JP2005110076A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus carrying out recording on paper of an objective size in color or monochromatically with a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: The operation of a recording processing includes steps of: (ST12) selecting a cassette for containing color or monochromatic exclusive paper sheets of the objective size through the operation of a cassette selection key 8c in a copy mode (step ST11); (ST13) furthermore operating a start key 8a; (ST14) discriminating whether the selected cassette is a cassette containing color paper sheets; (ST15) executing copying in the color mode when the selected cassette is the cassette containing color paper sheets; and (ST16) executing copying in the monochromatic mode when the selected cassette is not the cassette containing color paper sheets. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine having a color recording function in addition to monochrome, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having multiple functions such as a copying function and a facsimile function, and a printer.

A color image processing apparatus such as a color copying machine includes a black-and-white copying paper cassette for storing black-and-white (monochrome) copying paper, a color copying paper cassette for storing color copying paper, and these black-and-white copying paper cassettes or colors. A paper feeding device that feeds paper from a copy paper cassette, and a color copy paper cassette that feeds from a black and white copy paper cassette when the original color support mode is set to black and white, and when the original color support mode is set to color mode A device is disclosed in which the paper feeding means is controlled so that the paper is fed from the beginning (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2636962

  In the above-described conventional color image processing apparatus, when recording in black and white, the monochrome mode is set. When recording in color, the color mode is set and the operation for specifying the paper is performed. According to the setting of the monochrome / color mode, paper corresponding to the designated size for monochrome or color is fed. When recording, it is necessary to input the monochrome / color mode and the paper size. For this reason, there is a problem that the operation is troublesome when recording is performed in which color and monochrome are mixed and paper sizes are different.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of recording in color or monochrome on a sheet of a desired size with a simple operation.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention corresponds to each of the plurality of sheet storage units that appropriately store a plurality of types of sheets, a sheet storage unit specifying unit that specifies and selects a sheet storage unit to be used during recording, and each sheet storage unit. Storage means for registering identification for monochrome recording or color recording, and when one of the paper storage sections is selected, the monochrome / color registration contents of the storage means corresponding to the selected paper storage section Depending on the recording, it is recorded in monochrome or color.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the registration storage unit registers a pair of paper size and monochrome recording corresponding to each paper storage unit.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the paper storage unit designation means may display each paper storage unit name, size, and monochrome / color on the display unit, and specify each paper storage unit name. .

  According to the present invention, identification for monochrome recording or color recording is registered in correspondence with each paper storage unit (paper cassette), and by selecting one of the paper storage units, color or monochrome is selected. The desired dedicated paper can be selected, and even if the color mode and the monochrome mode are not set, the color mode and monochrome mode paper can be selected and recorded with a simple operation.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an entire color image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The color image processing apparatus according to this embodiment is configured as a color complex machine having a facsimile function and a copy function, and capable of handling color as well as monochrome as an image. The color multifunction peripheral includes a main control unit (CPU) 1, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 2, a MODEM 3, a ROM 4, a RAM 5, an image memory 6, a display unit 7, and an operation unit 8. An image reading unit 9, an image recording unit 10, a CODEC (encoding: decoder: Coder and Decoder) 11, a LAN I / F 12, and a bus 13.

  A main control unit (CPU) 1 controls each unit constituting this apparatus. This control includes control when a monochrome image or a color image is transmitted to or received from the counterpart device. The NCU 2 controls the connection with the telephone line network (PSTN) 14 which is a communication line, and also transmits a dial signal corresponding to the telephone number (including the FAX number) of the other party and a function for detecting an incoming call. It has. MODEM3 is an ITU (International Telecommunication Union) -T recommendation T.264. 30, T.M. Based on the facsimile transmission control procedure according to 4 or the like, 17, V. 27ter, V.I. The transmission data is modulated and the received data is demodulated in accordance with 29. Alternatively, V. 34, the transmission data is modulated and the received data is demodulated.

