JP2744432B2 - Stop device for image processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for reading and recording an image, such as a copying machine, a facsimile, etc., and in particular, is mounted on a reading surface such as glass. The present invention relates to stop control of a device that reads a document in a folded state.

2. Description of the Related Art When making a copy with a copying machine, an operator's erroneous operation often forms an undesired erroneous copy. For example, when copying an A4 size original image at the same size, the B5 size recording paper is selected incorrectly and the copy operation is started. A missing defective copy is formed. In an operation mode in which a large number of copies are continuously formed, if an operation error of this kind occurs, a large number of defective copies will be formed unless the operation of the copying machine is interrupted.

Therefore, in a general copying machine, for example,
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 40959, one stop key is arranged on the operation panel, and when the stop key is pressed during copying, the copying operation is interrupted.

However, when such a defective copy is formed, a normal operator believes that there is no operation error when pressing the copy start key. Even an operator accustomed to operation takes a considerable amount of time from when he notices an operation error to when he searches for a stop key and presses it. Therefore, in the case of the continuous copy operation, a large amount of useless defective copies are generated.

Also, for example, when operating a facsimile, it is often the case that many originals are set upside down on the original platen, and a mistake is made after the transmission operation is started. In this case, too, if the operation is not interrupted immediately when the operation error is noticed, useless communication is performed for a long time.

[Object of the Invention] The present invention minimizes the creation of useless defective copies by providing a stop device of an image processing device that can stop the operation of the device as soon as possible when an operator notices a wrong operation. The aim is to keep it low.

[Configuration of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, based on an image signal generated by an image reading unit in a first image reading of a series of a plurality of repeated image readings of the same document,
The boundary position between the original and the original background is identified, the identified boundary position is stored in the storage unit, and the image reading unit is generated in the second image reading of the series of multiple times of repeated image reading of the same original. Document detection means for identifying a boundary position between the document and the document background based on the image signal, comparing the boundary position with the boundary position stored in the storage means, and generating an image formation stop signal when they do not match; Control means for interrupting the image processing operation of the image processing means in response to the image formation stop signal.

According to this, when the operator notices an operation error and moves the document placed on the platen, the boundary position between the document and the background changes, the change is detected, and the operation of the apparatus is automatically performed. Since the stop is performed, the operator does not need to search for and operate the special stop key, and can quickly stop the operation of the apparatus.

In a device such as a digital copying machine that includes an image sensor and reads an original image by scanning the same, information output from the image sensor can be used to detect a boundary position. In this case, the change in the boundary position may be compared between a plurality of document image reading scans, or may be compared between the forward scan and the backward scan. If the boundary position is detected, the position of the document and the size of the document can be identified.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a mechanism of a digital color copying machine of one type embodying the present invention. Referring to FIG.
0 is a scanner unit (hereinafter referred to as SC), 200 is an image processor (hereinafter referred to as IP), 400 is a memory unit (hereinafter referred to as MU), 600 is a printer unit (hereinafter referred to as PR), and 700 is a system. Controller (hereinafter, referred to as SCON), 750 console unit (hereinafter, referred to as CU), 900 is a digitizer tableter (hereinafter, referred to as DG), 950 is a sorter unit (hereinafter, referred to as ST), 980 is an ADF unit ( Hereinafter, referred to as AD).

FIG. 2 schematically shows the structure of the electrical unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, each unit of the copying machine shown in FIG.
100 (SC), 200 (IP), 400 (MU), 600 (PR), 750 (CU),
900 (DG), 950 (ST) and 980 (AD) are connected to 700 (SCON), and various information is transmitted between SCON and other units. Here, information transmitted by the SCON to other units is described as a “command”, and conversely, information transmitted from each unit to the SCON is described as a “status”, and are classified.

In each figure, C, M, Y, and BK indicate cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, respectively, and R, G, and B indicate red, green, and blue, respectively.

Next, the operation of each unit will be briefly described. SC
100 raster scans the original 1 and outputs image information for each pixel as R,
The image is separated into three primary colors of G and B, the density of each color is read as digital image information at each scanning position, and the information of each color is read as IP20.
Send to 0. The SC 100 also has a function of sending information on the size and form of the document to the IP 200 and the SCON 700.

The IP 200 performs digital signal processing on the image information from the SC 100, and further converts the R, G, B information into information of each color of BK, C, M, Y for recording and sends the information to the MU 400. The main contents of digital signal processing of IP200 are general image processing such as gamma correction, color correction, image size adjustment (magnification / magnification), gradation (dither) processing in the main scanning direction, and trimming, masking, movement, Editing processing such as mirroring and inverse.

The MU 400 has a plurality of operation modes. For example, in a general operation mode, the MU 400 has a function of delaying image information from the IP 200. That is, IP200
For the information of each color of BK, C, M, Y received from
The PR600 performs a time delay corresponding to a positional shift of the image forming station of each color in the sub-scanning direction, and outputs information of each color whose timing is shifted to the PR600. This type of operation is disclosed in detail in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-196268.

In another operation mode, the MU 400 moves the image by changing the timing of writing and reading information, synthesizes the image information previously written to the new image information sent from the IP 200, and writes the read address and the read address. Performs editing functions such as mirroring by switching directions.

