JPH01163766A - Copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To convert the color of an image inside a line drawing into the same color as that of the line drawing and to output the image by erasing in and outside of an image area on a photosensitive body corresponding to a line drawing area in a specified color in response to the number of multi-transferring times, developing in and outside of the line drawing area in the specified color according to each color. CONSTITUTION:The image of an original 41 is composed of, for example, a black character image 42 corresponding to the letter O and a black character image 43 corresponding to the letter P. The image 42 is enclosed with the red line drawing 44. The original 41 is placed on an original platen glass 44. The first exposure starts to recognize the line drawing 44. According to data on the line drawing 44, an eraser unit 9 erases an electrostatic latent image inside the red line drawing area formed on a photosensitive drum 6. Then a developing system 10 develops, and black toner is transferred and fixed on a transfer sheet conveyed from a paper feeding cassette 12a, so that a first multi-transfer output is obtained. The second exposure starts; the line drawing 44 is recognized to erase an electrostatic latent image outside the red line drawing area on the drum 6. Therefore, a second multi-transfer output 52 composed of red toner is also obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides a copying apparatus that recognizes different color image areas on a document from reflected light exposed to the document and forms images of different colors for each color region. It is related to.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of apparatus, such as an analog copying machine, 1. A model has been commercialized that is equipped with an erase function that erases a latent image by emitting light from, for example, an LED array to an area specified by an erase area specifying means provided in the operation unit, such as a digitizer or numerical input. In addition, in a digital copying machine, such as a laser beam printer, image information read from a reader is temporarily buffered in memory, and when masking processing is specified for area data specified from the operation panel, , executes image processing to convert the image information stored at the address corresponding to the area data into white image information,
There are also models on the market that are configured to easily erase a specified image and make a trimmed copy.

Incidentally, recent image processing apparatuses are configured so that a plurality of development units can be exchangeably housed, and when performing trimming copying as described above, trimming copying can be performed in a desired copy color, There is an increasing demand for obtaining a well-designed or impressive copied image by multiple-transferring trimmed images of different colors onto a single transfer sheet.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in order to perform the color trimming copy described above with an analog copying device, a complicated key is required to specify the inside or outside of the color area to be copied in the original, and then repeat erase and development processing on the image for that area. There are operational problems in that the user is not able to fully utilize the functions, as it requires a lot of practice and waste of paper to obtain the optimum color cutout image.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it separates the reflected light obtained by exposing a document into colors, detects a line drawing area of a specific color, and identifies the inside and outside of the detected line drawing area of a specific color. By selectively erasing based on the color of the developer used, we have developed a copying device that can automatically convert and develop the image drawn within the line drawing area from a single color original in the line drawing color with simple operations and with high accuracy. The purpose is to obtain.

[Means for solving problems]

A copying apparatus according to the present invention includes an area detection means for detecting a line drawing area of a specific color in a document, and multiple transfer of the inside and outside of an image area of a photoreceptor corresponding to the line drawing area of a specific color detected by the area detection means. It is provided with an eraser means for erasing based on the number of times, and a development control means for controlling color-specific development by a plurality of developing units based on the number of times of multiple transfer inside and outside the line image area of a specific color detected by the area detection means. be.

[Effect]

In this invention, the erasing means irradiates a light beam to erase the inside and outside of the image area of the photoreceptor corresponding to the line drawing area of a specific color detected by the area detection means based on the number of times of multiple transfer, and the development control means Color-based development by a plurality of developing units is controlled based on the number of times of multiple transfer inside and outside the line image area of a specific color detected by the area detection means.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a copying apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an original table glass, on which a color original, which will be described later, is placed at a predetermined position. Reference numeral 2 denotes an original irradiation lamp composed of, for example, a halogen lamp, which exposes the original placed on the original table glass 1. Scanning mirrors 38 to 3c are housed in an optical scanning unit (not shown) and guide reflected light from the original to the CCD unit 4 while reciprocating in the main scanning direction. The CCD unit 4 includes an imaging lens 4a.
, an image sensor 4b formed of, for example, a COD, and a non-filter image sensor 4c, etc., each having a switching filter for color-separating the reflected light based on copy color information specified from a switch box, which will be described later. In addition, the image sensor 4
b and the non-filter image sensor 4c constitute an area detecting means according to the present invention, which detects a line drawing area of a specific color in a color document placed on the document table glass 1. For example, a red filter for performing area detection is selectively arranged and set in the image sensor 4b according to an instruction from a switch box, which will be described later. Reference numeral 5 denotes a folding mirror, which folds back the reflected light imaged by the imaging lens 4a onto the photosensitive drum 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes a pre-exposure lamp, which eliminates the charge on the photosensitive drum 6 in preparation for image formation. A charger 8 charges the photosensitive drum 6 uniformly. Reference numeral 9 denotes an eraser unit serving as an eraser means of the present invention, which is composed of, for example, a semiconductor laser or the like, and is configured to erase a line image area of a specific color detected by the image sensor 4b and the filter image sensor 4C in parallel with the original exposure of the optical scanning unit. A laser beam is selectively irradiated onto the image area of the photosensitive drum 6 corresponding to the number of times of multiple transfer to erase the formed electrostatic latent image.

