JPH07131618A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recognize even separately inputted image data as series of jobs with simple operations and to link the plural pairs of image data groups without affecting time required for outputting. CONSTITUTION:A processing means 51 for processing image data is provided with a link information detecting means 58 for detecting the continuation or end information of the processing of image data groups and an image data managing means 53 for managing the inputted image data by deciding whether the image data become a target to be linked with the next inputted image data or not based on the detected result and when the image data group designating the continuation is detected, the image data judged as the link target are stored in a storage means at least and outputted while being linked with the image data group to be next continuously inputted.

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 for processing a large amount of image data group.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an input means of an image processing apparatus, for example, a document reading apparatus (Scanner) or a facsimile apparatus,
A personal computer or the like is used. In a document reading device, image information of a document is read by photoelectric conversion, and stored in a storage device such as a page buffer while being converted into digital image data and subjected to image processing. Further, in an image processing apparatus having a function of receiving image data, such as a facsimile apparatus, the image data transmitting side reads an image in the same manner as the document reading apparatus described above and transfers the image. Alternatively, an image of a document or the like is generated by code data or the like by a personal computer, a workstation, or the like, converted into bitmap data, and then transferred. Further, in the case of inputting a plurality of originals, the original reading apparatus uses, for example, an automatic document feeder (ADF: Auto Document Feeder), a plurality of originals are set therein, and after the job is set, the start button is pressed. When pressed, the originals are automatically placed one by one on the platen, and the processing of the original reading apparatus as described above is repeated until the set originals are exhausted. In the image data receiving device, for example, the transmitting device adds page break information to each page of the image data and transfers the image data, and the receiving device separates the image data based on continuation / end information between pages. Will be realized. By the way, in the image data transmitting apparatus, in order to reduce the line occupancy time, a method is adopted in which the image read by the document reading apparatus is temporarily stored in the storage device and then the line is connected and transmitted. However, depending on the capacity of the storage device, it may not be possible to store all the series of originals in the storage device. In that case, the series of originals is divided and transmitted. Therefore, in an apparatus having a page printing function, the page is reset every time the page is divided, and the final document is unknown on the receiving side, which is inconvenient. In order to solve this problem, JP-A-3-18
Japanese Patent No. 4466 discloses a method in which reading of a document is temporarily stopped when the storage device is almost full, unfinished information is added and transmitted, and reading of the document is resumed when the storage device is empty. Has been done.

Further, in a known image processing apparatus equipped with an editing function, all image data are divided into a plurality of sets in advance and input, and then output processing is performed to generate a large amount of image data into one. Can be treated as a job.

[0004]

However, the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-184466 does not consider the restriction of the original set on the automatic document feeder, so that the applicable range is at least automatic. The number of documents that can be set in the document feeder is limited. Therefore, when a series of originals cannot be set in the automatic original feeder, the originals are divided and transmitted, and the above-mentioned problems cannot be solved. In the case of a copying machine or the like, for example, an editing process for printing a plurality of pages on a sheet while reducing the image data (hereinafter referred to as N-up) or changing the page order of the image data to 2 sheets on one side of the sheet. There is a problem that the output is divided in the inter-page editing such as an editing process (hereinafter referred to as a signature) in which the sheets are printed one by one and become like a booklet. Further, when a single-sided original is copied and output on both sides, there is a problem that when the number of divided originals is an odd number, the blank pages are output on one side.

Further, in a known image processing apparatus equipped with an editing function, not only the operation is complicated, but also it is necessary to temporarily store all the image data in the storage means. However, there is a problem in that a large amount of time is required because output cannot be performed without completing all inputs.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to perform a simple operation even on image data input by dividing a series of documents such as when a series of documents cannot be set on the automatic document feeder. Is to recognize as a series of jobs, and to connect a plurality of sets of image data groups without affecting the time required for output.

[0007]

Therefore, the present invention provides an input means for inputting image data, a processing means for processing the image data, and a storage means for storing a plurality of image data. In an image processing apparatus having an output means for outputting image data and a control means for independently controlling each of the above means, the processing means detects continuation or end information of the processing of the image data group. And a connection information detecting unit for managing the input image data by determining whether the image data is a target to be connected to the image data input next based on the detection result. When it is detected that the image data group is a continuously designated image data group, at least the image data determined to be the connection target is stored in the storage means, and the image data group continuously input is stored. It is characterized in that it has configured to output by sintering.

