JP2870612B2 - Copy control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copy control method for a digital copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a memory expansion unit is installed, manual control is performed to notify the main body of the presence or absence of the memory expansion unit by switching a dip switch and setting a simulation when the memory expansion unit is mounted. Met.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, the recognition of the mounting of the memory expansion unit must be performed by manual control, and the recognition cannot be automatically performed. Therefore, a cumbersome procedure is required.

Further, in the case of the conventional normal process, the reading process of the original document of the scanner corresponding to the full-color four colors goes through the copy process of the 4-scan / 4-color development, so that the copy speed is inevitably reduced, and the scan / developing process is performed. There has been a problem that the number of copies increases and the density of the first and nth copies changes due to differences in the characteristics of the laser driver unit and the conditions of the process data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and automatically detects the installation of a memory expansion unit to reduce the number of scans, thereby eliminating the density unevenness due to the number of multi-copy sheets and increasing the copy speed. It is intended to provide copy control for a digital copying machine.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a plurality of colors.
Scan and develop each to add color mixture
Copying in digital copiers to form more color images
A control method for detecting whether or not the additional memory is mounted during the initial operation, and performing scan and development processing for each of a plurality of colors when the non-installation of the additional memory is detected. The first color when the installation of the additional memory is detected .
To performs write Mutotomoni developing writing the image data obtained during the scanning into the expansion memory, the remaining color
It is achieved by the copy control method for performing development processing each out reading the image data written in the expansion memory in place of the scan.

[0007]

In the initial state, the presence or absence of the additional memory is detected in the initial state, and if it is detected based on the detection result that the additional memory is not installed, a plurality of colors to be used in the additive color mixing method.
It performed each scan and development processing to each. Further, the detection if the result expansion memory based on is detected to have been attached, for the first color development with write Mutotomoni written to an expansion memory <br/> image data obtained by Sukiyan Processing
Perform, its development process reads the image data written in the expansion memory in place of the scan for the remaining colors
Respectively carried out.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a digital copying machine using a copy control method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a memory expansion automatic detection process for copy control of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a copy process switching process for copy control of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the entire structure of a digital copying machine to which the copy control of the present invention is applied.

First, the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

In FIG. 3, a document table 11 made of hard transparent glass is provided at the upper end of the copying machine 10.
A document (not shown) placed on the document table 11 is irradiated by the lamp unit 12 and reflected light from the document is
The light is guided to the light receiving surface of the CCD sensor 17 via the mirrors 13, 14, 15 and the lens unit 16, and is taken in as an electric signal. Lamp unit 12, mirror 13, CCD sensor 17
A scanner is constituted by the above.

The image data captured by the CCD sensor 17 is sent to a laser driver unit 18 via an image processing unit described later. Then, the laser beam is output therefrom and forms an electrostatic latent image pattern on the photosensitive drum 21 rotatable in the direction of arrow A via mirrors 19 and 20 (exposure process).

Photosensitive drum 21 rotatable in the direction of arrow A
Before the exposure, a charging charger 22 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is provided in the rotation range of
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the exposed portion by the output light. Also,
Downstream of the charging charger 22, a black developing tank 23, a yellow developing tank 24, a magenta developing tank 25, and a cyan developing tank
Developing device 27 equipped with 26, transfer belt 28, cleaning unit
29 and the static elimination lamp 30 are arranged in this order. Each of the developing tanks 23 to 26 of the developing device stores toner of a corresponding color.

In the above configuration, color copying (three-color copying) is performed according to the following operation procedure.

First, the charging charger 22 is connected to the photosensitive drum 21
When the surface is uniformly charged, the first scan is performed by the previous scanner, and the image data (R, G, B) captured by the CCD sensor 17 generates yellow data through an image processing unit described later to generate a laser beam. It is output as a laser beam from the driver unit 18 and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 21,
A yellow electrostatic latent image is formed on the exposed portion.

Next, yellow toner is supplied from the yellow developing tank 24 to the electrostatic latent image in the image area, and a toner image of the same color is formed.

Subsequently, the toner image circulates in the direction of arrow A, and a part of the toner image is transferred to a transfer belt 28 pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. At this time, some toner that does not contribute to the transfer remains on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21,
The cleaning unit 29 scrapes off the residual toner.

Next, the charge removing lamp 30 removes the charge remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21.

When the above steps are completed, the charging charger 22
The surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is uniformly charged again, and data from the document obtained by the second scan is exposed to laser light through an image processing unit described later, thereby forming a magenta electrostatic latent image. .

Thereafter, similarly, magenta toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image from the magenta developing tank 25, and a toner image of the same color is formed. Then, the toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 28, and image superposition is performed. Thereafter, when the same processing as above is performed, the charger 22 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 again.

Similarly, cyan toner is supplied from the cyan developing tank 26 to the photosensitive drum 21 to form a toner image of the same color. This toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 28, and final image superposition is performed. Thereafter, the toner image on the transfer belt 28 on which the image is superimposed is transferred onto a copy sheet, and after passing through a fixing unit 31, is discharged outside the apparatus by a discharge roller 32.

The above process is a process for a three-color process. In the case of a four-color process, a black process is added to the process. On the other hand, black and white copying is performed by supplying black toner from the black developing tank 23 to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21 and transferring this toner image to copy paper via the transfer belt 28.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing one configuration of an image processing unit of a digital copying machine to which the copy control device of the digital copying machine according to the present embodiment is applied.

