JP4457616B2 - Printing apparatus, printing method, and printing system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing method, and a printing system that print an image on a medium.

When the scanner reads an image from a document, or when an image is created by application software, RGB image data is created. On the other hand, when the RGB image data is printed by the printing apparatus, the RGB image data is converted into CMYK image data that matches colors usable by the printing apparatus. For this reason, the printing apparatus includes a data conversion unit that converts RGB image data into CMYK image data.
JP 2001-146046 A

An image of image data may be subjected to layout processing, and the laid out image may be printed on a medium (such as paper or an OHP sheet). For this reason, the printing apparatus includes a layout unit that lays out an image of the image data based on the image data. If the amount of data processed by the layout unit is reduced, the time required for the layout process can be reduced, so that the printing speed of the printing apparatus can be increased.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to reduce the amount of data processed by the layout unit and increase the printing speed of the printing apparatus.

The main invention for achieving the above object is to provide a scanner unit for reading an image from a document, a layout processing unit for performing layout processing for laying out an image while controlling the entire apparatus, and the layout processing unit includes the layout processing. A first storage unit that stores image data to be stored, a second storage unit that stores data and is different from the first storage unit, a head that includes a plurality of nozzles that eject ink based on head drive data, and A scanner control unit that controls the scanner unit and stores RGB image data in the second storage unit based on an output from the scanner unit; and converts the RGB image data into CMYK image data; Data is transmitted between the data generation unit for converting the image data of the system into head drive data, and the first storage unit and the second storage unit A data transmission unit, and a head control unit that controls the head based on the head drive data, and the scanner control unit, based on an output from the scanner unit, performs a copy operation that does not require layout processing. The RGB image data is stored in the second storage unit, and the data generation unit converts the RGB image data stored in the second storage unit into the CMYK image data, and the CMYK system The image data is converted into the head drive data, and the head controller causes the head to eject the ink based on the head drive data, prints the image on the medium, and is laid out by the layout process. When the image is printed on a medium, the data transmission unit uses the RGB image data based on the output from the scanner unit. And transmitting the RGB image data having a data amount smaller than the data amount of CMYK image data to be generated by the data generation unit from the second storage unit to the first storage unit, A layout processing unit performs the layout processing based on the RGB image data stored in the first storage unit, and the data transmission unit stores the RGB image data after the layout processing in the first storage. The data generation unit converts the RGB image data after layout processing stored in the second storage unit into the CMYK system image data, and the CMYK system data is transmitted to the second storage unit. The image data is converted into the head drive data, and the head controller causes the head to eject the ink based on the head drive data, and the layout is performed. An image is printed on the medium .
Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, the amount of data processed by the layout unit can be reduced, and the printing speed of the printing apparatus can be increased.

=== Summary of disclosure ===
At least the following matters will become clear from the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

A data converter for converting RGB image data into CMYK image data;
A layout unit that generates RGB image data obtained by laying out the image data based on the RGB image data;
The data conversion unit converts the RGB image data generated by the layout unit into CMYK image data,
A printing apparatus that prints the laid out image on a medium based on the converted CMYK image data.

  As a result, the amount of data processed by the layout unit can be reduced, and the printing speed of the printing apparatus can be increased.

  In this printing apparatus, it is preferable that the resolution of the RGB image data when the layout unit performs layout is smaller than the resolution of the CMYK image data. Since the resolution of the RGB image data does not need to match the printing resolution, the resolution can be lower than the resolution of the CMYK image data.

  In such a printing apparatus, when the image is printed without being laid out on the medium, the data converter converts the RGB image data into CMYK image data, and the converted CMYK image It is desirable to print the image on a medium based on the data. When layout processing is not performed, regular processing of image data is performed mainly by the data conversion unit, so that the processing speed is high.

  It is preferable that the printing apparatus further includes a scanner unit that reads an image from a document, and the data conversion unit includes a unit that generates the RGB image data based on data received from the scanner unit. Thereby, RGB image data can be acquired in the data converter.

  The printing apparatus may further include a movable head having a plurality of nozzles, and the data conversion unit may convert the CMYK image data into head drive data rearranged corresponding to each nozzle. It is desirable to have Thereby, in the data conversion unit, it is possible to perform processing until conversion from RGB image data to head drive data.

  The printing apparatus may further include a scanner unit that reads an image from a document, and a movable head including a plurality of nozzles, and the data conversion unit is configured based on data received from the scanner unit. RGB image data is generated, the RGB image data is converted into CMYK image data, and the CMYK image data is converted into head drive data rearranged corresponding to each nozzle. It is desirable to be possible. Thereby, in the data conversion unit, from acquisition of RGB image data to generation of head drive data can be performed.

  In this printing apparatus, it is preferable that the data conversion unit further includes a resizing unit that converts the size of the RGB image data generated by the layout unit. The resolution of the RGB image data need not match the printing resolution. Therefore, the resolution of RGB image data processed by the layout unit can be reduced. However, finally, it is necessary to match the resolution of the image data to the printing resolution. Therefore, the resolution of the RGB image data is adjusted to the printing resolution by the resizing unit.

  In this printing apparatus, a first storage unit that stores the image data processed by the data conversion unit, and a first path that transfers the image data between the data conversion unit and the first storage unit A second storage unit for storing the image data to be processed by the layout unit, and a second path provided separately from the first path, and for transferring the image data between the layout unit and the second storage unit. It is desirable to further have a path. Since the first route and the second route are separate, the data conversion processing by the data conversion unit can be performed without reducing the processing speed of the layout unit.

  In this printing apparatus, when the image is printed without being laid out on the medium, the data conversion unit converts the RGB image data into CMYK image data without using the second path. Is desirable. As a result, when the layout process is not performed, the processing speed is increased.

  In this printing apparatus, it is preferable that the data conversion unit includes a unit that transmits the image data of the first storage unit to the second storage unit without passing through the first path. Thereby, the image data of the first storage unit can be transmitted to the layout unit side.

  In this printing apparatus, it is preferable that the layout unit generates RGB image data in which a plurality of the images are arranged and laid out. Thereby, repeat copy or the like can be performed. In this printing apparatus, it is preferable that the layout unit generates RGB image data obtained by rotating and laying out the image. Thereby, 2-up copying or the like can be performed.

  In this printing apparatus, it is preferable that the layout unit is a general-purpose unit and the data conversion unit is a dedicated unit. The dedicated unit has a fast processing operation, but cannot perform processing other than the predetermined processing. On the other hand, general-purpose units are used for various purposes, but the processing speed decreases as the amount of data to be processed increases. Because of such a configuration, it is possible to effectively increase the printing speed by reducing the amount of data to be processed by the layout unit.

A data converter for converting RGB image data into CMYK image data;
A layout unit that generates RGB image data obtained by laying out the image data based on the RGB image data;
The data conversion unit converts the RGB image data generated by the layout unit into CMYK image data,
A printing apparatus for printing the laid out image on a medium based on the converted CMYK image data,
The resolution of the RGB image data when the layout unit performs layout is smaller than the resolution of the CMYK image data,
When printing without laying out the image on the medium, the data conversion unit converts the RGB image data into CMYK image data, and the image is converted based on the converted CMYK image data. Print on media,
The printing apparatus further includes a scanner unit that reads an image from a document, and the data conversion unit includes a unit that generates the RGB image data based on data received from the scanner unit.
The printing apparatus further includes a movable head having a plurality of nozzles, and the data conversion unit has a unit for converting CMYK image data into head drive data rearranged corresponding to each nozzle. And
The data conversion unit includes a resizing unit that converts the size of the RGB image data generated by the layout unit,
A first storage unit for storing the image data processed by the data conversion unit, a first path for transferring the image data between the data conversion unit and the first storage unit, and the layout unit A second storage unit that stores the image data; and a second path that is provided separately from the first path and passes the image data between the layout unit and the second storage unit,
When printing without laying out the image on the medium, the data conversion unit converts the RGB image data into CMYK image data without using the second path,
The data conversion unit includes a unit that transmits the image data of the first storage unit to the second storage unit without passing through the first path,
The layout unit generates RGB image data in which a plurality of the images are arranged and laid out,
The layout unit generates RGB image data laid out by rotating the image,
The printing apparatus, wherein the layout unit is a general-purpose unit, and the data conversion unit is a dedicated unit.

  As a result, the amount of data processed by the layout unit can be reduced, and the printing speed of the printing apparatus can be increased.

A printing method using a data converter that converts RGB image data to CMYK image data,
Based on the RGB image data, RGB image data is generated by laying out the image data,
The generated RGB image data is converted into CMYK image data using the data converter,
A printing method characterized by printing the laid out image on a medium based on the converted CMYK image data.

  As a result, the amount of data processed by the layout unit can be reduced, and the printing speed of the printing apparatus can be increased.

A printing system comprising a computer and a printing device,
The printing apparatus includes:
A data converter for converting RGB image data into CMYK image data;
A layout unit that generates RGB image data obtained by laying out the image data based on the RGB image data;
The data conversion unit converts the RGB image data generated by the layout unit into CMYK image data,
A printing system that prints the laid out image on a medium based on the converted CMYK image data.
As a result, the amount of data processed by the layout unit can be reduced, and the printing speed of the printing apparatus can be increased.

=== General Configuration of Recording Apparatus ===
A schematic configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a cover of a scanner unit 10 is opened, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an internal configuration of the recording apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the inside of the printer unit is exposed, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation panel unit. The recording apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a scanner function for inputting an original image, a printer function for printing an image on a medium such as paper based on image data, and a local copy function for printing an image input by the scanner function on paper or the like. A scanner / printer / copier combined apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an SPC combined apparatus).

  The SPC multifunction apparatus 1 includes a scanner unit 10 for reading an image of a document 5 and inputting it as image data, a printer unit 30 for printing an image on a medium such as paper based on the image data, and the entire SPC multifunction apparatus 1. It has a control circuit 50 that controls the operation and an operation panel unit 70 that serves as an input means. Under the control of the control circuit 50, a scanner function, a printer function, and a local copy function for printing data input from the scanner unit 10 by the printer unit 30 are realized.

  The scanner unit 10 is disposed on the printer unit 30. On the upper part of the scanner unit 10, a document table glass 12 for placing the document 5 to be read, and a document table when reading the sheet-shaped document 5 or when not in use. A document table cover 14 that covers the glass 12 is provided. The document table cover 14 is formed to be openable and closable, and has a function of pressing a document placed on the document table glass 12 toward the document table glass 12 when the document table cover 14 is closed. Further, a paper supply unit 32 for supplying the paper 7 to the printer unit 30 is provided on the back side of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1, and the printed paper 7 is discharged on the lower side on the front side. An operation panel unit 70 is provided as an input unit on the upper side of the unit 34, and a control circuit 50 is built in the printer unit 30.

  The paper discharge unit 34 is provided with a paper discharge tray 341 that can close the paper discharge port when not in use, and the paper supply unit 32 is provided with a paper feed tray 321 that holds cut paper (not shown). ing. The medium used for printing is not limited to single-sheet printing paper such as cut paper, but may be continuous printing paper such as roll paper. The SPC multifunction apparatus 1 has a paper feed structure that enables printing on roll paper. It may be.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the printer unit 30 and the scanner unit 10 are coupled to each other by a hinge mechanism 41 on the back side, and the scanner unit 10 unitized around the rotating unit of the hinge mechanism 41 is on the front side. Lifted from. In a state where the scanner unit 10 is lifted, the inside of the printer unit 30 is exposed from an opening 301 provided in an upper portion of a cover that covers the printer unit 30. By exposing the inside of the printer unit 30 in this manner, the ink cartridge and the like can be easily replaced, and a paper jam can be easily processed.

  A power supply unit for the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 is provided on the printer unit 30 side, and a power supply cable 43 for supplying power to the scanner unit 10 is provided in the vicinity of the hinge mechanism 41. Further, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 is provided with a USB interface 52 for realizing the image capturing to the host computer 3 by the scanner function and the output of the image data transmitted from the host computer 3 by the printer function. .

=== Configuration of Operation Panel 70 ===
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation panel unit 70 includes a liquid crystal display 72 at substantially the center thereof. The liquid crystal display 72 can display full-width characters of 7 rows and 16 digits, and can also display images. The display content of the liquid crystal display 72 changes according to the setting item, the setting state, the operation state, and the like.

