JP2007034484A - Image processing apparatus and warm-up process management program - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a technique for shifting an image forming unit from a standby mode to an operation mode in a timely manner by activating a warm-up process at a timing in accordance with an operator's intention as much as possible.
A warm-up command generating unit for generating a warm-up command for starting a warm-up process for shifting an image forming unit 1B that forms an image on a recording medium from a standby mode to an operation mode; A timed command generator 82 for generating a timed command based on a specific event generated by the type, and a trigger command for monitoring the timed command and instructing the generation of a warm-up command when the timed command reaches time expiration And a timed command evaluation unit 84 to be generated.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus including a warm-up process for shifting an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium from a standby mode to an operation mode, and a warm-up process management program for the image processing apparatus.

  As a typical example of an image processing apparatus, there is one that forms an image by exposing a photosensitive medium by deflecting a laser beam by a rotating polygon mirror. In an image processing apparatus equipped with such a type of image forming unit, a motor that rotates a polygon mirror is a major factor regarding noise and power saving. Other types of image forming units are usually equipped with motors and pumps, and attention must be paid to their drive control when considering noise and power saving. A general countermeasure against this problem is to give the image forming unit a standby mode and an operation mode. When not in use, the image forming unit is set in the standby mode, and when in use, it is in the operation mode. Difficult to do.

  One method for solving the above problem is proposed in Patent Document 1. This document is intended for photocopiers. Sensors are installed in front of or around the photocopier, recognizing that there are people in front of the photocopier and people leaving the photocopier. When it is recognized that there is a person in the printer, the copy rotation speed is increased to the half speed state, and the scanner motor is stopped when there is no person in front of the copier for a predetermined time or more. Further, when any key on the operation panel is set, the motor rotation speed is increased to the rotation speed in the half-speed rotation mode, and the scanner motor is stopped when any button is not pressed for a certain period of time.

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the polygon motor is rotated at least for a preset time even during standby. In order to eliminate this inconvenience, in the technique proposed in Patent Document 2, if the copy start key is not pressed for a certain period of time after the polygon motor is turned on, the polygon motor is stopped to reduce noise caused by the polygon motor. The polygon motor is driven by pressing any key on the operation panel. That is, in the standby state, the polygon motor is stopped, and the operation state is shifted to by pressing any key on the operation panel. It is disclosed that such a transition from the standby state to the operation state can also be performed by placing a document on a document table or approaching an image processing apparatus by a person.

JP-A-8-95461 (paragraph numbers 0030-0032) JP 2000-208551 A (paragraph number 0006-0012)

In the techniques according to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 described above, in any case, in order to start a warm-up process for shifting the image forming unit from the standby mode to the operation mode, an operation of pressing a key on the operation panel or to the document table Triggered by operator actions such as placing a manuscript and approaching people. However, there are many different types of operator actions such as those that immediately require the actual image forming unit to be driven and those that do not directly require the image forming unit to be driven. When the trigger for starting the up process is used, there is a disadvantage that the image forming unit is not often driven.
In view of the above situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for moving an image forming unit from a standby mode to an operation mode in a timely manner by activating a warm-up process at a timing in line with an operator's intention as much as possible. .

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, a warm-up command generation for generating a warm-up command for starting a warm-up process for shifting an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium from a standby mode to an operation mode. A timed command generation unit that generates a timed command based on a specific event that occurs according to the type of operation command that has been input, and when the generated timed command is monitored and the time command reaches time expiration A timed command evaluation unit that generates a trigger command for instructing the warm-up command generation unit to generate the warm-up command.