PR600 has a function of reproducing a toner image at an image forming station of each color based on each color image information of BK, C, M, Y received from MU400, and transferring and recording the toner image of each color on a predetermined recording medium. .

The CU 750 has an input function for the operator to set various copy modes, and a display function for notifying the operator of the state of the system.

The DG900 has a function for the operator to input the position (coordinate) of the image in the edit copy operation as needed.

ST950 has a function of sorting the copy paper discharged by PR600.

The AD980 is openable and closable, as shown in FIG. 10, so that the original placed on the platen 2 of the copying machine can be pressed from the back or the original placed on the platen 982 can be scanned by the SC100. It has a function of feeding one sheet at a time onto the platen 2 in synchronization.

The SCON 700 controls the entire copying machine system, executes various logical operations, arithmetic operations, and the like based on the status information output from the above units, transmits predetermined commands to each unit, and Has a function to execute necessary processing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to synchronize the operation timing of each unit, a synchronization signal Lsync and CLKφ are supplied to each unit SC100, IP200, MU400, PR600 and SCON700. Lsync is a line synchronization signal for generating one pulse signal for each line of main scanning, and CLKφ is a pixel synchronization signal (clock pulse) for generating a pulse at each pixel timing in the main scanning direction.

FIG. 5e shows a schematic configuration of the system controller (SCON) 700. Referring to FIG. 5e, this unit includes:
A microprocessor (MPU) 704, a RAM 712, a ROM 713, a timer / counter 711, an interrupt controller 710, and various interface circuits are provided. The interface circuits include an image processor interface 701, a memory unit interface 702, a printer interface 703,
ADF interface 705, sorter interface 706, digitizer interface 707, console interface 70
8 and a scanner interface 709. Although not shown, the SC 700 includes a clock generator, a control signal decoder, and the like in addition to the above.

The scanner interface 709 has an 8-bit bidirectional data line and several control lines. The signals transmitted through this data line include the following.

Commands sent by SCON to SC: ・ Scan mode setting (number of scans, speed, direction) ・ Scan area setting ・ Scan start ・ Scan center ・ Document status request ・ Scanner status request Status sent by SC to SCON: ・ Scanner operation status ( (Warm-up, ready state, error occurrence, etc.) ・ Document form status (thickness dimension, AD open / closed state, etc.) At the time of SCON data reception and data transmission completion, an interrupt request is automatically sent to the interrupt controller 710. A signal is applied to initiate the SCON interrupt service routine.

The printer interface 703 has an 8-bit bidirectional data line and several control lines. The signals transmitted through this data line include the following.

Commands sent by SCON to PR: • Color mode setting (4 colors, 3 colors full color, C, M, Y, R,
(G, B single color mode)-Set the number of prints-Print start Status that PR sends to SCON:-Warm-up-Ready state-Error occurred-Error type-Print completed-Transfer paper size-Consumables (toner, Insufficient oil etc. The image processor interface 701 has an 8-bit bidirectional data line and several control lines. The signals transmitted through this data line include the following.

Commands sent by SCON to IP:-Density correction command-Gamma correction command-Color correction command-Various editing commands Status sent by IP to SCON:-Document size-Document position information The memory unit interface 702 is 8-bit bidirectional. And several control lines. The signals transmitted through this data line include the following.

Commands sent by SCON to MU:-Memory operation mode-Various editing commands Status sent by MU to SCON:-Error information The console interface 708 has an 8-bit bidirectional data line and several control lines. The signals transmitted through this data line include the following.

Commands sent by SCON to CU:-Contents displayed on console Status sent by CU to SCON:-Contents input to console Note that interface circuits 701, 702, 703, 705, 706, 707,
The signals 708 and 709 output signals to the interrupt controller 710 when signals are received from various units connected to the SCON and when signals are transmitted to them, and generate an interrupt request.

FIG. 5a schematically shows the configuration of the scanner unit (SC) 100. Referring to FIG. 5a, this unit includes a scanner controller 101. This controller 1
Reference numeral 01 mainly includes a single-chip microcomputer having an internal configuration as shown in FIG. 6, and controls the entire SC and performs data transmission processing with the SCON.

More specifically, the scanner controller 101
Through the CD driver 110, control the reading of the CCDs 7r, 7g, 7b for imaging, control the electric motor 10 via the motor driver 10a, control the electric motor 113 via the motor driver 113a, and control the FL driver 3a. fluorescent lamp 3 ₁ for exposure through a 3 ₂ controls, also for reading the signals from the sensors 39 and 112. The sensor 112 is a magnetic field sensor that outputs an analog signal. The signal output from the sensor 112 is converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter built in the scanner controller 101 and read. A permanent magnet 984 is provided near the sensor 112.

Although not shown, the pixel synchronization signal CLKφ is supplied to an input terminal (C
I) applied to the line synchronization signal Lsync
101 is applied to _one interrupt terminal (INT ₁ ).

