JPH02202764A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the quantity of light on the register side from being smaller than a threshold value even at the time of the reduction of the quantity of light accompanied with the secular change by moving an illuminating light source toward a register position as the document set reference position, and allowing to make the use part of the light source asymmetrical. CONSTITUTION:With respect to the light quantity distribution of a fluorescent lamp, an approximately flat characteristic is obtained throughout but the quantity of light is reduced in both and parts as shown in the figure. When the document set reference position (register position) is a corner position P of the lead edge on the rear side and a fluorescent lamp 222 is moved to the register side by 10mm, the quantity of light on the register side is increased by about 20%. Thus, the quantity of light on the register side is increased as shown in the figure with respect to the light quantity distribution in the main scanning direction when the fluorescent lamp 222 is moved to the register side. As the result, the quantity of light is reduced to a threshold value or smaller on the side opposite to the register side but is not reduced to the threshold value on the register side when the quantity of output light is reduced in accordance with the use, and the degradation of S/N is prevented.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image reading device for an image recording device such as a digital copying machine, facsimile machine, or printer, and particularly relates to image quality deterioration due to a decrease in light intensity due to changes in the illumination light source over time. The present invention relates to an image reading device designed to prevent this.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in an image reading device, a long illumination light source such as a fluorescent lamp is used to illuminate the document surface in the main scanning direction, and the reflected light is read by a CCD image sensor arranged along the main scanning direction. Image density is converted into an electrical signal.

A CCD image sensor has a structure in which a large number of finite pixels are arranged, and cannot capture a continuous space.
The object can be captured by spatial sampling, and the object's position can be detected using the sampling accuracy. Furthermore, since the CCD image sensor operates in the photoelectric conversion mode in the charge accumulation mode, the subject is captured in a fixed accumulation time. As shown in Fig. 44, such an image sensor can obtain an output with extremely excellent linearity in response to human power (light amount), but as mentioned above, it operates in charge accumulation mode, so the output saturation characteristic I have
The dynamic range of the output voltage is about 50 dB.

On the other hand, the light intensity distribution in the main scanning direction of a fluorescent lamp, which is an illumination light source, has a characteristic that it is flat in the center and rapidly decreases at both ends, as shown in FIG. Therefore,
Normally, the image sensor reads a range W in which a light amount equal to or greater than FL is obtained by setting PL, which is about 20% lower than the light amount FLo at the center, as a threshold value.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As shown in FIG. 46, fluorescent lamps for illumination tend to have a decreasing amount of output light as the lighting time increases.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 47(a), although the light intensity distribution in the main scanning direction was initially CI, the output light intensity decreases to 02 after long-term use, and as a result, the original reading range W The amount of light may be lower than the threshold value PL at both end portions.

By the way, the image sensor is used so that the S/N becomes 40 to 50 dB by using the part where the amount of human power light is relatively large in the straight line part of the human output characteristic shown in FIG. 44. However, as the amount of light decreases, e.g.
If it is operated in a part like B in Figure 44, of course the S/
N decreases.

Normally, no matter how good the S/N of the sensor is, noise generated due to the actual circuit configuration, external noise, etc.
Even when reading a very uniform original, the output density values vary randomly. If the ratio of such noise is small, it will have almost no effect on the image, but as the S/N decreases and the ratio of random noise increases, certain parts of the output image will appear white. A phenomenon occurs in which so-called graininess deterioration becomes noticeable, such as black spots in certain areas, and the image quality deteriorates. Therefore, the light intensity is the threshold value FL
, the glue in FIG. 47(b) was lowered.

In the shaded area indicated by D2, the S/N ratio decreases and grainy image quality deteriorates. FIG. 47(b) shows the case of copying with a magnification of 100%, but if the D side is the registration position side that is the reference for reduction/enlargement, for example, as shown in FIG. 47(C),
In the case of a 400% enlarged copy, the part with degraded graininess increases four times, and with further enlargement, the part with degraded image quality due to graininess becomes larger, and preventing this deterioration of image quality becomes an extremely important problem. Of course, it is possible to use a fluorescent lamp that is long enough for the document reading range W, but such a measure is usually not possible due to restrictions on the size of the apparatus.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems.

The main purpose of the present invention is to prevent the occurrence of grainy image quality deterioration due to a decrease in the amount of light from an illumination light source due to changes over time due to use.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent image quality deterioration due to graininess without increasing the size of the illumination light source.

Another object of the present invention is to use a simple method to prevent grainy image quality deterioration even when magnification is increased.

[Means and operations for solving the problem] To this end, the image reading device of the present invention sets a predetermined position on the front side or the rear side in the main scanning direction to a document setting reference position P, as shown in FIG.
In an image reading device that reads a document image by scanning an imaging unit having an illumination light source 222 and an image sensor elongated in the main scanning direction in the sub-scanning direction, the illumination light source is set to the image sensor reading area W. It is characterized in that it is relatively deviated toward the reference position for setting the document.

The width from the front side to the rear side of the machine is determined by the overall size of the machine, and as a result, the position and length of the image sensor and the length of the illumination light source are determined, but in the present invention, such conditions are not met. Once this has been determined, the illumination light source is moved to the registration position, which is the document setting reference position, and the distances from both ends of the light source to both ends of the platen are set to d, respectively, as shown in FIG.

(on the cash register side), and when d2, d2 < d, so that the part used for the light source is made asymmetrical, and by taking extra space on the cash register side, the light intensity decreases due to changes over time due to use, without changing the size of the illumination light source. Even if this occurs, it is possible to prevent the light amount from falling below the threshold value on the cash register side, thereby preventing grainy image quality deterioration from occurring.

As a result, when the entire platen is used for A3 copying, grainy image quality deterioration occurs on the side opposite to the register side, but grainy image quality deterioration does not occur for small documents such as A4 and B5, which are usually used frequently. First, since the original is small especially when used at a magnification, grainy image quality deterioration can be prevented from occurring.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples.

Table of Contents In this embodiment, a color copying machine will be described as an example of a recording device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to printers, facsimile machines, and other image recording devices.

First, prior to explaining the examples, a table of contents will be shown.

In the following description, (1) to (II) are sections that outline the overall configuration of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied, and sections that explain the present invention in detail within the configuration. but(
In).

(1-1) Equipment configuration N-2 > System functions and features (I-3) Electrical control system configuration (II) Specific configuration of each part ([-1) System (n-2) Image processing system (IPS) (II-3
＞Image output terminal (IOT) (II-4) User interface (U/I) (II-51 Film image reading device ([[)Image manual terminal (IIT) (III-
1) Imaging unit drive mechanism (II[-2>Stepping motor control method (II[-3) IIT control method (III-4) Imaging unit (III-5) Increased light amount on the cash register side N) Overview of the device ( 1-1) Apparatus Configuration FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a color copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

A color copying machine to which the present invention is applied has a base machine 30 as a basic configuration, a platen glass 31 on which a document is placed, an image manual terminal (IIT) 32, an electrical system control storage section 33, an image output terminal ( IOT)
34, paper tray 35, user interface (U/I
) 36, and optionally an edit pad 61 and an auto doki comment feeder (ADF) 62.
, sorter 63 and film projector (F/P) 6
4.

Electrical hardware is required to control the IiT, IOT, U/I, etc., but these hardware are IIT, IIT, and IIT that perform image processing on the output signals of IIT.
It is divided into multiple boards for each processing unit such as PS, U/I, F/P, etc., and there is also a SYS board that controls them.
and IOT.

It is housed in an electrical control system storage section 33 together with an MCB board (machine control board) for controlling the ADF, sorter, etc.

The IIT 32 consists of an imaging unit 37, a wire 38 for driving the unit, a drive pulley 39, etc. The IIT 32 uses a CCD line sensor and a color filter in the imaging unit 37 to convert color originals into primary colors of light B (
(blue), G (green), and R (red), convert them into digital image signals, and output them to the IPS.

In IPS, the B, G, and R signals of the IIT32 are converted into toner primary colors Y (yellow), C (cyan), and M (magenta).
, K (black), and furthermore, in order to improve the reproducibility of color, gradation, definition, etc., various data processing is performed to convert the process color gradation toner signal into on/off binary toner. It is converted into one signal and output to l0T34.

10T34 has a scanner 40, a sensitive material belt 41,
The laser output unit 40a converts the image signal from the PS into an optical signal, and outputs the image signal to the photosensitive material belt 4 via the polygon mirror 40b1F/θ lens 40c and the reflective mirror 40d.
A latent image corresponding to the original image is formed on the original image. The sensitive material belt 41 is driven by a drive pulley 41a, and a cleaner 41b1, a charger 41c, a developing device 41d for Y, M, C, and a transfer device 41e are arranged around the belt. A transfer device 42 is provided opposite to the transfer device 41e, and a transfer device 42 is provided from the paper tray 35 to the paper conveyance path 35a.
For example, in the case of a four-color full-color copy, the transfer device 42 is rotated four times,
Y, M,,C on the paper.

Transfer in the order of K. The transferred paper is transferred to the transfer device 4
2, passes through a vacuum conveyance device 43, and is fixed by a fixing device 45.
be discharged. Furthermore, sheets are also selectively supplied to the sheet conveying path 35a from a 5SI (single sheet inserter) 35b.

The U/136 allows the user to select a desired function and instruct its execution conditions, and is equipped with a color display 51, a hard control panel 52 next to it, and an infrared touch board 53 to control the screen. Direct instructions can be given using soft buttons. First, options for the base machine 30 will be explained. One is to place an edit pad 61, which is a coordinate manual device, on the platen glass 31, and make it possible to edit various images using an input pen or a memory card. In addition, the existing ADF
62, it is possible to attach a sorter 63.

Furthermore, the feature of this embodiment is that the platen glass 31
A mirror unit (M/U) 65 is placed on top of the mirror unit (M/U) 65, and a film image is projected from the F/P 64 onto this, and the image signal is read by the imaging unit 37 of the IIT 32, thereby making it possible to directly make a color copy from the color film. It makes it possible. The target document can be negative film, positive film, or slide, and is equipped with an autofocus device and an automatic correction filter exchange device.

(1-2) Functions and Features of the System (A) Functions The present invention provides a wide variety of functions that meet the needs of users and fully automates the copying process from start to exit. A major feature of this system is that it can be easily operated by anyone by displaying functions, execution conditions, and other menus on a display such as a CRT.

Its main functions are to control start, stop, all clear, numeric keypad, interactive, and
Information, language switching, etc. are performed, and various functions can be selected by touching soft buttons on the basic screen. In addition, by touching the busway tab corresponding to the pathway in the function selection area, you can select various editing functions such as marker editing, business editing, and creative editing. Copies can be made.

A major feature of this device is its four-color full-color function, in addition to which three colors and black can be selected.

For paper supply, automatic paper selection and paper specification are possible.

The reduction/enlargement can be set in 1% increments within the range of 50 to 400%, and it also has a partial magnification function that independently sets the vertical and horizontal magnifications, and an automatic magnification selection function.

Copy density is automatically adjusted for black and white originals.

Automatic color balance adjustment is performed for color originals.
Color balance allows you to specify the colors you want to reduce on your copy.

The job program can read and write jobs using a memory card, and up to eight jobs can be stored on the memory card. It has a capacity of 32 kilobytes and is programmable for jobs other than film projector mode.

In addition, additional functions include copy output, copy sharpness, copy contrast, copy position, film projector, page programming, and margin functions.

For the copy output, if a sorter is attached as an option and tlncollated is selected, the maximum adjustment function will work to adjust the set number of sheets to within the maximum bin storage value.

Copy sharpness, which emphasizes edges, is available as an option with 7-step manual sharpness adjustment,
Photo), Character (Character), Halftone printing (Print), Mixing of photo and text (Photo).

/Character) is provided. You can also set the default and tool pathways as you like.

Copy contrast can be controlled by the operator in 7 steps, and the default can be set as desired using the tool path.

The copy position is a function for selecting a position on a sheet of paper to place a copy image, and has an optional auto-centering function for placing the center of the copy image on the center of the sheet, and the default is auto-centering.

The film projector is capable of making copies from various types of film, and has a 35mm negative/positive projection, a 35IIIffl negative platen holder, and a 6.
ctm X 5 c+n slide platen device, 4in
X4 inch slide platen placement can be selected. With film projectors, A4 paper is automatically selected unless you specifically select paper, and there is a color balance function in the film projector pop-up. When set to ``Taste'', the color is corrected for a bluish tinge, and unique automatic density control and manual density control are also performed.