  On the left side of the liquid crystal display 72, a notification lamp 74, a power button 75, various setting buttons 76, a mode button 77, and a paper supply / discharge button 78 are provided. The notification lamp button 74 is a red LED and lights up when an error occurs to notify the user of the occurrence of the error. The power button 75 is a button for turning on / off the power of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1. When the various setting buttons 76 are pressed, a screen for performing various settings of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 72. As the mode buttons 77, a copy mode button 771, a memory card print mode button 772, a film print mode button 773, and a scan mode button 774 are provided. When these buttons are pressed, a screen for setting each mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display 72. For example, when the copy mode button 771 is pressed, a screen for inputting setting conditions such as the number of copies, magnification, paper type, paper size, copy quality, and copy mode is displayed on the liquid crystal display 72. The paper supply / discharge button 78 is pressed when paper is fed to the SPC multifunction apparatus or paper in the SPC multifunction apparatus is ejected.

  On the right side of the liquid crystal display 72, there are an OK button 81, a cancel button 82, a save button 83, a color copy button 84, a monochrome copy button 86, a stop button 88, a cross button 90, and a menu button 92. Is provided. When the OK button 81 is pressed, the setting condition is determined based on the content displayed on the liquid crystal display 72. When the cancel button 82 is pressed, the setting conditions are cleared and each setting item is changed to a default value. If the save button 83 is kept pressed for 3 seconds or more, the set value is stored. When the save button 83 is pressed for 3 seconds or less, the stored setting value is read and the setting condition is displayed on the liquid crystal display 72. The color copy button 84 is a button for starting color copying, and the monochrome button 86 is a button for starting monochrome copying. Therefore, these copy buttons 84 and 86 serve as both a copy operation start instruction and selection means for selecting whether the image to be output is color or monochrome. The stop button 88 is a button for stopping the copy operation once started. The cross button 90 can be selectively pressed at the four positions on the top, bottom, left, and right, and one button performs four functions (the functions of an upper button, a lower button, a left button, and a right button). When the menu button 92 is pressed, setting items displayed on the liquid crystal display 72 are switched.

=== Configuration of Scanner Unit 10 ===
The scanner unit 10 includes a document table glass 12 on which the document 5 is placed, a document table cover 14 for pressing the reading surface of the document 5 placed on the document table glass 12 toward the document table glass 12, The reading carriage 16 that faces the document glass 12 and scans along the document 5 while keeping a certain distance from the document glass 12, the driving means 18 for scanning the reading carriage 16, and the reading carriage 16 in a stable state. And a regulation guide 20 for scanning.

  The reading carriage 16 includes an exposure lamp 22 as a light source for irradiating the document 5 with light through the document table glass 12, a lens 24 for condensing the reflected light from the document 5, and a reflected light from the document 5 to the lens 24. And a CCD sensor 28 that receives reflected light transmitted through the lens, and a guide receiving portion 29 that engages with the restriction guide 20.

  The CCD sensor 28 is composed of three linear sensors in which photodiodes that convert optical signals into electric signals are arranged in a row, and these three linear sensors are arranged in parallel. The CCD sensor 28 includes three filters of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) (not shown), and different color filters are provided for each linear sensor. Each linear sensor detects light of a component corresponding to the color of the filter. For example, a linear sensor including an R filter detects the intensity of red component light. The three linear sensors are arranged along a direction (hereinafter referred to as a main scanning direction) substantially orthogonal to a moving direction of the reading carriage 16 (hereinafter referred to as a sub scanning direction).

  Since the length of the CCD sensor 28 is sufficiently shorter than the width of the readable original 5 (the length in the main scanning direction), the image of the reflected light of the original 5 is reduced by the lens 24 and connected to the CCD sensor 28. I will make you image. That is, the lens 24 interposed between the document 5 and the CCD sensor 28 is disposed close to the CCD sensor 28 side, and the distance between the document 5 and the lens 24 needs to be set long, and a long optical path length is required. Is done. For this reason, in order to ensure the distance between the document 5 and the lens 24 within the limited space of the scanning scanning carriage 16, the light is reflected by the four mirrors 26 to ensure a long optical path length.

  The reflected light from the document 5 is reflected by the four mirrors 26 and passes through the lens 24 to reach the CCD sensor 28. However, since the three linear sensors are arranged in parallel, they are simultaneously connected to each linear sensor. The reflection position of the reflected light to be imaged with respect to the document is displaced in the sub-scanning direction by the interval of the linear sensor. For this reason, the scanner control unit 58 (FIG. 8) of the control circuit 50 performs a line-to-line correction process for correcting this shift. The interline correction process will be described later.

  The restriction guide 20 is provided along the sub-scanning direction and is formed of a stainless steel cylindrical material. The restriction guide 20 is provided on the reading carriage 16 and penetrates through two guide receiving portions 29 formed of thrust bearings. By widening the interval in the sub-scanning direction between the two guide receiving portions 29 provided on the reading carriage 16, the reading carriage 16 can be stably scanned.

  The driving unit 18 includes an annular timing belt 181 fixed to the reading carriage 16 and a pulley 182 meshing with the timing belt 181, a pulse motor 183 disposed on one end side in the sub-scanning direction, and the other The idler pulley 184 is arranged on the end side and applies tension to the timing belt 181. The pulse motor 183 is driven by the scanner control unit 58 (FIG. 8) of the control circuit 50. The read image is scanned in the sub-scanning direction by the scanning speed of the reading carriage 16 which is changed according to the speed of the pulse motor 183. It becomes possible to enlarge and reduce.

  The scanner unit 10 irradiates the document 5 with light from the exposure lamp 22 and moves the reading carriage 16 along the document 5 while imaging the reflected light on the CCD sensor 28. At this time, by reading the voltage value indicating the amount of light received by the CCD sensor 28 at a predetermined cycle, an image corresponding to the distance moved by the reading carriage 16 during one cycle is used as data for one line of the output image. Take in. At this time, three data of R component, G component, and B component are taken in as data for one line.

=== Configuration of Printer 30 ===
The printer unit 30 is configured to output a color image. For example, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) color inks are printed on a medium such as printing paper. An ink jet method is employed in which an image is formed by forming dots by discharging the ink upward. In addition to the above four colors, light cyan (light cyan, LC), light magenta (light magenta, LM), and dark yellow (dark yellow, DY) may be used as the color ink.

  Next, the printer unit 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 6, and 7. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement around the print head, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a drive unit of the printing paper transport mechanism.

  As shown in the figure, the printer unit 30 drives a print head 38 mounted on the writing carriage 36 to eject ink and form dots, and the writing carriage 36 is conveyed by the carriage motor 40 to transport the paper 7. A mechanism that reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the direction, and a mechanism that conveys the sheet 7 supplied from a sheet feed tray 321 (see FIG. 1) by a paper feed motor (hereinafter also referred to as a PF motor) 42. .

  The mechanism for ejecting ink and forming dots includes a print head 38 having a plurality of nozzles as an ink ejection unit, and ejects ink from predetermined nozzles based on a print command signal. On the lower surface 381 of the print head 38, a plurality of nozzles form a row along the transport direction of the paper 7, and a plurality of rows are provided in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the paper 7. Details of the print head 38 and the nozzle arrangement will be described later. The print head 38 includes a 16-bit memory corresponding to each nozzle, and data is transferred in 16-bit units to each nozzle from a head control unit 68 (FIG. 10) described later.

  A mechanism for reciprocating the writing carriage 36 is provided in a direction orthogonal to the carriage motor 40 (hereinafter also referred to as a CR motor) for driving the writing carriage 36 and the conveyance direction of the paper 7. A sliding shaft 44 that is movably held, a linear encoder 46 fixed to the writing carriage 36, a linear encoder code plate 461 having slits formed at predetermined intervals, and a rotating shaft of the carriage motor 40 The pulley 48 is attached, and the timing belt 49 is driven by the pulley 48.

  A print head 38 and a cartridge mounting portion provided integrally with the print head 38 are fixed to the writing carriage 36. The cartridge mounting portion includes black (K), cyan (C), and magenta (M). Ink cartridges containing ink such as yellow (Y) are mounted.

  A mechanism for transporting the paper 7 supplied from the paper feed tray 321 is arranged to face the print head 38 and serves as a guide member for guiding the paper 7 so that the paper 7 and the print head 38 are at an appropriate distance. A platen 35, a conveyance roller 37 that is provided upstream of the platen 35 in the conveyance direction of the paper 7 and conveys the supplied paper 7 so as to contact the platen 35 at a predetermined angle, and a platen 35. On the other hand, a paper discharge roller 39 is provided on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the paper 7 and conveys and discharges the paper 7 removed from the conveyance roller 37, and a PF for driving the conveyance roller 37 and the paper discharge roller 39. A motor 42, a rotary encoder 47 for detecting the transport amount of the paper 7, and a paper detection sensor 45 for detecting the presence / absence of the paper 7 and the leading and trailing edges of the paper 7 are provided.

  The conveyance roller 37 is provided below the conveyance path of the paper 7, and a driven roller 371 for holding the paper 7 is provided above the conveyance roller 37 so as to face the conveyance roller 37. The paper discharge roller 39 is also provided below the conveyance path of the paper 7, and a driven roller 391 for holding the paper 7 facing the paper discharge roller 39 is provided above the paper discharge roller 39. The opposed driven roller 391 is a roller which is a thin plate and provided with fine teeth on the outer peripheral portion, and is configured so that ink does not rub even if it contacts the surface of the paper 7 after printing.

  Further, the contact position between the transport roller 37 and the sheet 7 is arranged to be higher than the contact position between the platen 35 and the sheet 7. That is, the sheet 7 conveyed from the conveyance roller 37 contacts the platen 35 at a predetermined angle and is further conveyed. Thus, the sheet 7 is conveyed along the platen 35 so as to be pressed against a guide surface 351 described later. For this reason, the platen 35 can maintain the paper 7 at an appropriate position from the nozzles, and a good image can be obtained.

  Further, the transport roller 37 and the paper discharge roller 39 are connected by the gear train 31 and are rotated by the rotation of the PF motor 42, so that the transport speed of the paper 7 by both rollers 37 and 39 is the same.

  The platen 35 has a guide surface 351 that faces the lower surface 381 of the print head 38, that is, the surface on which the nozzles are provided, and guides the paper 7 in contact therewith. The guide surface 351 is formed narrower than the area where the nozzles on the lower surface 381 of the print head 38 are provided, and some of the nozzles located on the most upstream side and the most downstream side in the transport direction of the paper 7 face the platen 35. Not. This prevents the ink ejected outside the paper 7 from adhering to the platen 35 when printing the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper 7, and prevents the back surface of the paper 7 conveyed thereafter from becoming dirty. Yes. That is, the platen 35 is not provided at a position facing the nozzles at the upstream end and the downstream end. In this space portion, an ink receiver is provided at a position lower than the guide surface 351 of the platen 35 to collect unnecessary ink so that the inside of the printer is not soiled.

  The paper detection sensor 45 is provided on the upstream side in the transport direction from the transport roller 37, is provided above the lever 451 having a rotation center at a position higher than the transport path of the paper 7, and has a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. A transmissive optical sensor 452. The lever 451 is arranged so as to hang down in the conveyance path by its own weight, and is located on the opposite side across the action portion 453 and the rotation center with the action portion 453 rotated by the paper 7 supplied from the paper feed tray 321. The light shielding unit 454 is provided so as to pass between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. In the paper detection sensor 45, when the lever 451 is pushed by the supplied paper 7, and the paper 7 reaches a predetermined position, the light shielding portion 454 blocks the light emitted from the light emitting portion, so that the paper 7 reaches the predetermined position. Is detected. Thereafter, when the sheet 7 is conveyed by the conveying roller 7 and the rear end of the sheet 7 passes, the lever 451 hangs down due to its own weight, the light shielding part 454 is detached from between the light emitting part and the light receiving part, and the light of the light emitting part is received. It is detected that the rear end of the sheet 7 reaches a predetermined position. Therefore, while the light blocking unit 454 blocks the light from the light emitting unit, it is detected that the sheet 7 exists at least in the transport path.

=== Regarding the Nozzle Configuration ===
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the arrangement of nozzles on the lower surface 381 of the print head 38.
A black ink nozzle row 33 (K), a cyan ink nozzle row 33 (C), a magenta ink nozzle row 33 (M), and a yellow ink nozzle row 33 (Y) are formed on the lower surface 381 of the print head 38. ing. Each nozzle row 33 includes a plurality of nozzles (10 in this embodiment) that are ejection openings for ejecting ink of each color.

