JPH02104062A - Digital copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a trouble without being attended with costup for an image repeat function by deciding the size of a designated area and varying the method of the sequence control of the copying operation. CONSTITUTION:When the image repeating mode is selected by an operation section and an area desired to be repeated by a digitizer 114 is designated, a control section 111 decides the size of an object area and when the size is larger than a prescribed size, image repeat is applied with the similar operation as the conventional copying operation. When the size is discriminated to be smaller than the prescribed size, the scanner section 1 reads the data by a 1st main scanning in a 1st repeat and a printer section 3 records a picture. Then the scanner section 1 does not read the picture in the 2nd and subsequent repeat processings, a control section 121 records the image of the 1st repeat remaining in a synchronizing memory to control and to record signals PBVE, PVE. When the repeat by one main scanning is finished, the control section 121 carries the recording paper by a prescribed quantity to apply the picture recording by the next main scanning. The operation above is repeated to apply image repeat.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a digital copying apparatus that converts a read image into a digital signal and records the image.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional digital copying devices, like this type of device, convert the read image into a digital signal, perform data processing, and then use a multi-head etc. to form the image. Various intelligent functions have been devised. For example, there is a so-called image repeat function that allows part or all of a read image to be repeatedly recorded a specified number of times or as many times as can be recorded on recording paper.

However, in a serial scan type copying machine that reads and records an image in multiple parts, when performing the above-mentioned image repeat, the part to be repeated is read and recorded each time, so for example, a very small area is repeatedly recorded many times. When printing, the energy of the reflective lamp concentrates in a small area, causing the temperature to rise, burning the document or pressure plate, and even damaging the document table glass.

[Problem that the invention is trying to solve]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, an image memory is required to add the image repeat function, which increases the cost and increases the size of the device.

Another disadvantage is that the image memory is required to have the size of the image to be repeated, and the size of the image that can be repeated is limited depending on the size of the image memory.

[Means for Solving the Problems (and Effects)] Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a synchronous memory for synchronizing the image reading section and the image recording section, a means for specifying an area to be repeated, and a means for specifying the area to be repeated. By providing a control means that determines the size and switches the sequence of copying operations that performs the image repeat function, the above-mentioned problems can be solved and the intelligent functions that are characteristic of digital copiers can be stably and at a low cost. This is what I was trying to accomplish.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on Examples. In the following examples, an image forming apparatus using an inkjet recording method will be described. In such inkjet recording, a head having a multi-nozzle provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink will be described as an example of a multi-head.

(Explanation of external appearance) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a digital color copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

The whole can be divided into two parts.

The upper part of Figure 5 is a color image scanner section l (
The controller section 2 includes a scanner section 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as "scanner section 1"), and a controller section 2 that is built into the scanner section 1 and performs various image processing of digital color image data, as well as has processing functions such as an interface with external devices.

The scanner section 1 reads a three-dimensional object placed downward under the document presser 11, a sheet document, and also has a built-in mechanism for reading a large-sized sheet document.

Further, the operation section IO is connected to the controller section 2, and is used to input various information regarding the copying machine. The controller section 2 instructs the scanner section 11 and printer section 3 regarding operations according to the input information. Further, when it is necessary to perform complicated editing processing, a digitizer or the like is attached in place of the document presser 11, and this is connected to the controller section 2, thereby making it possible to perform sophisticated processing.

The lower part of FIG. 5 is a printer section 3 for recording the color digital image signal output from the controller section 2 on recording paper. In this embodiment, the printer section 3 is a full color ink jet printer using an ink jet recording head described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 54-59936.

The two parts described above can be separated and can be installed at separate locations by not extending the connecting cable.

(Printer section) First, an exposure lamp 14, a lens 15, and an image sensor 16 that can read line images in full color.
(in this embodiment, a CCD) reads an image of the original placed on the lath 17 by the original table and an image of the sheet original by the sheet feeding mechanism 12. Next, various image processing is performed by the scanner section 1.
The controller section 2 performs this, and the printer section 3 records it on recording paper.

In FIG. 5, recording paper is stored in a paper feed cassette 20 that stores cut paper of small standard sizes (A4 to A3 size in this example) and large size (A2 to A1 size in this example). It is supplied from a roll paper 29 for carrying out the process.

In addition, by feeding recording sheets one by one through the manual feed port 22 shown in FIG. 5 along the paper feed section cover 21, it is also possible to feed the recording sheets manually from outside the apparatus.

