JP2951815B2 - Information processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus such as a copying machine capable of receiving data from a facsimile or the like capable of outputting image data and outputting the received data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional apparatus. For example, when a word processor 701 is a transmitting side of image data, an externally connected printer 702 on the receiving side processes the transmitted image data in real time. No memory. In the case of the thermal transfer type printer 702, the user manually sets sheets for printing output data one by one.

Another known material is disclosed in JP-A-61-84.
156. This is a facsimile apparatus having a page memory, and continues to receive image data even if a recording paper jam occurs in a receiving facsimile during reception of transmitted image data and recording, thereby eliminating paper jam. In this configuration, a received image that has not been recorded and output later is automatically recorded and output.

In still another conventional example, unless an end command indicating that the transmission image data has ended is not output from the transmission side device, the reception side cannot determine the end of the transmission image data and cannot receive the next communication command. Waiting, the received image data is not output indefinitely.

[0005]

As described above, conventionally, since there is no memory, output cannot be performed unless received data is processed in real time. If no command for instructing the end of the transmission is inserted in the transmission data, the end of the transmission data is not recognized, and the transmission data is kept waiting indefinitely. This should not be a problem under normal conditions,
If an unexpected event occurs on the transmitting side (for example, a paper jam in the original for transmission), it indicates that the receiving side is waiting for reception until the repair is made at the other party's transmitter. In this case, not only does the line remain blocked, but the received image data that has already been received is also stored in the memory and is not output, resulting in a very inconvenient situation.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made for the purpose of solving the above-mentioned problems, and has a receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from another information device, and storing the received image data. An information processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit that performs a receiving operation and a receiving unit that cancels a receiving state when data transmission from a partner information device is interrupted for a predetermined time during reception. and release means, or receiving release is performed in response to the received release
And a control means for controlling the output means so as to output the received image data received and stored in the information processing apparatus.

[0007]

According to the above configuration, when an unexpected situation such as a trouble on the transmission side / reception side and a line occurs,
If image data cannot be received for a certain period of time, the receiving state can be temporarily released at that point, and the stored received image data can be output, enabling quick data processing in the event of a communication error. Becomes

[0008]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. The present invention is, of course, not limited to these embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a digital copying machine which is an embodiment of a double-sided image forming apparatus provided with a sheet transport device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a digital copying machine 30 according to this embodiment includes a scanner unit 31, a laser printer unit 32, a multi-stage paper feed unit 33, and a soda 34.

The scanner section 31 includes a document table 35 made of transparent glass and an automatic document feeder (RDF) 36 for both sides.
And a scanner unit 40.

The multi-stage paper feed unit 33 includes a first cassette 5
1, a second cassette 52, a third cassette 53, and a fifth cassette 55 that can be added by selection.

In the multi-stage paper feeding unit 33, the paper is sent out one by one from the paper stored in the cassette of each stage, and is conveyed toward the laser printer unit 32.

The RDF 36 sets a plurality of originals at once, automatically feeds the originals one by one to the scanner unit 40, and scans one or both sides of the original according to the operator's selection. Is configured to be read.

The scanner unit 40 includes a lamp reflector assembly 41 for exposing a document, a plurality of reflection mirrors 43 for guiding a reflected light image from the document to a photoelectric conversion element (CCD) 42, and a reflected light image from the document to the CCD 42. It includes a lens 44 for forming an image.

The scanner unit 31 is configured to read a document image while the scanner unit 40 moves along the lower surface of the document table 35 when scanning a document placed on the document table 35. When the RDF 36 is used, the document image is read while the document is being conveyed with the scanner unit 40 stopped at a predetermined position below the RDF 36.

The image data obtained by reading the original image by the scanner unit 40 is sent to an image processing unit, subjected to various processes, and then temporarily stored in a memory of the image processing unit. The image data is supplied to the laser printer unit 32 to form an image on a sheet.

The laser printer unit 32 includes a manual document tray 45, a laser writing unit 46, and an electrophotographic processing unit 47 for forming an image.

