JPH08332745A - Copy printer and copy printing and reading apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a copy printer performing repeated copy at a high speed by utilizing the printing interface part added to a copier of inexpensive constitution. CONSTITUTION: In an image processing and printing part 20, a color correction part is loaded with table data of yellow Y. A scanner 11 performs the scanning of a manuscript 7 and the image processing and printing part 20 performs intermediate resolving power conversion processing to scanning data to store the processing data in the DRAM 33 of an interface part 30. The scanner 11 returns to the home position and the image processing and printing part 20 reads data corresponding to one line from the DRAM 33 to once store the same in a line buffer 13 and reads the same three times in an x-direction to form image data corresponding to one line in a main scanning direction to convert the same to the resolving power of a printing system to supply the same to a thermal head 20-11. This operation is repeated in a sub-scanning direction. The reading from the DRAM 33 and printing processing are further repeated to print 3×3 'a'. This operation is also performed with respect to magenta M and cyan C.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying / printing / reading apparatus, and more particularly, in a copying / printing / reading apparatus having an input / output buffer for a host device, the read information written in the input / output buffer is repeatedly read and repeatedly printed. Read / copy printing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a printing apparatus that repeatedly copies (repeat prints) a plurality of one image on the same recording paper. This is, for example, printing a desired image on one sheet of recording paper configured by arranging a large number of small-sized sheets corresponding to unit images, and printing one small-sized sheet from the recording sheet. It is peeled off and used as a seal.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of procedures for reading, editing, and printing image data in the case of performing such printing. The procedure shown in this figure is an example in the case where the printing apparatus has a frame memory having a sufficient capacity. In a printing apparatus having a frame memory having a sufficient capacity as described above, when image 1 (unit image) of a document is read by the reading unit as shown in the figure, after the image data is accumulated in the temporary storage memory, The same image data is repeatedly read from this temporary storage memory, and this image data is written in the frame memory 2. Each time this unit image data is written, the unit image is sequentially developed in the frame memory 2 while changing the address of the frame memory 2 so as to correspond to the label arrangement on the image receiving paper 3. Then, when a plurality of unit images for one page are expanded (in the example shown in the figure, 5 × 4 vertically and horizontally).
However, the method of printing after image data for one page of the image receiving paper is completely developed in the frame memory in this way, especially in the case of full color printing, the recording data amount is extremely large. Therefore, the required frame memory becomes large in capacity. Therefore, there is a problem that the cost of parts increases and the product price increases as a whole. Moreover, not only that, but for the editing work for expanding the unit image data to the frame memory in accordance with the number of stickers on the image receiving paper, it is required to dispose an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) having a large processing capacity involved in the editing work.
That is, there is also a hardware and software design problem that the central processing unit is overloaded.

Therefore, as a means for solving these problems, a thermal transfer type full-color copying machine having no frame memory and having an inexpensive structure is known. FIG.
It is a figure explaining the procedure to the reading, edit, and printing of image data in the printing apparatus of the structure which saved such a frame memory. In a printing apparatus that does not have such a frame memory, as shown in the figure, while reading the image 1 by the reading unit, the image data for one line is sequentially stored in the line buffer, and this is stored in the line buffer. Only a plurality of times (4 times in the example in the figure) are repeatedly read and supplied to the printing unit 4 to perform printing. This read,
Editing and printing are repeated a plurality of times (four times in the example of the drawing) for the number of image repetitions in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the construction of a thermal transfer type full-color copying machine which is such a printing apparatus. As shown in the figure, the conventional full-color copying machine comprises an image reading section 5 and an image processing printing section 6. The image reading unit 5 shown in the figure includes a scanner 5-1, a quantization shading correction unit 5-2, and a line buffer 5-3, and image processing prints the image data read from the document 7 by the scanner 5-1. Output to the unit 6. The image processing printing unit 6
Density conversion unit 6-1, γ correction unit 6-2, data conversion unit 6-
3, magnification conversion unit 6-4, color correction unit 6-5, screen angle processing unit 6-6, line buffer 6-7, thermal history correction unit 6
-8 and a thermal head 6-9 are connected in series. The output of the line buffer 5-3 of the image reading unit 5 is input to the density conversion unit 6-1 of the image processing printing unit 6. The image processing printing unit 6 applies a density conversion unit 6-1, a γ correction unit 6-2, a data conversion unit 6-3, a magnification conversion unit 6-4, and a color correction unit 6-5 to the input image data. The screen angle processing unit 6-6, the line buffer 6-7, and the thermal history correction unit 6-8 perform predetermined processing to drive the thermal head 6-9 to repeatedly copy a full-color image on the image receiving paper 8.

FIGS. 15 (a), 15 (b), and 15 (c) are diagrams for explaining the operating state of the full-color copying machine having the above-mentioned configuration. Same figure
(a), (b) and (c) show the printing operation state shown in the procedure of Fig. 13 (a), (b) and (c) when four labels are placed on one page of the image receiving paper. The case is shown as an example. As shown in FIG. 15A, in the case of copying 2 × 2 images “a”,
First, before the recording of the printing surface of Y (yellow) is started, the table data of Y (yellow) is loaded into the LUT (look up table) of the color correction unit 6-5. Then scanner 5
-1 starts reading scanning of the image 1 of the document 7 from the top to the bottom of the image 1 indicated by the arrow A in the figure.
At the same time, the image processing printing unit 6 repeatedly reads out data for one line from the line buffer 5-3 twice, performs image processing, and stores the same image data read out twice in the line buffer 6-7. Then, this image data is transferred to the thermal head 6-9 via the thermal history correction unit 6-8.
Output to. Based on this, the thermal head 6-9 prints out (prints) on the image receiving paper 8. Thermal head 6
-8 is moving relative to the image receiving paper 8 from the upper side to the lower side as shown by an arrow B in the drawing scanning, that is, when the thermal head 6-9 is fixed, While 8 moves (transports) from the bottom to the top,
The above printing is sequentially repeated to record two "a" s.

Subsequently, the image processing printing unit 6 stops (pauses) and waits for the next printing start for the moving section indicated by the distance C in the figure to the printing start position of the next label, while the scanner 5 -1 returns to the initial print position (home position) as shown in FIG. Then, again, as shown by the arrow E in FIG. 6C, the reading scan is started from the top to the bottom of the image 1. The image processing printing unit 6 also restarts (restarts) printing as shown by arrow F in the figure, and in the same manner as in the case of FIG. Copy (print).

Thereafter, the same processing as described above is repeated in the order of M (magenta) and C (cyan) to generate a full-color copy of the read image. As described above, when the capacity of the memory for storing the image data is extremely small, the image is repeatedly formed on the image receiving sheet by scanning the original document a plurality of times and controlling the feeding of the image receiving sheet corresponding thereto.

