JP3167736B2 - Image reading device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading a document image by a photoelectric conversion element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image copying apparatus, a CCD or the like having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements is scanned in a main scanning direction in a sub-scanning direction to read a document image in a strip shape. Then, each of the strip-shaped image data read in this way is binarized by an error diffusion method or the like, and a document image based on the binary data is created and printed / reproduced. However, at such a portion where the strip-shaped image data is connected, the connection between the image data is lost, and the strip portions become image data separated from each other. For this reason, the binarization process is not normally performed in such a connected portion, and a streak or the like appears in the portion, and there is a disadvantage that the quality of the copied and reproduced image is deteriorated. Therefore, when reading the original image, the connecting portions are overlapped and read, and the connecting portions are binarized by referring to the image data before and after the connecting portions to prevent the occurrence of streaks and the like at the connecting portions. I am trying to do it.

[0003]

However, recently, not only a stand-alone copying machine, but also a multifunctional image copying apparatus capable of performing various operations such as deformation of a document image and copying and combining a plurality of documents. Also, an image copying apparatus connected to a computer via a standard interface (for example, GPIB, SCSI, or the like) and having a function of transmitting and receiving image data to and from the computer has appeared. These devices require an image memory for temporarily storing read image data. Conventionally, however, since the original image reading unit always reads a part of the original image redundantly, when storing these image data in the image memory, the redundantly read image area is deleted and stored. Was. For this reason, when reading a document image and storing it in the image memory, the image reading device also reads an image area that is unnecessary when reading the image, and consequently the speed at which the document is read and stored in the image memory. There was a problem that it became slow.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional example, and has as its object to provide an image reading apparatus capable of performing efficient image reading and recording / reproduction.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention has the following arrangement.
That is, a reading element in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in the sub-scanning direction is scanned in the main scanning direction, a document image is read in a strip shape, photoelectrically converted, and the reading element is subsequently moved in the sub-scanning direction, and Reading means for reading a strip-shaped image, storage means for storing image signals sequentially read in a strip shape by the reading means, and image signal output to a recording means for recording an image on a recording medium based on the image signal Output means for performing the recording by the recording means based on the image signal from the reading means without going through the storage means, and storing the image signal from the reading means in the storage means, In the case where recording is performed based on the read image signal, a transfer in which the amount of movement of the reading element in the sub-scanning direction in the sub-scanning direction for reading the next strip is different after one strip read. Amount control means, wherein the movement amount control means determines the movement amount in the sub-scanning direction when recording based on the image signal read from the storage means without using the storage means. It is characterized in that it is larger than the movement amount when recording based on the image signal from.

[0006]

In the above arrangement, a reading element having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the sub-scanning direction is scanned in the main scanning direction.
When the original image is read in the form of a strip and photoelectrically converted, the reading element is subsequently moved in the sub-scanning direction, and the next strip is read based on an image signal from the reading means. In the case where the image signal is stored based on the stored image signal, the reading element is moved in the sub-scanning direction for reading the next strip after reading one strip. The amount of movement is made different, and in particular, the amount of movement when recording based on the image signal read from the storage means is made larger than the amount of movement without intervening the storage means.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiment, a case will be described in which a printer device using an inkjet recording method is used for a printer unit that prints image data on a record.
Such an ink jet printer is a multi-head type printer here and has a multi-nozzle provided with a plurality of nozzles for discharging ink.

<Overall Description (FIG. 1)> FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of a digital color copying machine according to this embodiment.

In the figure, control units 101, 111, 121 and 112 are respectively a scanner unit 1, a controller unit 2,
A control circuit for controlling the printer unit 3 and the frame memory control unit 4. Although not particularly shown, each of the control circuits includes a microcomputer, a program ROM, a data memory, a communication circuit, and the like. Control unit 102
To 111, between the control units 111 to 121, and the control unit 121.
Are connected by a communication line, and when operating as a color copying machine, a so-called master / slave control mode in which the control units 102, 121, and 112 operate according to instructions from the control unit 111 is adopted. I have.

