JPS6216596B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information processing device having an image information reading function, a storage function, and a recording (reproducing) function, and in particular, the present invention relates to an information processing device having an image information reading function, a storage function, and a recording (reproducing) function. The present invention relates to an information processing device having the following.

Conventionally, recording pixels are formed on a recording medium by driving recording elements in response to pixel signals.
Information processing apparatuses that reproduce and record information using such a collection of recording pixels are already known.

In such an information processing apparatus, a plurality of recording elements are provided and these recording elements are driven simultaneously in order to improve the recording speed.

The most common type of device that drives multiple recording elements simultaneously is one in which multiple recording elements (for example, thermal heads) are arranged in a row at one recording pixel interval; It has been difficult to use when the element or its driving portion is physically larger than one pixel interval. Furthermore, it has been difficult to improve the quality of reproduced images. Therefore, if the recording elements and their driving parts are larger than one recording pixel interval, the recording elements (for example, wires in a wire printer) may be arranged in a staggered manner, or the recording elements may be opposed to the recording medium at different angles. It has been considered to arrange the recording pixels in a manner such that a row of recording pixels having an interval of one recording pixel is formed on the recording medium. However, even in the arrangement as described above, since the recording pixels themselves are arranged so as to be formed at one pixel interval, they are still subject to restrictions on the size of the recording element, and it is difficult to apply it to all recording elements. Furthermore, it has been difficult to improve the quality of reproduced images.

The present invention eliminates such conventional drawbacks by providing a scanning means for linearly scanning image information, a storage means for storing image data obtained by the scanning of the scanning means, and a storage means for storing the image data in the storage means. a first address generation means for generating an address for storing the image data; a second address generation means for generating an address for reading out one line of image data stored in the storage means; and an image stored in the storage means. The address generated by the second address generation means for one line of information has at least two forms, and the address is read out based on the address generated by the second address generation means. The present invention provides an information processing apparatus characterized by having an output means for outputting image data, and a control means for controlling the means to repeat the above steps as necessary.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the main parts of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. Reference numeral 11 denotes a drum (not shown) which has a cylindrical shape and which wraps recording paper, which is a recording medium (of course, it may itself be a recording medium drum such as a magnetic drum or a photosensitive drum). It is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of arrow S by a motor.

Two guide rails 13-1 and 13-2 are provided parallel to the rotation center axis 12 of the drum, and a recording head is provided on the guide rail 13, and the head is a recording element. The ink jet nozzle 15 is composed of an inkjet nozzle 15 and a fixing member (supporting body) 14 for fixing the nozzle 15. As a recording element, it is of course possible to use other recording elements such as a magnetic head corresponding to the magnetic drum or a light irradiation element corresponding to the photosensitive drum. When used, the latent image on the drum may be visualized with toner, and the developed image may be transferred to transfer paper or the like.

Nine ink jet nozzles 15-1 to 15-9 are provided on this fixing member 14. Since the guide rail 13-2 is constituted by a feed screw, the fixed member 14 is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of arrow Z or U by rotating the feed screw at a constant speed by the motor (not shown). It can be transported by

In such a recording apparatus, by rotating the drum 11 and moving the fixing member 14 in the direction of arrow Z, the drum 1 is finally moved as shown in FIG.
Each nozzle 15 can scan the recording paper 16 wound around the recording paper 16 at equal intervals.

Now, in this way, distribute the recording paper 16 evenly through each nozzle 1.
The arrangement of the nozzles 15 for scanning at 5 will be further explained.

When the fixed member 14 is moved to an arbitrary position facing the drum 11 and the nozzle 15 records on the recording paper 16, the recording point is the first recording point.
As shown in Figure A, P1, P2, P3, ......P9
(It is assumed that such recording points are arranged so as not to form a matrix-like arrangement of m rows and n columns with equal row and column spacing.)

In order to represent the positions of the recording points P1, P2, .

The rotation axis 12 of the drum is set as the X-axis, and any one point on the X-axis is set as the reference point (origin). The positive sign indicates the moving direction of the fixed member 14 during recording (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1A).

Next, the component in the rotational direction of the X-axis is expressed as an angle θ from an arbitrarily set reference line OB. The sign indicates the direction opposite to the drum rotation direction S (FIG. 1A) as positive.

With this definition, the position of the recording point recorded by the total number of recording elements N _T is (X ₁ , θ ₁ ),
(X ₂ , θ ₂ )......(X _NT , θ _NT ).

Also, since the recording points P1, P2, P3,...P9 are recorded by the corresponding recording elements, the relative positional relationship of each recording element is determined by the position of the recording point recorded by each recording element ( X _N , θ _N ).

Any one of such recording points can be defined in cylindrical coordinates (X ₁ ,
θ ₁ ), the cylindrical coordinate of the remaining Nth recording point is the cylindrical coordinate X expressed by the following relational expression:
Each nozzle 15 is arranged so that it occupies a space _(N , _θN ).
By setting the distance that the fixed member 14 moves in the direction of arrow Z during one rotation of the drum, that is, the feed pitch, to N _T pixel intervals (described later), the recording paper 16 is completely interlaced by each nozzle 15. It is something that will be done.

