JP2698466B2 - Image copier - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a digital image copying apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of apparatus has a memory for storing image data for one screen or more in order to absorb the difference in the output order of the image data, and stores the image image data obtained from the image reading means for one pixel in the memory. By reading this in accordance with the recording means of the image recording means, the connection between the two is achieved.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-described conventional example, it is necessary to have one screen of the storage means. Particularly, as a high-fidelity full-color image is advanced as in recent digital image copying apparatuses, a very large capacity storage means is required. For this reason, there are disadvantages such as cost increase and reliability reduction due to an increase in the number of components such as storage elements.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a reading unit that reads a document image and outputs image data; a storage unit that stores image data; and a recording unit that records an image on a recording material based on the image data. Means for reading the same original image a plurality of times by the reading means, and storing image data of different areas in the respective reading means in the storage means, wherein the different recording areas are read from the different storage areas. The present invention provides an image copying apparatus for sequentially recording images in different areas of the same recording material based on the above image data.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an external view of a digital color copying machine to which the present invention is applied, and the whole can be divided into three parts.

The upper part of FIG. 1 shows a color image scanner unit 1 (hereinafter, abbreviated as a scanner unit 1) for reading a document image and outputting digital color image data, and various types of digital color image data which are built in the scanner unit 1. While performing image processing, temporarily stores image data sent from an image reading device other than the controller 2 and the scanner unit 1 having a processing function such as an interface with an external device,
It is constituted by a memory unit 4 to be sent to the controller 2. In addition, the memory unit 4 can be used for various image editing,
Also used for processing.

The scanner unit 1 reads a three-dimensional object and a sheet original placed downward under the original holder 11.

The operation unit 10 is connected to the controller unit 2 and is for inputting various information as a copying machine. The controller unit 2 instructs the scanner unit 1, the film scanner unit 4, and the printer unit 3 to operate according to the input information. Further, when it is necessary to perform a complicated editing process, a digitizer or the like is attached in place of the document presser 11 and connected to the controller unit 2 to perform advanced processing.

The right part of FIG. 1 is a color film scanner 5 (hereinafter abbreviated as film scanner 5) for reading a negative or positive film and outputting digital color image data, and is built in the film scanner 5 and has a film scanner. And a controller 6 for performing image processing specific to the.
The color image data from the film scanner unit 5 is connected to the memory unit 4 incorporated in the scanner unit 1 and is temporarily stored.

The lower part of FIG. 1 shows a printer unit 3 for recording a color digital image signal output from the controller unit 2 on recording paper. In this embodiment, the printer unit 3
This is a full-color ink jet printer using an ink jet recording head described in JP-A-54-59936.

The three parts described above are separable, and can be installed at remote locations by extending the connection cable. Further, the film scanner 5 can be freely removed, and if the film scanner 5 is not required, it is not necessary to attach the film scanner.

The image data from the film scanner unit 5 is sent to the printer unit 3 via the memory unit 4 and the controller unit 2 and is recorded on a recording sheet.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the digital color copying machine shown in FIG.

First, an exposure lamp 14, a lens 15, and a full-color image sensor 16 (in this embodiment, a CCD) capable of reading a line image, an original image placed on an original platen glass 17, a projected image by a projector, or Then, the sheet original image is read by the sheet feeding mechanism 12. Next, various kinds of image processing are performed by the scanner unit 1 and the controller unit 2, and the printer unit 3 records the image on a recording sheet.

In FIG. 2, the recording paper is composed of a paper feed cassette 20 for storing cut paper of a small fixed size (in this embodiment, A4 to A3 size) and a large size (in this embodiment, A2 to A1 size). It is supplied from the roll paper 29 for performing.

In addition, by feeding recording sheets one by one from the manual feed slot 22 in FIG. 1 along the feed unit cover 21, paper feeding from the outside of the apparatus = manual feeding can be performed.