The laser writing unit 46 includes a semiconductor laser that emits a laser beam corresponding to the image data from the memory, a polygon mirror that deflects the laser beam at a constant angular velocity, and a laser beam that is deflected at a constant angular velocity. An f-θ lens and the like are provided to correct the light so as to be deflected at a constant speed on the photosensitive drum 48 at 47.

The electrophotographic process unit 47 is configured by arranging a charging unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, a peeling unit, a cleaning unit, a static eliminator, and a fixing unit 49 around a photosensitive drum 48 in a known manner. .

A transport path 50 is provided downstream of the fixing unit 49 in the transport direction of the sheet on which an image is to be formed. The transport path 50 is connected to a transport path 57 leading to the soda 34 and a multi-stage paper feed unit 33. It branches to a conveying path 58 which is open.

The transport path 58 is branched in the multi-stage paper feed unit 33, and the reverse transport path 50 is used as a transport path after branching.
a and a double-sided / combined conveyance path 50b.

The reversing transport path 50a is a transport path for reversing the front and back of a sheet in a duplex copying mode for copying both sides of a document. The double-sided / combined conveyance path 50b conveys a sheet from the reverse conveyance path 50a to the image forming position of the photosensitive drum 48 in the double-sided copy mode, or forms a composite image on a single side of the sheet using different original images or different color toners. This is a transport path for transporting the sheet to the image forming position of the photosensitive drum 48 without reversing the sheet in the one-sided composite copy mode for performing copying.

The multi-stage paper feed unit 33 includes a common conveyance path 56, and the common conveyance path 56 includes the first cassette 51, the second
The paper from the cassette 52 and the third cassette 53 is carried out toward the electrophotographic processing section 47.

The common transport path 56 is connected to the electrophotographic processing section 47.
On the way to, it merges with the transport path 59 from the fifth cassette 55 and leads to the transport path 60.

The transport path 60 joins a double-sided / composite transport path 50b and a transport path 61 from the manual document tray 45 at a junction 62 to form an image between the photosensitive drum 48 of the electrostatic photographic processing unit 47 and the transfer unit. It is configured to communicate with the formation position, and the junction 62 of these three transport paths is provided at a position close to the image formation position.

Therefore, in the laser writing unit 46 and the electrophotographic processing unit 47, the image data read from the above-described memory is transferred to the laser writing unit 46.
The toner image formed as an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 48 by being scanned with the laser beam by the laser beam and visualized by the toner is placed on the surface of the sheet conveyed from the multi-stage sheet feeding unit 33. Electrotransfer and fixation. The sheet on which the image is formed in this manner is sent from the fixing device 49 to the soda 34 via the transport paths 50 and 57, or is transported to the reverse transport path 50a via the transport paths 50 and 58.

Next, the digital copying machine 30 of this embodiment
The configuration and function of the image processing unit and each control system included in the above will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image processing unit and each control system included in the digital copying machine 30 of FIG.

The image processing unit included in the digital copying machine 30 includes an image data input unit 70, an image processing unit 71, an image data output unit 72, a memory 73 including a RAM (random access memory), and an image processing unit. CPU7
4 is provided.

The image data input section 70 includes a CCD section 70a,
It includes a histogram processing unit 70b and an error diffusion processing unit 70c.

The image data input unit 70 is a CCD 42 shown in FIG.
The image data of the original read from
The image data is processed by the error diffusion method while taking a histogram as a binary digital amount, and is temporarily stored in the memory 73. That is, the CCD unit 70
In A, an analog electric signal corresponding to each pixel density of image data is A / D converted, and then MTF correction, black and white correction or gamma correction is performed, and the histogram processing unit converts it into a 256-tone (8-bit) digital signal. 70b.

In the histogram processing section 70b, the digital signal output from the CCD section 70a is added for each pixel density of 256 gradations to obtain density information (histogram data). The data is sent to the image processing CPU 74 or sent to the error diffusion processing unit 70c as pixel data.

