JPH09238214A - Image information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a digital copying machine in which exclusive performance is realized to be compatible with general-purpose performance. SOLUTION: A scanner section 10, a printer section 20, and a system controller section 30 are interconnected by a standard bus (SCSI or the liked) to keep general-purpose performance. The scanner section 10 once stores a read image to a buffer memory and then transfers the image, and the printer section 20 stores the received image to the buffer memory once and then prints it out. Even when transfer of image data is tentatively interrupted due to copy sheet number countup processing or the like during the transmission of the image data of an original, since the printer section 20 starts printing with a delay by a time corresponding to the transfer interrupt period at least from the transfer start of the image data, the print processing is continued but not interrupted by reading the image data in the buffer memory. Since the read image is stored in the buffer memory of the scanner section 10, the reading is not interrupted even when the transfer of image data is interrupted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a facsimile machine which electrically handles image information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a digital copying machine,
A scanner unit that photoelectrically reads a document, a printer unit that records an image based on electrical image information, and a system controller that controls the operation of each of these units are provided. As a method of connecting these units, there is a method of connecting the scanner unit and the printer unit with a dedicated interface, but there is also a method of connecting each unit into a module and connecting with a standard bus interface. is there. Among them, in a system adopting a dedicated interface, as shown in FIG. 9, for example, a scanner unit 10 and a printer unit 20 are connected by a dedicated video interface 40 to transfer image data and a system controller is used. 30 and scanner unit 10
A serial interface is connected to the printer unit 20 and the printer unit 20 to exchange control information such as commands. In such a dedicated interface system, there is no problem if it is used only in a closed world as a device dedicated to copying. However, for example,
When the printer unit 20 is used as an ordinary printer for printing data of a personal computer, a workstation, or the like, the interface connection with the outside is dedicated, and as shown in FIG. It is necessary to connect to the workstation 70 via a dedicated controller 60 dedicated to the model (copier) that can be connected to the dedicated interface 40. Similarly,
Even when the scanner unit 10 is used as a normal scanner for inputting image data to a workstation or the like, a dedicated controller is still required. Therefore, there is a problem that such a connection method using a dedicated interface lacks expandability and versatility.

On the other hand, a SCSI (Sma
The above problem can be avoided in a system connected by a standard bus interface such as a computer system interface). That is, for example, when the printer section is used as an ordinary printer, the SCSI port of a host computer such as a personal computer or a workstation may be directly connected to a standard bus interface in a daisy-chain manner without using a dedicated controller or hardware. No wear required.

[0004]

However, the system connected by such a standard bus interface is
When viewed as one copying machine, it has the following important problems. That is, since the scanner unit and the printer unit are connected only by the standard bus interface, while the image is being transferred from the scanner unit to the printer unit, the bus is occupied by the image data, and the command etc. Cannot exchange control information. Therefore, for example, when a process of continuously copying a plurality of originals one after another (hereinafter referred to as continuous copy) is performed, there is a time difference between the timing of ending the image data transfer and the timing of discharging the printed paper. It becomes a problem. That is, especially in a high-speed machine, the transfer of the image data of the next original has already started when the paper on which the recording of a certain original image is finished is ejected, so that the operation display unit (not shown) of the system controller ), The count-up information of the number of copies cannot be sent. Therefore, until the transfer of the original image data is completed, a discrepancy occurs between the number of copies actually ejected and the number of copies displayed on the operation display unit of the system controller. Furthermore, in consideration of measures such as improvement of CPM (the number of copies per minute) and occurrence of an abnormality during image data transfer, there is no communication means between each unit during image data transfer. The configuration is extremely inconvenient.

As a method for avoiding such an inconvenience, a method of dividing the image data into some blocks and transferring the blocks may be considered. By doing so, the bus open period is regularly secured, so that control data such as commands can be transferred even during image data transfer. However, in order to realize such division transfer, it is necessary to satisfy the following conditions, which is not easy. First,
First, it is necessary to provide each unit with an internal buffer having a sufficient capacity according to the image data transfer rate. Second, the inter-unit connection bus (eg, SCSI bus) is faster than the internal image data transfer rate of each unit (for example, the image data supply rate by scanning in the scanner section, the transfer rate of the writing section interface in the printer section). The transfer rate must be high enough. In particular, as the transfer rate becomes faster and the output image becomes higher in resolution, a large-scale and high-performance hardware is required around the bus interface (for example, around the SCSI),
Further, it becomes more difficult to adjust the timing between the printer unit and the scanner unit. Thirdly, command processing during image data transfer needs to be performed within the bus release period.