  The ROM 4 stores a program for controlling this device. The RAM 5 temporarily stores data and the like. The RAM 5 has a cassette memory 5a. The cassette memory 5a will be described later in detail. The image memory 6 temporarily stores monochrome or color received image data and monochrome or color read image data read by the image reading unit 9.

  The display unit (LCD) 7 displays icons, key buttons, message contents necessary for data transmission / reception, and the like. The operation unit 8 includes a start key 8a, a mode switching key 8b, a cassette selection key 8c, a numeric keypad, a registration key, and other keys. The start key 8a is a key operated to start various processes such as copying. The mode selection key 8b is a key for switching a plurality of operation modes such as a FAX mode, a copy mode, a scanner mode, a color mode, and a monochrome mode. The cassette selection key 8c is a key for selecting and specifying which cassette paper among the paper cassettes 1 to 5 of the image recording unit 10 described later.

  The image reading unit 9 optically scans a document to read image data when performing FAX transmission or copying. The image reading unit 9 can read a monochrome image and a color image. The image recording unit 10 is composed of an electrophotographic printer, and records received image data and image data of a document read by the image reading unit 9 on a recording sheet in a copying operation. The image recording unit 10 can also perform color printing.

  The image recording unit 10 includes a plurality of sheet cassettes that can store a plurality of types of sheets. For example, if a five-sheet cassette is provided, as shown in FIG. 4, monochrome A4 size paper is in cassette 1, color A4 size paper is in cassette 2, and monochrome is in cassette 3. B4 size paper is stored in cassette 4, monochrome A3 size paper is stored in cassette 4, and color B5 size paper is stored in cassette 5.

  The cassette memory 5a of the RAM 5 stores the table data shown in FIG. Here, for each of the cassettes 1 to 5, the paper size stored therein and the identification of whether each storage paper is for color or monochrome are registered and stored.

  The CODEC 11 encodes (encodes) the read image data according to the MH, MR, KMR method or the like to transmit or store, and decodes (decodes) the received image data to record. The LAN I / F 12 is connected to an external device constituting a PC (personal computer) or other LAN 15 (local area network), and exchanges data with the external device via the LAN I / F 12. When a request for transferring data such as a file is received from the external PC, the image data stored in the RAM 5 is transferred to the external PC via the LAN I / F 12 and the LAN 15.

  In this embodiment, the size of the paper to be stored and the availability of color copying / printing and monochrome copying / printing can be registered in advance for each paper cassette. Then, by selecting and designating one of a plurality of cassettes at the time of copying or printing, it is possible to select and record a sheet having a desired size and identification of a desired monochrome or color.

  A cassette selection key 8c is used to select and select a cassette. When the cassette selection key 8 c is operated, the contents shown in FIG. 5 are displayed on the screen 7 a of the display unit 7. In this example, the size of the stored paper and the identification for color or monochrome are displayed corresponding to the cassettes 1 to 5. To designate a desired cassette, the display surface of the cassette name may be touched, or the designated cassette may be specified by moving the cursor.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the registration process to the cassette memory 5a of the color multifunction peripheral of this embodiment will be described. When this processing routine is entered, in step ST1, it is determined whether or not cassette registration has been performed. If the registration key for performing cassette registration is operated, the determination is YES and the process proceeds to step ST2. In step ST2, the operation unit 8 selects a cassette. From the display from cassette 1 to cassette 5, cassette 1 is selected by operating the cassette selection key 8c. Next, the process proceeds to step ST3.

  In step ST3, the recording paper size is registered. In the example of FIG. 4, the A4 size is registered in the cassette memory 5a for the cassette 1. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step ST4. In step ST4, whether or not the paper stored in the cassette is color copy / print or monochrome copy / print is registered in the cassette memory 5a. In the example of FIG. 4, in the case of the cassette 1, x (impossible) is registered for color, and ○ (possible) is registered for monochrome. Next, the process proceeds to step ST5. In step ST5, it is determined whether or not all cassettes have been registered. If registration has not been completed for all cassettes, the process returns to step ST2. At the time when the registration of the cassette 1 is completed, the registration of all the cassettes is not completed, so the process returns to step ST2.