Page programming includes a cover function that attaches a front/back cover or front cover to a copy, an insert function that inserts blank or colored paper between copies, a color mode that allows you to set the color mode for each page of the original, and a cover function that attaches a front cover to the copy. You can select the paper tray for each page, and there is a paper selection function that can be set in conjunction with the color mode.

The margin can be set in the range of 0 to 30 mra in steps of one order, and only one side can be specified for the document.

Marker editing is a function that edits the area surrounded by markers, and is intended for documents. Therefore, the original is treated as a black and white original, and when in black mode, the specified area is
The colors are returned to the palette colors on RT, and areas outside the designated area are copied in black. In addition, when in red-black mode, the image is converted to red,
Areas outside the area are red and black copies, and trim, mask, color mesh, and black to color functions are provided. Note that the area specification is performed by drawing a closed loop on the document surface or by specifying the area using the numeric keypad or edit pad. The same applies to area specification in each editing function below.

The designated area is then displayed in a similar shape in the bitmap area on the CRT.

Trim copies only the image within the marked area in black and white,
Images outside the marked area are erased.

The mask erases the image within the marked area and copies only the image outside the marked area in black and white.

With color mesh, a specified color mesh pattern is placed within the marked area, the image is copied in black and white, and the colors of the color mesh are 8 standard colors (predetermined colors),
8 registered colors (1670 colors registered by users)
You can select from a wide variety of colors (up to 8 colors can be registered at the same time), and you can select from 4 mesh patterns.

With black to color, the image in the marked area can be copied in a specified color selected from 8 standard colors and 8 registered colors.

Business editing aims to quickly create high-quality originals mainly for business documents. The manuscript is treated as a full-color manuscript, and all functions require specifying areas or points, and multiple functions can be set for one manuscript. .

When in black/mono color mode, areas other than the specified area are copied in black or mono color, and black images are copied within the area.
The color is converted to the palette color on RT, and in red-black mode, areas outside the specified area are copied in red and black, and areas inside the area are converted to red. In addition to trim, mask, color mesh, and black to color as in the case of marker editing, logotype,
It has the following functions: Line, Paint 1, Collection, and Function Clear.

Logotype is a function that allows you to insert a logo such as a symbol mark at a specified point, and two types of logos can be placed vertically and horizontally. However, only one logo pattern can be set for one document, and the logo pattern is prepared for each customer and supplied from the ROM.

Line is a function that draws perpendicular or horizontal lines to the X-axis using a two-point display.The line color can be selected for each line from 8 standard colors and 8 registered colors, and there is no limit to the number of lines that can be specified. Up to seven colors can be used at one time.

Paint 1 is a function that fills the inside of a closed loop with a color selected from 8 standard colors and 8 registered colors for each loop by specifying one point inside the closed loop.

The mesh can be selected from four patterns for each area, the number of loops that can be specified is unlimited, and the number of color mesh patterns that can be used is up to seven.

The collection function includes area/point change that allows you to check and modify the setting function for each area, area/point collection that allows you to change area size and point position in lam increments, and area/point correction that allows you to delete specified areas. It has a point cancellation mode that allows you to confirm, correct, change, delete, etc. a specified area.

Creative editing includes image composition, copy-on-copy, color composition, partial image shift, multi-page enlargement, paint 1, color mesh, color conversion, negative/positive inversion, repeat, paint 2, density control, color balance, copy contrast. , copy sharpness, color mode, trim, mask, mirror image, margin, line, shift, logotype, split scan, collection,
Function clear, Add l? function is provided, in which the original is treated as a color original, multiple functions can be set for one original, functions can be used together for one area, and the area to be specified can be specified by two points. This is a point based on a rectangle and one point instruction.

Image composition is a function that copies a base original in color in 4 cycles, holds the paper on a transfer device, then copies the trimmed original in 4 cycles and outputs the same.

Copy-on-copy is a function that, after copying the first original in four cycles, holds the paper on the transfer device, and subsequently copies and outputs the second original in four cycles.

The color composition is made by copying the first original in magenta, then holding the paper on the transfer device, then copying the second original in cyan, holding the paper on the transfer device, and then copying the third original. This is a function to overlay the image in yellow and output it after copying. In the case of a 4-color composition, it also overlays it in black and outputs it after copying.

Partial image shift is a function that holds the paper on the transfer device after color copying in 4 cycles, and then copies and outputs the paper overlappingly in 4 cycles.

Among the color modes, in full color mode, copies are made in 4 cycles, in 3-color color mode, copies are made in 3 cycles, except when edit mode is set, and in black mode, except when edit mode is set, ■ Copies in cycles, and in plus 1 color mode copies in 1 to 3 cycles.

Tool Pathways include Auditron, Machine Setup, Default Selection, Color Registration, Film Type Registration, Color Correction, Presets, Film Projector Scan Area Correction, Audio Tone, Timer Set, Pilling Meter, Diagnostic Mode, Maximum Adjustment, and Memory. Card formatting is provided. In order to make settings or changes to this pathway, you must enter your PIN number. Therefore, set /
Only key operators and customer engineers can make changes. However, only the customer engineer can enter the diagnostic mode.

Color registration is used to register colors to register color buttons in a color palette, and is read from a color original using a CCD line sensor.

Color correction is used to fine-tune the colors registered in the register color buttons.

Film type registration is used to register the register film type used in the film projector mode, and if it is not registered, the register button cannot be selected on the film projector mode screen.

Presets include reduction/enlargement values, copy density 7 steps,
Copy sharpness 7 steps, copy contrast 7
Preset steps.

Film projector scan area collection
Adjust the scan area in film projector mode.

Audio tone adjusts the volume used for selected sounds, etc.

The timer setting is for setting a timer that can be released to the key operator.

In addition, there is a function to restart the subsystem if it goes into a crash state, an IJ recovery function, a function to set the subsystem to fault mode if it cannot return to normal even after performing crash recovery twice, and a jam function. There are also functions for abnormal systems, such as a function to make an emergency stop if a problem occurs.

Furthermore, combinations of basic copy and additional functions, basic/additional functions and marker editing, business editing, creative editing, etc. are also possible.

The entire system of the present invention having the above functions has the following features.

(B) Features (a) Achievement of high image quality and full color This device has improved black image quality reproduction, light color reproduction, generation copy quality, OHP image quality, fine line reproduction, film copy image quality reproducibility, and copy maintainability. The aim is to achieve high-quality, full-color images that can clearly reproduce color documents.

(b) Lower costs Reduce the cost of art materials and consumables such as photoreceptors, developing machines, and toner, reduce service costs such as UMR and parts costs, and make it possible to use it as a black and white copying machine. By achieving a black and white copying speed of 30 sheets/A4, which is about three times that of conventional models, we aim to reduce running costs and copy unit prices.

(c) Improving productivity The input/output device is equipped with an ADF and a sorter (optional) to enable processing of multiple documents.The magnification can be selected from 50 to 400%.The maximum document size is A3, and the vapor tray is B5 in the upper row.
~B4, middle 85~B4, lower B5~A3.5SIB5
~A3, and the copy speed is 4 full colors, 4.8 CPM for A4.

4.8CPM for B4, 2.4CPM for A3, black and white, A4
19.2CPM in B4, 19.2CPM in B4.

9.6CPM in A3, warm-up time within 8 minutes, F
COT achieves 28 seconds or less for 4 full colors and 7 seconds or less for black and white, and the continuous copy speed is 7 seconds for full color.
We are aiming for high productivity by achieving 0.5 sheets/A4 and 30 black and white sheets/A4.

(d) Improved operability Hard buttons and CR on the hard control panel
By using soft buttons on the 7-screen soft panel, it is easy for beginners to understand, does not bother experts, allows direct selection of functions, and concentrates operations in one place to improve operability. Colors are used effectively to accurately convey the necessary information to the operator. High-fidelity copying can be performed using only the hard control panel and basic screen operations.
Start, stop, all clear, interrupts, etc. that cannot be specified in the operation flow are performed by operating the hard buttons, and paper selection, reduction/enlargement, copy density, image quality adjustment, color mode, color balance adjustment, etc. are performed by operating the basic screen soft panel. This allows users of single-color copying machines to use it naturally. Furthermore, various editing functions, etc. can be opened by simply touching the pathway tab in the pathway area of the soft panel, and the various m collection functions can be selected. Furthermore, by storing the copy mode, its execution conditions, etc. in advance in the memory card, it is possible to automate certain operations.

(e) Enhanced functionality By touching the pathway tab in the pathway area of the software panel, you can open a pathway and select various editing functions.For example, marker editing uses a tool called marker to edit black and white documents. With business editing, you can quickly create high-quality originals mainly for business documents, and with creative editing, you can quickly create high-quality originals for business documents.Creative editing offers a variety of editing functions, allowing designers to choose from full color, black, and monochrome. −
, copy service providers, key operators, and other specialists. Furthermore, the area specified in the editing function is displayed as a bitmap area, allowing you to confirm the specified area.

In this way, the rich editing functions and color creation can greatly improve your ability to express your writing.

(f) Achievement of power saving Achieving a high-performance copying machine with 4 full colors and 1.5kVA. Therefore, 1.5kV in each operation mode
A control method is determined to achieve A, and power distribution by function is determined to set target values. In addition, an energy system table is created to determine energy transmission routes, and energy system management and verification are performed.

(C) Example of differentiation The copying machine to which the present invention is applied is capable of full-color and black-and-white printing, is easy for beginners to understand, allows experienced users to make copies without bothering them, and is equipped with various functions to make copying easier. Since it is possible not only to take pictures but also to create originals, it can be used by professionals and artists, and in this point, it is possible to differentiate the use of copying machines. An example of its use is shown below.

For example, posters, calendars, which were traditionally printed,
Cards, invitations, New Year's cards with photos, etc. can be produced at a much lower cost than printing if the number of cards is not very large. In addition, by making full use of the editing function, you can create original calendars according to your tastes, for example, and instead of printing uniformly by company, you can create original and diverse prints by section. It becomes possible to create.

In addition, as seen in interiors and electrical products in recent years, colors affect sales volume, and by copying colored designs at the production stage of interiors and clothing items, multiple people can work on the design and colors as well. It is possible to develop new colors that improve consumption. In particular, in the apparel industry, when ordering products from distant production sites, by sending a colored copy of the finished drawing, colors can be specified more accurately than before, improving work efficiency. Can be done.

Furthermore, since this apparatus can be used for both color and black-and-white printing, it is possible to make the required number of copies of a single document in black-and-white or color, as required. Therefore, for example, when learning color studies at a vocational school or university,
Colored designs can be expressed in both black and white and color, and by comparing the two, it is possible to understand the impact of brightness and coloring on visual perception, for example, it can be clearly seen that red has almost the same brightness as gray. You can also learn.

(1-3) Configuration of electrical control system In this section, the hardware architecture, software architecture, and state division of the electrical control system of this copying machine will be explained.

(A>Hardware architecture and software architecture) When a color CRT is used as II as in this copier, the amount of data for color display increases compared to when a monochrome CRT is used, and the display screen size increases. If you try to create a more friendly user interface by changing the structure and screen transitions, the amount of data will increase.

On the other hand, although it is possible to use a CPU with a large memory capacity, the board becomes large, making it difficult to store it in the copier itself, and making it difficult to respond flexibly to changes in specifications. However, there are problems such as high cost and so on.

Therefore, in this copying machine, a technology that can be shared with other models or devices such as a CRT controller is used as a remote to distribute the CPU to cope with the increase in the amount of data.

The electrical hardware is as shown in Figure 3.
It is roughly divided into three types: UI system, SYS system, and MCB system. The UI system includes an Ul remote 70, and the SYS system includes an F/PIJ mote 72 that controls the F/P,
■IT IJ mote 73 that performs document reading and IPS remote 74 that performs various image processing are distributed. I
IT remote 73 is for controlling the imaging unit! IT controller 73a and VI that digitizes the read image signal and sends it to IP S U mote 74
It has a DEO circuit 73b, and together with the IPS remote 74, V
It is controlled by the CPU 74a. SYS (Sy
stem) A remote 71 is provided.

Since the 5YSIJ mote 71 requires a huge memory capacity for programs and the like to control the screen transitions of the UI, an 8086 equipped with a 16-bit microcomputer is used. Note that in addition to 8086, for example, 68000 etc. can also be used.

