JPS6216158A - Printer apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable rapid printing output, by mounting a data input means, a discrimination means for discriminating the form of image data, plural kinds of image processing means for converting image data to a predetermined dot image, a selection means for selecting the dot image and a control means for starting a printer. CONSTITUTION:CPU203 receives various forms of image data through a GPIB interface 260 and discriminates whether the receiving data is a control command for defining an image form a usual bus control command or actual image data according to various forms. Image processing blocks 2, 3, 4 are selectively energized according to the discrimination results and the image data is processed to be converted to an output image. A gate means selects the dot image of the output of a image processing means energized according to the discrimination results and outputted after a color printer 5 became printable. Hereupon, the control means (CPU)203 starts the printer 5 at the point of time before the reception of input image data is completed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a printer device, and particularly relates to a printer device that prints image data of different formats generated from different sources (character data, MH encoded data of facsimile, color video data of TV, etc.). ), and relates to a printer device that can handle all types of documents in an integrated manner and print quickly.

[Prior Art] In recent years, as the development of OA equipment has progressed, image information in various formats has come to be generated. For example, computer equipment such as personal computers or equipment such as word processors usually uses ASCII, E
Character/image processing is performed using code information such as BCDtC:, which is pattern-converted on the hard copy device side and printed. On the other hand, in a facsimile machine or the like, image data is formed by performing, for example, MH (Modified Huffman) encoding and compression processing based on the number of consecutive black pixels or white pixels of an image, that is, a run length code.

In this case, since the image data exchanged between the devices is a string of special codes called MH encoded compressed codes, the MH decoding device is used to convert this special code into the original black pixel and white pixel run length information. This means that the original image cannot be received and reproduced by any output terminal device other than the output terminal device having the above function. Normally, facsimile machines have this MH encoder and MH decoder, so images are transmitted between facsimile machines.
This type of image output cannot be performed in other general output terminal devices that do not have an MH decoder. Alternatively, in recent years, image information has become increasingly colored, and hard copy devices capable of outputting color images have been actively developed and are becoming increasingly popular. Even in color images, in particular, Victorian color image output devices that can reproduce halftones are highly anticipated as, for example, video printers, color copying machines, and computer graphics output terminal devices. Most of the devices that generate color image data with this kind of density information are TV cameras or COD cameras.
Although it is a color image input device equipped with a color sensor, the color information of each pixel is usually transferred as density data of 6 bits (64 gradations) or 8 bits (256 gradations). be done. In this case 1, for example, separate each color information for each pixel, B1 → Gl + R1 → B2 → G2 → R
2, etc., or sequentially transmit blocks of B component, G component, and R component in the order of each component data of one image. Alternatively, horizontal and vertical synchronization signal lines may be provided separately from the image data transmission path, and each color component image can be transmitted in synchronization with the vertical synchronization signal VSYNC, and H3YNC can be used as a horizontal synchronization signal and CLK as a one-pixel transmission clock to generate a color image. There are also methods for transmitting information. In either case, the form is obviously different from the character information such as the ASCII code output from the computer equipment mentioned above, or the compressed special code such as the MH code handled by the facsimile machine, and each The output device was not capable of receiving and processing image information in different formats.

On the other hand, as described above, various image input devices, that is, various image sources are overflowing, and it is not efficient from all viewpoints such as cost and space to prepare individual output terminal devices corresponding to each source.

Furthermore, images from different sources can be superimposed on a single sheet of paper, such as adding a character image input as code information to a color image and outputting it, or adding character information to a facsimile image and printing it. The current situation is that the demand for output data is increasing.

In this background, the present inventors uniformly input character data to be output as a document, MH encoded compressed image data, color separated color image data, etc. through a single data input means, and We have developed a color printer device that performs appropriate image conversion processing on data, converts input image data in different formats into a common dot image, and prints it out on a color printer section. The preferred printer is an electrophotographic printer, which has the disadvantage that it takes time to obtain print output. Particularly in the case of a conventional color laser beam printer (LBP), it takes several seconds to several tens of seconds after the printer is started up until the host (image sender) is ready to send data. That is, in color LBP, as is well known, there is a process to make the surface potential on the photosensitive drum uniform, and furthermore, the paper is at the image forming position (the contact point between the photosensitive drum and the transfer drum) after the paper feeding operation from the cassette starts.
It takes several seconds to reach the target. on the other hand,
To transfer color image data, if the number of dots in each B, G, and R image is 512 x 512 pixels, -262
Byte x3 = 788 bytes, and even if this is sent over a transmission line of 64 pi)/sec, it will take 12 seconds. Also,
If image data consisting of MH code is stored in f34 bytes, this transfer will take 1 second, and decoding of MH code will take 10 seconds.
It will take a few seconds. Also, if you add this up to 3 colors, it will take 20 seconds to 30 seconds.
It will take about a second or so. Therefore, adding the time until printing becomes possible on top of that unnecessarily delays print output and causes a decrease in efficiency.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, when image data in various formats coexist,
The purpose of this invention is to solve the disadvantage that a specific device can only handle specific image data, and to enable quick print output.