The pick-up roller 24 is a roller for feeding the cut paper one by one from the paper feed cassette 20. The fed cut paper is conveyed to the first paper feed roller 26 by the cut paper feed roller 25. You.

The roll paper 29 is sent out by a roll paper feed roller 30, cut into a fixed length by a cutter 31, and conveyed to a first feed roller 26.

Similarly, the recording paper inserted from the manual feed port 22 is conveyed to the first paper feed roller 26 by the manual feed roller 32.

Pick-up roller 24, cut paper feed roller 25,
The roll paper feed roller 30, the first feed roller 26, and the manual feed roller 32 are provided with a not-shown paper feed motor (in this embodiment, a DC servo motor).
(Using a motor), and an on / off control can be performed at any time by an electromagnetic clutch attached to each roller.

When the printing operation is started in accordance with an instruction from the controller unit 2, the recording sheet conveyed from any one of the above-described sheet feeding paths is transported to the first sheet feeding roller 26. In order to remove the skew of the recording paper, a first paper feed roller 26 is turned on after a predetermined amount of paper loop is formed, and the recording paper is conveyed to a second paper feed roller 27.

Between the first paper feed roller 26 and the second paper feed roller 27, the recording paper is slacked by a predetermined amount in order to perform a precise paper feed operation between the paper feed roller 28 and the second paper feed roller 27. Create The buffer amount detection sensor 33 is a sensor for detecting the buffer amount. By always making a buffer during paper transport, the load on the paper feed roller 28 and the paper feed second roller 27 can be reduced, especially when large-size recording paper is transported, and accurate paper feed operation is possible. Become.

When printing with the recording head 37, the recording head 37
The scanning carriage 34 on which the etc. are mounted is the carriage rail
A reciprocating scan is performed on the scan 36 by a scan motor 35. And
In the forward scan, an image is printed on the recording paper, and in the backward scan, an operation of feeding the recording paper by a predetermined amount by the paper feed roller 28 is performed. At this time, while the drive system is being detected by the buffer amount detection sensor 33 by the paper feed motor, control is performed so that a predetermined buffer amount is always obtained.

The printed recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 23 and the printing operation is completed.

Next, the details around the scanning carriage 34 will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, a paper feed motor 40 is a drive source for intermittently feeding recording paper. The second paper feed roller 27 is driven via the paper feed roller 28 and the second paper feed roller clutch 43.

The scanning motor 35 is a driving source for scanning the scanning carriage 34 in the directions of arrows A and B via the scanning belt 34. In this embodiment, a pulse motor is used for the paper feed motor 40 and the scanning motor 35 because accurate paper feed control is required.

When the recording paper reaches the second paper feed roller 27, the second paper feed roller clutch 43 and the paper feed motor 40 are turned on, and the recording paper is conveyed on the platen 39 to the paper feed roller 28.

The recording paper is detected by a paper detection sensor 44 provided on the platen 39, and the sensor information is used for position control control, jam control, and the like.

When the recording paper reaches the paper feed roller 28, the paper feed second roller clutch 43 and the paper feed motor 40 are turned off, and the platen 39 is turned off.
Suction operation is performed from the inside by a suction motor (not shown),
The recording paper is brought into close contact with the platen 39.

Prior to the image recording operation on the recording paper, the scanning carriage 34 is moved to the position of the home position sensor 41, and then the outward scanning is performed in the direction of arrow A, and cyan, magenta, yellow, Black ink is ejected by the recording head 37 to perform image recording. When the image recording for a predetermined length is completed, the scanning carriage 34 is stopped, and conversely, the backward scanning is started in the direction of arrow B, and the home position
The scanning carriage 34 is returned to the position of the sensor 41. During the backward scanning, the paper is fed by the length recorded by the recording head 37 in the direction of arrow C by driving the paper feed roller 28 by the paper feed motor 40.

In this embodiment, the recording head 37 is an ink jet nozzle of a type in which bubbles are formed by heat and ink droplets are ejected at the pressure, and four recording nozzles each having 256 nozzles are used. ing.