  According to the above configuration, some commands for the apparatus are generated by an operation by an operator. These commands are used alone or in combination to load an image recording medium and preview an input image (pre-judgment work in photo printing). ), Various events such as initial setting work for the image forming unit occur. In the present invention, a warm-up process for the image forming unit is instructed as a result after a predetermined time with respect to an event that may occur in advance. Since a timed command is specified, a timed command is generated according to the event that has occurred. The time limit of this time limit command is set in units of seconds including “0 seconds (immediate)”. The timed command evaluation unit monitors the timed time of the generated timed command, and when the timed time expires, the timed command evaluation unit performs a warm-up process for shifting the image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium from the standby mode to the operation mode. A trigger command is sent to the warm-up command generator to start. In the conventional technology, only a timed command having a time limit of “0 seconds (immediate)” is handled, and further, the timed code is directly linked to a single key operation or a detection result of a single sensor. On the other hand, in the present invention, a grace time including “0 second (immediate)” from an event generated based on a single key operation result or a single sensor detection result or a combination of a plurality of commands generated as a detection result of a single sensor. Generate a timed command to start the warm-up process. For example, if a timed command having a time limit of 30 seconds is generated in 10 seconds after a timed command having a time limit of 60 seconds is generated, naturally the timed command having a time limit of 30 seconds takes precedence. Will trigger the trigger command. As described above, in the present invention, by generating an appropriate timed command for each event, it is possible to check in detail the signs that the image forming unit actually starts printing, and to appropriately move the image forming unit from the standby mode to the operation mode. Can be migrated to.

  In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the timed command generation unit is accompanied by a table storage unit for storing an event-timed command table in which various timed commands defined by various events are recorded. The timed command generator determines an appropriate timed command based on the acquired event. The number of buttons, switches, or sensors provided in the image processing apparatus is large, and there are various events as various operation actions of the operator determined from the commands generated thereby. For this reason, all events that occur in advance are assumed, and the time until each image is triggered by each event is simulated to create a table that links each event and each timed command. Thus, when a specific event occurs due to the operator's operation action, an appropriate timed command can be generated immediately.

  The event-timed command table described above may not only increase or decrease the event itself when the purpose and environment of use of the image processing apparatus change, but also until each image triggers the image forming unit to be driven. The time of can also change. For this reason, the event-timed command table is advantageously rewritable. Further, depending on the individuality (level of skill and purpose of use) of the operator who uses the image processing apparatus, there is a high possibility that the event that occurs and the time until the image forming unit is driven by the event are different. In order to solve such a problem, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of types of event-timed command tables are stored in the table storage unit, and an event-timed time adapted according to the logged-in operator. A command table is configured to be selected.

  One of the optimal application examples of the technology according to the present invention that appropriately shifts the image forming unit from the standby mode to the operation mode through generation of a timed command based on the occurrence of an event by button operation or key operation is the installation of a DP shop or the like This is a photographic printing apparatus. The image forming unit of the photographic printing apparatus includes a photographic paper transport mechanism and a laser exposure engine mechanism that exposes the photographic paper transported by the photographic paper transport mechanism. The warm-up process is performed by the photographic paper transport mechanism. A drawing process of the printing paper from the printing paper magazine and a laser driving preparation process of the laser exposure engine mechanism. While making it possible to quickly output a photographic print without annoying the operator, it is possible to save power and reduce noise.

In the present invention, a program that causes a computer to manage the warm-up process in the above-described image processing apparatus and a medium that records the program are also subject to rights. Such a program is generated depending on a function for generating a warm-up command for starting a warm-up process for shifting an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium from a standby mode to an operation mode, and the type of the input operation command. A function for generating a timed command based on a specific event, and monitoring the generated timed command, and instructing the warmup command generation unit to generate the warmup command when the time command reaches time expiration Causes a computer to execute a function for generating a trigger command. Naturally, such a program can also obtain all the effects described in the above-described image processing apparatus, and can also incorporate the above-described preferred embodiment.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments using the drawings.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view showing a photographic printing apparatus as an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. This photographic printing apparatus performs an exposure process and a development process on photographic paper P as an example of a recording medium. As a print station 1B and a photographed image frame taken from an image input medium such as a developed photographic film 2a and a digital camera memory card 2b (should be expressed as photographed image data in terms of image processing, screen display, etc. In this case, since it is more appropriate to express as a captured image frame, it is referred to as a captured image hereinafter) unless it is particularly necessary to distinguish between them. It comprises an operation station 1A that performs transfer and the like.