Note that if this erase process is performed in parallel with the original exposure,
A desired area can be erased without performing bliss scanning.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a fixed developing device, which stores, for example, black toner. Reference numeral 11 denotes a replaceable developing unit, which is configured so that the user can easily set it in a predetermined position in the device. 11 is filled. 12a, 1
Reference numeral 2b denotes a paper feed cassette, in which the transfer sheet is fed into the device by driving each paper feed roller 13a, 13b, and is temporarily stopped at the position where the registration roller 14 is disposed, whereupon the transfer sheet is transferred to the image formed on the photosensitive drum 6. The position is timed and re-fed. A transfer charger 15 transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 6 onto a fed transfer sheet. 1
A separation charger 6 separates the transfer sheet after the transfer operation from the photosensitive drum 6. A conveyor belt 17 conveys the transfer sheet after the transfer process to the fixing device 18.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a flapper that controls the conveyance bus of the transfer sheet after the fixing process in either the arrangement direction of the paper discharge tray 20 or the intermediate tray 22.

Feed rollers 21a to 21d feed the transfer sheet, which has undergone the fixing process once, to the intermediate tray 22 after being reversed (multiple)* or non-reversed (double-sided).

23 is a re-feeding roller which feeds the transfer sheet placed on the intermediate tray 22 again through the paper path 24 to the registration rollers 14.
Transport it to the installation position. Reference numeral 25 denotes an exposure shutter that controls to block the image light scanned by the folding mirror 5 in accordance with the image area detected by the image sensor 4b and the no-filter image sensor 4c. The image control and color conversion development processing are totally controlled based on a control program stored in a ROM provided in the control unit C0NT which also serves as development control means of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of main parts for explaining the configuration and control system of the eraser unit 9 shown in FIG.
Components that are the same as those in the figures are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, 31 is a manuscript, for example, the letter P (red)
The image 31a is placed on the document table glass 1 with the image surface facing downward. 32 is an image area processing unit;
Based on the copy color designation specified from the switch box 33 (provided in the operation section, not shown), the image sensor 4b,
The readout of the non-filter image sensor 4c is set, and in this state, the image area information detected from the exposed document 31 is scanned over a predetermined scanning area (from the exposure position scanned by the folding mirror 5 to the laser scanned from the eraser unit 9). The erase information is stored in the driver circuit 34 at the timing when the photosensitive drum 6 rotating at a constant speed reaches the exposure position of the laser beam scanned by the eraser unit 9. memory 3
The erase beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 6 based on the image area information (information calculated from the difference between the read data of the image sensor 4b and the non-filter image sensor 4c) stored in the image sensor 2a, and the erase beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 6. Erase the latent image.

Next, a color image conversion and development operation based on color image recognition erase processing according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the color image conversion and development processing operation according to the present invention. Reference numeral 41 is a color original, which is composed of a black character image 42 for the character "0" and a black character image 43 for the character rpJ, especially the black character image. 42
is surrounded by a red line drawing 44.