As another measure, as shown in FIG. 11, there is a method of providing an auxiliary bus 90 other than the standard SCSI bus 80. However, with this method, the significance of adopting the standard interface is abandoned, and above all, the number of buses is increased by another system, which causes a cost increase. In addition, various restrictions may occur when connecting to another host computer. As described above, the conventional digital copying machine has not been configured to satisfy both the special purpose and the versatility. Then, the objective of this invention is providing the image information processing apparatus which can implement | achieve both peculiarity and versatility simultaneously.

[0007]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image information processing apparatus, wherein image reading means optically reads a document image to obtain image data, and an image based on the image data read by the image reading means. An image forming means for forming, a system control means for controlling the operations of the image reading means and the image forming means, and a standard bus interface for connecting image data and control data by commonly connecting the respective means. The above-mentioned object is achieved by independently providing the timing at which the image reading unit starts image reading of the effective area of the document and the timing at which the image forming unit starts image formation. In this image information processing apparatus, the image formation by the image forming means is started at a timing independent from the start of reading the document valid area image by the image reading means.

An image information processing apparatus according to a second aspect is the image information processing apparatus according to the first aspect, in which the image reading means actually reads an image in the effective area after receiving an image reading start instruction. The waiting time information indicating the time until the data is ready to be transferred to the image forming means is transmitted to the image forming means. In this image information processing apparatus, the waiting time information is transmitted from the image reading means to the image forming means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image information processing apparatus according to the second aspect, the image forming unit instructs the image input unit to start image reading, and then the waiting time information is displayed. The image forming start timing is determined based on the above. In this image information processing apparatus, the image forming unit issues an image reading start instruction to the image input unit, and the image forming start timing is determined based on the waiting time information transmitted from the image reading unit to the image forming unit. It

An image information processing apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the image information processing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein during the period of transfer of image data from the image reading means to the image forming means, both of these means are provided. It is configured such that the side having the control right of the bus temporarily suspends the transfer of the image data as needed and provides a temporary bus open period.
In this image information processing apparatus, during the image data transfer period, the image data transfer is temporarily interrupted as needed by the side having the bus control right, and a temporary bus open period is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image information processing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein, during the period of transferring the image data from the image reading means to the image forming means, both of these means are provided. The side having the control right of the bus is configured to temporarily suspend the image data transfer and provide a temporary bus open period when the other side does not access the data for a certain period or longer. In this image information processing device, during the image data transfer period, the image data transfer is temporarily interrupted when the data access from the other side to the side having the bus control right is not performed for a certain time or more, and the temporary bus release period is It is provided.

The image information processing apparatus according to claim 6 is the image information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,
The image reading unit is configured to include a buffer memory having a storage capacity equal to or larger than the amount of data transferred within a period equal to the bus open period.

An image information processing apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the image information processing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, wherein the image reading means sequentially stores the read image data in the buffer memory even during the bus open period. By
The reading operation is not interrupted.
With this image information processing device, even during the bus open period,
Since the image data read by the image reading means is sequentially accumulated in the buffer memory, the reading operation is not interrupted.

An image information processing apparatus according to claim 8 is the image information processing apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,
The image forming means is configured to start image formation with a delay from the start of image data transfer by at least a time corresponding to the bus open period. In this image information processing apparatus, the image formation by the image forming means is started after the transfer of the image data is delayed by at least the time corresponding to the bus open period.

An image information processing apparatus according to a ninth aspect is the image information processing apparatus according to the eighth aspect, wherein the image forming means has a delay time from the start of image data transfer to the start of image formation by the image forming means. A buffer memory having a storage capacity equal to or larger than the corresponding transfer data amount is provided.

An image information processing apparatus according to a tenth aspect is the image information processing apparatus according to the ninth aspect, wherein the image forming means reads the image data accumulated in the buffer memory even during the bus open period. By continuing the image formation, the image formation is not interrupted. In this image information processing apparatus, the image formation is not interrupted because the image data accumulated in the buffer memory of the image forming unit is read and the image formation is performed even during the bus open period.