[Means for Solving the Problem] As a means for solving this problem, for example, the color printer device of the embodiment shown in FIG. data input means 201 and external connection equipment (
image data in various formats input via the input means 201 (not shown), such as character code data for document output, MH encoded data employed in facsimile machines, and three primary colors from a color imaging device. Discrimination means (C
PU) 203, and a plurality of types of image processing means that are energized according to the discrimination result of the discrimination means 203 and convert the input image data into a predetermined dot image by processing that is compatible with the format of the input image data, that is, characters. A document image fJ processing JI block 2 adapted for code processing, a MH image processing block 3 adapted for facsimile image processing, a color image processing block 4 adapted for color image processing, and the output of the plurality of types of image processing means. Gate means for selecting dot images (AND gates 211 to 213, OR game) 20
9), a color printer 5 for printing the dot image output from the gate means, and a control means (CPU) 203 for starting the printer 5 before completion of reception of input image data.

[Operation] In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the CPU 203 receives image data in various formats via a single CPIB interface bus 260, and determines whether the received data is a control command for defining an image format or a normal It is determined whether it is a path control command or actual image data according to various formats, and appropriate image processing blocks 2 and 3 are executed according to the determination result.
or 4 is selected and activated to convert the image data in the format into an output image. On the other hand, the gate means selects the dot image output from the energized image processing means according to the above-mentioned determination result, waits until the color printer 5 becomes ready to print, and then outputs the dot image. Here, the control unit (CPU) 203 starts activating the printer 5 before the reception of the input image data is completed.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall block configuration diagram of a color image processing system according to an embodiment, which can be roughly divided into image data processing units 1 to 4 (hereinafter referred to as controller units) and printer 5 (color image forming unit). This embodiment system consists of:
Since the system prints out the desired images individually or in combination by comprehensively processing image information in different formats (text, facsimile, etc.), the image data input section of this system is a single system. For example, IEEE-488 G, which is an 8-bit parallel standard interface.
In the 0 diagrams that adopt PIB, 1 is the input of image data,
The input/output control unit 2, which starts the startup of the printer 5, outputs a dot image to the printer 5, and performs other controls, is a character image processing block according to the ASCII I code system, for example, and has a back-up memory that stores the code. This block consists of a memory, a code interpreter, a character generator, a memory for pattern-developed dot images, etc., and mainly processes images of alphanumeric characters, numbers, kanji, and symbols. 3 is a block that processes the MH (Modified Huffman) compression code that is commonly used in facsimile communication, and internally decodes the MH code and performs run-leg decoding to create a dot image for one page of the image. The image data can be reproduced and developed, and the image data can be sent to the printer 5 at any time as required. An example of the format of the image data sent to the printer 5 is shown in FIG. The image data is then sent to the printer 5 after performing gradation correction, blemish processing, single color correction processing, and halftone processing. In this way, the color system of this embodiment can be applied to character codes according to the JIS code system, compressed image data according to the MH code system, and other TV data.
R, G, read by a camera, color scanner, etc.
B, Y, M, and C color image data can be received from the standard interface bus GPIB and printed.