[0009]

However, the above-described printing apparatus having no frame memory has the advantage that the memory for editing and the specially configured hardware are unnecessary on the one hand, but on the other hand, It has a drawback that the printing time becomes long because the document reading scanning is required a plurality of times. Not only that, but it is necessary to stop and convey the image receiving paper and the ink ribbon a plurality of times during the printing of one color. It had a problem of being extremely difficult to control.

An object of the present invention is to provide a full-color copying and printing apparatus which has a copying function of repeatedly recording a plurality of original images, which has a small and inexpensive structure without a frame memory and an editing function, and a host device. Another object of the present invention is to provide a full-color copying / printing / reading device capable of transmitting read data.

[0011]

The structure and function of the copying and printing apparatus and the copying and printing reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a copying function of printing the data read by the reading device with the printing unit in the printing unit, and a printing function of printing the data in the printing unit based on the printing information input from the host device. It is assumed to be a copy printer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a copy printing apparatus including: a reception buffer memory for receiving the print information; a writing unit for storing the read data by the reading apparatus in the reception buffer memory; and a writing unit. The reading data stored in the reception buffer memory is repeatedly read a plurality of times, and the printing data read repeatedly by the reading device is combined on one sheet of paper to print. Consists of

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a copying function of printing data obtained by reading an original by a reading device in a printing unit, a printing function of printing in the printing unit based on print information input from a higher-level device, and the reading of the data. It is applied to a copying / printing / reading apparatus having a reading function for transmitting data to the above-mentioned higher-level equipment.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a copy print reading apparatus, a transmission / reception buffer memory for receiving the print information or transmitting the read data, and an image processing unit for image-processing the read data of the reading apparatus. Writing means for storing the data processed by the image processing section in the transmission / reception buffer memory, read control means for reading the data stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory and executing the processing in the image processing section, A printing unit that performs a printing process based on the processing result of the image processing unit, a reading unit that repeatedly reads the data stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory a plurality of times, and one sheet of data that is repeatedly read by the reading unit. And a print control unit for printing on the paper.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a copying / printing / reading apparatus according to an embodiment. In the figure, the copying / printing / reading apparatus transmits / receives to / from an image reading unit 10 that reads an image from a document 7, an image processing printing unit 20 that processes and prints the read image data, and a higher-level device (host device). The interface unit 30 of FIG.

The scanner 11 of the image reading unit 10 is a CCD
(A solid-state image sensor, a photoelectric conversion element) and the like, which are not particularly shown, but a first sensor that outputs a red (r) spectral signal, a second sensor that outputs a green (g) spectral signal, and A third sensor that outputs a blue (b) spectral signal is formed in one chip (one chip). The scanner 11
The first to third sensors perform exposure scanning with the optical image of the original 7 and output the analog three-color spectral signals r, g, and b obtained by photoelectric conversion to the quantization shading correction unit 12. The number of photoelectric conversion elements of each sensor is
The number of pixels corresponding to the maximum number of pixels (the number of dots) required to read the standard-size document 7 in its full width is formed in one line. The sensors are formed at intervals of several lines (e.g., 8 lines) in terms of the number of reading scans due to manufacturing problems. In this way, the scanner 11
Since there is an interval of 8 lines between the sensors, the spectral signals r, g, and b of the same scanning line are output from the leading sensor, for example, the spectral signal b output by the subsequent intermediate sensor. g is output with a delay of the above 8 lines in time, and the subsequent spectroscopic signal r output by the rear sensor is output after a further delay of 8 lines (16 lines with respect to the output of the leading sensor). It

The quantized shading correction unit 12 digitizes the three-color separated signal (spectral signal) of the analog signal input from the scanner 11 by A / D conversion into a digitized signal R (red). ), G (green) and B (blue). Generally, the original reading signal input from the scanner 11 has a small output in the peripheral portion compared to the central portion due to the unevenness of the illuminance of the light source that generates an optical image of the original and the characteristics of the developing system such as the optical system lens, and the density is not uniform. It is uniform. In addition, uneven output occurs due to variations in the sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion element. Quantization shading correction unit 12
Corrects the uneven brightness (shading) to a uniform output characteristic, and
The color separation signals R, G, and B are output to the line buffer 13.

The line buffer 13 outputs the above-mentioned spectral signals R and G in order to output the synchronized spectral signals of three colors which are required for the processing in the image processing printing section 20 which will be described later.
And B, the delays of several lines are corrected to generate the spectral signals R, G, and B of the same scanning line, and the image processing printing unit 20
Output to.

Now, the relationship between the capacity of the line buffer 13 and the scanner 11 described above will be described. First, the resolution of each of the above-mentioned first to third sensors of the scanner 11 is set to 4
If it is 00 dpi (dots / inch), the number of read pixels for one main scanning line for reading the standard size (letter size) document 7 in the width direction is 3,400 dots. Further, when the optical image exposed by the above-mentioned front sensor (B) comes to the position of the rear sensor (R), the front sensor (B) corresponding to this read data of the rear sensor (R)
To synchronize (retrieve) the read data of
The read data for the past 16 lines of the leading sensor (B) which is preceded by 16 lines in scanning must be held in the line buffer 13. That is, a buffer memory for 16 lines is required. Similarly, in order to synchronize the read data of the rear sensor (R) with the read data of the corresponding intermediate sensor (G),
The past 8 of the intermediate sensor (G) where scanning is preceded by 8 lines
The read data for the lines must be held in the line buffer 13. That is, a buffer memory for 8 lines is required. Then, the leading sensor (B),
The process of outputting the read data of one line corresponding to each other of the intermediate sensor (R) and the rear sensor (R) from the line buffer 13 is performed at the read timing of the next one line of each spectral signal. A memory area for lines is further required for each spectral signal.

That is, 17 lines for the read data (spectral signal) of the front sensor (B), 9 lines for the read data of the intermediate sensor (G), and 1 line for the read data of the rear sensor (R). Minute buffer memory is required for each. By the way, in order to process the read data as a parallel signal, an independent line buffer is required for each. However, the memory capacity for one line is 3,400 bytes, the memory capacity for nine lines is 30,600 bytes, and the memory capacity for 17 lines is 57,800 bytes. In recent years, all commercially available memories have large capacities, and it is difficult to obtain commercially available memories matching the above capacities. Therefore, for example, each of the above-mentioned buffer memories has one
It is uneconomical to use M (1,000,000 bytes) memory.

By the way, the line buffer requires a memory (capacity) area for 27 lines when the minimum required memory capacity for each of the above-mentioned spectral signals is summed up. Therefore, 27 (the minimum number of lines that need to be stored) x 34
00 (the number of dots in one line) = a capacity corresponding to 91800 dots of data is required. If the data amount of 1 dot is 1 byte, this is about 90K (kilo) bytes.