The pick-up roller 24 is a roller for feeding cut sheets one by one from the paper feed cassette 20, and the fed cut sheets are conveyed to the 10th feed roller 26 by the cut paper feed roller 25. be done.

The roll paper 29 is sent out by a roll paper feed roller 30, cut into a standard length by a cutter 31, and then transferred to the paper feed number 10.
- It is conveyed to La 26.

Similarly, the recording paper inserted through the manual feed slot 22 is conveyed to the paper feed roller 26 by the manual feed roller 32.

Pick up roller 24, cut paper feed roller 25
, the roll paper feed roller 30, the 10th paper feed roller 26, and the manual feed roller 32 are connected to a paper feed motor (not shown in the drawings, D
It is driven by a C servo motor (using a C servo motor), and can be turned on and off at any time by electromagnetic clutches attached to each roller.

When the printing operation is started in accordance with an instruction from the controller section 2, recording paper selectively fed from one of the above-mentioned paper feeding paths is conveyed to the paper feeding path 26. After removing the skew of the recording paper (to save it) and creating a predetermined amount of paper loops, the 10th paper feeder 26 is turned on and the recording paper is conveyed to the 20th paper feeder 27.

When printing with the recording head 37, the recording head 3
A scanning carriage 34 on which a device 7 or the like is attached performs reciprocating scanning on a carriage rail 36 by a scanning motor 35.

Then, in the outward scan, the image is printed on recording paper,
In the backward scan, the paper feed roller 28 performs an operation to feed the recording paper by a predetermined amount.

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

Next, the scanning carriage 3 and the invention will be described in detail using FIG.

In FIG. 6, a paper feed motor 40 is a drive source for intermittently feeding the recording paper, and a paper feed roller 28,
The 20th paper feeder 27 is driven via the 0-ra clutch 43.

The scanning motor 35 moves the scanning carriage 34 to the scanning belt 34.
This is a drive source for scanning in the directions of arrows A and H through the arrows. In this embodiment, since accurate paper feeding control is required, pulse motors are used for the paper feeding motor 40 and the scanning motor 35.

When the recording paper reaches paper feed number 20-27, paper feed number 20
-La clutch 43 and paper feed motor 40 are turned on, and the recording paper is conveyed on the platen 39 to the paper feed roller 2B.

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

When the recording paper reaches the paper feed roller 28, the paper feed number 20-
The clutch 43 and the paper feed motor 40 are turned off, and a suction operation (not shown) is performed from inside the platen 39 to bring the recording paper into close contact with the platen 39.

Prior to the image recording operation on the recording paper, the scanning carriage 34 is moved to the position of the home position φ sensor 41,
Next, forward scanning is performed in the direction of arrow A, and cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks are ejected from the recording head 37 from predetermined positions to record an image. After recording the image for a predetermined length, the scanning carriage 34 is stopped, and conversely, backward scanning is started in the direction of arrow B, and the scanning carriage 34 is returned to the position of the home position sensor 41.

During the backward scan, the paper is fed by the length marked by the recording head 37 in the direction of arrow C by driving the paper feed roller 28 by the paper feed motor 40.

In this embodiment, the recording head 37 is an ink jet nozzle that forms air bubbles using heat and uses the pressure of the bubbles to eject ink droplets. Use this book. :given name.

When the scanning carriage 34 stops at the home position detected by the home position sensor 41, the recording head 37 performs a recovery operation. This is stable.

This is the processing to perform the recording operation, and the recording spatula, ′
In order to prevent unevenness at the start of ejection caused by changes in the viscosity of the ink remaining in the nozzles of the print head 37, the print head 37 is This is a process of applying pressure to the ink, emptying ink, etc.

By repeating the operations described above, an image is recorded on the entire surface of the recording paper.

(Scanner Section) Next, the operation of the scanner section l will be explained using FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the mechanical mechanism inside the scanner section 1.

The CCD unit 18 is a unit composed of a CCD 16, a lens 15, etc., and includes a main scanning motor 50 fixed on a rail 54, a pulley 51, a pulley 52, and a wire 53.
It moves on the rail 54 by a drive system in the main scanning direction consisting of the following, and reads the image on the document platen glass 17 in the main scanning direction. The light shielding plate 55 and the home position sensor 56 are used for position control when moving the CCD unit 18 to the main scanning home position in the correction area 68 in the figure.

The rail 54 rests on rails 65 and 69, and includes a sub-scanning motor 60, pulleys 67, 68, 71, and 76, and a shaft 72.
73, is moved by a drive system in the sub-scanning direction consisting of wires 66 and 70. Light shielding plate 57, home position
Sensors 58 and 59 are used to move the rail 54 to the home φ position for each sub-scan in the book mode for reading a document such as a book placed on the document platen glass 17 and the sheet mode for sheet reading. Used for position control.