The error diffusion processing unit 70c employs an error diffusion method, which is a kind of pseudo halftone processing, that is, a method in which a binarization error is reflected in the binarization determination of adjacent pixels.
The digital signal of 8 bits / pixel output from a is converted to 1 bit (binary), and a redistribution operation is performed to faithfully reproduce the local area density in the document.

The pixel processing section 71 includes multi-value processing sections 71a and 71b, a synthesis processing section 71c, a density conversion processing section 71d, a scaling processing section 71e, an image processing section 71f, an error diffusion processing section 71g, and a compression processing section 71h. Contains.

The image processing unit 71 is a processing unit for finally converting the input image data into image data desired by the operator, and stores the converted image data in the memory 73 until it is finally stored as output image data. The processing unit is configured to perform the processing. However, the above-described processing units included in the image processing unit 71 function as needed, and may not function in some cases.

That is, in the multi-value processing sections 71a and 71b, the data binarized by the error diffusion processing section 70c is converted again into 256 gradations.

The synthesis processing section 71c selectively performs a logical operation for each pixel, that is, an operation of a logical sum, a logical product, or an exclusive logical sum. The data to be subjected to this calculation is the pixel data stored in the memory 73 and the bit data from the pattern generator (PG).

The density conversion processing section 71d arbitrarily sets the relationship between the input density and the output density with respect to the 256-level digital signal based on a predetermined tone conversion table. The scaling unit 71e calculates the pixel data (density value) for the target pixel after scaling by performing an interpolation process based on the input known data in accordance with the designated scaling factor. After the multiplication, the main scanning is scaled.

In the image processing section 71f, various image processing is performed on the input pixel data, and information collection such as feature extraction can be performed on the data sequence.

The error diffusion processing section 71g performs the same processing as the error diffusion processing section 70c of the image data input section 70.

In the compression processing section 71h, the binary data is compressed by the encoding called run length, and as for the compression of the image data, the compression functions in the final processing loop when the final output image data is completed. .

The image data output section 72 includes a restoration section 72a, a multi-value processing section 72b, an error diffusion processing section 72c, and a laser output section 72d.

The image data output unit 72 restores the image data stored in the memory 73 in a compressed state,
The conversion is performed again to 56 gradations, error diffusion of quaternary data that provides a smoother halftone representation than binary data is performed, and the data is transferred to the laser output unit 72d.

That is, in the decompression unit 72a, the compression processing unit 71
h, the compressed image data is restored.

The multi-value processing section 72b includes an image processing section 71
The same processing as that of the multi-value processing sections 71a and 71b is performed. In the error diffusion processing unit 72c, the image data input unit 70
The same processing as the error diffusion processing unit 70c is performed.

In the laser output section 72d, digital pixel data is converted into a laser on / off signal based on a control signal from the printer section control CPU 79, and the laser is turned on / off.

The data handled by the image data input unit 70 and the image data output unit 72 is basically stored in the form of binary data in order to reduce the capacity of the memory 73.
3, but taking into account the deterioration of the image data,
It is also possible to process in the form of value data.

Reference numeral 76 denotes a modem composed of a transmission modulator and a demodulator; 77, an NCU; 78, a FAX code judging unit; 79, a CPU for controlling a printer unit;
OFF circuit, 81 is a heater lamp, and 82 is a real-time clock.

Next, the data output from the word processor by the word processor input unit 83 is input through a buffer, and the word processor data control unit 84 enables the data processing.
The image processing CPU 74 controls whether or not (whether the memory can be written) or status information. Also, since the data transferred from the word processor is serial, this data control unit performs serial / parallel conversion of print development data.

The print data controlled by the word processor data controller 84 is directly written to the memory 73.

The written data is thereafter subjected to the same operation as in normal copying (restoring section 72a → multi-value processing section 7).
2b → error diffusion processing section 72c → laser output section 72d)
Is printed on the paper.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the I / F on the word processor side.

A key input and control of each program are performed by the master CPU 200.