In addition, in the MCB system, the video signal used to form a latent image on the photosensitive material belt with a laser is ['S! Raster output scan (Raster Output Scan) to take the receiver from J-Mort 74 and send it to TOT.
:RO3) interface, VCB (Video
Control Board) remote 76,
RCB IJ motor 77 for servo of transfer device (turdle), and IOB U motor 7 as I10 port for IOT, ADF, sorter, and accessories.
8, and accessory remotes 79 are distributed and an MCB (Master
Control Board) A remote 75 is provided.

Note that each remote in the figure is composed of one board. Also, the thick solid line in the figure is 187.5kbps
LNET high-speed communication network, thick broken lines indicate 9600bps master/slave type serial communication network,
A thin solid line indicates a hot line which is a control signal transmission path. Also, 76°8 kbps in the figure means that graphic information drawn on the edit pad, copy mode information manually entered from the memory card, and graphic information in the editing area are
This is a dedicated line for notification from the IJ mote 70 to the IP SU mote 74. Furthermore, CCC (C
OWUNICATION CONTROL CHIP) is an IC that supports the protocol of the high-speed communication line LNET.

As mentioned above, the hardware architecture can be roughly divided into three types: UI system, sys system, and MCB system.The division of processing among these systems can be explained as follows with reference to the software architecture in Figure 4. It is. Note that the arrows in the figure indicate data transfer via the 187.5 kbps LNET high-speed communication network and 9600 bps master/slave type serial communication network shown in Fig. 3, or control signals carried out via the hotline. shows the transmission relationship.

The UI remote 70 is
evel UI) module 80, and a module that processes the edit pad and memory card (
(not shown). LLUI module 8
0 is similar to what is normally known as a CRT controller, and is a software module for displaying a screen on a color CRT.What kind of picture is displayed on the screen at any given time is determined by the 5ysut module 81 or 5ysut module 81. MCBU! Controlled by module 86. It is clear that this allows the U■ remote to be used in common with other models or devices. This is because the CRT controller is used integrally with the CRT, although the screen configuration and screen transitions vary depending on the model.

SYS remote 71 is 5ysut module 81,
SYSTEM module 82, and SYS, DIAG
It is composed of three modules: module 83;

The 5YSUI module 81 is a software module that controls screen transitions, and the SYSTEM module 82 is an F/F (Feature Function) that recognizes which screen and which coordinates of the soft panel have been selected, that is, what kind of job has been selected. )
Selection software, job confirmation software that ultimately checks the job to see if there are any inconsistencies in the copy execution conditions, and various information such as F/F selection, job recovery, machine state, etc. between other modules. This is a module that includes software that controls communication for sending and receiving information.

The SYS, DIAC module 83 is a module that operates in a customer simulation mode in which a copy operation is performed in a diagnostic state in which self-diagnosis is performed. Since the customer simulation mode operates in the same way as normal copying, the SYS/DIAG module 83 is essentially the same as the SYSTEM module 82. However, since it is used in a special state called diagnostic, the SYSTEM module 82
These are written separately, but with some overlap.

In addition, the IIT remote 73 includes an IIT remote controller that controls the stepping motor used in the imaging unit.
The IPS remote 74 stores an IPS module 85 that performs various processes related to IPS, and these modules are controlled by the SYSTEM module 82 .

On the other hand, the MCB remote 75 includes an MCBUI module 86, which is software for controlling screen transitions in the event of faults such as diagnostics, audiotron, and jams, controls the photosensitive material belt, controls the developer, and controls the user. Each software module includes a 10T module 90 that performs necessary processing when copying such as control, an ADF module 91 that controls the ADF, a 5ORTER module 92 that controls the sorter, and a Cobia executive module 87 that manages them. and a diagnostic executive module 88 that performs various diagnostics, and an audiotron module 8 that processes charges by accessing the electronic counter using a code number.
9 is stored.

Further, the RCB IJ motor 77 stores a turdle servo module 93 that controls the operation of the transfer device, and the turdle servo module 93 is connected to the IOT module 9 in order to control the transfer process of the xerography cycle.
It is under the control of 0. The reason why the copier executive module 87 and the diagnostic executive module 88 overlap in the figure is the same as the reason why the SYSTEM module 82 and the SYS and DIAC modules 83 overlap.

The division of the above processing will be explained in accordance with the copy operation as follows. The copying operation is a repetition of similar operations except for the difference in the color to be developed, and can be considered divided into several layers as shown in FIG. 5(a).

One color copy is made by repeating the smallest unit called pitch several times. Specifically, for one-color copying, how to operate the developing machine, transfer device, etc., how to detect jams, and how to perform pitch processing in Y, M, Y, M, etc. If you do this for the three colors C, the three-color copies will be Y, M, C, K.
If you do this for the four colors, you will be able to make one full-color copy of the four colors. This is a copy layer, and specifically, it is a layer that performs a process of transferring each color toner onto a sheet of paper, fixing it in a user, and ejecting the sheet from the main body of the copying machine. The processing up to this point is managed by the copier executive module 87 of the MCB system.

Of course, in the process of pitch processing, the IIT module 84 and the IPS module 85 included in the SYS system are also used, but for this purpose, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the IOT module 90 and the IIT Mogicor 84
Two signals, PR-TRUE and LE@REG, are exchanged between them. Specifically, P R (PIT
C) I RESBT) signal is continuously generated from the MCB by dividing the rotation of the photosensitive material belt into two or three. In other words, in order to make effective use of the photosensitive material belt and improve copying speed, the photosensitive material belt is designed to fit the size of the copy paper being used, such as 2 pitches for A3 size copy paper and 3 pitches for A4 size copy paper. Since the pitch is divided according to the pitch, the PR generated for each pitch is
For example, the period of the signal is as long as 3 sec in the case of 2 pitches, and as short as 25 FIC in the case of 3 pitches.

Now, the PR signal generated by the MCB is distributed via a hotline to necessary locations within the IOT, such as the VCB U mote that handles VIDEO signals.

The VCB has a gate circuit inside it, and can be imaged within the IOT, that is, it can selectively IPS only the pitches that can actually expose the image to the photosensitive material belt! Output to J-mote. This signal is the PR-TRUE signal. Note that information for generating the PR-TRUE signal based on the PR signal received from the MCB via the hotline is notified from the MCB via LNET.

On the other hand, during the period when the image cannot actually be exposed on the photosensitive material belt, an empty pitch equivalent to l pitch is created on the photosensitive material belt, and for such an empty pitch, PR- A TRUE signal is not output. P like this
Examples of pitches where R-TRUE is not generated include:
An example of this is the period from when a sheet of paper that has been transferred by the transfer device is discharged until the next sheet of paper is supplied to the transfer device. In other words, for example, if a long sheet of paper such as A3 size is ejected with the final transfer, the image quality will deteriorate due to the shock when the leading edge of the sheet enters the user's population, so if the sheet is longer than a certain length, the final Even after the transfer is completed, the material is not ejected as it is, but is held by a gripper bar (described later) and rotated one more time at a constant speed before being ejected, so the photosensitive material belt has a skip of one pitch. It becomes necessary.

Furthermore, the PR-TRUE signal is not output from the start of copying using the start key until the end of the cycle-up sequence. This is because the document has not yet been read during this period, and therefore no image can be exposed on the photosensitive material belt.

The PR-TRUE signal output from the VCB remote is
It is received by the IP S IJ mote and also transmitted as is to the IIT remote, 1. It is used as a trigger signal to start an IT scan.

This allows IIT remote 73 and IPS remote 7
4 can be synchronized with the IOT to perform pitch processing. Also, at this time, a video signal for modulating the laser light used to form a latent image on the sensitive material belt is exchanged between the IPS remote 74 and the VCB remote 76, and is received by the VCB remote 76. After the video signal is converted from a parallel signal to a serial signal, it is directly applied to the RO3 as a VIDEO modulation signal to the laser output section 40a.

When the above operations are repeated four times, one four-color full-color copy is completed, and one copy and one operation are completed.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5(b) to 5(e), a description will be given of the signal exchange and timing from when the image signal read by the IIT is output to the IOT until it is finally transferred to paper at the transfer point.

As shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 5(c), when a start job command is input from 5YSIJ mote 71, l0T7
At step 8b, a cycle-up sequence including driving the main motor and starting up the high-voltage power supply begins. In order to form a latent image corresponding to the paper length on the photosensitive material belt,
Outputs a PR (pitch reset) signal. For example, each time the photosensitive material belt rotates once, it outputs 3 pitches of PR signals for A4 and 2 pitches for A3. When the cycle up sequence of l0T78b is completed, PR
In synchronization with the double signal, the PR-TRUE signal is sent to the IIT controller 73a corresponding only to the pitch that requires imaging.
is output to.

In addition, l0T78b is l0T- which is output for each rotation of one line of RO3 (raster output scan).
The LS (line sync) signal is
G (timing generator), where l0T-
The IPS-LS, which is apparently advanced in phase by the total pipeline delay of the IPS relative to the LS, is sent to the IIT:I controller 73a.

11T:] When the PR-TRUE signal is input, the controller 73a enables the counter and outputs l0T-LS (
When a predetermined count is reached, the stepping motor 213 that drives the imaging unit 37 starts rotating, and the imaging unit starts scanning the document. Further count and after T2 seconds, output LE@REG at the manuscript reading start position and set this as l0
Send to T78b.

This document reading start position can be determined in advance by driving the imaging unit only once after turning on the power, and then moving the resin sensor 217.
(near the cash register position, specifically about 10 carp on the scan side from the cash register position), calculate the true cash register position based on the detected position, and at the same time calculate the normal stop position ( home position) can also be calculated. In addition, since the registration position differs from machine to machine due to machine variations, etc., by storing the correction value in NVM and making corrections when calculating the true registration position and home position, an accurate document reading start position can be set. can do. This correction value can be changed by the factory or service personnel, etc., and can be implemented by simply rewriting this correction value electrically.
No mechanical adjustment is required. The reason why the position of the register sensor 217 is shifted by about 10+os toward the scanning side from the true registration position is to always make the correction a negative value and to simplify the adjustment and software.

Further, the IIT controller 73a outputs the IMAGE-AREA signal in synchronization with L E@REG. This I
The length of the MAGE-AREA signal is equal to the scan length, which is the length of the SYSTEM module 82.
The IIT module 84 is defined by a start command transmitted to the IIT module 84. Specifically, when copying by detecting the original size, the scan length is the original length, and when copying by specifying the magnification, the scan length is the copy paper length and the magnification (100%). is set as the divisor of 1). The IMAGE-AREA signal is
There, it is renamed IIT-PS (page sync) and sent to the IPS 74 via 74a. IIT-PS
is a signal indicating the time to perform image processing.

When LE@REG is output, one line of data from the line sensor is read in synchronization with the l0T-LS (word), and various correction processes and A/D conversion are performed in the VIDEO circuit (Figure 3). It is sent to IPS74. In IPS74, one line of video data is sent to l0T78b in synchronization with l0T-LS. At this time, l0T-BYTE-C
RTN-BYTE-CLK, which is an inverted signal of LK, is sent back to the IOT in parallel with the video data, and the data and clock are similarly delayed to ensure synchronization.

When LE@REG is manually input to 10T78b, l
Video data is sent to RO3 in synchronization with the 0T-LS signal, and a latent image is formed on the photosensitive material belt. [0T78b is l based on the timing when LE@REG enters.
Counting is started with 0T-CLK, and on the other hand, the servo motor of the transfer device is controlled so that the leading edge of the paper is at the transfer position of a predetermined count number. By the way, Figure 5(d)
As shown in the figure, the PR output by the rotation of the photosensitive material belt
- l0T output by TRUE signal and rotation of RO3
- Originally not synchronized with the LS signal. For this reason, P
When the R-TRUE signal enters and starts counting from the next 10T-LS, moves the imaging unit 37 at count m, and outputs L E@RE G at count n,
LE@REG will be delayed by T1 time with respect to PR-TRUE. This delay is a maximum of one line sync,
In the case of a four-color full-color copy, this delay accumulates and appears as a color shift in the output image.

To do this, first, as shown in FIG. 5(C), when the first LE@REG is input, the counter 1 starts counting, and when the third LE@REG is input, the counter 2 starts counting. .3 starts counting, and when each counter reaches the count number p up to the transfer position, it is cleared.
Thereafter, the counter is used in order for the fourth and subsequent E@REG inputs. Then, as shown in FIG. 5(e), when LE@REG is input, the correction clock counts the time T3 from the pulse immediately before rOT-CLK. The latent image formed on the photosensitive material belt is close to the transfer position, l
When 0T-CLK counts the count number p to the transfer position, the correction clock starts counting at the same time, and the point where the count number r corresponding to the above time T3 is added becomes the accurate transfer position, and this is the point that the transfer device In addition to the control of the counter for controlling the transfer position (timing) of
The servo motor of the transfer device is controlled so that the leading edge of the paper is accurately synchronized with the human power of @REG.

