JPH0818753A - Printing device for digital picture data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To facilitate the appearance change of printed matter and the change of a printing order by storing a printing job in a memory, permitting an operator to recognize printing processing specification and postponing printing until the operator gives a printing command. CONSTITUTION: A scanning unit 1 copies printed matter and stores picture data in a memory device 15. A network unit 2 inputs data from a storage medium connected to a network or like a disk to the memory device 15. A control unit 18 generates the list of data files stored in the memory device 15. The data file containing printing picture data is displayed on VDU of a controller 19. The operator can view the appearance of printed matter on VDU and can freely control the setting of a printer 3 for obtaining the printed matter of the necessary appearance. The printer 3 does not execute printing until the operator gives the printing command by using a key on the control panel of the controller 19. Thus, the user can manage the finish of the printing job by himself.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operating unit provided with operating means, at least one input unit for receiving a print data file from an external source, a storage device,
A print unit for printing the image data file on the image carrier, and a control unit connected to the operation unit for printing the image data file in the storage device by the print unit, and also connected to the print unit.
The present invention relates to a printing device for digital image data. The print data file is usually a PostScript (Post
A raster file (bitmap) is supplied to the printing apparatus in an encoding format that is a format that represents a document for printing according to a page description language (e.g., script).
Supplied in compressed form according to the run length compression method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A device of the above type is disclosed in International Patent Application No.
No. 89/06024 is well known. In this known device, the data file supplied from the external resource is
The identification data and print processing specifications, such as the format of the printing paper, stored in memory, are obtained from each data file. It is checked whether the device settings for a given data file meet the above specifications. If the specifications are met, the data file is immediately formatted and printed. If the specifications are not met, a display is provided on the control panel indicating that the operator should operate the device to meet the specifications. When the operator finishes the operation, the data file is printed immediately and automatically.

[0003]

The drawbacks of the conventional devices are:
The software in the normal working environment (ie at the workstation where the print data file is created)
The function of setting the printing specifications is simply provided. Most printers, in principle, have all kinds of finishing functions commonly known in copiers such as cover printing, binding, blank paper insertion, sorting, etc., but these are standard Not adapted for operation from a workstation. In the case of specifications that can be operated from a workstation, the operator may want to change the finish or the appearance of the print when viewing the print. In such a case, the operator would need to change the specifications and then return to the workstation to issue another print command.

Another drawback of printing a supplied data file directly is that the owner may or may not print it as it arrives in the tray of the device as the prints from various owners or senders are made in the order of arrival. You need to find your own print among other prints. The object of the present invention is to provide a printing device which does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0005]

Therefore, for at least certain uses, print jobs are always stored only in memory, and the owner or sender of the data file uses a button on the printer to create a command for that purpose. Until you give
Printing is postponed. Therefore, in the apparatus of the present invention, all image data files are printed only when and when the control unit receives a print command for that purpose from the operator via the operation means. It is characterized by being adapted.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, the input unit stores the received data file in the storage device, and only after receiving the print command from the operating means, the control module has the processing unit for that purpose. The data file received by is converted into a printable data file and is printed by the printing unit. In another embodiment of the invention, the data file received from the external source is immediately converted to a processed image data file,
It is then stored in the storage device, but printing is postponed until an operator command is given from the printer control panel.
The processed image data may be suitable for printing in a state where it is not changed without performing another data processing, but in this way, an intermediate format that can be immediately processed into appropriate image data. But it doesn't matter.

In any of the above embodiments, it is possible to produce a print with a particular finish without adapting the workstation where the document for printing was prepared. In addition, the user can manage the finish of the print job by himself. As a result, for example, in a conventional printer that is caused by the fact that the user needs to search his own printed matter in the pile of printed matter of other users, or the command is not issued because the printing paper is exhausted. Trouble that is not rare is avoided in advance. If you need
After the data file is printed, the device can be modified so that the user can print the data file again with different finishing specifications.

In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the control unit makes a list of data files stored in the storage device and presents said data files to the operator for selection via the operating unit. Is provided and is adapted to cause the data file to be printed according to operator selection. In such an embodiment, it is possible to manage the stored data files for printing, even if various people use the printer.

