JPH0965113A - Image processor and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain variable/biased power at a low cost, with simple constitution, without lowering the productivity of a copy object. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a copying magnification setting part 11 for setting the copying magnification of an original respectively for a main scanning direction and a subscanning direction, an image input part 13 for outputting the image data of the original by subscanning the original while main scanning it, a scanning direction processing part 14 for executing a processing corresponding to the set copying magnification of the main scanning direction to the image data, a direction replacing part 15 for replacing the main scanning direction and the subscanning direction of the processed image data, a control means 10 for outputting the image data replaced by a video clock VCK corresponding to the set copying magnification of the subscanning direction to the replaced image data and an image output part 16 for forming images corresponding to the image data outputted by the control means 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus suitable for use in obtaining a copy in which the length and width of an original are arbitrarily enlarged and reduced with a simple structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a copying machine has realized a scaling function for copying an original document by reducing or enlarging it in a similar shape at an arbitrary magnification. In recent years, digital copiers have also appeared, and line sensors are sequentially read while relatively moving in the sub-scanning direction with respect to a document, and an image is formed based on the image data. In such a digital copying machine, since the original image is treated as binary data, the original image can be easily processed. Therefore, a scaling function for reducing or enlarging each of the vertical and horizontal original originals at an arbitrary magnification is also realized. ing.

In such a demagnification function, reduction / enlargement in the main scanning direction has been performed as follows. When the image data is reduced line by line, it is thinned out according to the reduction ratio, while when it is enlarged, it is interpolated according to the enlargement ratio. When the image data is supplied to the laser optical system (image output unit), the supply rate of the image data is increased when the image data is reduced, and is decreased when the image data is enlarged. The reading rate for the line is changed according to the magnification. On the other hand, enlargement / reduction in the sub-scanning direction has been performed as follows. The relative speed of the line sensor at the time of reading is increased when reducing the size, and is decreased when expanding. The rotation speed of the photosensitive drum in the laser optical system is lowered when reducing the size, and is increased when expanding the size.

In each of the above-mentioned methods, the reduction / enlargement is performed individually in the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction. Separately from this, the image data is once expanded in the page memory, There is also a system in which a reduction / enlargement process is performed two-dimensionally according to the magnification, and a scaling process or a demagnification process is performed at a time and the image data is supplied to the laser optical system (image output unit).

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the conventional method,
When reducing / enlarging individually, in the main scanning direction ,,
With regard to the method (1), since the digital characteristic is utilized, it can be easily realized by a relatively simple configuration. However, with respect to the method in the sub-scanning direction, the control of the drive system becomes complicated due to the change in speed, which not only increases the cost of the apparatus itself but also lowers the reliability. was there. Also, the method of performing the two-dimensional reduction / enlargement process incurs a high cost when it is performed by the dedicated hardware, while it causes a reduction in the processing speed when it is performed by the software, and thus the productivity of the copy is reduced. However, there was a drawback that

The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and its object is to provide a simple structure.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be scaled and magnified at low cost without lowering the productivity of a copy, and an image processing apparatus used in the image forming apparatus.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention described in claim 1, the image data of the original obtained by sub-scanning while main-scanning the original is used. In an image processing apparatus for supplying image forming means for forming an image after image processing according to a copy magnification,
Setting means for setting the copy magnification of the original in each of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and processing for the image data according to the copy magnification in the main scanning direction set by the setting means. 1 processing means, replacement means for replacing the main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data processed by the first processing means, and the setting means for the image data replaced by the replacement means. The present invention is characterized by including a second processing unit that performs processing according to the set copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction and supplies the image to the image forming unit. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided clock oscillating means for oscillating a clock having a frequency inversely proportional to the copying magnification in the sub-scanning direction set by the setting means. The second processing means supplies the image data replaced by the replacement means to the image forming means in accordance with the clock, thereby performing processing according to the copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction set by the setting means. The feature is to do. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a storage unit that stores the image data is provided, and the replacement unit is the first unit.
The main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data processed by the processing means are written in the storage means and then read out, or the image data processed by the first processing means The main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data are read out by exchanging the main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data, and then the main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data are switched.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an image reading unit for outputting image data of an original by scanning the original while sub-scanning the original, and a copy magnification of the original are set in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Setting means for setting each direction, first processing means for processing the image data according to the copy magnification in the main scanning direction set by the setting means, and the first processing means. The replacing means for replacing the main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data processed by the above, and the image data replaced by the replacing means according to the copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction set by the setting means. It is characterized by comprising a second processing means for performing processing and an image forming means for forming an image in accordance with the image data processed by the second processing means. .