Next, referring to FIG. 1, the scanner unit (SC) 10
The basic operation of 0 will be described. Document 1, a platen placed on the (contact glass) 2, is illuminated by a fluorescent lamp 3 _1, 3 ₂ for document illumination, and the reflected light, a first mirror 4 ₁ movable, a second mirror 4 ₂ and the third is reflected by the mirror 4 _3, and enters the dichroic prism 6 through the imaging lens 5, where it is split into three primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B), respectively, solid Light is incident on CCDs 7r, 7g, and 7b, which are image sensors.

Fluorescent lamp 3 _1, 3 ₂ and the first mirror 4 ₁ is mounted on the first carriage 8, the second mirror 4 ₂ and the third mirror 4 ₃ is mounted on the second carriage 9. When the second carriage 9 moves at half the speed of the first carriage 8, the original 1
The length of the optical path from to CCD is kept constant. At the time of original image reading scanning (forward scanning), the first carriage 8 and the second carriage 8
The carriage 9 is scanned from right to left in FIG. The first carriage 8 is connected to a carriage drive wire 12 wound around a carriage drive pulley 11, and the wire 12 is wound around a moving pulley (not shown) on the second carriage 9. Thereby, by the forward and reverse rotation of the motor 10,
The first carriage 8 and the second carriage 9 move forward and backward (return), and the second carriage 9 moves to the first carriage 8.
It moves at half the speed of.

When the first carriage 8 is at the home position shown in FIG.
Is detected by When the first carriage 8 is driven rightward by the exposure scan and deviates from the home position, the sensor 39 does not receive light (carriage is not detected). When the first carriage 8 returns and returns to the home position, the sensor 39 receives light. (Carriage detection), and the driving of the carriage 8 is stopped.

Referring now to FIG. 5a, the outputs of the CCDs 7r, 7g and 7b are output by the A / D converters 102r, 102g and 102b respectively.
After being converted to a digital value of bits, that is, a density signal of 256 gradations, and subjected to shading correction by shading correction circuits 111r, 111g, and 111b, they are sent to the IP 200 as R, G, and B image signals, respectively. The value of this image signal is 255 for color and 0 for black.

FIG. 5b shows a schematic configuration of the image processor (IP) 200. This will be described with reference to FIG. 5b. This unit 20
The IP controller 295 included in the unit 0 controls the entire unit and data transmission between the unit and the SCON. The IP controller 295 mainly includes a single-chip microcomputer having a configuration as shown in FIG. The synchronization control circuit 299 generates various timing signals required for each circuit of the IP based on the synchronization signals Lsync and CLKφ common to the entire system, and supplies them to those circuits.

The IP200 includes an MTF correction circuit 287, a gamma correction circuit 288, an editing and scaling circuit 296, an original detection circuit 297, a color correction and
It includes a UCR processing circuit 289, a black extraction circuit 290, an area determination circuit 291, halftone processing circuits 292 and 293, a processing result selection circuit 294, and an output control circuit 295.

Each circuit will be briefly described. The MTF correction circuit 287 is a digital filter having a high-frequency emphasis characteristic, and improves the image quality (resolution) deteriorated by the image reading optical system by emphasizing the high-frequency component of the spatial frequency of the density change. The editing and scaling circuit 296 performs processing such as color conversion, hue and density inversion, image movement in the main scanning direction, mirroring, scaling in the main scanning direction, and the like according to instructions from the console by the operator.

The color correction & UCR processing circuit 289 converts the input R, G, B signals into recording C, M, Y, BK signals. At the time of the conversion, a process of correcting a deviation of the optical characteristics of each color toner from the ideal characteristics is also performed. The black extraction circuit 290 extracts an achromatic component of the image signal based on the input R, G, B signals. Specifically, the minimum value of R, G, B is inverted and output.
This output is used as a BK color signal for characters.

The halftone processing circuit 292 is a circuit that performs a gradation process on a picture portion of an image, and performs a smoothing filter process for removing moiré on a halftone dot image and a multi-value dither process.
The multi-value dither processing is to perform density modulation of three or more values for each pixel and to express gradation by adjusting the number of recording pixels and the number of non-recording pixels in a plurality of pixels by a predetermined halftone dot pattern. Processing. Here, a dither pattern with good tone reproduction is used.

The halftone processing circuit 293 is a circuit that performs gradation processing on the character portion of the image, and performs contrast enhancement processing using a Laplacian filter and multi-value dither processing using a high-resolution Bayer-type dot pattern.

The area determination circuit 291 is a circuit that identifies a character part and a picture part of an image in order to separate them. The processing result selection circuit 294 is a multiplexer that selects one of the outputs of the halftone processing circuits 292 and 293 according to the determination result of the area determination circuit 291. The output control circuit 295 is a gate that controls whether the BK, C, M, and Y data output from the processing result selection circuit 294 is output to the MU 400 or cut off to output blank data. The document detection circuit 297 detects information on the size, position, and background of the document.

FIG. 5c shows a schematic configuration of the printer unit (PR) 600. This will be described with reference to FIG. 5c. The control device 601
It is mainly composed of a single-chip microcomputer having a configuration as shown in FIG. 6, and controls the entire PR.
Controls data transmission between SCON and PR.

Reference numeral 615 denotes a clock generation circuit that generates the above-described synchronization signals Lsync, CLKφ and a laser write timing signal VCLK. Reference numerals 613BK, 613C, 613M, and 613Y denote buffer circuits for image signals of each color.

