the original are connected and combined in the sub-scanning direction.

Next, the above processing will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when two original images are combined in the sub-scanning direction and printed. Since steps 1 to 9 are the same as those in FIG. 3, the description thereof is omitted here.

Step 10 ... It is judged whether or not the read position of the image memory 2 has reached the rear end of the area in which the encoded data of the original is stored. Step 11 ... If the trailing end has not been reached, the encoded data of the image memory 2 is extracted for one line. Step 12 ... Decoding device 5 for taking out the encoded data
To the composite work area of the image memory 2. Step 13 ... When the rear end is reached in Step 10,
The document reading device 6 is caused to start reading the document. Step 14 ... Read one line of the original and write it in the composition work area of the image memory 2.

Step 15 ... Transfers the image information of the composition work area to the printing device 7 to print it. Step 16 ... It is determined whether or not both the reading position of the image memory 2 and the document reading position of the document reading device 6 have reached the rear end. Step 17 ... When the trailing end is reached, the decoding device 5 is stopped. Step 18 ... Stop the printing device 7.

(Combining and Sending in Sub-scanning Direction) Next, a case where two original images are combined and sent in the sub-scanning direction will be described. The operator presses the "sub-scanning direction combination function selection button" and the "transmission function selection button" on the control panel 3 to set the number of composite sheets, and then starts the processing.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the processing when two original images are combined in the sub-scanning direction and transmitted.
In the period A of FIG. 8B, the encoded data CD ₁ for _one original shown in FIG. 9A is stored in the image memory 2 in the same manner as in the case of combining and printing in the main scanning direction. Remember.

In period B of FIG. 8B, the document reading device 6
Reads the image of the original line by line (B ₁ ), encodes it line by line with the encoding device 4 (B ₂ ), and then writes the encoded data of the document in the image memory 2 and then writes it. (B _3). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, the encoded data C for one document shown in FIG.
D ₂ is linked and combined with the encoded data CD ₁ of the original in the sub-scanning direction and written in the image memory 2. In the period C of FIG. 8B, the facsimile communication device 8 operates the image memory 2
Read the encoded data of the composite image written in (C
₁ ), send (C ₂ ). In addition, B in FIG.
Reference numeral ₄ denotes a signal for starting the reading of the document in order to combine and combine the image of the document with the image of the document.

Next, the above processing will be described in detail with reference to a flowchart. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when two original images are combined in the sub-scanning direction and transmitted. Steps 1 to 7 are the same as those in FIG. 3, and steps 8 to 14 only repeat steps 1 to 7 for the processing of the original document, so the description thereof will be omitted here. Step 15 ... It is determined whether or not to combine the next document. Step 16 ... When there are no more originals to be combined, the facsimile communication device 8 is activated to read the encoded data written in the image memory 2 and to transmit it.

(Overlay composition and printing) Next,
A case where two original images are overlaid and printed will be described. The operator presses the "overlay compositing function selection button" and the "print function selection button" on the control panel 3 to set the number of composite sheets, and then starts the processing.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the processing when overlaying two original images and printing them. In the period A of FIG. 10B, the same as in the case of combining and printing in the main scanning direction, the same as in FIG.
The encoded data CD for one original shown in FIG.
To memorize.

In the period B of FIG. 10B, the image memory 2
The encoded data of the original written in 1 line is read out for one line (B ₂ ), and is decoded by the decoding device 5 (B ₃ ).
Write to the composition work area of the image memory 2 (B ₄ ). At the same time, the document reading device 6 reads one line of the image of the document (B ₁ ), takes the logical sum of the read image information and the image information of the document in the composition work area and writes it again in the composition work area (B ₄ ). . By doing so, overlay composition for one line is completed. When the overlay composition for one line is completed, the image information in the composition work area is transferred to the printing device 7 and printed (B ₅ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10A, a printout in which an original and an original are overlay-synthesized is obtained.

The flowchart of this process is similar to that of FIG. However, step 16 "Image composition"
However, as described above, one line of the image of the document is read by the document reading device 6, the read image information and the image information of the document in the composition work area are logically ORed and written into the composition work area again. .

