JPH08223345A - Digital copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a convenient digital copying machine in which an original image read by a scanner in the copying machine is used by the user through a wordprocessor or a personal computer. CONSTITUTION: The output mode to media 19, 20 for a wordprocessor or the like is selected by an operation panel 17 and when a copy start button of the operation panel 17 is depressed, a scanner section 11 starts reading of an original image and a medium identification section 14 identifies an image format of the media 19, 20. Then an image conversion section 15 converts a format of image data read by the scanner section 11 into the format and transfers the result to an external storage device 18. The external storage device 18 stores image data onto a medium such as a floppy disk 19 or a magneto-optical disk 20 used for a wordprocessor or the like and the user uses the media 19, 20 for the wordprocessor or the like.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital copying machine compatible with word processors and personal computers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to effectively use a printer of a digital copying machine, a composite copying machine is known in which image data on the PC side can be sent to the copying machine side and printed by the printer.

[0003]

By the way, in a word processor or a personal computer, a scanner (sold separately) can be used as an external device, and an original image can be taken into the word processor or the personal computer through this scanner. However, with this method,
There is a problem that the cost is high because the user has to purchase the scanner separately when the original image is taken into the word processor or the personal computer through the scanner.

By the way, copiers are mostly used as office automation equipment in companies and government offices, and since the copier is equipped with a scanner, original images are read by a word processor or personal computer using the scanner of the copier. If it can be taken into a computer, it will be very convenient because a plurality of users in a company or a public office can share this copying machine.

Therefore, according to the present invention, by reading a document image and outputting it to a word processor or personal computer, the user can use the document image read by the scanner in the copying machine in the word processor or personal computer. The purpose is to provide a copying machine.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a first means is a scanner for reading an original image and an identification for identifying the image format by taking in data stored in a medium of a word processor or a personal computer. Means for converting the image data read by the scanner into a format identified by the identifying means, and writing means for writing the image data converted by the converting means on the medium. And

The second means is a scanner for reading an original image, an input means for inputting an image format of a word processor or a personal computer, and image data read by the scanner into a format input through the input means. And a writing means for writing the image data converted by the converting means into a medium of a word processor or a personal computer.

A third means is characterized in that the program of the converting means can be registered and deleted by the first or second means.

A fourth means is characterized in that, in the first to third means, the converting means converts into a general format when the conversion is difficult.

A fifth means further comprises means for judging the remaining amount of the medium in the first to fourth means and compressing the image data read by the scanner according to the remaining amount. And

In a sixth means, in the first to fifth means, the writing means judges whether or not a file having the same name exists in the medium, and if it exists, another file and / or another file. It is characterized in that a subdirectory is created and written in the medium.

[0012]

According to the first means, the image data read by the scanner is converted into the automatically identified format of the word processor or personal computer and written in the medium of the word processor or personal computer. Therefore, it is possible to realize a convenient digital copying machine in which the user can use the original image read by the scanner in the copying machine in the word processor or the personal computer. Further, by storing the medium in a portable medium such as a floppy disk or a magneto-optical disk, the user's work can be simplified.

In the second means, the image data read by the scanner is converted into the format of the word processor or personal computer designated by the user and written in the medium of the word processor or personal computer. Therefore, it is possible to realize a convenient digital copying machine in which the user can use the original image read by the scanner in the copying machine in the word processor or the personal computer. Further, by storing the medium in a portable medium such as a floppy disk or a magneto-optical disk, the user's work can be simplified.

In the third means, the program for converting the image data format can be registered and deleted,
It can support various word processor and personal computer formats.

According to the fourth means, when the conversion is difficult, the document is converted into a general-purpose format. Therefore, the user converts the general-purpose format into the format of his / her own word processor or personal computer, so that the document read by the scanner in the copying machine is converted. The image can be used by the user in a word processor or personal computer.

In the fifth means, the image data is compressed according to the remaining amount of the medium, so that it is possible to realize a convenient digital copying machine which can surely use the image data read by the scanner.

In the sixth means, when a file of the same name exists in the medium of a word processor or a personal computer, another file and / or subdirectory is created and written in the medium, so that the user can save the file in the medium. It is possible to realize a convenient digital copying machine that is not confused.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital copying machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing the digital copying machine of FIG.

In FIG. 1, the copying machine 10 includes a scanner section 1
1, print unit 12, operation control unit 13, media identification unit 14, image conversion unit 15, image format library 1
6. An operation panel 17 having a display unit 17a and an external storage device 18 are connected to the copying machine 10, and the external storage device 18 is a floppy disk (FD) 19 or a magneto-optical (MO) disk used in a word processor or a personal computer. A medium such as 20 that drives a medium is used.

The scanner unit 11 reads a document image and converts it into image data, and the printing unit 12 prints the image data on recording paper by, for example, an electrophotographic method. Operation control unit 1
3 decodes the operation state of the operation panel 17 and the display unit 1
Control the display of 7a. The media identification unit 14 is the FD 19 or the MO disc 2 set in the external storage device 18.
By identifying the data in the medium such as 0, the image format of the word processor or personal computer in which the medium 19 or 20 is used is identified.

The image format library 16 stores the image formats of various word processors and personal computers, and the image conversion unit 15 includes the scanner unit 1.
1 is converted into the image format identified by the media identification unit 14 based on the image format of the image format library 16 and transferred to the external storage device 18.
Store in 9 and 20.