The BK, C, M, and Y 3-bit image signals input from the MU400 are buffer circuits (613BK, 613C, 613M, 613Y), respectively.
Further, the semiconductor laser (43BK, 43C, 43M, 43Y) is energized via the laser driver (612BK, 612C, 612M, 612Y). The pulse width of the laser light output from the semiconductor laser is modulated according to the value of the image signal, whereby the recording density at each pixel position is multi-level modulated.

Referring to FIG. 1, laser light emitted from each semiconductor laser is reflected by rotating polygon mirrors 13bk, 13y, 13m, and 13c, respectively, passes through f-θ lenses 14bk, 14y, 14m, and 14c, and enters a fourth
Mirrors 15bk, 15y, 15m, 15c and fifth mirrors 16bk, 16y, 16m, 16c
And is imaged and irradiated on the photosensitive drums 18bk, 18y, 18m and 18c.

The rotating polygon mirrors 13bk, 13y, 13m, and 13c are fixed to the rotating shafts of polygon mirror driving motors 41bk, 41y, 41m, and 41c, respectively, and each motor rotates at a constant speed and rotates the polygon mirror at a constant speed. . By the rotation of the polygon mirror, the laser light is scanned in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction (clockwise) of the photosensitive drum, that is, in a direction along the drum axis (this direction is referred to as a main scanning direction).

FIG. 2 shows the laser scanning system of the cyan recording apparatus in detail. Referring to FIG. 2, at one end of laser scanning (two-dot chain line) in a direction along the axis of the photosensitive drum 18c, a sensor 44c for performing photoelectric conversion transmission is provided in such a manner that the laser beam is self-related. The sensor 44c detects the laser beam,
The starting point of scanning of one line is detected at the time point when the state changes from detection to non-detection. That is, the laser light detection signal (pulse) of the sensor 44c is processed as a laser scanning line synchronization pulse. The configurations of the magenta recording device, the yellow recording device, and the black recording device are the same as those of the device shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1 again, the surface of the photosensitive drum is uniformly charged by charge scorotrons 19bk, 19y, 19m and 19c connected to a negative voltage high voltage generator (not shown). When the laser beam modulated by the recording signal is applied to the uniformly charged photoreceptor surface, the charge on the photoreceptor surface flows to the device ground of the drum main body due to the photoconductive phenomenon and disappears. Thereby, the photosensitive drums 18bk, 18y, 18m and
The part corresponding to the part where the document density is high on the surface of 18c is -8
At a potential of 00 V, a portion corresponding to a portion where the document density is low is −1.
It becomes about 00V, and a potential distribution corresponding to the density of the document, that is, an electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a black developing unit 20bk, a yellow developing unit 20y, a magenta developing unit 20m, and a cyan developing unit 20c, respectively, and on the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 18bk, 18y, 18m, and 18c,
Black, yellow, magenta and cyan toner images are formed, respectively.

The toner in the developing unit is positively charged by stirring, and the developing unit is biased to about -200 V by a developing bias generator (not shown). Then, a toner image corresponding to the original image is formed.

On the other hand, the recording paper 267 stored in the transfer paper cassette 22 is fed out by the feeding operation of the feed roller 23 and is sent to the transfer belt 25 at a predetermined timing of the registration roller 24. The recording paper placed on the transfer belt 25 is
Of the photosensitive drums 18bk, 18y, 18m, and 18c, and sequentially passes through the lower portions of the photosensitive drums 18bk, 18y, 18m, and 18c.
When the sheet passes through c, the toner images of block, yellow, magenta, and cyan are sequentially transferred onto the recording paper by the action of the transfer corotron below the transfer belt.

The recording paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is then transferred to the heat fixing unit.
The recording paper is sent to the recording paper 36, and the recording paper is discharged to a sorter unit (ST) 950. Residual toner on the photoreceptor surface after transfer is transferred to cleaner units 21bk, 21y, and 21m.
And removed at 21c.

Note that, in this example, the recording devices for each color are spaced apart by 110 mm. The recording density is 16 dots / mm, the number of pixels in the main scanning direction is 4752 dots, and the maximum number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction is 6720 dots.

5th electric circuit configuration of console unit (CU) 750
Fig. 3 shows the outline of the external view of the operation panel of the CU.

Referring to FIG. 5d, the CU has a console board 75
0 ', CPU754, I / O decoder driver 756, LCD controller 7
57, Video RAM 758, RAM759, ROM760, Interrupt controller 7
61, a serial I / O 762, and an LCD driver 763. The console board 750 'has a 512 x 256 dot L
It comprises a CD dot matrix display 751, an lEd display group 752, and a switch matrix group 753.

The switch matrix group 753 is composed of a group 1 and a group 2. The group 1 has 49 switches (normal key switches) 765 to 813 in FIG. 3, and the group 2 has transparent touch sensor buttons 753a-11 to 753. 753a-48. This touch sensor and LCD dot matrix display 751
Are provided at the same position in FIG. In this example, the touch sensor buttons are arranged in 8 rows in the horizontal direction and 4 columns in the vertical direction, and constitute a total of 32 matrix switches.

