JPH0537745A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the utilizing efficiency of a storage medium and to prevent missing of information by storing separately an original picture data and a processing/ edit data to the storage medium and applying processing 7 edit to an original picture data at output. CONSTITUTION:The device main body 5 sends a picture data and a picture processing/edit data to a magneto-optical disk drive 4 via a filing interface 13. Then a CPU 15 stores the picture data and the picture processing/edit data to the magneto-optical disk set to a disk drive unit 20 via a disk controller 19. When a panel 10 selects a stored picture output, a CPU 15 receiving a command from a CPU 12 sends the desired stored picture data and the processing/ edit data to a picture processing unit 21 and the CPU 12 processes/edits the picture data and outputs the result. Thus, the stored data quantity is reduced, the memory quantity is saved and the original picture is reproduced with fidelity even from the picture subjected to edit such as reduction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of storing an image on a storage medium such as a magneto-optical disk.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electronic file system for filing various images, desired processing and editing can be performed on a document image read by a scanner, and the processed / edited image can be processed by a magneto-optical disk. And so on. Further, the image once stored in the magneto-optical disk or the like is read, processed or edited, and then stored again in the magneto-optical disk or the like.

[0003]

However, in the conventional electronic file system, when the processed or edited image is stored, the final processed / edited image is stored. If the image is simply enlarged, as a result, an image having an increased amount of information will be stored, and there is a disadvantage in that the memory capacity is largely consumed.

When it is desired to reproduce an image which has been reduced, trimmed, masked or the like to the original image, the image information is missing at the time of processing / editing and reproduction is impossible. Therefore, conventionally, both the original image and the processed / edited image must be stored, and the memory capacity is
There is an inconvenience that it consumes much more.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the use efficiency of the image file memory and preventing loss of information.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a reading means for reading a document image, a processing / editing means for processing / editing the read document image, and original image data before the processing / editing. And storage means for separately storing processing / editing information by the processing / editing means in a storage medium, and original image data and processing / editing information stored in the storage medium based on an output instruction are read out to obtain the original image. Output control means for applying the contents of the processing / editing information to the data and outputting the data.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the system configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

In this image forming apparatus, a scanner 1 and a printer 2 are provided in an apparatus main body 5, and normally image data read by the scanner 1 is output from the printer 2. When filing the image data read from the scanner 1, the data is transferred to the magneto-optical disk drive 4 via the communication line 3. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment can process the read image data with a digital signal, and can handle various image processes.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling the filing operation in such an image forming apparatus.

The device body 5 has a CP for controlling the entire device.
A U12, an image processing unit 21 that controls various image processes on the image data, a scanner controller 16 that controls the scanner 1, and an operation panel 10 that performs various inputs and displays are provided.

On the other hand, on the magneto-optical disk drive 4 side,
A filing unit 11 as shown is provided, and the filing unit 11 includes a CPU 15 that controls the magneto-optical disk drive 4, a disk controller 19 that controls the operation of the magneto-optical disk drive 4, and a magneto-optical disk. Disk drive unit 20 for reading / writing data with the disk set detachably
And a memory 18 for expanding image data.

A filing interface 13 connects between the apparatus body 5 and the filing unit 11.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the structure of the operation panel 10.

The operation panel 10 has a file operation key 40 for instructing filing of image data, an LCD display section 41 for displaying various operation screens, an enlargement / reduction key 43, and cursor / set keys 43 to 46. A numeric keypad 47, a reset key 48, a start key 49, etc. are provided. Further, the operation screen as the image forming apparatus is usually displayed on the display unit 41.

In the above structure, when performing a normal operation, the CPU 1 is operated based on the input from the operation panel 10.
The scanner controller 16 which receives the instruction from 2 controls the scanner 1 to perform the reading operation of the document set in advance, and sends the read multivalued image data to the image processing unit 21.

In the image processing unit 21, each pixel of the multi-valued image data is compared with a predetermined threshold value to be converted into binary image data, or the spatial frequency of the image is analyzed to convert the original into a character data portion. It is possible to separate into halftones or halftone dots, or to extract only a specified area from the read image.

Next, FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the operation when filing the image data.

When filing image data,
First, the file operation key 40 is pressed (S1), and the display unit 4
1 calls the menu selection screen shown in FIG. 3 (S
2). If image input is selected here (S3), the mode setting screen shown in FIG. 4 is entered, and the image edit setting mode is set (S4). Then, for example, by pressing the enlargement key 42, the enlargement 2
When 00% is set (S5), the screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed (S6). Then, when the mode is confirmed, the “#” key 43
After pressing (S7) and entering the image number (S7)
A), the "#" key 43 is pressed (S7B), and the image input operation is started.