The input unit may be in the form of a network connection or a device for reading a data storage medium such as a floppy disk. The device according to the invention comprises:
It is possible to provide a photoelectric scanning unit or a scanner, whereby the digital copying function can be added to the printing function. In this type of combined copy and print device, the concept of operation according to the invention allows, for example, when a user wishes to perform a print job on the device (which may be at a remote location). The print job of another user has just started, so the user is not bothered, and both the copy and print jobs can be executed on one device in an easy-to-understand and practically acceptable manner. The ability to do so is provided.

[0010]

The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image reproducing apparatus according to the present invention. This apparatus comprises a scanning unit 1 for photoelectrically scanning a document and outputting digital image information corresponding to the document, an input unit 2 for image information of an external resource, and a printing unit 3 for printing the digital image information on a holding material. Consists of.

Both the scanning unit 1 and the input unit are connected to a central storage means 15 for image information, which central storage means 15 is connected to the printing unit 3. The unit is connected to a central control unit 18, which controls the operating elements and VDUs used by the operator.
It is connected to the operation unit 19 provided with (video display unit).

The scanning means 1 is shown in more detail in FIG. The scanning means 1 is provided with a tubular lamp 5 and a reflector 6 cooperating with it for illuminating a thin stripe of a document 8 placed in a window 7. The scanning means projects an imaged glass fiber array 10 that projects light reflected by the document onto a sensor array, such as a CCD array 12.
(Selfoc-lens array) is further included. During the scanning, the scanning means 1 is essentially a known driving means (not shown).
As it moves at a constant speed in the direction of arrow 13,
The document 8 is linearly scanned by the CCD array 12.

Thus, each image point of the document is converted into an analog signal corresponding to the grayscale value of that image point. The analog signal is then converted into a digital signal for each image point by the A / D converter, and then the digital signal (image data) is supplied to the image processing device 14. In the image processing device 14, the image data is processed by at least one image processing (thresholding, dithering, histogramming, enlarging, reducing, rotating) which is known per se to be formed into a format suitable for controlling the printing unit 3. Etc.)

The scanning unit may be provided with an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) (not shown). Devices of this type are generally known and need not be described at length. An input unit 2 for the digital image information of an external resource, namely the front end feeder, is shown in FIG. This unit is provided with a connection unit to an external data source. The first connection is formed, for example, by a network connection unit 20 connected to an external network 16 capable of connecting multiple workstations. The workstation has a network 16 for printing data files.
Various commonly used formats (PC
It is possible to transmit the data file in a page description language such as L or PostScript). Networks and techniques for sending data files over such networks are generally known and will not be described here.

The input unit 2 is further provided with a floppy disk unit 50 which is installed in or near the apparatus and allows a user to print a data file stored on a floppy disk. The floppy disk unit 50 is connected to the connection unit 21 of the front end 2 that converts the signal from the unit 50.

Both the connection units 20 and 21 are connected to the job recognition module 22, and the job recognition module 22 is connected to the hard disk 23. The module 22 relates to each of the supplied data files,
The PDL (Page Description Language) in which the data file was created is determined and the identification data contained therein is obtained. The memory disk 23 for temporary storage of the supplied data files is further connected to a PDL interpreter 24 which converts the data files encoded in the page description language into a format suitable for processing by the printing unit 3. PD
The L interpreter 24 is connected to the central storage means 15 via a buffer 25. Job recognition module 2
2. Memory disk 23 and PDL interpreter 24
Are respectively connected to the control unit 18.

The printing unit 3 will be described below with reference to FIG. This device comprises drive and guide rollers 121, 12
An endless photoconductive belt 120 is provided which is advanced at a constant speed in the direction of arrow 124 by 2 and 123.
Using the processed image data provided by the storage means 15, the LED array 125 is controlled to be illuminated linewise and imagewise after the photoconductive belt 120 is electrostatically charged by the corona device 130. To be done.

The latent charge image formed on the belt 120 by irradiation causes the magnetic brush device 1 to produce a toner image.
31 is developed with toner powder and then the toner image is brought into contact with the endless intermediate belt 132 under pressure in the first transfer zone. The endless intermediate belt 132 is made of or covered with an elastic heat resistant material such as silicone rubber. In this situation, the toner image is transferred from belt 120 to belt 132 by adhesive forces. After transfer of such an image, all toner powder residues are removed from photoconductive belt 120 using cleaning device 133, after which belt 120 is ready for subsequent use.