In this embodiment, as will be described later in detail, the read signal is serially processed, and a memory having a minimum capacity is used as the line buffer 13.
No. 3 has no frame memory, the processing speeds of the image reading unit 10 and the image processing printing unit 20 are synchronized, and the scanning is performed three times for the original 7 (one scanning for each color) to obtain Y, Repeat recording of full color at low cost by recording on M and C sides (copying to a large number of labels)
I'm trying to do.

As shown in the figure, the output of the line buffer 13 is directly output from the density conversion unit 2 of the image processing printing unit 20.
0-2, which reduces the load on the engine MPU (central processing unit of the print execution unit). A decoder 20-1 is provided on the bus 40 for the signal B (blue) between the line buffer 13 and the density conversion section 20-2 of the image processing printing section 20. The present invention is not limited to this, and may be another signal R (red) bus or signal G (green) bus.

The decoder 20-1 described above is used for the line buffer 1 in the copy mode in which repeated copying or simple copying is performed.
In the print mode in which the data (signal B (blue)) input from No. 3 is simply passed to the density conversion unit 20-2 and the data input from the host device is printed, the line buffer 13
The compressed data input via the is decoded (decompressed) and output to the density conversion unit 20-2.

The density conversion unit 20-2 performs logarithmic conversion on the values of the spectral signals (luminance information) R, G, and B directly input from the line buffer 13 or via the decoder 20-1 to obtain density information. Gradation data Dr, Dg, and D
A process of converting to a value of b (D: Density) is performed.

The γ correction section 20-3 inputs / outputs gradation characteristics relating to contrast and brightness to the inputted gradation data Dr, Dg, and Db (relative numerical relationship of output level to input level). ) According to the data correction. In this data correction, in the copy mode in which the original 7 is scanned and the thermal head 20-11 prints on the image receiving paper 8, the thermal head 20-11 is corrected, while the original 7 is scanned to scan the host device. In the scanner mode for displaying on the display, the image reading unit 1
Correction for 0 is performed.

The data conversion section 20-4 has a γ correction section 20-.
The γ-corrected grayscale data Dr, Dg, and Db input from 3 are first converted into luminance information and color information using a predetermined function based on the information of the other two colors for each color, and then From the brightness information and the color information, the density information Y corresponding to the color material
(Yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan). For this conversion processing, read data for the other two colors that are synchronized as described above is required for each color. The data converter 20-4 outputs the converted density information Y, M, and C to the magnification converter 20-5.

The magnification conversion section 20-5 has the density information Y,
The resolution of the square lattice array of the reading system of M and C (400 × 400 dpi in this example), and the resolution of the staggered lattice array of the recording system (thermal head 20-11) described later (150 × 600 dpi in this example). ) And outputs it to the color correction unit 20-6.

The color correction unit 20-6 uses correction function data registered / stored in a LUT (Look Up Table) (not shown) so as to faithfully reproduce the color corresponding to the input source of the image information. Based on this, the density information input from the magnification conversion unit 20-5 is corrected. In this correction, in the case of a copy mode in which image data input from the scanner 11 is printed (printed), or in a print mode in which printing is performed based on print information input from a host device described later, or an image read by the scanner 11 The density information is corrected using a correction function (table) corresponding to each case such as a reading mode for outputting data to the host device. The color correction unit 20-6 sequentially outputs the corrected surface density signal Y ', M'or C'to the line buffer 20-7.

In the copy mode, the line buffer 20-7 inputs the output from the color correction unit 20-6 and outputs the input to the screen angle processing unit 20-8. On the other hand,
In the read mode in which read data is output to the host device, the input is output to the host device via the interface 50 and the interface unit 30.

The screen angle processing section 20-8 is a ripple pattern of the printing result expressed by a set of Y (yellow) dots, M (magenta) dots and C (cyan) dots in printing by the thermal head 20-11 in the subsequent stage. In order to prevent the interference fringe (moiré) phenomenon, a process of giving a predetermined angle to the continuous array of the printing positions of the dots of each color is performed and output to the line buffer 20-9.

Generally, in full-color printing in which a full-color image is printed with a set of dots of three colors or four colors (including Bk (black)), a printing process is performed three or four times for each color, such as an image receiving paper. However, it is not possible to match the recording points of each color without dimensional difference, especially when the resolution becomes high. The above-mentioned ripple-shaped interference fringe pattern (moiré fringe) is generated in the image. The process performed by the screen angle processing unit 20-8 to give a predetermined angle to a continuous array of print positions of dots of each color is a screen used in halftone dot printing in order to prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned moire fringes. The angle adjustment technique is applied to this embodiment, and more specifically, it is a process of forming an apparent screen angle with a matrix of 2 × 2 dots described later.

The thermal history correction unit 20-10 reads the screen angle processed surface density signals Y ', M'or C'written in the line buffer 20-9 for each main scanning line to correct the thermal history. Thermal head 20-11
Output to. Generally, when the thermal head of the printing unit is driven at a certain printing instant, residual heat corresponding to the immediately preceding driving state remains at the next printing instant, which affects the printing density at that time. This also affects the driving history of adjacent heating elements as well as the same heating element. Therefore, in order to print a certain print point with an accurate density corresponding to the original print information, each heating element of the thermal head is driven by a driving force that takes into account the amount of heat remaining due to the print operation (print data) at the previous print point. Drive must be controlled. The thermal history correction unit 20-10 described above corrects print data for drive control thereof.

The thermal head 20-11 is a print head having substantially the same width as the width of the image receiving paper, and is in the main scanning direction (image receiving paper 4
2 in the width direction) (in this example, a combination of the maximum number of main scanning dots in the sub-scanning direction and the number of main scanning dots in the sub-scanning direction). It has the same number of printing elements (heating elements). Then, the heat of these printing elements transfers the ink of the ink ribbon (not shown) onto the image receiving paper 8 to reproduce (copy) the image read from the original 7 on the image receiving paper 8. Alternatively, the printing is performed based on the printing upper side input from the host device.

The above ink ribbon is used for the thermal head 2.
It is a wide and long ink ribbon having a width almost the same as that of the image receiving paper 8 corresponding to 0-11, and Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) inks are sequentially printed on the base film. Is formed by being arranged and applied to the ink ribbon cassette, held by an ink ribbon cassette or the like, and supplied to the printing unit.

Next, the interface section 30 will be described. The interface unit 30 is originally a simple copying machine including the image reading unit 10 and the image processing printing unit 20 and has a host-based printer function (print processing function based on print information from the host device in the print mode). ) And a scanner emulation function (a data transmission function to a host device in the reading mode). In this embodiment, a relatively small-scale interface is used for the interface unit 30, and a small size repetitive printing function in the copy mode is realized at high speed by using the DRAM of the interface unit 30 described later. Is.