In such a structure, the operation panel 17
When the output mode for the media 19, 20 is selected via the, and the copy start button of the operation panel 17 is pressed, the scanner unit 11 starts reading the original image, and the media identification unit 14 causes the media identification unit 14 to read the media 19, 20. The image conversion unit 15 converts the image data read by the scanner unit 11 into the image format and transfers the image data to the external storage device 18.

Therefore, since the original image is read by using the scanner section 11 of the copying machine 10 and stored in the media 19 and 20 in the format used in a word processor or a personal computer, for example, a plurality of users in a company or a public office can read it. By sharing this copying machine 10, it is possible to incorporate the scanner into its own word processor or personal computer without separately purchasing it.

In the above embodiment, the media identification section 1
4 is configured to identify the image format of the media 19 and 20, but instead, as shown in FIG. 3, the user displays a screen for selecting the image format (format) of the media 19 and 20, and the user The image format may be selected via the operation panel 17. Also,
The user may be allowed to register a desired image format in the image format library 16, and a screen for deleting the image format registered in the image format library 16 is displayed as shown in FIG. It may be displayed on the section 17a so that the user can delete it via the operation panel 17.

Further, instead of storing the image conversion program of the image conversion unit 15 in the ROM, the image conversion program is additionally stored in a writable / erasable memory such as a hard disk.
By being configured so that it can be changed or deleted, it can be applied to word processors and personal computers of various formats.

If the format identified by the media identifying section 14 and its image conversion program do not exist in the image format library 16 and the image converting section 15, respectively, a subdirectory is created as shown in FIG. (Steps S1 to S2), the data may be converted into a general format and stored in the media 19 and 20 (step S3). In this case, the user can use the original image read by the scanner 11 by converting the image data of the general-purpose format into the format of the word processor or personal computer of the user.

In addition, as shown in FIG.
When storing in 0, the remaining amount of the mediums 19 and 20 may be checked (step S11), and the image data may be compressed in the remaining amount and stored in the mediums 19 and 20 at a compression rate that allows storage ( Step S12). In addition, media 19,
If a file with the same name exists in the medium 20, a warning is displayed when storing it in the medium 19, 20 as shown in FIG. 7 (steps S21 → S22), another file name is created, and the medium 19, 20 (steps S23 → S24), as shown in FIG.
Create another file name when storing in 0 (step S
31 → S32), a subdirectory may be created (step S33) and stored in the media 19 and 20 (step S34).

[0028]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the image data read by the scanner is converted into the format of the automatically identified word processor or personal computer, and is converted into the medium of the word processor or personal computer. Since it is written, it is possible to realize a convenient digital copying machine in which a user can use an original image read by a scanner in the copying machine in a word processor or a personal computer, and a floppy disk or a magneto-optical disk can be used as a medium. By storing in such a portable medium, the user's work can be simplified.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the image data read by the scanner is converted into the format of the word processor or personal computer designated by the user and written in the medium of the word processor or personal computer. It is possible to realize a convenient digital copying machine in which the user can use the original image read by the computer in a word processor or personal computer, and to store it in a portable medium such as a floppy disk or magneto-optical disk. By doing so, the work of the user can be simplified.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the program for converting the format of the image data can be registered and erased, so that it can be applied to various word processor and personal computer formats.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the conversion is difficult, the data is converted into a general-purpose format. Therefore, the user converts the general-purpose format into the format of his / her own word processor or personal computer, and the data is read by the scanner in the copying machine. The document image can be used by the user in a word processor or a personal computer.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the image data is compressed according to the remaining amount of the medium, it is possible to realize a convenient digital copying machine which can surely use the image data read by the scanner. it can.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when a file of the same name exists in the medium of a word processor or a personal computer, another file and / or subdirectory is created and written in the medium. It is possible to realize a convenient digital copying machine that does not confuse files.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the digital copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen when a user specifies an image format.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen when a program for converting an image format is deleted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining processing when conversion is difficult.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a process when image data is compressed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a process for creating and storing another file.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process when a subdirectory is created and stored.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Scanner Section 14 Media Identification Section 15 Image Conversion Section 16 Image Format Library 17 Operation Panel 17a Display Section 18 External Storage Device 19, 20 Media

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A scanner for reading an original image, an identifying means for taking in data stored in a medium of a word processor or a personal computer to identify its image format, and an image data read by the scanner for identifying by the identifying means. A digital copying machine comprising: a converting unit that converts the converted image data into a specified format; and a writing unit that writes the image data converted by the converting unit into the medium. 2. A scanner for reading an original image, an input means for inputting an image format of a word processor or a personal computer, and a conversion means for converting image data read by the scanner into a format input through the input means. A writing unit for writing the image data converted by the converting unit into a medium of a word processor or a personal computer. 3. The digital copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the program of the converting means can be registered and deleted. 4. The digital copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the converting means converts into a general format when the conversion is difficult. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining a remaining amount of the medium and compressing image data read by the scanner according to the remaining amount. Digital copier. 6. The writing means determines whether or not a file with the same name exists in the medium, and if it exists, creates another file and / or subdirectory and writes the file and / or subdirectory in the medium. Claims 1 to 5
A digital copying machine according to any one of 1.