JPH0664248A - Duplicating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable printing by which the result of the printing of an original and duplicates at the time of duplicating can be discriminated, easily by attaching a copying image processing means conducting specified processing to the information of the printing image data of a bit map memory. CONSTITUTION:A printing data buffer 5, in which the printing data of one page section or more are stored, a number-of-duplicates storage mechanism 7, in which the specified values of the number of duplicates are stored, a number-of-duplicate counting section 8 counting the number of duplicates during printing and a bit map memory 6 expanding printing data to images and holding the images are provided. One original and a plurality of duplicates are printed by the specification of the number of duplicates to printing data transferred from a host. In such a duplicator, a copying image processing means 30 performing processing discriminating the original and the duplicates in the information of the printing image data of the bit map memory 6 is provided. Printing capable of discriminating the original from the duplicates on the basis of processing in the processing means 30 is carried out at the time of duplicating.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying and printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a plurality of copies are printed by an electrophotographic printer according to an instruction from a host computer, data developed into a bit image is used as it is a plurality of times and is printed by the same method. , The first one
The originals of the first sheet (original page) and the copies after the second sheet all had the same output result.

In addition, for printing in which it is necessary to distinguish between the original and the copy, different overlay patterns are superposed by the overlay function so that different print results are obtained.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a conventional copying and printing apparatus. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a copy printing apparatus, which prints one original and a plurality of copies according to an instruction from a host computer 20. A microprocessor (hereinafter abbreviated as MPU) 2 controls the copying and printing apparatus 1.

Reference numeral 3 is a read-only memory (hereinafter abbreviated as ROM) for storing the MPU 2 program. An interface control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as IFC) 4 exchanges information with a host computer (hereinafter abbreviated as host) 20.

A print data buffer 5 is provided by the host.
It stores print data sent from 20. 6 is a bit map memory (hereinafter abbreviated as BMM),
The print data in the print data buffer 5 is stored in bit map data which is expanded into bits.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a copy number storage mechanism, which is a host 20.
It stores the number of copies to be printed, designated by. A print number counting unit 8 counts the number of copies printed by the printing unit 13 of the copy printing apparatus 1. A bit expanding unit 9 expands the print data in the print data buffer 5 into bits according to an instruction from the MPU 2 and outputs the BMM.
It is stored in 6.

A print control unit 10 controls the paper feed unit 11, the transport unit 12, and the print unit 13 to print the bitmap data stored in the BMM6. Reference numeral 11 denotes a paper feeding unit, which supplies printing paper to the printing unit 13. A transport unit 12 transports print paper from the paper feed unit 11 to the print unit 13.

A printing unit 13 prints the bitmap data stored in the BMM6 according to an instruction from the print control unit. An overlay control unit 14 stores the designated overlay pattern in the overlay storage unit.
It is taken out from 15 and superposed on BMM6. An overlay storage unit 15 stores an overlay pattern transferred by a command from the host 20.

The operation of the copying and printing apparatus will be described below. The host 20 gives a command to the copy printing apparatus 1 prior to the print data by instructing the copy print number. All commands from the host 20 are sent and received via IFC4, but are omitted below. This number includes both originals and copies. The MPU 2 of the copy printer 1 is stored in the copy number storage mechanism 7.

After that, print data is transmitted from the host 20. The MPU 2 stores the print data in the print data buffer 5. When the transmission of the print data becomes a page break, the MPU 2 activates the bit expansion unit 9 to expand the print data in the print data buffer 5 into bits and store the bits in the BMM 6. The page for which the expansion has been completed and the bitmap data has been completed is printed by the print control unit 10. At that time, the designated number of copies to be printed, that is, the copy number storage mechanism 7
While comparing the contents of 1 and the contents of the print number counting unit 8, the printing of the designated number of sheets is repeated. In this way, multiple copies have been printed.

However, the above-described printing method is not suitable for outputting a printed matter which requires distinction between the original and the copy, because the same output result is printed in plural copies. In such a case, conventionally, there is a method of using an overlay pattern. In order to distinguish the original from the copy, for example, a method of printing by superimposing a specific overlay pattern on the copy is used. A control method when overlay patterns are superimposed will be described.