In the figure, the interface section 30 is
MPU (microprocessor unit) 31 and its M
ROM (Read-Only-Memory) 3 connected to PU31
2. DRAM (Dynamic RAM, RAM: Random-A
ccess-Memory) 33, system RAM 34, system controller 35, external I / O (input / output device) 36, and internal I
/ O37.

The ROM 32 stores a program for operating the interface section 30 in cooperation with an external host device, and the MPU 31 controls each section based on the program read from the ROM 32.

The DRAM 33 temporarily stores the image data read and scanned by the scanner 11 as bitmap data, and also temporarily stores the compressed print information input from the host device via the external I / O 36. It is provided as a small-capacity transmission / reception buffer that stores
For example, it has a capacity of 512 Kbytes. This 51
The capacity of 2K bytes is full color and the resolution is 300dp.
i, the standard size of the image receiving paper 7 is A4 size, and the data amount for one page is “about 24 M (mega) bytes” when the data of 24 bits is composed of 3 colors per dot. And a small one. However, it has the maximum capacity in the apparatus as a full-color copying machine without a frame memory.

In this embodiment, the DRAM 33 is used in the copy mode. In addition, this small capacity DRAM3
In order to make effective use of No. 3, resolution conversion is performed in two steps in the image processing printing unit 20 as described later.

The system RAM 34 is composed of an area or the like which is temporarily used as a work area by the MPU 31 and the system controller 35. The system control unit 35 uses the MP
Under the control of U31, print information from the host device or read / scanned image data is loaded / unloaded to / from the DRAM 33, and a printer engine of an external circuit is driven to execute printing.

The external I / O 36 is an interface capable of high-speed bidirectional communication such as SCSI and bidirectional parallel I / F, and outputs the image signal read and scanned by the scanner 11 to the host device in the reading mode. Then, in the print mode, the print information transmitted from the host device is input.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the internal configuration of the line buffer 13. As shown in the figure, the line buffer 13 includes a first selector 13a and a second selector 13
b, memory (SRAM) 13c, latches 13d, 13
e and 13f. The 8-bit read signals R, G, and B input from the above-described quantization shading correction unit 12 are input to the input terminals a1, b1, and c1 of the first selector 13, respectively. These read signals R, G, and B are sent to the first selector 13a.
The control signals A and B input from a control unit (not shown) to the control terminal of
The signal is output from the output terminal Y of the selector 13 to one input terminal a2 of the second selector 13b. The output of the interface I / O 50 is supplied to the other input terminal b2 of the second selector 13b.

When the input to the control signal input terminal s of the second selector 13b is "0", the input data from the first selector 13a input to the input terminal a2 is selected,
When the input to the input terminal s is "1", the input data from the interface I / O 50 input to the input terminal b2 is selected. These selected input data are serially output from the output terminal y only when the control signal input to the other control signal input terminal G is "1".

As described above, the memory 13c needs to have a capacity of about 90 Kbytes. In this example, a 1 Mbit SRAM of 128 kw × 8 bit configuration is used in consideration of other configurations. This is equivalent to 38 lines when one line is 3800 dots, and is a capacity obtained by adding 11 lines to 27 lines required for synchronizing the spectral signals of the three colors. . This indicates that there is a margin to allocate three lines to each of the three color spectral signals. That is, it is shown that these three lines can be combined with one line for the above-mentioned read timing to read and store four lines of read data.

The y output of the second selector 13b is connected to the input / output terminal I / O of the memory 13c. Memory 13
Writing and reading of c are controlled by an address signal ADR, a write inversion signal WE, and a read inversion signal OE, which are respectively input from the three control signal input terminals. As a result, it is possible to write the three-color spectral signal in the area divided into addresses for each of the three-color spectral signals, and to address the lines that synchronize with each of these spectral signals to extract the synchronization signal.

The data serially read from the memory 13c is restored to parallel signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by the latches 13d, 13e, and 13f.

In this embodiment, the memory 1
Since the configuration of 3c is a serial configuration, three independent memory arrangements of 1 line for signal R, 9 lines for signal G, and 17 lines for signal B, which are inevitable in the parallel configuration, are provided. By avoiding this, the function in the copy mode is realized at low cost. In addition, the single memory configuration makes it easy to use as a reception buffer in the print mode in which serial print information is received from the host device and print processing is performed. In the copy mode, the second selector 13
The control S input to b is “0”, and the read signals R, G, and B input from the scanner 11 via the quantization shading correction unit 12 are captured. On the other hand, in the print mode, the control S input to the second selector 13b is "1", and the print data from the host device is input via the interface unit 30 and the interface I / O 50 and stored in the memory 13c. Written. The print data to be written is, for example, a byte run length compression system code.

Next, FIG. 3A shows an array of pixels (read dots) of the image read by the scanner 11 as described above, and FIG. 3B shows the thermal head 20-11 as described above. An array of pixels (print dots) of an image to be printed is shown.

The arrow H in FIG. 7A indicates the main scanning direction of the read dot, and the arrow J indicates the sub scanning direction of the read dot. The arrangement interval (pitch) PT of the read dots 11-1 in the main scanning direction corresponds to the scanner 1 corresponding to the optical image of the original 7.
1 is the arrangement interval of the sensors (photoelectric conversion elements), and the pitch PT between the read dots 11-1 and 11-2 in the sub-scanning direction.
Is determined by the relative scanning movement distance between the optical image of the original 7 and the scanner 11. In this way, the read dots 11-1,
The vertical and horizontal arrays 11-2 have a pitch PT in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and adjacent read dots form a square, and form a square lattice-like array as a whole.
As a result, the original 7 is 400 dp vertically and horizontally.
i resolution is realized.

Corresponding thermal head 20-11
In the print dot array by, as shown in (b) of the figure,
Adjacent print dots form a triangle, forming a staggered array as a whole. That is, in this embodiment, the basic fixed resolution of the thermal head 20-11, that is, the arrangement interval of the heating elements is set as the pitch DT, and printing is performed at the printing pitch of "DT x 2" in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow K in the drawing. Printing is performed at a printing pitch of "DT x 1/2" in the sub-scanning direction indicated by arrow L. As a result, 150 dp in the main scanning direction
The resolution of i and the resolution of 600 dpi in the sub-scanning direction are obtained. The arrangement of the print dots in the zigzag pattern is such that the image receiving paper 8 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction (paper conveyance in the direction indicated by the arrow M in the drawing) DT × 1 for each main scanning line.
In addition to feeding at a feeding pitch of / 2, the first, third, fifth, ... heating in the main-scan printing becomes the first, third, fifth, ... odd-numbered in the sub-scanning direction. The elements are controlled to generate heat, and the second, fourth, ...
It is realized by controlling the heat generation of the heating element. Same figure
The print dots 21a, 21b, 21c, etc. shown in (b) indicate the arrangement of print dots in the main scanning direction that is the first (odd number) in the sub scanning direction (hereinafter referred to as odd dots).
Further, the print dots 22a, 22b, 22c, etc. indicate an array of print dots in the main scanning direction that is the second (even number) in the sub scanning direction (hereinafter referred to as even dots).