First, the scanner 1 reads an image (S8), and transmits the image data and the image processing / editing data to the filing unit 11 via the filing interface 13 (S9). That is, in this example, the image data is the original image data read by the scanner 1, and the processing / editing data is the image data 20.
This is data showing the content of 0% enlargement.

Therefore, the CP of the filing unit 11
The U15 stores the image data and the processed / edited data in the magneto-optical disc set in the disc drive unit 20 via the disc controller 19 (S10).

On the other hand, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an image output operation.

When outputting image data on the magneto-optical disk, the file operation key 40 is pressed (S2
1) When the screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed (S22) and image output is selected (S23), the screen shifts to the image selection screen shown in FIG. 6 (S24). When the desired image data is selected (S25, S25a), the output format selection screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed (S26). When the stored image output is selected here (S27, S27a), the CPU 12 transmits the instruction to the CPU 15 and sends the image data and the processed / edited data stored in the magneto-optical disk through the filing interface 13 to the image processing unit 21. (S28). As a result, the CPU 12 processes / edits the image data and outputs it (S29). That is, in this case, the image data is enlarged by 200% and output.

As a result, for example, when A4 size image data is enlarged and stored in A3 size, the amount of image data is conventionally required to be four times, but in the case of this embodiment, A
Only the amount of data for four sizes and the expansion rate need be stored, and the memory capacity can be greatly saved.

Next, the case of inputting and outputting a series of image data groups will be described.

Even when such an image data group is input, each image data and processed / edited data are stored in the magneto-optical disk by substantially the same operation as in FIG. 8 described above. That is, after the mode is determined in S7, a plurality of pages of originals are continuously read, and the image data and the processing / editing data are sent to the filing unit 11 and stored in the magneto-optical disk. When this image data is input, the same file name is given to the image data group and the processed / edited data. Further, in this processing, information on the number of pages of the image data group is added to the processed / edited data.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the operation when outputting the image data on the magneto-optical disk.

First, similarly to the operation shown in FIG.
When the image output is selected on the screen of FIG. 6 to move to the screen of FIG. 6 and desired image data is selected, the stored image output is selected on the screen of FIG. 7 (S41 to S47). This allows the CPU 12
Transmits the processing / editing data stored in the magneto-optical disk to the image processing unit 21, and then sends the processing / editing contents and the number of pages of the image data file to the memory in the image processing unit 21. (S48).

Next, the CPU 12 instructs the CPU 15 to transfer the image data in order from the first page or the last page. Then, the CPU 15 sequentially transmits the image data to the image processing unit 21 via the filing interface 13 (S49). On the other hand, the CPU 12 sequentially performs image processing in accordance with the image processing / editing data stored in the image processing unit 21 every time the image data is fed by one page, and outputs the image (S50).

As described above, in the present embodiment, one processing / editing data may be stored for a plurality of image data, and the magneto-optical disk can be saved.

Next, FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the operation when an original image is output when an image is input.

By selecting the image output on the screen of FIG. 3 by the same procedure as in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the screen shifts to the screen of FIG. 6, and after selecting the desired image data, the screen of FIG. The original image output is selected (S61 to S67).
The CPU 12 sends the instruction to the CPU 15. CPU
15 transmits the image data stored in the magneto-optical disk to the image processing unit 21 via the filing interface 13 (S68). And CPU12
Outputs the image data as it is (S69).

As described above, in this embodiment, the original image data can be easily output, and the original image can be reproduced faithfully even in the image that has been edited, for example, reduced or trimmed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the second embodiment, in the above-mentioned filing of image data, the processing / editing data once stored in the magneto-optical disk can be individually called and its modification can be performed. The hardware configuration of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, and will be described with the same reference numerals.

On the menu selection screen in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a menu for processing / editing data change is prepared.

Therefore, first, in this embodiment, 50% reduction is selected on the mode setting screen shown in FIG. FIG. 13 shows a screen when 50% is set. Next, in this embodiment, by operating the "#" key 43, the image number input screen shown in FIG. 14 is displayed, and the image number 3 is input by the ten keys 47 (FIG. 15). Then, by pressing the “#” key 43 again, the image data and the processed / edited data are filed in the operations after S8 in FIG.

Next, in the case of outputting the image data stored in this way, when the image output is selected on the screen of FIG. 12, the screen shifts to the screen of FIG. Here, input the image number with the ten keys 47, and press the "#" key 43 in FIG.
The PU 12 transmits the instruction to the CPU 15 and sends the image data and the processed / edited data stored in the magneto-optical disk to the image processing unit 21 via the filing interface 13. Then, the CPU 12 processes / edits the image data and outputs it.

The operation described above is almost the same as that of the first embodiment.

Next, FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the operation in the case of changing only the processing / editing data among the already stored image data and processing / editing data.