[0017]

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
It will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital copying machine as an image information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those of the conventional example will be described with the same reference numerals. This digital copying machine includes a scanner unit 10 that photoelectrically reads a document, a printer unit 20 that records an image based on electrical image information, and a system controller unit 30 that controls the operation of each of these units. ing. These units are connected by a standard SCSI bus 80.

As will be described later, the scanner section 10 is composed of a known technique such as a light source, a photoelectric conversion element, an A / D converter, a SCSI interface and the like. And
It is well known that the three colors of RGB are read at the same time by using a color separation filter, predetermined image processing is applied to the obtained image data by an IPU (image processing unit) not shown, etc., and the image data is transferred to the printer unit 20 via the SCSI interface. It is designed to perform the processing of. However, the scanner unit 10 does not transfer the image data read from the original document to the printer unit 20 as it is, but temporarily stores it in a buffer in the scanner unit 10 and then transfers it. For this reason, while the image data transfer is suspended in order to secure the bus open period in the middle of the image data transfer, the image data reading from the original document is continued and is not interrupted.

The printer unit 20 has an SC
The SI interface, the color print unit, the recording paper transport mechanism, and other known techniques are used. Then, in accordance with the image data sent from the scanner unit 10, the surface of the photoconductor is scanned with a laser beam to form a latent image, which is developed with toner, transferred onto recording paper, fixed, and discharged. Well-known processing is performed. However,
The printer unit 20 does not start the print output at the same time when the image data is transferred from the scanner unit 10, but
The start of print output is delayed for a predetermined time, the image data received during that time is stored in a buffer, and the print output is started after the predetermined time has elapsed. This allows
Even if there is a period during which the transfer is suspended to secure the bus open period during the transfer of the image data, the processing based on the image data stored in the buffer is continued and the print output is suspended. Never. Therefore, the bus release period is secured during the image data transfer without apparently interrupting the copy sequence. The system controller unit 30 includes an MPU (microprocessor), an operation display unit having predetermined operation keys and a display unit, a SCSI interface, and the like, and controls the operation of the entire digital copying machine.

Next, the configuration and operation of the present digital copying machine will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a block configuration of a scanner unit 10 in FIG. 1. The scanner unit 10 includes a reading unit 11 for reading an image of a document, a FIFO memory 12 for storing image data read by the reading unit 11, and an F-memory.
A SCSI interface 13 that performs an interface process for outputting the image data stored in the IFO memory 12 via the SCSI bus 80, and a DMAC (direct interface for controlling the direct transfer of the image data from the FIFO memory 12 to the SCSI interface 13). FI for monitoring the remaining capacity of the memory access controller 14 and the FIFO memory 12 and outputting necessary status information
An FO status generation circuit 15 and an MPU (microprocessor) 16 that controls the operation of the entire scanner unit 10 are provided.

The reading unit 11 performs a predetermined process on the image data photoelectrically read from the original, and then executes FI
Processing for writing in the FO memory 12 is performed. The FIFO memory 12 is composed of a first-in first-out field memory used as a line memory. The SCSI interface 13 is composed of a SCSI controller and is a normal SCSI.
Control is performed and image data is transmitted to the printer unit 20 according to the read command. Also, when transmitting, DMAC1
4, a DMA request signal is sent to No. 4.

When the DMA request signal is sent from the SCSI interface 13, the DMAC 14 receives M
FIFO unless a stop signal is sent from PU16
SCS by sequentially reading the data stored in the memory 12
The transfer to the I interface 13 is controlled. FIF
The O status generation circuit 15 reads the FI from the reading unit 11.
Image data amount written in the FO memory 12 and DMA
The amount of image data read from the FIFO memory 12 by the C14 is counted and the difference is calculated.
Predetermined status information is sent to the MPU 16 in real time while being compared with the memory capacity of the memory 12. As the status information, "EMPTY", which indicates a state in which no image data is stored in the FIFO memory 12, F
"HALF FULL" indicating that the image data is stored up to about half the memory capacity of the IFO memory 12, F
There is "HALF" indicating that the image data is stored up to the full memory capacity of the IFO memory 12. MPU16
Is composed of a CPU that controls the entire scanner unit 10 and its peripheral circuits, and sends a stop signal to the DMAC 14 when the status information "EMPTY" is sent from the FIFO status generation circuit 15. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a block configuration of the printer unit 20 in FIG. The printer unit 20 stores a print output unit 21 that performs a series of processes for forming an image on a recording sheet by an electrostatographic method, image data to be printed by the print output unit 21, and a SCSI bus 80. A FIFO memory 22 for storing image data input via the SCSI interface 23;
S for performing predetermined interface processing with the bus 80
A CSI interface 23, a DMAC 24 for controlling direct transfer of image data from the SCSI interface 23 to the FIFO memory 22, and a FIFO status generation circuit 25 for monitoring the remaining capacity of the FIFO memory 22 and outputting necessary status information, The MPU 26 controls the operation of the entire printer unit 20.