Line 260 is a CPIB interface bus through which it is connected to an external GPIH controller, talker, and listener if necessary, and data is exchanged. 20
Reference numeral 1 denotes a GPIB interface, which has interface functions such as address specification support and handshake, as well as talker and listener functions. Note that GPIB is regulated in detail in IEEE-488, so its explanation will be omitted. 202 is a path selector, and the main CPU
The connection between the path 261 and paths 271 and 272 can be switched under the control of the path 203. That is, since there is only one signal line 260 (261) input to the system of this embodiment, non-image coat data (for example, COMI, C0M2 in FIG. 2 (7)) indicating control commands and device status, Image (pixel) data that is simply a sequence of 1'° "0" or compressed image code data (IDATAI, I
DATA2...) pass through the same path 260, but as described later, the processing blocks differ depending on each data, so system and image data control commands, etc. are executed by the CPU.
The path selector 202 connected to the path 271 (251) of 203 is switched, and the CPU 203 controls command interpretation, activation of the link unit, etc. In addition, image data is processed by image processing blocks 2 and 3 of each format.
．． Each processing block is supplied by the image data bus 272 connected to C4.
It is switched by the PU203. 207-1 (C
OMIFI) to 207-3 (COMIF3) are communication interface circuits for performing parallel processing between the main CPU 203, which controls the entire system, and the dedicated CPU provided in each image processing block.
, 264 are signal lines for performing this communication. Communication between each CPU in the image processing blocks 2 to 4 and the main CPU 203 is performed individually on a one-to-one basis. One of the functions of the main CPU 203 is when image data is sent from an external device, it interprets the identification command of the image data and operates to correspond to the type of image data. That is, first, in order to select a target image processing block, a command is sent to the CPU in the corresponding processing block through inter-CPU communication. Each C that received the command
The PU is a path transceiver 30 in each block, which will be described later.
1, 401, or 501 to capture image data into the image data buffer within the block. 215, 216,
Reference numeral 217 is an adjustment unit (ADJ) for positional movement of the output image relative to the print paper, and the movement amount is set individually for the image processed in each image processing block based on commands and data sent by the CPU 203 through the I10 boat 220. is possible. 211, 212, 213 are images converted to dot images (including dithered image data),
That is, character image data 278, MH decoded monochrome image data 279, or color image Y, M, C,
Select which of the B component data 280 to output A
It is an ND gate, and the image data after the gate is 281.28
2 and 283 are ORed by the OR gate 209 at the next stage. That is, by selecting one AND gate, images are output individually, and by selecting two or more, combined output is possible. 204
9 is a program ROM in which the program of the main CPU 203 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is stored; 205 is a RAM that stores temporary data accumulation and reference flags associated with program control; 267 is an address setting section for identifying itself as a GPIB device; 208-1. Exchanges synchronization signals.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a printer, which in this embodiment is a laser beam color printer using a color sequential overlapping method, which generates synchronization signals at the leading edge and left edge of the 0 image, and prints Y (yellow) 1M.
A full-color image is obtained by sequentially forming color images of (magenta), C (cyan), and B (black) using a raster scanning method, and overlapping each color toner image with high precision. Details of the control and operation of the printer 5 will be described later. In addition, the device of this embodiment performs high-speed DMA transfer in order to receive a large amount of image data.
The path selector 202 selects the CPIB bus 261 as bus 2.
When the connection is switched to the 72 side, the operation of the CPU in each block is stopped (CPUHOLD) and data is written directly to the buffer.

The details will be described later.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the character image processing block.
301 is a path transceiver, AS from GPIB
III: Receives II character code data.

312 in the character image processing block (COMI Fl)
The bus 272 is sent via a command from the main CPU 203.
and an internal bus 354 are connected, and the received data is passed through the path 35.
The data is stored one byte at a time in the code buffer memory 306 via 4. At this time, the DMAC302 is connected to the sub CPU3.
HOLD is applied to 03, and at the same time, the path transceiver 301 is activated via line 350.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the operation of the DMA, and FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing details of the DMA operation. DMA operation is CPIB interface 2
01 and buffer memory 306.406.01 in each block.
Direct memory access with 506 (DM, A)
This operation is controlled by a DMAC (DMA controller).