The above is the process up to the copy layer, but on top of that, 1
There is a process of setting the number of copies, which is the number of times a job per copy is performed on a sheet of original, and this process is performed in the per original (PBR0RIGINAL) layer. Further above that, there is a job programming layer that performs processing to change job parameters. Specifically, these are whether to use the ADF or not, and whether to use a magnification function that changes the color of a part of the document. These bar original processing and job programming processing are managed by a SYS module 82 of the SYS system.

For this purpose, the SYSTEM module 82 checks the job contents sent from the LLU module 80, and
Confirm, create the necessary data, and send it to 9600bps.
The job contents are notified to the IIT module 84 and the IPS module 85 through the serial communication network, and to the MCB system through the LNET.

As mentioned above, those that perform independent processing, other models,
Alternatively, we distributed those that perform processing that can be shared with devices as remote units, divided them into UI systems, SYS systems, and MCB systems, and defined modules to manage machines according to the copy processing layer. This makes it possible to clarify the work of people, standardize development technology for software, etc., clarify delivery dates and cost settings, and easily respond to changes in specifications by changing only the relevant modules. Therefore, the development efficiency can be improved.

(B) State division Above, we have discussed the division of processing between the UI system, SYS system, and MCB system.
What kind of processing is performed by the system at each time of a copy operation will be explained step-by-step through the copy operation.

In a copier, the state from power-on to copy operation and after the copy operation is divided into several states, and the jobs to be performed in each state are determined.If all jobs in each state are not completed, the next This is done to ensure efficiency and accuracy of control by not transitioning to the state.

This is called state division, and in this copying machine, state division is performed as shown in FIG.

A characteristic feature of the state division in this copying machine is that in each state, the control right to manage the entire state and the UI master right to use the UI in the state are given to the SYS remote 71 at some times, and at other times. is in the MCB remote 75. In other words, by distributing the CPUs as described above, U
LLUI module 80 of I'J Mort 70 is 5YSU
Not only I module 81 but also MCBUI module 8
Also, pitch and copy processing are managed by the MCB system copier executive module 87, while bar original processing and job programming processing are managed by the SYS module 82.
Because the processing is divided such that it is managed by
Correspondingly, in each state, the SYS module 8
2. The difference lies in which of the copier executive modules 87 has the overall control authority and which has the III master authority. In FIG. 6, states indicated by vertical lines indicate that the MCB-based Cobia executive module 87 has the Ul mastership, and states filled in black indicate that the SYS module 82 has the Ul mastership.

The state division shown in FIG. 6 from power ON to standby will be explained with reference to FIG. 7.

When the power is turned on and the power is turned on, the S
YS remote 71 to IIT remote 73 and IPS
IPS reset signal and I supplied to remote 74
The I T reset signal becomes H (old GH) and the IPS
The remote 74 and IIT remote 73 are reset and start operating.

Further, when it is detected that the power supply voltage has become normal, the power normal signal rises, the MCBIJ mote 75 starts operating, establishes the control right and the U1 master right, and tests the high speed communication network LNET. In addition, the power normal signal is sent to MCB via the hotline.
It is sent from the remote 75 to the SYS remote 71.

When a predetermined time TO has elapsed after the start of the operation of the MCBIJ mote 75, the system reset signal supplied from the MCB remote 75 to the SYS remote 71 through the hotline becomes H, the reset of the SYS remote 71 is released, and the operation starts. However, at this time, the start of operation of the SY';'J mote 71 is further delayed by 200 μsec after the TO time has elapsed due to two signals, 86NM1.86'J set, which are internal signals of the SYS remote 71. This 200μsec time is a non-volatile measure of the state the machine is in when the machine stops or runs out of control due to a crash, that is, a temporary problem caused by a momentary power outage, software runaway, or software bug. It is provided for storing data in a physical memory.

When the SYS U mote 71 starts operating, it performs a core test, ie, checks the ROM, RAM, hardware, etc., for about 3.8 seconds. If undesired data is input at this time, there is a possibility of the system going out of control.
Under its own supervision, the SYS remote 71 sets the PS reset signal and IITIJ set signal to L (Low) at the start of the core test, and resets the PS remote 74 and IIT remote 73 to stop their operations.

SYS remote 71 will be set to 10 when the core test is completed.
The CCC self-test is performed for ~3100msec, and the IPS reset signal and IIT reset signal are set to H.
Then, the operation of the IPS remote 74 right and the IIT remote 73 is restarted, and a core test is performed on each. C.C.
The C self-test is performed by sending predetermined data to the LNET, receiving it by itself, and confirming that the received data is the same as the transmitted data. Note that when performing the CCC self-test, time is allocated to each CCC so that the self-test times do not overlap.

In other words, in LNET, 5YSIJ mote 71,
Since each node such as the MCB remote 75 transmits data when it wants to transmit data, and if a data collision occurs, it retransmits after a predetermined period of time. This is because if another node is using LNET when performing a self-test, a data collision will occur and the self-test cannot be performed. Therefore, SYS! When the JMomo-71 starts the CCCCCC Ruf test, the LNET test of the MCB remote 75 has been completed.

When the CCC self-test is completed, the SYS remote 71
waits until the core test of IPS remote 74 and IIT remote 73 is completed, and then
Perform a communication test of the EM node. This communication test is 9
This is a test of a 600 bps serial communication network, and predetermined data is transmitted and received in a predetermined sequence. When the communication test is completed, an LNET communication test is performed between the SYS remote 71 and the MCBIJ mote 75 during the period T2. That is, the MCB remote 75 requests the self-test result from the SYS remote 71, and
In response to the request, S U Mote 71 will submit the results of the tests it has conducted so far to the MCB as self-test results.
Issue to remote 75.

Upon receiving the self-test result, the MCB remote 75 issues a token pass to the SYS remote 71. The token pass is a tag for exchanging UL master rights,
By passing the token pass to SYS remote) 71,
The Ul master right will be transferred from the MCB remote 75 to the SYS remote 71. This is the power-on sequence. During the power-on sequence, Ul
The remote 70 displays a message such as "Please wait for a while" and also performs various tests such as its own core test and communication test.

In the above power-on sequence, if there is no response to the self-test result request or if there is an abnormality in the self-test result, the MCB remote 75 will mark the machine as dead, activate the UI control authority, and
l The remote controller 70 controls the display to indicate that an abnormality has occurred. This is the machine dead state.

After the power-on state is completed, the system enters the initialization state to set up each remote.

In the initialization state, the SYS remote 71 has overall control rights and IIl master rights. Therefore, the SYS U mote 71 initializes the SYS system and also initializes the r[NITIALIZE 5UBS
YST[! An MJ command is issued to the MCB remote 75 to initialize the MCB system as well. The results are sent from the MCB remote 75 as subsystem status information. As a result, for example, in the IOT, the user is heated, the tray elevator is placed in a predetermined position, and preparations are made for copying. This is the initialization state.

When initialization is completed, each remote enters a standby state. Even in this state, the SYS remote 71 has the Ul master right, so the SYS remote 71 displays the F/F on the U1 screen based on the Ul master right.
F is displayed and a state is entered in which copy execution conditions are accepted.

At this time, the MCB Umote 75 is monitoring the IOT. In addition, in the standby state, the MCB remote 75 performs 50
A background poll is issued to the SYS remote 71 every 0m5ec, and the SYS remote 71 responds with a self-test result to the MCB IJ within 200m5ec.
A process of returning it to the mote 75 is performed. At this time, if the self-test result is not returned or there is an abnormality in the content of the self-test result, the MCB remote 7
5 notifies the tJI remote 70 that an abnormality has occurred and displays a display to that effect.

When the audiotron is used in the standby state, the audiotron state is entered and the MCBIJ mote 75 performs audiotron control and
r Control the remote 70 to display information for the audiotron. F/F is set in the standby state, and when the start key is pressed, the product enters the production state. The production state is subdivided into six states: setup, cycle up, run, skip pitch, normal cycle down, and cycle down shutdown, and these states will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a timing chart when the platen mode is set and the number of 4-color full-color copies is set to 3.

When the SYS remote 71 detects that the start key has been pressed, it transmits the job contents via the serial communication network.
The contents of the job are sent to the IT remote 73 and the IPS remote 74, and the contents of the job are issued to the copier executive module 87 in the MCB remote 75 together with a command "start job" via LNET. This causes the machine to go into setup, where each remote prepares to perform its designated job. For example, the IOT module 90 drives the main motor, adjusts the parameters of the photosensitive material belt, and the like. When mtx indicates that ACK (^Cknowledge), which is a response to the start job, has been sent back from the MCB remote 75, the SYS remote 71 causes the IIT remote 73 to perform a prescan. Prescanning includes prescanning to detect the document size, prescanning to detect the color at a specified position on the document, prescanning for closed loop detection when coloring, and prescanning for marker i collection. There are four types of prescans for reading markers, and prescans are performed up to three times depending on the selected F/F. At this time, a message such as "Please wait for a while" is displayed on Ul.

When the pre-scan is completed, a command IIT ready is issued to the copier executive module 87, and cycle-up is started from here.

Cycle up is a state in which each remote waits for the start-up time, and the MCB remote 75 starts operating the IOT and the transfer device, and the 5YSIJ mote 71 initializes the IPS remote 74. At this time, Ul displays that it is currently in a productionless state and the contents of the selected job.

When the cycle up is completed, the run starts and the copy operation starts, but first the MCB! When the first PRO is issued from the IOT module 90 of l-mote 75, IIT becomes 1.
Perform the first scan, IOT develops the first color,
This completes the process for one pitch. Next, when PRO is issued again, the second color development is performed and the second pitch processing is completed.

This process is repeated four times, and when the four-pitch process is completed, the IOT uses the user to fix the toner and discharges the paper. This completes the first copy process. By repeating the above process three times, three copies can be made.

Pitch layer processing and copy layer processing is performed by MCB
IJ Mort 75 manages it, but the process of setting the number of copies to be performed on the layer above it, the bar original layer, is done by SY.
Performed by S'J Mort 71. Therefore, when the first PRO of each copy is issued, the MC
The B remote 75 is configured to issue a maid count double number to the SYS remote 71. Also, when the last PRO is issued, the MCB remote 75
rRDY FORNXT for YS remote 71
Issue a command called JOBJ to request the next job. At this time, if you issue a start job, you can continue the job, but if the user does not set the next job, the job will end, so the SYS remote 71 will
A command called JOBJ is issued to the MCB remote 75.

When the MCB remote 75 receives the rEND JOBJ command and confirms that the job has ended, the machine enters a normal cycle down. In normal cycle down, the MCB remote 75 stops the operation of the IOT.

During the cycle down, when the MCBIJ mote 75 confirms that all the copied paper has been ejected, it sends a SY command to that effect using the rDELIVERED JOBJ command.
Notify the S remote 71, and also notify the rIOT when the normal cycle down is completed and the machine stops.
SYS remote 71 with 5TAND BYJ command
Let me know. This ends the progress state and returns to the standby state.

Although skip pitch and cycle down shutdown are not mentioned in the above example, in skip pitch, the SYS remote 71 initializes the SYS system for the next job, and the MCB remote 75 initializes the SYS system for the next job. Waiting for. Also,
Cycle-down shutdown is a fault state, so in this state, 5YSIJ
Both mote 71 and MCB remote 75 perform fault processing.

As mentioned above, in the progress state, MCBI
J Mort 75 manages pitch processing and copy processing,
Since the SYS remote 71 manages the per-original processing and the job programming processing, both parties have the right to control the processing according to their share of the processing. On the other hand, U■l master right SYS remote 71
has. This is because Ul includes the set number of copies,
This is because it is necessary to display the selected editing process, which belongs to the per-original process or the job programming process, and is under the control of the SYS remote 71.

When a fault occurs in the production state, the state moves to the fault recovery state. Fault is a general term for machine abnormal conditions such as no paper, jam, failure or damage of parts, etc., and there are those that can be recovered by the user by resetting the F/F, and those that can be recovered by a service person such as replacing parts. There are two types of things that must be recovered. As mentioned above, fault display is basically performed by the MCBUI module 86, but the F/F is
Since the YS module 82 manages the faults, the SYS module 82 is in charge of recovery from faults that can be recovered by resetting the F/F, and the Cobia executive module 87 is in charge of other recoveries.

Further, fault detection is performed for each of the SYS system and the MCB system. In other words, IIT, IPS.