The print output unit 21 is composed of a printer engine or the like that forms an image on a recording sheet according to the image data from the FIFO memory 22. The FIFO memory 22 is
It is composed of a first-in first-out type field memory used as a line memory. The SCSI interface 23 is composed of a SCSI controller, performs normal SCSI control, and receives image data from the scanner unit 10 in response to a read command.
A DMA request signal is sent to the MAC 24. When the DMA request signal is sent from the SCSI interface 23, the DMAC 24 receives M
Unless a stop signal is sent from PU26, SCSI
The image data received by the interface 23 is transferred to the FIFO.
Control is performed to sequentially transfer and write to the O memory 22.

The FIFO status generation circuit 25 uses the DM
AC24 to SCSI interface 23 to F
The amount of image data written in the IFO memory 22 and the FI
The amount of image data read from the FO memory 22 to the print output unit 21 is counted, the difference is obtained, and predetermined status information is sent to the MPU 26 in real time while comparing with the memory capacity of the FIFO memory 22. ing. As the status information, the FIFO memory 22
"E" indicating that no image data is stored inside
“MPTY”, “HALF” indicating a state in which image data is stored up to about half the memory capacity of the FIFO memory 22.
“FULL”, “FULL” indicating a state in which the image data is stored up to the full memory capacity of the FIFO memory 22, and the like. The MPU 26 includes a CPU that controls the entire printer unit 20 and its peripheral circuits, and when the FIFO status generation circuit 25 sends status information "FULL", it sends a stop signal to the DMAC 24. There is.

Next, the operation of the digital copying machine having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 4, the system controller unit 30 first sends a copy instruction command to the printer unit 20 together with transfer mode information and LD waiting time information (step 10).
1). Here, the LD waiting time information means the scanner unit 10
Is information indicating the time from when the reading start instruction is received to when the image data actually reaches the effective image area and becomes ready to transfer the image data to the printer unit 20.

After receiving the copy instruction command (step 102), the printer section 20 determines that the ready state (receivable state) has been entered, or if the LD section has reached the ready state after the lapse of the LD waiting time, the scanner section 10 is notified. On the other hand, a scan start instruction command is sent (step 103), and immediately after that, a read command is sent to request transfer of image data (step 104). From this point onward, the SCSI bus 80 is occupied by the transfer of image data. Scanner unit 10 that received a read command
Starts scanning the document (step 105). When the effective image area is reached, the image data is sequentially transferred to the printer unit 20 (step 106). However, instead of directly transferring the image data, as described in FIG. 2, the image data is once stored in the FIFO memory 12 and then read and transferred. At this time, the DMAC 14 reads the data from the FIFO memory 12.

The printer unit 20 starts receiving the image data transferred from the scanner unit 10, but does not immediately start the print processing, but temporarily receives the received data.
It is stored in the IFO memory 22 (step 107). At this time, the write control to the FIFO memory 22 is performed by the DMAC2.
4 does. The printer unit 20 also returns an acknowledge signal ACK to the scanner unit 10 each time image data is received. In this way, the printer unit 20 accumulates the received image data in the FIFO memory 22, but when the predetermined time Tf has elapsed from the start of transfer, the print output unit 21
Then, the print process is started (step 108). Even in this state, the transfer of the image data is continued as it is, and the acknowledge signal is returned every 1 byte.

In this way, the transfer of the image data for one original is completed (step 109), and the printer unit 20 notifies the end of the image data reception (step 111). At this point, however, the printed recording paper is ejected. Not not. Subsequent processing differs depending on whether or not the continuous copy mode is set (whether or not there is a document to be continuously copied). In case of continuous copy mode (step 110; Y, step 1)
12; Y, step 113; Y), the scanner unit 10 proceeds to step 118 of FIG. 5, the printer unit 20 proceeds to step 115 of FIG. 5, and the system controller unit 30 proceeds to step 114 of FIG. Perform processing. On the other hand, when the continuous copy mode is not set (step 110; N,
Step 112; N) and go to step 145 and step 140 of FIG. The processing in this case will be described later.