(Overlay Synthesis and Transmission) Next, the case of overlay composition of two original images and transmission will be described. The operator selects the "overlay composition function selection button" and the "print function selection button" on the control panel 3.
Press and to set the number of composite sheets and then start the process.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the processing in the case where two original images are overlay-combined and transmitted. In the period A of FIG. 11B, the encoded data CD ₁ for _one original shown in FIG. 10A is stored in the image memory 2 in the same manner as in the case of combining and printing in the main scanning direction. Remember.

In the period B of FIG. 11B, the image memory 2
The coded data of the original written in 1 is read out for one line (B ₄ ), and is decoded by the decoding device 5 (B ₅ ).
Write to the composition work area of the image memory 2 (B ₆ ). At the same time, the document reading device 6 reads one line of the image of the document (B ₁ ), takes the logical sum of the read image information and the image information of the document in the composition work area and writes it again in the composition work area (B ₆ ). . By doing so, overlay composition for one line is completed. When overlay composition for one line is completed, the image information in the composition work area is transferred to the encoding device 4 and encoded line by line (B ₂ ), and then written in the image memory 2 (B ₃ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11A, the encoded data CD ₂ of the image in which the original and the original are overlay-synthesized is written in the image memory 2. In the period C of FIG. 11B, the facsimile communication device 8 reads (C ₁ ) the encoded data of the composite image written in the image memory 2 and transmits it (C ₁ ).
₂ ).

The flow chart of this processing is similar to that of FIG. However, step 16 "Image composition"
However, as described above, one line of the image of the document is read by the document reading device 6, the read image information and the image information of the document in the composition work area are logically ORed and written into the composition work area again. .

(Extracting and Combining in Main Scanning Direction and Printing) Next, a case of extracting and composing two original images in the main scanning direction and printing will be described. The operator presses the "main scanning direction combination function selection button", the "extraction combination function selection button" and the "print function selection button" on the control panel 3,
The extraction area is set with the "extraction area setting button", the number of composite sheets is set, and then the processing is started.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the processing when two original images are extracted and combined in the main scanning direction and printed. In period A of FIG. 12B, the document reading device 6
Then, among the images of the original, the image within the range in the main scanning direction set by the “extraction area setting button” is read line by line (A ₁ ), and the line is encoded by the encoding device 4 line by line ( A ₂ ) and write in the image memory 2 (A ₃ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, the coded data C of the image of the hatched portion set as the extraction area of the document shown in FIG.
D is stored in the image memory 2.

In the period B of FIG. 12B, the image memory 2
The encoded data of the original written in 1 line is read out for one line (B ₂ ), and is decoded by the decoding device 5 (B ₃ ).
Write to the composition work area of the image memory 2 (B ₄ ). At the same time, the original reading device 6 reads one line of the image of the original in the main scanning direction set by the “extraction area setting button” (B ₁ ), and reads one line of the original in the composition work area. Write after the written portion (B ₄ ). By doing so, the extraction and synthesis for one line is completed. When the composition for one line is completed, the image information in the composition work area is transferred to the printing device 7 and printed (B ₅ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 12A, the print output PD is obtained in which the extracted portion of the document and the extracted portion of the document are connected and combined in the main scanning direction.

The flowchart of this process is similar to that of FIG. However, in Steps 3 and 15, only the image within each set area of the image of each line is read.

(Extracting and Combining in Sub-scanning Direction and Printing) Next, a case will be described in which two original images are extracted and combined in the sub-scanning direction and printed. The operator presses the "sub-scanning direction combination function selection button", the "extraction combination function selection button", and the "print function selection button" on the control panel 3,
The extraction area is set with the "extraction area setting button", the number of composite sheets is set, and then the processing is started.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the processing when two original images are extracted and combined in the sub-scanning direction and printed. In period B of FIG. 13B, the document reading device 6
Then, among the images of the original, the image within the range in the sub-scanning direction set by the “extraction area setting button” is read line by line (B ₁ ), and then encoded by the encoding device 4 line by line ( B _2), written in the image memory 2 (B _3). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, the coded data CD of the image of the shaded portion set as the original extraction area shown in FIG. 13A is stored in the image memory 2. Note that the period A and the period C are periods in which the document reading device 6 scans a portion of the image of the document outside the range set by the “extraction area setting button”, and the image is read in this period. Absent.