In FIG. 5d, when the switch of group 1 is pressed, the I / O decoder driver 756 activates the interrupt signal 756a (high level H), and when the switch of group 2 is pressed, the interrupt signal 756b is activated (H). To When the interrupt signal 756a or 756b becomes active,
The CPU 754 executes an interrupt service routine, and reads on / off states of all switches on the console board. Immediately after that, the CPU 754 transmits to the SCON 700 an information group including information on the switch whose on / off has changed.

When some kind of display is required, the LED display group 752
Alternatively, it is displayed on an LCD dot matrix display 751. The display is changed when one or more of the switch matrix groups 753 is pressed or when the SCON70
It is when the display command is received from 0.

Next, the operation of the entire system of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The operation of the entire system is mainly controlled by a system controller (SCON) 700. FIG. 7a shows an outline of the operation of the SCON. The contents of the processing of each step will be described with reference to FIG. 7a.

(A) In this step, each output operation mode (for example, a color mode, the number of copies, a recording magnification, etc.) is automatically set to a preset state as an initial mode of the copying machine.

(B) In this step, the copying machine is in a standby state,
Wait until instructed by the operator via console unit (CU) 750. That is, when the operator operates any of the key switches (see FIG. 3) of the console unit, the status is input to SCON as a status, and the user waits until it is input.

(C) In this step, the contents of the status sent from the console unit 750 are checked to determine whether or not the start key 813 shown in FIG. 3 has been pressed. When the start key 843 is pressed, the process proceeds to step (e), and when any other key is pressed, the process proceeds to step (d).

(D) In this step, the contents of the status sent from the console unit 750 are checked, and an operation mode associated with the input key, for example, a copy mode, the number of copies, a copy magnification, and a color mode are identified. In the mode, operations to be executed by the units SC, IR, MU, PR, CU, DG, ST, and AD are calculated and transmitted to various units corresponding thereto.

For example, the operator determines that the number of copies is 10, the copy magnification in the main scanning direction is 0.82, and the copy magnification in the sub-scanning direction is 1.2.
5. If the color mode is designated as the three-color mode and the paper feed mode is designated as the automatic transfer paper selection mode, the status indicating this is transmitted from the CU to the SCON, and in response, the SCON
Executes a predetermined mode setting program. As a result, the scanner unit (SC) 100
At this time, a command indicating a carriage scanning speed of 1.25 and a scanning direction indicating a forward direction is transmitted. Here, the reason why the number of scans is set to the number of copies +1 is that, in this embodiment, one prescan without image formation is performed prior to the copy operation. Similarly, a predetermined command is sent to the other units.

(E) In this step, an actual copying operation is performed. In practice, the SCON700 uses the synchronization signals Lsync and CL
Counting Kφ and progress of process (timing)
When the count value reaches the timing at which operation of each unit is to be started, an operation start command is transmitted to the corresponding unit according to a predetermined program.

Upon receiving the operation start command from the SCON, each unit starts operation according to the operation mode set in the step (d) or (a). That is, AD
Starts document feeding, SU starts document scanning, IP starts processing image signals, and PR starts forming a copy image. However, in the first scan, since it is a pre-scan, PR does not form an image.

(F) In this step, it is determined whether or not an operation stop instruction has been input during the execution of the copy process.

(G) In this step, an operation stop command is transmitted to each unit according to the operation stop instruction. Upon receipt of this command, the scanner unit 100, immediately scan stops, and turns off the fluorescent lamp 3 _1, 3 _2, returns the carriage 8,9 in the home position. The printer unit 600 sets the image signal applied to the laser drivers 612BK, 612C, 612M, and 612Y to a blank (non-recording) level, and sets the charge scorotrons 19BK, 19C, 19M, and 19Y and the developing units 20BK, 20C, and 20M. , 20Y
Also stop. Therefore, the image formation is stopped immediately after issuing the stop instruction, and wasteful consumption of toner is prevented.

Further, all the transfer papers located downstream of the pair of registration rollers 24 are discharged to the sorter 950, and the transfer of untransferred transfer papers thereafter is stopped. Therefore, even if the number of transfer sheets to be fed does not reach the preset number of copies, the feeding of the transfer sheets is stopped after issuing the stop instruction.

(H) In this step, it is determined whether or not the copy process for the number of copies set in advance by the mode setting has been completed. If not completed, the above-described step (e) is executed again to execute the next process, and when completed, the process proceeds to step (i).

(I) A predetermined display is displayed on the console unit 750 to check the error status from each unit, comprehensively identify whether or not the operation has been completed without producing a color, and display the result as a message. Send a command.

Here, step (f) will be described in detail. In this embodiment, three types of methods can be used to issue an operation stop instruction while the copying machine is operating.
A first method is to operate any one of a large number of key switches provided on an operation panel (see FIG. 3) of the console unit 750, and a second method is to operate on the platen 2 The third method of removing or moving the original 1 is to lift the ADF unit 980 to release the pressing of the original. These will be specifically described below.

FIG. 7b shows part of the operation of console unit 750. This will be described with reference to FIG. 7b. This process is an interrupt service routine executed when a key is input. When the start key 813 is pressed while the image forming process is not being executed, that is, in a standby state, a start instruction status is transmitted to the SCON, and “the copy can be stopped by pressing any part” is displayed on the display 751. . When the image forming process is being executed, the copy stop status is immediately transmitted to the SCON, regardless of which key is pressed, and "copy stopped" is displayed on the display 751.