The intermediate intermediate belt 132 is stretched over the drive and guide rollers 134 and 135, and the belt 132 is
In such a situation, for example, an infrared radiator disposed inside the roller 135 heats the toner powder to a temperature above the softening temperature. Belt 1 with toner image on top
As 32 proceeds, the toner image becomes tacky due to heating.

In the second transfer zone between the belt 132 and the pressure roller 136, the sticky toner image is transferred under pressure to the copy paper supplied from one of the paper feeders 137 or 138, It is fixed at the same time. The obtained copy is finally discharged to a tray 139 or supplied to a reversing device 141 for turning over the copy sheet by a deflector element 140 (mounted at a position shown by a broken line in the drawing). You can The copy is then fed once again to the second transfer zone between the belt 132 and the pressure roller 136 for printing a powder image on the back side in the second transfer zone, and then the tray 1
It is discharged to 39.

In FIG. 4, two copy paper feeders 137 are provided.
Although only 138 and 138 are shown, the number of paper feeders can be expanded to accommodate different formats of copy paper (eg, A5, A4 and A3, as well as other American formats). is there. Moreover, different copy paper formats are produced with copies of the exact same copy paper format in the direction of the image information which is selective to the direction of transfer of the copy paper through the printing device, or perpendicular thereto. Another orientation, so that you can
That is, it is necessary to be able to supply for longitudinal transfer (when there is the longest peripheral side in the transfer direction) or lateral transfer (when there is the shortest peripheral side in the transfer direction).

The various parts of the printing device 3 are controlled by the central control unit 18 either directly or via sub-control modules. The central storage means 15 shown in FIG. 5 comprises various signal sources, namely a scanning unit 1 and an input unit 2,
It consists of an input multiplexer 40 connected to a data compressor 41. The data compressor 41 is connected to a memory 42, which in turn is connected to a data decompressor 43.
It is connected to the. The data decompression device 43 is connected to the printing device 3 via a buffer circuit 44. The memory 42 and the input multiplexer 40 are further connected to a control circuit 45 which is connected to the central control unit 18.

The image data supplied by the scanning unit 1 or the input unit 2 is sent to the compression device 41, where for each line scanned of the document 8 in the compression device 41,
The image data is compressed by a method well known in the art (for example, run length encoding method). The compressed data is stored in the memory 42. By the above method, the image data of all the documents required for a given copy or print job is stored line by line in the memory 42. In the description, the term "document" means a page. A copy or print job may consist of a set of documents that may or may not be relevant.

The start and end addresses of the image data of each document stored in the memory 42 are updated by the control circuit 45 of the central storage means. After a set of documents for a copy or print job, or a portion thereof, is stored in the memory 42 in the manner described above, various processing functions of the printing device 3 can be initiated by the control unit 18. In such a situation, the control unit 18 causes the control circuit to read the image data required for the copy or print job from the memory 42 and cause the decompression device 43 to decompress the image data to create an actual printed matter. In order to do so, the printing device 3 to be processed is instructed to send the image data.

The apparatus described above is suitable for copying a document by photoelectrically scanning the document, processing the resulting digital image data, and printing the same. Moreover, the device translates digital data files supplied from an external source (via a network or floppy disk) and then converts the files into raster image data that is sent to the printing device. It is possible to print. The operation of the two functions is almost the same. Both print and copy jobs are executed only after a command for that purpose has been given to the control panel of the device.

The processing when a print job arrives via the network is as follows: The data file for printing sent by the workstation via the network is sent to the job recognition module 22 by the network connection unit 20. Job recognition module 22
Obtains a number of predetermined identification data from the file, examines the file to recognize the PDL (Page Description Language) used, and sends the identification data and PDL to the control unit 18. The file is stored unchanged on the memory disk 23 and then the device goes into a standby state.

