JPS60222271A - System and device for outputting image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable to know the size of a data image, by a system wherein a framing image based on the size of a data image is also outputted when the size of a recording paper is larger than the size of the data image supplied from an image data information source. CONSTITUTION:An information source means 1 outputs image information to a line 10, and outputs image size information to a line 6. An image-converting means 2 converts the image information into an image signal, and outputs the image signal to a line 11. On the other hand, a comparing means 4 receives the image size information from the means 1, receives surface size information from an image-outputting means 3, and compares both pieces of size information. When it is discriminated that the size of the image is smaller than the size of an image-outputting surface, the condition is outputted from the means 3 to a line 8. According to the condition, a framing image generating means 5 generates a framing pattern image based on the image size information, and the means 3 outputs the image signal and a framing image signal in an overlapping to the image-outputting surface.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image output method and apparatus that receives image data from an image data information source such as a host computer and outputs the image on, for example, recording paper, and particularly relates to an image output method and apparatus that receives image data from an image data information source such as a host computer and outputs the image on recording paper. The present invention relates to an image output method and apparatus which, when the size of recording paper is larger than the size of the image, also outputs an image with a cutout based on the size of the image.

[Prior Art] A laser that can be used to cut sheets as an output device for computers and the like and can provide high-speed, high-quality print output 1. There is a beam printer. However, in conventional devices of this type, even if a recording paper larger than the data image size output from the image data information source is fed, the image is printed at the same size on the paper regardless of the size of the paper. was formed. Therefore, even if you look at the print result, you can't tell what the size of the data image was that was output from the image data information source, for example, whether it was B4 size according to the paper standard.
It was difficult to determine whether it was size 4 or not. Therefore, the operator is inconvenienced when designing formatting by merging various data images onto recording paper.

[Purpose] The present invention has been made in view of the drawbacks of the prior art described above, and its purpose is, for example, when the size of the recording paper is larger than the size of the data image from the image data information source. The object of the present invention is to propose an image output method and device that can easily determine the size of a data image by simultaneously outputting a frame-cut image based on the size of the data image.

The above-mentioned objects of the present invention can be achieved, for example, by the configuration of functional blocks as shown in FIG. In the figure, l is an information source means that outputs image information and image size information indicating the size of the image, 2 is an image conversion means that converts the image information into an image signal, and 3 is a means for visualizing the image signal on the image output surface. 4 is a comparison stage P that compares the image size information and surface size information and outputs the determination result; 5 is the determination result of the comparison means 4; According to the image size information, a frame removed image generating means outputs a frame removed image signal according to the image size information.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained below.

When outputting an image, the information source means l outputs the image information to the line lO.
The image size information is output to line 6. Note that the image information may be information of the image as it is. In this case the image information is bypassed via line 12.

The image converting means 2 converts the image information on line 10 into an image signal and outputs it on line 11. On the other hand, the comparison means 4 receives image size information from the information source means 1 via line 6, and also receives surface size information from the image output means 3 via line 7. Comparison means 4 compares and discriminates the two, and when it is determined that the size of the image is smaller than the size of the surface, it outputs that fact on line 8. The frame removal image generating means 5 generates a frame removal pattern image according to the image size information from line 6 according to the output of line 8, and outputs it to line 9.0 Image output means 3 generates a frame removal pattern image based on the image signal of line 11, and when present. overlaps the frame-cut image signal of line 9 and outputs it to the image output surface.

[Example] Hereinafter, an image output method and apparatus according to an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of an image output device used to implement the image output method of one embodiment. In the figure,
21 is a host computer that outputs image data and control commands; 22 is a human output port that exchanges image data and control commands with the host computer 1; and 23 is a central processor that is in charge of the main control of the eleventh embodiment. It is a single unit (CPU). Furthermore, 24, 25, and 26 are memories built into the device of this embodiment, 24 is a code buffer that holds image code data for one logical page, and 20 is a memory that stores various fonts corresponding to the code. The font memory 26 is an image buffer that holds an output image for one logical page in a dot-type pattern. Reference numeral 27 is an input port for the CPU 23 to detect the on/off states of various switches provided in the apparatus of this embodiment, and 28 is a microswitch for detecting the paper size of the selected paper feed cassette. In this embodiment, three microswitches are provided to identify three types of paper sizes, and their on/off signals are input to input port 2.
7. 30 is an image interface that converts image data from the image buffer 26 into a video signal; 2;
Reference numeral 9 is an output port of the CPU 23 which supplies image data to a laser scan unit 31 including a scanner etc. via an image interface 30, or supplies necessary data to a motor control circuit, a display device, etc. (not shown). be. Further, 32 is the main body of the image output device consisting of the main functional components described above.

Next, the operation of the device of this embodiment with the configuration described above will be explained in the third section.
This will be explained in detail with reference to the flowchart in the figure. In step Sl, data sent from the host computer 21 is taken in via the input/output port 22. In step S2, it is determined whether this input data is a control command.

If it is not a control command, the process advances to step S3 and the code data is stored in the code buffer 24. For example, when the code data for one logical page is divided into several parts and transmitted from the host computer 21, steps S1, S2, and S are performed until all the code data for one page has been transmitted.
The process of step 3 is repeated.