Further, the system clock is controlled, and if there is no key input operation, the system clock is stopped to bring the system into a complete standby state to achieve low power consumption.

The slave CPU 201 controls the LCD data line and the word processing status / print data input / output lines.

The 202 serial I / F converts parallel data input / output by the slave CPU 201 into serial data.

The commands communicated between the word processor and the copying machine include the presence / absence check of paper, presence / absence of error, and print information commands in addition to print development data.

In this case, the word processor 401 and the copying machine 402 are connected as shown in FIG. The connection between the word processor 401 and the copying machine 402 is established by a dedicated cable 403.

Next, the operation will be described. The setting on the copying machine side is performed on the operation panel of FIG. 5 after the power is turned on.

A display panel 301 is used to set the paper size, magnification, density, and other functions in this portion.

Reference numeral 302 denotes a pause key for interrupting / releasing a copy.

Reference numeral 303 denotes a clear all key, which clears all copy conditions.

Reference numeral 304 denotes a print key for starting copying.

Reference numeral 305 denotes a clear key for clearing the setting of the number of copies.

A key 306 is used to set the number of copies using the ten keys.

Reference numeral 307 is used when printing is performed in a word processing mode using an extension key. Therefore, when printing word processor data, pressing the expansion key 307 causes the copier to wait for reception of communication data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

After setting the print mode on the word processor side,
By pressing a key for confirming the print start, each status is checked, and one page of print development data is transferred on the copying machine side.

When the transfer of the print development data for one sheet is completed, the copying machine waits for the next data, and the word processor waits for the next print start only when the next print data exists (601, 602, 601). 603, 604).

At this time, if there is no next print data, the word processor returns to the document input / insert mode. However, when the transmission of the print data is completed, the print data end command is not issued from the word processor, so that the copying machine cannot determine the end of the print data and waits for reception of the next communication command. If this state continues for a certain period of time, the copying machine unconditionally prints out the data stored in the memory until then (605, 60).
6, 607, 611, 612).

Also, when the word processor transmits the print development data and the copier cannot receive the data (some trouble), if the data is not received for a certain period of time, the copier unconditionally uses the memory until then. Print out the stored data (605, 608, 609, 6
10).

As described above, in the case where the print data is not transmitted due to the occurrence of a trouble or the like, if there is no reception for a predetermined time on the copying machine side, only the print data stored in the memory is automatically printed. . With this, even if there is a problem, even if you print from the next,
Printing can be started from a page in the middle, and labor is reduced. In addition, if the communication mode is the same without using a dedicated printer as in the related art, a smooth printing system can be provided without the user having to set paper one by one.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0075]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, when any unexpected situation occurs, such as a trouble on the transmission side / reception side and the line, if data is not received for a certain period of time, The receiving state can be temporarily released, and the received data information stored up to that point can be output, so that quick data processing can be performed when a communication error occurs. This makes it possible to provide an information processing apparatus having extremely excellent operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a main part of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 70 image data input unit 70a CCD unit 70b histogram processing unit 70c error diffusion processing unit 71 image processing unit 71a multi-value processing unit 71b multi-value processing unit 71c synthesis processing unit 71d density conversion processing unit 71e scaling processing unit 71f image processing Unit 71g error diffusion processing unit 71h compression processing unit 72 image data output unit 72a decompression unit 72b multi-value processing unit 72c error diffusion processing unit 72d laser output unit 73 memory 74 image processing CPU 76 modem 77 NCU 78 FAX code determination unit 79 printer Unit control CPU

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/00 H04N 1/21

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An information comprising: receiving means for receiving image data transmitted from another information device; storage means for storing the received image data; and output means for outputting the stored image data. in the processing apparatus, if the data transmission from the other information device is interrupted given time during reception, the reception canceling means for canceling the receiving state, received up to the reception cancellation is performed in response to the received release storage control for controlling the output means to output the image data of the received <br/> Shinsumi
The information processing apparatus characterized by having a control means.