  This photo printing apparatus is also called a digital minilab. As can be understood from FIG. 2, the printing station 1B pulls out the roll-shaped printing paper P stored in the two printing paper magazines 11 and prints it with the sheet cutter 12. The back print unit 13 prints print processing information such as color correction information and frame number on the back side of the photographic paper P, and the print exposure unit 14 cuts the print paper P into the size. A photographed image is exposed on the surface of the photographic paper P, and the exposed photographic paper P is sent to a processing tank unit 15 having a plurality of development processing tanks for development processing. After drying, the photographic paper P, that is, the photographic prints P, sent to the sorter 17 from the transverse feed conveyor 16 at the upper part of the apparatus is collected in a plurality of trays of the sorter 17 in a state of being sorted in order units (see FIG. 1). ).

  A photographic paper transport mechanism 18 is laid to transport the photographic paper P at a transport speed in accordance with various processes for the photographic paper P described above. The photographic paper transport mechanism 18 is composed of a plurality of nipping and transporting roller pairs including a chucker type photographic paper transport unit 18a disposed before and after the print exposure unit 14 in the photographic paper transport direction.

  The print exposure unit 14 applies R (red), G (green), and B (blue) to the printing paper P conveyed in the sub-scanning direction based on print data from the operation station 1A along the main scanning direction. A line exposure head for irradiating laser beams of the three primary colors (1) is provided. The processing tank unit 15 includes a color developing tank 15a for storing a color developing processing liquid, a bleach-fixing tank 15b for storing a bleach-fixing processing liquid, and a stabilizing tank 15c for storing a stable processing liquid.

  A film scanner 20 for obtaining photographed image data from photographed image frames of the photographic film 2a is arranged at the upper position of the desk-like console of the operation station 1A, and is used as a photographed image recording medium 2b mounted on a digital camera or the like. A media reader 21 that acquires captured images from various memory cards and CD-Rs that are used is incorporated in a general-purpose personal computer that functions as the controller 3 of the photographic printing apparatus. The general-purpose personal computer is also connected with a monitor 23 for displaying various types of information and operation input devices, such as a keyboard 24a and a mouse 24b, used as an operation input unit 24 used for various settings and adjustments.

  The controller 3 of this photographic printing apparatus uses a CPU as a core member and constructs a functional unit for performing various operations of the photographic printing apparatus by hardware and / or software, as shown in FIG. As described above, the functional unit particularly related to the present invention includes an image input unit 31 that takes a photographed image read by the scanner 20 or the media reader 21 and performs preprocessing necessary for the next processing, and various operations. Operation input adopting a graphic user interface that generates operation commands from creation of graphic operation screens including windows, various operation buttons, etc., and user operation input through such graphic operation screens (via keyboard 24a, mouse 24b, etc.) The operation command sent from the processing unit 33 and the operation input processing unit 33. A print management unit 32 that performs image processing and the like on the captured image transferred from the image input unit 31 to the memory 30 in order to generate desired print data based on the command, and a print number setting that is managed by the print management unit 32 Video control for generating a video signal for causing the monitor 23 to display the print source image, the simulated image as the expected finished print image, and the graphic data sent from the operation input processing unit 33 during pre-judge printing such as color correction. A print data generation unit 36 for generating print data suitable for the print exposure unit 14 provided in the print station 1B as an image forming unit based on the processed photographed image having undergone the image processing, Raw shot image data and image processing completed upon request Etc. formatter 37 for formatting and management has been captured image data into a format to be written on a CD-R and the like.