In the period D of FIG. 13B, the image memory 2
The encoded data of the original written in 1 is read for one line (D ₁ ), and is decoded by the decoding device 5 (D ₂ ).
Write to the composition work area of the image memory 2 (D ₃ ). Then, the image information for one line written in the composition work area is transferred to the printing device 7 and printed (D ₄ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. In the period E in FIG. 13B immediately after the trailing edge of the document is detected, one line of the image in the sub-scanning direction set by the “extraction area setting button” of the document is read by the document reading device 6 (E ₁ ) Write in the composition work area (E ₂ ). Then, the image information for one line written in the composition work area is transferred to the printing device 7 and printed (E ₃ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13A, a print output PD is obtained in which the extracted portion of the original document and the extracted portion of the original document are connected and combined in the sub-scanning direction.

The flowchart of this process is similar to that of FIG. However, the lines read in step 3 and step 14 are only the lines within the set extraction area.

(Composition and Printing in Main Scanning Direction and Sub-scanning Direction) Next, a case where four original images are combined and printed in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction will be described. The operator sets four originals on the original reading device 6 and presses the "main scanning direction composition function selection button", "sub-scanning direction composition function selection button" and "print function selection button" on the control panel 3. , The composite number "4" is set by the "composite number setting button", and then the process is started.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the processing when four original images are combined and printed in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. In the period A of FIG. 14B, the encoded data CD ₁ for _one original shown in FIG. 14A is stored in the image memory 2 in the same manner as in the case of combining and printing in the main scanning direction. Remember.

In the period B of FIG. 14B, the image memory 2
The encoded data of the original written in 1 is read out for one line (B ₃ ), and is decoded by the decoding device 5 (B ₄ ).
Write to the composition work area of the image memory 2 (B ₅ ). Then, the image information for one line written in the composition work area is transferred again to the encoding device 4 and encoded (B ₁ ) and then written in the image memory 2 (B ₂ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. Immediately after the trailing edge of the document is detected, in the period C of FIG. 14B, the document reading device 6 reads one line of the image of the document (C ₁ ),
Write to the composition work area (C ₄ ). Then, the image information for one line written in the composition work area is transferred to the encoding device 4 and encoded (C ₂ ) and then written in the image memory 2 (C ₃ ). This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, the coded data CD ₂ of the image shown in FIG. 14A in which the document and the image of the document are connected and combined in the sub-scanning direction is written in the image memory 2.

In the period D of FIG. 14B, the image memory 2
The coded data written in 1 is read out for one line (D ₄ ), decoded by the decoding device 5 (D ₅ ), and then written in the composition work area of the image memory 2 (D ₆ ). At the same time, the image of the original is read by the original reading device 6 for one line (D ₁ ), and is written behind the portion where one line of the original is written in the composition work area (D ₆ ). By doing so, the synthesis for one line is completed. When the synthesizing for one line is completed, the image information in the synthesizing work area is transferred to the encoding device 4 and encoded line by line (D ₂ ) and then written in the image memory 2 (D ₃ ). This process is repeated line by line until the document and the trailing edge of the document are detected. As a result, among the coded data CD ₃ shown in FIG. 14A, the document and the coded data of the document are connected and combined in the main scanning direction and written in the image memory 2. 14
In the period E of (b), the encoded data written in the image memory 2 is read for one line (E ₃ ), is decoded by the decoding device 5 (E ₄ ), and is then written in the combining work area of the image memory 2. (E ₅ ). Then, the image information for one line written in the composition work area is transferred to the encoding device 4 to be encoded (E ₁ ), and then written in the image memory 2 (E ₂ ).
This process is repeated line by line until the trailing edge of the document is detected. As a result, the encoded data C shown in FIG.
Among those shown as D ₃ , the coded data of the document is linked and synthesized with the coded data of the document in the sub-scanning direction and written in the image memory 2.

In the period F of FIG. 14B, the image memory 2
The encoded data written in 1 is read out for one line (F ₁ ), is decoded by the decoding device 5 (F ₂ ), and is then written in the composition work area of the image memory 2 (F ₃ ). The image information of the composition work area is transferred to the printing device 7 and printed line by line (F ₄ ). This process is repeated line by line until the document and the trailing edge of the document are detected.