_{X N = _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _} Here, N _T is the number of recording elements 15 on the fixed member 14.

T _N can be any number that satisfies θ ₁ ≦ θ _N < θ ₁ +360°, even if it is a fraction. K _N is an arbitrarily determined integer for each X _N .

ΔL represents one pixel interval (FIG. 1C).

One pixel interval is the center interval between two adjacent recording points when a straight line parallel to the X-axis is drawn by a collection of recording points.

Figure 1C shows the recording elements 15 arranged in this way.
-1, 15-2, . . . represent scanning lines 17-1, 17-2, . . . drawn on the recording paper 16.

A scanning line 17-1 is drawn by the recording element 15-1, a scanning line 17-2 is drawn by the recording element 15-2, and a scanning line 17-N is drawn by the recording element 15-N.

Further, a scanning line 17-2 is adjacent to the scanning line 17-1.
is adjacent to scanning line 17-2, scanning line 17-3 is adjacent to scanning line 17-(N-1), and scanning line 17-N is adjacent to scanning line 17-(N-1).
is further adjacent to scanning line 17-N _{T .}
1 is drawn. The interval between adjacent scanning lines in the X-axis direction is one pixel interval ΔL.

The cylindrical coordinates (X _N , θ
The recording element (nozzle) is fixed to the fixed member 14 so that _{the Nth} recording point is located on
_T・ΔL), as shown in FIG. It is something to do.

However, from a practical standpoint, it is convenient to select any one of the recording points as the reference point.

Therefore, if the coordinates of any one of the recording _points is (X _{1 ,} θ ₁ ) = (0, ₀ ), the interlacing equation is _{: N} = 360°T _N /N _T .

Here, 2≦N≦N _T 0≦θ _N <360゜ N _T is the total number of nozzles T _N is an arbitrary number K _N is an arbitrary integer How much freedom in arrangement of recording elements is increased by following the present invention In order to specifically show how this is done, various arrangements will be explained for the case where the total number of nozzles ( _NT ) is nine.

In the nozzle arrangement, the number of nozzles in the first row is n1, the number of nozzles in the second row is n2, etc.
If the nozzle array when the number of nozzles in the i-th column is ni is expressed as n1, n2, ......, ni), then as mentioned earlier, in the combination in the printer, nine nozzles are arranged in one column. In addition to the single array, there are three arrays formed at G pixel intervals as shown in Figure 2.
Only the combination of three rows and columns, that is, (3, 3, 3) is possible. In addition, in FIGS. 2 and 3, 17 is a fixing member, and n1 to n9 are nozzles.

However, according to the present invention, three rows 3 are arranged at uneven intervals.
Not only can the array of columns be (3, 3, 3), but also (4, 3, 2), (4, 2, 3), (4, 1,
4), (1, 2, 3, 3), (2, 2, 1, 2, 2)
It is possible to take various combinations such as...

Furthermore, in the above combinations (4, 3, 2), various arrangements are possible as shown in FIG. 3A, B, and C. That is, in FIGS. 3A and 3B, not only the recording elements are not arranged in an m.times.n matrix, but also the spacing between columns is varied.
In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the number of nozzles belonging to the first row is changed to the second row with respect to the traveling direction of the nozzles, assuming that the number of nozzles in the first row is four and the number of nozzles in the second row is three. The number is greater than the number of nozzles to which it belongs.
Similarly, the number of nozzles belonging to the second row is greater than the number of nozzles belonging to the third row.

The reason why the number of nozzles in the column that follows a certain column in the nozzle traveling direction is made smaller than the number of nozzles in a certain column is to reduce the capacity of the memory that stores the pixel signals applied to the nozzles. belongs to.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the above condition is satisfied in all rows: (number of nozzles in the first row) > (number of nozzles in the second row) > (number of nozzles in the third row). , it is not necessary that all columns satisfy this condition; it is only necessary that two specific columns satisfy the above condition.

For example, as shown by the dotted line a1 in Figure 3D, a
Nine nozzles from _{1.1 to a3.3} are arranged in ( ₃ , 3, ₃ ), and the position of nozzle _a3.3 is moved to form nozzle _a0.1 as shown by the dotted line a2 _. Calculate how much memory capacity will be saved when the location is reached. Since the total number of nozzles is nine, if the length of one circumference of the drum is divided into nine sectors, the head advances by one pixel interval in the traveling direction of the head each time the head advances by sector. Generally speaking, if the total number of nozzles is _NT , if the length or angle of one circumference of the drum is divided into _NT sectors, 1
Each time the sector moves forward, the head moves forward by one pixel interval in the direction of movement of the head.

F ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle during one sector of travel. _{Nozzle a0.1} is _{nozzle a3.3}
The head is moving forward by the G0 pixel interval in the direction of movement of the head. Therefore, by changing the position _of nozzle _a3.3 to nozzle _{a0.1 ,} F・_G0
Bit memory can be saved.