In the case of a remote mode (described later) in which various operations are performed by commands from a host machine (not shown) via an external parallel interface, the control unit 1
12 acts as a master and issues various instructions to the control unit 111,
The control unit 111 is configured to instruct the control units 102 and 121 based on this. The transition to remote mode is
This is performed by an instruction from the host machine or by scanning a key switch of the operation unit 10.

When operating as a color copier, the control unit 111 operates in accordance with input instructions from the operation unit 10 and the digitizer 114. As shown in FIG. 7, the operation unit 10 includes, for example, a liquid crystal (LCD display unit 84) as a display unit.
In addition, by providing a touch panel 85 made of a transparent electrode on the surface thereof, it is possible to perform selection instructions such as designation of colors and designation of an editing operation. Keys related to the operation, for example, a start key 87 for instructing the start of the copying operation, and a stop key 8 for instructing the stop of the copying operation
8. Reset key 8 to return operation mode to standard state
9. Projector key 86 for selecting a projector
As shown in FIG. 7, frequently used keys are provided independently (FIG. 7). Returning again to FIG. 1, the digitizer 114
This is for inputting position information necessary for trimming and masking processing, and is optionally connected when complicated editing processing is required. Further, the control unit 111 controls the multi-value synthesizing unit 106, the image processing unit 107, the binarization processing unit 108, and the binary synthesizing unit 109 which perform various kinds of processing relating to the image.

The control unit 102 includes a mechanical drive unit 105 for controlling the driving of the mechanism of the scanner unit 1, an exposure control unit 103 for controlling the exposure of a lamp when reading a reflected original, and a halogen lamp 90 when a projector is used. The exposure control unit 104 that controls the exposure of the exposure is controlled. The control unit 102 also controls the analog signal processing unit 100 that performs various types of processing related to images and the input image processing unit 101.

The control unit 121 includes a mechanical driving unit 1 22 for mechanical drive control of the printer unit 3, absorbing a recording head of the time variation of the mechanical operation of the printer portion 3 117-12
And a synchronous delay memory 115 that performs delay correction based on the arrangement of 0 mechanisms.

Next, a description will be given along the flow of image data in the image processing block of FIG. The image formed on the CCD 16 by the reflected light from the original is converted into an analog electric signal by the CCD 16, and the converted image information is serialized as red (R) → green (G) → blue (B). And input to the analog signal processing unit 100. The analog signal processing section 100 performs analog-to-digital conversion (A / D conversion) after performing sample and hold, dark level correction, dynamic range control, and the like for each of these red, green, and blue colors. The digital image signal is converted into a serial multivalued digital image signal (8 bits long in each embodiment) and output to the input image processing unit 101. Input image processing unit 10
In step 1, the necessary correction processing in the reading system such as CCD correction and γ correction is performed as a serial multivalued digital image signal.

The multi-value synthesizing unit 106 of the controller unit 2
This is a circuit block for selecting and synthesizing the serial multi-valued digital image signal sent from the scanner unit 1 and the serial multi-valued digital image signal sent from the frame memory 110. The image data selected and synthesized is
Image processing unit 10 as serial multi-valued digital image signal
7 The image processing unit 107 is a circuit that performs smoothing processing, edge enhancement, black extraction, masking processing for color correction of recording ink used in the recording heads 117 to 120, and the like. The serial multi-level digital image signal output is output to a binarization processing unit 108 and a frame memory 110.
Respectively. The binarization processing unit 108 is a circuit for binarizing a serial multi-valued digital image signal, and selects a simple binarization process using a fixed slice level, a pseudo halftone process using an error diffusion method, or the like. Can be. Here, the serial multi-valued digital image signal is converted into a binary parallel image signal of four colors. Binary synthesis section 109
Is sent to the frame memory 110, and image data of three colors is sent to the frame memory 110. The binary synthesizing unit 109 converts the three-color or four-color binary parallel image signal sent from the frame memory 110 and the four-color binary parallel image signal sent from the binarization processing unit 108. Select and combine 4 colors 2
This is a circuit for converting a value parallel image signal.