  The plurality of nozzles of each nozzle row 33 are aligned at a constant interval (nozzle pitch: k · D) along the paper conveyance direction. Here, D is the minimum dot pitch in the paper conveyance direction (that is, the interval at the highest resolution of dots formed on the paper 32). For example, when the resolution is 720 dpi, 1/720 inch (about 35. 3 μm). K is an integer of 1 or more.

  In addition, the nozzles of each nozzle row 33 are assigned a smaller number as the nozzles on the downstream side are designated as the first nozzle N1 to the tenth nozzle N10, respectively. Each nozzle is provided with a piezo element (not shown) as a drive element for driving each nozzle to eject ink droplets.

  At the time of printing, the sheet 7 is intermittently transported by a predetermined transport amount F by the transport roller 37 and the paper discharge roller 39, and the writing carriage 36 moves in the scanning direction during the intermittent transport, so that each nozzle Ink droplets are ejected from.

=== Drive of print head ===
Next, driving of the print head 38 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive signal generator provided in the head control unit 68 (FIG. 10).

  In FIG. 9, the drive signal generation unit includes a plurality of mask circuits 204, an original drive signal generation unit 206, and a drive signal correction unit 230. The mask circuit 204 is provided corresponding to a plurality of piezo elements for driving the nozzles N1 to N10 of the print head 38, respectively. In FIG. 9, the numbers in parentheses at the end of each signal name indicate the number of the nozzle to which the signal is supplied. The original drive signal generator 206 generates an original drive signal ODRV that is commonly used for the nozzles N1 to N10. The original drive signal ODRV is a signal including two pulses, a first pulse W1 and a second pulse W2, within the main scanning period for one pixel. The drive signal correction unit 230 performs correction by shifting the timing of the drive signal waveform shaped by the mask circuit 204 back and forth in the entire return path. By correcting the timing of the drive signal waveform, the deviation of the ink droplet landing position in the forward path and the backward path is corrected, that is, the deviation of the dot formation position in the forward path and the backward path is corrected.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the input serial print signal PRT (i) is input to the mask circuit 204 together with the original drive signal ODRV output from the original drive signal generator 206. The serial print signal PRT (i) is a 2-bit serial signal per pixel, and each bit corresponds to the first pulse W1 and the second pulse W2.

  The mask circuit 204 is a gate for masking the original drive signal ODRV in accordance with the level of the serial print signal PRT (i). That is, when the serial print signal PRT (i) is 1 level, the mask circuit 204 passes the corresponding pulse of the original drive signal ODRV as it is and supplies it as the drive signal DRV to the piezo element, while the serial print signal PRT (i ) Is 0 level, the corresponding pulse of the original drive signal ODRV is cut off.

=== Internal Structure of Control Circuit 50 ===
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the control circuit 50.

  The control circuit 50 of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 includes a CPU 54 that controls the entire SPC multifunction apparatus 1, a ROM 55 that stores a control program, and a control ASIC 51 that controls each of the scanner function, print function, and local copy function. The SDRAM 56 capable of directly reading and writing data from the CPU 54 and the operation panel unit 70 as input means are connected by a CPU bus 501. The control ASIC 51 is connected to the scanner unit 10, the print head 38, and an ASIC SDRAM 69 that can directly read and write data from the control ASIC 51.

  The control ASIC 51 includes a scanner control unit 58, a resizing unit 59, a binarization processing unit 60, an interlace processing unit 62, an image buffer unit 64, a CPU interface unit (hereinafter referred to as CPUIF unit) 66, and a head control. A USB interface (hereinafter referred to as USBIF) 52 as input / output means between the unit 68 and the external host computer 3, and drivers such as motors and lamps provided in the scanner unit 10 and the printer unit 30 are provided. Further, a line buffer 691, a resize buffer 692, an interlace buffer 693, and an image buffer 694 are allocated to the control ASIC SDRAM 69, respectively. Between the control ASIC 51 and the ASIC SDRAM 69, so-called burst transfer with a data transfer unit of 64 bits is performed in order to increase the data transfer speed. Each unit in the control ASIC 51 is connected by a local bus different from the CPU bus 501.

  The scanner control unit 58 controls the exposure lamp 22, the CCD sensor 28, the pulse motor 183 as a reading carriage drive motor, and the like included in the scanner unit 10. The scanner control unit 58 has a function of sending image data read via the CCD sensor 28. The scanner control unit 58 can send out image data with a predetermined resolution by interpolating between pixels after reading an image from a document. For example, image data having a resolution of the printer unit (for example, 1440 dpi × 720 dpi) is transmitted during normal copying (described later), and image data having a resolution of 200 dpi × 200 dpi is transmitted during repeat printing (described later). it can. The image data sent from the scanner control unit 58 is multi-gradation RGB data (multi-value RGB data).

  The resizing unit 59 has a function of receiving image data of a predetermined size, changing the size of the image data, and sending the resized image data. Here, the size of the image data is the number of vertical and horizontal pixels of the image. The image is large if the number of vertical and horizontal pixels is large, and the image is small if the number of vertical and horizontal pixels is small. However, the size of the actually printed image varies depending on the print resolution even if the number of pixels is large. For example, even if the number of pixels is the same, the image data of 200 dpi × 200 dpi is larger than the image data of 1440 dpi × 720 dpi. That is, changing the size of image data also means changing the resolution.

The binarization processing unit 60 has a function of converting the transmitted multi-grayscale RGB data into CMYK binary data (or 2-bit data) and transmitting the data to the interlace processing unit 62.
The interlace processing unit 62 performs CMYK data for one raster line when performing so-called overlap printing in which one raster line (one line in the main scanning direction in the print image) is printed by scanning the writing carriage 36 a plurality of times. Is assigned to data to be printed for each scan of the writing carriage 36 to generate overlap printing compatible data (hereinafter referred to as OL compatible data). The generated OL correspondence data is stored in the interlace buffer 693 of the ASIC SDRAM 69.

In the interlace processing unit 62, the data stored in the interlace buffer 693 is read into the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62 for each predetermined size, and rearranged on the SRAM 621 so as to correspond to the nozzle arrangement. 64.
The image buffer unit 64 has a function of generating head drive data for causing the nozzles for each scan of the writing carriage 36 to eject ink from the data sent from the interlace processing unit 62.

The CPUIF unit 66 has a function that allows the CPU 54 to access the control ASIC SDRAM 69 connected to the control ASIC 51. The control circuit 50 is used when driving the head control unit 68 based on the head drive data generated by the image buffer unit 64.
The head control unit 68 has a function of driving the print head 38 based on the head drive data under the control of the CPU 54 and discharging ink from the nozzles.

=== Data Flow in Control Circuit 50 ===
<About the scanner function>
From the host computer 3 connected to the USBIF 52 of the control ASIC 51, an image reading command signal from the scanner unit 10 and reading information data such as reading resolution and reading area are transmitted to the control circuit 50. In the control circuit 50, the CPU 54 controls the scanner control unit 58 based on the image reading command signal and the reading information data, and reading of the document 5 by the scanner unit 10 is started. At this time, in the scanner control unit 58, a lamp driving unit, a CCD driving unit, a reading carriage scanning driving unit, and the like are driven, and RGB data is read from the CCD sensor 28 at a predetermined cycle. The read RGB data is temporarily stored in a line buffer 691 allocated to the ASIC SDRAM 69, subjected to inter-line correction processing for each of R, G, and B data, and sent to the host computer 3 via the USBIF 52. . The inter-line correction process is a process for correcting the deviation of the reading position between the R, G, and B linear sensors that occurs due to the structure of the scanner unit 10. More specifically, the CCD sensor 28 of the scanner unit 10 is a color sensor, and has a linear sensor with one line for each color for three colors of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Yes. Since these three linear sensors are arranged in parallel with the scanning direction of the reading carriage 16, they cannot simultaneously receive the reflected light irradiated on the same line of the document 5. That is, when reflected light irradiated on the same line of the document 5 is received by each linear sensor, a time shift occurs. For this reason, it is a process for synchronizing the data sent with a delay corresponding to the arrangement of the linear sensors.

<About the printer function>
During the printer function, image data to be printed is converted into head drive data that can be printed by the printer unit 30 of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 by the printer driver of the host computer 3 connected to the USBIF 52 of the control ASIC 51. Input from USBIF 52. For example, when performing interlaced printing, the head drive data is obtained by extracting raster data corresponding to the resolution of the image to be printed and the pitch and number of nozzles of the nozzle array 33 of the writing carriage 36. The data is rearranged in the printing order for each scanning of the feed carriage 36 and becomes a signal for driving the print head 38.

  The head drive data is stored in an image buffer 57 assigned to an SDRAM 56 that can be read directly by the CPU 54. The image buffer 57 includes two memory areas having a capacity capable of storing head drive data for printing by one scan of the writing carriage 36. When data for one scan is written in one image buffer 571, the data is transferred to the head control unit 68. At this time, when the image data in one image buffer 571 is transferred to the head control unit 68, the head drive data for printing in the next scanning is stored in the other image buffer 572. When data for one scan is written in the other image buffer 572, the data is transferred to the head control unit 68, and the image data is written in the one image buffer 571. As described above, the print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 and printing is executed while alternately writing and reading the head drive data using the two image buffers 571 and 572.

<About copy function>
Next, the data flow during the copy function will be described. Here, only the flow of data during a normal copy operation will be described, and a method that requires layout processing such as a repeat printing method will be described later.

  Data read by the scanner unit 10 is taken into the line buffer 691 via the scanner control unit 58. The RGB data taken into the line buffer 691 is subjected to the RGB inter-line correction process described above, and the RGB data for the same line is sent from the scanner control unit 58 to the binarization processing unit 60. Further, when sending the RGB data to the binarization processing unit 60, the scanner control unit 58 matches the resolution of the image data with the resolution of the printer unit. For example, when printing at 1440 dpi, the scanner control unit 58 sends image data (RGB data) having a resolution of 1440 dpi to the binarization processing unit 60. For this reason, the resizing unit 59 is not functioning during a normal copy operation.

  The RGB data sent to the binarization processing unit 60 is subjected to halftone processing, and is then referred to a look-up table (LUT) 696 stored in the control ASIC SDRAM 69 to obtain binary values for each color of CMYK. It is converted into data and sent to the interlace processing unit 62.

  The CMYK binary data sent to the interlace processing unit 62 is distributed from all data of each raster line to data to be printed for each scan of the writing carriage 36 based on the designated interlace method. For example, when one raster line is formed by two scans of the writing carriage 36, it is divided into data for forming odd-numbered dots and data for forming even-numbered dots from the end of the raster line. Thus, OL correspondence data is generated. The OL-compatible data is burst-transferred 64 bits at a time to the interlace buffer 693 and stored.

  Further, the interlace processing unit 62 reads the data stored in the interlace buffer 693 for each predetermined size, and burst-transfers the data to the SRAM 621 in the interlace processing unit 62. At this time, OL correspondence data is read from the interlace buffer 693 in correspondence with the nozzle arrangement of the print head 38 based on the image resolution to be printed and the nozzle pitch. For example, when the resolution of an image to be printed is 720 dpi and the nozzle pitch is 1/180 inch, there are three raster lines between two raster lines printed by adjacent nozzles. For this reason, the data corresponding to the scanning of the writing carriage 36 is read out from the OL corresponding data at intervals of 3 raster lines.

The transferred data is rearranged on the SRAM 621 so as to correspond to the nozzle arrangement and sent to the image buffer unit 64.
In the image buffer unit 64, the image data finely divided by the capacity of the SRAM 621 is burst-transferred to the image buffer 694 so as to become head drive data for ejecting ink to each nozzle of each scan of the writing carriage 36. Align and remember. Here, the image buffers 694 and 695 are allotted memory areas for storing head drive data for two scans of the write carriage 36, and each time the head drive data for one scan is accumulated, The CPU 54 sends the head drive unit 68 to the head control unit 68 and starts writing head drive data corresponding to the next scan in the memory area for the remaining one scan. This process is the same as the image buffer process described above in the description of the printer function.

  The head drive data for each scan stored in the image buffers 694 and 695 is controlled by the CPU 54, read into the CPU 54 via the CPUIF unit 66, and transferred to the head control unit 68 by the CPU 54. The print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 based on the head drive data, and an image is printed.