In the printing method in which the printing dots are arranged in a zigzag pattern, odd-numbered dots and even-numbered dots are alternately arranged with respect to the heating elements of the thermal head 20-11, that is, the heating elements. Since the thermal control is alternately performed for every other dot, it has been confirmed that it is effective in controlling the influence of thermal interference of the adjacent dots when performing the energy control of the print dots of the intermediate density level.

Further, usually, data conversion such as magnification and coordinates in the printer is processed by an integer ratio like the data processing based on the square dot array. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the main / sub scanning line ratio is set to "D".
By setting "T": "DT x 1/2", that is, "1": "1/2", it is possible to easily deal with integer ratio processing. This has the advantage that interpolation is easy in the process of data conversion and information deterioration of data does not occur. However, even with this zigzag arrangement, if the printing is performed by controlling the density of each print dot, the above-mentioned moire fringes occur.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are views for explaining a method of forming an apparent screen angle in order to prevent the occurrence of the above-mentioned moire fringes. FIG. 3 (b) described above or this FIG.
Focusing on one print dot, the print screen in the thermal transfer method shown in (a) shows that when the energy applied to the heating element is small, the print dot is small, for example, as shown by the black circle in FIG. As the size increases, the print dots also increase in size in concentric circles. The ink density of the print dot itself is always the highest value regardless of the size of the print dot and does not become darker than that. The light and shade (gradation) of the image is the same as the above-mentioned print dot size (ink area). Expressed by change.

In the present embodiment, when the gradation of the print image is expressed by the change of the area of the print dot as described above, it does not depend on the change of the size of each print dot as described above but a plurality of print dots. Print dots are grouped, and this one group is set as a new pixel (in order to avoid confusion, unit pixels are hereinafter referred to as print dots, and these print dots are grouped into a matrix).
Gradation control is performed by distributing effective (coloring) print dots in the matrix using the matrix as a gradation expression unit.

FIG. 4A shows a 2 × matrix used in the staggered print dot array of this embodiment.
The basic configuration of 2 dots is shown. In the figure (a),
Each of the basic matrices 24, 25, 26 and 27 is composed of four print dots, and each four print dots form a parallelogram. The acceptance of the density of each print dot in these matrices is set in advance.

FIG. 6B shows the acceptance of the density of each print dot in the matrix. In this example, the order in which the four print dots are responsible for the density in the matrix is the second dot in the counterclockwise direction with the upper right dot as the first dot.
The third dot and the fourth dot are set. Each of these four print dots forming the matrix is responsible for 25% of the total density level at any one of the density levels of 0% to 100%, and the first dot described above is 0%. 25%, the second dot is 26-50%,
The third dot is 51-75%, and the fourth dot is 71-75%
It is responsible for 100% level of concentration.

In FIG. 6C, the first dot in the matrix is shown by a black circle. This shows the case where this matrix expresses the density of 10%, and shows the spread area of the ink of the first dot which shares the density expression in this case. The double circle outside the black circle of the first dot indicates the spread of the ink surface when the inner circle frame has a density of 20%, and the spread of the ink surface when the outer circle frame has a density of 25%. There is. As described above, the ink surface at 25% is the maximum density of the first dot (the same applies to the other three print dots). Following this, the second dot changes from 1% to 25% from the density of 26% to 25% of the first dot.
A density of 26% to 50% of the entire matrix is expressed together with the density of. Similarly, the third dot expresses a density of 51 to 75%, and the fourth dot expresses a density of 71 to 100%. In this embodiment, 64 gradations (25% of the entire matrix) are expressed in each of the print dots, and 64 × 4 gradations, that is, 256 gradations are generated.

Of the matrices shown in FIG. 7A, the basic matrices 24 and 25 are, so to speak, vertical and horizontal matrices, one of which forms a mirror image of the other. The basic matrices 26 and 27 are, so to speak, flat matrices in the main scanning direction, and in this case also, one forms a mirror image of the other. A straight line (indicated by broken lines 24-1, 25-1, 26-1 and 27-1 in the figure) connecting the odd dots and the even dots of the print dots forming one side of the parallelogram of the matrix is the main scanning direction. In any case, the angle formed by and is defined by the main and sub scanning print dot intervals DT and DT shown in FIG. 3 (b).
It is obtained by the formula “θ = tan ⁻¹ (1/2)” based on × ½, and the angle θ is “26.57” degrees or “−26.5”.
7 "degrees. This angle θ is the basic angle of the matrix in this embodiment.

Based on such a matrix arrangement,
Within a predetermined repeating block set on each of the Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) print screens, the matrix array is arranged in the horizontal direction or the parallel four sides forming the basic angle of the matrix. On the extension of one side of the shape, from left to right rising, or from left to right falling,
Select in either direction. As a result, three types of apparent screen angles are formed in the density expression by the matrix. Screen angle processing unit 20-shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 8 is a circuit for performing the above processing.

Next, the processing operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described below. In the following description, the detailed operation of each part has been described as a function in the configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2, and therefore the outline will be described, and the main operations will be mainly described.

FIG. 5 shows the data flow in the copy mode (simple copy mode) which is the basic function. In the figure, in the configuration of FIG. 1, only the bus through which the data (signal) flows is shown by a thick solid line. As shown in FIG. 5, the color image information r, g, and b of the document 7 read by the scanner 11 at a resolution of 400 × 400 dpi is corrected by the quantization shading correction unit 12 to an appropriate digital value, and then the line It is written in the buffer 13. Spectral signals R, G, and B read from the line buffer 13 in synchronization with the same line (the decoder 20-1 simply passes through).
Are converted into density signals Y, M and C by the density conversion unit 20-2, and the γ correction unit 20-3 and the data conversion unit 20-
After the processing of No. 4, it is input to the magnification conversion unit 20-5. Here, from the reading resolution of 400 × 400 dpi, the recording resolution of the thermal head 20-11 is 150 × 600 d.
The resolution is converted into pi and the result is input to the color correction unit 20-6. The signal Y ′, M ′, or C ′ color-corrected by the color correction unit 20-6 is 2 × 2 in the screen angle processing unit 20-8.
The screen angle generation processing is performed by the matrix conversion, and the result is written in the line buffer 20-9. The data of this line buffer 20-9 is used for the thermal history correction unit 20-
It is output via 10 and drives the thermal head 20-11. As a result, Y (yellow), M on the image receiving paper 8
A print output of (magenta) or C (cyan) plane is obtained. This is repeated three times, whereby a full-color copy in which the three colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) are overlaid is formed on the image receiving paper.
In this way, full-color copying can be realized without a frame memory.