In FIG. 5, the scanner unit 10, the printer unit 20, and the system controller unit 30 follow the same procedure (steps 114 to 118) as the initial procedure, so that the scanner unit 10 transfers the image data of the next original. (Step 119), the printer unit 20 starts receiving image data and storing it in the FIFO memory 12 (step 120). When the time Tf has elapsed (step 121; Y), the printer unit 20 starts printing (step 122). In this way, while the image data of the second original is being transferred, the paper output signal indicating the ejection of the recording paper on which the previous original image is printed is output from the print output unit 21 of the printer unit 20. Then (step 123; Y), the printer unit 20 suspends the reception of the image data (step 124). In particular,
Acknowledge signal AC for the transmitted image data
The return of K is suspended for a certain period of time. Then, after that, the printer unit 20 returns an acknowledge signal ACK corresponding to the received request signal to notify the data reception (step 125). On the other hand, when the time Tf has not elapsed (step 121; N), the paper ejection signal is output by the printer unit 2.
0 is output from the print output unit 21 (step 13
0; Y), the printer unit 20 interrupts the reception of the image data (step 131). Then, the printer unit 20 returns an acknowledge signal ACK corresponding to the received request signal to notify the data reception (step 1).
32). When the bus is released, the printer unit 2
0 notifies the system controller unit 30 via the SCSI bus 80 that the discharge of one sheet has been completed (step 133). After that, when the time Tf has passed (step 134; Y), printing is started (step 13).
4).

When the acknowledge signal ACK has not been returned from the printer unit 20 for a certain period of time, the scanner unit 10 prepares for interruption of transfer (step 127). When the acknowledge signal ACK corresponding to the request signal is received from the printer unit 20, the SCSI interface 13 disconnects the SCSI bus 80 (step 128). As a result, after that, the bus is released. When the bus is released,
The printer unit 20 informs the SCS that one sheet has been discharged.
The system controller unit 30 is notified via the I-bus 80 (step 126). Receiving this, the system controller unit 30 increments the copy counter (not shown) by 1, and also increments the copy number display on the operation display unit by 1. Printer unit 20
Now, even during the bus release period (during transfer interruption), the FIF
Since the image data stored in the O memory 22 is read out and the printing process is performed, the printing operation is not interrupted. Further, also in the scanner unit 10, since the read image data is sequentially stored in the FIFO memory 12,
The reading operation is not interrupted. Therefore, the operation of the copying machine is apparently continued even during the interruption period of the image data transfer.

After the bus reconnect process, when a certain time has elapsed, the scanner unit 10 executes the bus recommect (bus reconnect) process and restarts the image data transfer (step 129). As a result, the transfer of the image data and the return of the acknowledge signal ACK for the transfer of the image data are performed thereafter in the same manner as before. In this way, the image data transfer for the second original is completed (FIG. 6, step 137). Here, in the continuous copy mode,
If there is the next manuscript (step 144; Y,
Step 139; Y, step 147; Y), the scanner section 10 proceeds to step 118 of FIG. 5, the printer section 20 proceeds to step 115 of FIG. 5, and the system controller 30 proceeds to step 114 of FIG. Then, by performing the same processing as the above, the third image data reading, transfer, and print processing are executed. On the other hand, when the continuous copy mode is not set or when there is no next original even in the continuous copy mode (step 144; N, step 139;
N, step 147; N), after confirming the completion of discharging the second sheet (step 140), the printer unit 20 notifies the system controller unit 30 of the discharging (step 141) and further executes a predetermined ending process. After that (step 142), the process shifts to the standby state (step 143). The scanner unit 10 also performs a predetermined ending process (step 145),
A transition is made to a standby state (step 140). The same applies to the system controller unit 30.

FIG. 7 shows the scanner section 10 and the printer section 20.
2 shows the relationship between the timing of the transfer of image data between and and the temporal transition of the amount of data stored in the FIFO memory inside the quantity unit when the transfer is interrupted. In this figure, (a) represents a period during which a document is scanned by the reading unit 11 of the scanner unit 10, and (b) represents a period during which a print process is performed by the print output unit 21 of the printer unit 20. . (C) is F of the scanner unit 10.
IFO memory 12 and FIFO memory 2 of printer unit 20
2 shows the amount of accumulated data in 2.