In the network system, the transmitted data file is always provided with an identification code. Such data typically includes the name of the sender (owner) and the name of the file itself. For print jobs, special details are often added to specify particular printer settings. For example, in UNIX systems, print jobs are in the form of command files (for identification and specification) and data files (for the print data itself). The command file is the UN that controls printing.
It is for the IX process lpd (line printer daemon) but can be read by another process. When the device according to the invention is implemented in a UNIX environment, the required identification data is read from the command file by the job recognition module 22.
In this example, the acquired identification data includes at least the name of the owner and the name of the file itself.

The control unit 18 includes a memory disk 23.
Manages a list containing all data files for printing stored in. When the new file is transmitted over the network, the job recognition module 22 obtains the identification data from it and sends the identification data to the control unit 18. The control unit 18 adds such data to the list. Whenever a data file is printed, the control unit 19 deletes the identification data for that file from the list.

If the operator wants to print a data file, he must use the control panel 19 of the device to give a command for that purpose. This panel is shown in Figure 6.
(A) of. The panel 19 is, for example, an image pickup tube or an LC.
VDU60 like D display, and many buttons,
That is, it includes a start button 61, a numerical value button 62, a correction button 63, and selection buttons 64-70. When the device is switched on, the VDU 60 displays the image formed by the multiple vertical columns, each one above one of the select buttons 64-69. Each column relates to a particular basic function of the device and indicates the various possible settings for that basic function. For example, the leftmost column is assigned to the usage of printing paper that can be printed on either one side or both sides. This column may be used to set up a test print. The test printing will be described in detail below. The set value selected at any time, in this example single-sided printing, is indicated by markers such as dark dots or highlights.

The operator can select another set value, for example, by actuating a selection button according to a circular diagram. By changing the setting value,
The function of at least one further selection button may change, since the original function is no longer relevant and another selection possibility is required. Another text matching the new feature appears in the relevant column of VDU 60.

The select button 70 provides the possibility of calling another set of functions which cannot be displayed simultaneously with the above functions due to the limited size of the VDU 60. Generally, such functionality is not required for a single copy or print job, but it provides the operator with more possibilities to obtain a particular print result, or alters the operation of the device. It is a function.

Button 64 (described above), button 65
The column above (finishing of prints and optionally stapling order) and button 66 (selecting printing paper) relates to finishing instructions. The column above the button 67 indicates setting values: “single-sided”, “double-sided”, and “digital” depending on the nature of the original. The first two options relate to the copy function of the device and indicate the nature of the original. If one of these settings is selected, the scanning means 1 will be the source of digital image information actuated by the control unit 18, or
Alternatively, it remains a source. In the case of "one sided" setting,
Only the front side of the document of each original is scanned, and in the case of the "duplex" setting, both sides are continuously scanned. Buttons 68 and 69
The column above the column relates to setting the magnification and / or controlling the light / dark. Such functions are well known in the literature and will not be described in detail here.

The VDU 60 has separate fields 71 and 7
2 inclusive. Field 71 is used to reproduce information related to the data file for printing. This field is described below. Field 72 indicates the number of sets of prints, as is commonly the case in copiers. The processing when the setting "digital" is selected will be described below. The setting "digital" means that the operator wants to print a data file that was previously sent over the network. Regarding this network connection, refer to FIGS. 7 and 8.

In response to the selection of the setting "Digital" (step S1), the control unit 18 inspects the list of printing files and selects them by the owner's name. The control unit gives the column above buttons 68 and 69 a new function. The VDU 60 thus obtains the screen shown in FIG. 6B (step S2). The column above button 68 is given the owner's name, initials, and other identifiers in a form that appears in the above list and is sometimes omitted, while the column above button 69 is on the left side. The various data files of the owners selected in the column are sometimes given in abbreviated form. The first owner and the first file in the list of that owner are initially preselected. However, the operator can also select another owner with the button 68 (step S3). The control unit 18 fills the column on the button 69 with the name of the owner's file selected in the list (step S4). The first file in the list is preselected from such files. The operator can make another selection by using the button 69 (step S6). It can be displayed by scrolling more names than fit in the column. If the operator does not make a selection, the preselected owner and file name are maintained (step S5,
Step S7). The full name of the selected data file is displayed in a separate portion 71 of VDU 60.