  In step ST2, the next cassette, that is, cassette 2 is selected by operating the cassette selection key 8c. In the same manner as in the case of cassette 1 for cassette 2, recording paper size is registered in step ST3, and identification of color copy / print and monochrome copy / print is registered in step ST4. In the example of FIG. 4, A4 is registered as the size, ○ for color copy / print, and x for monochrome copy / print. Thereafter, until the registration of the cassette 5 is completed, the processing of steps ST5 → ST2 → ST4 is repeated, and the registration processing of the remaining cassettes 3 to 5 is executed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the contents of cassettes 1 to 5 are registered in the cassette memory 5a.

  Next, recording processing at the time of copying in the color multifunction peripheral of this embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. If this processing routine is entered, in step ST11, it is determined whether or not copying. If the copy mode is selected by the mode switching key 8b of the operation unit 8, the process proceeds to step ST12. In step ST12, the operator (user) selects a cassette. Here, which cassette is to be selected is determined based on the size of the paper to be color-copied / printed or whether monochrome copying / printing is desired. For example, when it is desired to make a color copy in A4 size, the cassette 2 is selected in the registration example of FIG. For selection designation, refer to the display shown in FIG. Next, the process proceeds to step ST13.

  In step ST13, it is determined whether or not the start key 8a has been operated. If the start key 8a is operated, the process proceeds to step ST14. In step ST14, it is determined whether or not the cassette selected in step ST12 is a color cassette. This determination is made with reference to the color / monochrome registration corresponding to the selected cassette with respect to the contents stored in the cassette memory 5a. As in the above example, when the cassette 2 is selected, the color column is ◯, so the determination here is YES. If the cassette 1 has been selected, the determination in this example is NO because the monochrome column is ◯ and the color column is X in the example of FIG. 4. In the case of a color cassette (determination YES), the process proceeds to step ST15. On the other hand, if it is a monochrome cassette (not a color cassette), the process proceeds to step ST16.

  In step ST15, copying is performed in the color mode. Specifically, for example, the read color original is color-recorded using the paper in the paper cassette selected by the image recording unit 10. In step ST16, copying is executed in the monochrome mode. Specifically, for example, the read original image is recorded in monochrome by the image recording unit 10 using the paper of the selected paper cassette.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the original image read by the image reading unit is copied / printed has been described. However, monochrome image data and color image data input from an external device such as a personal computer (PC) or a scanner device. The present invention can also be applied to image recording.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a color multifunction machine in which the present invention is implemented. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a registration process to a cassette memory of the color multifunction machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a recording process at the time of copying in the color MFP according to the embodiment. It is a figure explaining the registration example of the cassette memory of the color multifunction device of the same embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a display for cassette selection designation | designated of the color multifunctional device of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Main control unit (CPU)
2 NCU
3 MODEM
4 ROM
5 RAM
5a cassette memory 6 image memory 7 display unit 8 operation unit 8a start key 8b mode switching key 8c cassette selection key 9 image reading unit 10 image recording unit 11 CODEC
12 LAN I / F
13 Bus 14 Public line 15 LAN

Claims (3)

A plurality of paper storage units for storing a plurality of types of paper individually as appropriate;
A paper storage unit specifying means for specifying and selecting a paper storage unit to be used at the time of recording;
Storage means for registering identification for monochrome recording or color recording corresponding to each paper storage unit,
When one of the paper storage units is selected, the image processing apparatus records in monochrome or color according to the monochrome / color registration contents of the storage unit corresponding to the selected paper storage unit.   2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration storage unit registers, for each sheet storage unit, whether recording for monochrome recording or color recording is paired with a sheet size.   2. The paper storage unit designating unit is configured to display each paper storage unit name, size, and monochrome / color separately on a display unit, and to specify each paper storage unit name. Alternatively, the image processing apparatus according to claim 2.

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