If the nozzles are arranged in a single array in the row direction so as to be interlaced, not only does the moving distance of the fixed member become large, but also the capacity of the memory that stores the pixel signals applied to the nozzles becomes large. Therefore, if the arrangement of the recording elements can be chosen very freely as in the present invention, the degree of freedom in design can be greatly improved.

Here, we will try array design in accordance with the present invention for the combination shown in FIG. 3A.

Nozzle n1 coordinates (X ₁ , θ ₁ ) = (0, 0)
Then, for the coordinates (X _N , θ _N ) of nozzle n2 or less, N _T (total number of nozzles) = 9, so from the interlacing equation, X _N = (T _N +1−N+9K _N )ΔL, θ _N = 40°T Must take a value that satisfies _N.

Here, the four nozzles arranged in the first row are respectively nozzle n1, nozzle n2, nozzle n3,
The nozzle is n4, and the corresponding coordinates are (X ₁ , θ ₁ ), (X ₂ , θ ₂ ), (X ₃ , θ ₃ ), (X ₄ , θ
₄ ), then from the condition that it is the first column, X ₁ = X ₂
=X ₃ =X ₄ =0 must be satisfied.

By substituting this value into the interlacing equation, the following numerical conditions are determined.

The position coordinates of the recording point by nozzle n2 are X ₁ =
0 and N=2, K ₂ =0 and T ₂ =1, and therefore θ ₂ =40° (0, 40°).
The position coordinates of the recording point by nozzle n3 are X ₃ = 0,
Since N=3, K ₃ =0 and T ₃ =2, and therefore θ ₃ =80° (0, 80°).

Similarly, the position coordinates of the recording point by nozzle n4 are
Since X ₄ =0 and N=4, K ₄ =0 and T ₄ =3,
Therefore, since θ ₄ = 120° (0, 120°)
becomes.

Therefore, the angular spacing between adjacent nozzles from nozzle n1 to nozzle n4 is 40°.

Next, arrange nozzle n5, nozzle n6, and nozzle n7 in the same row (second row), and arrange them in the first row (nozzle n
1 to nozzle n4), and furthermore, nozzle n5 is placed along with nozzle n2, nozzle n6 is placed along with nozzle n3, and nozzle n5 is placed along with nozzle n3.
7 comes along with nozzle n4, in nozzle n5, N = 5, T ₅ = T ₂ = 1
Therefore, X ₅ =(-3+9K ₅ )ΔL and θ ₅ =40°.

Similarly, for nozzle n6, N = 6, T ₆ = T ₃
= 2, so X ₆ = (-3 + 9K ₆ ) ΔL, θ ₆ = 80
゜, for nozzle n7, N = 7, T ₇ = T ₄ = 3
Therefore, X ₇ = (-3+9K ₇ )ΔL, θ ₇ = 120
It becomes ゜.

Here, from _{the same} column condition _{, X 5 =} X ₆ =
is |−3+9K|ΔL.

Next, put nozzle n8 and nozzle n9 in the same row (third row)
If the nozzle n8 is placed along with the nozzle n7, and the nozzle n8 is placed with the nozzle n6, and the nozzle n9 is placed with the nozzle n7, then N=8 for the nozzle n8. , T ₈ =
Since T _{6 = 2, X 8 = ( -5 + 9} 5+9K ₉ )ΔL, θ ₉ =120°.

From the equality condition, X ₈ = X ₉ , so K ₈ = K ₉
=K', the inter-column distance between the first column and the third column is (G ₁ +G ₂ ) pixel interval.

Therefore, (G ₁ + G ₂ ) pixel spacing = |-5+
9K′|ΔL.

The row spacing is set to 5mm due to nozzle shape and other reasons.
If you want to keep it at 10 mm or 10 mm, interlacing can be achieved by setting K _N to the value closest to that dimension.

In Figures 3A and 3B, the inter-column distance between the first and second columns (G1 pixel interval) and the inter-column distance between the second and third columns (G2 pixel interval) are not equal. However, there will be no problem in implementing this combination. However, if it is desired to make the distances between the columns equal in the combination (4, 3, 2), it is possible to design the array according to the method of the present invention. An example of an arrangement in which the distances between columns are made equal is shown in FIG. 3C.

As mentioned above, the first row (nozzles n1 to nozzles n4) and the second row (nozzles n5 to nozzles n5) in FIG.
The distance between the rows with nozzle n7) is |-3+9K|ΔL
It is. Therefore, the second and third rows (nozzles n8 to
The distance between the rows with nozzle n9) is also |-3+9K|ΔL
To make it so, X ₈ = X ₉ = + (-6 + 18K)
It is sufficient if ΔL holds true.

On the other hand, from the interlace equation, nozzle n8,
That is, when N=8, X ₈ =(T ₈ −7+9K ₈ )ΔL. When nozzle n9, that is, N=9, X ₉ =(T ₉ −8+9K ₉ )ΔL.

Therefore, the conditions for T ₈ -7+9K ₈ =-6+18K to hold are T ₈ =1 and K ₈ =2K.

Similarly, T ₉ =2 and K ₉ =2K.

Therefore, if the distances between the rows are made the same, the result will be as shown in FIG. 3C. Next, an example regarding multiple arrays will be described. A digital copier that copies on A-4 size paper at a pixel rate of 20 dots/mm was manufactured using 32 nozzles. The diameter of the drum is approximately 67mm.