[0008]

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when inputting image data, when continuous input is divided into two, "continue" is designated from the continuation designating means together with the job selection, and then the start is started. When the button is pressed, the job is accepted by using this as a trigger, the job mode and the job parameter are stored, and the continuation detecting means detects that the job is "continuation". When "continuation" is detected, the image data to be connected is selected by the connection target determination unit, and the output processing is executed for the input image data that is not the connection target, and the input image data that is the connection target or Store all input image data in the storage means,
The processing is temporarily terminated while the image data management unit manages the image data stored in the storage unit, and the next image data input is awaited. When the next continuous image data is input, the image data management unit manages the image data stored in the storage unit so as to be a continuation of the image data, and the same processing is performed on all input image data. I do.

When inputting continuously is divided into three or more divisions, in addition to the above, "end" is designated by the end designating means at the time of the last continuous input.
For example, in the case of inputting in three divisions, by inputting "continuation", "continuation", and "end" at the time of inputting, the input in plural divisions is realized.

As described above, it is necessary to divide and input the image data group when the number of originals exceeds the number of originals that can be stored in the automatic original feeder, or when the addition of originals is known in advance but there are no originals at hand. Great for certain jobs.

[0011]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a copying machine will be described as an example of the image forming apparatus.

In FIG. 1, ESS (Electronic Sub-S
ystem: image processing unit) 51 is a UI (user interface device: operation panel, etc.) 52, ADF
(Auto Document Feeder) 2, II
A T-IPS (original reading device) 5, an IOT (output device) 6, and a finisher (FINISHER: printing paper post-processing device) 3 are connected to each other, and a SYS-CONT for controlling according to a job operation set by the UI 52.
(System Controller) 53 and IIT for controlling command / status signals and image input signals
I / F (input interface) 54, IOT-I / F for controlling command / status signal and image input signal
(Output interface) 55, a page buffer 56 for temporarily storing input image data, and a disk controller unit 57 as a large-capacity storage memory. When the job control sheet is used to specify continuation / end, this is used. The configuration is such that a mark recognition unit 58 for detecting information on the job control sheet is added.

When a document is set on the platen of ADF2 or IIT / IPS5, the job operation is set by UI52, and the start button is pressed, IIT / I
The PS 5 reads the image information of the original by photoelectric conversion, converts it into digital image data such as a designated magnification, and performs image processing, and sequentially stores it in the page buffer 56 via the IIT-I / F 54. At that time, if the output is possible, the IOT-I / F 55 is directly output from the page buffer 56.
The data is transferred to the IOT 6 via the, and the post-processing is executed by the finisher 3 and at the same time, the writing to the disk 57 is started. If direct output is impossible, only writing to the disk 57 is started. Output is performed only from the page buffer 56, but image data is stored in the page buffer 56 in two ways: input from the IIT / IPS 5 and read from the disk 57. The basic operation is that the first copy directly outputs the input image data from IIT / IPS5,
The image data read from the disk 57 is output for the second and subsequent copies. The image data output to the IOT-I / F 55 is such that a halftone image is reproduced by halftone dots by controlling the ON / OFF of the laser light for each pixel based on the binary data generated from the image data in the IOT 6. To form an image.

Simultaneous access between the page buffer 56 and each processing block can be realized by bus arbitration of the image bus. If the page buffer 56 and each processing block perform time-division processing, parallel processing of input processing and output processing is possible.

Next, the configuration and job operation of the system control unit in the image processing apparatus will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the system control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table for managing jobs.

As shown in FIG. 2, the system control section 53 comprises a main control section, an input control section, and an output control section, and performs real-time control. Therefore, each control unit can apparently be independently controlled. For example, the main control unit uses the UI
It is a part that receives the specification from the operator via the controller and requests the job scheduler to execute the process.
The input control unit and the output control unit are units that control the operations of the input device and the output device, respectively. The job scheduler determines whether the input device and the output device are operated in synchronization or independently.