When the console unit 750 transmits the copy stop status, the SCON identifies the stop instruction in step (f) of FIG. 7a and operates to stop the copy operation. The operation panel is provided with a large number of keys as shown in FIG. 3, which are usually used for various mode settings and copy start instructions. , Functions as a key switch for instructing to stop copying.

For example, if the operator notices a mistake in the mode setting after starting the copying operation and wants to stop copying, a general copying machine is provided with one stop key to which the function is assigned in advance. It is necessary to find one stop key from many key switches and press it. However, in this embodiment, the copying operation can be immediately stopped by pressing any one of the many key switches on the operation panel, so that there is no need to search for a special key switch.

An example of the operation timing of the apparatus when the copy operation is stopped by pressing the key switch on the operation panel is shown in FIG.

FIG. 8a shows a specific configuration of the document detection circuit 297 in FIG. 5b. Referring to FIG. 8a, this circuit includes a window comparator 297-1R, 297-1G, 297-1B, a counter 292-2, a gate 2973,297-4,297-10, a latch 297-5, 297-6, a frequency divider. 297-7, 297-9, a delay circuit 297-8 and a flip-flop 297-11 are provided.

In each window comparator, the output terminal O goes to a high level H when the values of the input terminals of A, B and D satisfy the condition of A <D <B, and otherwise the output terminal O goes to a low level L. .

In this embodiment, the surface of the ADF unit 980 that presses the original is made of a rubber material colored with a special pigment having a color that is rarely used in a general original. That is, the signal levels of the image signals R, G, and B when reading the density (light reflectance) of the portion where the document does not exist on the document reading surface are values specific to the pigment.

Therefore, the threshold value of the window comparator is set so that it is possible to identify whether or not the image signal is an image obtained from the background of the document (pressing surface of the document: the pigment). That is, a value NAR slightly smaller than the density level of the R color component of the pigment is input to the input terminal A of the window comparator 297-1R.
A value NBR slightly higher than the density level of the R component of the pigment is applied to the input terminal B. Similarly, a value NAG slightly smaller than the density level of the G color component of the pigment is input to the input terminal A of the window comparator 297-1G.
A value NBG slightly higher than the density level of the G color component of the pigment is applied to the input terminal B, and the input terminal A of the window comparator 297-1B is slightly higher than the density level of the B color component of the pigment. A small value NAB is applied to the input terminal B, and a value NBB slightly larger than the density level of the B component of the pigment is applied to the input terminal B.

The frequency dividers 297-7 and 297-9 respectively output the periodic signal Ls
A signal is generated by dividing ync and CLKφ by 1/16. These signals are used to know the scanning position in the document detection operation. In this example, since one pulse of the periodic signals Lsync and CLKφ corresponds to 1/16 mm of the operation distance, the document detection operation is processed with a resolution of 1 mm.

The counter 297-2 outputs the synchronization signal CLKφ divided by 1/16.
Is counted, and a numerical value (1 mm unit) corresponding to the scanning position (pixel position) in the main scanning direction is generated. Latches 297-5 and 297
-6 latches the numerical value output by the counter 297-2 when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and outputs the value to the IP controller 298. That is, the latch 297-5 latches the value of the scanning position output from the counter 297-2 when the scanning position changes from the background (document pressing surface) region to the document region in each main scan. 6 latches the value of the scanning position output from the counter 297-2 when the scanning position changes from the document area to the background (document pressing surface) area in each main scan.

Therefore, the latches 297-5 and 297-6 hold the value of the boundary position between the document and the background in the main scanning direction. That is, in FIG. 9A, when the sub-scanning position is at y1, the values output by the latches 297-5 and 297-6 are the main scanning coordinates x1 and x2, respectively.

The flip-flop 297-11 outputs a signal DQ indicating the presence or absence of a document in each main scan.

FIG. 7f shows a part of the memory map inside the IP controller 298, FIG. 8b shows the operation timing of the circuit of FIG. 8a, and FIG. 7c, FIG. 7d and FIG.
8 shows a part of the operation. The description will be made with reference to the drawings.

The process shown in FIG. 7e is executed when the copy operation is started, that is, immediately after the start key 813 of the console 750 is pressed. In this process, first, the register x1 shown in FIG.
The initial values are respectively stored in i, x2i, y1i, y2i, DF, LCTR and N, the interrupt mask of the microcomputer itself is released, and the carriage 8 starts sub-scanning in the forward direction.

7c and 7d are repeatedly executed as interrupt processing when the delay time tD shown in FIG. 8b elapses after the signal obtained by dividing the synchronization signal Lsync appears. This process operates as follows. First, in step 11,
The value of the register DF is added to the register LCTR for counting the number of lines in the sub-scanning direction. For forward scan, register DF
Is 1, the LCTR value is counted up each time Lsync appears, and in the case of backward scanning (return), the register DF becomes -1 so that the LCTR is counted down every time Lsync appears. That is, the content of the LCTR corresponds to the position in the sub-scanning direction.

