JPS62294378A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve workability, by providing a memory capable of storing the picture data of plural pages, and furthermore displaying a message that it is possible to input the next picture data, on an image generating device. CONSTITUTION:A page memory 21 is a picture memory having a capacity capable of storing the plural pages of picture data having the maximum printing sizes, and the memory which stores a digital picture signal strasmitted from an image reader, and is used for the reading of the image stored at the time of a print operation after error recovery. Also, it decides whether a vacant area is present in the page memory 21 of a recorder 4, according to a storage available signal from the recorder, When the vacant area is present, a storage available display lamp 33 is turned on, and when no vacant area is present, the storage available lamp 33 is turned off.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image processing device that reads an original image and forms image data.

[Prior art]

In recent years, with advances in digital image processing technology, original images can be converted to CC.
A so-called digital copying system has been put into practical use, in which an image is read by a solid-state image sensor such as a D-type image sensor, converted into a digital image signal, and copied by a printer such as a laser beam printer (LBP).

Since these systems handle digital image signals, they are not only used as copiers, but also as input/output devices for digital facsimiles, electronic file systems, etc., so it is important to modularize each function. Common. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, such a digital copying system includes an image generating device 1 that generates image data, and a copying device that receives digital image signals and prints images on paper or the like. It can be configured as shown in 2.

When a copying system as shown in Fig. 1 is configured as a system equivalent to a conventional analog copying device, the image generating device 1 is an image reading device that converts an original image into a digital image signal, and the copying device 2 is an LBP. It can be configured as follows.

In this case, since it would be expensive to have an operating section on both devices, only the image generating device 1 is provided, and the image generating device 1 issues instructions such as copying operations to the copying device 2. Line 11 is the master-slave configuration control mode.

Therefore, the image generating device M1 must perform error control in the event that an error occurs in the copying device 2, such as a print paper jam or a paper empty. The disadvantage is that the program becomes complicated.

In particular, if the copying device 2 has a built-in sorting function for distributing printed paper, the paper path that the printed paper passes through becomes long, so it is difficult to print multiple sheets at the same time. Very difficult control is required of the image generating device 1 in order to perform accurate error recovery processing when a paper jam occurs.

In order to improve the above-mentioned drawbacks, the copying device 2 is provided with a page memory for storing digital image data, and the image data being printed is retained until it is known that the copying process has been completed, thereby preventing paper jams. It is conceivable that the copying apparatus 2 performs all such error processing, thereby reducing the negative phase of the control program of the image generating apparatus 1.

However, when the copying apparatus 2 is in the print processing state, the user has to wait until the next image data is printed manually until the print processing is completed.

〔the purpose〕

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and enables manual processing of the next image data regardless of execution or non-execution of print processing, and eliminates the inconvenience at that time, thereby reducing the operator's work. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that improves performance.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail using the drawings.

FIG. 2(a) is a concrete example of an image processing system to which the present invention is applied. 3 and 4 surrounded by broken lines correspond to an image reading device and a recording device, respectively.

In the image reading device 3 shown in FIG.
The reading operation of one line is converted into a sequential electrical signal. The optical unit 12 is moved in the illustrated sub-scanning direction by a drive system (not illustrated) to read the entire surface of the original 10.

The original image converted into an electrical signal is sent to the image processing circuit 15, where it is subjected to image processing such as shading correction, and then binarized and sent to the interface circuit (
, 17F) sent to 18.

The control circuit 16 uses a microcomputer, for example, and includes an operation section 17 including a display circuit for performing various displays, a switch for giving instructions for starting an operation, etc., and an image processing circuit 1.
At the same time, information regarding the control is exchanged with the recording device M4 via the interface circuit 18. Therefore, the interface circuit 18 serves to simultaneously transmit digital image signals and control information signals.

On the other hand, in the recording device 4, the digital image signal and control information signal from the image reading device 3 are manually inputted via the interface circuit 19, and the digital image signal is transferred to the page memory 2.
1, the control information signals are respectively connected to the control circuit 20.

The control circuit 20 uses a microcomputer, for example, and controls the operation instructions of the LBP 23 and the page memory 2.
The image reading device 3 controls the entire image reading device 3, such as switching the operation mode 1.

The page memory 21 is an image memory that has a capacity to store image data for multiple pages of the maximum print size, and in this embodiment, it stores the digital image signal transmitted from the image reading device 3. This is a memory for reading and using stored images during printing processing or printing operations after error recovery.

FIG. 2(b) is an example of a specific external view of the image reading device 3. As shown in FIG.

The document is placed with the side to be read facing down on the document reading surface 30 and scanned.

Reference numerals 31 to 34 are specific examples of the operation unit 17, including a reading start key 31 for manually starting reading the original;
numeric keys 32 for inputting numerical values such as the number of prints;
A memorizable display lamp 33 indicates that image data can be manually edited, and a display section 3 displays error messages, etc.
Consists of 4 etc.

Next, specific operations will be explained using flow charts shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

FIG. 3 is an example of a control flow chart of the control circuit 15 of the image reading device 30.

When the power is turned on, first, in step 5P100, the image processing circuit 15, the operation section 17, etc. are initialized.

In step SP+09, it is determined whether there is an empty area in the page memory 21 of the recording device 4 according to the storage enable signal from the recording device.

If there is an empty area, the memorizable display lamp 33 is turned on in step 111, and if there is no empty area, the process proceeds to step 11.
When the value is 0, the memorizable display lamp 33 is turned off.