As shown in this figure, at the time ts, when the scanning of the effective image area is started and the image data transfer is started, the FI of the printer unit 20 is changed over time.
The amount of data stored in the FO memory 22 increases. And
When time Tf has elapsed after the start of scanning (time tp)
Then, when the print output unit 21 of the printer unit 20 starts the printing operation, the amount of accumulated data in the FIFO memory 22 thereafter changes at a substantially constant amount. However, here, it is illustrated that the data processing amount by the print output unit 21 and the image data transfer amount are substantially equal. Thereafter, at time t1, the image data transfer is interrupted due to the paper discharge confirmation or the like in the printer unit 20, and if the data transfer is restarted at time t2, the FIFO memory 22 of the printer unit 20 stores the data. Since only data reading is performed without using the data, the accumulated data amount is from time t1 to t2.
Gradually decreases until. On the other hand, during this period, in the FIFO memory 12 of the scanner unit 10, only data storage is performed without reading data, so the amount of stored data gradually increases from time t1 to t2. After the image data transfer is resumed, both FIFO memories change with a substantially constant amount of accumulated data.

Then, for some other reason, the time t
The image data transfer is interrupted in 3 and then time t4
If the data transfer is restarted at the same time, in this case as well as the case of the above-mentioned transfer interruption, from time t3 to t4.
In the meantime, the amount of accumulated data in the FIFO memory 22 of the printer unit 20 gradually decreases, and the amount of accumulated data in the FIFO memory 12 of the scanner unit 10 gradually increases. After that, when the data transfer is resumed, both FIFO memories change at a substantially constant level.

After that, when the document scanning of the scanner unit 10 is completed at time t5, the read data is not accumulated and only the data reading for the transfer is performed. Therefore, the FIFO memory 12 of the scanner unit 10 is read. The amount of accumulated data gradually decreases and becomes 0 at time t6. At this time t6, the transfer of the image data ends. After this time t6, F of the printer unit 20
Since the IFO memory 22 does not store the transferred image data and only reads the data for printing, the stored data amount gradually decreases as the printing process progresses, and becomes 0 at time t7. As a result, the print processing of the original image is completed.

As is apparent from FIG. 7, if the total (α + β) of transfer interruption times that occur during the transfer of the image data for one original does not exceed the time Tf, the printer unit 20.
Print operation is not interrupted. Further, how long the data transfer interruption is allowed within the range in which the scanner unit 10 does not have to interrupt the scanning operation depends on the amount of data stored in the FIFO memory 12 of the scanner unit 10. By monitoring the amount of data stored in the FIFO memory 12 by the FIFO status generation circuit 15, the interruptable time can be determined in real time at any time during the data transfer period or the interrupt period.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the data buffer is provided in each unit of the scanner unit 10 and the printer unit 20, and between the start of scanning in the scanner unit 10 and the start of printing in the printer unit 20. Since the predetermined delay time is provided, the scanning operation of the scanner unit 10 and the printing operation of the printer unit 20 will not be performed even if a transfer interruption period occurs due to a copy number count-up process or the like during the transfer of one original image. It will continue without interruption. For this reason, it is possible to count up the number of copies without apparently interrupting the process of the copying machine, and to match the actual number of copies with the number of copies displayed. Moreover, the data transfer rate (S) between both units is higher than the internal image data transfer rate in each unit of the scanner section 10 and the printer section 20.
The transfer rate of the CSI bus 80) does not need to be sufficiently high, and the hardware configuration around the SCSI bus becomes relatively easy.

Further, in the present embodiment, it is possible to achieve the coexistence of the image data system and the command system as described above, while using the versatile standard bus called the SCSI bus. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, as an external host computer, for example, when image data held by the workstation 70 is to be printed using the printer unit 20, connection is made via a dedicated controller as in the conventional case. Instead, it can be directly connected to the SCSI bus 80 by the SCSI interface provided as standard in the workstation 70. Therefore, it is easy to use as a general-purpose printer or scanner while sufficiently satisfying the original functions of the copying machine.