(Operation) According to the invention described in claim 1 or 4, the image data of the original is output by the main scanning and sub-scanning of the original. Then, the setting means sets the copy magnification of the original to the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and the first processing means sets the main scanning to the image data set by the setting means. The replacement means performs processing in accordance with the copy magnification in the direction, the replacement means replaces the main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data processed by the first processing means, and the second processing means
The image data replaced by the replacing means is processed according to the copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction set by the setting means, and the image forming means forms an image according to the image data processed by the second processing means. Do. That is, when a document is enlarged and reduced and copied, the two-dimensional enlargement and reduction process to be performed on the image data is divided into two steps, that is, the one-dimensional process. Also, the first
Since the second processing means and the second processing means perform the respective processings independently, it is possible to make the copy magnifications in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction different from each other. Is also possible. According to the second aspect of the invention, the clock oscillating means oscillates a clock having a frequency inversely proportional to the copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction set by the setting means, and the replaced image data forms an image according to the clock. Supplied to the means.
That is, the amount of image data supplied per unit time is changed according to the scaling factor. Conversely, since the operation speed of image formation or image reading can be kept constant regardless of the enlargement / reduction ratio, the device configuration can be simplified. In the image reading means, the document is subjected to main scanning and sub scanning, so that image data is output in each line (main scanning) direction. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data are switched by writing or reading when the image data is stored in the storage means, so that the configuration is relatively simple. A replacement means can be configured.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A: Embodiment Hereinafter, an optimum embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration. In this figure, reference numeral 10 is a control unit that controls each unit. Reference numeral 11 denotes a copy magnification setting unit, which sets the enlargement / reduction magnification when copying a document manually by the user or automatically according to the relationship between the document size to be read and the size of the copy paper. Here, in the present embodiment, the copy magnification can be arbitrarily set in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction during document reading. When copying is performed in a similar manner, the copy magnifications in both directions are the same. Reference numeral 12 denotes a clock oscillating unit, which is a video clock VC in which the frequency of the reference clock RCK is inversely proportional to the reference clock RCK serving as a control reference and the set copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction.
K and are generated.

Reference numeral 13 is an image input unit composed of a line sensor or the like, and moves the line sensor at a constant speed in a direction (sub-scanning direction) perpendicular to the line direction (main scanning direction) to scan the original. Read. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the image data from the image input unit 13 is
After one line is output in the main scanning direction, the next line is output in the main scanning direction, and so on until the final line in the sub scanning direction. Reference numeral 14 is a scanning direction processing unit, and the image input unit 13
The image data supplied from the device is processed according to the set copy magnification in the main scanning direction.

Reference numeral 15 is a direction switching unit for switching the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the image data output from the scanning direction processing unit 14, and is composed of a page memory 15a and an address conversion unit 15b. Here, the page memory 15a stores image data for one page, the writing / reading thereof is controlled by the control unit 10, and the address conversion unit 15b is controlled by the control unit during writing. The address from 10 is supplied as it is to the page memory 15a as the write address, while at the time of reading, the address from the control unit 10 is replaced with the upper digit and the lower digit and supplied as the read address. The control unit 10 advances the address according to the reference clock RCK during writing, but according to the video clock VCK during reading.

Reference numeral 16 is an image output unit, and according to the image data supplied from the direction changing unit 15, for example,
An image is output by irradiating the photosensitive drum with laser light to form an electrostatic latent image, which is transferred and fixed on a copy sheet. In this embodiment, the scanning speed of the laser light (rotation speed of the polygon mirror) and the rotation speed of the photosensitive drum are constant regardless of the copy magnification.