The data file may be provided with control data relating to the finish of the print, for example a specific number of copies, binding of a set of prints, format of the printing paper.
For example, under UNIX, the above data can be selected as additional data to the print command and is included in the above command file. The data is recognized by the job recognition module 22, separated from the print data, and sent to the control module 18, and the control module 18 includes the data in the list of print data files as additional information. When the operator selects a particular data file, the control unit 18 adjusts the device according to the control data sent (step S8) and displays the above in the column above the buttons 64, 65 and 66 on the VDU 60 of the control panel 19. Display control data. However, the operator may select another setting on the control panel before pressing the "start" button 61 (step S9). In that case, printing is performed according to the last setting (step S10).

By actuating the "start" button, the operator provides a command for the data file selected as described above for printing (step S1).
1). In response, the control unit 18 retrieves the relevant file from the memory disk 23 (step S
12) convert to a printable format (step S13),
The pages are stored in the central storage means 15 (more specifically, the memory 42) via the buffer 25 (step S1).
4) Give the instruction to the PDL interpreter 24. Because the printing system is billed on a paper-by-paper basis using an automatic payment unit or by borrowing from the group budget, the control unit 18 can access the central memory for each transfer of a converted page. It is possible. In the above embodiment, the control unit 18 checks whether the automatic payment unit or the borrower has sufficient balance for printing the above page (which may be multiple copies depending on the setting). Generate command for transfer.

As soon as the central storage means 15 contains enough data to print the first page (step S15), the printing unit 3 is activated (step S16) and the file is printed on the paper according to the settings of the selected device. Print. The device is adapted to first perform a test print to evaluate the appearance of the resulting print, or a proof of a print job that requires printing the file multiple times. Normally, after the print job is completed, the data file is automatically deleted from the memory 42 of the central storage means 15,
If a proof is made, it is not erased, so after the various finishing settings have been selected, the file is available for printing, if desired, and remains selected.

The test printing is performed by pressing the button 64 on the control panel 19.
This is a function that can be selected by selecting the option "Trial printing" using. The device may further be provided with access control to a list of stored files. This access control is for users who regularly want to print confidential information. In this case, the control unit 18 is provided with a password check, which can be programmed by a function that can be called up via the button 70 on the control panel. In the case of certain programmed owner names, the name of the stored file is not displayed in the column above button 69. If such owner's name is selected in the column on button 68, control unit 18 will
Request an access code by a message in a portion 71 of the. After the operator has keyed in the above code using the numeric keys 62, the control unit 18 inspects such code with the programmed code stored in memory against the name of the associated owner and if there is a match. , Displays to the owner the files stored in the memory disk 23 in the column above the button 69 so that they can be selected.

The process for printing a data file on a floppy disk is as follows. If the user wants to print the data file from the floppy disk, insert the floppy disk into unit 50. This unit 50 detects the presence of a floppy disk and gives a signal to the control unit 18,
Reads the floppy disk and automatically selects the "digital" document setting in the column above button 67 on control panel 19. The read data is sent to the job recognition module 22 via the connection unit 21, and the job recognition module 22 obtains the identification data from the read data file (even when the above-mentioned floppy disk includes two or more files. Then, the file itself is stored in the memory disk 23 as it is. The identification data of the file on the floppy disk is added by the control unit 18 to the already created list of print data files. Here, the term "floppy" is included in the column above the button 68 on the control panel (FIG. 6B) and is automatically preselected. Button 6
In the column above 9, the names of the data files, or if the floppy disk contains more than one data file, the names of all the data files are displayed, and the first file among them is selected in advance. Start button 61
By pressing, the operator gives a command to print the selected file. This process is exactly the same as the handling of the data file transmitted via the network described above. Of course, the device can be made more suitable for reading other digital information media such as optical discs. The processing of the data file there is performed similarly.

In another embodiment, the unit 50 is
The image data itself is not transferred to the memory disk 23, and only the data content of the floppy disk is read. The content data is sent to the control unit 18 via the job recognition module 22, and the control unit 18 adds this content data to the above list and presents it to the operator. Only if the operator selects the data file thus presented, the file is actually read from the floppy disk, transferred to the memory disk 23, rasterized and printed.