When the scanning carriage 34 stops at the home position detected by the home position sensor 41, the recovery operation of the recording head 37 is performed. This is a process for performing a stable printing operation, and in order to prevent unevenness at the start of ejection caused by a change in viscosity of ink remaining in the nozzles of the printing head 37, a paper feeding time, a temperature in the apparatus, This is a process for performing a pressurizing operation on the recording head 37, an idle discharge operation of the ink, and the like according to pre-programmed conditions such as a discharge time.

The image recording is performed on the entire surface of the recording paper by repeating the operation described above.

Next, the film scanner 5 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 4, reference numerals 42 and 43 denote film holders for holding a film 44, respectively. Reference numeral 42 denotes a plate-like film holder, which is set by inserting the film through a holder entrance. 43 is a cylindrical film holder for setting the film in the radial direction, rotating the film holder 43,
Select a film. The film holder 43 is mainly used for a positive film.

Reference numeral 41 denotes an operation unit of the film scanner unit 5, from which various image localization and the like can be instructed. Normally, it is configured to be instructed from the operation unit 10 of the scanner unit 1,
The operation unit 46 is not operated.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an internal block of the film scanner 5.

In this drawing, reference numeral 51 denotes a light source (lamp) for illuminating a film (transmitted original); 52, a heat ray absorbing filter for removing heat rays from light rays from the light source 51; 53, an illumination optical system for parallelly illuminating illumination light passing through the filter 52; It is. 54 is a sub-scanning drive table for moving the film in the sub-scanning direction, 55 is a rotary table for rotating the film, 42 is a film holder for storing the film, and 44 is 35
It is a transparent original like a mm film.

56 is a lamp holding member for supporting the light source 51. A mirror 61 for polarizing the optical path of a light beam (original image) transmitted through the film 44 is an imaging lens for forming an original image passing through the mirror 62. Reference numerals 57, 58, and 59 denote CCD alignment mechanisms, respectively.
The three-color separation prisms 63, 64, and 65, which separate colors into colors, photoelectrically convert the original image of each color separated by the prism 60.
This is a CCD line sensor using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) array, and the CCD line sensor can finely adjust the reading position by corresponding CCD alignment mechanisms 57, 58, 59.

66 is an analog circuit that amplifies the analog output of the CCD line sensors 63, 64, 65 and performs A / D (analog, digital) conversion, and 67 is for an R, G, B digital image signal obtained from the analog circuit 66. A digital circuit for performing color processing such as shading correction and masking processing.

Reference numeral 68 denotes an interface connector for connecting the R, G, and B digital image signals obtained by the digital circuit 67 to an external device. The interface connector 68 includes an input / output device (not shown) and the present device. An interface circuit for transmitting signals is also connected. In this embodiment, the interface connector unit 68 is connected to the memory unit 4 built in the scanner unit 1 to transmit various control information,
G and B digital image data is transmitted.

Reference numeral 69 denotes a bus line of a microprocessor (not shown) for controlling the entire operation of the present apparatus, and controls each block described above.

Next, the overall operation will be described. The light source 51 is, for example, a light source such as a halogen lamp, and the light emitted from the light source 51 passes through a heat ray absorbing filter 52 and an illumination optical system 53 to illuminate a transparent original 44 such as a 35 mm photographic film placed on a film holder 55. . The image of the transparent original 44 is reflected by the mirror 62 and the imaging lens 61.
And CCD line sensors 63 and 6 through the three-color separation prism 60
4, projected on 65.

CCD alignment mechanisms 57, 58, 59 are each CCD line sensor 6
3, 64 and 65 are used for registration adjustment with respect to the three-color separation prism 60, and need to be adjusted at least once.