F/P is managed by SYS remote 71, so SYS
Remote 71 detects, 10T, 8 DF, sorter is MC
MCB because it is managed by BIJ Mort 75! J Mort 75 detects. Therefore, it can be seen that there are the following four types of faults in this copying machine.

■If the SYS node is detected and the SYS node recovers.For example, if the start key is pressed before the F/P is prepared, a fault will occur, but the user will be able to restart the F/P.
You can recover by setting .

■When detected by the SYS node and recovered by the MCB node This type of fault includes, for example, failure of the cash register sensor,
Imaging unit speed abnormality, imaging unit overrun, PR04W abnormality, CCC abnormality, serial communication network abnormality, ROM or RAM check error, etc. are included, and in the case of these faults,
The content of the fault and a message such as "Please call a service person" are displayed on Ul.

■If the fault is detected in the MCB node and the SYS node recovers If the sorter is set in the F/F even though the sorter is not set, the fault will be detected in the MCB node, but if the user recovers the F/F You can also recover by resetting F and changing to a mode that does not use the sorter. The same applies to ADP. A fault also occurs when the toner runs low, when the tray is not set, or when the paper runs out. Normally, these faults can be recovered by the user replenishing toner, setting a tray, or replenishing paper, but if one tray runs out of paper, another tray must be used. If the toner of a certain color runs out, it can be recovered by specifying another color. In other words,
Since recovery is also performed by F/F selection, recovery is performed at the SYS node.

0 When detected by the MC8 node and recovered by the MCB node For example, if the developing machine is malfunctioning, toner distribution is abnormal, motor clutch failure, user failure, etc. are detected by the MCB node and the UI is displayed. displays the location of the failure and a message such as ``Please call a service person.'' Furthermore, if a jam occurs, the location of the jam is displayed as well as a method for clearing the jam, leaving the recovery to the user.

As described above, in the fault recovery state, the control rights and the Ul master rights may be held by the SYS node or the MCB node depending on the location where the fault occurs and the recovery method.

When the fault is recovered and an IOT standby command is issued from the MCB node, the job recovery state is entered and the remaining jobs are completed. For example, suppose that the set number of copies is 3 and a jam occurs while copying the second copy. In this case, after the jam is cleared, the remaining two sheets must be copied, so the SYS node and the MCB node perform respective management processes to recover the job. Therefore, even in job recovery, the control right is SY
Both the S node and the MCB node have them according to their respective processing assignments. However, the SYS node has UI master authority. This is because when performing job recovery, for example, "Press the start key",
A message for job recovery such as "Please set the remaining originals" must be displayed because this is a matter related to per-original processing or job programming processing managed by the SYS node.

Note that even if an IOT standby command is issued in the production state, the process will move to the job recovery state.
When it is confirmed that the job is completed, it moves to standby state and waits for the next job. In the standby state, a diagnostic (hereinafter simply referred to as "diag") state can be entered by performing a predetermined key operation.

Diagnosis state includes component input check, output check, various parameter settings, various mode settings, NVM
This is a state for self-diagnosis to initialize (non-volatile memory), etc., and its concept is shown in FIG. As is clear from the figure, two modes are provided for diagnosis: TEC (REP mode) and customer simulation mode.

TECHREP mode is a mode used by service personnel to diagnose the machine, such as manual check and output check.Customer simulation mode is a mode in which the customer simulation mode, which is normally used by the user when copying, is used for diagnosis. .

Now, suppose that the TECHREP mode is entered from the standby state of the customer mode by a predetermined operation via the route shown in the figure. If you want to exit the TECHREP mode by simply performing various checks, setting parameters, and setting the mode, and then return to the customer mode (route B in the figure), press the specified key and the screen shown in Figure 6 will appear. It is possible to move to the power-on state as shown and return to the standby state using the sequence shown in Figure 7. However, since this copier makes color copies and is equipped with various editing functions, various operations can be performed in TECHREP mode. After setting the parameters, it is necessary to actually perform copying and check whether the colors requested by the user appear and whether the editing function functions as specified. This is done in the customer simulation mode, which differs from the customer mode in that pilling is not performed, and II indicates that it is a diagnosis. This is the meaning of the customer simulation mode in which the customer mode is used for diagnosis. In addition, TECHRE
The transition from the P mode to the customer simulation mode (route C in the figure) and the reverse transition from the customer simulation mode to the TECHREP mode (route D in the figure) can be performed by respective predetermined operations. In addition, since the TECHREP mode is performed by the diagnosis executive module 88 (Fig. 4), the MCB node has both control rights and UI master rights, but in the customer simulation mode, the MCB node has control rights and UI master rights.
Since the normal copy operation is performed under the control of the AG module 83 (FIG. 4), the SYS node has both control rights and UI master rights.

(II) Specific configuration of each part (n-1) System FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the system and other remotes.

As mentioned above, the remote 71 is equipped with the 5YSU I module 81 and the SYSTEM module 82.
Data is exchanged between the YSUI 81 and the SYSTEM module 82 via an inter-module interface, and the SYSTEM module 82 and the IIT 73 and IPS 7
4 is connected with a serial communication interface,
MCB75, RO376, RAIB'? Between 9 and 9 is LN.
Connected via the ET high-speed communication network.

Next, the module configuration of the system will be explained.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the module configuration of the system.

In this copying machine, each module such as IIT, IPS, and IOT is considered to be a component, and each module of the system that controls these is considered to have a brain. Then, by adopting a distributed CPU method, the system side is responsible for per-original processing, job programmer processing, and processing, and correspondingly, the initialization state,
Since it has the control right to manage the standby state, set-up state, and cycle state, and the UI master right to use Ul in these states, the system is composed of modules corresponding to these.

The system main 100 takes in the received data from the 5YSUI, MCB, etc. into an internal buffer, clears the data stored in the internal buffer, and
It calls each lower-level module and passes the processing to update the system state.

M/C initialization control module 101
controls the initialization sequence from when the power is turned on until the system enters the standby state, and is activated when the power-on processing for performing various tests after power-on by the MCB is completed.

The M/C setup control module 103 controls the setup sequence from when the start key is pressed until starting the MCB that processes the copy cycle.
EATURE (M/C for achieving user requirements)
Create a job mode based on the instructions for
Determine the setup sequence according to the created job mode.

As shown in Figure 12(a), job mode creation is as follows:
Analyzes the mode specified by F/F and separates jobs. In this case, a job is an M/
It refers to the M/C operation from when C starts, until all requested copies are ejected, until it is stopped, and it is the minimum unit that can divide the work according to the user's request, and is a collection of job modes. For example, in the case of embedding synthesis, as shown in FIG. 12, job modes consist of deletion, movement, and extraction, and a job is a collection of these modes. Further, as shown in FIG. 12(C), in the case of three ADF originals, the job mode is feed processing for original 1, original 2, and original 3, respectively, and the job is a collection of these.

Then, in automatic mode, document scan, in coloring mode, pre-scan, in marker editing mode, pre-scan, in color detection mode, sample scan (pre-scan up to 3 times), and copy cycle. The necessary copy mode is distributed to the IIT and IPS% MCB, and the MCB is activated at the end of the setup sequence.

The M/C standby control module 102
It controls the sequence during C standby, and specifically accepts start keys, controls color registration, and enters diagnostic mode.

The M/C copy cycle control module 104 controls the copy sequence from when the MCB is started until it is stopped, and specifically sends a paper feed count notification, determines the end of a JOB and requests IIT startup, and sends a request to start up the MCB. It determines whether to stop and issues a request to shut down the IPS.

It also has the function of notifying the remote destination of through commands that occur while the M/C is stopped or in operation.

The fault control module 106 is ■IT, I
Monitors the cause of the shutdown from the PS and activates the MCB when the cause occurs.
Specifically, the shutdown is performed by a fail command from IIT and IPS, and the MC
After a shutdown request is issued from B, recovery is determined when the M/C is stopped, and recovery is performed by, for example, a jam command from MCB.

Communication control module 107 is F
It sets the IIT ready signal from IT and enables/disables communication in the image area.

The DIAG control module 108 controls input check mode and output check mode in DJAG mode.

Next, the exchange of data between these modules or with other subsystems will be explained.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing data flows between the system and each remote, and data flows between child modules within the system. In the figure, A-N indicates serial communication, Z indicates hotline, and 2 to 0 indicate inter-module data.

Between the 5YSU l remote and the initialization control unit 101, the 5YSUI transfers control of the CRT to the SYSTEM N0DE.

A KEN command is sent, while a configuration command is sent from the initialize control 1101.

5YSUIIJ mote and standby control section 10
2, the 5YSU I sends a mode change command, start copy command, job cancel command, color registration request command, and tray command, while the standby control unit 102 sends the M/
A C status command, tray status command, toner status command, collected bottle status command, color registration ANS command, and TOKEN command are sent.

5YSU lRemote and setup control section 1
03, the setup control unit 103 sends M/C status commands (progress), AP
An MS status command is sent, while a stop request command and an interwoven command are sent from the 5YSUI remote.

IPS remote and initialization control section 101
An initialize end command is sent from the IPS remote, and the initialize control section 1
An NVM parameter command is sent from 01.

11T remote and initialization control section 101
The IIT ready command is sent from the IITIJ mote, and the NV is sent from the initialization control unit 101.
M parameter command and ■NITIALIZE command are sent.

Between the IPS remote and the standby control unit 102, the IPS remote sends an initialize free hand area, an answer command, a remove area answer command, and a color information command, and the standby control unit 102 sends a color detection point command and an initialize free hand command. Area command and remove area command are sent.

Between the IPS remote and the setup control unit 103, the IPS ready command,
A document information command is sent and the setup control f? B103 Scan information command, basic copy mode command, edit mode command, M/C
A stop command is sent.

Between the 11T remote and the standby control R102, an IIT ready command is sent from the T remote to notify that the prescan has ended, and a sample scan start command and an initialize command are sent from the standby control 9102.

Between the 11T remote and the setup control section 103, the IRT ready command and initialize end command are sent from the IrT remote, and the setup control section 103 sends a document scan start command, sample scan start command,
A copy scan start command is sent.

Between the MCB remote and standby control 9102, an initialize subsystem command and a standby selection command are sent from the standby control unit 102, and a subsystem status command is sent from the MCB remote.

Between the MCB remote and the setup control unit 103, a start job command, an IIT ready command, a stop job command, and a declare system fault command are sent from the setup control unit 103, and an IOT standby command - declare MCB fault is sent from the MCB remote. command is sent.

Between the MCB remote and the cycle control unit 104, a stop job command is sent from the cycle control unit 104, and a MADE command, a ready for next job command, a job deliver command, and an IOT standby command are sent from the MCB remote.

With respect to the MCBIJ mode fault control unit 106, a declare system fault command and a system shutdown completion command are sent from the fault control unit 106, and a declare MCB fault command and a system shutdown command are sent from the MCB remote.

11T! Between the I mote and the communication control unit 107, scan ready signals and image area signals are sent from the IITI J mote.

Next, the interface between each module will be explained.

From system main 100 to each module (101 to 10
7) The reception remote number and reception data are sent to each module, and each module exchanges data with its respective remote. On the other hand, nothing is sent from each module (101 to 107) to the system main 100.

When the initialization process is completed, the initialization control section 101 notifies the fault control section 106 and the standby control section 102 of the system state (standby), respectively.

The communication control unit 107 notifies the initialization control 1toi, the standby control it02, the setup control it03, the copy cycle control unit 104, and the fault control unit 106 of communication availability information.

When the start key is pressed, standby control unit 102 notifies setup control unit 103 of the system state (progress).

When the setup is completed, the setup control section 103 notifies the copy cycle control section 104 of the system state (cycle).

(I [-2) Image processing system (IPS) (A) I
PS Module Configuration FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an overview of the IPS module configuration.

In a color image forming apparatus, a CCD line sensor is used at an IIT (Image Human Power Terminal) to read a color document by separating the light into the primary colors B (blue), G (edge), and R (red), and convert these into the primary colors of toner. It is converted into Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and even K (black or ink), and is exposed and developed with a laser beam at the 10T (image output terminal) to reproduce a color image. . In this case, the copy process (pitch) is performed once by separating Y, M, C, and Y into toner images and using Y as the process color, and similarly, the copy process (pitch) is performed once for each of M, C, and K as the process color. one cycle at a time,
A total of four copy cycles are executed and the images formed by these halftone dots are superimposed to reproduce a full color image. Therefore, when converting color separation signals (B, G, R signals) to toner signals (Y, M, C, signals), it is important to consider how to adjust the color balance and the IrR.
Problems include how to reproduce the color in accordance with the reading characteristics of the T and the output characteristics of the IOT, how to adjust the balance of density and contrast, and how to adjust edge enhancement, blur, and moiré.