Next, a description will be given of the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment to form a frame removal image based on a control command from the host computer 21. When the transmission of the code data for one logical page from the host computer 21 is completed, the host computer 21 outputs a control command inquiring about the size of the printing paper. Of course, this size adjustment may be performed at any time.

This control command is taken into the CPU 23 at step S1, and determined to be a control command at step S2. The process moves to step S4, where it is determined whether or not this control command is a control command inquiring about the paper size. If the inquiry is about the paper size, the process advances to step S5 and the three microswitches 28 are turned on and off via the input port 27.
Detect off state. In step S6, information on the paper size determined from the detected on/off signal is transmitted to the host computer 21 via the input/output port 22. The host computer 21 compares the size of the paper prepared in the image output device 32 and the size of the logical one page information to be output as an image, and if it is necessary to perform border cutting, it outputs information to that effect and its border cutting size. An image forming command consisting of information is output. The processing of the CPU 23 takes in this command in step S1, and in step 32. The process passes through S4 and proceeds to step S7. In step S7, it is determined whether this control command is an image forming command. If it is an image formation command, the process advances to step S8, and a pattern image is formed in the image buffer 26. The CPU 23 searches the font memory 25 for a font corresponding to the code data stored in the code buffer 24 and stores the read font data in the image buffer 26. If the pattern is changed for all codes in the card buffer 24, the process advances to step S9. In step S9, information regarding whether or not to perform frame removal is checked. If frame removal is to be performed, a frame removal dot pattern is formed in the image buffer 26 in accordance with the image size information in the image forming command in step S10. When a frame-cutting image is output, one preferable aspect of the shape and size of the frame-cutting is, for example, the same as the standard size of paper (A4, B5, etc.).

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show buffer images with no frame removal, respectively. Both FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are images of part of the contents stored in the image buffer memory 26, and show the character T in dot representation format, where one bit in the memory corresponds to one bit in the image. The text is shown below. FIG. 4 shows the state before removing the frame, and FIG. 5 shows the state after removing the frame. If it is determined in step S9 that frame removal is not to be performed, the process of step SIO is omitted.

Next, in step 311, the contents of the image buffer 26 are transferred to the image interface 30. The contents of the image buffer 26 are transferred to the image interface 30 via the output boat 29.
Once transferred to the image buffer 26, the dot-format data in the image buffer 26 is converted into a video signal and sent to the laser scanning unit 31, where an image is formed on the paper. Further, when it is determined in step S7 that the command is not an image forming command, the process advances to step 312 and predetermined processing based on other control commands is performed.

In the explanation of the embodiment described above, the paper size is queried from the image data information source, it is determined whether or not to perform border removal, and then an image containing information on whether or not to perform border removal is determined. We have described the case where this is done by issuing a formation order.

However, it is clear that such a determination may be made at the image data information source or within the image output device. In other words, the image data information source may always output an image forming command including the image size, and it may be determined in the image output device whether or not to perform frame removal.

In addition, in this embodiment, the image for one logical page < sofa 2
6 is built into the main body, but if there is not enough image buffer capacity for one logical page, use the code buffer 24.
The process from 38 to the step 38, step 39, step S10, and step 30, from forming the image to the image buffer 26 to transferring the image to the image interface 30, may be divided into several steps.

Further, in the above embodiments, the host computer is used as an image data information source, but it is of course possible to use a league that reads a document image as an image data information source, and the present invention also applies in that case. can be applied effectively. Furthermore, it is clear that the image output surface is not limited to printing paper, but may also be a display device using a CRT or the like.

[Effect] As described above, according to the present invention, for example, when the paper size of the image output device is larger than the image size of the image information source,
Since a cutout image is automatically printed based on the image size, the image size of the image data source is clear, and furthermore, it is easy to cut out the paper at a size that matches the image size. There is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of an example of implementing an image output method according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main functional configuration of an image output device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the configuration shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a pattern of part of the information stored in the image buffer before frame removal processing is performed, and Fig. 5 FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a part of information stored in an image buffer in a patterned form after the implementation of a peeling process. Here, 21... host computer, 22... input/output port, 23... central processing unit, 24... code buffer, 25... font memory, 26... image buffer, 27 ... input port, 28 ... microswitch, 29 ... output port, 30 ... image interface, 31 ... laser scan unit, 32 ... image output device. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Image information for outputting an image, image size information indicating the size of the image, and surface size information indicating the size of a surface to be used for outputting the image, and the image is displayed on the surface. When outputting, the image size information and the surface size information are compared and determined, and if it is determined that the size of the image is smaller than the size of the surface, an image is printed on the surface according to the image size information. An image output method characterized by outputting a captured image together. (2) an input means for inputting image information for outputting an image and image size information indicating the size of the image; and an image output means for outputting a visible image of the image information and the image information for frame removal; output means for outputting surface size information indicating the size of the surface to be provided for the visible image output of the image output means; and when the image size information is input, an image of a frame removed according to the image size information; An image output device characterized by comprising an image information generating means for generating information. (3) The image output device according to claim 2, wherein the surface provided for visual image output is a printing paper.