JPH0946469A - Digital copying machine having scanner function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable also another function to efficiently use a scanner in the case of being used by a host computer. SOLUTION: A scanner function selection key is pushed among operation keys 2, and an original is set at an original reading input device 4. Then a start key is pushed among the keys 2. Thus a system control part 1 outputs a scanning instruction to the device 4, and the device 4 operates to read the original. Then the image data which are not processed yet are sent and stored in a storage 6. When the storage of the image data is over, a scanner function is set to transfer the read image data and the device 4 is released. In this data transfer enable state, a copy function selection key and a FAX function selection key are pushed among the keys 2. Thus both copy and FAX functions can work.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital copying machine with a scanner function, which uses a scanner used for a copy function as a scanner of a host computer,
In particular, the present invention relates to a digital copying machine with a scanner function suitable for a multifunction machine having a facsimile function and the like in addition to a scanner function and a copy function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in this type of digital copying machine having a scanner function, a document reading input device (scanner) is used.
Image data read by the network or S
It can be transferred to the host computer via CSI or the like. Conventionally, when transferring in this way, image processing parameters (scan conditions,
The scanning operation parameter) is set in the document reading input device (scanner), and the document is read every few lines and transferred to the host computer while controlling the reading input device.

Image data read by setting an image processing parameter from a host computer in a read input device is temporarily stored in a memory in a digital copying machine and transferred to the host computer.

[0004]

However, in the conventional method, since the host computer repeatedly changes the scan condition and the scan operation parameter for one original and issues a read request, the original is read on the reading device. Therefore, there is a problem in that the reading device cannot be used for other purposes such as a copy function and a facsimile function. In addition,
It is known to switch the reading device for other purposes such as copy function and facsimile function by using the interrupt key, but the original must be returned after the interrupt, and during the interrupt, the host device must be returned. The computer cannot use the reader.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital copying machine with a scanner function which allows the other functions to efficiently use the scanner when the host computer uses the scanner. To do.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first means is a digital copying machine with a scanner function which uses a scanner used at the time of a copy function as a scanner of a host computer, and a document read by the scanner. Storage means for storing the image data of the image data, an image processing means for performing image processing on the image data stored in the storage means based on image processing parameters, and image data of an original read by a scanner at the time of the scanner function. The image stored in the storage means by releasing the scanner after storing the image in the storage means without image processing by the means and setting the image processing parameter set by the host computer in the image processing means. The data is image-processed by the image processing means and the Characterized in that a control means for controlling so as to be transferred to computers.

The second means is the image data stored in the storage means when the control means in the first means sets the image processing parameter in the image processing means at the time set by the host computer. Is subjected to image processing by the image processing means and transferred to the host computer.

In a third means, the control means in the first means divides the image data stored in the storage means, and sets the image processing parameters set by the host computer in the image processing means. By so doing, the image data stored in the storage means is divided, subjected to image processing by the image processing means, and transferred to the host computer.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital copying machine with a scanner function according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the system controller unit 1
Controls the entire system and performs the following processing in particular. Further, the system controller unit 1 has a scanner function that operates as a scanner of an external host computer 9, a copy function, and a FAX function. The constituent members for the FAX function are not shown.

Accepting key input from the operation keys 2,
Various functions are selected and conditions are set, and each component 2-8
Give an order to

Display data is sent to the display device 3 to be displayed.

A scanning command is issued to the reading input device (scanner) 4, the original is read, and the image data is stored in the storage device 6.

Various image processing settings are made to the image processing apparatus 5.

The image processing device 5 is made to retrieve the image data stored in the storage device 6 and perform various image processing. Further, the image data image-processed by the image processing device 5 is taken out.

Image data is transferred to the host computer 9 via the host interface unit 7, and various image processing information from the host computer 9 is set and acquired.

The print data is output to the printing device 8 and printed.

The operation keys 2 include various keys such as a start key, a scanner function selection key, a copy function selection key, and a FAX function selection key, and send the key input data to the system controller section 1. The display device 3 displays the display data from the system controller unit 1, the reading input device 4 reads the document upon receiving the scan command from the system controller unit 1, and stores the image data in the storage device 6.
Send to.

The image processing apparatus 5 performs image processing on the image data fetched from the storage device 6 according to various image processing settings set by the system controller unit 1 and sends it to the system controller unit 1. The storage device 6 stores the image data sent from the read input device 4.
The host interface unit 7 is an interface of a bus connected to the host computer 9, and the printing device 8 prints the print data from the system controller unit 1 on a recording paper.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. First, when the scanner function selection key of the operation keys 2 is pressed, the system controller unit 1 sets the reading input device 4 in a document readable state. Then, when the start key of the operation keys 2 is pressed after the document is set on the read input device 4, the system controller unit 1 issues a scan command to the read input device 4 to operate the read input device 4. Then, the original is read, and as a result, the image data that has not been subjected to the image processing is sent to the storage device 6 and accumulated.

When the storage is completed, the scanner function shifts to the read data transferable state and the read input device 4 is released. In this data transferable state, by pressing the copy function selection key and the FAX function selection key of the operation key 2, it is possible to shift to the copy function and the FAX function, respectively.

Next, when the image processing parameters are set in the host computer 9 and a request for setting the image processing parameters from the host computer 9 is sent to the system controller unit 1 via the host interface unit 7, the system controller unit 1 performs the image processing. An image processing parameter setting request is output to the processing device 5.