51 is the first multiple transfer output, in which only the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 6 for the black character image 43 of the color original 41 is developed by the developing device 10 shown in FIG. This corresponds to a state in which black toner is transferred and fixed onto the transfer paper fed from paper 12a. 51a is a black image output. Note that when the fixing operation is completed, the multiple transfer output 51 is not conveyed in one direction to the paper ejection tray by the operation of the flapper 19, but is conveyed in the direction of the intermediate tray 20 and placed in an inverted state, and is then re-fed. The sheet is conveyed by the paper roller 23 to the position where the registration roller 14 is disposed, and then stopped, the leading edge is aligned with the image, and the sheet is fed again to start the second transfer process.

52 is the second multiple transfer output, and the developing unit 1 shown in FIG.
It shows a state where the red toner stored in 1 is transferred and fixed,
In this state, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 20. 52a is a red image.

Place the color original 41 at a predetermined position on the original platen glass 1 shown in FIG. 1, and copy from the switch box 33.
That is, when the color designation and multiplex mode of the developing unit 11 are inputted, the image area processing section 32
, sets readout of the non-filter image sensor 4c to multiple readout mode.

When the first exposure of the color original 41 is started in this state, the reflected light on the color original 41 is transmitted to the image sensor 4b and the non-filter image sensor 4 as the scanning unit moves in the sub-scanning direction.
c, and the read image data is sent to the image area processing unit 32.
A calculation circuit (not shown) calculates the difference between the image data output from the image sensor 4b and the image data output from the non-filter image sensor 4c.
The line drawing 44 (drawn in red) is recognized, and the area data of this line drawing 44 is sequentially stored in the internal memory 32a.The area data of the line drawing 44 is sequentially stored in the internal memory 32a. Erasing information for irradiating a laser beam onto the corresponding area (inside the line image 44) of the electrostatic latent image (before development) formed on the image is output to the driver circuit 34, and the erase information is output from the eraser unit 9 to the photosensitive drum 6. A laser beam is irradiated onto the electrostatic latent image in the red line drawing area to eliminate the electrostatic latent image inside the red line drawing area.

Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 10, and the black toner is transferred and fixed onto the transfer paper fed from the paper feed cassette 12a, resulting in the first multiple transfer output 5 shown in FIG.
1 is obtained. The first multiple transfer output 51 is then reversely placed on the intermediate tray 22 by the flapper 19, and is conveyed by the drive of the paper refeed roller 23 to the position where the registration roller 14 is disposed and once stopped. At this time, the developing unit 11 approaches the photosensitive drum 6 by a driver (not shown) and stops at a predetermined position to prepare for red color development. At this time, the photosensitive drum 6 of the developing device 1o is moved back to a predetermined position by a driver (not shown).

In this state, the second exposure of the original starts, and as described above, the read image data is guided to the arithmetic circuit (not shown) of the image area processing section 32, and the image data output from the image sensor 4b is The difference with the image data output from the filter image sensor 4c is taken, the line drawing 44 (red line drawing area) of the color original 41 is recognized, and the data of this red line drawing area is sequentially stored in the internal memory 32a.
Based on the data of the red line image area read from the internal memory 32a, erase information for irradiating a laser beam to a corresponding area (outside the line image 44) of the electrostatic latent image (before development) formed on the photosensitive drum 6 is provided. Driver circuit 3
4, the laser beam is irradiated from the eraser unit 9 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 6 outside the red line image area, thereby erasing the electrostatic latent image outside the red line image area.

Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 11, and the red toner is transferred and fixed onto the transfer paper fed from the registration rollers 14, on which the first image transfer has been completed. A second multiple transfer output 52 is obtained.

Next, the multiple color image automatic transfer processing operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the color image multiple automatic transfer processing procedure according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (
6) indicates each step, and the procedure of each step is stored in the ROM provided in the control unit C0NT that controls the copying apparatus.

First, a red separation designation for the color original 41 is manually performed from the switch box 33 (1). Next, wait for the copy key to be pressed (2), and when it is pressed, set the red filter to the image sensor 4b (3), and then press the flapper 19.
is set facing upward, and the conveyance path of the first side finished transfer paper to be conveyed is switched to the direction of the intermediate tray 22 and set. Next, reading scanning of the optical scanning unit is started, and scanning of the color original 41 by the image pickup device 4b and the non-filter image pickup device 4c is started, and within a specified area (surrounded by the line drawing 44) obtained by the image recognition process described later. The developing device 10 shown in FIG.
For example, the black toner is transferred and fixed onto the transfer paper fed from the paper feed cassette 12a, and the first image shown in FIG.
A second multiple transfer output 51 is obtained (4).