Both columns for selecting print data files (columns above buttons 68 and 69) include the title "ALL". When these two are set, the control unit arranges the printing of all the data files in the list as if they were stored on the memory disk and, in response to the start command, sequentially lists to the next owner. Printing is done in the order in which all files appearing in are printed. According to this method, the set of printed matter is as described above.
Memory disc 2 will be ejected in a clearly recognizable array.
3 is convenient for batch printing of print jobs collected on the above.

In a second main embodiment of the invention, a print job, upon receipt, is immediately converted to a printable form and stored in memory, after which the device goes into standby. This same variant can also be used for the floppy disk print mode. The device according to such an embodiment has essentially the same components as the device relating to FIGS. 1 to 6B above, and most of its functions are the same as those described above. However, the data file for printing is immediately sent to the PDL interpreter 24, with the memory 23 used only for spooling in this example. PDL interpreter 24
Converts the data file into a printable format, stores the obtained result in the central storage means 15 via the buffer 25, and notifies the control unit 18 of the end of the job. The control unit 18, which has the job identification data already added to the list, but has not yet been presented on the VDU 60 of the control panel 19, allows the operator to utilize and select such data.

Upon activation of the "Start" button 61, the control module 18 activates the printing device 3 which prints on paper the selected data file in the storage means 15 according to the settings of the selected device. In particular, in the second embodiment, it is understood that the memory 42 of the central storage means 15 preferably has a large capacity such as a hard disk unit or a combination of a semiconductor memory and a disk unit. On the other hand, this embodiment has an advantage that the processing of the print job is speeded up because the data conversion has already been performed after the “Start” button is pressed.

In a third main embodiment, the received print job data is immediately converted to an intermediate format which uses less storage space and is converted into printable data in a very short time. The intermediate format is formed by the PDL interpreter 24 and stored in the memory disk 23. No other action is taken until the operator selects a file and presses the "start" button 61. Another PDL interpreter module 24 then processes the file into a printable form and sends the obtained result to the printing unit 3 for printing.

Moreover, the apparatus is adapted to be set up to behave like a conventional network printer, which in turn finishes all print jobs arriving via the network. The print data file is sent to the job recognition module 2 by the network connection unit 20.
2, the job recognition module 22 obtains from the file the identification data and PDL used for the heading page added to the first page of the print set. The job recognition module 22 sends the obtained information to the control unit 18 and sends the unmodified file to the memory disk 23 for storage. PDL interpreter 24
Is set in the PDL used by the control unit 18, converts the file into printable image data according to a command, and sends the printable image data in page format to the central storage means 15 via the buffer 25. . In such a case, the first page sent is the heading page with the data obtained by the job recognition module 22. In response to a command from the control unit 18, the printing unit 3 prints the page on paper.

If the device meets the above conditions, the unit 50
Copying or printing from the floppy disk inside is blocked. This condition can be set using a selection function such as is invoked by button 70 on the control panel. If desired, a switch may be utilized for such selection. In the above device, the print job is immediately completed for one owner (sender), while
It is possible to design the data file to be stored and not printed until the command for it is given from the control panel. In such a configuration, the control unit 1
Reference numeral 8 is provided with a list of owner names stored in the memory and necessary processing for a print job for each owner name. Upon arrival of the print job, the control unit 18
The identification data sent by the job recognition module 22 is compared to the above list of owner names to determine what should be processed in the received print job. The contents of the above list can be input by using the function on the control panel called by the button 70.

In order to prevent a data file supplied via the network and forgotten by its owner from wastefully occupying space on the memory disk 23, the device may be, for example, one day after being supplied. A storage time control may be provided to automatically erase a file from the disc after a predetermined time interval has elapsed. Of course,
The storage time can be programmed for each owner at separate intervals, if desired.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to devices such as those described above, the present invention is not limited to such devices. Many alternative embodiments can be implemented within the scope of the claims, which are considered to fall within the protection scope.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a block diagram of an apparatus according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a photoelectric scanner as used in the apparatus of FIG.

3 is a block diagram of an apparatus for inputting digital image information from an external source such as that used in the apparatus of FIG.