First, the host 20 transmits an overlay pattern by a command. When the MPU2 receives the overlay pattern, it stores the overlay pattern with the overlay pattern number added to the overlay storage section 15. Next, the host 20 transmits the print data with the number of print copies set to 1 for printing the original. The copy printing apparatus 1 prints one copy of the original according to the instruction. Next, the host 20 specifies the required number of copies for printing the original, specifies the overlay pattern number, and sends a command. The MPU 2 stores the designated number of prints in the copy number storage mechanism 7, and notifies the overlay pattern number to the overlay control unit 14. Next, the host 20 transmits print data. When the print data is transmitted at a page break, the MPU 2 activates the bit expansion unit 9 to expand the print data in the print data buffer 5 into bits and store the bits in the BMM 6. Next, since the overlay is specified, the overlay controller 14 is activated. The overlay control unit 14 extracts the overlay pattern of the specified overlay pattern number from the overlay storage unit 15 and outputs the overlay pattern B
Deploy to MM6. The page for which the expansion has been completed and the bitmap data has been completed is printed by the print control unit 10.
This makes a copy with a copy display. At that time, the designated number of copies is printed, that is, the content of the copy number storage mechanism 7 and the content of the number-of-prints counting section 8 are compared with each other to print the designated number of copies.

[0014]

The conventional copy printing method has a useful function for the purpose of printing a plurality of copies of the original. However, if you want to distinguish between the original and the copy, change the paper and print the original and the copy separately,
After printing, add a mark etc. to the copy, or
It was necessary to print only one copy of the original and to make a copy from the original with a copying machine.

Further, in the method of distinguishing by changing the overlay to be superimposed at the time of printing, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of overlay patterns for each output, load overlay data before printing, and perform sequence control at the time of printing. , The instructions for the program were complicated.

In view of the above points, the present invention has an object to provide a means for performing printing that distinguishes an original from a copy.

[0017]

The above-mentioned problems can be solved by a copying and printing apparatus constructed as follows. Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

A print data buffer 5 for storing print data for one page or more, a copy number storage mechanism 7 for storing a designated value of the number of copies, a print number counter 8 for counting the number of copies printed during printing, It has a bitmap memory 6 that expands and holds print data into an image, and by specifying the number of copies for the print data transferred from the host,
A copy printing apparatus capable of printing one original and a plurality of copies, and a copy image processing unit 30 for performing a predetermined process on information of print image data in the bitmap memory 6.
Is provided, the print image data of the original is subjected to a predetermined process by the copy image processing means 30 to be printed when the copy is printed, and the print result of the original and the copy can be identified.

[0019]

The copy image processing means 30 is a bit map memory.
Perform predetermined processing to distinguish the original and the copy from the information in the print image data in 6.

Therefore, when the copy is printed, the print image data of the original can be printed by a predetermined process by the copy image processing means 30, and the print result of the original and the copy can be identified.

[0021]

2 is a block diagram of a copying and printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the first invention. In the figure, 10a is a print control unit, which is a BMM6 and a conversion processing bitmap memory (hereinafter referred to as M
16 bit map data (abbreviated as BMM) are selected by designation and printed by the printing unit 13. 16 is MBM
The M bit map data of BMM6 is stored in the copy image processing unit 50 as a result of a predetermined process for distinguishing the original from the copy. A copy image processing unit 50 performs a predetermined process for distinguishing the original from the copy. In addition, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9 are the same.

The operation of the copying and printing apparatus of the present invention will be described.
The host 20 issues a command to set the number of copies. The copy printing apparatus stores the number of copies to be printed in the copy number storage mechanism 7, receives print data, and stores it in the print data buffer 5. As in the conventional case, the bit expanding unit 9 expands the bits in the BMM6 and the print control unit 10a performs printing.

At this time, when the value of the print number counting unit 8 is 1 (hereinafter referred to as (C = 1)), the print control unit 10a
Prints the original with BMM6 data and prints the original, and when the value of the print counter 8 is greater than 1 (C>
In 1), the copy image processing unit 50 performs a predetermined process for distinguishing the bitmap data of the BMM6 from the copy image processing unit 50 to distinguish the original from the copy, and stores it in the MBMM16. The print control unit 10a stores this data. To print a copy.

As described above, by issuing a command from the host 20 by simply specifying only the number of copies, it is possible to distinguish between the original and the copy for printing. Here, the copy image processing unit 50 performs a predetermined process on the bitmap data of the original in order to distinguish the original from the copy.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the copy image processing section. 2 × 2 of the copy image processing unit according to the figure
The operation of performing the image conversion will be described. First, at step 80, the dot data for two lines is taken out from the BMM6.

Next, two-digit data, that is, 2 × 2 dot data is taken out. In step 82, the dot pattern is converted in accordance with the correspondence shown in the figure showing the correspondence between the input and the output of the image conversion in FIG.

In step 83, it is checked whether or not the conversion of the two lines is completed, and if not completed, the process returns to step 81, and if completed, the process proceeds to step 84. In step 84, the converted data is stored in the MBMM, it is checked whether or not all the data in the BMM6 has been converted, and if completed, the processing ends,
If not completed, the process proceeds to step 85.

In step 85, the next two lines of data are fetched and the process returns to step 81. In this way, the BMM6 data is converted into a 2 × 2 image and converted into data having a lower definition.