Next, whether or not the first multiple transfer output 51 has been conveyed to the intermediate tray 22 is confirmed by a sensor output (not shown), and the process waits for the first side copy to be completed (5). Next, for the first multiple transfer output 51 fed by the paper refeeding roller 23, the area outside the designated area (outside the area surrounded by the line drawing 44) is erased by the eraser unit 9, and the color is When only the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 6 with respect to the line image 44 of the original 41 is developed by the developing unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 and the red toner is transferred and fixed, the second image shown in FIG. A multiple transfer output 52 is obtained.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the image recognition and erase processing procedure according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (
9) shows each step.

Original irradiation lamp 2. The optical system composed of the scanning mirrors 38 to 3c is advanced (1), and original exposure of the color original 41 placed on the original platen glass 1 is started. The image area processing unit 32 waits for the optical system to reach the document exposure start position, that is, the image edge 2), that is, the image edge signal that is output when the image edge sensor (not shown) detects a member of the optical scanning system. When the optical system reaches the image tip, the image pickup device 4b starts detecting the image area in parallel with the exposure scanning of the optical system, and the optical system detects the color of the color original 41, for example, when the image is drawn in red. When reaching the line drawing 44, one line of line drawing area data is created. 3) It is determined whether or not the line drawing 44 area is erased (erase within the designated area) based on the color designation set from the switch box 33 and the number of transfers. 4) If YES, the image area processing unit 32 creates erase data within the line drawing 44 area based on the read data difference from the image sensor 4b and the no-filter image sensor 4c. The data is stored in the internal memory 32a for synchronization (6).

Next, when the laser beam irradiation position of the eraser unit 9 reaches the leading latent image line position (erase line position) corresponding to the line image 44 formed on the photosensitive drum 6, the erase unit 9 is driven, and the laser beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 6. An erase beam is irradiated onto the formed diagonal line area 44, and an erase process is executed to erase the line image 44 area of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 6 (7). Next, the end of the erase area is determined, that is, it is determined whether the erase position is the end of the image (8). If YES, the process ends, and if No, the process returns to step (3).

On the other hand, if the determination in step (4) is No, the image area processing unit 32 converts the erase data for the outer area of the line drawing 44 (outside the line drawing area) into the difference between the read data from the image sensor 4b and the non-filter image sensor 4c. 9) and return to step (6).

Note that the image end is determined by a timer that is driven for a certain period of time after the optical system is reversed.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention provides an area detection means for detecting a line drawing area of a specific color in a document, and an image on a photoreceptor corresponding to the line drawing area of a specific color detected by the area detection means. an eraser for erasing the inside and outside of the area based on the number of times of multiple transfer; and a development control means for controlling color-based development by a plurality of developing units based on the number of times of multiple transfer for the inside and outside of a specific line image area detected by the area detection means. By simply specifying the image color conversion area, such as encircling a specific area in a color document with a line of a specific color, you can convert the image inside the accurately drawn line drawing to the same color as the line drawing color. It has the excellent advantage of being able to output.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of a copying apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of essential parts illustrating the configuration of the eraser unit shown in FIG. 1 and its control system, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram explaining the color image color conversion processing operation according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the color image multiple automatic transfer processing procedure according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an image recognition and erasing process according to the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining a procedure. - In the figure, 4 is a CCD unit, 4b is an image sensor, 4c is a non-filter image sensor, 9 is an erase unit, 32 is an image area processing section, 33 is a switch box, and 34 is a driver circuit. Figure 1 Figure 2 34 Driver circuit Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has multiple developing units that develop electrostatic latent images formed on a photoconductor into multiple colors, and an original placed on a document table is exposed to light, and an image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor by the reflected light. In a copying apparatus that develops each electrostatic latent image in the developing unit and forms multiple transfers of the developed images on a conveyed recording sheet, an area detecting means for detecting a line image area of a specific color in the document; an eraser means for erasing the inside and outside of the image area of the photoreceptor corresponding to the line drawing area of the specific color detected by the area detection means based on the number of times of multiple transfer;
A copying apparatus comprising: development control means for controlling color-specific development by the plurality of development units based on the number of times of multiple transfer inside and outside the line image area of a specific color detected by the area detection means.