When manufacturing, the size (shape) of the nozzle head is
Due to other circumstances, the center spacing of the nozzles was adjusted to approximately 5 mm.
There was a restriction that it had to be done nearby.

In addition, the angular spacing must be within 25 degrees, so the nozzle must be at a maximum of 3
There were design circumstances such as the ability to arrange only up to one row.
If the array is designed to satisfy these constraints using the conventional array method, 2
There are only 16 row and column combinations. Although 1 row and 32 columns is possible, it is not practical.

FIG. 4B shows a schematic diagram of an example of an arrangement in which nozzles are arranged so as to satisfy the design and use according to the present invention. The nozzle row interval (actually, it is not the interval between the nozzles themselves, but the interval between recording points recorded by the nozzles, but for convenience, it is referred to as the nozzle interval here) is a distance equivalent to 99 pixel intervals, which is approximately 4.95 mm.
(1/20×99), and the angular spacing of the rows is 11.25° (360
The setting is such that 128 pixels can be recorded from one nozzle while the drum rotates one sector (360°/32).

_These setting _{conditions are as} follows in _the interlacing _equation of the present _{invention : 1} = 360°/32 θ _3o = (360°/32) x 2 K _3o-2 = K _3o-1 = K _3o = 3 (n-1) (K ₃₃ is not required) However, n = 2, 3, Since it is obtained by substituting the value of 11, it enables complete interlaced recording.

In the conventional 2 x 16 array, the horizontal dimension of the nozzle group is approx.
74.5mm, the horizontal dimension of the arrangement according to this example is approximately
It became 49.9mm, which was about 24.6mm smaller. Not only is the geometrical reduction possible, but it also saves approximately 1 megabit of memory space. According to the conventional method, the number of bits of memory capacity is approximately
Increase by 50%. Furthermore, the printing speed has improved as the horizontal dimension has been reduced. The conventional method is approximately 10% slower than the embodiment. FIG. 5 shows the interlacing in the example. Figure 5 shows the recording paper wound around a drum to show how the recording paper is sequentially scanned by the nozzle and is finally traced completely without double scanning or non-scanning parts. It is an explanatory view for showing and explaining an expanded state.

Note that in the explanation of FIG. 5, the nozzle group is a general term for the nozzles to which a certain row belongs, and therefore the 1st to 10th nozzle groups each include three nozzle groups,
The eleventh nozzle group includes two nozzle groups.

Also, the nozzle group recording area refers to the area scanned by a certain nozzle group, but since the distance between lines is one sector, nozzles belonging to the same nozzle group print scanning lines spaced one pixel apart from each other. Therefore, the first to tenth nozzle recording areas each include three scanning lines formed at one pixel interval, and the eleventh nozzle group recording area includes two scanning lines formed at one pixel interval. It contains scanning lines of .

In Figure 5, 11 arrows are provided at the right end, but these arrows are provided for convenience of explanation.
The numerical value in the recording area indicates the area formed by a certain nozzle group in the n-th scan (in the embodiment, the n-th rotation of the drum).

For example, in the area indicated by T ₁ in FIG. The number 4 indicates the group recording area, and the area indicated by T ₂ is 2 in the right column.
Since it is written in the location corresponding to the column, it indicates the nozzle group recording area formed by the second nozzle group in the fourth rotation of the drum.

FIG. 5 shows the recording areas (indicated by diagonal lines) formed on the recording paper 16 at the time when the drum has rotated 31 times, and the nozzle group recording areas indicated by 1C to 11C are respectively at the 31st rotation of the drum. Nozzle group 1~
11 shows the recording area formed in step 11.

If we pay attention to the area between the recorded areas 10C and 11C in FIG. 5C, we can see that the unrecorded area S1,
S2 and S3 remain, but these unrecorded areas are 32 pixels, 32 x 2 from the recording area 11C.
The pixels are separated by 32 x 3 pixels.

Therefore, if the drum rotates one more time and enters the 32nd rotation, the nozzle group in the 11th row is moved by 32 pixels to scan the area S1, and when the drum enters the 33rd rotation, it scans the area S2 in the same way, 34 When entering the rotation, area S3 is scanned.

In this way, the recording area 10C in FIG.
The area between and 11C is completely scanned.

Even in the nozzle arrangement shown in FIG. 4B,
The number of nozzles in the 11th column is 2, which is less than the number of nozzles in any of the 1st to 10th columns, so the memory capacity is smaller, and this is also shown in Figure 5. be.

That is, since the area corresponding to the last two scanning lines in each area in areas 1a to 30a in FIG. It can be stored in memory. On the other hand, if
If the number of nozzles in the first column is 2 and the number of nozzles in the 11th column is 3, pixel signals equivalent to 30 x 3 scanning lines must be stored in the memory, and pixel signals equivalent to 30 x 1 scanning line must be stored in the memory. The memory capacity of the device must be increased.