  During normal copy operation, layout processing that requires computation by the CPU 54 is performed after the RGB image data is read by the scanner control unit 58 until the CMYK head drive data is written to the image buffers 694 and 695. Not. In other words, the process of converting the RGB image data into the CMYK head drive data does not require the CPU 54 and is processed mainly by the control ASIC. Therefore, it is not necessary to transfer data between the ASIC SDRAM and the CPU SDRAM during this process. That is, since data is sent between the control ASIC 51 and the ASIC SDRAM 69 using only the local bus 511, the CPU bus 501 is hardly used. For this reason, the processing becomes faster and the copy speed can be increased.

=== Printing method for layout processing ===
As a printing method that requires layout processing, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 can perform “automatic repeat copy”, “four-sheet repeat copy”, and “two-up copy”. “Repeat copy” is a printing method in which a plurality of the same images are printed on printing paper. In “automatic repeat copy”, a plurality of images that are the same size as the original image are printed. In “4-repeat copy”, four reduced and enlarged original images are evenly printed on printing paper. In “automatic remote copy”, the number of images to be printed on the printing paper is determined based on the size of the image and the size of the printing paper. In “4-repeat copying”, the number of images to be printed on the printing paper is determined. The number is set to four. “2-up copy” is a printing method in which images of a plurality of originals are printed on one printing sheet.
In these printing methods, the copy mode button 771 of the operation panel unit 70 is pressed, the setting items displayed on the liquid crystal display 72 are displayed, and, for example, “automatic repeat copy” is selected in the “copy layout” of the displayed setting items. It will be executed.

<About automatic repeat copy>
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining automatic repeat copying. In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes an original, and an image “A” is shown on the front surface. Reference numeral 7 denotes a sheet printed by the SPC multifunction apparatus 1. According to automatic repeat copying, the number of images “A” to be printed on the paper 7 is automatically calculated, and a print image in which a plurality of images “A” are arranged is printed on the paper 7.

1. Regarding Automatic Repeat Copy Processing Operation FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of automatic repeat copy processing operation. Hereinafter, automatic repeat copying will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. A program related to the processing operation procedure of repeat printing is stored in the ROM 55.

  First, the user sets the paper 7 in the paper feed tray of the SPC multifunction apparatus A (S101). In addition, the user operates various buttons on the operation panel unit 70 to input information regarding the paper 7. That is, first, the user sequentially switches the displayed setting items using the copy mode button 771 and selects “paper type” as the setting item. Then, the user presses the left and right of the cross button 90 to set the setting value to “A4 paper”. As a result, the SPC multifunction apparatus acquires information (paper information) about the paper. However, when the user does not set the paper size using the operation panel unit 70, a predetermined default value is used as a setting value for the paper. In the following description, it is assumed that a plurality of A4 size sheet-like printing sheets are set.

  The SDRAM 56 of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 stores a table (reference table) that associates print sheets and print areas of the sheets. Then, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 refers to the table using the acquired sheet information as a key, and acquires information regarding the print area of the sheet. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the print area information of A4 size paper indicates that the vertical and horizontal sizes are X1 (mm) and Y1 (mm).

  Next, the user operates various buttons on the operation panel unit 70 to select “automatic repeat copy” from a plurality of printing methods (S102). That is, first, the user sequentially switches the setting items to be displayed using the copy mode button 771 to display a display screen for the setting item “copy mode”. Next, the user sets the setting value to “repeat printing” by pressing the left and right of the cross button. Thus, the printing method of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 is selected as “automatic repeat copy”. Similarly, the user operates various buttons on the operation panel unit 70 to set the size of the margin width t, whereby the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 acquires information about the margin (margin information). However, when the margin width t is not set by the operation panel unit 70, a predetermined default value is used as a setting value of the margin width. In this embodiment, the margin information indicates that the width is t (mm).

  Next, the user sets the document 5 on the scanner unit 10 of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 (S103). A state of setting the document 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13A to 13C. First, the user opens the document table cover 14 and places the document 5 on the document table glass 12 (FIG. 13A). When the user places the document 5 on the platen glass 12, the side on which the image “A” is displayed is the bottom surface, and the corner of the document 5 is aligned with the origin mark 122 at the left back of the platen glass 12 (FIG. 13B). ). Then, the user closes the document table cover 14 and presses the document 5 on the document table glass 12 toward the document table glass 12 by the document table cover 14. As a result, the document 5 is set on the scanner unit 10.

  Next, the user instructs execution of automatic repeat copy. The execution of the automatic repeat copy is already set to perform the automatic repeat copy, and is started when the user presses the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 of the operation panel unit 70 (S104).

  Next, the scanner unit 10 of the SPC multifunction apparatus starts pre-scanning (S105). The pre-scan is an operation that is performed prior to a scan operation for printing. In this pre-scanning, an image is read at a lower resolution than the resolution of the scanning operation when performing printing. In this pre-scan, data of only the G (green) linear sensor among the RGB linear sensors is acquired. Prescan has low resolution (rough resolution) at the time of image reading and acquires only single color data, so the amount of data of the read image is small, so compared with the scanning operation when printing, Images can be read quickly.

  Next, the SPC multifunction apparatus determines an image area (S106). The image area is represented by the maximum coordinate (X2) in the X direction of the area occupied by the image and the maximum coordinate (Y2) in the Y direction of the area occupied by the image. That is, if the document is set straight as shown in FIG. 13B, the coordinates of the corner of the document and the corner on the opposite side to the origin mark are (X2, Y2). However, when the document 5 is set obliquely as shown in FIG. 13C, a rectangular area indicated by a dotted line is an image area. Since the X direction is the scanning movement direction of the reading carriage 16, the coordinates of the image area in the X direction are related to the driving of the reading carriage 16. On the other hand, since the Y direction is the scanning direction of the CCD sensor, the coordinates of the image area in the Y direction are associated with the element rows of the CCD sensor. In the following description, the image area information indicates that the vertical and horizontal sizes of the image are X2 (mm) and Y2 (mm).

  Next, the SPC multifunction apparatus determines the number of images that can be arranged per sheet (S107). The number of images is determined as the maximum number that can be arranged on the sheet 7. The maximum number that can be arranged on the paper 7 is calculated as a product (m × n) of the maximum number m of images that can be arranged in the vertical direction of the paper and the maximum number n of images that can be arranged in the horizontal direction of the paper. The The maximum number m of images that can be arranged in the vertical direction of the paper is (X1-t) / () based on the vertical print area information (X1), the vertical image area information (X2), and the margin information (t). X2 + t) is calculated as the quotient. Similarly, the maximum number n of images that can be arranged horizontally is calculated as a quotient of (Y1−t) ÷ (Y2 + t). That is, the number of images to be arranged on the paper is determined based on the print area information (X1, Y1), the image area information (X2, Y2), and the margin information (t). In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the maximum number m of images that can be arranged in the vertical direction of the paper is 5, and the maximum number n of images that can be arranged in the horizontal direction of the paper is 4. Therefore, the number of images that can be arranged per sheet is 20.

  Next, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 displays the determined number of images on the display unit (S108). Thus, the user can know the number of images “A” printed per sheet. The user can set the number of prints by pressing the left and right of the cross button 90 on the operation panel unit 70 (S109). At this time, since the user knows the number of images to be printed per sheet, for example, if the user needs 100 images “A”, the number of printed sheets is set to five. That is, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 displays the number of images to be printed per sheet on the display unit, so that the user can set only the necessary number of sheets, thereby preventing waste of sheets.

  Next, the scanning unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus reads an image from the document. This reading operation is started when the user presses the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 of the operation panel unit 70 (S110). The image reading area at this time is an area specified by the image area information (X2, Y2). Note that the resolution of this reading operation is higher than the resolution at the time of the pre-scan described above. In the above-described prescan, only single color data is acquired, but in this reading operation, RGB data is acquired.

Next, the printer unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus arranges a plurality of images on one sheet based on the read image data of the document, and performs printing on the sheet (S111). A total of m × n images, m in the vertical direction and n in the horizontal direction, are printed on the paper. A margin of width t is provided between the edge of the paper and the image. Further, a margin of width t is provided between the images. Thus, the margin width t provided between the edge of the sheet and the image is equal to the margin width t provided between the images (see FIG. 11).
Note that how the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 arranges images during automatic repeat copying will be made clear from the following description.

2. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of the control circuit 50 at the time of automatic repeat copy. In FIG. 10 described above, two buffers are depicted as image buffers 571 and 572 (or image buffers 694 and 695) in order to alternately perform writing and reading. However, in FIG. Two buffers for alternately reading and reading are not drawn.

  Compared to the control circuit 50 of FIG. 10 described above, the hardware configuration is the same, but the allocation of memory areas in the SDRAM 56 that can be directly read by the CPU 54 is different. When layout processing is performed, a layout buffer 573 is allocated to the CPU SDRAM 56. The layout buffer 573 is logically divided into two regions (a first layout buffer 573A and a second layout buffer 573B). In FIG. 10, the CPU 54 accesses only the image buffer 695, but in FIG. 14, the CPU 54 also accesses the line buffer 691 and the like.

  Hereinafter, the flow of data in the control circuit 50 during repeat printing will be described with reference to FIG. A program for controlling the flow of data in the control circuit 50 at the time of repeat printing is stored in the ROM 55.

(1) First, the data flow in the control circuit 50 from the start of pre-scanning to the display of the number of images will be described.
The CPU 54 receives an input signal of the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 after setting “repeat printing” from the operation panel unit 70, and transmits a control signal to the scanner control unit 58. The scanner control unit 58 controls the scanner unit 10 based on a control signal from the CPU 54 and starts reading an image of the document 5 by a pre-scan operation.
In the prescan operation, data of only the G linear sensor among the RGB linear sensors is taken into the line buffer 691 via the scanner control unit 58. As described above, in the pre-scan operation, the resolution at the time of image reading is low (the resolution is coarse), and only single color data is acquired. As a result, the amount of data taken into the line buffer 691 during the prescan operation can be reduced, so that the data processing load can be reduced, and the image reading operation can be performed quickly in the prescan.
The data in the line buffer 691 captured by the pre-scan operation is sent to the SDRAM 56 that can be directly read by the CPU 54 before being converted into binary data in order to obtain image area information.
The CPU 54 determines the image area by analyzing the data sent to the SDRAM. In the present embodiment, the moving direction (sub-scanning direction) of the reading carriage 16 is the X direction, the direction parallel to the linear sensor constituting the CCD sensor 28 (main scanning direction) is the Y direction, and the X direction and Y direction of the image area. The maximum value (X2, Y2) is analyzed. As a result, the CPU 54 acquires image area information (X2, Y2).

  In the present embodiment, the CPU 54 determines a rectangle having a diagonal line from the origin (0, 0) to (X2, Y2) as an image area. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 13B, if the corner of the rectangular document 5 is on the origin mark and the document is set straight, the coordinates of the corner of the document and the corner on the opposite side to the origin mark are ( X2, Y2). However, as shown in FIG. 13C, when the document 5 is set obliquely, even if there is an area where the document 5 does not exist, it is determined as an image area.

  After obtaining the image area information, the CPU 54 determines the number of images per sheet. Note that information necessary for determining the number of images, such as print area information (X1, Y1) and margin information (t), has already been captured before the pre-scan operation (S101, S102). Therefore, as described above, the maximum number m of images that can be arranged in the vertical direction of the paper and the maximum number n of images that can be arranged in the horizontal direction of the paper can be calculated.

(2) Next, a data flow in the control circuit 50 from the start of scanning to the end of repeat printing will be described. In the above description, one raster line is formed by two scans of the write carriage 36. However, for simplicity of explanation, one raster line is formed by one scan of the write carriage 36. It is assumed that the dot data of the raster line is not distributed between the odd number and the even number (described below).

  The CPU 54 receives the input signal of the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 after setting the number of prints from the operation panel unit 70, and transmits a control signal to the scanner control unit 58. This control signal includes information related to the image area information (X2, Y2) as information related to the reading area. Then, the scanner control unit 58 controls the scanner unit 10 based on a control signal from the CPU 54 and starts reading an image in an area designated by the image area information.

  The scanner control unit 58 controls the scanner unit 10 and takes in RGB data output from the CCD sensor into the line buffer 691 at a predetermined cycle. Then, the scanner control unit 58 performs RGB inter-line correction processing (described above) on the RGB data once taken into the line buffer 691, and performs interpolation between pixels. As a result, the scanner control unit 58 generates multi-gradation RGB image data having a resolution of 200 dpi × 200 dpi.