In step 12, the content of the register y1i is set to the initial value (−
1) Check whether or not. At first, since the value of y1i is -1, the process proceeds to step 13, and if DQ is 1, that is, if a document is detected, the contents of the LCTR, that is, the sub-scanning position at that time are stored in the register y1i. When step 14 is executed, the contents of the register y1i change. Therefore, when this processing is executed next, the process proceeds to step 15 after step 12.

In step 15, the content of the register x1i is set to the initial value (−
1) Check whether or not. At first, since the value of x1i is -1, the process proceeds to step 16, and the output (x1) of the latch 297-5 and the output (x2) of the latch 297-6 are stored in the registers x1i and x2, respectively.
Store in i.

When step 16 is executed, the content of the register x1i changes. Therefore, when this process is next executed, the process proceeds to step 17 after step 15.

In step 17, the content of the register y2i is set to the initial value (−
1) Check whether or not. While the scanning position is on the document surface,
Since y2i remains −1, the process proceeds to step 18 next.
Check signal DQ to see if there is a document. When a document is detected, the DQ is 1, so the process proceeds to step 19.
In this case, the signal x1 output from the latch 297-5 is stored in the register x
The signal x2 output from the latch 297-6 is compared with the content of the register x2i.

If at least one of the comparison results is not equal, the process proceeds to step 21, and the copy stop status is set to SC.
Send to ON700. That is, in the main scanning direction, two boundary positions x1, x2 between the original and the background are compared with the positions stored in the registers x1i, x2i when the original is first detected during scanning, and a change appears in the position. In this case, a copy stop status is transmitted to SCON. This status is SC
When ON is received, the SCON identifies the stop instruction in step (f) of FIG. 7a and operates to interrupt the copying operation.

The original 1 is normally positioned on the platen 2 so that the direction of each side is aligned with the scanning direction as shown in FIG. 9b, and then the copy operation is started. While detecting 1, the value of the signal x1 output by the latch 297-5 and the value of the signal x2 output by the latch 297-6 are constant, and the processing of the IP controller 298 does not proceed to step 21.

However, when the operator notices, for example, a setting error in the copy mode and intentionally moves the original 1, the value of the signal x1 output by the latch 297-5 and the value of the signal x2 output by the latch 297-6 change thereafter. Since x1i, x2 and x2i do not match each other, the process proceeds to step 21 and copying is stopped. In other words, the operator can stop the copying operation only by moving the position of the document 1 without performing a special key operation.

If DQ is no longer equal to 1 in step 18, that is, if no original is detected during one main scan, the process proceeds to step 22, where the content of the register LCTR is stored in the register y2i,
Is stored, and the scanning of the carriage 8 in the backward direction is started in step 23.

Therefore, the registers x1i and x2i hold the values of the starting and ending positions of the document in the main scanning direction, respectively, and the registers y1i and y2i hold the starting and ending positions of the document in the sub-scanning direction, respectively. .

After the execution of step 22, entry is made again to this processing, and when the processing proceeds to step 17, since y2i is not -1, the 7d
Proceed to step 24 in the figure. When LCTR is not 0 and the scanning position has not returned to the scanning start position in the sub-scanning direction, the process proceeds to step 25. And the value of the register LCTR is y1
It is determined whether or not the value held by i is between the value held by y2i and, that is, whether the sub-scanning position is on the document surface.

When the sub-scanning position is on the document surface, the process proceeds to step 26. In this case, the signal x1 output from the latch 297-5 is compared with the contents of the register x1i, and the signal x2 output from the latch 297-6 is compared.
Is compared with the contents of the register x2i. If at least one of the two comparison results is not equal, the process proceeds to step 28, and the copy stop status is transmitted to the SCON 700.

In other words, even during the sub-scanning without reading the original image, the boundary position x1 between the original and the background in the main scanning direction and
x2 is constantly monitored, and if it changes relative to the location initially stored in registers x1i and x2i, the center of the copy operation is performed.

In step 25, the value of the register LCTR is changed to the value of the register y1.
When the value is not between i and y2i, that is, when the sub-scanning position is out of the document, the signal DQ becomes 1 in step 29, and when the document is detected, the process proceeds to step 30. Also transmits the copy stop status to SCON700 to stop the copy operation.

Therefore, the copying operation can be stopped regardless of whether the original 1 is moved in the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction.

If the signal DQ is not 1 in step 29, that is, if no original is detected, the process proceeds to step 31. If the register DF is 1, the process proceeds to step 32, where -1 is stored in DF, and the carriage 8 starts scanning in the sub-scanning direction.

When the carriage 8 returns to the sub-scanning start position, the register
Since the LCTR value becomes 0, step 34 follows step 24.
Proceed to. Then, the value of the register N is compared with the value of the number of copies + 1 set by the mode setting. If the number of executed copy cycles is less than the set number, the process proceeds to step 37, where 1 is stored in the register DF, the contents of the register N are counted up, and the carriage 8 starts scanning in the forward direction (forward scan direction) again. . When all the predetermined copying cycles are completed, the process proceeds to step 35, where the carriage 8 is stopped, and the scanner scanning completion status is transmitted to the SCON 700.