The recording apparatus that performs interlacing as described above will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the nozzle arrangement shown in FIG. 4B is used.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the control circuit of the image information processing device according to this embodiment, and 21 is an image signal generating device, which sequentially scans an original image carrying information such as characters at equal time intervals. It sends out image signals such as pixel signals.

In this embodiment, the pixel signal is expressed as a digital binary signal of 0 and 1.

The pixel signal generated by the pixel signal generator 21 in this way is input to the information processing device 2 through the signal line 20.
2, this input information processing device 22 is for arranging pixel signals suitable for storing in the main memory, and the pixel information arranged in this way is controlled by the main memory controller 25. The address is originally written to a predetermined address in main memory, which address is generated by the input address generator 24.

The pixel signals written in the main memory 25 in this way are read out in an order according to the nozzle arrangement in order to be applied to the recording device 26 which consists of 32 ink jet nozzles. The address of the pixel signal to be output is specified by the output address generator 27, and the read pixel signal is converted into a pixel signal arrangement suitable for application to the inkjet nozzle by the output data processing device 28, and then sent to the inkjet nozzle drive circuit 29. is applied to drive the recording device 26 including the inkjet nozzles.

Note that 30 is a clock generator,
The clock signal generated here is applied to each part of the recording apparatus.

Reference numeral 31 designates an external control circuit, which is used in place of the input address generator 24 or the output address generator 27, if necessary. For example, it is used to connect to another image information processing device (consisting of a computer, facsimile device, file recording device, etc.). In this case, the timing chart in FIG. 9 may be changed, and the main memory may be used in three-hour periods.

FIG. 7 explains each block shown in FIG. 6 in more detail, and FIG. 7A shows the image signal generating device 21 in more detail.

In FIG. 7A, 40 indicates a document carrying information 41 to be read, and this document 40 is held between a pair of rollers 42-1 and 42-2. A motor 43 is attached to the roller 42-2.
Since the rotating shaft 44 of is fixed,
A clock signal as shown in FIG. 9a applied to the terminal T5 is applied to the rotary drive circuit 45 to form a drive signal, and this drive signal drives the motor 43 at a constant speed, thereby moving the document 40 in the direction indicated by the arrow F. It is a device that transports objects at a constant speed in one direction.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a reader comprising a large number of photoelectric conversion cells (5040 in this embodiment) arranged in a straight line for converting the amount of light received from the original 40 into electrical signals.

The reader 46 divides cells into groups of a predetermined number (hereinafter referred to as sectors) in order to improve the reading speed.
The information in the sectors is read out serially and sequentially, and each sector is read out simultaneously.

Specifically, 5040 cells are divided into 32 sectors, so one sector consists of 128 cells, and the photoelectric conversion cells 46 are divided into 46-1 to 46-
It is divided into 32 parts.

Reference numeral 47 indicates a scanning control circuit, and the terminal T1
simultaneously applying a sensor clock signal as shown in FIG. 9C to the 32 sectors, and
A device that derives a scan end signal (latch command signal) as shown in FIG. 9d on the signal line Sl1 each time one scan of the document by the reader 46 is completed (every time the application of 128 sensor clocks is completed). It is.

Therefore, if 128 sensor clocks are applied to the reader 46 by the scan control circuit 47, pixel signals equivalent to one line are sent out from the signal line Sl2, which is made up of at least 32 signal lines, and the signal line Sl
1 on which a scan end signal is derived.

In this embodiment, the pixel signal of one line of the original is divided into 32 parts, each sector having a 128-bit structure, but the number of sectors per line may be arbitrarily determined within the range permitted by the processing speed. However, by making the number of sectors the same as the number of nozzles constituting the recorder 26 and making the word width of the main memory the number of bits equivalent to one sector as in this embodiment, the configuration of the main memory control section is simplified. It is something that becomes.

FIG. 7B is the input information processing device 2 in FIG.
2 in more detail, with 32 signal lines l
1 to l32 belong to sectors 1 to 32, respectively.
128-bit pixel signals are sent in series.

Reference numeral 50 indicates a serial input/parallel output shift register, and each shift register 50 consists of 128 bits, and the application of the 128-bit pixel signal is completed in synchronization with the application of the 128 sensor clock signals from the terminal T2. This completes the storage of pixel signals into the shift register 50.

Reference numerals 52 indicate latch circuits each having a storage capacity of 128 bits, and when a latch command signal as shown in FIG. 9d is applied to terminal T3,
The contents of the corresponding shift registers 50 are taken in and latched at the same time. This latch command signal is derived after the storage of the 128-bit pixel signal into the shift register 50 is completed.

The contents of the latch circuits 52-1 to 52-32 are applied in parallel to the selection circuits 53-1 to 53-32, respectively, and one of the selection circuits 53 is selected by the sector selection circuit 54. This causes the contents of the corresponding latch circuits 52 to be sent out in parallel onto the signal line 56.

The sector selection circuit 54 is composed of, for example, a decoder, and decodes the sector signal (signal indicating which sector information is to be read) applied from the signal line 57 and selects the sector signal from the signal line 58.
-1 to 58-32 to derive a selection signal.