  The multi-tone RGB image data is sent from the ASIC SDRAM 69 to the first layout buffer 573 A of the CPU SDRAM 57 via the CPUIF unit 66. The RGB image data stored in the first layout buffer 573A can be accessed by the CPU.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram of RGB image data sent to the first layout buffer 573A. The sent RGB image data is stored in a continuous area of the first layout buffer, but if it is folded back and arranged in the width of the image area, it becomes image information as shown in FIG. For the sake of simplicity, only an image of one plane of the RGB data is shown).
The CPU 54 creates layout image data based on the RGB image data captured in the first layout buffer 573A. However, the second layout buffer 573B that stores the created layout image data is allocated only an area that can store only a few lines of line data corresponding to the width of the paper. Therefore, the CPU 54 creates line-shaped layout image data and sends the created layout image data to the second layout buffer 573B. The layout image data for several lines sent to the second layout buffer 573B is sequentially sent to the resize buffer 692 in the control ASIC SDRAM 69 via the CPUIF unit 66.

  16A to 16E are conceptual diagrams of layout image data sent to the resize buffer 692. The layout image data is stored in a continuous memory area, but if it is folded back and arranged in the width of the paper, it becomes a layout image for several lines in the vertical direction as shown in the figure (in this description, the explanation will be given). For simplicity, only one plane (color) image of RGB data is shown).

  The layout image data is created as follows. First, the CPU 54 creates null data for the margin in order to create image data corresponding to the margin between the top edge of the paper and the image (FIG. 16A). After Null data corresponding to the margin width t is created, the CPU 54 creates a layout image in which n pieces of RGB image data captured in the first layout buffer 573A are arranged in the horizontal direction (paper width direction) (see FIG. 16B). However, when arranging the RGB image data, the CPU 54 inserts Null data for the width t between the side edge of the paper and the image. As a result, a horizontal margin of width t is created in the layout image. When the RGB image data is repeatedly arranged and arranged, the CPU 54 uses the same RGB image data (RGB image data of the image “A” captured in the first layout buffer 573A). Therefore, the same image is repeatedly arranged in the horizontal direction (paper width direction) in the layout image. The operation of creating a layout image in which images are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal direction is performed for the vertical region of the image (FIGS. 16B to 16D). When the creation of the layout image for the vertical region of the image is completed, the CPU 54 creates null data for the margin again in order to create image data for the margin between the images (FIG. 16E). This creates a vertical margin of width t in the layout image. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated until m images are arranged in the vertical direction of the paper (FIGS. 16B to 16E).

  In the layout image created as described above, n images are arranged in the horizontal direction, and no more images are arranged. This is because if n + 1 images are arranged in the horizontal direction, the length of the paper in the horizontal direction is insufficient, and a broken image is printed on the paper. Similarly, in the layout image created as described above, m images are arranged in the vertical direction, and no more images are arranged. This is because if m + 1 images are arranged in the vertical direction, the length of the paper in the vertical direction is insufficient, and a broken image is printed on the paper. As described above, according to the present embodiment, an interrupted image is not printed on a sheet, so that it is not necessary to use ink wastefully. Further, according to the present embodiment, the maximum number of images can be arranged in the print area.

  The layout image data sent to the resize buffer 692 is multi-tone RGB image data having a resolution of 200 dpi × 200 dpi. If all the layout image data is arranged, the image data is laid out so that the image “A” is repeatedly arranged. However, since the layout image data for several lines is sequentially processed by each unit, the layout image data is not stored in the buffer in a state where all of the layout image data is prepared.

  The resizing unit 59 linearly interpolates pixels to change the resolution in order to match the layout image data of 200 dpi × 200 dpi captured in the resizing buffer 692 with the resolution of the printer unit. Here, the resolution of the printer unit is determined by the settings of “paper type” and “copy quality”. For example, if the paper type is “glossy paper” and the copy quality is “clean”, the printer unit performs printing at a resolution of 1440 dpi × 720 dpi. If the paper type is “plain paper” and the copy quality is “fast”, the printer unit performs printing at a resolution of 360 dpi × 360 dpi. In the present embodiment, the resizing unit 59 converts 200 dpi × 200 dpi layout image data into RGB image data having a resolution of 1440 dpi × 720 dpi. The resized RGB image data is sent from the resizing unit 59 to the binarization processing unit 60.

The processing after the RGB image data is sent to the binarization processing unit 60 is almost the same as the processing at the time of the normal copy function. That is, the binarization processing unit 60 converts multi-gradation RGB image data (layout image data) into CMYK binary data and sends the data to the interlace processing unit 62. The interlace processing unit 62 reads CMYK binary data for each predetermined size, rearranges them, and sends them to the image buffer unit 64. Based on this data, the image buffer unit 64 generates head drive data for causing each nozzle to eject ink. The head drive data is controlled by the CPU 54, read into the CPU 54 via the CPUIF unit 66, and transferred to the head control unit 68 by the CPU 54. The print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 based on the head drive data, and an image is printed.
Thereby, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, it is possible to print a print image in which a plurality of images “A” are repeatedly arranged on the paper 7.

(3) Next, the data flow when printing the second and subsequent sheets will be described.
Each buffer in the ASIC SDRAM and the second layout image buffer 573B of the CPU SDRAM 57 are allotted only an area capable of storing only a few lines of line data corresponding to the width of the paper. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 16A to 16E, data for several lines is sequentially sent to each buffer. Therefore, these buffers do not have data necessary for printing the second sheet after the first sheet is printed.
On the other hand, the RGB image data before layout processing as shown in FIG. 15 is still stored in the first layout image buffer 573A of the CPU SDRAM. Therefore, when printing the second and subsequent sheets, the pre-layout image data stored in the first layout image buffer 573A of the SDRAM for CPU is used without reading the image from the original again by the scanner unit. Printing is performed. After the layout processing by the CPU 54, it is the same as that in the automatic repeat copy described above.

  First, the CPU 54 sequentially creates layout image data for several lines in the second layout buffer 573B. The layout image data of the second layout buffer 573B is sequentially sent to the resize buffer 692 of the control ASIC SDRAM 69. The resizing unit 59 converts the layout image data having a resolution of 200 dpi × 200 dpi captured in the resizing buffer 692 into RGB image data having a resolution of 1440 dpi × 720 dpi, and sends the RGB image data to the binarization processing unit 60. The binarization processing unit 60 converts multi-gradation RGB image data (layout image data) into CMYK binary data and sends the data to the interlace processing unit 62. The interlace processing unit 62 reads CMYK binary data for each predetermined size, rearranges them, and sends them to the image buffer unit 64. Based on this data, the image buffer unit 64 generates head drive data for causing each nozzle to eject ink. The head drive data is controlled by the CPU 54, read into the CPU 54 via the CPUIF unit 66, and transferred to the head control unit 68 by the CPU 54. The print head 38 is driven by the head control unit 68 based on the head drive data, and an image is printed.

<4 repeat copies>
FIG. 17 is a diagram for explaining four-sheet repeat copying. In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes an original, and an image “A” is shown on the front surface. Reference numeral 7 denotes a sheet printed by the SPC multifunction apparatus 1. According to the four-sheet repeat copy, four reduced / enlarged document images are printed on the printing paper.

Processing coarse operation of 1.4-sheet repeat copy FIG. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of the processing operation of 4-sheet repeat copy. Hereinafter, the four-repeat copy will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18.
It should be noted that a program relating to the processing operation procedure of the four-sheet repeat copy is stored in the ROM 55.
Since the operation (S201 to S206) from the setting of the sheet 7 to the acquisition of the image area information is the same as that in the automatic repeat copy described above, the description thereof is omitted. However, when selecting the printing method, the user can set the number of prints. This is because it is already known that four images are printed per sheet, and the necessary number of sheets can be set. Further, since the number of images per sheet is known, the number of images is not displayed after the image area information is acquired.
Therefore, the scanning unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus automatically reads an image from the image after pre-scanning (S210). Then, the printer unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus arranges four images on one sheet based on the read image data of the document, and performs printing on the sheet (S111).

2. Data flow in the control circuit 50 at the time of four-sheet repeat copy The control circuit 50 at the time of four-sheet repeat copy is the same as the automatic repeat copy described above (see FIG. 14).
Comparing the four-sheet repeat copy and the automatic repeat copy, the layout process by the CPU 54 and the resize process by the resize unit 59 of the control ASIC 51 are different. Therefore, these processes will be described, and description of other processes will be omitted.

  The CPU 54 creates layout image data based on the RGB image data captured in the first layout buffer 573A. However, the second layout buffer 573B that stores the created layout image data is allocated only an area that can store only a few lines of line data corresponding to the width of the paper. Therefore, the CPU 54 creates line-shaped layout image data and sends the created layout image data to the second layout buffer 573B. The layout image data for several lines sent to the second layout buffer 573B is sequentially sent to the resize buffer 692 in the control ASIC SDRAM 69 via the CPUIF unit 66.

  The layout image data is created as follows. First, the CPU 54 creates null data for the margin in order to create image data corresponding to the margin between the top edge of the paper and the image. After Null data corresponding to the margin width t is created, the CPU 54 creates a layout image in which two pieces of RGB image data captured in the first layout buffer 573A are arranged in the horizontal direction (paper width direction). However, when arranging the RGB image data, the CPU 54 inserts Null data for the width t between the side edge of the paper and the image. As a result, a horizontal margin of width t is created in the layout image. When the RGB image data is repeatedly arranged and arranged, the CPU 54 uses the same RGB image data (RGB image data of the image “A” captured in the first layout buffer 573A). Therefore, the same image is repeatedly arranged in the horizontal direction (paper width direction) in the layout image. The work of creating a layout image in which images are repeatedly arranged in the horizontal direction is performed for the vertical region of the image. When the creation of the layout image for the vertical region of the image is completed, the CPU 54 creates Null data for the margin again in order to create image data for the margin between the images. This creates a vertical margin of width t in the layout image. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated until two images are arranged in the vertical direction of the paper.

  The layout image data sent to the resize buffer 692 is multi-tone RGB image data having a resolution of 200 dpi × 200 dpi. Further, when all the layout image data are arranged, the image “A” is laid out so that two images are arranged vertically and horizontally. However, since the layout image data for several lines is sequentially processed by each unit, the layout image data is not stored in the buffer in a state where all of the layout image data is prepared.

  The resizing unit 59 linearly interpolates pixels to change the resolution in order to match the layout image data of 200 dpi × 200 dpi captured in the resizing buffer 692 with the resolution of the printer unit. The resizing unit 59 complements the number of pixels so that the layout image data matched to the resolution of the printer unit matches the paper size. The resized RGB image data is sent from the resizing unit 59 to the binarization processing unit 60. Since the subsequent processing is the same as the automatic repeat copy described above, description thereof is omitted.

<About 2-up copy>
FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining 2-up copying. In the figure, reference numeral 5A denotes a first document, and an image “A” is represented on the front surface. Reference numeral 5B denotes a second document, and an image “B” is displayed on the surface. Reference numeral 7 denotes a sheet printed by the SPC multifunction apparatus 1. According to the printing method of the present embodiment, a print image in which the image “A” of the first document and the image “B” of the second document are reduced and arranged is printed on the sheet 7. That is, in this printing method, two images (image “A” and image “B”) are each printed at a predetermined position on one sheet of paper 7. Hereinafter, this printing method is referred to as “2-up copying”. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, a margin is provided between the edge of the sheet 7 and the image. Further, a blank space is provided between the images.

1.2 Up-Copy Processing Operation FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining the procedure of 2-up copy processing operation according to this embodiment. This figure shows the flow of operations of the scanner unit, control unit (or operation panel), and printer unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus.
Hereinafter, the 2-up copy will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. A program relating to the processing operation procedure of the 2-up copy is stored in the ROM 55.

  First, the user sets the paper 7 in the paper feed tray of the SPC multifunction apparatus A (S321). In the following description, it is assumed that a plurality of A4 size sheet-like printing sheets are set. Note that the user may input information regarding the paper 7 by operating various buttons on the operation panel unit 70.

  Next, the user operates various buttons on the operation panel unit 70 to select “2-up copy” from a plurality of printing methods (S311). That is, first, the user sequentially switches the setting items to be displayed using the copy mode button 771 to display a display screen for the setting item “copy mode”. Next, the user sets the setting value to “2-up copy” by pressing the left and right of the cross button. As a result, the printing method of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 is selected as “2-up copy”. Similarly, the user operates various buttons on the operation panel unit 70 to set the size of the margin width t, whereby the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 acquires information about the margin (margin information). However, when the margin width t is not set by the operation panel unit 70, a predetermined default value is used as a setting value of the margin width. In this embodiment, the margin information indicates that the width is t (mm).