B: Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described. First, prior to copying, the user sets the copy magnification with respect to the original document size if scaling is performed in a similar manner, and if scaling is performed, the copy magnification is set in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. It is set by the setting unit 11. Alternatively, the copy magnification setting unit 11 automatically sets the copy magnification so that the original image fits on the copy paper. When an instruction to start copying is given from an operation panel (not shown), the control unit 10 instructs the image input unit 13 to start reading a document. As a result, the image input unit 13 starts reading the document and outputs the image data line by line.
Further, the control unit 10 controls the scanning direction processing unit 14 so as to thin out or interpolate the image data at the copying magnification in the main scanning direction out of the set copying magnification. Specifically, the scanning direction processing unit 14 thins out, for example, one image for two image data when a reduction of the copy magnification “50%” in the main scanning direction is set. While the image data is decreased, if the enlargement of the copying magnification "150%" in the main scanning direction is set, the image data is increased by interpolating every two image data.

At the same time, the control unit 10 controls the page memory 15a.
Further, the write enable signal is supplied to the address conversion unit 15b, and the write address is advanced to the address conversion unit 15b by the reference clock RCK by the clock oscillation unit 12 and supplied. Address translation unit 1
5b is the address of the page memory 1 as it is when writing.
5a, the image data processed by the scanning direction processing unit 14 is stored in the page memory 15a.
It is written at the write address of 0. next,
When the control unit 10 writes the image data for one page into the page memory 15a, this time, the control unit 10 supplies the read enable signal to the page memory 15a and the address conversion unit 15b, and also writes the read data to the address conversion unit 15b. The same read address as the address is set to the clock oscillator 1
It is supplied by stepping with the video clock VCK according to 2.
Since the address conversion unit 15b supplies the addresses by exchanging the upper digit and the lower digit at the time of reading, the page memory 1
From 5, the image data processed by the scanning direction processing unit 14 is read at the replaced addresses.

The operation of the direction changing section 15 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). For brevity, the address range of the page memory 15a, a will be described as an example case of a, as shown in these figures, "0000 _H" ~ "FFFF _H". First, as shown in FIG. 7A, the control unit 10 sequentially sets the first one line of the image data processed by the scanning direction processing unit 14 at addresses "0000 _H " to "00FF _H ". writing, sequentially written in the next line of the address "0100 _H" - "01FF _H". Following a similar manner to sequentially write the last line in the address "FF00 _H" - "FFFF _H". That is, the control unit 10 sequentially outputs “0000 _H ” to “FFFF _H ” as write addresses, and writes them for each line. Then, when the image data for one page is written, the control unit 10 re-outputs "0000 _H " to "FFFF _H " as read addresses this time. However, since the upper digit and the lower digit are exchanged by the address conversion unit 15b, the image data read first is the same as the image data shown in FIG.
As shown in, the first column of "0000 _H " to "FF00 _H ", and the image data to be read next is "000 _H ".
It is the second column of "1 _H " to "FF01 _H ". In the same manner, it is read out as image data to the last column of "00FF _H" ~ "FFFF _H". In this way, the direction changing unit 15
Then, the image data in each main scanning direction is output in each sub-scanning direction after the directions are switched. It should be noted that the address range of the page memory 15a should actually be set in consideration of the resolution of the line sensor, the feed step in the sub-scanning direction, and the like.

At this time, since the read address is supplied in accordance with the video clock VCK, the image data output from the direction changing unit 15 per unit time is reduced if the set copying magnification in the sub-scanning direction is reduced. Dense, coarse for enlargement. Here, since the scanning speed of the laser light in the image output unit 16 is constant regardless of the copy magnification, in the image formed by the image output unit 16, the scanning direction of the laser light is the image data per unit time. A dense image results in a reduced image (see FIG. 3B), and a coarse image results in an enlarged image (see FIG. 3C). For reference, the case of the same size is shown in FIG.