As an example of the predetermined processing in the copy image processing unit 50, a method of converting the original bit image data into a lower resolution, a method of reducing the sharpness by various image conversion, and the like can be considered. The purpose is to process the bitmap data of the copy and distinguish it from the original.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a copying and printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the second invention. In the figure, reference numeral 50a denotes a copy image processing unit, which superimposes data indicating that it is a copy on the original print data. In addition, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 are the same.

The interface from the host 20 is the same as in the first embodiment of the invention. When a copy is printed (C> 1), the copy image processing unit superimposes superimposition data for distinguishing the copy from the original on the original bit image data and performs printing. Identification data is added to the print data of the copy to distinguish it from the original. The identification data to be superimposed at this time is data contained in the copy image processing unit and is unique to the firmware of the copy printing apparatus. Therefore, the identification data can be changed by changing the firmware.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a copying and printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the third invention. In the figure, reference numeral 11a designates a plurality of paper feed portions, which are used to selectively feed a plurality of papers of different qualities in accordance with an instruction from the paper selection mechanism 19. Reference numeral 19 denotes a paper selection mechanism, which changes and selects the printing paper in order to distinguish the original from the copy. In addition, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 are the same.

The interface from the host 20 is the same as in the first embodiment of the invention. When the original is printed (C = 1), the print control unit 10b instructs the paper selection mechanism 19 to supply the original paper, and when the copy is printed (C> 1), the paper is also printed. Notifying the selection mechanism 19 of that fact, and the paper selection mechanism 19 conveys the paper different from the original to the multiple paper feeding portion 11a.
Control to supply to 12. The medium of the copy is distinguished from the original.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the copying and printing apparatus of the fourth embodiment of the invention. In the figure, reference numeral 21 denotes a mark adding mechanism, which adds a predetermined mark to the copy sheet. In addition, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 are the same.

As an example of adding a predetermined mark, a mark is added to the print result, a hole is formed in the print medium,
There is a method such as. The medium of the copy is distinguished from the original.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a copying and printing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the invention. In the figure, reference numeral 12a is a multicolor printing section for performing color printing. A print control unit 10d controls color printing according to the data on the original and monochrome printing with a single color on the copy. In addition, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 are the same.

The interface from the host 20 is the same as that of the first embodiment of the invention. MPU2 is the printed sheet counting unit 8
The print control unit 10d notifies the print control unit 10d of whether it is an original or a copy, and the print control unit 10d instructs the multicolor printing unit 13a to perform color printing or monochrome printing.

The multicolor printing unit 13a performs color printing according to the data on the original and monochrome printing with a single color on the copy. The color of the printed copy is different from the original to distinguish it.

The original and the copy can be easily distinguished and printed without the need for special operation from the host computer.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the host can easily obtain the print output which distinguishes the original from the copy by transmitting the number of copies and the print data as usual. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a copy printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a copy image processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing correspondence between input and output of image conversion.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a copying and printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of a copying and printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the third invention.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a copying and printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the fourth invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a copying and printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the fifth invention.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram of a conventional copy printing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Copy Printing Device 2 MPU 3 ROM 4 IFC 5 Print Data Buffer 6 BMM 7 Copy Number Storage Mechanism 8 Print Number Counting Unit 9 Bit Development Unit 10, 10a, 10b, 10c Print Control Unit 11 Paper Feeding Unit 11a Multiple Paper Feeding Unit 12 Conveying unit 13 Printing unit 13a Multicolor printing unit 14 Overlay control unit 15 Overlay storage unit 16 MBMM 19 Paper selection mechanism 20 Host computer 21 Mark adding mechanism 30 Copy image processing means 50, 50a Copy image processing unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A print data buffer (5) for storing print data for one page or more, a copy number storage mechanism (7) for storing a specified number of copies, and a print for counting the number of copies printed during printing. It has a number-of-sheets counting section (8) and a bitmap memory (6) for developing and holding print data in an image,
A copy printing device that prints one original and multiple copies by specifying the number of copies for the print data transferred from the host, and the original of the copy image data in the bitmap memory (6) is used as the original. And a copy image processing means (30) for performing a predetermined process for distinguishing the copy and the copy image processing means (30) for printing the original print image data at the time of printing the copy.
A copy printing apparatus, which performs printing by performing a predetermined process according to the above, and performs printing capable of distinguishing a print result of an original and a copy. 2. A print data buffer (5) for storing print data for one page or more, a copy number storage mechanism (7) for storing a specified number of copies, and a print for counting the number of copies printed during printing. It has a number-of-sheets counting section (8) and a bitmap memory (6) for developing and holding print data in an image,
A copy printing apparatus for printing one original and a plurality of copies by designating the number of copies for the print data transferred from the host, and a paper feeding unit for selectively supplying a plurality of sheets and a copy printing. A copy printing apparatus, characterized in that a paper selection mechanism that uses a paper different from the original is provided.