  When the photographic image recording medium is the film 2a, the image input unit 31 separately sends low-resolution and high-resolution scan data generated at appropriate timings in the pre-scan mode and the main scan mode to the memory 30, respectively. Perform pre-processing according to the purpose. Further, when the captured image recording medium is the memory card 2b, when the captured image includes thumbnail image data (low resolution data), the captured image book is used for the purpose of displaying a list on the monitor 23 or the like. It is sent to the memory 30 separately from the data (high resolution data), but if thumbnail image data is not included, a reduced image is created from this data and sent to the memory 30 as thumbnail image data. The image input unit 31 is also connected to a self-service device called photo print accepting device 25 that accepts photo prints. The photo print accepting device 25 records the print size and the number of prints. When image attribute data and photographed image data in which print order data and photographing conditions are recorded are received, the photographed image data is transferred to the memory 30, and the print order data and image attribute data are transferred to the print management unit 32. To do. In the case of a normal photo print order, print order data such as print size and number of prints, and if necessary, attribute data such as presence / absence of strobe shooting, subject information, camera model, and the like are input via an operation input unit 24 such as a keyboard 24a. This is given to the print management unit 32 by the operator's operation input.

  The print management unit 32 includes a print order processing unit 60 for managing the print size, the number of prints, and individual color correction, and color correction and filtering (blurring, sharpness, etc.) for the captured image developed in the memory 30. The image processing unit 70 that performs photo retouching processing and the like, and the print station 1B as an image forming unit in this photographic printing apparatus, in particular, the laser beam type print exposure unit 14 and the photographic paper transport mechanism 18 provided therein are in a standby mode. A warm-up management module 80 for managing the warm-up process for shifting from the operation mode to the operation mode is constructed. The operations performed when shifting from the standby mode to the operation mode include operations such as turning on the laser and rotating the polygon mirror in the print exposure unit 14, and pulling out the photographic paper P from the photographic paper magazine 11 in the photographic paper transport mechanism 18. And the like.

  The print order processing unit 60 incorporates a pre-judge management module 61 that manages pre-judge print work in which an operator manually performs setting of the number of prints, color correction, and the like. It has a function of generating a pre-judge screen displayed in units of several sheets and an edit screen for enlarging and displaying a single captured image, and these screens are exchanged with the operator in cooperation with the operation input processing unit 33. Are displayed on the monitor 23 in such a manner that two-way communication is possible. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, the pre-judge management module 61 considers the density difference from the low-resolution image data (pre-scan image data) captured from the scanner 20 in the pre-scan mode. Frame position data is generated and pre-judge image data for each photographed image frame is created from pre-scan image data covering the entire film using the frame position data, or from image data acquired from the media reader 21 A pre-judge image processing unit 61a that generates pre-judge image data with low resolution, a monitor 23 that uses simulated image data corresponding to a print output image expected from the pre-judge image data, and a print exposure unit 14 Device characteristic table that stores color output characteristics such as An image processing command sequence management unit 61c that manages image processing commands or image processing command sequences set for each photographed image frame through the operation input processing unit 24 at the time of pre-judgement. Has been built.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the warm-up management module 80 checks various operation commands input by the operator through the operation input processing unit 24 and confirms the occurrence of a specific event from these commands alone or from a plurality of combinations. An event confirmation unit 81 for generating a timed command that generates a timed command defined by an event-timed command table stored in the table storage unit 83 in response to the occurrence of a specific event confirmed by the event confirmation unit 81 Unit 82, a timed command evaluation unit 84 that monitors a timed command generated by the timed command generation unit 82 and generates a trigger command when the time command reaches the time expiration, and a trigger command in the timed command evaluation unit 84 In response to the generation of print station A warm-up command generating unit 85 to provide to generate warm-up command for starting the warm-up process of transition from the standby mode to the operating mode B to the print station 1B is constructed.