The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the equivalent range. For example, in the present embodiment, the printer unit 20 operates as an initiator and does not have the control right of the bus. However, if the printer unit 20 is configured to operate as a target, the printer unit 20 can operate as a printer if necessary. It is also possible to unilaterally generate the bus open period in the section 20.

[0041]

As described above, according to the image information processing apparatus of the present invention, the image forming start timing by the image forming means is independent of the reading start timing of the document effective area image by the image reading means. The inconvenience that the operation on the image forming unit side is completely bound by the operation on the image reading unit side is eliminated, and the degree of freedom in processing on the image forming unit side is increased. In particular, according to the image information processing apparatus described in claims 6 and 7 and 8, a data buffer is provided in each of the image reading means and the image forming means, and between the image reading start and the image forming start. Since a predetermined delay time is provided in, even if a transfer interruption period occurs due to a copy number count-up process or the like during transfer of a certain original image, for example,
The image reading operation and the image forming operation will continue without interruption. For this reason, it is possible to perform command-related processing such as counting up the number of copies without apparently interrupting the processing as a copying machine. Moreover, since it is not necessary to sufficiently increase the data transfer rate on the bus between the image reading means and the image forming means than the internal image data transfer rate in each means, hardware around the bus can be used. The configuration is also easy.

Further, in the present invention, since the image reading means and the image forming means are connected by using the standard bus, the image data system and the command can be transmitted only by a single type of bus without using a dedicated interface. Coexistence of systems is possible. For this reason, when connecting a digital copier to a workstation or the like for use as a scanner or printer, the dedicated controller that was required in the past is not necessary, and the bus interface that is standardly installed in the workstation is used for the connection as it is. It is possible. In other words, it becomes extremely easy to use as a general-purpose printer or scanner while sufficiently satisfying the original function of the copying machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital copying machine as an image information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a scanner unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer unit in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of this digital copying machine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart following FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart following FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of this digital copying machine.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a connection example when the digital copying machine is used as a general-purpose scanner or printer.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration example of a conventional digital copying machine.

10 is a block diagram showing a connection example when the digital copying machine of FIG. 9 is used as a general-purpose scanner or printer.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration example of another conventional digital copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Scanner Section 20 Printer Section 30 System Controller Section 80 SCSI Bus 11 Reading Section 12, 22 FIFO Memory 13, 23 SCSI Interface 14, 24 DMAC 15, 25 FIFO Status Generation Circuit 16, 26 MPU 21 Print Output Section

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit that optically reads a document image to obtain image data, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the image data read by the image reading unit, and the image reading unit and the image formation. System control means for controlling the operation of the means, and a standard bus interface used for transferring image data and control data by connecting the respective means in common, and the image reading means provides an image of the effective area of the document. An image information processing apparatus, wherein the timing of starting reading and the timing of starting image formation by the image forming means are independent. 2. The waiting time information indicating the time from when the image reading means receives the image reading start instruction to when the image in the effective area is actually read and is ready to be transferred to the image forming means as image data. The image information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image information is transmitted to the image forming unit. 3. The image forming section, after instructing the image input section to start image reading, determines the image forming start timing based on the waiting time information. Image information processing device. 4. During the transfer of the image data from the image reading unit to the image forming unit, one of the two units having the bus control right interrupts the transfer of the image data as needed. The image information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a temporary bus opening period is provided. 5. During transfer of image data from the image reading means to the image forming means, the side having bus control right of both means does not access the data for a certain period or longer. The image information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the transfer of the image data is temporarily interrupted and a temporary bus open period is provided. 6. The image reading device according to claim 4, further comprising a buffer memory having a storage capacity equal to or larger than an amount of data transferred within a period equal to the bus open period. Image information processing device. 7. The image information according to claim 6, wherein the image reading unit does not interrupt the reading operation by sequentially storing the read image data in the buffer memory even during the bus open period. Processing equipment. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming unit starts the image forming after the transfer of the image data is delayed by at least a time corresponding to the bus open period. Information processing equipment. 9. The image forming means comprises a buffer memory having a storage capacity equal to or larger than a transfer data amount corresponding to a delay time from the start of image data transfer to the start of image formation by the image forming means. The image information processing apparatus according to claim 8. 10. The image forming means reads the image data accumulated in the buffer memory and continues the image formation even during the bus open period, so that the image formation is not interrupted. 9. An image information processing device with storage.