JPH08248817A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To merge a plurality of functions including a digital copying function, a printer function, etc., so as to allow high-speed copying and reduce costs by sharing a memory between a digital copying machine and a printer. CONSTITUTION: Scanned image data from a scanner are inputted to a memory supercharger unit (MSU) 1 connected via a switch 15 and compressed and stored in the MSU 1. Image data from this MSU 1 are outputted to the printer via a switch 11. A printer controller 3 creates form images composed of tables, frames, headings, etc., in a frame buffer 5. These form images are inputted and stored in the MSU 1 via the printer controller 3 and the switch 15. Further, form images and character images created in the frame buffer 5 are OR synthesized by a synthesizing section T via switches 13 and 17 and outputted to the printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a digital copying function and a printer function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses having a plurality of functions such as digital copying machines and printers have been widely provided. First, the digital copying function of such an image forming apparatus will be described. In the case of digital copying using this digital copying function, so-called repeat copying is possible in which a plurality of copies can be repeated by one scan. Also, in order to increase the speed of this repeat copy,
A memory called a so-called memory supercharger unit (hereinafter simply referred to as MSU) is used.

Since this MSU compresses and stores image data and decompresses and outputs it, a large amount of image data can be taken in as compared with the storage capacity. By using this MSU, in the case of repeat copy,
The scan image data obtained in the first scan is compressed and stored, and the first copy is made.
The second and subsequent copies can be performed based on the scan image data obtained by the first scan stored in this MSU. This makes it possible to perform repeat copying at high speed without scanning when copying the second and subsequent sheets.

On the other hand, the printer function, especially the page printer, has a so-called page overlay function. In this page overlay, form images such as frames and headings of print data are stored in memory in advance,
If necessary, the function is to overlap the form images such as frames and headings with the image data containing information such as numbers and characters, that is, perform OR synthesis and print on a recording medium such as paper. With this page overlay function, common items such as frames and headings are transferred to the printer page by page.
There is no need to redraw, and the speed can be increased accordingly.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the structure and operation of a conventional image forming apparatus having a digital copying function and a printer function will be described. In FIG. 4, the printer controller 103 includes a frame buffer 105 that creates a normal print image, and a form memory 109 that stores image data related to forms such as frames and headings.
When synthesizing the form data, the image data is OR-synthesized by the synthesizing unit 107, and printing is performed by the printer via the switch 113. At this time, the form memory 109 needs a considerable capacity to store the image data.

Further, when performing repeat copy using the MSU 101, the switches 111 and 113 are turned on to the scanner side in the first copy of the first sheet, and the scan image data read by the scanner is directly output to the printer. , The copy is done. At this time, this image data is also output to the MSU 101, image-compressed and stored in the MSU 101. For the second and subsequent sheets, the switch 111 is turned on to the MSU side, and the accumulated image data is decompressed and output to the printer. Since the decompression speed at this time is much higher than the scanning speed, high-speed repeat copying is possible.

However, when such an image forming apparatus is actually used, in the case of high-speed repeat copying, for example, form printing is not performed by the page overlay function, and in the case of form printing, high-speed repeat copying is performed. There is no copying. In other words, both require high speed and require the maximum speed performance of the printer.
This is because a combination that deteriorates performance is usually impossible. However, the conventional image forming apparatus described above has a large-capacity memory for both the digital copying machine and the printer,
Therefore, it was a factor of cost increase.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and when combining a plurality of functions such as a digital copying function and a printer function, a memory is shared between the digital copying machine and the printer. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of high-speed copying and cost reduction.

[0009]

According to the present invention to achieve the above object, a digital copy capable of storing a scan image obtained by scanning in a storage medium and making a copy based on the image stored in the storage medium. It is characterized by having a function and a printer function capable of storing a previously formed form image in the storage medium, and printing by superimposing character data and the like on the form image stored in the storage medium. One embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the storage means selectively stores one of a scan image and a form image. 1 of the present invention
In a preferred embodiment, the storage means compresses and stores the scan image or the form image, and decompresses and outputs the compressed or stored image.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the image forming apparatus is a multifunction machine in which a plurality of functions including a digital copying function and a printer function are integrated.
Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, one of the digital copying function and the printer function is a facsimile function.

[0010]

The image forming apparatus of the present invention stores the scan image obtained by the scan in the storage medium when performing the copy, particularly the repeat copy, by the digital copy function,
Copying is performed based on the image stored in this storage medium. Further, when a so-called page overlay is performed by the printer function, a form image formed in advance is stored in the storage medium, and the form image stored in the storage medium is printed by superimposing character data and the like. .

As a result, the scan image obtained by the scan and the form image formed in advance by the printer controller, the frame buffer, etc. can be stored in the same storage means, and the memory can be saved. High-speed copying is possible and the cost is reduced.

Further, for example, repeat copy and page overlay are not performed at the same time, so either one of the scan image and the form image is alternatively stored in the storage means, and the memory capacity can be saved.