Sheet feeding motor 61. Sheet feed rollers 74 and 75,
The pulleys 62 and 64 and the wire 63 are mechanisms for feeding the sheet original. This mechanism is located on the document table glass 17, and transports the sheet document placed face down to the sheet feed roller 7.
This is a mechanism for feeding a predetermined amount at a time of 4.75.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the reading operation in book mode and sheet mode.

In the book mode, the CCD unit 18 is moved to the book mode home position (book mode HP) shown in the correction area 68 in FIG. Start reading the entire surface.

Prior to scanning the original, data settings necessary for processing such as shading correction, black level correction, and color correction are performed in the correction area 68. Thereafter, scanning in the main scanning direction is started by the main scanning motor 50 in the direction of the illustrated arrow. When the reading operation in the area indicated by ■ is completed, the main scanning motor 50
and drive the sub-scanning motor 60,
The correction area 68 of the area is moved in the sub-scanning direction.

Subsequently, similarly to the main scanning of the area (2), processing such as shading correction, black level correction, color correction, etc. is performed as necessary, and the reading operation of the area (2) is performed.

By repeating the above scanning, the entire areas ① to ② are read, and after the reading operation in the area ② is completed, the CCD unit 18 is returned to the book mode home position.

In this embodiment, the document platen glass 17 can read a maximum A2 size document, so in reality it must be scanned more times, but in this explanation, the operation is simplified to make it easier to understand. .

In the sheet mode, the CCD unit 18 is moved to the Sheet 5 mode home position (Sheet mode HP) shown in the figure, and the sheet original is repeatedly read in the area of ■ while the sheet feed motor 61 is operated intermittently. Read the entire manuscript.

Prior to scanning the document, processing such as shading correction, black level correction, and color correction is performed in the correction area 68, and then scanning in the main scanning direction is started by the main scanning motor 50 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. When the forward scanning operation of the area (3) is completed, the main scanning motor 50 is reversed, and during this backward scanning, the sheet feed motor 61 is driven to move the sheet original by a predetermined amount in the sub-scanning direction. Subsequently, the same operation is repeated to read the entire sheet document.

Assuming that the reading operation described above is a reading operation at the same magnification, the area that can be read by the CCD unit 18 is actually a wide area as shown in FIG. this is,
This is because the digital color copying machine of this embodiment has a built-in magnification/reduction function. That is, as explained above, since the area that can be recorded by the recording head 37 is fixed at 256 bits at a time, for example, when performing a 50% reduction operation, the image information of an area of at least double 512 bits is This is because it is necessary. Therefore, the scanner unit l has a built-in function of reading and outputting image information of an arbitrary image area by one main scanning reading.

(Overall Functional Block Description) Next, the functional blocks of the digital color copying machine of this embodiment will be described using FIG. 9.

Control unit 102. 111. A control circuit 121 controls the scanner section 11, controller section 2, and printer section 3, and is composed of a microcomputer, a program ROM, a data memory, a communication circuit, and the like.

The control units 102 to 111 and the control units 111 to 121 are connected by a communication line, and the control units 102. A so-called master-slave control mode is adopted in which the controller 121 performs the operation.

When operating as a color copying machine, the control section 111 operates according to input instructions from the operation section 10 and the digitizer 114.

The digitizer 114 is used to input position information necessary for trimming, masking processing, etc., and is connected as an option when complex editing processing is required.

The control unit 102 controls the mechanical drive unit 105 that controls the drive of the mechanism of the scanner unit 1 described above, and the exposure control unit 103 that controls the exposure of the lamp when reading a reflective original. The control unit 102 also includes an analog signal processing unit 100 that performs various types of processing related to images, and an input image processing unit 10 that performs various types of processing related to images.
1 is also controlled.

The control unit 121 includes a mechanical drive unit 105 that controls the drive of the mechanism of the printer unit 3 described above, and a mechanism that absorbs time variations in the mechanical operation of the printer unit 3 and compensates for delays due to the mechanical arrangement of the recording heads 117 to 120. Synchronous delay memory 11
5 control is performed.

Next, the image processing block in FIG. 9 will be explained along the flow of the image.