R, G, and B image signals obtained by the CCD line sensors 63, 64, and 65 pass through an analog circuit 66 and a digital circuit 67, respectively.
After performing the color processing, a digital image signal is transmitted from the interface connector 68 to the external device. An image signal for one line is thus obtained, and subsequently, in order to process the next line, the sub-scanning drive table 54 is driven by an amount corresponding to the reading magnification, and the next line processing is performed. The above operation is repeated to read the entire image of the transparent original 44.

Subsequently, the film scanner 5, the memory 4, and the controller 2 that performs image processing and the like from the memory 4,
The process up to recording on recording paper will be described.

In FIG. 6, a memory unit 4, a controller unit 2, and an inkjet head 37 shown on the right side are blocks built in the scanner unit 1 and the printer unit 2. Also,
The portion shown on the left side is the film scanner 5 described above.

The transparent document (film) read by the film scanner unit 5 is subjected to color processing and then processed by the interface connector 68.
Is output by CCD line sensors 63, 64 and 65 are 7th
As shown in the figure, reading is performed with the longitudinal direction as one line, so that the short direction in the figure is the sub-scanning. Therefore, the image signal output to the interface connector 68 is first output from the left end to the right end of the first line in FIG. Subsequently, the second line is also output from the left end to the right end. This operation is repeated until the last line is output. The R, G, and B pixel signals are simultaneously output for three colors.

The image signal that has passed through the interface connector 68 is subjected to enlargement processing (not shown) to the size of the recording paper to be stored and recorded in the memory unit 4, and then output to the controller unit 2 while changing the output order of the image signal.

Here, the order of the image data to be sent to the controller unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The ink jet head 37 in this embodiment is
It has a shape with 256 nozzles arranged in a line. The recording paper size is up to the maximum A1 size. In FIG. 8, the size is indicated by A1 size, and the shorter direction in FIG. 8 is the main scanning direction of the printer unit 2.

Here, FIG. 8 shows the first scan, in which 256 nozzles of the ink jet head are printed in the longitudinal direction.
Subsequently, the head moves to the right in the main scanning direction, and the next image data is printed for 256 nozzles. This operation is repeated, and when the operation in the figure is completed, the recording paper is fed in the sub-scanning direction.
Is printed. In the case of the present embodiment, printing is performed until printing is completed for the entire screen.

The memory unit 4 must output image data to the controller unit 2 in accordance with the printing order.

As described above, the image data from the film scanner unit 5 written in the memory unit 4 is output to the controller unit 2 in a different order. In this embodiment, the image data has a memory capacity for the entire screen. The control of the memory unit 4 will be described together with this operation.

The memory unit 4 can have a maximum memory capacity of 16 Mbytes, and if it is 16 Mbytes or less, it can have an arbitrary capacity in units of 1 Mbyte. In this embodiment, it has a capacity of 16 Mbytes. The 16 Mbyte memory is divided into three, and is assigned to each of the R, G, and B image signals by 3.2 Mbytes. Also, R, G,
Each of the B image data is multi-bit data of 8 bits / pixel.

The operation for printing the transparent original image obtained from the film scanner 5 is as follows. First, one surface of the transparent original is scanned from the initial reading position of the film scanner 5 (the upper left portion in FIG. 7; hereinafter, abbreviated as the home position). Read image data. Of the read image data of the entire surface, only the amount that can be stored in the memory unit 4 is stored in ascending order of address as shown in FIG. 7 are stored in the memory unit 4 in the order of the first line, the second line, and so on.

When the image reading of the film scanner 5 is completed (the data is stored in the memory unit 4), the microprocessor (not shown) of the memory unit 4 transmits the image data stored in the memory unit 4 to the controller unit 2. I change the order and send it out. In the transmission, as shown in FIG. 10, first, n1 pixels of the first line are read in the order of R, G, and B.

n is the number of pixels for one line of the ink jet head 37 (256 pixels) when enlarging or reducing according to the copy magnification.
Is equivalent to

Next, the n1 pixel on the second line and the
Read n1 pixels. This completes the printing of the portion shown in FIG. At this time, of course, the microprocessor (not shown) of the memory unit 4 notifies the controller unit 2 of sending an image and activating the printer, and the controller unit 2 adjusts the timing of the image data. Activate the printer.