In this example, when the copy operation is started with the ADF unit 980 closed and the original 1 pressed, the ADF unit 9 is closed.
Since the boundary between the document and the background is not detected when the document is released by pressing 80, the signal x1 output from the latch 297-5 and the signal x2 output from the latch 297-6 are not detected.
In this case, a copy stop status is output before the original 1 is moved.

An example of the operation timing of the apparatus when the copy operation is stopped by changing the position of the document 1 is shown in FIG. 11b, which should be referred to. In this example, the first scan is a pre-scan without image formation,
The carriage 8 is scanned at a higher speed than usual.

The information held in the registers x1i, x2i, y1i, y2i is used to identify the size and position of the document.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the ADF unit 980 for transporting the document also has a function of a pressure plate for pressing the document from the back, and the unit 980 is provided with a scanner by manual operation of the operator. The unit 100 is configured to be freely opened and closed. The ADF unit 980 is vertically movable so that it can handle thick originals. The ADF unit 980 is provided with a permanent magnet 984, and a magnetic field sensor 112 is disposed on the scanner unit 100 at a position facing the permanent magnet 984.

Therefore, the magnetic field sensor 112 is connected to the scanner unit 100 and the AD.
Distance from F unit 980 (thickness of original) and ADF unit 9
It outputs an electric signal of a signal level according to the open / close state of 80. The scanner controller 101 shown in FIG. 5a monitors the level of a signal output from the magnetic field sensor 112. Then, when a level change of a predetermined value or more occurs in the signal output from the magnetic field sensor 112 during execution of the copy operation, a copy stop status is transmitted to the SCON. When SCON receives the copy stop status from the scanner unit 100,
In step (f) shown in FIG.
Cancel the copy operation.

In other words, in this embodiment, if the user wants to interrupt the copying operation after the copying operation has been started, the ADF unit 980 may be slightly lifted from the document reading surface and opened. As a result, the copying operation is automatically stopped even if the operator does not scan the key switch.

An example of the operation timing of the apparatus when the ADF unit 980 is moved to stop the copy operation is shown in FIG.
See it.

In the above-described embodiment, the case of a digital color copying machine has been described. However, the present invention is also applicable to an analog copying machine or a facsimile machine of a type that reproduces an image by directly irradiating image light from a document onto a photosensitive member. Can.

[Effects] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to move the position of a document placed on the platen or move a member that presses the document from its back surface, such as a pressure plate, without operating a special stop key. Thus, the image processing operation can be automatically centered, so that when an operation error is noticed, the operation can be stopped quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a structure of a mechanism of a digital color copying machine of one type embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a part of the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the appearance of the operation panel of the console unit of the apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of an electric component of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d and 5e are block diagrams showing the configuration of SC, IP, PR, CU and SCON of FIG. 4, respectively. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal structure of a microcomputer used for each unit. 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d and 7e are flowcharts showing a part of the operation of each unit, and FIG. 7f is a memory showing a part of the memory allocation of the microcomputer 297-3. It is a map. FIG. 8a is a block diagram showing the configuration of the document detection circuit 297, and FIG.
FIG. b is a time chart showing the operation of the circuit of FIG. 8a. 9a and 9b are plan views showing the positional relationship between the original and the scanning direction and coordinates of the original image reading surface and the original. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cross section of the scanner unit and the ADF unit viewed from the right side. FIGS. 11a, 11b and 11c are time charts each showing an example of the operation timing of the apparatus when the copying operation is interrupted halfway. 1: Original, 2: Platen 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ : Fluorescent lamp, 5: Imaging lens 6: Dichroic prism 7r, 7g, 7b: CCD (optical detection means) 8: First carriage, 9: Second carriage 13bk, 13c, 13m, 13y: rotating polygon mirror 18bk, 18c, 18m, 18y: photosensitive drum 39: optical sensor 43BK, 43C, 43M, 43Y: semiconductor laser 100: scanner unit, 101: scanner controller 110: CCD driver, 112: Magnetic field sensor 200: Image processor, 297: Document detection circuit 298: IP controller (control means) 400: Memory unit 600: Printer unit (image processing means) 700: System controller, 750: Console unit 753a, 765 to 813: Key switch 900: digitizer tablet, 950: sorter unit 980: ADF unit (document pressing means) 984: permanent magnet

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing means for reading an image of a document placed on a predetermined image reading surface and performing a predetermined image output operation; an image reading means for reading and scanning the image reading surface to generate an image signal A storage means for identifying a boundary position between a document and a document background based on an image signal generated by the image reading means in a first image reading of a series of repeated image readings of the same document a plurality of times; Storing the identified boundary position in the storage means,
In a second image reading of the series of repeated image readings of the same document a plurality of times, a boundary position between the document and the document background is identified based on an image signal generated by the image reading means, and this is stored in the memory. Document detection means for comparing the boundary position stored in the means and generating an image formation stop signal when they do not match, and interrupting the image processing operation of the image processing means in response to the image formation stop signal; Control means for stopping the image processing equipment. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image reading means is common to a means for reading a document image of said image processing means. 3. A first image reading includes forward scanning reading of a document,
3. The stopping device for an image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second image reading is a backward scanning reading of the document.