  The structure of the event-timed command table stored in the table storage unit 83 is such that a predetermined timed code is linked to each event, as schematically shown in FIG. The number in parentheses after the time code indicates the time limit in seconds. Depending on the event that has occurred, the time limit command varies, that is, the time command that has a different grace time (seconds) before starting the warm-up process. It is prescribed. Some events that occur in the photographic printing apparatus are closely related to the print processing request in the print station 1B. Therefore, a transition from an event to a certain event within a predetermined time period. Are specifically defined, and a timed command having a time period much shorter than the occurrence of a single event is linked to such event transition (in the example, transition from event c to event d). Since the contents of this event-timed command table can be arbitrarily rewritten through the operation input unit 24, an optimum timed time setting can be selected depending on the store. As typical examples of events handled here, acquisition of image data from the film 2a, acquisition of image data from the memory card 2b, download of print image data through a communication line, omission of pre-judge work, pre-judge For example, determination of photographed image frames to be printed in the work.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the table storage unit 83 stores a plurality of types of event-timed command tables selected according to the logged-in operator. The characteristics can be changed. Of course, it is also possible to automatically select the event-timed command table from the ID of the logged-in operator.

A typical processing procedure for outputting a predetermined number of photographic prints using the photographic printing apparatus described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, when the memory card 2b is inserted into the media reader 21 (# 01), the image data of the photographed image frames and possibly the number of prints of each photographed image frame (print processing information) are recorded via the print source input unit 31. The captured DPOF data is captured, the captured image frame is expanded in the memory 30 (# 02), and the number of prints is captured in the print order processing unit 60 in a form linked to the captured image frame (# 03). When the print source is the film 2a, the scanner 20 is used for digitizing the image. However, since order data or the like is not added to a general film, step # 03 is omitted. The simulated image generating unit 61b creates a simulated image of a low-resolution captured image frame for the input captured image frame (# 04). Subsequently, a pre-judge screen 50 as shown in FIG. 7 created by the pre-judge management unit 61 is displayed on the monitor 23 (# 05).

  On a general pre-judge screen 50, shot image frames for one film or one memory card are sequentially displayed in the shot image display frame 51 for checking the images. The photographed image display frame 51 is arranged for the number of display frames set in advance, but in FIG. A color density correction setting area 52 and a print number setting area 53 are arranged below each captured image display frame 51. The color density correction setting area 52 is provided with setting frames of “yellow”, “magenta”, “cyan”, and “density”, and the correction amount “N” represents neutral and means no correction. The color density correction of the shot image frame can be performed using this color density correction setting area 52, and further, a finer image is displayed through a one-frame enlarged display screen displayed by double-clicking each shot image frame. It is also possible to perform correction. The print number setting area 53 is provided with an input frame for inputting the number of prints. If “PASS” is displayed in this input frame, it means that the shot image frame is not to be printed. . A print condition display field 54 is arranged below the pre-judge screen 50. The print channel name applied to the photo print output, the print size included in the print channel, the necessity of index print, The necessity of media output is shown. The print size indicates the size of the finished photo print P, and the print size is determined by the photographic paper width and the feed length. Above each captured image display frame 51, a frame identification code display field 55 for displaying the frame number or captured image file name of the captured image frame displayed in the captured image display frame 51 is arranged.

  Through the pre-judge screen 50 displayed on the monitor 23, the operator can input the color correction of the captured image frame and the number of prints (# 06). For example, when a defective image that fails to be shot is found, “PASS” is selected in the print number setting area 53, and the shot image frame is excluded from the print target. Similarly, the operator can enter a print number value in the print number setting area 53. Further, when a malfunctioning image with poor hue is found, it is possible to instruct color correction by operating various color correction buttons arranged in the color density correction setting area 52. Prejudge work such as setting of the number of prints and color correction setting of the shot image frame through the prejudge screen 50 is performed while updating the prejudge screen 50 for all input shot image frames (#). 07). When the pre-judgment work is completed, the high-resolution captured images that are the targets of the print processing are sequentially selected, and image processing for necessary correction (may be uncorrected) is performed (# 08). The photographed image frames that have undergone image processing are converted into print data (# 09), transferred to the print station 1B (print exposure unit 14), and output as a photographic print P (# 10). Note that the image processing of step # 08 is not started after the pre-judgment work for all the photographed image frames is completed, but each time the pre-judge work for the sequentially displayed pre-judge screen 50 is finished, the start button 56 ( By pressing (see FIG. 7), the image processing for the captured image frame determined on the pre-judge screen 50 may be started.