As is clear from FIG. 9f, in this embodiment, writing W1 to W32 to the main memory 23,
Since reading R1 to R32 from the main memory 23 is performed alternately in sector units, the selection of latched pixel signals by the selection circuit 53 also
This is done alternately with reading one sector from the main memory.

FIG. 7C shows the input address generation circuit 24 in FIG. 6 in more detail, and is a circuit that instructs the address of the main memory 23 where the pixel signal in units of sectors read out by the sector selection circuit 54 is to be stored. .

Before explaining FIG. 7C, the order in which the pixel signals read by the reader 46 should be stored in the main memory 23 will be explained.

As already mentioned, the state shown in FIG. 5 is when the inkjet nozzle shown in FIG. 4B is performing recording on the recording paper.

That is, the shaded area is the area where scanning has been completed, but in order to record all the areas shown in FIG. The remaining portion of the area and areas 30a-1a must be further scanned in the future. (Figure 5 shows area 1C by each nozzle n.
This shows a part of the recording paper in the state of recording ~11C, but in this Figure 5, area 1
Only the portion where the scan from C to 11C has been completed is shown). Since the scanning position of the reader 46 that reads the information on the original 40 is ahead of the area 1C, the areas 31a to 1a are scanned by the nozzles n1.11, n.
2.11 pixel signals must be stored for scanning and recording. Similarly, nozzles n1.10, n2.10, n3.10 belonging to the 10th column
In addition, pixel signals sufficient to scan and record the areas 28a to 1a must be stored.

Similarly, pixel signals to be applied to each nozzle n in the future must be stored in memory, but such pixel signals must be read out in association with each nozzle. It is something.

FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the scanning line signals that must be stored in correspondence with each nozzle, and the numbers written in correspondence with the nozzles are read by the reader 46 and are This indicates how many scanning lines before the scanning line written in the memory. For example, 31 for nozzle n2.11,
63, 95, ......, 991 indicates that information for a total of 31 scanning lines must be stored, and for nozzle n1.10, 27, 59, 91, ......
This indicates that information for a total of 28 scanning lines, 891 previous lines, must be stored.

Note that although certain scanning line numbers are missing in FIG. 8, these missing numbers are scanning lines that have already been recorded.

Therefore, the storage capacity of the main memory 23 is sufficient if it can store scanning line information from 0 to 991, and newly read pixel information must be stored in the location in the main memory where reading was completed immediately before. It's a good thing.

Therefore, if 128 bits are one word and one address is assigned to one word, the main memory will be 992×
It is sufficient to have a memory capacity of 32 words.

Storing the read information in the main memory 23 configured in this manner is performed as follows.

That is, start reading information from the original, and
Until reading 992 scanning lines (first reading cycle), pixel signals belonging to the first scanning line are sent to addresses 1x1 to 1x32 in the main memory, and pixel signals belonging to the second scanning line are sent to the main memory. They are sequentially stored in addresses 2x1 to 2x32.

Then, in the reading of the 993rd to 1984th scanning lines (second reading cycle), the reading of the 1985th to 2976th scanning lines (third reading cycle), and so on, the following addresses are written. It is something that

That is, as described above, reading and writing are performed alternately at intervals of one sector, but the writing address of a pixel signal of one sector is the address from which the pixel signal of one sector was read in the immediately previous reading period. be.

If you do this, if you store in advance the designation order of write addresses in one read cycle for reading 992 scanning line signals in ROM, then
By initially resetting the reading of the write address from the ROM each time the read cycle is updated, the write address of the pixel signal can be specified.

In addition, to specify the read address, the ROM
It is sufficient to sequentially store read addresses for one read cycle in the memory.

Read-only memory in FIG. 7C, ROM60
is a memory in which addresses of the main memory into which one sector signal selected by the sector selection circuit 53 is to be written are stored in advance in a predetermined order. It takes
The scanning line number (scanning line signal) currently written in the main memory among the scanning lines 1 to 992 in the read cycle is applied to the ROM 60 from the scanning line counter 63 through the signal line 66, and the scanning line number (scanning line signal) is applied to the ROM 60 from the scanning line counter 63. By applying the sector number to be written from the sector signal generator 66 via the signal line 63-1, a write address to the main memory is derived onto the signal line 71.

Note that the scanning line counter 63 counts the scanning end signal applied through the signal line 61 and outputs the counting output onto the signal line 66; however, when the scanning line counter 63 counts 992, it state 0
This resets the count to 1 and starts counting again from 1.

Also, 65 is a write timing circuit,
A pulse signal is derived at each start of a write sector period using a clock and a write control signal applied from signal lines 64 and 64-1, and this pulse signal is counted by a sector signal generator 66 to obtain the counted value. is derived onto the signal line 63-1.

FIG. 7D is the main memory control circuit 2 in FIG.
5 is shown in more detail, and 70 is an address source selector for selecting the address source of the main memory 23.