  Next, the user sets the first original 5A as the first original in the scanner unit 10 of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 (S301). A state of setting the first document 5A will be described with reference to FIG. 21A. First, the user opens the document table cover 14 and places the first document 5 </ b> A on the document table glass 12. When the user places the first document 5A on the document table glass 12, the side on which the image “A” is displayed is the bottom surface, and the corner of the first document 5A is aligned with the origin mark at the corner of the document table glass 12. . Then, the user closes the document table cover 14 and presses the first document 5A on the document table glass 12 toward the document table glass 12 by the document table cover 14. Thus, the first document 5A is set on the scanner unit 10.

  Next, the user instructs the start of the reading operation of the first original 5A. Since the 2-up copy has already been set (S311), the reading operation is started when the user presses the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 of the operation panel unit 70 (S312).

  Next, the scanner unit 10 of the SPC multifunction apparatus starts an operation of reading the image “A” of the first document 5A (S302). While the scanner unit 10 reads the image “A” of the document 5A, read data (RGB data) is output from the CCD sensor at a predetermined cycle. The linear sensors of the CCD sensor are arranged in parallel with the horizontal direction of the image “A”, and the reading carriage 16 scans and moves in parallel with the vertical direction of the image “A” (that is, the first original 5A in FIG. 19). The image “A” is read by the scanner unit 10 from top to bottom). Therefore, the read data output from the scanner unit is data obtained by sequentially outputting the horizontal line data of the image “A”.

  Next, the control circuit 50 of the SPC multifunction apparatus creates head drive data based on the read data sequentially sent from the scanner unit 10 (S313). The head drive data created at this time is data for printing the portion of the image “A” in the print image “AB” on the sheet 7 of FIG. A process for creating head drive data based on the read data will be described later. The created head drive data is sequentially sent to the head control unit 68.

  In the present embodiment, the writing carriage 36 scans and moves in parallel with the short side direction of the paper 7, the paper 7 is conveyed in the long side direction of the paper 7, and the print image “AB” is printed on the paper 7 (that is, In this embodiment, the print image “AB” on the sheet 7 in FIG. 19 is printed from left to right). Therefore, the head drive data is data obtained by sequentially outputting the line data in the vertical direction of the image “A”. As a result, the printer unit 30 can start printing the image “A” even before the head drive data of the image “B” is created. Therefore, in the present embodiment, printing of the image “A” already read from the first document 5A is started before the reading of the image “B” of the second document is completed.

The printer unit 30 starts printing based on the head drive data sequentially sent to the head control unit 68 (S322). If the generation of the head drive data relating to the image “A” is completed (S314), the head drive data is not sent to the head control unit 68, so the printer unit 30 stops the printing operation and waits for printing (see FIG. (Standby state of various operations such as a transport operation of the paper 7 and a printing operation for discharging ink) (S323).
After the reading operation of the first document is completed, the display unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus displays a message prompting the user to replace the document. The user confirms the message, and replaces the first document 5A set on the scanner unit 10 with the second document 5B. A state of document replacement will be described with reference to FIG. 21B. First, the user opens the document table cover 14 and takes out the first document 5 </ b> A placed on the document table glass 12. Then, the user sets the second original as the second original. Since the procedure for setting the second document is the same as the procedure for setting the first document, the description thereof is omitted.

In the present embodiment, printing of the image “A” of the print images “AB” is started before reading of the image “B” of the second document is started. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a part of the print image is already discharged from the paper discharge unit 34 during the document replacement operation (see FIG. 21B).
The user instructs the start of the reading operation of the second original 5A after the original is exchanged. The reading operation of the second original is also started when the user presses the color copy button 84 or the monochrome button 86 of the operation panel unit 70 (S315).

  Next, the scanner unit 10 of the SPC multifunction apparatus starts an operation of reading the image “B” of the second document 5B (S305). While the scanner unit 10 reads the image “B” of the document 5B, read data (RGB data) is output from the CCD sensor at a predetermined cycle.

  Next, the control circuit 50 of the SPC multifunction apparatus creates head drive data based on the read data sequentially sent from the scanner unit 10 (S316). The head drive data created at this time is data for printing the portion of the image “B” on the sheet 7 of FIG. A process for creating head drive data based on the read data will be described later. The created head drive data is sequentially sent to the head control unit 68.

The printer unit 30 resumes printing based on the head drive data sequentially sent to the head control unit 68 (S324). That is, after the image “B” reading operation is started, the printer unit 30 resumes a conveying operation that intermittently conveys the paper 7, a printing operation that ejects ink from nozzles that move in the scanning direction, and the like. .
When printing is completed (S317, S325), the paper 7 is discharged from the paper discharge unit 34. A printed image “AB” is printed on the discharged paper 7 as shown in the paper 7 of FIG.

  After the reading operation of the second document is completed, the display unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus displays a message prompting the user to take out the second document. The user confirms the message and takes out the second document 5B set on the scanner unit 10.

2.2 Data flow at the time of up-copying The control circuit 50 at the time of 2-up copying is the same as the above-described repeat copying (see FIG. 14).

(1) First, an image “A” is read from the first original (first original 5A) (FIG. 20, S302), and data in the control circuit 50 until printing is started (S322). The flow of will be described. When the 2-up copy and the repeat copy are compared, the layout processing by the CPU 54 is different. Therefore, these processes will be described, and description of other processes will be omitted.

  The CPU 54 creates layout image data based on the RGB image data captured in the first layout buffer 573A. However, the second layout buffer 573B that stores the created layout image data is allocated only an area that can store only a few lines of line data corresponding to the width of the paper. Therefore, the CPU 54 creates line-shaped layout image data and sends the created layout image data to the second layout buffer 573B. The layout image data for several lines sent to the second layout buffer 573B is sequentially sent to the resize buffer 692 in the control ASIC SRAM 69 via the CPUIF unit 66.

  In the 2-up copy, the read data output from the scanner unit is data obtained by sequentially outputting the horizontal line data of the image “A”. Therefore, the horizontal RGB image data of the image “A” is sequentially sent to the first layout buffer 573A. On the other hand, the head drive data needs to be data obtained by sequentially outputting the vertical line data of the image “A”. Thus, in the 2-up copy, the first layout buffer 573A once captures all the data of the image “A”, and the CPU 54 rotates the data of the image “A” when creating the layout image data in the second layout buffer 573B. Then, the line data (rotated data) in the vertical direction of the image “A” is sequentially generated. As a result, the data sequentially sent from the second layout buffer 573B to the size buffer 692 becomes the vertical line data of the image “A”. Based on this data, the vertical head drive data of the image “A” Can be created sequentially.

  22A to 22G are conceptual diagrams of layout image data sent to the second layout buffer 573B. The layout image data is stored in a continuous memory area, but if folded back and arranged in the width of the paper, it becomes a layout image (a part of the print image) for several lines in the vertical direction as shown in the figure. (In this description, for simplification of description, only an image of one plane of RGB data is shown).

  The layout image data is created as follows. First, the CPU 54 creates Null data for the margin in order to create image data corresponding to the margin between the top edge of the paper and the image (the margin on the left side of the image “A”) (FIGS. 22A and 22B). . After the null data for the margin width is created, the CPU 54 creates a layout image in which the vertical line data (RGB image data) of the image “A” captured in the first layout buffer 573A is sequentially arranged (FIG. 22B). However, when arranging the line data in the vertical direction of the image “A”, the CPU 54 inserts Null data corresponding to the margin width between the side edge of the sheet and the image. As a result, horizontal margins (upper and lower margins of the image “A”) are created in the layout image. Creation of line data in the vertical direction of the image “A” is performed for the horizontal area of the image “A” (FIGS. 22B to 22F). When the creation of the layout image for the area of the image “A” is completed, the CPU 54 creates Null data for the margin again in order to create image data for the margin between the images (FIG. 22F, FIG. 22G). As a result, a vertical margin (the right margin of the image “A”) is created in the layout image. The layout image data created as needed as described above is sequentially sent to the resize buffer 692 in the control ASIC SRAM 69.

  The layout image data sent to the resize buffer 692 is multi-tone RGB image data having a resolution of 200 dpi × 200 dpi. Further, when all the layout image data are arranged, the image “A” is laid out so as to be rotated by 90 degrees. However, since the layout image data for several lines is sequentially processed by each unit, the layout image data is not stored in the buffer in a state where all of the layout image data is prepared.

The resizing unit 59 linearly interpolates pixels to change the resolution in order to match the layout image data of 200 dpi × 200 dpi captured in the resizing buffer 692 with the resolution of the printer unit. The resizing unit 59 complements the number of pixels so that the layout image data matched to the resolution of the printer unit matches the paper size. The resized RGB image data is sent from the resizing unit 59 to the binarization processing unit 60. Since the subsequent processing is the same as the automatic repeat copy described above, description thereof is omitted.
Thereby, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the image “A” can be arranged on the sheet 7 and printed.

(2) Next, the data flow in the control circuit 50 from when printing is started (S322) to the print standby state (S323) will be described.

  FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of a state during printing before reading the image “B” of the second original (second original). As already described, the head drive data of the image “A” (and the surrounding margins) is sequentially stored in the image buffer. When the head drive data for one scan is accumulated, the head drive data accumulated in the head control unit 68 is sent out by the CPU 54. When the head moves in the scanning direction, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles of the head according to the head drive data. Therefore, in the same figure, the head drive data necessary from pass 1 (first scanning movement) to pass 8 is sequentially read after the image “A” of the first original (first original) is read. The head control unit 68 can be sent out.

  On the other hand, the head drive data required for the pass 9 (the 9th scanning movement) requires the head drive data of the image “B” of the second document. That is, if the image “B” of the second document is not read, head drive data (data corresponding to a plurality of nozzles) necessary for pass 9 is not accumulated in the image buffer 693 (head drive data is The heads of pass 9 cannot be driven because they are not aligned. As a result, the printer unit cannot print the image at the position of pass 9 before creating the head drive data for the image “B” of the second document.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when the printing of pass 8 (eighth scanning movement) is finished, the scanning movement of the writing carriage 36 is stopped and the printing standby state is set. That is, printing has not yet been completed for portions printed after pass 9. Therefore, in the present embodiment, a part of the image “A” of the first document printed on the paper (on the right side of the image “A”) is in a standby state while being printed.

  In the present embodiment, when the cancel button 82 is pressed in the standby state and there is an instruction to cancel printing, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 completes printing of the image “A” of the first document and then prints the paper. 7 is discharged and printing is stopped. This is because if the sheet 7 is discharged as it is in the standby state, the image “A” is interrupted.

(3) Finally, a data flow in the control circuit 50 from when the second original (second original) is set until printing is completed will be described.
The data flow is the same as that for the first document.

Note that the head drive data of the image “A” in the path 9 (see FIG. 23) (head drive data on the right side of the image “A”) is not accumulated until the head drive data of the image “B” is created ( Will not be sent to the head control unit. Therefore, the head drive data of the image “A” in pass 9 remains in the image buffer until the head drive data of the image “B” is created (that is, until the reading operation of the image “B” is started). is doing. Then, after the reading operation of the image “B” is started, the head driving data of the left portion of the image “B” is accumulated in the image buffer in which the head driving data of the image “A” remains. When the head drive data for the scan of pass 9 is accumulated in the image buffer, the CPU 54 sends out the drive data accumulated in the head control unit 68 and printing is resumed (that is, the printer unit 30 displays the image “B After the head drive data “is generated, the transport operation for intermittently transporting the paper 7 and the print operation for ejecting ink from the nozzles moving in the scanning direction are resumed). Accordingly, the head drive data in pass 9 is head drive data created based on the image “A” and the image “B”. Therefore, in pass 9, a part on the right side of the image “A” and a part on the left side of the image “B” are printed at the same time.
Thereby, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the print image “AB” can be arranged and printed on the sheet 7.