In the management table, as shown in FIG. 3, job data and a job queue are created in advance in the job table. The job data stores job parameters obtained from the UI 52, and the job queue stores the job parameters. The job block information in which the parameters of the input image data are stored is linked. The job block information has a flag indicating continuation or termination of the job, and in the case of continuation, the next job block information is linked. Then, in the case of the end, the next job block information indicates that it is the last block of concatenation, so that the timing for performing the final output processing can be obtained.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied. Copiers are roughly classified into a copier body 1 that forms a copy by forming a toner image corresponding to a document image on a recording paper, and an automatic document feeder that automatically feeds a document onto a document mounting surface of the copier body 1. It is composed of a document feeding device 2 and a post-processing device 3 for performing post-processing such as sorting and stapling on the copy discharged from the copying machine main body 1.

Inside the copying machine main body 1, an image reading device 5 for reading an original image by scanning an original placed on a platen glass 4 which is an original placing surface from the upper side, and the image reading device 5. An image forming apparatus 6 that forms a toner image corresponding to an original image on a recording sheet based on the image information obtained by the above, and a sheet feeding apparatus 7 that supplies the recording sheet to the image forming apparatus 6 are provided. ing.

The automatic document feeder 2 is a copying machine main body 1.
It is provided so as to openably and closably cover the platen glass 4 provided on the upper part of the platen, and the originals stacked on the original placing tray 8 are sequentially transferred one by one by a feed roller (not shown) and a conveyor belt 9. The copied document is sent onto the glass 4, and the copied document is discharged to the document discharge tray 10 by the conveyor belt 9 and discharge rollers (not shown).

The image reading device 5 is provided with an exposure lamp 11, a plurality of reflection mirrors 12, a lens 13, an image sensor 14 and the like as an optical system. The exposure lamp 11 and the reflection mirror 12 are moved along the platen glass 4. Then, the reflected light from the document is converged on the image sensor 14 and the density of the image of the document is converted into an electric image signal. The image signal is converted from an analog signal into digital signal image data by an A / D conversion circuit or the like provided as an electric system inside the image reading device 5. This image data is supplied to the processing unit described later, and after being subjected to predetermined signal processing, is supplied to the image forming apparatus 6.

The image forming apparatus 6 forms a toner image on a recording sheet by a well-known electrophotographic method, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 16 uniformly charged by the charging device 15 is fed from the laser exposure device 17. It is exposed to laser light to form an electrostatic latent image.

The laser exposure device 17 is a laser element (not shown) such as a semiconductor laser whose drive current is modulated based on the image data from the image reading device 5, and a laser beam from the laser element to the photosensitive drum 16. A rotating polygon mirror 1 that periodically deflects in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the surface
8, a reflection mirror 19 and the like.

The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 16 is developed by the developing machine 20 or 21 to form a toner image of a desired color on the photosensitive drum 16, and the toner image is fed by the transfer device 22. It is transferred onto the recording paper sent along the path A from any one of the plurality of trays 7a to 7e of the apparatus 7. It should be noted that the trays 7a to 7c are sheet feed trays for storing sheets of different sizes, the tray 7d is an intermediate tray for temporarily storing recording sheets for double-sided transfer, and 7
e is a large-capacity tray that accommodates several hundred recording sheets. The residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 16 after the transfer is
It is removed by the cleaning device 22.

The recording paper after the transfer is peeled from the photosensitive drum 16 by the peeling device 24, conveyed to the fixing device 26 by the conveyor 25, and subjected to the fixing process. The path of the sheet of paper after fixing is switched by the switching gate 27 to either the path B which goes to the post-processing device 3 or the path C which goes to the intermediate tray 7d through the reversing device 28 for double-sided copying.
In the case of double-sided copying, the reverse side of the recording paper is reversed by the reversing device 28, and the recording paper is supplied again to the image forming device 6 along the path A via the intermediate tray 7d, and a toner image is formed on the back surface of the recording paper this time. After that, it is sent to the post-processing device 3.

The recording paper discharged from the image forming device 6 to the post-processing device 3 is switched to either the route D or the route E by the switching gate 29. The recording paper that has advanced to the route D is sent to the route F with the image side facing up, and then to the route E.
The recording paper having proceeded to (1) is turned upside down by the reversing device 30 and sent to the path F.