The main memory 23 has a signal line 71 for inputting a write address by the ROM 60, or a signal line 7 for inputting an external address from an external device (not shown).
2, and ROM8 for inputting the read address described below.
The address source selector 70 selects an address from any one of these signal lines 71-73. The address on the signal line selected in this manner is applied to the main memory 23 via the signal line 74. 75 indicates the main memory 23
This is a control circuit that generates a time-division control signal to alternately switch between write mode and read mode within one sector time interval, and derives the write control signal and read control signal alternately within 128 clock intervals. be. This control circuit 75 receives a clock signal from a signal line 76 or a signal applied from an external device to derive a memory control signal onto a signal line 77, and also outputs a written or read instruction signal onto a signal line 78. When the memory mode is specified, the device currently accessing the main memory is specified in the address source selector and write data control circuit, and the address or data line to the main memory of these devices is Control connections.

79 is a write data control circuit that selects write data to be stored in the main memory;
This circuit selects data to be written into the main memory from the write data sent through the signal line 80 and external write data applied from an external device through the signal line 80-1.

FIG. 7E shows the output address generator 27 in FIG. 6 in more detail, and the read address of the main memory is derived from a read-only memory (ROM) 88 in which read addresses are stored in a predetermined order in advance. The signal is applied to the main memory via a signal line 92.

The ROM 88 stores a sector instruction signal (information signal regarding the position on the paper surface which is currently being recorded by the head by the recorder 26) (signal) derived from a sector address circuit 114 (shown in FIG. 7H) to be described later. the scan line signal (provided by line 91-1) or the scan line signal (applied by signal line 66)
A latch instruction signal is applied via a signal line 87 to instruct a latch circuit 95, which will be described later, to apply one sector of data read from the main memory. The signal to be selected is image readout,
This is provided because it is desirable to use the scanning line signal when writing is performed simultaneously. Reference numeral 85 denotes a read timing generator, which derives a read timing signal from the read control signal sent from the control circuit 75 and the clock each time the main memory enters the read mode. These read timing signals are sequentially counted by a latch instruction signal forming circuit 86 in order to form a latch instruction signal for instructing one of the latch circuits 95 to be described later.

Therefore, the pixel signal (read data) read out from the main memory 23 in units of one sector is sent to the latch circuit 95.
-1, 95-2, ...... When the read data is latched in the last latch circuit 95-32, a transfer command signal is applied to the signal line 102, pixel signals are simultaneously transferred to the parallel-to-serial converter 100.

Since a clock signal is applied as a shift pulse to each of the parallel-to-serial converters 100 through the signal line 103, the signal lines 101-1 to 101- are applied each time the clock signal is applied.
32. Therefore, by applying 128 clocks, the reading of the contents of each parallel-to-serial converter 100 is completed.
When the reading of the contents of the parallel-to-serial converter 100 is completed in this way, the latch circuit 95
New read data is stored in each of them.

FIG. 7G shows the recording head drive circuit 29 in FIG. 6 in more detail, and since the recording head is composed of an inkjet nozzle, it forms a drive signal suitable for driving the inkjet nozzle. This is a circuit for

The signal lines 101-1 to 101-32 are applied to the drive circuits 105-1 to 105-32, respectively, and the drive signals thus obtained are sent to the recording head group 107 shown in FIG. 7H via the signal line 106. It is applied.

FIG. 7H shows the recording section 26 in FIG. 6 in more detail, and the drum 1 in FIG.
1, and rails 13-1 and 13-2 have the same construction as that described in FIG. 1B.

The drum 11 is connected to a motor 109 by a rotating shaft 108, and a position signal generator 110 is provided on the rotating shaft 108. This position signal generator 110 is connected to the slit 11
1 and a detector 113 for detecting the arrival of the slit.
The slit 111 generates a position signal each time the recording medium rotates by an amount equivalent to one sector (128 pixels). 114 counts the position signals, counts the signal indicating which sector from the edge of the recording paper the inkjet nozzle is currently writing, and the sector address signals 1-32, and calculates the main This is a sector address circuit that derives signals instructing each stage of the memory address generation order.

The sector address signal and scanning line signal are equivalent.
Therefore, when writing an image while reading it, only one signal is required. Two items are required to add the function of writing image signals from external equipment. 11
Reference numeral 5 designates a control circuit for driving the motor 109 in synchronization with a clock signal applied to terminal T4. Note that the rotating shaft 108 and the rail 13-2 are connected by a belt 116, and the nozzle group 107 is connected while the drum 11 rotates once.
is transferred in the direction of arrow T by an amount equivalent to 32 pixels.

FIG. 9 shows the operation timing of each part of the recording device as described above.
The operation of the recording apparatus according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawings and FIG. 7.

The reader 46 shown in FIG. 7A has Tn- in FIG. 9b.
When one cycle of the strobe signal ST is applied, the image on the document 40 is read as a pixel signal by a sensor constituting the reader 46.

The pixel signals read in this manner are applied to each sector of the reader 46 in Tn cycles.
They are read out in parallel by 128 sensor clocks (Figure 9C). The image signals read out in this manner are respectively stored in the shift register 50 shown in FIG. 7B, and storage is completed upon completion of the application of the 128 sensor clocks, and the input of the Tn cycle shown in FIG. 9d is completed. It is latched in the latch circuit 52 by the latch command signal LS.