In step 5P101, it is determined whether or not there is an instruction to start the image reading operation by checking the key force on the operation unit 17. If there is an instruction to start operation, proceed to step 5P.
Proceed to step 103.

In step SP+03, instructions for the number of copies are given to the recording device 2 on the line 1.
2. In step SPI 04, the optical unit 12 is returned to the home position and scanning of the original is started, and the image processing circuit 15 is instructed to output an image signal to start sending out a digital image signal.

In step SP+05, it is determined whether or not the reading operation of the original 10 has been completed normally. If there is an error, error processing is performed in step 5P106.

In step SP+07, it is determined whether the digital image has been properly stored in the page memory 21 of the recording device 4, and if there is an error, step 5P108 is performed.
Perform error handling.

If the process proceeds to step 5P106 and step SP108, the digital image is not normally transmitted to the recording device 4, so an error message is displayed on the operation unit 17, and after the error is removed, the original image is read again. Is it necessary to do this?

On the other hand, if it is determined in step SP+07 that the image has been successfully stored in the page memory 21, all subsequent print operations can be processed by the recording device 4, so it is better to wait until the print operation is completed. Become.

Next, the main control flow of the recording device 4 is explained using FIG.
An example of Char 1 will be explained.

In FIG. 4, when the power is turned on, the first step is step 5.
At P200, the LBP 23, page memory 21, etc. are initialized.

Next, in steps 5P201 to 5P203, it is determined whether or not there is an empty space in the page memory 21 that can store at least one page of additional image data, based on the address used in the page memory, and control information is Information is transferred to the image reading device 3 via the signal line. The signal is passed to the control circuit 16 via the interface circuit 19.18.
and is used as determination information in step 5P109 in FIG.

In step 5P204, it is determined whether or not image data is input from the image reading device 3.

If the image data is available manually, the process proceeds to step 205 and starts the image forming task. An image forming task is a control program for performing image storage and printing processing for one piece of manual image data, and a plurality of image forming tasks can be operated at the same time. By configuring the program in this way, it is possible to manually operate the image data even if the previous print processing operation has not finished, which improves operability when images of multiple originals need to be input. You can continue printer processing operation, so press L.
This has the effect of improving the utilization efficiency of BP23.

Next, an example of a flow chart of an image forming task will be explained using FIG.

In step 5P300, an empty area of the page memory 21 is secured to prepare for image data storage and print processing operations.

In step 5P301, the number of prints (-N) sent from the image reading device 3 is input.

In step 5P302, a page memory 21 is sent to a mote (-write mode) that stores the digital image data sent from the image reading device 3 in the page memory 21.
Set.

In step 5P303, it is determined whether or not the writing operation of digital image data to the page memory 21 has been completed, and if it has been completed, the process advances to step 5P304.

In step 5P304, the page memory 21 is set to a mode (=readout mode) for reading out the digital image data stored in the page memory 21, and in step 5P
Proceed to 305.

In step 5P305, it is determined whether the digital image data sent from the image reading device 3 is normally stored in the page memory 21. If it is normal, the process goes to step 5P306, and if there is an abnormality, the image reading device From step 3 onwards, it is necessary to manually edit the digital image data, so the process proceeds to step 5P314.

In step 5P306, it is determined whether or not the LBP 23 can be used, and if it can be used, step 5P30
Proceed to step 7.

In step 5P317, it is determined whether or not to print multiple sheets. When the number of prints (-N) entered in step 5P301 is reached, the process advances to step 5P314, where the copying operation for the same image is completed, and the page memory 2
The image data is erased from 1 and the area is made an empty area. If not, the process advances to step 5P308 and uses the digital image data stored in the page memory 21 to instruct the LBP 23 to print one sheet.

In steps 5P309 and 5P310, the occurrence of errors such as paper jams and no paper is monitored until the printing operation for one sheet is completed. If the process ends normally, proceed to step 5P307; if an error occurs, proceed to step 5P.
Proceed to 311 respectively.

In step 5P311, the signal indicating whether the LBP 23 is ready for printing (ready signal) is turned off to notify the image reading device 3 of the occurrence of an error.

In step 5P312, it is determined whether the error that has occurred has been resolved. If the error is cleared, the process proceeds to step SP313, where the ready signal is turned on, and the process proceeds to step 5P307, where printing of the insufficient number of bones is continued.

In this embodiment, in order to simplify the explanation, the flow chart is written as if the completion of printing by LBP23 is viewed one by one. It is also possible to control the paper so that it exists inside the LBP 23. In this case, reprinting can be performed by considering the number of sheets of paper remaining in the BP 23 when the error occurs.

(Effects) As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, a memory capable of storing multiple pages of image data is provided, and a display indicating that the next image data can be manually generated is provided on the image generating device. Therefore, it is possible to improve the work efficiency of the operator.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a block diagram of the image processing system, Figure 2 (a) is a block diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of a digital copying system, Figure 2 (b) is an external view of the image reading device, and Figure 3 4 is a diagram showing an example of the main control flowchart of the recording device 4. FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) 3 is a diagram showing an example of a flow chart of an image forming task of the recording device 4, in which 3 is an image reading device, 4 is a recording device, 10 is a document, 14 is a contact type image sensor, and 21 is a page memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] The present invention includes a forming means for reading a document image and forming image data, a memory capable of storing image data for a plurality of pages, and a means for repeatedly outputting the same image data stored in the memory. An image processing apparatus characterized in that, when there is empty space in the memory, information indicating that image data can be stored is generated, and displaying that the document image can be read is performed.