The control unit 112 of the frame memory control unit 4
Controls the frame memory 110, adjusts the timing of the multi-level synthesizing unit 106 and the binary synthesizing unit 109, and outputs the image data stored in the frame memory 110 to a predetermined synthesizing position. Also, the original image sent from the scanner unit 1 is written into the frame memory 110 as binary from the image processing unit 107 or the output of the binary processing unit 108 as multi-valued. As will be described in detail later, the input image data processing unit 123 determines an area of the image data to be captured according to an instruction from the control unit 112, performs a reduction process, and sends the image data to the frame memory 110. The output image data processing unit 124 also performs enlargement processing, logarithmic conversion, pallet conversion, and the like in accordance with instructions from the control unit 112, as will be described later in detail. Also, the control unit 112
Is, for example, 1E ³ -488, control of the general-purpose parallel interface such as a so-called GPIB interface or SCSI interface are also performed, the remote control by the input and output and the host machine of the image data with the host machine, allow through the interface It has become.

The synchronous delay memory 115 of the printer unit 3
This is a circuit for absorbing the time variation of the mechanical operation of the printer unit 3 and correcting the delay due to the arrangement of the recording heads 117 to 120 in the mechanism.
The timing necessary for driving 0 is also generated. The head driver 116 is an analog drive circuit for driving the recording heads 117 to 120, and
20 can be directly driven. The recording heads 117 to 120 are respectively cyan, magenta,
An image is formed on recording paper by discharging yellow and black inks.

<Description of Operation of Each Part> FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a digital color copying machine to which the present embodiment is applied. The whole can be divided into two parts.

The upper part of FIG. 2 shows a color image scanner unit 1 (the scanner unit 1) for reading a document image and outputting digital color image data, and a digital color image data built in the scanner unit 1. The controller unit 2 performs various image processing and has a processing function such as an interface with an external device. The scanner unit 1 reads a three-dimensional object and a sheet document placed downward under the document holder 11, and also has a built-in mechanism for reading a large-size sheet document. Operation unit 1
Numeral 0 is connected to the controller section 2 for inputting various information as a copying machine. The controller unit 2 instructs the scanner unit 1 and the printer unit 3 on operations 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 the
, It is possible to perform advanced processing such as changing the copy / reproduction color in a predetermined range of the document or deleting the predetermined range of the document so as not to print.

The lower part of FIG. 2 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 is a full-color ink-jet printer using an ink-jet recording head.

The two parts of the above description are separable,
By extending the connection cable, it is also possible to install it in a remote place. FIG. 3 is a cross-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, a document image placed on a platen glass 17 and projected by a projector. An image or a sheet original image by the sheet feeding mechanism 12 is read. Next, various types of image processing are performed by the scanner unit 1 and the controller unit 2 and are recorded on recording paper by the printer unit 3.

In FIG. 3, the recording paper is a sheet cassette 20 for storing cut sheets of a small fixed size (A4 to A3 size in this embodiment) and a large size (A2 to A1 size in this embodiment). Roll paper 2 for recording
9 is fed. In addition, paper can be fed from the outside of the apparatus (manual paper feeding) by feeding recording paper one by one from the manual feed slot 22 in FIG.

The pick-up roller 24 is a roller for feeding recording paper (cut paper) one by one from the paper feed cassette 20. The fed cut paper is fed by the cut paper feed roller 25. The sheet is transported to the first roller 26.
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 slot 22 is fed by the manual feed roller 32 to the first feed paper.
The sheet is transported to the roller 26. Pick Up Roller 2
4, cut paper feed roller 25, roll paper feed roller 3
0, the first paper feed roller 26 and the manual feed roller 32 are driven to rotate by a paper feed motor (not shown) (in this embodiment, a DC servo motor is used), and are turned on at any time by an electromagnetic clutch attached to each roller.・ Off control is available.