Once the latch circuit 52 is latched in this way, the ROM 6 shown in FIG.
The write address generated at 0 is selected by the address source selector 70 in FIG. 7D. It also takes WA1
During this period, the selection circuit 53-1 corresponding to the latch circuit 52-1 is selected by the selector selection circuit 54, and the control circuit 75 of FIG. -1 contents Tn in Figure 9 f
During the write period W1 of +1 cycle period, data is written into the main memory 23 according to the write address. Tn
In the period following the +1 cycle (read period RA1), the read address defined by the output of the ROM 88 in FIG. 7E is selected by the address source selector 70 in FIG. 7D.

In this case, between nozzles in different rows,
Since the starting points for one line of image information are different, the addresses generated by the address generation means are as follows:
Needless to say, each line has a different form.

Also, during the RA1 period, by setting the main memory 23 to the read mode by the control circuit 75 in FIG.
sector) is read out during period R1 and applied to the latch circuit 95 shown in FIG. 7F. In synchronization with this period R1, the latch strobe signal shown in FIG.
Since OL1 is applied to the latch circuit 95-1,
The pixel signals of one sector read out as described above are latched by the latch circuit 95-1.

When the above-mentioned period RA1 of the Tn+1 cycle ends, the main memory 23 is again controlled to the write mode, and in the period WA2, the contents of the latch circuit 52-2 in FIG. It is something that can be done.

When the above-mentioned period WA2 of the Tn+1 cycle ends, the main memory 23 is again controlled to read mode, and in the period RA2, the information of the new address specified by the arithmetic circuit 92 in FIG. Latch circuit 9 shown in Figure F
5-2.

By repeating such operations and reaching the final period RA32 of the Tn+1 cycle, all the pixel signals of the latch circuits 52-1 to 52-32 shown in FIG. 7B are stored at predetermined addresses in the main memory 23, and 7th
The read pixel signals are stored in all of the latch circuits 95-1 to 95-32 in FIG. All the pixel signals latched in the latch circuit 95 are transferred to the parallel-to-serial converter 100 at once by the transfer command signal (OLS in FIG. 9h) derived at the end of the Tn+1 cycle.

Since the clock signal shown in FIG. 9a is applied as a shift pulse to the parallel to serial converter 100, the contents of the parallel to serial converter 100 are converted into a serial signal in the next Tn+2 cycle. This is what is read out.

Since each cycle T is set to be 128 clocks, the contents of the parallel/serial converter 100 are completely read out upon completion of Tn+2 cycles.

Note that in the explanation of FIG. 9, the read pixel signals were explained sequentially according to the flow of the pixel signals.
In reality, as is clear from FIG. 9, the reading of the original information, the writing/reading of the information into the memory, and the recording by the recorder are progressing simultaneously.

For example, in the Tn cycle, (1) reading pixel signals from the original to be written to the main memory in the Tn+1 cycle, (2) writing pixel signals read from the original into the main memory in the Tn+1 cycle, and In this cycle, pixel signals to be recorded on the recording medium are read out from the main memory, and (3) in the Tn-1 cycle, the pixel signals read out from the main memory are simultaneously recorded on the recording medium.

As explained above, according to the present invention, the means for generating an address for reading out the image data stored in the storage means has at least two forms, so that it is possible to improve the quality of recorded (reproduced) images. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A is a perspective view of the recording device of the recording device according to the present invention, FIG. 1B is a sectional view of the recording device shown in FIG. 1A, and FIG. 1C is a recording by the recording device shown in FIG. 1A. 2 is a nozzle arrangement diagram of a conventional recording device; FIGS. 3A, B, C, and D are nozzle arrangement diagrams of a recording device according to the present invention; and FIG. 4A is a conventional recording diagram. 4B is a nozzle arrangement diagram of the recording device according to the present invention, FIGS. 5A, B, and C are interlaced scanning diagrams of the recording device according to the present invention, and FIG. Control block diagram according to the invention, FIG. 7A
6 is a detailed diagram of the image signal generating device shown in FIG.
FIG. 7B is a detailed block diagram of the input information processing device shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7C is a block diagram showing the input address generation circuit in FIG. 6, and FIG. Block diagram showing the address source selector to select, FIG. 7E
is a detailed block diagram of the output address generator shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7F is a detailed block diagram of the output data processing device shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7G is a detailed block diagram of the recording head drive circuit shown in FIG. 6. 7H is a detailed diagram of the recording section shown in FIG. 6; FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing the recording scanning procedure performed by each nozzle of the recording section; and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the above-mentioned apparatus. FIG. P1-P9...Recording point, n1-n9...Nozzle, 22...Input information processing device, 24...Input address generation device, 25...Main memory control device, 2
7...Output address generator.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A scanning means for linearly scanning image information, a storage means for storing image data obtained by scanning by the scanning means, and an address for storing the image data in the storage means. a first address generation means for generating an address for reading one line of image data stored in the storage means; a second address generation means for generating an address for reading one line of image data stored in the storage means; The address generated by the second address generation means has at least two forms, and output means outputs image data read out based on the address generated by the second address generation means. , and control means for controlling the above means so as to repeat the above operation as necessary.