Next, how the photographed image frames formed on the film 2a are processed by each component of the photographic printing apparatus under the occurrence of an event based on the operation of the operator and the generation / monitoring of the timed command is illustrated. 4 will be described.
When the film 2a is set in the scanner 20, one film is continuously scanned at a low resolution over the length (pre-scan) and sent to the memory 30 (# 101). The low-resolution image data stored in the memory 30 is subjected to necessary preprocessing such as gamma conversion and image rotation by the image processing unit 70 and transferred to the pre-judge management unit 61 (# 102). The pre-judge image processing unit 61a determines the frame position from the low-resolution image data developed in the memory 30, and cuts out image data corresponding to each shooting frame as pre-judge image data (# 103). The pre-judge image data is converted into simulated image data by being subjected to predetermined processing by the simulated image generation unit 61b. The scanner color characteristics and print exposure unit of the film scanner 2 used at this time are converted. The print color characteristics determined by the type of exposure head and photographic paper used in 14 and the monitor color characteristics of the monitor 23 used for displaying the simulated image are read from the apparatus color characteristic table, and the simulated image is displayed. Reference is made in the generation process (# 104).

  Even in the processing up to the pre-judge operation so far, the operator has performed an operation such as loading the film 2a into the scanner 20, and at that time, the event confirmation unit 81 confirms the event that has occurred, and the event confirmed. A corresponding timed command is generated by the timed command generation unit 83. The timed command generated is monitored by the timed command evaluation unit 84. However, since the timed command corresponding to the event occurring at this stage has a relatively long timed period (grace time), the timed command evaluation unit 84 sends the trigger command to the warm-up command generation unit 85 after a short time has elapsed since that time. There is little to give, but a trigger command will be generated after a long time.

  Returning to the flow of image data, the simulated image data is sent to the video control unit 35 (# 105), and the simulated image is displayed on the monitor 23 (# 106). In the pre-judgment work, the operator operates a predetermined operation key on the keyboard 24a as the operation input unit 24 or the mouse 24b as necessary while viewing the processing target photographing frame as the simulated image (# 107). The operation processing unit 33 generates an image processing command and sends it to the pre-judge management unit 61. The pre-judge management unit 61 corrects the simulated image data by giving the received image processing command to the simulated image generation unit 61b, and thereby the simulated image displayed on the monitor 23 is adjusted as requested by the operator. (# 108). When the pre-judgment operation for the processing target captured image frame displayed on the monitor 23 is completed, the image processing command applied to the captured image frame is temporarily held by the image processing command sequence management unit 61c (#). 109). Note that the image processing command sequence including the image processing commands includes image processing commands relating to image correction that are automatically set in addition to the image processing commands input by the operator. When the print source is the film 2a, the main scan using the film 2a is performed at this point, so the timed command generated at this stage is medium. Have a time limit of about.

  Through the main scan, high-resolution image data in units of frame images is taken into the buffer memory 30 (# 110), and the image processing unit 70 performs necessary preprocessing such as gamma conversion, image rotation, and resolution conversion (# 111). ). Since the input of attribute data such as the number of prints and color correction for the captured image frame corresponding to the high-resolution image data primarily stored in the memory 30 has been completed, the image processing unit 70 receives the corresponding information from the image processing command sequence management unit 61c. An image processing command (sequence) to be received is received (# 112), image processing based on the image processing command is performed, and processed high-resolution image data is provided to the print data generation unit 65 (# 113). The print data generation unit 65 converts the received image-processed high-resolution image data into print data having specifications for use in the print station 1B, and transfers the print data to the print station 1B to create a photo print (# 114). ). Therefore, it is necessary to set the time limit of the time limit command generated at the end of the pre-judge operation to the time when the print data expires before the print data is transferred to the print station 1B.