Next, FIG. 6 shows a data flow in the print mode (print mode). This figure also
In the configuration of FIG. 1, only a bus through which data (signal) flows is shown by a thick solid line. In this print mode, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, print information input from the host device to the interface unit 30 via the external I / O 36 is temporarily stored in the DRAM 33, then read from the DRAM 33, and then read via the internal I / O 37 and the interface 50. And is stored in the line buffer 13 of the image reading unit 10. Upon receiving the print information for one line, the line buffer 13 directly outputs the print information to the image processing print unit 20.

In the image processing and printing section 20, an engine start request is output to the engine MPU, and the engine start is confirmed. Then, the print information input from the line buffer 13 is expanded by the decoder 20-1 as necessary. The output from the decoder 20-1 is the density conversion unit 20.
-2, the [gamma] correction unit 20-3, and the data conversion unit 20-4 (passage), and is input to the magnification conversion unit 20-5.

In the magnification conversion unit 20-5, for example, 300 ×
The print information of 300 dpi is displayed on the thermal head 20-11.
Resolution of 150 × 600 dpi and stored in the line buffer 20-7. Subsequent processing in each portion from the screen angle processing unit 20-8 to the thermal head 20-11 is the same as in the above-mentioned copy mode.

As described above, the interface unit 30 having the host-based printing function with a small number of parts connects the external host device and the internal engine unit to realize a low-cost printing function (printing function). be able to.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a data flow in the scanner emulation mode (reading mode). This figure also shows the data (signal) in the configuration of FIG.
Only the bus that flows is shown by a thick solid line. In the scanner emulation mode shown in FIG. 7, the data flow from the reading scan of the original 7 by the scanner 11 of the image reading unit 10 to the input to the density conversion 20-2 of the image processing printing unit 20 is the same as in the copy mode. Is.

In this scanner emulation mode, the γ correction unit 20-3 is provided after the density conversion 20-2.
The .gamma.-correction is not performed for the recording system as in the copy mode, but is performed for the reading system. Then, the data in the internal LUT is replaced as necessary. The γ-corrected density signal is restored to the luminance signals R, G, B by the data conversion unit 20-4,
It is output to the magnification conversion unit 20-5. This output is converted into a predetermined magnification by the magnification conversion unit 20-4, and the color correction unit 20
It is input to the line buffer 20-7 via -6.

This input signal is serially converted by an unillustrated selector in the order of R line, G line, and B line, and stored in the line buffer 20-7. This serial data is buffered in the DRAM 33 of the interface unit 37 via the internal I / O 37 of the interface 50 and the interface unit 30, and transmitted to the device to the external host via the external I / O 36.

The line buffer 1 of the image reading section 10 described above.
Since the capacity of each of the DRAM 3 and the DRAM 33 of the interface unit 30 is small, the scanner 11 is stopped when the data transmission to the host device is not in time. Further, the data at that time is not written in the line buffer 13 and is read and discarded.

As described above, in this embodiment, the scanner emulation mode is executed using the copy function which is the basic function and the small-scale interface unit 30. In this example, color correction processing is hardly performed, and a host-based scanner emulation function is realized with an inexpensive configuration.

Next, the repeat copy mode (repeated copy mode), which is the greatest feature of this embodiment, will be described. In the repeat copy mode, the process is divided into two processes. First, the image data is input (reading scanning), and then the read image data is output (printing on the image receiving paper).

FIG. 8 shows the flow of read image data in the repeat copy mode, and FIG. 9 shows the flow of output image data. In both figures, only the bus through which data (signal) flows in the configuration of FIG. 1 is shown by a thick solid line.

In the read scan in the repeat copy mode, as shown in FIG. 8, the flow of data from the reading section 10 scanner 11 to the line buffer 20-7 of the image processing printing section 20 is the same as that in the copy mode shown in FIG. The same operation as in the case of, but the operation of the subsequent stage from the line buffer 20-7 is different from that in the copy mode.

That is, in the case of this repeat copy mode,
The output signal 28 of the line buffer 20-7 is the internal I / O of the interface 50 and the interface unit 30.
It is stored in the DRAM 33 of the interface unit 30 via 37.

The capacity of the DRAM 33 is set to the above-mentioned 51.
Assuming 2 Kbytes, the size of the manuscript is small, such as business cards, telephone cards, and credit cards (54 x 8 horizontal and vertical).
6 mm), the data amount of the image data to be read out from now on is the thermal head 20-1 in this embodiment.
If the resolution of 1 is converted to 150 dpi in the main scanning direction and 600 dpi in the sub scanning direction, the resolution becomes 632 Kbytes, which is larger than the storage capacity of the DRAM 33 of 512 Kbytes.

In this embodiment, based on the size of the original image, the reading resolution of the sensor and the capacity of the DRAM 33,
An intermediate resolution suitable for the storage capacity of the DRAM 33 is set. The signal is subjected to image processing while being scaled to the intermediate resolution by the scale conversion unit 20-5, and is temporarily stored in the DRAM 33 without performing screen angle processing.

In this way, the image (image data) written in the DRAM 33 is read out in response to a request from the image processing printing section 20 as shown in FIG.
8, a decoder 20-1, a density conversion unit 20-2, a γ correction unit 20-3, and a data conversion unit 2 of the image processing printing unit 20 via the line buffer 13 of the image reading unit 10.
It is again input to the magnification conversion unit 20-5 via 0-4. The signals input to these magnification conversion units 20-5 are
The resolution of the thermal heads 20-11 is converted to 150 dpi in the main scanning direction and 600 dpi in the sub scanning direction. The resolution-converted signal is processed from the color correction unit 20-6 to the thermal head 20-11 in substantially the same manner as in the print mode to perform copy printing.

According to this method, for example, a card size (54 ×
86 mm) image receiving paper, 150 x 600 dpi (632)
(K bytes) can be printed. Further, this method can remove the restriction on the repeat size (size of the unit image). In this case, the resolution decreases as the unit image increases, but the print image decreases as the number of repeats increases, so that the appearance image is maintained well.
Also, by matching the operation flow at the time of print output with the print mode, it is possible to make the paths common, which improves the design efficiency.

FIG. 10 is an operation state diagram schematically showing the reading operation by the scanner 11 in the repeat copy mode and the operation of the printer (printing operation) which proceeds in parallel with the reading operation. The operation of the above-mentioned repeat copy mode will be further described with reference to FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 10, in the image processing printing unit 20, Y (yellow) table data is loaded into the LUT of the color correction unit 6-5 (process P1). Subsequently, the reading scanning of the original 7 by the scanner 11 described in FIG. 8 is performed (process S1). The image processing of the read data is performed by the image processing printing unit 20 simultaneously with the reading scan, and the processed image data is stored in the DRAM 33 of the interface unit 30 (process P2). This image data is processed at the intermediate resolution as described above.