(4) Another Example of Print Standby According to the above description, the printing operation is in a standby state before the printing of the image “A” is completed. However, the timing of the standby state is not limited to this.
FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining another print standby state. According to the figure, the relative movement distance of the head between pass 6 and pass 9 is made smaller than the relative movement distance between the passes so far. This enables printing of the image “A” regardless of whether the head drive data for the image “B” is created. When the printing operation of the image “A” is finished, if the reading operation of the image “B” is not started, the conveying operation of the paper 7 (or from the nozzles) until the reading operation of the image “B” is started. (Printing operation for ejecting ink) is set to a standby state. Thus, the timing of the standby state may be after the printing of the image “A” is completed.
According to this print standby state, it is not necessary to enter the standby state during the printing of the image “A”, so that the image deteriorates due to a difference in the print state (for example, a difference in how ink dries before and after standby). Can be prevented.
On the other hand, when there is not much difference in ink drying, in the above example, the relative movement distance of the head before and after entering the standby state is constant (or before and after printing of the joint between the image “A” and the image “B”). Since the relative movement distance of the head is constant, the entire image “A” can be printed uniformly.

=== Comparison between this embodiment and reference example ===
FIG. 25A is an explanatory diagram of the flow of data during the normal copy function. FIG. 25B is an explanatory diagram of the flow of data when performing layout processing according to the present embodiment. FIG. 25C is an explanatory diagram of the data flow of the reference example.

  In the normal copy function, data is transferred between the ASIC SDRAM and the CPU SDRAM from when the RGB image data is read by the scanner control unit 58 until the CMYK head drive data is written to the image buffers 694 and 695. It is not necessary to hand over. That is, since data is sent between the control ASIC 51 and the ASIC SDRAM 69 using only the local bus 511, the CPU bus 501 is hardly used. If the interrupt operation with the CPU 54 is reduced, the control ASIC is manufactured as a dedicated unit for converting RGB image data into CMYK head drive data, thereby speeding up the processing and increasing the copy speed. Can do.

  In automatic repeat copy, four-sheet repeat copy, and 2-up copy, layout processing that requires computation by the CPU 54 is performed. In this embodiment, RGB image data is sent to the SDRAM for CPU, and the CPU 54 performs layout processing based on the RGB image data.

  Since RGB image data has fewer colors (smaller number of planes) than CMYK image data, the amount of data to be processed is small. As shown in FIG. 25C, if the CPU 54 performs layout processing on the CMYK image data of the binarization processing unit, the amount of data to be processed increases because of the large number of colors. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the amount of data to be processed is small, the burden on the CPU 54 when performing calculations is reduced, and the processing speed is increased.

  In addition, since the data with 200 × 200 dpi resolution has a smaller number of pixels than the data with 1440 × 720 dpi resolution, the amount of data to be processed is small. As shown in FIG. 25C, if the CPU 54 performs layout processing on image data having a resolution of 1440 × 720 dpi of the binarization processing unit, the amount of data to be processed increases because the resolution is high. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the amount of data to be processed is small, the burden on the CPU 54 when performing calculations is reduced, and the processing speed is also increased.

  Note that multi-gradation data requires more data to be processed than 2-gradation (or 4-gradation) data. However, in the present embodiment, the total amount of data to be processed is less for RGB image data than for CMYK image data (3 × 200 × 200 × 8 <4 × 1440 × 720 × 1). . For this reason, in this embodiment, since the amount of data to be processed is small compared to the comparative example, the burden on the CPU 54 when performing calculations is reduced, and the processing speed is also increased.

=== Configuration of Computer System etc. ===
Next, embodiments of a computer system, a computer program, and a recording medium on which the computer program is recorded will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing the external configuration of the computer system. The computer system 1000 includes a computer main body 1102, a display device 1104, an SPC composite device 1106, an input device 1108, and a reading device 1110. In this embodiment, the computer main body 1102 is housed in a mini-tower type housing, but is not limited thereto. The display device 1104 is generally a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), a plasma display, a liquid crystal display device, or the like, but is not limited thereto. As the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106, the SPC multifunction apparatus described above is used. In this embodiment, the input device 1108 is a keyboard 1108A and a mouse 1108B, but is not limited thereto. In this embodiment, the reading device 1110 uses a flexible disk drive device 1110A and a CD-ROM drive device 1110B. However, the reading device 1110 is not limited to this. For example, an MO (Magnet Optical) disk drive device or a DVD (Digital Versatile) is used. Disk) etc. may be used.

FIG. 27 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the computer system shown in FIG. An internal memory 1202 such as a RAM and an external memory such as a hard disk drive unit 1204 are further provided in a housing in which the computer main body 1102 is housed.
The computer program for controlling the operation of the printer described above can be downloaded to a computer 1000 or the like connected to the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106 via a communication line such as the Internet. It can also be recorded and distributed. As the recording medium, for example, various recording media such as a flexible disk FD, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a magneto-optical disk MO, a hard disk, and a memory can be used. Note that information stored in such a storage medium can be read by various reading devices 1110.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a user interface of the printer driver displayed on the screen of the display device 1104 connected to the computer system. This printer driver is for complementing the printer function of the SPC multifunction apparatus. The user can make various settings of the printer driver using the input device 1108.
The user can select a print mode from this screen. For example, the user can select the high-speed print mode or the fine print mode as the print mode. Further, the user can select a dot interval (resolution) when printing from this screen. For example, the user can select 720 dpi or 360 dpi as the print resolution from this screen.

  FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram of a format of print data supplied from the computer main body 1102 to the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106. This print data is created from image information based on the printer driver settings. The print data includes a print condition command group and a pass command group. The print condition command group includes a command indicating the print resolution, a command indicating the print direction (unidirectional / bidirectional), and the like. The print command group for each pass includes a target carry amount command CL and a pixel data command CP. The pixel data command CP includes pixel data PD indicating a recording state for each pixel of dots recorded in each pass. The various commands shown in the figure have a header part and a data part, but are simply drawn. These command groups are intermittently supplied from the computer main body side to the printer side for each command. However, the print data is not limited to this format.

In the above description, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106 is connected to the computer main body 1102, the display apparatus 1104, the input apparatus 1108, and the reading apparatus 1110 to configure the computer system. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is not a thing. For example, the computer system may be configured by the computer main body 1102 and the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106, and the computer system may not include any of the display device 1104, the input device 1108, and the reading device 1110. Further, for example, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106 may have a part of each function or mechanism of the computer main body 1102, the display apparatus 1104, the input apparatus 1108, and the reading apparatus 1110. As an example, the SPC multifunction apparatus 1106 includes an image processing unit that performs image processing, a display unit that performs various displays, and a recording medium attachment / detachment unit for attaching / detaching a recording medium that records image data captured by a digital camera or the like. It is good also as a structure which has etc.
The computer system realized in this way is a system superior to the conventional system as a whole system.

=== Other Embodiments ===
The above-described embodiment is mainly described for the SPC multifunction apparatus, and includes a recording apparatus, a printing apparatus, a printing method, a conveying apparatus, a program, a storage medium, a computer system, a display screen, a screen display method, and a printed matter. Needless to say, the disclosure of the manufacturing method, the recording apparatus, the liquid ejection apparatus, and the like is included.
Moreover, although the SPC multifunction apparatus and the like as one embodiment have been described, the above embodiment is for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and it is needless to say that the present invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the embodiments described below are also included in the present invention.

<About CMYK image data>
In the above-described embodiment, the colors that can be used by the printing apparatus are cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). Therefore, the number of CMYK colors was 4. However, the number of CMYK colors is not limited to this. For example, light cyan (LC) and light magenta (LM) may be further added to obtain six colors. Moreover, you may add red (R), violet (V), etc. Further, ink that can be used by the printing apparatus may include not only colored ink but also clear ink. In this case, the image data may include clear ink image data.

<About printing devices>
In the above-described embodiment, the composite apparatus including the scanner unit and the like has been described. However, the printing apparatus is not limited to this. For example, a printing apparatus that does not include a scanner unit may be used. In short, any printing apparatus that acquires RGB image data and converts the RGB image data into CMYK image data may be used.

<About margins>
In the above-described embodiment, the width of the margin provided between the edge portion (upper edge or side edge) of the sheet and the image is substantially equal to the width of the margin provided between the images. However, the width of the margin provided between the edge (upper edge or side edge) of the sheet and the image is not necessarily equal. However, if the margin width provided between the edge (upper edge or side edge) of the paper and the image is equal, when cutting a plurality of images printed on the paper, any image can be cut in the same state.
In the above-described embodiment, a margin is provided between the edge of the sheet and the image or between the images. However, it is not always necessary to provide a margin. When there is no margin between the edge of the paper and the image, it is desirable not to provide a margin between the images. This is because, when an image printed on a sheet is cut out, any image can be cut out in the same state. If no margin is provided, it is not necessary to consider the margin information when determining the number of images arranged on the paper.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, only a margin is provided between images. However, a cut line may be provided in the margin. In this way, it becomes easier to cut out an image printed on a sheet of paper.

<Displaying the number of images and setting the number of copies>
In the above-described embodiment, the number of prints is set after the number of images per sheet is displayed. However, the setting of the number of printed sheets is not limited to this.
For example, the total number of images required by the user (for example, an image “A”) may be input first, and the number of printed sheets may be set based on the calculated number of images per sheet. .
Further, without setting the number of prints, the paper may be printed one by one each time the button is pressed.

<About nozzle>
In the above-described embodiment, ink is ejected using a piezoelectric element. However, the method for discharging the liquid is not limited to this. For example, other methods such as a method of generating bubbles in the nozzle by heat may be used.

=== Summary ===
(1) The SPC multifunction apparatus 1 (printing apparatus) includes a control ASIC 51 (data conversion unit) and a CPU 54 (layout unit).
The control ASIC 51 is a dedicated unit for converting RGB image data into CMYK image data. Therefore, even if the amount of data to be processed is large, the processing operation is fast. However, since the control ASIC 51 is manufactured as a dedicated unit, it cannot perform processing other than the predetermined processing (for example, layout processing). On the other hand, the CPU 54 is a general-purpose unit for generating image data in which an image of this image data is laid out based on the image data. Therefore, the CPU 54 is used for other purposes and can perform layout processing and the like. However, as the amount of data processed by the CPU 54 increases, the processing speed decreases.

In such a configuration, when an image is laid out and printed on paper (medium), it becomes a problem at which stage the CPU 54 performs layout processing. This is because it is desirable that the amount of data processed by the CPU 54 be as small as possible.
If the CPU 54 performs a process of laying out the image data after converting the RGB image data into CMYK image data, the CMYK image data is more preferable than the RGB image data. However, since the number of colors is large, the layout process takes time (see FIG. 25C).
Therefore, the CPU 54 (layout unit) generates RGB image data obtained by laying out the image data based on the RGB image data. Then, the control ASIC 51 (data conversion unit) converts the RGB image data generated by the CPU 54 into CMYK image data, and the SPC composite apparatus 1 performs the conversion based on the converted CMYK image data. The laid out image is printed on a medium.
As a result, since the amount of data to be laid out is small, the burden on the CPU 54 when performing calculations is reduced, and the processing speed is also increased.

(2) In the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 (printing apparatus) described above, the resolution of 200 × 200 dpi of RGB image data when the CPU 54 (layout unit) performs layout is higher than the resolution of 1440 × 720 dpi of CMYK image data. ,small.
The resolution of the CMYK image data is matched with the resolution of the printer unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1. On the other hand, since the resolution of the RGB image data does not need to match the resolution of the printer unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1, it can be made lower than the resolution of the CMYK image data.

(3) In the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 described above, when printing an image without laying out on paper (medium), the control ASIC 51 (data conversion unit) converts RGB image data into CMYK image data, and performs SPC. The composite apparatus 1 (printing apparatus) prints the image on a medium based on the converted CMYK image data.
That is, when the layout process is not performed, the image data conversion is performed mainly by the control ASIC 51 which is a dedicated unit, so that the processing speed is high.

(4) The SPC multifunction apparatus further includes a scanner unit that reads an image from an original, and a control ASIC 51 (data conversion unit) generates a RGB image data based on data received from the scanner unit. Have
Accordingly, the SPC multifunction apparatus can acquire RGB image data. Also, since RGB image data is generated in the control ASIC, which is a dedicated unit, the processing speed is high.
However, the acquisition path of RGB image data is not limited to the scanner unit. RGB image data may be acquired from an external device.

(5) The SPC multifunction apparatus further includes a movable head having a plurality of nozzles, and the control ASIC 51 (data converter) rearranges the CMYK system image data so as to correspond to each nozzle. It has units (interlace processing unit and image buffer unit) for converting into drive data.
As a result, the head drive data can be generated from the RGB image data in the control ASIC, which is a dedicated unit, and the processing speed is high.