  In the above description, the print source is the film 2a. However, when the print source is the memory card 2b, high-resolution image data is first secured in the memory 30. When the start button 56 for instructing the print processing of the shot image frame that has been pre-judged is pressed at the stage where the pre-judge operation is being performed, the image is printed immediately after the image processing for the high-resolution image data described above. Processing is executed. For this reason, an event that occurs in response to an operation input by the operator at the pre-judgment work stage when the print source is the memory card 2b has a strong influence on the start of the printing process. In this case, the event is relatively short. A timed command having a timed time is generated. When the time limit of the timed command monitored by the timed command evaluation unit 84 expires, a trigger command is given to the warmup command generation unit 85, and the warmup command generation unit 85 sends a warmup command to the print station 1B. At this point, the print station 1B starts the warm-up process. Accordingly, the photo printing apparatus according to the present invention realizes a delicate warm-up process management in which a timed command that varies depending on the print source is generated.

  In the embodiment described above, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention exposes a photographic image to the photographic paper P by the print exposure unit 14 equipped with a laser exposure engine, and develops the photographic paper P after the exposure. Although described as a so-called silver-salt photographic printing system, of course, various photographs such as an inkjet printing system that forms an image by ejecting ink onto a film or paper, a thermal transfer system that uses a thermal transfer sheet, etc. It may be a printing device.

1 is an external view of a photographic printing apparatus as an example of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. Schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of the print station of the photo printing device Functional block diagram explaining the functional elements built in the controller of the photo printing device Explanatory drawing which shows typically the flow of processing of the photographed image frame processed under the occurrence of a vent and generation / monitoring of a timed command Explanatory drawing that schematically shows the structure of the event-timed command table Flowchart explaining the flow of photo print output in photo print device Schematic diagram showing an example of the pre-judge screen

Explanation of symbols

1B: Print station (image forming unit)
24: Operation input processing unit 80: Warm-up management module 81: Event confirmation unit 82: Timed command generation unit 83: Table storage unit 84: Timed command evaluation unit 85: Warm-up command generation unit P: Printing paper (recording medium)

Claims (6)

  A warm-up command generating unit that generates a warm-up command for starting a warm-up process for shifting the image forming unit that forms an image on the recording medium from the standby mode to the operation mode, and a specific generated according to the type of the input operation command A timed command generation unit that generates a timed command based on an event, and monitors the generated timed command, and instructs the warmup command generation unit to generate the warmup command when the timed command reaches time expiration An image processing apparatus comprising a timed command evaluation unit that generates a trigger command to be executed.   The timed command generation unit is accompanied by a table storage unit for storing an event-timed command table in which various timed commands defined by various events are recorded, and the timed command generation unit is based on the acquired event. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an appropriate timed command is determined.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the event-timed command table is rewritable.   4. The image processing according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of types of event-timed command tables are stored in the table storage unit, and an event-timed command table adapted according to a logged-in operator is selected. apparatus.   The image forming unit includes a photographic paper transport mechanism and a laser exposure engine mechanism that exposes the photographic paper transported by the photographic paper transport mechanism. The warm-up process includes printing of photographic paper by the photographic paper transport mechanism. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is a drawing process from a paper magazine and a laser driving preparation process of the laser exposure engine mechanism.   Based on a function for generating a warm-up command for starting a warm-up process for shifting an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium from a standby mode to an operation mode, and a specific event generated depending on the type of the input operation command A function for generating a timed command and a function for monitoring the generated timed command and generating a trigger command for instructing the warmup command generating unit to generate the warmup command when the time command reaches the time expiration A warm-up process management program that causes a computer to execute.

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