First, the processing / editing data change is selected on the screen of FIG. 12 (S71). As a result, the screen shifts to the screen of FIG. 14 (S72), and as shown in FIG. 15, the numeric keypad 47 is used to input the image number (S73). here"#"
When the key 43 is pressed (S74), the original mode setting screen shown in FIG. 13 is displayed (S75). Here, the modification data is changed. In this example, it is assumed that the magnification is changed from 50% to 140% as shown in FIG. 17 (S76).
Then, when the "#" key 43 is pressed, the change of the magnification is completed (S77). Thereby, the modified processing / editing data is transmitted to the filing unit 11. Here, the CPU 15 of the filing unit 11 stores the sent processing / editing data in the magneto-optical disk (S7).
8).

In this embodiment, the modified machining /
The edited data is overwritten on the original processed / edited data, and the original processed / edited data is lost.

Further, when the processed / edited data is changed in this way, both the processed / edited data can be left instead of overwriting the original processed / edited data.

Next, a third embodiment in this case will be described.

The hardware structure of the apparatus and the input / output operation of image data are the same as those in the second embodiment, and therefore will be omitted.

Further, since only the processed / edited data is changed, the operation up to the selection of the image number of the original processed / edited data is also carried out in steps S71 to S7 in FIG. 16 of the second embodiment.
It is common with 4. In the third embodiment, the above S
When the "#" key 43 is pressed at 74, a new image number input screen shown in FIG. 18 is displayed. Then, enter a new image number using the numeric keypad 47 (see FIG.
9) After that, by the operation common to S75 and subsequent steps in FIG. 16, the original processing / editing data is called and changed, and then the “#” key 43 is pressed to complete the change. As a result, the modified processing / editing data is transmitted to the filing unit 11, and the original processing / editing on the magneto-optical disk is performed.
It is stored in a different area from the edit data. The two processed / edited data stored in this way share the one image data that was input first.
By selecting the edit data, it is possible to output two types of image data. That is, the selection of the processed / edited data can be performed by selecting the number when outputting the above-mentioned image data.

In the above embodiments, the case where the enlargement / reduction is performed as the processing / editing of the image data has been described, but it goes without saying that the other processing / editing can be similarly processed.

[0047]

According to the present invention, image data and its processed / edited data are separately stored in the storage means such as a magneto-optical disk, and the imaged data is processed / edited at the time of outputting the image data. It is not necessary to newly store the image data each time the image is processed / edited, and the efficiency of memory usage can be improved.

Further, there is an effect that information loss due to processing / editing is eliminated and the original image can be surely stored and easily output.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration for performing a filing operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation panel in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a mode setting screen of the display unit in the first embodiment.

5 is a plan view showing a state in which a 200% enlargement mode is instructed on the mode setting screen shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an image selection screen of the display unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing an output format selection screen of the display unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a filing operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a normal image output operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an image data output operation on the magneto-optical disk in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an output operation of an original image in the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a menu selection screen of the display unit in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a state in which the magnification is set to 50% on the mode setting screen of the display unit in the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an image number input screen on the display unit in the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a state in which an image number is designated on the image number input screen shown in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an operation when changing only the processing / editing data in the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a state in which the magnification is changed from 50% to 140% on the mode setting screen of the display unit in the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a screen for inputting a new image number on the display unit in the third embodiment of the present invention.

19 is a plan view showing a state in which a new image number is designated on the input screen shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Scanner, 2 ... printer, 3 ... communication line, 4 ... Magneto-optical disk drive, 5 ... Device body, 10 ... Operation panel, 11 ... Filing unit, 13 ... Filing interface, 12, 15 ... CPU, 16 ... Scanner controller, 18 ... memory, 19 ... Disk controller, 20 ... Disk drive unit, 21 ... Image processing unit, 40 ... File operation key, 41 ... Display, 43 ... Enlargement / reduction key, 43-46 ... cursor / set key, 47 ... numeric keypad, 48 ... Reset key, 49 ... Start key.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading an original image; a processing / editing unit for processing / editing the read original image; original image data before the processing / editing; and the processing / editing unit. Storage means for separately storing processing / editing information in a storage medium; reading out the original image data and the processing / editing information stored in the storage medium based on an output instruction, and reading the processing / editing information in the original image data. An image forming apparatus, comprising: output control means for applying contents and outputting the contents. 2. Common processing / processing for a plurality of image data
An image forming apparatus having a function of storing edit information. 3. An image forming apparatus having a function of forming and outputting only original image data before being processed / edited. 4. An image forming apparatus comprising a changing unit for changing the processing / editing information itself stored in the storage unit. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processing / editing information changed by the changing unit is stored separately from the processing / editing information before the change.