When the printing operation is started by an instruction from the controller unit 2, the recording paper that has been selectively fed is conveyed to the first paper feeding roller 26 through one of the above-described paper feeding paths. Here, in order to remove the skew of the recording paper, the first paper feeding roller 26 is turned on after forming a predetermined amount of paper loop, and the recording paper is conveyed to the second paper feeding roller 27.
Between the first paper feed roller 26 and the second paper feed roller 27, a predetermined amount of slack occurs on the recording paper in order to perform an accurate paper feed operation between the paper feed roller 28 and the second paper feed roller 27. To create a buffer. The buffer amount detection sensor 33 is a sensor for detecting the buffer amount. As described above, by always making the buffer during the paper conveyance, the load on the paper feed roller 28 and the second paper supply roller 27 particularly when large-sized recording paper is conveyed can be reduced. Feeding operation becomes possible.

When printing is performed by the recording head 37 (including the cyan head 117, the magenta head 118, the yellow head 119, and the black head 120), the scanning carriage 34 on which the recording head 37 and the like are mounted is rotated by the rotation of the scanning motor 35. Recording is performed by reciprocating scanning on the carriage rail 36. In the forward scan, an image is printed on the recording paper, and in the backward scan, the recording paper is conveyed by a predetermined amount by the paper feed roller. When the recording paper is conveyed, the buffer amount of the recording paper in the conveyance drive system is detected by the buffer amount detection sensor 33,
The rotation amount of the sheet feeding motor is controlled so as to always have a predetermined buffer amount. The recording paper printed in this way is discharged to the paper discharge tray 23 to complete the printing operation.

Next, referring to FIG.
Will be described in detail.

In FIG. 4, a paper feed motor 40 is a drive source for intermittently feeding the recording paper 38, and feeds a second paper via a paper feed roller 28 and a second paper feed roller clutch 43.
The roller 27 is being driven. 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, since a precise paper feed control is required, a stepping motor is used for the paper feed motor 40 and the scanning motor 35.

When the recording paper 38 reaches the second paper feed roller 27, the second paper feed roller clutch 43 and the paper feed motor 4
0 is turned on, and the recording paper 38 is conveyed to the paper feed roller 28 on the platen 39. The recording paper 38 is detected by a paper detection sensor 44 provided on a platen 39, and this sensor information is used for position control, jam control, and the like. When the recording paper 38 reaches the paper feed roller 28 in this manner, the second paper feed roller clutch 43 and the paper feed motor 40 are turned off, and a suction operation is performed from the inside of the platen 39 by a suction motor (not shown) to remove the recording paper 38. It is brought into close contact with the platen 39.

Next, prior to the image recording operation on the recording paper 38, the scanning carriage 34 is moved to the position of the home position sensor 41, and then the carriage 3 is moved in the direction of arrow A.
4 is scanned in the forward direction, and cyan, magenta,
The image is recorded on the recording paper 38 by discharging the yellow and black inks from the recording head 37. When image recording for a predetermined length is completed, the scanning carriage 34 is stopped, and conversely, backward scanning is started in the direction of arrow B. The scanning carriage 34 is returned to the position of the home position sensor 41. At this time, the recording paper 38 is conveyed in the arrow C direction by rotating the paper feed motor 40 and rotating the paper feed roller 28 by the length recorded by the recording head 37 during the backward scanning.

In this embodiment, the recording head 37 has an ink jet nozzle which forms bubbles by heat and ejects ink droplets by its compression force, and 256 nozzles are respectively assembled. Are used.

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. In order to prevent non-uniformity at the start of ejection due to a change in viscosity of ink remaining in the nozzles of the printing head 37, the feeding time, the internal temperature of the apparatus, etc. , According to pre-programmed conditions such as discharge time
This is a process of performing a pressurizing operation on the recording head 37, an idle discharge operation of ink, and the like.

By repeating the operation described above, an image can be recorded on the entire surface of the recording paper 38. <Explanation of Scanner Unit (FIGS. 5 and 6)> Next, the operation of the scanner unit 1 of the copying machine according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a mechanical mechanism inside the scanner section 1. As shown in FIG.

The CCD unit 18 is a unit composed of the CCD 16, the lens 15, etc., and includes a main scanning motor 50 fixed on a rail 54, a pulley 51, and a pulley 5.
2. A main scanning direction drive system composed of a wire 53 moves on the rail 54 to read an image on the document table glass 17 in the main scanning direction. The light shielding plate 55 and the home position sensor 56 are used for position control when the CCD unit 18 is moved to the home position of the main scanning by the correction area 68 in FIG.