Here, after handshaking with an external device (not shown), the GPIB interface 201 receives and receives 1 byte of image data D1, and processes the DMAC in a predetermined image processing block.
A DMA request signal (DMARQ) 371 is sent to the DMA request signal (DMARQ) 371. DMAC5024t: CPU303 recognizes this.
A HI, D request (HLD) 376 is sent to the host. Said C
When the PU 303 accepts the HLD request, the DMAC 302
HLDA377 returned to Sunnote, DM A C30
24f This is not received and GPIB interface 20
1, a DMA acceptance signal (DMAACK) is returned, and at the same time, a strobe of the DATA read signal (DMARD) 372 is sent, and 1 byte of image data 1.1 is sent from the GPIB interface 201. Receive DI, take tf, then DMAC30
2 sends the storage 7F address ADDRESS 374 of the image data D1 and the data Dt to the buffer memory 306,
Send the memory write strobe MEMWR 375 and write data Di to the memory 306. After this, D
MAC302 erases DMAACK373 and CPIB
In response to this, the interface 201 sends DMARQ371
Finally, HLD request 376 to CPU 303
is released and the CPU operates again.One cycle of DMA transfer is completed when the value is 0 or more, but during this time the operation of the CPU 303 is stopped and the bus is occupied by the DMAC 302. Also, during this time, the GPIB interface 201 to DMAC3
It goes without saying that the path selector 202 and path transceiver 301 that are interposed between the DMA and the DMA are brought into conduction prior to DMA. From the path selector 202,
Portions such as the path transceiver 301 are omitted. Further, the above DMA transfer is the same in the MH image processing block 3 and the color image processing block 4.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the MH image processing block. In the figure, the MH compressed code received from 0 to GPIB 8th 2 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 406 by DMA transfer, and the stored MH compressed code is sequentially decoded into run length information, and then further
The image is developed into a 0'' dot image and stored in the image memory 408 for an image page. After one page is stored in the image memory 408, another image can be further stored in the buffer memory 406. The dot image stored in the image memory 408 is read out one byte at a time by the readout control circuit 409 during printing, converted to dot serial data by the parallel/serial conversion circuit 411, and input/output via line 454. It is sent to the control section 1.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing details of the color image processing block. Color image processing block is CPIB bus 26
This block develops the B, G, and R color separation density color image information received from 0 into dot images for each color and sends them to the printer 5. CPIB 8s 2 to 0 to 8
The DMA transfer for storing the bit color density image data in the buffer memory 506 is similar to that described above. Furthermore, C
PU503 transfers the three images to image memory 1 (507),
0 images are sequentially transferred to image memory 2 (508) and 8 images are transferred to image memory 3 (509). When printing by the printer 5, the same pixel data (DBl, D
Gz, DRz).

(DB2, DG2, DR2), . . . are read out sequentially, and then the printer 5
color conversion circuit 510 to the ink (toner) color (Y, M, C system), undercolor removal and smear insertion (511 to 514),
After undergoing masking (515), desired color data is selected in a data selector 516, subjected to halftone processing in a dither circuit 517, and sent to the printer 5 as color tod image data.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the color printer device of the embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a scanner, a laser output unit (not shown) that converts an image signal from the image processing device into an optical signal, and a polygon mirror 12 of a polyhedron (for example, dodecahedron).
．． A motor (not shown) that rotates this mirror 12 and F
/θ lens (imaging lens) 13 and the like. 14 is a reflecting mirror that changes the optical path of the laser beam, and 15 is a photosensitive drum. The laser beam emitted from the laser output section is reflected by the polygon mirror 12, passes through the lens 13 and the mirror 14, and scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 planarly, forming a latent image corresponding to the original image.

In addition, 17 is a primary charger, 18 is a full exposure lamp, and 23
is a cleaner section that collects residual toner that was not transferred;
24 is a pre-transfer charger, and these members are arranged around the photosensitive drum 15.

26 is a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 by laser exposure;
1Y, 31M, 310. 318 is a developing sleeve 30Y that directly performs development in contact with the drum 15.

30M, 30C, and 308 are toner hoppers for holding toner, and 32 is a screw for transporting the developer. These sleeves 31Y to 318 are connected to the developer unit by the toner hoppers 30Y to 308K and the screw 32. 26, and these members are arranged around the rotation axis P of the developing unit.

For example, when forming a yellow toner image, yellow toner development is performed at the position shown in this figure, and when forming a magenta toner image, the developing unit 26 is rotated around the axis P in the figure, and the photoreceptor is rotated. The developing sleeve 31M in the magenta developing device is disposed at a position in contact with 15. Cyan and black development operate in the same way.

Further, 16 is a transfer drum that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 15 onto paper, 19 is an actuator plate for detecting the moving position of the transfer drum 16;
0 is a position sensor that detects when the transfer drum 16 has moved to the home position by contacting this actuator plate 19, 25 is a transfer drum cleaner, 27 is a paper press roller, 28 is a static eliminator, and 29 is a It is a transfer charger, and these members 19, 20, 25°27.2
9 is arranged around the transfer roller 16.