In the period G of FIG. 14B immediately after the detection of the document and the trailing edge of the document, one line of encoded data of the document is read from the image memory 2 (G ₂ ), and decoded by the decoding device 5. After that (G ₃ ), write in the composition work area (G ₄ ). At the same time, one line of the image of the document is read by the document reading device 6 (G ₁ ), and written in the rear of the portion where one line of the document is written in the composition work area (G ₄ ). By doing so, the synthesis for one line is completed. When the composition for one line is completed, the image information in the composition work area is transferred to the printing device 7 and printed for each one line (G ₅ ). This process is repeated line by line until the document and the trailing edge of the document are detected. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14A, a print output PD is obtained in which four document images of a document, a document, a document, and a document are connected and combined in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction.

Next, the above processing will be described in detail using a flowchart. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when four original images are combined and printed in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. Step 1 ... The image of the original and the image of the original are combined in the sub-scanning direction, encoded, and written in the image memory 2. This process is similar to the process of steps 1 to 14 of the flowchart of FIG. Step 2 ... Reads and decodes the encoded data of the combined image of the original written in the image memory 2 and the decoded data, and the image of the original read by the original reading device 6 is combined in the main scanning direction, and the code is generated. And write it in the image memory 2. This process is performed from step 8 of the flowchart of FIG.
The process is the same as that of step 21.

Step 3 ... The encoded data written in the image memory 2 is read for one line, decoded by the decoding device 5, transferred to the printing device 7, and printed. Step 4 ... It is determined whether or not the document and the trailing edge of the document are reached. Step 5: At the trailing end, the encoded data of the original written in the image memory 2 is read for one line, and the image information decoded by the decoding device 5 and the image information of the original read by the original reading device 6 are read. Are combined line by line in the main scanning direction in the combination work area, and then transferred to the printing device 7 for printing. This processing is the same as the processing of steps 10 to 20 in the flowchart of FIG.

Although a part of the image memory 2 is used as the composition work area in the above embodiment, a memory different from the image memory 2 can be used.

[0056]

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when synthesizing the images of a plurality of originals, the synthesizing work area for one line is sufficient, and the page memory becomes unnecessary. Further, the decoding apparatus is sufficient with one decoding apparatus, and moreover, only by decoding the coded data of the image memory line by line, it is not necessary to perform complicated switching control.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an image processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a process when two original images are combined in the main scanning direction and printed.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when two original images are combined in the main scanning direction and printed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a process when two original images are combined in the main scanning direction and transmitted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when two original images are combined in the main scanning direction and transmitted.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing when two original images are combined in the sub-scanning direction and printed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when two original images are combined in the sub-scanning direction and printed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining processing when two original images are combined in the sub-scanning direction and transmitted.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when two document images are combined in the sub-scanning direction and transmitted.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining processing when overlay-compositing two original images and printing the images.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a process when two original images are overlay-combined and transmitted.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining processing when two original images are extracted and combined in the main scanning direction and printed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining processing when two original images are extracted and combined in the sub-scanning direction and printed.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining processing when four original images are combined and printed in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when four original images are combined and printed in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control device, 1a ... Image synthesis control means, 2 ... Image memory, 3 ... Control panel, 4 ... Encoding device, 5 ... Decoding device, 6 ... Original reading device, 7 ... Printing device, 8 ...
Facsimile communication device, 9 ... Data bus, 10 ... Control bus, 11 ... Page memory

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Yoshiharu Okazaki 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki-shi, Saitama Fuji Zerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tetsuji Morimoto 3-7-1, Fuchu, Iwatsuki, Saitama Prefecture Fuji Within Xerox Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Nakajima 3-7-1 Fuchu, Iwatsuki City, Saitama Prefecture Within Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An original reading device for reading an original, an encoding device for encoding image information read by the original reading device, an image memory for storing image information encoded by the encoding device, and the image. A decoding device for decoding the coded data stored in the memory; image information of one image to be synthesized by decoding the coded data stored in the image memory for each line by the decoding device; And an image composition control means for sequentially transferring the image information of the other image to be composed, which is read by the document reading device line by line, to a composition work area having a size of one line of the output image and composing the image. A characteristic image processing device.