When the image reading of the original 7 is completed, the scanner 11 returns to the home position and stops (step S2). On the other hand, one line of image data is read from the DRAM 33 and written in the line buffer 13 (process P3).

When the writing of one line is completed, a printer system activation request is output to the engine MPU, and after confirming the activation, the line buffer 13 is executed at an appropriate timing by the procedure shown in the data flow chart of FIG. From x
The reading is repeated three times in the direction. As a result, image data for one line in the main scanning direction, which is formed by arranging the same data serially three times, is generated. The image data of the intermediate resolution described above is converted by the magnification conversion unit 20-5 into the recording system (the thermal head 20-1 shown in FIG. 3B).
After being converted to the resolution of 1) (150 × 600 dpi), the screen angle processing unit 20-8 to the thermal history correction unit 20.
The processing up to -10 is performed, and the thermal head 20-1
1, the main scanning one line is printed (process P
4).

The above processing P3 and processing P4 are repeated in the sub-scanning direction (y direction), and the unit image "a" shown in processing P4 of FIG. 10 is the upper block (labeled block) of the image receiving paper 8. On the printing surface (“a
A printout of the Y (yellow) side of "aa" is obtained. At this time, a blank code corresponding to the left and right space Q of the unit image "a" is inserted and added to the image data for one line in the main scanning direction, which is formed by arranging the same data serially three times. . Further, after the printing of the upper block is completed, blank data for several lines corresponding to the interval R to the next middle block is added and blank printing is performed.

Then, the image data for one line is read again from the DRAM 33 and written in the line buffer 13 (process P5), and the unit image "" in the main scanning direction of the middle block is processed by the same process as the above process P4. A Y (yellow) print surface of "aaa" in which three "a" are lined up is obtained (process P6). Also in this case, the unit image "a" is the same as the process P4.
Blank codes corresponding to the left and right intervals of the line and blank data for several lines corresponding to the interval from the middle block to the next lower block are added.

Then, the image data for one line is read from the DRAM 33 and written in the line buffer 13 (process P7), and the Y (yellow) print surface of the lower block "aaa" is obtained in the same manner as above. (Process P8).

As a result, the Y (yellow) printing surface of 3 × 3 unit images “a” is completed on one surface of the image receiving paper 8. Following the above, the driving of the thermal head 20-11 is stopped, the image receiving paper 8 is reversely fed, and stopped at the print start position. The operation shown in FIG. 10 is repeated again from the beginning to form M (magenta) prints, and the Y (yellow) surface is overlaid.
Then, this is repeated for C (cyan).

As a result, it is possible to carry out the full-color 3 × 3 repetitive copying in the same manner as in the normal copying operation. This method eliminates the need for editing the read image data and the frame memory, and
Since the recording system does not stop halfway within the plane of one page as in the conventional method shown in FIG. 5, there is an advantage that the problem of position accuracy does not occur.

Next, FIG. 11 schematically shows the reading operation by the scanner 11 and the operation of the printer (printing operation) that proceeds in parallel with this when the unit image in the repeat copy mode has a smaller size. It is an operation state diagram. This figure shows a case of repeat copying in which 6 × 6 unit images “a” are repeatedly copied. The unit image “a” in this example is an image printed on a small sticker such as a portrait of the person or a photograph of a product to be attached to a business card. When such a small image “a” is read and scanned, image data for three planes of Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) can be stored in the DRAM 33 at one time. Utilizing this fact, the processing is performed at high speed. This will be described below.

First, in the image processing printing unit 20, Y (yellow) table data is loaded into the LUT of the color correction unit 6-5 (process P11). Subsequently, the scanner 11 scans and reads the image "a" of the original 7 (process S1).
1). In response to this reading scan, the image processing printing unit 20 performs Y (yellow) image processing of the read data, and the processed image data is DR of the interface unit 30.
It is stored in a predetermined address of the AM 33 (process P12).

When the reading of the image "a" is completed, the scanner 11 returns to the home position (step S12),
On the other hand, the image processing print unit 20 loads the table data of M (magenta) into the LUT of the color correction unit 6-5 (process P).
13). Then, the scanner 11 again causes the image “a” of the original 7 to be read.
Is read and scanned (process S13). In response to this reading scan, the image processing printing unit 20 performs M (magenta) image processing of the read data, and stores the processed image data in a predetermined address of the DRAM 33 of the interface unit 30 (process P14). When this image reading is completed, the scanner 11 returns to the home position again (process S14), while the image processing print unit 20 loads the C (cyan) table data into the LUT of the color correction unit 6-5 (process P15). ). Then, the scanner 11 scans the image "a" of the original 7 for the third time (process S).
15). The image processing / printing unit 20 according to the reading scan
Performs C (cyan) image processing of the read data, and the processed image data is processed by the DR of the interface unit 30.
It is stored in a predetermined address of the AM 33 (process P15).
When this image reading is completed, the scanner 11 returns to the home position and pauses (process S16). Thus, Y
Image data for three planes (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) are stored in the DRAM 33 at one time.

Continuing from the above, the image processing / printing section 20 reads the image data Y ′ initially written in the DRAM 33 line by line, as in the case of the process P4 in FIG. 10, and reads the same read data x. Direction repeatedly (in this case, repeat 6 times)
Printing is performed by 0-11 (process P18). This allows
The printing of “aaaaaa” in the first stage on the image receiving paper 8 can be obtained.

Next, the image processing and printing section 20 returns to the DRA
The image data Y ′ is read from M33 from the beginning (process P19), and image processing is performed in the same manner as above, and the thermal head 20 is processed.
Printing is performed by -11 (Process P20). As a result, the printing of the second stage "aaaaaa" on the image receiving paper 8 is completed.

Similarly, reading of the image data Y '(process P21), image processing and printing are repeated (process P2).
2) Obtain the third-stage "aaaaaa" print on the image receiving paper 8. This is sequentially repeated for the image receiving paper 8 in the fourth and fifth steps to read out the final image data Y ′ (process P23), perform image processing and printing (process P23).
24), “aaaaaa” on the sixth level for the image receiving paper 8
Then, the printing of Y (yellow) for one page on the image receiving paper 8 is completed.

Subsequently, the processing P17 to processing P24 is repeated for M (magenta), and the image receiving paper 8 is coated with M (magenta) for one page. Further, subsequently, the processing P17 to the processing P24 are repeated for C (cyan),
One page of C (cyan) is applied to the image-receiving paper 8 and overlapped. This completes a 6 × 6 full-color repeat copy.