The image formed on the CCD 16 is converted into an analog electrical signal by the CCD 16. The converted image information is
The signals are serially processed in the order of red → green → blue and input to the analog signal processing section 100. The analog signal processing section 100 performs sample and hold, dark level correction, dynamic range control, etc. for each color of red, green, and blue, and then performs analog-to-digital conversion (A/D conversion) and serial multi-color signal processing. The digital image signal is converted into a digital image signal with a value (in this embodiment, each color has a length of 8 bits) and is output to the input image processing unit 101.

The input image processing unit 101 similarly performs correction processes necessary in the reading system, such as COD correction and γ correction, on the serial multi-valued digital image signal.

The image processing unit 107 performs smoothing processing, edge enhancement,
This circuit performs black extraction, masking processing for color correction of recording ink used in the recording heads 117 to 120, and the like. The serial multilevel digital image signal output is input to the binarization processing unit 108 and the buffer memory 110, respectively.

The binarization processing unit 108 is a circuit for binarizing a serial multilevel digital image signal, and can select simple binary processing using a fixed slice level, pseudo halftone processing using a dither method, etc. Here, the serial multi-value digital image signal is converted into a four-color binary parallel image signal.

Image data of four colors is sent to the binary synthesis section 109, and image data of three colors is sent to the buffer memory 110.

The synchronization delay memory 115 of the printer section 3
Absorption of time variations in mechanical operation and recording head 117~
This is a circuit for correcting the delay due to the mechanical arrangement of the recording heads 117 to 120, and internally also generates the timing necessary for driving the recording heads 117 to 120.

The head φ driver 116 connects the recording heads 117 to 120.
This is an analog drive circuit for driving the recording heads 117 to 120, and internally generates signals that can directly drive the recording heads 117 to 120.

The recording heads 117 to 120 eject cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink, respectively, to record an image on recording paper.

FIG. 1O is an explanatory diagram of the timing of images between the circuit blocks described in FIG. 9.

Signal BVE is a signal indicating the image effective section for each scan in the main scanning reading operation explained in FIG. Signal B
Full-screen image output is performed by outputting VE multiple times.

The signal VE is a signal indicating the valid section of the image read by the CCD 16 for every l line. Only the signal VE is valid when the signal BVE is valid.

Signal VCK is a clock signal for sending out image data VD. Signal BVE and signal VE also change in synchronization with this signal VCK.

The signal H8 is a signal used when the valid and invalid sections are repeated discontinuously while the signal VE outputs one line.
If the signal VE is continuously valid while outputting one line, it is an unnecessary signal. This is a signal indicating the start of one line of image output.

Next, the present invention will be explained in detail using FIG.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functions of the present invention.

The counter 201 is an address counter that counts write addresses of the synchronous memory 204, and is controlled by signals VCK, BVE, and VE sent from the controller section 2. The counter 202 is an address counter that counts read addresses of the synchronous memory 204, and is a signal PBV generated by the control unit 121 in the printer unit 3.
It is controlled by E, PVE, and a signal VCK output from the controller section 2.

The signal PBVE is a signal indicating the image signal valid period for each scan of the main scanning recording operation of the printer explained in FIG. Image recording of the entire screen is performed by outputting the signal PBVE multiple times.

The signal VE is a signal indicating an image effective section for each line to be recorded by the recording heads 117 to 120.

Signal PVE is output only during the period in which signal PBVE is valid. In addition, the signal PBVE and the signal PVE are also transmitted to the controller section 2.
It changes in synchronization with the signal VCK output from.

The selector 203 is an address selector that selects the addresses of the address counters 201 and 202, and the output of the counter 201 is output during a write cycle (in this embodiment, the period when the signal VCK is H), and during the read cycle (in the period when the signal VCK is L). ) is selected from the output of the counter 202 and given as an address to the synchronous memory 204.

The synchronization memory 204 is a memory for synchronizing the scanner unit l and the printer unit 3, and in this embodiment, the IMbit D
RAM was used. After the image signal VD output from the control section 2 is once written into this synchronous memory 204, the control section 121 outputs predetermined timing signals PBVE, P.
The scanner section 1 and the printer section 3 are synchronized by reading by VE. 'The image signal PVD synchronized by the synchronization memory 204 is input to the selector 205. The selector 205 is an image selector that converts serially sent image signals such as C, M, Y, and Bk into parallel signals, and is mainly composed of a shift register and a selector.

MVD among the image signals CVD, MVD, YVD, and KVD converted into parallel by the selector 205.

YVD and KVD are respectively input to delay memories 206-208. Delay memories 206 to 208 are used for recording head 1
This circuit is for performing delay correction due to the mechanical arrangement of the recording heads 17 to 120, and internally also generates timing signals necessary for driving the recording heads 117 to 120.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 3. .