C: Specific Operation of Embodiment Next, how the image of the read image data changes in each part in this embodiment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. First, the image of the image data output by the image input unit 13 is shown in FIG.
If it is as shown in (a), the image data is reduced / enlarged in the scanning direction processing unit 14 in accordance with the set copying magnification in the main scanning direction. As shown in (b) (reduction is shown in the figure). After that, in the direction changing unit 15, the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the image data are changed, so that the image becomes as shown in FIG. Then, the replaced image data is supplied to the image output unit 16 at a rate according to the set copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction.
The image obtained by the image output unit 16 is as shown in FIG. 7D (reduction is shown in the drawing). In this way, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a copy according to the set copy magnifications in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

D: Modifications, effects, etc. In the above-described embodiment, reduction in the sub-scanning direction
Regarding the enlargement processing, the reading rate of the page memory is changed according to the copy magnification and supplied to the image output unit 16, but the present application is not limited to this. For example, the reading from the page memory 15a is performed according to the reference clock RCK, the read image data is supplied to the scanning direction processing unit 14, and the scanning direction processing unit 14 this time,
The thinning / interpolation processing may be performed according to the set copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction, and the thinning / interpolation processing may be supplied to the image output unit 16. That is, the intent of the present application is to perform the two-dimensional enlargement / reduction processing to be performed on the image data,
It is divided into two one-dimensional processes. Therefore, according to the modified example or the embodiment, only one-dimensional processing is required, and the configuration can be simplified. In addition, in any of such a configuration or the embodiment, the scanning speed in the image output unit 16,
It is possible to obtain an image output according to the copy magnification with the conveyance speed and the reading speed of the image input unit 13 both being constant. Therefore, since the drive system and the control system are simplified, not only the cost can be reduced, but also the high reliability of the system can be obtained.
Since the time required to obtain one copy is constant regardless of the copy magnification, the productivity of the copy does not decrease.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the direction changing section 15 has a structure in which the image data is stored and then read by changing the address. However, after writing at the changed address, the direction is read at the original address. It goes without saying that they can perform exactly the same functions.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It has the following effects. When a document is enlarged and reduced and copied, the configuration can be greatly simplified as compared with a configuration in which two-dimensional processing is performed on image data at once. Furthermore, it is also possible to make the original document have different magnifications in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction.
4). Since the operation speed of image formation or the like can be made constant regardless of the enlargement / reduction ratio, the device configuration can be simplified (claim 2). The replacement means can be configured with a relatively simple configuration (claim 3).

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2A is a diagram for explaining a write operation in the direction changing unit of the same embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a diagram for explaining an read operation in the same.

FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining an operation of the image output unit of the same embodiment at the same magnification, and FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining an operation at the same reduction; (C) is a figure for explaining the operation at the time of reduction.

FIGS. 4A to 4D are views for explaining image images in the same embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Control unit (second processing unit), 11 ... Copy magnification setting unit (setting unit), 12 ... Clock oscillation unit (clock oscillation unit), 13 ... Image input unit (image reading unit),
14 ... Scanning direction processing unit (first (second) processing means),
15 ... Direction changing section (replacement means), 15a ... Page memory (storage means), 16 ... Image output section (image forming means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus, which performs image processing of image data of an original obtained by sub-scanning the original while performing main scanning, and supplies the image data to image forming means for forming an image, Setting means for setting the copy magnification of the original in each of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction; and processing for the image data according to the copy magnification in the main scanning direction set by the setting means. A first processing unit; a replacement unit for replacing the main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data processed by the first processing unit; and the setting unit for the image data replaced by the replacement unit. An image processing apparatus comprising: a second processing unit that performs a process according to a set copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction and supplies the image forming unit with the processed image. 2. A clock oscillating unit that oscillates a clock having a frequency inversely proportional to the copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction set by the setting unit, the second processing unit including the image data replaced by the replacing unit. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing means is supplied to the image forming means in accordance with the clock to perform processing according to the copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction set by the setting means. 3. A storage unit for storing the image data, wherein the replacing unit replaces the main scanning position and the sub-scanning position of the image data processed by the first processing unit with the storage unit. Image data processed by the first processing means, and then written in the storage means and then read by exchanging the main scanning position and the sub-scanning position. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main scanning position and the sub scanning position of the data are exchanged. 4. An image reading means for outputting image data of an original by performing main scanning and sub-scanning of the original, and a copy magnification of the original are set for each of the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. Setting means, first processing means for performing processing on the image data according to the copy magnification in the main scanning direction set by the setting means, and main processing of the image data processed by the first processing means. Interchanging means for exchanging the scanning position and the sub-scanning position, and a second processing means for performing processing on the image data exchanged by the exchanging means according to the copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction set by the setting means. And an image forming unit for forming an image according to the image data processed by the second processing unit.