4 is a block diagram of a printer unit as used in the apparatus of FIG.

5 shows a central storage means as used in the device of FIG.

6A and 6B are views showing a control panel used in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process of digital image information.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process of digital image information.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Scanning Unit 2 Input Unit 3 Printing Unit 5 Tubular Lamp 6 Reflector 7 Window 8 Document 10 Glass Fiber Array 12 CCD Array 13 Travel Direction 14 Image Processing Device 15 Central Storage Means 16 Network 18 Central Control Unit 19 Operating Unit 20 Network Connection Unit 21 Floppy Disk Connection Unit 22 Job Recognition Module 23 Hard Disk 24 PDL Interpreter 25 Buffer 40 Input Multiplexer 41 Data Compressor 42 Memory 43 Data Decompressor 44 Buffer Circuit 45 Control Circuit 50 Floppy Disk Unit 60 VDU 61 Start Button 62 Numeric Button 63 Correct Buttons 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 Selection buttons 71, 72 Field 120 Drive belt 121, 122, 123, 134, 135 drive and guide roller 124 belt traveling direction 125 LED array 130 corona device 131 magnetic brush device 132 intermediate intermediate belt 133 cleaning device 136 pressure roller 137, 138 paper feeder 139 tray 140 deflector element 141 Reversing device

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An operating unit provided with operating means;
At least one input unit that receives a printing data file from an external source; a storage device; a printing unit that prints the image data file on an image carrier; and an image data file in the storage device that is printed by the printing unit. Therefore, there is provided a digital image data printing apparatus comprising a control unit connected to the operation unit and also connected to the printing unit, wherein the control unit is operated by an operator via the operation means for the purpose. A device adapted to print any image data file upon receipt of a print command and only at that time. 2. A processing unit for converting the received data file into a printable image data file, the input unit adapted to store the received data file in the storage device, and the control unit: When the print command is issued from the print unit, the received data file is converted by the processing unit, and the obtained printable image data file is printed by the print unit.
The device according to claim 1. 3. The control unit creates a list of received data files stored in the storage device, presents identification data of the data files to an operator for selection via the operation unit, and The unit converts, based on the print command, a data file stored in the storage device as selected by the operator prior to the print command,
Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it is adapted to print. 4. A processing unit connected to the input unit for converting a received data file into a processed image data file, the processing unit storing the processed image data file in the storage device. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to cause the printing unit to print a processed image data file upon the print command from the operating means. 5. The control unit creates a list of processed image data files stored in the storage device,
Means for presenting the identification data of the image data file to the operator for selection via the operation unit is provided, and the control unit selects based on the print command by the operator prior to the print command. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it is adapted to print a processed image data file stored in said storage device as described above. 6. An apparatus according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the input unit is provided with means for obtaining identification data from a received data file and is connected to the control unit for transferring the identification data thereto. . 7. Device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises a network connection module for connection to a digital network. 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the input unit comprises a device for reading a data storage medium such as a floppy disk. 9. A scanning unit for photoelectrically scanning a document and producing digital image data during its execution; said printing unit connected to said scanning unit and further outputting a printable data file thereon. Connected to the
A second processing unit for converting the digital image data into a printable data file, wherein the control unit is connected to the scanning unit and the second processing unit and provided via the operation unit. Based on the copied command, the scanning unit is started, the image data generated by the scanning unit is converted into printable image data by the second processing unit, and the printing unit can print the image data. 9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with means for printing an image data file. 10. The means for creating and presenting a list of data files stored in the storage device is adapted to provide an operator with a choice to sequentially print all of the stored data files, Device according to any one of claims 3 and 5 to 9. 11. The control unit is provided with means for collating an operator identification code input by the operating means of the operation unit, and means for making and presenting a list of data files stored in the storage device. Is adapted to present the data file to an operator for selection only after the control unit has verified and approved the identification code, at least for certain ones of the data files. And the device according to any one of 5 to 10. 12. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to automatically delete a data file stored in the storage device from it after a lapse of a predetermined time interval. The device according to item 1. 13. The control unit sets a received data file into a state in which it is converted and printed by a command for this purpose from the operation means without waiting for a print command from the operation means. 13. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, which is adapted.