The rail 54 is mounted on rails 65 and 69, and has a sub-scanning motor 60 and pulleys 67, 68, and 7.
1, 76, shafts 72, 73, and wires 66, 70 are moved by a drive system in the sub-scanning direction. The light-shielding plate 57 and the home position sensors 58, 59
It is used for position control when the rail 54 is moved to the home position of each sub-scan in the book mode for reading an original such as a book placed on the sheet 7 and in the sheet mode for reading a sheet.

The sheet feed motor 61, sheet feed rollers 74 and 75, pulleys 62 and 64, and wire 63 are mechanisms for feeding a sheet document. This mechanism is a mechanism for feeding a sheet document placed on the document table glass 17 and placed downward by a predetermined amount by sheet feed rollers 74 and 75.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the reading operation in the book mode and the sheet mode.

In the book mode, the CCD unit 18 is moved to the illustrated book mode home position (book mode HP) in the correction area 68 in FIG. The reading operation of the entire surface of the placed original is started. Prior to the scanning of the original, data necessary for processes such as shading correction, black level correction, and color correction are first set in the correction area 68. Thereafter, scanning in the main scanning direction by the CCD unit 18 is started by the main scanning motor 50 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. When the reading operation of the area indicated in this manner is completed, the main scanning motor 50 is rotated in the reverse direction, the sub-scanning motor 60 is driven, and the CCD unit 18 is moved in the sub-scanning direction toward the correction area 68 of the area. Subsequently, as in the main scanning of the area, processing such as shading correction, black level correction, and color correction is performed as necessary, and the area is read.

By repeating the above scanning,
After the reading operation of the entire area of the original document indicated by is performed, and the reading operation of the area is completed, the CCD unit 18 is returned to the book mode home position again. In the present embodiment, the original platen glass 17 must actually perform a larger number of scans so that an original of maximum A2 size can be read. However, in this description, the operation is simplified for easy understanding.

On the other hand, in the sheet mode, the CCD unit 18 is moved to the illustrated sheet mode home position (sheet mode HP), and in the area of FIG. The entire surface of the sheet document is read repeatedly. Prior to the scanning of the document, processing such as shading correction, black level correction, and color correction is performed in the correction area 68. Thereafter, the main scanning motor 50 is rotationally driven to start scanning in the main scanning direction in the direction indicated by the arrow. Thus,
When the reading operation in the forward path of the area is completed, the main scanning motor 50 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the sheet feed motor 61 is driven during the backward scanning to move the sheet document by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction. Subsequently, the same operation is repeated to read the entire surface of the sheet document.

Assuming that the above-described reading operation is an equal-magnification reading operation, the area read by the CCD unit 18 in one scan is a wide area as shown in FIG. This is because the digital color copying machine of the present embodiment has a magnification / reduction function. That is, since the area recordable by the recording head 37 is fixed to 256 bits in the vertical direction in one scan as described above, for example, when a 50% reduction operation is performed, at least a double of 512 bits is performed. Since image information of the area is required, the number of dots read by the CCD unit 18 is larger than the number of dots of the recording head 37. Therefore, the scanner unit 1 has a function of reading and outputting image information of an arbitrary image area by one main scanning reading. <Explanation of Film Projection System (FIG. 7)> The scanner unit 1 of the present embodiment can be equipped with a projection exposure unit for film projection. FIG. 7 is a perspective view when the projector unit 81 serving as the projection exposure unit and the reflection mirror 80 are attached to the scanner unit 1.

The projector unit 81 is a projector for projecting a negative film or a positive film. The film is held by a film holder 82 and mounted on the projector unit 81. projector·
The image projected from the unit 81 is reflected by the reflection mirror 80 and reaches the Fresnel lens 83. The Fresnel lens 83 converts this image into parallel light and forms an image on the platen glass 17. As described above, since the negative film and the positive film image are formed on the platen glass 17 by the projector unit 81, the reflection mirror 80, and the Fresnel lens 83, the original is read by the CCD unit 18 in the same manner as the reflection original reading. Images can be read.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining this film projection system in more detail.