IPS uses [rT to B and GSR color separation signals] and performs various data processing to improve color reproducibility, gradation reproducibility, definition reproducibility, etc., and develops color toner. It converts the signal on/off and outputs it to the IOT, and as shown in Figure 14, it performs END conversion (Eq
uivalent Neutral Density
; equivalent neutral density conversion) module 301, color masking module 302, document size detection module 3
03, color conversion module 304, UCR (Unde
r Co1or Removal: Undercolor removal) & black generation module 305, spatial filter 306.7 R
C (Tone Reproduction.

n Control; color tone correction control) module 30
7. Reduction processing module 308, screen generator 309, IOT interface module 310,
(area generation circuit, switcher) area image control module 311 with IJ box, area command memory 312
It consists of an editing control module having a color palette video switch circuit 313, a font buffer 314, and the like.

Then, the 8-bit data (256 gradations) of the B, G, and R color separation signals from IIT are manually inputted to the END conversion module 301, and converted into Y and MSC% toner signals. The signal X is selected, binarized, and outputted from the IOT interface module 310 to the IOT as process color toner signal on/off data. therefore,
In the case of full color (four colors), after prescanning first detects the document size, editing area, and other document information, for example, first a copy cycle is performed in which the process color toner signal X is set to Y, followed by a copy cycle. Each time a copy cycle in which the process color and toner signal X is M is sequentially executed, signal processing corresponding to four document reading scans is performed.

11T uses a CCD sensor to read 1 pixel for each of B and GSR at a size of 16 dots/mm, and converts the data into 24 bits (3 colors x 8 pits);
256 gradations). The CCD sensor has B, G, and R filters attached to the top and can be used for one day)
/ mm with a length of 300 mm and a density of 190
．． 16 lines/at a process speed of 5mm/secC
Since it scans m m, it scans 15 m per second for each color.
Read data is output at a speed of M pixels.

Then, at IIT, the analog data of BSG and R pixels are converted into logs to convert reflectance information to density information, and further converted to digital data. .

Next, each module will be explained.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining each module constituting the IPS.

(a) END Conversion Module The END conversion module 301 is a module for adjusting (converting) the optical reading signal of a color original obtained at IIT into a gray 7×1 lanced color signal. When the toner of a color image is gray, it becomes uniform, and gray becomes the standard. However, the values of the B, G, and H color separation signals manually generated when a gray original is read from the 11T are not equal because the light source and the spectral characteristics of the color separation filters are not ideal. Therefore, Fig. 15(a)
END conversion uses a conversion table (LUT; look-up table) as shown in the figure to balance this. Therefore, the conversion table has the characteristic that when a gray original is read, it is always converted into B, G, and R color separation signals at the same gradation corresponding to the level (black → white) and output. , depends on the characteristics of the IIT. Further, 16 conversion tables are prepared, of which 11 are tables for film projectors containing negative film, and three are tables for normal copying, photography, and generation copying.

(b) Color masking module Color masking module 302 is BSG.

Y, M by performing matrix calculation on the R signal.

It converts into a signal corresponding to the amount of toner C,
The signal after gray balance adjustment by END conversion is processed.

The conversion matrix used for color masking is a 3x3 matrix that calculates Y and MSC purely from B, G, and R, respectively, but BSG.

Of course, it is possible to use various matrices or other matrices to take into account not only R but also BGSGR, RB, B", and G2R2 components. As a conversion matrix, a normal color adjustment It has two sets for intensity signal generation, one for monochrome mode, and one for monochrome mode.

In this way, when processing IIT video signals with IPS, gray balance adjustment is performed first and foremost. If this were to be performed after color masking, the conversion table would become more complex because it would be necessary to perform gray balance adjustment using the gray original in consideration of the characteristics of color masking.

(c) Original Size Detection Module Not only standard size originals but also originals of arbitrary shapes such as cutouts or other shapes may be copied. In this case, it is necessary to detect the document size in order to select a paper of an appropriate size corresponding to the document size. Furthermore, when the copy paper is larger than the original size, erasing the outside of the original can improve the quality of the copy. Therefore, the document size detection module 303 performs document size detection during pre-scanning and platen color erasing (frame erasing) processing during document reading and scanning. For this purpose, the platen color is set to a color that can be easily distinguished from the original, for example black, and the upper and lower limits of platen color identification are set in the threshold register 303 as shown in FIG.
Set to 1.

During pre-scanning, a signal converted (T-converted) into information close to the reflectance of the document (spatial filter 300 to be described later) is used.
) X and threshold register 3031
Comparator 303
2, and the edge detection circuit 3034 detects the edge of the document and determines the coordinate X.

The maximum and minimum values of y are stored in the maximum/minimum sorter 3035.

For example, as shown in Figure 15(d), if the document is tilted or not rectangular, the maximum and minimum values (
XI, X2 % Ml, y2) is detected and stored. Also, when scanning the original, the comparator 3033
In the original YSM, C and threshold register 3031
A platen color erasing circuit 3036 erases the reading signal outside the edge, that is, the platen, and performs frame erasing processing.

(d) Color conversion module The color conversion module 305 is for converting a color specified in a specific area, and as shown in FIG. 15(C), a window comparator 305
2. A threshold register 3051, a color palette 3053, etc. are provided, and when performing color conversion, the upper and lower limits of each Y, M, and C of the converted color are set in the threshold register 3051, and each Y% of the converted color is set.
Set the value of M1C in the color palette 3053.

Then, the Nantes gate 3054 is controlled according to the area signal manually input from the area image control module, and if it is not the color conversion area, the Y, M, and C of the original are sent out as they are from the selector 3055, and when it enters the color conversion area, When the Y%M1C signal of the original falls between the upper and lower limit values of Y, M, and C set in the threshold register 3051, the selector 3055 is switched by the output of the window comparator 3052, and the conversion color set in the color palette 3053 is changed. Sends Y, M, and C.

Specified colors can be specified by pointing directly at the document using the Gacy Type, and selecting colors such as B, B, etc. around the coordinates specified during prescanning.
The designated color is recognized by taking the average of 25 pixels each of G, , and R.

Through this averaging operation, for example, even a 150-line original can be recognized with an accuracy within a color difference of 5. To read B, G, and R concentration data, ■! The designated coordinates are converted into addresses and read out from the T shading correction RAM. When converting the addresses, it is necessary to readjust the registration adjustment amount in the same way as when detecting the document size. In prescan, the 11T operates in sample scan mode. B and G read out from the shading correction RAM.

The R density data is subjected to shading correction by software, averaged, and further subjected to END correction and color masking before being sent to the window comparator 3052.
is set to

Up to 8 colors out of 16.7 million colors can be registered in the color palette 3053 at the same time, and the standard colors are Y, M,
1 of W to C, 01B, R'J6 and these intermediate colors.
Available in 4 colors.

(e) If the UCR & black generation modules Y and MSC are equal in amount, the result will be gray.Theoretically, the same color can be reproduced by replacing equal amounts of YSM and C with black, but in reality When replaced with black, the colors become muddy and the reproducibility of vivid colors deteriorates. Therefore, the UCR & black generation module 305 generates an appropriate amount of K so that such color turbidity does not occur, and performs processing to reduce YSM and C by the same amount (undercolor removal) according to the amount. Specifically, the maximum and minimum values of Y, M, and C are detected, K is generated below the minimum value from a conversion table according to the difference, and a constant undercolor is generated for YSM and C according to the amount. Removal is in progress.

In UCR & black generation, as shown in Figure 15(e), for example, when the color is close to gray, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value becomes small, so the minimum values of Y, M, and C are directly removed and the K However, if the difference between the maximum and minimum values is large, the amount of removal is smaller than the minimum values of Y, M, and C,
By reducing the amount of K produced, ink contamination and deterioration of the saturation of low-brightness, high-chroma colors are prevented.

In FIG. 15(f) showing a specific circuit configuration example, the maximum value/minimum value detection circuit 3051 detects the maximum and minimum values of 7%M and C, and the calculation circuit 3053 calculates the difference. Then, K is generated using a conversion table 3054 and an arithmetic circuit 3055. The conversion table 3054 adjusts the value of K, and when the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value is small, the output value of the conversion table 3054 becomes zero, so the minimum value is directly used as the value of K from the calculation circuit 3055. However, if the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value is large, the output value of the conversion table 3054 is not zero, so the calculation circuit 305
5, the value subtracted by that amount from the minimum value is output as the value of K. Conversion table 3056 corresponds to K, Y, MSC
This is a table for finding values to be removed from Y, M, and C in an arithmetic circuit 3059 through this conversion table 3056. Also, and gate 305
7.3058 gates the signal and the signal after removing the Y, M, and C undercolor according to each signal of the monocolor mode and 4 full color mode, and selector 30
52.3050 is Y, M,
The choice is between C and C. In this way, actually, YSM.

Since the C halftone color is reproduced, the removal of Y, M, and C and the generation ratio of K are set using empirically generated curves, tables, and the like.

(f) Spatial filter module In the device applied to the present invention, as mentioned above, the IIT
Since the document is read while scanning the CCD, if the information is used as is, the information will be blurry.Also, since the document is reproduced by halftone dots, the halftone period of the printed matter and the sampling period of 16 dots) and 7 mm Moiré occurs between the images. Furthermore, moiré occurs between the halftone dot period generated by the user and the halftone dot period of the document. Spatial filter module 306
is equipped with a function to recover such blur and a function to remove a thousand irregularities. A low-pass filter is used to remove halftone dots, and a bypass filter is used to emphasize edges.

In the spatial filter module 306, as shown in FIG.
A selector 3003 extracts one color of the n human signals and converts it into information close to reflectance using a conversion table 3004. This is because it is easier to pick up edges with this information, and for example, Y is selected as one of the colors. In addition, the YSM
%C1M1n and Max-Min to YSM, C, B.

Separates into eight hues: G, R, and W (white). decoder(
11 3005 recognizes the hue according to the binarized information and outputs 1-bit information indicating whether the color is a required color from the process color.

The output shown in FIG. 15(g) is manually input to the circuit shown in FIG. 15 (company). Here, FIFO 3061, 5X7 digital filter 3063, modulation table 3066
Generate halftone removal information using FIFO 3062 and 5.
×7 digital filter 3064, modulation table 3067, delay circuit 3065
Edge enhancement information is generated from output information of 0. Modulation tables 3066 and 3067 are selected depending on the copy mode, such as photo, text only, mixed copy mode, etc.

In edge enhancement, for example, when trying to reproduce a character with an edge like ■ in Figure 15 (i) as ■, YlC is
Emphasis processing is performed as shown in (2), and M is not emphasized as shown in [F] solid line. This switching is performed in Antogame)(h)8. To carry out this process, if you emphasize as indicated by the dotted line (■), the edges will become muddy due to the color mixture of M as shown in (■). The delay circuit 5 synchronizes the FIFO 3062 and the 5×7 digital filter 3064 in order to switch such emphasis for each process color using an AND gate 3068. When characters with bright edges are reproduced using normal processing, magenta is mixed into the green characters, making them muddy. Therefore, when green is recognized as described above, Ylo is output as usual, but M is suppressed and edges are not emphasized.

(g) The TRC conversion module IOT converts Y according to the on/off signal from the IPS.
, M%CSK process colors are used to perform four copy cycles (in the case of 4 full-color copies), making it possible to reproduce full-color originals, but in reality, the colors theoretically determined by signal processing are To reproduce faithfully,
Subtle adjustments are required that take into account the characteristics of IOT. T.R.
The C conversion module 309 is intended to improve such reproducibility, and manually converts 8-bit image data into addresses as shown in FIG. The address translation table for RA
It has editing functions such as density adjustment according to area signals, contrast adjustment, negative/positive inversion, color balance adjustment, character mode, and watermark composition. Bits 0 to 3 of the area signal are used for the upper three bits of this RAM address. Furthermore, the above functions can be used in combination using the out-of-area mode. Furthermore, this RAM
For example, it consists of 2 bytes (256 bytes x 8 sides) and has 8 conversion tables, and up to 8 sides are stored during the IIT carriage return for each cycle of Y1M%C, and are used for area specification and copying. Selected according to the mode. Of course, if the RAM capacity is increased, it is not necessary to load every cycle.