The recording paper advancing to the route F is the switching gate 3
By means of 1, the route G is directed to the top tray 32, and the route H is subjected to various types of post-processing. The recording paper that has proceeded to the path H is conveyed downward along the path I by the vertical conveyor belt 33, and is sorted by the switching gate 34 into the path J that undergoes stapling processing and the path K that directly goes to the sorter bin 35. . The recording paper that has proceeded to the path J is discharged into the holding tray 36, and when the required number of recording papers are accumulated, they are stapled by the staple 37. In the case of signature output, stapling is applied to the central portion of the recording paper, which is the fold line. The stapled recording paper is again conveyed downward by the vertical conveyance belt 33 and discharged to a predetermined position in the sorter bin 35.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the entire processing including the operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. In this case, the ADF 2 can only set up to 50 sheets, and it is impossible to add a document like the FACE-UP system in which the document is set face up and the N-1 system in which the document is sent from the last page to the platen 4. In the copying machine 1, the one-sided original 20
The case where the job of double-sided copying from 0 sheets is performed is taken as an example.

First, 50 originals from the first page to the 50th page are set in the ADF 2, and a job is selected by the UI 52 and image parameters such as magnification and density are set. After setting "Continue" and pressing the start button, the originals are sent one by one from the ADF 2 to the platen 4 for scanning, and after A / D conversion, digital image data is stored in the page buffer 56 and stored on the disk 57. Image data that can be output simultaneously with writing is transferred to an output device. This series of operations is repeated until there is no set document. Here, instead of setting "Continue" in UI52, "Continue"
/ A sheet indicating "end" (hereinafter, referred to as a job control sheet or a job connection sheet: JCS) may be added to the beginning of the original.

When the input of 50 originals is completed, next 51
Fifty originals from the 100th page to the 100th page are set in the ADF 2, and the same processing as above is performed. From page 1 to 1
After repeating page 50, page 20 from the last 151 pages
Set 50 originals up to the 0th page in ADF2 and press UI5
In step 2, the job is selected and image parameters such as magnification and density are set, and this time, "end" is set, and then the start button is pressed. By these operations, when the image data input process is completed as described above, the first page to 200
All the image data up to the page will be gathered, and the image data that could not be output will be in a ready state, so that all the remaining output processing is started. As the output, predetermined pages are sequentially read from the disk 57 to the page buffer 56, and the IOT-
It is realized by transferring to the IOT 6 via the I / F 55. When the output process for all pages and the set number of copies is repeated, this job is completed, and the image data in the disc is erased and the management data is reset.

Next, the control procedure of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the control procedure of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. When the start signal is received, the job block information storage area shown in FIG. 3 is created (step S1), the information of the input image data is written therein, and the job queue information is queued in the corresponding job queue (step S2). When the parameters from the UI 52 are stored in the predetermined management area, the area for storing the input image data is secured in the page buffer (step S3). If the area is secured, IIT /
The input process from the IPS 4 is activated (step S4).
At this time, if output is possible at the same time as input, output processing is also activated (step S5). If the area cannot be secured,
This is because the image data in the page buffer is being output or because the transfer to the storage device has not been completed, and the processing is terminated and the page buffer management table is waited for update (step S7). When the input process is completed, the process of writing the input image data to the storage device such as a hard disk is started (step S6), and at the same time, it is checked whether or not the input image data is the final one. Repeat from step S3 for input image data. If it is the final input image data, then it is determined from the continuation / end flag in the job block information whether the series of input image data that has been input is the final one or the continuation (step S8). , “Continue”, the job is temporarily terminated at this point. If "end", predetermined image data is sequentially read from the disk 57 to the page buffer 56 (step S9), and output processing is started (step S10). The processing of steps S9 to S10 is repeated. If the processing is completed, the image data in the page buffer 56 and the disk 57 is erased (step S11), and job completion processing such as resetting of management data is performed (step S12), and the processing is completed. .

Next, FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a control circuit of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. This image processing apparatus can sequentially process originals having different parameters, and can communicate with the communication apparatus (IOC I / F) 61 via the interface (IOCO I / F) 61.
An image can be input / output to / from an external personal computer (PC) 63 or a facsimile (FAX) 64 connected to the P) 62. In addition, a rotator (ROT) 65 that rotates an image and a compressor (CO
MP) 67, a decompressor (DEC) for decompressing a compressed image
OMP) 68 and a gradation converter (4BIT-BINCONV) 69 for binarizing gradation data, and a switching device (COMP) for switching a bus signal according to an instruction from the UI 52.
/ ROTIBUSI / F) 66 by controlling
The input image can be rotated and compressed and stored as needed, and the stored compressed image can be expanded and output to the IOT 6. For example, A4 horizontal size with 100% reduction ratio
It is possible to continuously process a document of A3 vertical size and a reduction / enlargement ratio of 71% on the same size of paper. On this occasion,
An A3 portrait size original with a reduction ratio of 71% is rotated (R
By rotating by the OT) 65 and compressing and storing the data, it is possible to continuously output the processing of a plurality of document groups with the same paper size and orientation.