The projector unit 81 comprises a halogen lamp 90, a reflector 89, a condenser lens 91, a film holder 82, and a projection lens 92.
The direct light emitted by the halogen lamp 90 and the reflected light by the reflector 89 are collected by the condenser lens 91 and reach the window of the film holder 82. Film holder 8
No. 2 has a window slightly larger than one frame of a negative film and a positive film so that the film can be mounted inside with a margin.

The projection light that has reached the window of the film holder 82 is transmitted through the film mounted therein to obtain a projection image of the film. The projection image obtained in this way is optically enlarged by a projection lens 92 and turned by a reflection mirror 80.
3 is converted into a parallel light image. Scan this image to scanner 1
The CCD unit 18 inside reads in the book mode described above, converts it into a video signal, and outputs it.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the film and the projected image formed on the platen glass. In this figure, a 22 × 34 mm film image is magnified 8 times,
The state where an image is formed on the platen glass 17 is shown.

Next, the joint processing in the serial scan of the apparatus will be described.

As in the case of this apparatus, a document is transferred to the CCD unit 1
In the case where a serial scan is performed by using the reading unit 8 and printing is performed based on the read image signal, the continuity of the image data is lost at a joint between the scans. Since the read image data is further subjected to a binarization process for printing, streak-like noise appears in the print image. In particular, this phenomenon is remarkable when the error diffusion method is used.

This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 210 corresponds to one serial scan width by the CCD unit 18. As described above, by repeating this serial scan, original images are sequentially read and reproduced and copied.

As shown in FIG. 10, seam portions 211 of each serial scan are read so as to overlap each other, and these seam portions 211 are used to secure data continuity between scans by serial scan. Is provided. In this way, the connecting portion 211
Thus, the continuity of the data in each scan is ensured by overlapping with the connecting portion of the preceding scan area. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 211 has a length of eight pixels in the sub-scanning direction. As a result, in the binarization processing unit 108, a discontinuity point of data occurs at the beginning of the overlap area. However, since this overlapping portion is not printed, the problem of discontinuity of image data does not occur. Become.

When the image read by the CCD 16 is not stored in the frame memory 110 but is to be printed as it is,
That is, when performing a normal copy operation, the overlap processing is required as described above. However, when the read multi-valued image is stored in the frame memory 110, the normal image is stored as shown in FIG. 11 without overlapping, and only when this is printed, the frame is read as shown in FIG. That is, the image data may be read from the memory 110 in an overlapping manner.

This processing is performed by the control units 111, 112 and 1
FIG. 12 shows a flowchart of this process.

First, in step S1, the frame memory 1
It is determined whether or not to store the data in the memory 10 and perform printing. When the data is stored in the memory 110 and printing is performed, the process proceeds to step S2.
The width in the sub-scanning direction from the CCD unit 18 is (256+
8) The pixel data of the dot is input, and the frame memory 10
0 is sequentially input. In step S4, this CCD
The unit 18 is moved by (256 + 8) dots in the sub-scanning direction, and the above-mentioned processing is executed until one page of the document image is read in step S5. As described above, in this embodiment, at the time of writing to the frame memory 110, (256 + 8) pixels are written in the sub-scanning direction by one writing.
The number of data transfers from the CC unit 18 can be reduced and stored in the frame memory 110.

When reading of one page of the document is completed and printing of an image is instructed, the flow advances to step S6 to read out image data having a width of 256 pixels in the sub-scanning direction from the frame memory 110 and binarize it in step S7. Output to the printer unit 3. As described above, this printer unit 3
256 dots can be printed in the sub-scanning direction by one scan. In step S8, it is determined whether or not the image reading process for one page has been completed.
9, the image data is read from the frame memory 110 by overlapping eight pixels in the sub-scanning direction, and the process proceeds to step S
7, the image data is binarized. This allows
Since image data corresponding to each scan by the CCD unit 18 is binarized in a form having continuity, continuity in units of binarized blocks is guaranteed.