(h) Reduction/enlargement processing module The reduction/enlargement processing module 308 uses the line buffer 3083
In the process of temporarily holding and transmitting data
1 for sampling pitch signal and line buffer 3083
Generate read/write addresses for. The line buffer 3083 is configured as a ping-pong buffer consisting of two lines, so that it is possible to read one line and write the next line data to the other at the same time. In the reduction/enlargement processing, the reduction/enlargement processing module 308 performs digital processing in the main scanning direction, but the scanning speed of the IIT is changed in the sub-scanning direction. The scan speed can be increased from 50% to 4 by changing from 2x speed to 174x speed.
Can be scaled up to 00%. In digital processing, when data is read/written to the line bats 13083, it can be reduced by thinning and complementing, and it can be expanded by adding and complementing. If the complementary data is in the middle, the same rl! As shown in J(1), the weighting according to the distance to the data on both sides is processed and generated. For example, data
In the case of i′, the data X l , X l+1 on both sides and the distance d between these data and the sampling point
+, from dz, (X+ xd,)+ (X+4+ Xd
+) However, it is obtained by calculating d l + d 2 = 1.

In the case of reduction processing, data is complemented and written to the line buffer 3083, and at the same time, the reduced data of the previous line is read out from the buffer and sent. In the case of enlarging processing, the data is written as-is, and at the same time the data of the previous line is read out, supplemented and enlarged, and then sent out.

If complementary enlargement is performed at the time of writing, the clock at the time of writing must be increased according to the enlargement ratio, but if it is done as described above, writing/reading can be performed with the same clock.

In addition, using this configuration, it is possible to perform shift image processing in the main scanning direction by reading from the middle or by reading with delayed timing, and by repeatedly reading, it is possible to perform repeated processing by reading from the opposite direction. It is also possible to perform mirror image processing.

(2) Screen generator The screen generator 309 converts the process color gradation toner signal into an on/off binary toner signal and outputs it, and compares the threshold matrix with the gradation-expressed data value. Binarization processing and error diffusion processing are performed. In IOT, this binarized toner signal is human-powered, and it is approximately vertically 8 to correspond to 16 dots) / mm.
A half-tone image is reproduced by turning on and off an elliptical laser beam with a diameter of 0 μm and a width of 60 μm.

First, the method of expressing gradation will be explained. Figure 15 (n
), for example, a case where a 4×4 halftone cell S is configured will be explained. First, in the screen generator, a threshold value m) is set corresponding to such a halftone cell S, and this is compared with a data value expressed in gradation. In this comparison process,
For example, if the data value is "5", a signal is generated to turn on the laser beam at a portion of the threshold matrix m that is equal to or less than "5".

A 4×4 halftone cell with 16 dots/mm is generally referred to as 100 spi and 16 tone dots, but this results in a coarse image and poor color image reproducibility. Therefore, in the present invention, as a method of increasing the gradation, these 16 dots) 7 mm pixels are divided into four vertically (main scanning direction), and the on/off frequency of the laser beam for each pixel is adjusted as shown in the figure (0).
As shown in FIG. 2, a 4 times higher gradation is achieved by increasing the gradation by 1/4, that is, 4 times. Therefore, in response to this, a threshold value matrix m' as shown in FIG. 3(0) is set. Furthermore, it is also effective to employ a submatrix method to increase the number of lines.

The above example uses the same threshold matrix (IJxm) with the only growth nucleus near the center of each halftone cell, but the submatrix method is constructed from a set of multiple unit matrices, ), the growth nucleus of the matrix is
It is intended to be placed in several or more locations. If this type of screen pattern design method is adopted, for example, bright areas will have 141 spi and 64 gradations, and as it gets darker, 200 spi and 12828 gradations will be used, so that the number of lines and gradations can be freely adjusted according to dark and bright areas. can be changed. Such a pattern can be designed by visually determining the smoothness, fineness, graininess, etc. of gradations.

When a halftone image is reproduced using a dot matrix (IJ) as described above, the number of gradations and the resolution have a contradictory relationship. In other words, there is a relationship in which increasing the number of gradations causes a decrease in resolution, and increasing the resolution causes a decrease in the number of gradations. Furthermore, if the matrix of threshold data is made smaller, a quantization error will occur in the image that is actually output. The error diffusion process is
As shown in the same figure (q), the screen generator 309
The density conversion circuit 3093 and the subtraction circuit 3 convert the quantization error between the on/off binary signal generated in step 2 and the human tone signal.
094, correction circuit 3095, addition circuit 30
91 to improve the reproducibility of gradation from a macro perspective. For example, error diffusion processing is performed by convolving the corresponding position of the previous line and the pixels on both sides of it through a digital filter. ing.

As mentioned above, the screen generator switches threshold data and error diffusion processing feedback coefficients for each document or area depending on the type of image, such as a halftone image or character image, to improve the reproducibility of high-gradation, high-definition images. .

(J) Area image control module The area image control module 311 has a configuration in which seven rectangular areas and their priorities can be set in the area generation circuit, and a switch machine is controlled for each area. Information is set.

The control information includes color conversion, color mode such as monochrome or full color, modulation selection information for photos and text, TRC selection information, screen generator selection information, etc., including a color masking module 302 and a color conversion module 304. , U.C.
It is used to control the R module 305, spatial filter 306, and TRC module 307. Note that the switch matrix can be set by software.

(Le) Editing control module The editing control module reads a manuscript that is not a rectangle but a pie chart, for example, and enables coloring processing in which a specified area of any shape is filled in with a specified color. As shown in (e), the AGDC (
Advanced Graphic Digital
Controller) 3121, font buffer 3126, logo ROM 128, DMAC (DMA
Controller> 3129 is connected.

Then, the encoded 4-bit area command is written from the CPU to the brain memory 3122 through the AGDC 3121, and the font is written to the font buffer 3126. Brain Memo U 3122 is
It consists of 4 sheets, and for example, in the case of "0000", the command is 0 and the original manuscript is output.
Each point on the document can be set using 4 bits, brane 0 to brane 3.

The decoder 3123 decodes this 4-bit information into commands 0 to 15, and the switch matrix sets commands to perform fill pattern, fill logic, or logo processing for commands 0 to 15. It is 3124. The font address controller 3125 generates addresses for the font buffer 3126 in response to patterns such as halftone shade and hatching shade based on a 2-bit fill pattern signal.

The switch circuit 3127 is a switch matrix 3124
Based on the fill logic signal and the contents of the document data X, the document data x1 font buffer 3126, color palette, etc. are selected. The fill logic is information for filling only the background (the background part of the document) with a color mesh, color converting a specific part, masking, trimming, filling, etc.

In the IPS of the present invention, as described above, the IIT original reading signal is first subjected to END conversion and then color masking, and processes such as original size, border erasure, and color conversion, which are more efficient when processing with full color data, are performed. After removing the undercolor and generating ink, I focused on process colors.

However, processing such as spatial filters, color modulation, TRC, and scaling can reduce the amount of processing by processing process color data, and reduce the number of conversion tables used by 1/2 compared to processing full color data. 3, and the number of types is correspondingly increased to improve the flexibility of adjustment, reproducibility of color, reproducibility of gradation, and reproducibility of definition.

(B) Hardware configuration of image processing system No. 16
The figure is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an IPS.

This invention (7) ['Stet;! , two substrates (rPs-A
11PS-B), color reproducibility, gradation reproducibility,
The first substrate (■PS-A
), parts for achieving applied and specialized functions such as editing are mounted on the second board (IPS-B). The former configuration is shown in FIGS. 16(a) to 16(C), and the latter configuration is shown in FIG. In particular, if the basic functions can be sufficiently achieved with the first board, applications and specialized functions can be flexibly handled simply by changing the design of the second board. Therefore, if it is desired to further enhance the functionality of the color image forming apparatus, this can be achieved simply by changing the design of the other substrate.

The IPS board has cPU buses (address bus ADR5BUS, data bus DATAB) as shown in Figure 16.
US, control bus CTRLBus) is connected,
IIT video data B1G, R, video clock IIT/VCLK as synchronization signal, line synchronization (main scanning direction, horizontal synchronization) decoding IIT-LS, page synchronization (sub-scanning direction, vertical synchronization) signal I IT-PS are connected. be done.

Since video data is subjected to pipeline processing after the END converter, processing is required at each processing stage, resulting in a data delay in units of locks. Therefore,
The line synchronization generation and fail check circuit 328 generates and distributes horizontal synchronization signals in response to delays in each process, and performs a fail check on the video clock and line synchronization signals. Therefore, the video clock IIT・VCLK and the line synchronization signal 11T・LS are connected to the line synchronization generation & fail check circuit 328, and the CPU bus (ADR3BUS, DATABUS%CTRL, B
US) and chip select signal C8 are connected.

Video data B, G, and R of IIT are sent to the RO of the END converter.
Man-powered by M321. The END conversion table may be configured to be loaded from the CPU as appropriate using RAM, for example, but there is almost no need to rewrite it while the device is in use and image data is being processed.
Two byte ROMs are used for each of H, and R
It uses an LUT (look-up table) method using OM. It also has a 16-page conversion table,
It is switched by a 4-bit selection signal ENDSel.

The output of ROM321 after END conversion is 3 for each color.
Three calculations LS1322 with two sides of ×1 matrix
connected to a color masking section consisting of Arithmetic LSI
Each bus of the CPU is connected to 322, and the coefficients of the IJ bus can be set from the CPU. A setup (word SU) and chip select signal C8 are connected to switch from image signal processing to the CPU bus for rewriting by CPLI, etc., and a 1-bit switching signal MONO is connected to switch matrix selection.

In addition, a power-down signal PD is manually input to stop the internal video clock when the IIT is not scanning, that is, when not performing image processing.

YSM from B, G, and R using the calculation LSI 322.

The signal converted to C is transferred to the second substrate (
After the color conversion process is performed through the color conversion LSI 353 of IPS-B), it is manually input to the DOD LSI 323.

The color conversion LSI 353 has four color conversion circuits consisting of a threshold register for setting non-conversion colors, a color palette for setting conversion colors, comparators, etc.
The DOD LSI 323 includes a document edge detection circuit, a frame erasing circuit, and the like.

The output of the DOD LSI323 that has undergone frame erasing is UCR.
The data is sent to LS■324. This LSI includes a UCR circuit, a black generation circuit, and a necessary color generation circuit, and includes a process color X corresponding to the toner color in the copy cycle.
, necessary color Hue, and edge signals are output.

Therefore, this LSI has a 2-bit process color designation signal C0LR, a color mode signal (4COLR,
MONO) is also human-powered.

The line memory 325 stores the process color X1 and the necessary color Hue output from the OCR LSI 324.

A FIFO that stores data for 4 lines in order to input each edge signal to the 5x7 digital filter 326, and a FIFO that matches the delay.
Consists of O. Here, process color X and edge E d
For ge, 4 lines are accumulated and a total of 5 lines are sent to the digital filter 326, and for the necessary color Hue, it is delayed by FIFO and sent to the digital filter 326.
The signal is synchronized with the output of the MIX LSI 327 and sent to the MIX LSI 327.

The digital filter 326 is a 2X7 filter LS
There are two sets of 5X7 filters consisting of three I (low pass LP and bypass HP), one for processing the process color X, and the other for the edge
We are processing about.

The MIX LSI 327 performs halftone removal and edge emphasis processing on these outputs using a conversion table, and mixes them into process color X. Here, EDGE and SHARP 5 are used as signals for switching the conversion table.
harp is input.

The TRC 342 consists of a 2 byte RAM holding eight conversion tables. The conversion table is configured to be rewritten using the carriage return period before each scan, and is switched by a 3-bit switching signal TRCSel. Then, the processing output from here is sent from the transceiver to the L
Sent to SI345. The reduction/enlargement processing section has 8 bytes of R.
Two AM344s are used to configure a Bing Bong buffer (line buffer), and an LSI 343 generates a resampling pitch and a line buffer address.

The output of the reduction/enlargement processing section returns to the EDF LSI 346 through the area memory section of the second board shown in FIG. 3(d). E
The DF LSI 346 is a DF that holds information on the previous line.
It has an IFO and performs error diffusion processing using information from the previous line. The signal X after the error diffusion process is transmitted to the SG LSI 34 constituting the screen generator.
7 and is output to the IOT interface.

In the 10T interface, from the LS1347 for SG, which is manually operated with a 1-bit on/off double number (No. 2 is changed to the LS
It is compiled into 8 bits using I349 and sent in parallel to the IOT.