Next, when a data fetch request from the host computer 9 is sent to the system controller section 1 via the host interface section 7, the system controller section 1 outputs an image processing instruction to the image processing apparatus 5, Therefore, the image data stored in the storage device 6 is image-processed by the image processing device 5 based on the set image processing parameters and transferred to the host computer 9 via the host interface 7.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described. First, as in the first embodiment, when the scanner function selection key of the operation keys 2 is pressed, the system controller unit 1 sets the reading input device 4 to the document readable state. Then, when the start key of the operation keys 2 is pressed after the document is set on the read input device 4, the system controller unit 1 issues a scan command to the read input device 4 to operate the read input device 4. Then, the original is read, and as a result, the image data that has not been subjected to the image processing is sent to the storage device 6 and accumulated.

When the storage is completed, the scanner function shifts to the read data transferable state, and the read input device 4 is released. In this data transferable state, by pressing the copy function selection key and the FAX function selection key of the operation key 2, it is possible to shift to the copy function and the FAX function, respectively.

Then, the time setting for automatically starting the data transfer is performed in the host computer 9, and the time setting request for the automatic data transfer from the host computer 9 is sent to the system controller section 1 via the host interface section 7. Then, the system controller unit 1 stores the time and secures the image data accumulated in the storage device 6 until the time. Then, at that time, the system controller unit 1 notifies the host computer 9 via the host interface unit 7 of the start of data transfer, and a request for setting image processing parameters from the host computer 9 is sent via the host interface unit 7. When sent to the system controller unit 1, the system controller unit 1 outputs an image processing parameter setting request to the image processing apparatus 5.

Next, when a data fetch request from the host computer 9 is sent to the system controller section 1 via the host interface section 7, the system controller section 1 outputs an image processing instruction to the image processing apparatus 5, Therefore, the image data stored in the storage device 6 is image-processed by the image processing device 5 based on the set image processing parameters and transferred to the host computer 9 via the host interface 7.

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. First, as in the first embodiment, when the scanner function selection key of the operation keys 2 is pressed, the system controller unit 1 sets the reading input device 4 to the document readable state. Then, when the start key of the operation keys 2 is pressed after the document is set on the read input device 4, the system controller unit 1 issues a scan command to the read input device 4 to operate the read input device 4. Then, the original is read, and the image data that has not been subjected to image processing is sent to the storage device 6 and accumulated.

When the storage is completed, the scanner function shifts to the read data transferable state, and the read input device 4 is released. In this data transferable state, by pressing the copy function selection key and the FAX function selection key of the operation key 2, it is possible to shift to the copy function and the FAX function, respectively.

Next, in the host computer 9, image processing parameters are set in the host computer 9, and when a request for setting the image processing parameters from the host computer 9 is sent to the system controller unit 1 via the host interface unit 7, the system controller unit 1 Reference numeral 1 outputs an image processing parameter setting request to the image processing apparatus 5.

Next, when a data fetch request from the host computer 9 is sent to the system controller section 1 via the host interface section 7, the system controller section 1 divides the image data stored in the storage device 6 into certain units. Image processing device 5 at specified time intervals
The image processing / processing command is output to the image processing / processing device 5 according to the set image processing parameters, and the image data stored in the storage device 6 is divided into units by a certain time interval. The processed and processed host computer 9 via the host interface unit 7.
Is forwarded to

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the scanner is released after the image data of the original read by the scanner during the scanner function is stored without being processed, and the scanner is released. Since the image data stored by setting the image processing parameters set by is image-processed and transferred to the host computer, the scanner is released after the reading of the original is completed at the time of the scanner function, so that the other functions can be efficiently used. A scanner can be used.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image data stored by setting the image processing parameters at the time set by the host computer is image-processed and transferred to the host computer. By transferring the data to the host computer, the load on the host computer and the network can be reduced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the stored image data is divided, and the stored image data is divided and image-processed by setting the image processing parameters set by the host computer. Since the data is transferred to the computer, the load on the host computer or the network can be reduced when the amount of data is large.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System controller section 4 Reading input apparatus 5 Image processing apparatus 6 Storage apparatus 8 Host interface section 9 Host computer

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A digital copying machine with a scanner function, which uses a scanner used for a copy function as a scanner of a host computer, a storage unit for storing image data of an original read by the scanner, and a storage unit stored in the storage unit. Image processing means for performing image processing on the image data based on image processing parameters; and image data of an original read by a scanner during the scanner function is stored in the storage means without being subjected to image processing by the image processing means. By releasing the scanner and setting the image processing parameters set by the host computer in the image processing means, the image data stored in the storage means is image-processed by the image processing means and transferred to the host computer. Control means to control , A digital copier with a scanner function. 2. The control means sets image processing parameters in the image processing means at a time set by the host computer, whereby the image data stored in the storage means is image-processed by the image processing means. 2. The digital copying machine with a scanner function according to claim 1, wherein the digital copying machine is controlled so as to be transferred to the host computer. 3. The control means divides the image data stored in the storage means, and sets the image processing parameters set by the host computer in the image processing means, thereby storing the image data in the storage means. 2. The digital copying machine with a scanner function according to claim 1, wherein the image data is controlled so that the image data is divided, image-processed by the image processing means, and transferred to the host computer.