On the other hand, in step S1, the frame memory 11
If the value is not stored in 0, the process proceeds to step S10, where the original image is read by the width (256 + 8) pixels in the sub-scanning direction in the same manner as in the related art, binarized in step S11, and output to the printer unit 3. In step S12, the CCD unit 18 is moved in the sub-scanning direction by 256 pixels. In step S13, the original image is read in an overlapping manner by 8 pixels in the sub-scanning direction until one page of the original is read, and is sequentially copied and recorded.

In this embodiment, when the original image is serially scanned by the CCD 16 and the multi-valued image data is stored in the frame memory 110, the reading is not performed in such an overlapping manner, and the reading is performed by one serial scanner (256 times).
+ 8 =) The control is performed such that an image for 266 lines is stored. As a result, the image reading speed can be increased as compared with the ordinary copying speed, and approximately 3.9% speedup can be realized.

In this embodiment, the actual printing width is 256 pixels out of the 266 pixels in the reading width. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any number of pixels can be used. . In this embodiment, the original is read by the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the sub-scanning direction. However, in the present invention, photoelectric elements other than the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the sub-scanning direction, for example, the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the main scanning direction are used. The present invention can also be applied to a case where an original image is read only by using the original.

Although the present embodiment has been described with respect to an application in which the image is stored in the frame memory for storing the image, the present invention can also be applied to a case where the scanned image is directly transferred to a computer or the like without a frame memory as a scanner. Yes, when sending multi-valued image data, the transfer efficiency is increased without performing the overlap processing. Then, only when the image data after the binarization processing is transmitted, the above-described overlap processing may be performed.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when an original image is read by serial scanning, overlap processing is performed during a normal copy operation, and when the read image is stored in the frame memory, the overlap processing is performed. By storing all the images without performing the processing, the speed can be increased.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that efficient image reading can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a digital color copying machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing the external appearance of the digital color copying machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the digital color copying machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a scanning carriage of a printer unit of the digital color copying machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a scanner unit in the digital color copying machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a reading operation in a book mode and a sheet mode in the digital color copying machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which a projector unit and a reflection mirror are attached to a scanner unit in the digital color copying machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows the film projection system in more detail.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship with a projected image formed on a film platen glass;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating overlap reading in the digital color copying machine of the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing reading during storage in a memory.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an image reading process in the digital color copying machine of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner part 2 Controller part 3 Printer part 4 Frame memory control part 10 Operation part 16 CCD 18 CCD sensor unit 37 Recording head 100 Analog signal processing part 101 Input image processing part 102,111,112,121 Control part 103,104 Exposure control Unit 105 Mechanical drive unit 106 Multi-value synthesizing unit 107 Image processing unit 110 Frame memory 114 Digitizer 116 Head driver 117 to 120 Each color recording head 122 Mechanical control unit 123 Input image data processing unit 124 Output image data processing unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/04-1/207

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a sub-scanning direction;
Scan the scanning element in the main scanning direction to scan the original image
The reading element is read out and photoelectrically converted.
Reading means for moving in the scanning direction to read the next strip
And image signals sequentially read in a strip shape by the reading means.
Storage means for storing an image, and recording for recording an image on a recording medium based on the image signal
Output means for outputting an image signal to the means, and the recording means, without using the storage means.
When recording based on an image signal from the reading means,
Storing the image signal from the reading means in the storage means;
Recording based on the image signal read from the storage means.
After reading one strip, the next strip
Movement amount of the reading element in the sub-scanning direction for reading
Moving amount control means for changing the image data , wherein the moving amount control means
Shift in the sub-scanning direction when recording based on an image signal
The movement amount is stored in the reading unit without passing through the storage unit.
Larger than the amount of movement when recording based on these image signals.
Image reading apparatus characterized by Kikusuru. 2. The recording means according to claim 1 , wherein
Record the captured image signal without going through the storage means
When recording on a medium, the movement amount control means
Between the strip-shaped reading area of one and the next strip-shaped reading area
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the moving amount of the reading element is controlled so as to partially overlap .