On the other hand, 35.36 is a paper feed cassette that stores paper (paper sheets), 37.38 is a paper feed roller that feeds paper from the cassette 35.36, and 39, 40° 41 is the timing of paper feeding and conveyance. The paper fed and conveyed via these is guided by the paper guide 49, and its leading edge is held by a grip (see 51 in Fig. 5), which will be described later, while being wound around the transfer drum 16, and the image forming process begins. to move to.

50 is a separation claw that removes the paper from the transfer roller 16 after the image forming process is completed; 42 is a transport belt that transports the removed paper; and 43 is an image fixer that fixes the paper that has been transported by the transport belt 42. The image fixing section 43 has a pair of pressure rollers 44 and 45.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the printer control procedure of the embodiment executed by the main CPU 203.

In step S1, counters and flags on the program for operating the printer are initialized.

In step S2, it is checked whether or not there is a print command from the external controller. If there is a print command, the process goes to step S3, and a start signal is given to the printer 5. When the printer 5 detects this start signal, it enters the pre-rotation process, and the paper is fed from the cassette 35 or cassette 36 designated in advance by the controller, passes through the rollers 39, 40, and 41, and when the sensor 49 is cut, the paper is fed. The paper pauses. In step S4, it is checked whether or not there is an instruction to print a character image in the print command checked in step S2. The judgment is repeated until all the data has been sent from the controller, expanded on the image memory (window buffer), and ready for printing. When the printable state is detected, the process advances to step S6, and in the same manner, printing is performed. Determines whether the instructed image data is ready for printing for all formats of image data,
Proceed to step SIO. In step SIO, sensor 41
It is checked whether there is any paper at the stop position, and if there is one paper, the process advances to step S11. In step Sll, a grip signal for causing the transfer drum 16 to grip the paper is output to the printer. In step 512, it is checked whether or not there is an instruction to print a color image as a print instruction.
In the case of a character image or an MH compressed image, the process goes to step S19 because of the black "BK" phenomenon. If there is a color image to be printed, go to step 513 and check VSYNC, which is a synchronization signal for sub-scanning. When VSYNC is detected, 'Y' VIDE, which is the first development, is executed.
Send the O signal, and proceed in the same manner, step 515.1
6 (17) ``M'' Sends VIDEO signal, step S17.18 °'C'' Sends VIDEO signal, step 519.20 ``EIK'' VI[Sends EO signal, whether multiple prints are specified in step S21 For example, it is checked whether printing of the number of prints has been completed, and if it has not been completed, the process returns to step Sll, and if it has been completed, the process proceeds to step S22, outputs a printer stop signal, and returns to step S1.

In the above embodiment, GPIB was used as the standard interface, but R3232C may also be used.
It is not limited to this. Additionally, image data formats can be easily handled by adding corresponding processing blocks.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, even if it takes time from the start of printer startup to the actual image formation due to the physical conditions of the printer, the printer startup can be started from fMJ in advance. By doing so, the image data transfer processing time can be used effectively and printing can be performed quickly. Furthermore, since there are multiple types of image processing means, images of different formats can be transferred and processed in a continuous and parallel manner, resulting in a significant time saving effect.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is an overall block diagram of a color image processing device according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example format of image data transmitted to the embodiment device, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the format of image data transmitted to the embodiment device. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing details of the character image processing block; FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram for explaining DMA operation; FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing details of DMA operation. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing details of the MH image processing block, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing details of the color image processing block. 88 is a sectional view of the color printer device of the embodiment, and FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) are fuco charts showing the printer control procedure of the embodiment executed by the main CPU 203. In the figure, 1... input/output control unit, 2... character image processing block, 3... MHii! ii image processing block, 4.
. . . Color image processing block, 5 . . . Printer. (Figure 2, Figure 4, Figure 5)-ILDA

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A data input means consisting of one system, a discriminating means for discriminating the format of image data inputted through the data input means, and a discriminating means that is energized according to the discrimination result of the discriminating means, and the input image data is a plurality of types of image processing means for converting input image data into predetermined dot images through processing compatible with the format; a selection means for selecting dot images output from the plurality of types of image processing means; and a selection means for selecting dot images output from the selection means. A printer apparatus comprising: a printer that prints an image; and a control means that starts activating the printer before completion of receiving the input image data. (2) The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the selection means simultaneously selects the outputs of two or more image processing means to synthesize a dot image. (3) The printer device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the printer is a color laser beam printer.