Finally, use the job control sheet to continue /
The case of specifying the end will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a job control sheet, and FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a process when the continuation / end designation is performed using the job control sheet.

As indicated above, continue from UI 52 /
If the end is designated, the designation information only needs to be set in the management data in the same manner as the job or image parameter obtained when the start button is pressed. However, when using JCS, the following processing is required. For example, when the form of JCS is a mark sheet system having a JCS recognition code and a continuation / end designation area as shown in FIG. 8, a prescan is performed for each page when input processing is performed as shown in FIG. 9 (step S13). ), JCS or the manuscript is discriminated from the JCS recognition code printed at a predetermined position on the JCS. If it is JCS, scanning is performed, the image data is stored in the page buffer (step S14), and it is determined whether the data exists at the position corresponding to the continuation or the position corresponding to the end. The detection is performed in the same manner as in step S15 (step S15), and the detection result is set in the continuation / end flag in the management table (step S15).
16). After that, the JCS image data is erased from the page buffer (step S17), and a normal image data input process is performed. If it is determined in step S13 that it is not JCS, the normal image data input process is performed without performing the processes in and after step S14. It should be noted that the above-described detection device necessary when using JCS is performed by the mark recognition unit 58 shown in FIG.

Although the processing of the finisher 3 after the transfer to the IOT 6 is not described here, it is natural that the parameters relating to the processing of the finisher 3 are also specified from the UI 52 and stored in the management area. Further, it is needless to say that the page order can be freely specified by the processing inside the ESS 51, and the page order of double-sided output, the page order of signatures, etc. are calculated and determined in the system control unit 53. Other various processes are performed in the system controller 53, but they are omitted because they are not related to the present invention.

Although the image data is directly handled in the above embodiment, the internal page buffer 5 is configured so that the compression process is performed at the input and the decompression process is performed at the output.
6. The capacity of the disk 57 may be reduced. Also,
In the above configuration, it is possible to add processing for rotating the image or specifying the position. Further, the page buffer 56 may be a line buffer as long as it can absorb the input / output speed difference in the DMA drive. The disk 57 may be any memory such as a semiconductor memory or a magnetic tape as long as it can store a plurality of pages. However, since these are expensive at present and the read / write speed is slow, a hard disk is used in the embodiment.

[0037]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in the case of a job in which a plurality of image data groups are divided and inputted, continuation / end information is added and divided and inputted. Since multiple image data groups are recognized as the same job and outputable image data can be output in synchronization with the input instead of outputting after completing all input, the number of originals is Jobs will not be divided even when the number of documents that can be stored in the feeder exceeds the number of documents that can be stored, or when there are no documents at hand, but the operation is simple and the time required for output is affected. It is possible to execute a job for a large amount of image data without giving it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a system control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a table for managing jobs.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an entire process including an operation of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a control procedure of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a job control sheet.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining processing when a continuation / termination is designated using a job control sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... ADF, 3 ... finisher, 5 ... IIT / IPS,
6 ... IOT, 51 ... ESS, 52 ... UI, 53 ... System control unit, 54 ... IIT I / F, 55 ... IOT I /
F, 56 ... Page buffer, 57 ... Disk, 58 ... Mark recognition unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input unit for inputting image data, a processing unit for processing image data, a storage unit for storing a plurality of image data, and an output unit for outputting image data. , An image processing apparatus comprising a control means for independently controlling each of the above means,
The processing means detects the continuation or end information of the processing of the image data group, and determines whether or not the image data is to be connected to the next input image data based on the detection result. And an image data management unit for managing the input image data, and when it is detected that the image data group is a continuously designated image data, at least the image data determined to be connected is stored in the storage unit,
An image processing apparatus characterized in that the image processing apparatus is configured so as to be connected to an image data group that is continuously input next and output.