The image processing unit shown in FIG. 4 includes a CCD unit 33 for generating R, G, and B color image signals, and a CCD unit.
RGB level matching amplifier (AMP) connected to 33
34, connected to R, G, B level matching AMP34 and C
A / D converter 35 for converting analog RGB signals of the CD unit 33 into digital signals; a shading corrector 36 connected to the A / D converter 35 for correcting light / dark distortion due to shading; Document position recognition unit 37 and shading correction unit 36 connected to the unit 36
And a document position recognition unit connected to the document position recognition unit 37.
Alignment unit 38 that performs alignment using data from 37,
Black document detector 39 connected to alignment unit 38, alignment unit
A gamma correction unit 40 and a gamma correction unit that are connected to 38 and perform gamma correction of the color signal output current of the CCD unit 33
A masking section 41 connected to the masking section 40 for converting the color RGB signals into C, M, Y by color correction masking; an undercolor removal bandpass filter (UCR) connected to the masking section 41;
BP) 42, a sharpness filter 43 connected to the UCR BP 42, connected to the sharpness filter 43, and connected to a scaling unit 44 and a scaling unit 44 for performing processing such as enlargement / reduction on digital image data. A density processing unit 45 that operates according to a user specified or histogram, a color balance unit 46 connected to the density processing unit 45, and a floor that is connected to the color balance unit 46 and performs laser driving gradation data processing by gradation processing. The tone processing section 47 is provided.

Next, the processing operation of the image processing section of FIG.
And the flowchart of FIG.

The memory extension unit is mounted at a predetermined position (not shown, but the position is not limited) of the digital copying machine of FIG. 3, and the processing of FIG. 1 is performed.

First, the power is turned on (step S1), and the initial processing of the main body is started (step S2). During the processing, a mode for discriminating and detecting the presence or absence of the memory is started (step S3). Arbitrary detection data is written to a specific address of the memory (step S4), the memory address once written is accessed to read and read data (step S5), and the written data is compared with the read data. (Step S6) If the data is not equal, it is determined that the memory is not mounted (Step S7), and if they are equal, it is recognized that the memory is mounted (Step S8). Steps S4 to S
In the processes up to 8, the detection reliability can be increased if the data pattern is changed and checked once or several times.

Next, it is confirmed that all other initial processing (step S9) has been completed (step S10).
The initial processing ends (step S11), and the copy ready state (step S12) is entered.

When copying is started from the copy ready state, the copying process proceeds through the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

First, when copying is started, it is checked whether or not the memory is mounted based on the result recognized at the time of the initialization (step T1). If the memory is not mounted, a normal process (step T2) is performed. The first scan of the unit is started (step T3), and the data (R, G, B) read from the original by this first scan is written into the attached memory (step T4), and the data of the first color is simultaneously displayed. The image processing unit shown in FIG. 4 generates color data by performing color signal correction and image data processing as digital data, and forms an electrostatic latent image by a laser driver unit shown in FIG.
Develop (Step T5). Next, since the scan operation itself is the same for all four colors, repeating the same scan for each color four times is a wasteful processing time. Therefore, the image data in the memory is sequentially accessed without performing the scan operation from the second color. Then, the image processing of FIG. 4 is performed, exposure / development is performed by a laser driver, and the image is transferred to a transfer belt (steps T6 to T11). The toner image on the transfer belt is transferred to paper (step T12), (Step T13), the sheet is discharged by the discharge roller (step T14), and the copy process ends.

As described above, the presence / absence of the additional memory is automatically identified, and the operation by switching the copy process is executed.

[0034]

According to the copy control method of the present invention, a plurality of colors can be used.
Scan and develop for each color mixture
In a digital copier that forms color images
A control method for detecting whether or not an additional memory is installed during the initial operation, and performing a scan and a developing process for each of a plurality of colors when it is detected that the additional memory is not installed. , The first color when the installation of the additional memory is detected
The image data obtained during scanning against performs write Mutotomoni developed written to the expansion memory, for the remaining color
Is performed respectively developed out reading the image data written in the expansion memory in place of the scanning Te, the presence or absence of attachment of the extension memory unit is recognized by the software processing at the time of initials, a memory when it recognizes the mounting It is a copy process that effectively utilizes and reduces the number of scans, which can increase the speed of copying and can be used in the additive color mixing method.
Density changes due to differences in reading conditions and the like for each color can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining a memory expansion automatic detection process of a copy control method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a copy process switching process of the copy control method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of a digital copying machine to which the processes shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are applied;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image processing unit of a digital copying machine to which the processes shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are applied;

[Explanation of symbols]

 S1 Power on S2 Start of initial processing S3 Additional memory detection S4 Data writing S5 Data reading S6 Judgment of equivalence of writing and reading data S7 Recognition of memory not mounted S8 Recognition of memory mounting S9 Initial processing S10 Judgment of end of all initial processing S11 End of initial processing

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/21 H04N 1/00 H04N 1/40

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A scanning and developing process for a plurality of colors
To form a color image by additive color mixing.
A copy control method in a digital copying machine , comprising: detecting whether or not an additional memory is mounted during an initial operation ;
Performs scanning and developed, respectively, the scan for the first color when mounting of the expansion memory is detected
Writes the image data obtained during the emission to the expansion memory No
Along with the development process, and scan the remaining colors.
Alternatively, the image data written to the additional memory
Copy control method and performing reading out the developing process, respectively.