First, when the image repeat mode is selected by the operation unit lO and the area to be repeated is specified by the digitizer 114, the control unit 111 determines the size of the target area, and if it is larger than the predetermined size, the same as normal copying operation is performed. Performs image repeat with a similar motion. That is, the scanner section 1 reads an image corresponding to 1 main scans a number of times specified by the operation section 10, and at the same time, the printer section 3 records the image. In this case, the printer unit 1 does not feed the recording paper 38 until the designated number of bones have been recorded. When the repetition for one main scan is completed, the recording paper 38 is fed and the image for the next scan is recorded. By repeating the above operations, an image of the specified range can be obtained a specified number of times (FIG. 2).

Next, when the control unit 111 determines that the target area is smaller than a predetermined size, the first repeat is to read data for one main scan with the scanner unit l and simultaneously record an image with the printer unit 3 (see Figure 3). Part A). Next, after the second repeat (portion B in FIG. 3), the scanner unit l does not read the image, and the control unit 121 controls the signals PBVE and PVE for the first repeat image remaining in the synchronous memory. Recording is done by doing this. When the repeat for l main scans is completed, the control unit 121 advances the recording paper 38 by a predetermined amount and records the image for the next main scan. Image repeat is performed by repeating the above operations.

[Other Examples]

Next, a second embodiment will be explained using FIG. 4.

The memory control circuits 211 to 214 are connected to the memories 215 to 21.
7, the write address counter 201, the read address counter 202, in the first embodiment of FIG.
An address selector 203, an image selector 205, and a delay memory control circuit (not shown) are configured in one chip.

Memories 215 to 217 are used for the scanner section l and the printer section 3.
Absorption of variations in mechanical operation timing and recording head 1
This is a synchronous delay memory that simultaneously performs delay correction based on the mechanical arrangement of 17 to 120, and in this embodiment, each l M b
It used DRAM. Memory 215-217
are controlled by memory control circuits 211 to 214, respectively,
They correspond to C, M, Y, and Bk, respectively.

The image signals cVD, MVD, YVD, and KVD of each color output from the synchronous delay memories 211 to 214 are input to the head driver 116 and recorded by the recording heads 117 to 120.

The explanation regarding the memory control of the control section 111 of the controller section 2 and the control section 121 of the printer section 3 is almost the same as that of the first embodiment, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

According to the two embodiments described above, in a device such as this type of device that reads and records images in multiple steps, the image repeat function can be implemented in the device by using a relatively small capacity memory. This makes it possible to prevent troubles such as damage to the equipment and to stably realize it without increasing costs.

Furthermore, since the above embodiments have been described using an inkjet recording method, an apparatus that performs recording using a multi-nozzle provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink is shown as an example of a multi-head. The present invention is not limited to a device having a nozzle for discharging ink, but also a device using other multi-heads, such as a multi-head equipped with a plurality of heating elements for applying heat for recording using a thermal transfer recording method. The same can be applied to devices.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, by determining the size of a designated area and changing the sequence control method of copying operations, for example, the image repeat function can be prevented from trouble and stabilized without increasing costs. There are effects that can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a first embodiment of a synchronous delay memory section. Figures 2 and 3 are 1. A timing chart of the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment of the synchronous delay memory section. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a digital color copying machine to which the present invention is applied. . FIG. 6 is a detailed explanatory diagram of the scanning carriage 3 and the invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the mechanical mechanism inside the scanner section 1. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the reading operation in book mode and sheet mode. FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a digital color copying machine to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of image timing between circuit blocks. 201.202 ・・・・・・・・・Counter 2
03・・・・・・・・・・・・Selector 204
・・・・・・・・・・・・ Song synchronization memory 205...
・・・・・・・・・・・・Selector 206-208・
・・・・・・・・・Delay memory Ill・・・・・・・
・Control unit 121 of the controller unit...
Control unit 116 of the printer unit...Head drivers 117-120...Recording heads 211-214...Memory control Circuits 215 to 217...S... Synchronous delay memory

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A digital copying apparatus comprising an image reading means for converting a read image into a digital signal, and a recording means for recording the image signal from the image reading means, the area specifying means for specifying an image area to be read; A digital copying apparatus comprising: means for determining the size of the area specified by the area specifying means; and control means for switching the sequence of copying operations for reading and recording images based on the determination result by the area size determining means. . (2) The digital copying apparatus according to item 1, wherein the control means determines whether or not to repeatedly copy using a memory depending on the area size.