Further, the storage means can save the memory capacity required by compressing the scan image or the form image when storing. In addition, when outputting, this is expanded and output.

Further, since the image forming apparatus is a multi-function machine in which a plurality of functions including a digital copying function and a printer function are integrated into one, it is excellent in convenience.

Further, one of the digital copying function and the printer function is a facsimile function.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Scanners and printers are the first
The switch 11, the second switch 13, and the combining unit 7 are connected. The scan image data from the scanner is connected to the MS via the third switch 15.
Input to U (memory supercharger unit) 1. The input scan image data is compressed and stored in the MSU 1. The image data stored in the MSU 1 is decompressed to the original data and output. Further, the image data from the MSU 1 is output to the printer via the first switch 11. The scanner is connected to the printer controller 3 via the first switch 11, and the printer controller 3
Is connected to the frame buffer 5, and is also connected to the printer via the fourth switch 17 and the combining unit 7.

Further, the printer controller 3 creates a form image consisting of a table, a frame, a headline, etc. in the frame buffer 5 in accordance with the designation of data from the host computer or the like, and, corresponding to this form image, characters, numerical values, etc. Create a character image consisting of data. The form image created by the frame buffer 5 is input to the MSU 1 connected via the printer controller 3 and the third switch 15 and accumulated. Further, the form image and the character image created in the frame buffer 5 are OR-combined by the compositing unit 7 via the second switch 13 and the fourth switch 17, respectively, and output to the printer, as described later.

That is, in this embodiment, the form memory used in the conventional example shown in FIG. 4 is deleted, and the position of the combining unit is changed to a position where the image data from the scanner and the printer controller 3 can be combined. Further, a third switch 15 for switching the flow of image data is added.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, form data is converted into M
Flow of image data to be stored in SU1 (in the figure,
It is indicated by a thick line. The same applies to FIG. 3 below. ) Will be described.
First, the printer controller 3 creates a form image in the frame buffer 5 in accordance with designation of data from a host device such as a host computer (not shown) or an input device such as a keyboard. Next, the third switch 1
5 is switched to the printer controller 3 side, and the form image created in the frame buffer 5 is output to the MSU 1. MSU1 compresses and stores this form image.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of image data when performing form overlay printing. The printer controller 3 creates image data of character or numerical data in the frame buffer 5 according to the data input in the same manner as described above. When this creation is completed, switch the first switch 11 to the MS
It is turned on to the U1 side, the second switch 13 is turned on, the third switch 15 is turned on to the scanner side, and the fourth switch 1 is turned on.
7 is turned on to the printer controller 3 side. As a result, the form image from the MSU 1 is output to the synthesizing unit 7 via the first switch 11 and the second switch 13, and in synchronization with this, the image data from the printer controller 3 is output to the fourth switch 17. Is output to the combining unit 7 via. The synthesis unit 7 ORs these images.
The composite data is output to the printer, and the printer performs form overlay printing on paper or the like.

Next, the case of performing high speed repeat copy will be described. First, the first scan is performed in order to copy the first sheet. At this time, the first switch 1
The first and second switches 13 are turned on to the scanner side, and the third switch
The switch 15 is turned on and the fourth switch 17 is turned off. Therefore, the scan image data obtained by the scanner is the first switch 11 and the second switch 13.
And output to the printer as it is via the combining unit 7,
A copy is made. At this time, the scan image data is also output to the MSU 1 via the third switch 15, and is image-compressed and stored in the MSU 1.

Next, when performing the repeat copy of the second sheet, the first switch 11 is turned on to the MSU 1 side, and the second switch 13 is turned to the scanner side. This allows
The image data that has been image-compressed and stored in the MSU 1 is decompressed and output to the printer via the first switch 11, the second switch 13, and the combining unit 7. In the same manner, the repeat copying can be continuously performed at high speed for the third sheet, the fourth sheet ...

In the above embodiment, the case of the digital copying function and the printer function has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one of the digital copying function and the printer function is a facsimile function. It goes without saying that the same applies even if there is.

[0024]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the memory is shared between the digital copying machine and the printer, the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration example of an image signal changeover switch of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a flow of image data for fetching form data from a printer controller into an MSU in the block diagram shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flow of image data when the form data in the MSU and the image data of the printer in the block diagram shown in FIG. 1 are combined.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional image signal changeover switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Memory Supercharger Unit (MS
U), 3 printer controller, 5 frame buffer, 7 composition section, 11 first switch, 13 second switch, 15 third switch, 17 fourth switch.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A digital copy function capable of storing a scan image obtained by scanning in a storage medium and performing copying based on the image stored in the storage medium, and a form image formed in advance in the storage medium. Remember
An image forming apparatus, comprising: a printer function capable of superposing character data and the like on a form image stored in the storage medium and printing. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit selectively stores either one of the scan image and the form image. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit compresses and stores the scan image or the form image, and decompresses and outputs the compressed or stored image.