The function for setting the above-mentioned intermediate resolution by calculation is shown below. If the vertical and horizontal sizes of the unit image are x (mm) and y (mm), the intermediate resolution in the main scanning direction is Dx (dpi), and the intermediate resolution in the sub-scanning direction is Dy (dpi), 1 inch is 25. Since it is 0.4 mm, the dot number (pixel number) DT of the image data at the intermediate resolution is DT = {(x / 25.4) · Dx} · {(y / 25.4) · Dy}. Since 1 dot (1 pixel) is composed of 1 byte of data, the above DT represents the total number of bytes of image data.

On the other hand, assuming that the capacity of the DRAM 33 is V (K bytes), 1 Kbyte is strictly 1,024 bytes, so the capacity of the DRAM 33 is V · 1,024 bytes. Therefore, in order to be able to store the entire amount of the image data of the intermediate resolution in the DRAM 33, it is necessary that DT ≦ V · 1,024. As a result, if the size of the unit image to be read, that is, the vertical and horizontal sizes x and y is known, DRA
Since the capacity V of M33 is preset to 512 Kbytes, the intermediate resolution that can be stored in this DRAM 33 can be easily determined from the above two equations. As a result, the reading resolution is converted into an intermediate resolution that can be stored in the DRAM 33, and unit images of any size can be repeatedly copied by the method shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, when the unit image is sufficiently small, the above second equation is DT · 3 ≦ V ·
1,024. With this, an intermediate resolution capable of storing the image data of three planes of Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) at one time is calculated. Further, when the reading resolution is used as it is, the maximum allowable range of the sizes x and y of the unit image can be known.

In each of the above embodiments, an example of full color printing of three colors of Y (yellow), M (magenta) and C (cyan) has been described, but Bk (black).
It is easy to perform the same processing even in the case of four colors added with.

If the interface section 30 is not provided, a similar function can be provided by installing a memory corresponding to the DRAM 33 in the copy engine.

[0102]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the buffer memory of the interface section added as a printer function is used for temporary data storage, it is possible to perform repeated copying without stopping halfway on one page using a copying machine with an inexpensive structure, and therefore misalignment is possible. High quality repeated copy images are obtained. Further, since the magnification conversion between the intermediate resolution and the printing resolution is performed twice, the image data of one color for one frame of the unit image can be read into the memory of a small capacity by one document scanning regardless of the size of the unit image. Therefore, it is possible to perform high-speed repetitive copying using inexpensive copying. Moreover, since one frame of the unit image data is stored in the small-capacity buffer memory, the same data can be repeatedly used without repeating the reading and scanning, and therefore, the number of repetitive copying is not restricted. High-speed copy printing is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a copy / print reader according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an internal configuration of a line buffer of an image reading unit.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an array of pixels (read dots) of an image read by a scanner, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing an array of pixels (print dots) of an image printed by a thermal head.

4A, 4B, and 4C are diagrams illustrating a method of forming an apparent screen angle in order to prevent the occurrence of moire fringes.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow of read image data in a copy mode (simple copy mode).

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow of received print information in a print mode (print mode).

FIG. 7 shows a flow of read image data in a scanner emulation mode (reading mode).

FIG. 8: Repeat copy mode (repeated copy mode)
6 is a diagram showing a flow of read image data in FIG.

FIG. 9: Repeat copy mode (repeated copy mode)
6 is a diagram showing a flow of output image data in FIG.

FIG. 10 is an operation state diagram (No. 1) schematically showing the operations of the scanner and the printer (image processing printing unit) in the repeat copy mode.

FIG. 11 is an operation state diagram (No. 2) schematically showing the operations of the scanner and the printer (image processing printing unit) in the repeat copy mode.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a procedure of reading, editing, and printing image data of a conventional printing apparatus having a frame memory having a sufficient capacity.

13A, 13B, and 13C are diagrams illustrating a procedure of reading, editing, and printing image data in a conventional printing apparatus having a frame memory-saving configuration.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional thermal transfer type full-color copying machine without a frame memory.

15 (a), (b), and (c) are diagrams for explaining operation states in a conventional full-color copying machine without a frame memory.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 image 2 frame memory 3 image receiving paper 4 printing unit 5 reading unit 5-1 scanner 5-2 quantization shading correction unit 5-3 line buffer 6 image processing printing unit 6-1 density conversion unit 6-2 gamma correction unit 6- 3 data conversion unit 6-4 magnification conversion unit 6-5 color correction unit 6-6 screen angle processing unit 6-7 line buffer 6-8 thermal history correction unit 6-9 thermal head 7 original document 8 image receiving paper 10 image reading unit 11 Scanners 11-1, 11-2 Read dots 12 Quantization shading correction unit 13 Line buffer 13a First selector 13b Second selector 13c Memory (SRAM) 13d, 13e, 13f Latch 20 Image processing unit 20-1 Decoder 20-2 Density Conversion unit 20-3 γ correction unit 20-4 Data conversion unit 20-5 Magnification conversion unit 20-6 Color correction unit 20-7 In-buffer 20-8 Screen angle processing unit 20-9 Line buffer 20-10 Thermal history correction unit 20-11 Thermal heads 21a, 21b, 21c Odd-numbered print dots (odd-numbered dots) 22a, 22b, 22c Even-numbered print dots (Even number of dots) 24, 25, 26, 27 Matrix 28 Signal 30 Interface section 31 MPU (Microprocessor unit) 32 ROM (Read-Only-Memory) 33 DRAM (Dynamic RAM, RAM: Random)
Access Memor) 34 System RAM 35 System control unit 36 External I / O (input / output device) 37 Internal I / O 38 Signal 40 Signal B (blue) bus 50 Interface

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A copy printing apparatus having a copying function of printing data obtained by reading an original by a printing unit in a printing unit and a printing function of printing in the printing unit based on print information input from a host device. A reception buffer memory that receives print information, a writing unit that stores the read data by the reading device in the reception buffer memory, and a read data of the reception buffer memory that is stored by the writing unit is repeatedly read a plurality of times. A copy printing apparatus comprising: a reading unit; and a print control unit that combines read data repeatedly read by the reading unit onto one sheet of paper and prints the combined data. 2. A copying function of printing data obtained by reading a document by a reading device in a printing unit, a printing function of printing in the printing unit based on print information input from a host device, and the read data to the host device. In a copy printing reading device having a reading function for transmitting, a transmission / reception buffer memory for receiving the print information or transmitting the read data, an image processing unit for image-processing the read data of the reading device, Writing means for storing the data processed by the image processing section in the transmission / reception buffer memory; read control means for reading out the data stored in the transmission / reception buffer memory and executing processing in the image processing section; Printing means for performing printing processing based on the processing result of the copy section, and the transmission / reception buffer memory Read means for repeatedly reading the data stored in the plurality of times, and print control means for synthesizing and printing the data read repeatedly by the read means on one sheet of paper. Copy print reader.