(6) The above SPC multifunction apparatus further includes a scanner unit that reads an image from a document and a movable head including a plurality of nozzles. The data conversion unit generates the RGB image data based on the data received from the scanner unit, converts the RGB image data into CMYK image data, and converts the CMYK image data. It is possible to convert the data into head drive data rearranged corresponding to each nozzle.
Thereby, in the control ASIC, which is a dedicated unit, from the acquisition of RGB image data to the generation of head drive data can be performed, the processing speed is high.

(7) The SPC multifunction apparatus further includes a resizing unit that converts the size of the RGB image data generated by the CPU (layout unit).
The resolution of the RGB image data need not match the resolution of the printer unit of the SPC multifunction apparatus 1. Therefore, the resolution (size) of RGB image data processed by the CPU can be reduced. However, finally, it is necessary to match the resolution of the image data with the resolution of the printer unit. Therefore, the resizing unit is adapted to match the resolution of the RGB image data with the resolution of the printer unit.

(8) The SPC multifunction apparatus 1 includes an ASIC SDRAM (first storage unit) that stores image data to be processed by the control ASIC, and a local bus that transfers image data between the control ASIC and the ASIC SDRAM ( The first path), the CPU SDRAM (second storage unit) for storing image data to be processed by the CPU (layout unit), and the local bus are provided, and image data is transferred between the CPU and the CPU SDRAM. It further has a CPU bus (second path) to deliver.
That is, a local bus and a CPU bus are provided separately. Thereby, the data conversion process by the control ASIC can be performed without reducing the processing speed of the CPU.

(9) When the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 prints an image without laying it out on paper (medium), the control ASIC (data conversion unit) uses RGB image data without using the CPU bus (second path). To CMYK image data.
As a result, when layout processing is not performed, image data conversion is performed centering on the control ASIC 51, which is a dedicated unit, so that the processing speed is increased.

(10) In the SPC multifunction apparatus 1 described above, the control ASIC 51 (data conversion unit) transfers the image data of the ASIC SDRAM (first storage unit) to the CPU SDRAM (first storage) without going through the local bus (first path). CPUIF unit (unit) for transmission to (2 storage unit).
Thereby, the image data of the ASIC SDRAM can be transmitted to the CPU side.

(11) In the above SPC multifunction apparatus, a CPU (layout unit) generates RGB image data in which a plurality of images are arranged and laid out.
Thereby, the SPC multifunction apparatus can perform repeat copy (automatic repeat copy, four-sheet repeat copy, etc.).

(12) In the above SPC multifunction apparatus, the CPU (layout unit) generates RGB image data laid out by rotating an image.
As a result, the SPC multifunction apparatus can perform 2-up copying.

(13) In the SPC multifunction apparatus described above, the CPU (layout unit) is a general-purpose unit, and the control ASIC (data conversion unit) is a dedicated unit.
In such a configuration, the control ASIC 51 operates quickly even if the amount of data to be processed is large. However, since the control ASIC 51 is manufactured as a dedicated unit, it cannot perform processing other than the predetermined processing (for example, layout processing). On the other hand, the CPU 54 is used for other purposes and can perform layout processing and the like. However, as the amount of data processed by the CPU 54 increases, the processing speed decreases. In such a configuration, it is desirable that the amount of data processed by the CPU is small.
Therefore, according to the above SPC multifunction apparatus, the amount of data processed by the CPU can be reduced, so that the burden on the CPU when performing calculations is reduced. Even if the amount of data processed by the control ASIC increases, the control ASIC is a dedicated unit, so that data conversion can be performed at a high processing speed.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the cover of the scanner part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of a recording device. It is a perspective view which shows the state which exposed the inside of the printer part. It is a figure which shows an example of an operation panel part. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement around a print head. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the drive part of a printing paper conveyance mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | sequence of a nozzle. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a drive signal generation part. It is a block diagram which shows an example of a control circuit. It is explanatory drawing of automatic repeat copy. It is a flowchart of an automatic repeat copy. 13A to 13B are explanatory diagrams of a document set. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the control circuit in the case of automatic repeat copy. It is a conceptual diagram of the image data of a 1st layout buffer. 16A to 16E are conceptual diagrams of layout image data. It is explanatory drawing of 4 sheet repeat copy. It is a flow diagram of four-sheet repeat copy. It is explanatory drawing of 2 up copy. It is a flowchart of 2 up copy. FIG. 21A is an explanatory diagram of how the first document is set. FIG. 21B is an explanatory diagram of how the second document is set. 22A to 22G are conceptual diagrams of layout image data. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a state during printing before reading an image “B” of a second original (second original). FIG. 24 is a diagram for explaining another print standby state. FIG. 25A is an explanatory diagram of the data flow during the normal copy function. FIG. 25B is an explanatory diagram of the flow of data when performing layout processing according to the present embodiment. FIG. 25C is an explanatory diagram of the data flow of the reference example. It is explanatory drawing which showed the external appearance structure of the computer system. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a computer system. It is explanatory drawing which shows the user interface of a driver. It is explanatory drawing of the format of print data.

Explanation of symbols

1 SPC multifunction device, 3 host computer, 5 manuscript, 7 paper,
10 scanner unit, 12 platen glass, 14 platen cover,
16 reading carriage, 18 driving means, 181 timing belt
182 pulley, 183 pulse motor, 184 idler pulley,
20 regulation guide, 22 exposure lamp, 24 lens, 26 mirror,
28 CCD sensor, 29 guide receiving unit 30 printer unit, 301 opening, 31 gear train, 32 paper supply unit,
33 nozzle rows, 34 paper discharge section, 341 paper discharge tray, 35 platen,
36 writing carriage, 37 transport roller, 38 print head,
39 discharge roller, 391 driven roller, 40 carriage motor,
41 hinge mechanism, 42 paper feed motor (PF motor), 45 paper detection sensor,
451 lever, 452 transmissive optical sensor, 453 action part, 454 light shielding part,
46 linear encoder, 461 linear encoder code plate,
47 rotary encoder, 48 pulley, 49 timing belt 50 control circuit, 51 ASIC for control, 54 CPU, 55 ROM,
56 SDRAM, 58 Scanner control unit,
60 binarization processing unit, 62 interlace processing unit,
64 image buffer units,
66 CPU interface unit (CPUIF unit),
68 head control unit, 69 ASIC SDRAM,
691 line buffer, 692 resize buffer,
693 interlaced buffer, 694 image buffer,
70 operation panel, 72 liquid crystal display, 74 notification lamp,
75 Power button, 76 Various setting buttons, 77 Mode button,
78 Feed / discharge button, 81 OK button, 82 Cancel button,
83 save button, 84 color copy button, 86 monochrome copy button,
88 Stop button, 90 Cross button, 92 Menu button

Claims (8)

A scanner unit that reads an image from a document;
A layout processing unit that controls the entire apparatus and performs layout processing for laying out an image;
A first storage unit for storing image data to be layout-processed by a layout processing unit;
Storing data, a second storage unit different from the first storage unit;
A head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink based on head drive data;
A scanner control unit that controls the scanner unit, and stores RGB image data in the second storage unit based on an output from the scanner unit;
A data generator that converts RGB image data into CMYK image data, and converts the CMYK image data into head drive data;
A data transmission unit for transmitting data between the first storage unit and the second storage unit;
A head controller that controls the head based on the head drive data;
With
During an unnecessary copy operation of the layout process,
The scanner control unit stores the RGB image data in the second storage unit based on an output from the scanner unit;
The data generation unit converts the RGB image data stored in the second storage unit into the CMYK image data, converts the CMYK image data into the head drive data,
The head control unit causes the head to eject the ink based on the head drive data, and prints the image on the medium;
When printing the image laid out by the layout process on a medium,
The data transmission unit is RGB image data based on the output from the scanner unit, and has an RGB type data amount that is smaller than the data amount of CMYK type image data to be generated by the data generation unit. Transmitting image data from the second storage unit to the first storage unit;
The layout processing unit performs the layout processing based on the RGB image data stored in the first storage unit;
The data transmission unit transmits the RGB image data after layout processing from the first storage unit to the second storage unit;
The data generation unit converts the RGB image data after layout processing stored in the second storage unit into the CMYK image data, converts the CMYK image data into the head drive data,
The printing apparatus , wherein the head control unit causes the head to eject the ink based on the head driving data and prints the laid out image on the medium . The printing apparatus according to claim 1,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resolution of the RGB image data when the layout unit performs layout is smaller than the resolution of the CMYK image data. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The printing apparatus further comprising a resizing unit that converts the size of the RGB image data generated by the layout unit. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The layout unit generates RGB image data in which a plurality of the images are arranged and laid out. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the layout unit generates RGB image data laid out by rotating the image.   The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
  When the scanner unit causes the scanner unit to read the second document and then causes the scanner unit to read the second document, and when the image of the first document and the image of the second document are laid out and printed on one medium,
  After the scanner unit reads an image from the first document and before the scanner unit reads an image from the second document, it starts printing the image of the first document on the medium;
  Complete the printing of the image of the first document on the medium before starting to print the image of the second document on the medium.
A printing apparatus characterized by that. A scanner unit that reads an image from a document;
A layout processing unit that controls the entire apparatus and performs layout processing for laying out an image;
A first storage unit for storing image data to be layout-processed by a layout processing unit;
Storing data, a second storage unit different from the first storage unit;
A head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink based on head drive data;
A scanner control unit that controls the scanner unit, and stores RGB image data in the second storage unit based on an output from the scanner unit;
A data generator that converts RGB image data into CMYK image data, and converts the CMYK image data into head drive data;
A data transmission unit for transmitting data between the first storage unit and the second storage unit;
A head controller that controls the head based on the head drive data;
A printing method using
During an unnecessary copy operation of the layout process,
The scanner control unit stores the RGB image data in the second storage unit based on an output from the scanner unit;
The data generation unit converts the RGB image data stored in the second storage unit into the CMYK image data, converts the CMYK image data into the head drive data,
The head control unit causes the head to eject the ink based on the head drive data, and prints the image on the medium;
When printing the image laid out by the layout process on a medium,
The data transmission unit is RGB image data based on the output from the scanner unit, and has an RGB type data amount that is smaller than the data amount of CMYK type image data to be generated by the data generation unit. Transmitting image data from the second storage unit to the first storage unit;
The layout processing unit performs the layout processing based on the RGB image data stored in the first storage unit;
The data transmission unit transmits the RGB image data after layout processing from the first storage unit to the second storage unit;
The data generation unit converts the RGB image data after layout processing stored in the second storage unit into the CMYK image data, converts the CMYK image data into the head drive data,
The printing method , wherein the head control unit causes the head to eject the ink based on the head driving data and prints the laid out image on the medium . A printing system comprising a computer and a printing device,
The printing apparatus includes:
A scanner unit that reads an image from a document;
A layout processing unit that controls the entire apparatus and performs layout processing for laying out an image;
A first storage unit for storing image data to be layout-processed by a layout processing unit;
Storing data, a second storage unit different from the first storage unit;
A head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink based on head drive data;
A scanner control unit that controls the scanner unit, and stores RGB image data in the second storage unit based on an output from the scanner unit;
A data generator that converts RGB image data into CMYK image data, and converts the CMYK image data into head drive data;
A data transmission unit for transmitting data between the first storage unit and the second storage unit;
A head controller that controls the head based on the head drive data;
With
During an unnecessary copy operation of the layout process,
The scanner control unit stores the RGB image data in the second storage unit based on an output from the scanner unit;
The data generation unit converts the RGB image data stored in the second storage unit into the CMYK image data, converts the CMYK image data into the head drive data,
The head control unit causes the head to eject the ink based on the head drive data, and prints the image on the medium;
When printing the image laid out by the layout process on a medium,
The data transmission unit is RGB image data based on the output from the scanner unit, and has an RGB type data amount that is smaller than the data amount of CMYK type image data to be generated by the data generation unit. Transmitting image data from the second storage unit to the first storage unit;
The layout processing unit performs the layout processing based on the RGB image data stored in the first storage unit;
The data transmission unit transmits the RGB image data after layout processing from the first storage unit to the second storage unit;
The data generation unit converts the RGB image data after layout processing stored in the second storage unit into the CMYK image data, converts the CMYK image data into the head drive data,
The printing system , wherein the head control unit causes the head to eject the ink based on the head driving data, and prints the laid out image on the medium .

Images