Subsequently, the memory unit reads n2 pixels on the first line in FIG.

When the above operation is repeated and the pixel data in all the memories is read, one side of the original is read again from the home position of the film scanner 5.

At this time, only the area shown in FIG. Thereafter, printing is performed in the same manner as described above, and printing is performed on one surface of the recording paper.

In the present embodiment, the case where the image read from the film scanner unit 5 is enlarged to the A1 size is shown, and the printer scans 53 times as shown in FIG. Is completed. Also,
As shown in FIG. 7, the image data from the film scanner 5 is stored in the memory unit 4 by dividing it into nine parts as shown by. The stored image data has a data amount corresponding to six scans of the ink jet head 37 of the printer, including the enlargement factor. For this reason, at the time of the last image reading of the film scanner 5, image data for five lines is sent to the printer.

[Other embodiments]

In the above embodiment, the image reading of the film scanner section is performed, and when the reading is completed, the image reading from the film scanning section is interrupted, printing is performed on the printer, and after the printing is completed, the film scanning section is again performed. The image is read from. In this manner, the copying operation is performed on one side of the recording paper while the reading and the printing are alternately repeated.

Normally, image reading is faster than printing speed, so select a memory device with a faster access speed,
As shown in FIG. 11, if the configuration is such that the reading and printing of an image can be performed simultaneously by overlapping, the printer will perform printing only by adding the initial image reading time to the original maximum speed without delay. Can improve the throughput.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the film scanner, and the image reading method according to the present embodiment can be applied to the entire scanning device in which line scanning is performed in a line-sequential manner without causing image deterioration such as a continuous line by a plurality of scans. The image can be copied by a printer of an ink jet system.

As shown in FIG. 12, an ink jet printer shown in this embodiment is provided in an image copying apparatus in which seven scanners 121 for performing scanning in a line-sequential manner and a printer 124 for performing printing in a line-sequential manner are combined. Device 12
5 can be connected in parallel via the memory controller 125 to select which printer to use. With such a configuration, the quality of the copied image can be enhanced by selecting and using a printer in accordance with the type of the document and the texture of the copied image desired by the user.

The switches in the figure are conceptual, and are actually instructed from the operation unit of the scanner unit.

As described above, since the image reading unit performs the reading operation a plurality of times in accordance with the operation speed of the image recording unit, the necessary capacity of the storage unit can be reduced, so that the cost of the storage unit is reduced. It became possible to hold down. Also, since the reading operation of the image reading means is configured to always start reading from the initial position, even at each joint portion by a plurality of reading operations,
It is also possible to prevent image deterioration such as undesired images and streaks, and to provide a high-quality image copying apparatus at a low price.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since the recording means between the reading means and the recording means does not need to store one pixel of image data, efficient image copying using a small-capacity storage means is achieved. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image copying apparatus embodying the present invention, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the inside of the image copying apparatus, FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a film scanner, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a circuit of the image copying apparatus, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a scan sequence of the film scanner, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a scan sequence of the ink jet printer, 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a memory unit, FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a second embodiment, FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a third embodiment, 1... A scanner unit 3. Printer unit 5 ... Film scanner unit 37 ... Inkjet head 4 ... Memory unit for storing image data 2 ... Controller unit for performing image processing, control of a copying machine, etc.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A reading unit that reads an original image and outputs image data; a storage unit that stores the image data; and a recording unit that records an image on a recording material based on the image data. The same document image is read a plurality of times, and the image data of different areas is stored in the storage means at each reading, and the recording means reads the same recording material based on the image data of different areas read from the storage means. An image copying apparatus characterized by sequentially recording images in different areas. 2. An image copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement order of the image data stored in said storage means is converted and supplied to said recording means.