Since the data actually flowing on the second board shown in FIG. 16 is 16 dots/mm, the reduced LS
I354 reduces the size to 1/4, binarizes it, and stores it in the area memory. The enlargement decode L31359 has a fill pattern RAM 360, enlarges it to 16 dots when reading area information from the area memory and generating a command, and generates a loco address, color palette, and fill pattern. DRAM356
consists of four planes and stores coded 4-bit area information. The AGDC 355 is a dedicated controller that controls area commands.

(If-2) Image output terminal (n-2
-1) Schematic configuration Figure 17 is an image output terminal (IOT)
It is a figure showing a schematic structure of.

This device uses an organic photosensitive material (Bel) (Ph) as a photoreceptor.

to Receptor belt), a developing machine 404 consisting of black (K), magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y) for four full colors, and a transfer device (TowRoll Trap) that conveys the paper to the transfer unit.
nsfer loop) 406, and a vacuum conveyance device (Vac) that conveys the paper from the transfer device 404 to the fixing device 408.
uum Transfer) 407, paper tray 41
0.412, a paper conveyance path 411 is provided, and the three units of the photosensitive material belt, the developing device, and the transfer device are configured to be able to be extended to the front side.

Information light obtained by modulating the laser light from the laser light source 40 is irradiated onto the sensitive material 41 via the mirror 40d to perform exposure and form a latent image.

The image formed on the photosensitive material is developed by a developing device 404 to form a toner image. The developing machine 404 is KSM, C.
It consists of 1Y and is arranged in the positional relationship as shown in the figure.

This arrangement takes into account, for example, the relationship between dark attenuation and the characteristics of each toner, and the difference in influence caused by mixing other toners with black toner. However, the driving order in the case of full color copying is Y-C-M4.

On the other hand, 410 consists of two elevator trays, and the other two
The paper fed from the tray 412 of the stage is transported through the conveyance path 411.
The image is supplied to the transfer device 406 through the transfer device 406 . Transfer device 406
is placed in the transfer section and consists of two rolls connected by a timing chain or belt and a gripper bar as described below.The gripper bar grips the paper and transports the paper, transferring the toner image on the photosensitive material. Transfer it to paper. 4
In the case of full color, the paper rotates 4 times in the transfer unit, and the Y
The images on 1C and 1C are transferred in this order. After the transfer, the paper is released from the gripper bar, transferred from the transfer device to a vacuum conveyance device 407, fixed by a fixing device 408, and then discharged.

The vacuum conveyance device 407 is connected to the transfer device 406 and the fixing device 40.
It absorbs the speed difference with 8 and maintains synchronization. In this device, the transfer speed (process speed) is 190 m+
The transfer speed is set at e/sec, and in the case of full color copying, the fixing speed is 90IllIII/sec, so the transfer speed and fixing speed are different.

In order to ensure the degree of fixation, the process speed is reduced, and on the other hand, to achieve 1.5 kVA, power cannot be given to the user.

Therefore, in the case of small paper such as B5 or A4, the transferred paper is released from the transfer device 406 and transferred to the vacuum conveyance device 40.
7, the speed of the vacuum transfer device was increased to 190 mi/
sec to 90 mm/sec to make it the same as the fixing speed. However, in this device, the distance between the transfer device and the fixing device is made as short as possible to make the device compact, so if A3 paper cannot fit between the transfer point and the fixing device, the speed of the vacuum conveyance device will be reduced. When you put it away,
Since the rear end of the A3 sheet is being transferred, a brake is applied to the paper, resulting in color misregistration. Therefore, a baffle plate 409 is installed between the fixing device and the vacuum conveyance device, and in the case of A3 paper, the baffle plate is tilted downward to make the paper draw a loop and lengthen the conveyance path. The leading edge of the paper reaches the fixing device after the transfer is completed at the same speed as the transfer speed, thereby absorbing the speed difference.

Further, in the case of OHP, heat conduction is poor, so the same method as in the case of A3 paper is used.

This device is designed to be able to copy not only full color but also black without reducing productivity, and in the case of black, there is less toner layer and it is possible to fix even with a small amount of heat, so the fixing speed is 190 mm/sea. Do not reduce the speed using the vacuum transfer device. This is done in the same way when there is only one toner layer other than black, such as a single color toner layer, since there is no need to reduce the fixing speed. When the transfer is completed, the toner remaining on the photosensitive material is scraped off by a cleaner 405.

(II[-2-2) Structure of Transfer Device The transfer device 406 has a structure as shown in FIG. 18(a).

The transfer device of this apparatus is characterized by having a structure that does not have a mechanical paper support to prevent color unevenness and the like, and by controlling the speed to increase the transfer speed.

The paper is ejected from the tray by a feed head 421, conveyed through a buckle chamber 422 driven by a paper path servo 423, and supplied to the transfer device via a registration gate 425 whose opening and closing are controlled by a registration gate solenoid 426. The arrival of the paper at the registration gate is detected by the registration gate sensor 424. The transfer device is driven by a servo motor 432 driving a roller 433 via a timing belt.
It is rotating counterclockwise. The rollers 434 are not particularly driven, and two timing chains or belts are hung between the rollers, and between the chains (in the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction), the chains are normally closed with elasticity, and the transfer Gripper bar 4 whose mouth is opened by a solenoid at the entrance of the device
30 is provided, and the transfer device conveys the paper by holding it in its mouth and twisting it around. Conventionally, paper was supported by attaching a Mylar sheet or mesh to an aluminum or steel support, but the difference in thermal expansion caused unevenness, resulting in poor transfer efficiency. While there were some differences in color and uneven color,
By using this gripper bar, there is no need to provide a special support for the paper, and the occurrence of color unevenness can be prevented.

The transfer device does not have a support for the paper to be conveyed, and the paper will be thrown outward by centrifugal force at the rollers.To prevent this, two rollers are vacuumed and the paper is transferred to the rollers. When it passes the rollers, it is transported while fluttering. At the transfer point, the paper is attracted by electrostatic force toward the sensitive material on which the corotron and transfer corotron are arranged, and the transfer is performed. After the transfer is completed, the gripper home sensor 436 detects the position at the exit of the transfer device, and at an appropriate timing, a solenoid opens the gripper bar to release the paper.
It will be passed to the vacuum transfer device 413.

Therefore, in the transfer device, the - sheet is transferred four times in the case of full color, and three times in the case of three colors, to perform the transfer.

The timing control of the servo motor 432 is shown in FIG. 18(b).
This is explained by: In the transfer device, the servo motor 432 may be controlled at a constant speed during transfer, and once the transfer is completed, the latent image may be transferred to the paper or the edge may be controlled to synchronize with the transfer point of the next latent image. On the other hand, the length of the sensitive material belt 41 is such that latent images are formed on three sheets of A4 paper and two sheets of A3 paper, and the length of the belt 435 is slightly longer than the length of A3 paper ( approximately 4/3 times) is set.

Therefore, when performing color copying on A4 paper, the servo motor 432 is controlled at a constant speed when transferring the first color latent image 11, and when the transfer is completed, the lead edge transferred to the paper is transferred to the second color latent image. The servo motor is rapidly accelerated and controlled in synchronization with the tip of I2. In addition, in the case of A3 paper, when the transfer of the first color latent image 1 is completed, the servo motor is decelerated so that the lead edge transferred to the paper is synchronized with the leading edge of the second color latent image 2. Control to wait.

(II-4) User interface (U/I) (
A) Adoption of a color display Figure 19 is a diagram showing the state and appearance of the installation of a user interface device using a display, and Figure 20 is a diagram to explain the corners and height of the installation of the user interface. be.

The user interface supports easy-to-understand interaction between the operator and the machine, and the impression material must enable simple operation and provide the necessary information to the operator while clarifying the relationships between the information. To this end, in the present invention, we created an original user interface that corresponds to the user's usage, making it easy for beginners to understand and not bothersome for experts, and allowing for a single design when selecting the content of the function. to be,
By using color, the aim of operability is to convey information to the operator more accurately and quickly, and to concentrate operations in one place as much as possible.

When it comes to copying machines, the more reliable they are with a variety of functions, the higher the reputation of the device will be. However, if those functions are difficult to use, the value will drop dramatically even if it has excellent functions. On the contrary, it becomes an expensive device. As a result, even if the device is a highly functional model, it is difficult to use and the overall evaluation of the device is significantly lowered. From this point of view, the user interface is a factor that greatly influences whether a device is easy to use or not, and especially as copying machines become more multi-functional in recent years, the operability of the user interface becomes an issue. .

In order to improve such operability, the user interface of the present invention is provided with a hard control panel 502 next to a monitor panel of a 12-inch color display 501, as shown in FIG. The color display is designed to provide the user with a menu that is easy to see and understand, and the color display 501 is combined with an infrared touch board 503 to allow direct access using soft buttons on the screen. In addition, by efficiently distributing operation contents to the hard buttons on the hard control panel 502 and the soft buttons displayed on the screen of the color display 501, it is possible to simplify operations and efficiently configure the menu screen. There is.

On the back side of the color display 501 and the hard control panel 502, there is a monitor control/power supply board 504 and a video engine board 50, as shown in FIGS.
5. A CRT driver board 506 and the like are mounted, and the hard control panel 502 has an angle such that it faces further toward the center than the surface of the color display 501, as shown in FIG. 5(C).

Furthermore, the color display 501 and the hard control panel 502 are not installed directly on the base machine (copying machine main body) 507 as shown in the figure, but on the base machine 507.
A support arm 508 is erected and attached on top of the support arm 508.

Rather than adopting a console panel like in the past (,
If a stand type color display 501 is adopted, it can be mounted three-dimensionally above the base machine 507 as shown in FIG. 20(a). By placing it in the right back corner of the base machine 507 as shown,
The size of the copying machine can be designed without considering the console panel, and the apparatus can be made more compact.

In a copying machine, the height of the platen, that is, the height of the device, is designed to be at a comfortable waist height for setting a document, and this height regulates the height of the device.

Conventional console panels are mounted on the top of the copying machine, so they are located at waist height and close to the hand, making them easy to operate, but they are also placed at a fairly comfortable distance from the eyes to select functions and set execution conditions. An operation section and a display section will be arranged for this purpose. In this regard, in the user interface of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
Moreover, it is on the right side, making it easier to operate. Moreover, by bringing the height of the display close to eye level, the space underneath can be used effectively as space for installing optional kits such as user interface control boards, memory card devices, and key counters. . Therefore, there is no need to make any structural changes to attach the memory card device, and the memory card device can be added without changing the appearance at all, and at the same time, the display can be installed in a position and height that is easy to see. Additionally, the display may be fixed at a predetermined angle;
Of course, a structure that allows the angle to be changed may be used.

(B) System configuration FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the module configuration of the user interface, and FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the user interface.

The modular configuration of the user interface of the present invention is as follows:
As shown in FIG. 21, it consists of a video display module 511 that controls the display screen of a color display 501, and an edit pad interface module 512 that processes information on an edit pad 513 and a memory card 514. System UI517.519 and subsystem 5 that control
15, touch screen 503, control panel 5
02 is connected to the video display module 511.

The edit pad interface module 512 receives the X and Y coordinates from the edit pad 513 and the job and X coordinates from the memory card 514.

In addition to inputting the Y coordinate manually, video map display information is sent to the video display module 511, and a U control signal is exchanged with the video display module 511.

By the way, area specification includes marker specification, which specifies an area on the document with a red or blue marker, and performs cropping and color conversion.
There are two-point specification using the coordinates of a rectangular area, and a closed-loop specification by tracing with the edit pad, but marker specification does not have any particular data, and two-point specification has less data, while closed-loop specification allows you to specify the area as an editing target. Requires large amounts of data. Editing of this data is performed by IPS, but the amount of data is too large to transfer at high speed. Therefore,
Such X, YI[! The data is configured to use a dedicated transfer line to the FIT/IPS 516 in addition to the general data transfer line.

The video display module 511 manually inputs the vertical and horizontal coordinates (coordinate positions of the touch screen) of the touch screen 503 to recognize the button ID, and inputs the button ID of the control panel 502 manually. Then, the button ID is sent to the system UI 517.519, and a display request is received from the system UI 517.519. Further, a subsystem (ESS) 515 is connected to, for example, a workstation or host CPU, and is a printer controller when this apparatus is used as a radar printer. In this case, information on the touch screen 503, control panel 502, and keyboard (not shown) is transferred as is to the subsystem 515, and the contents of the display screen are sent from the subsystem 515 to the video display module 511.

The system UI 517.519 exchanges information on the copy mode and machine state with the master controller '+18.520. Corresponding to FIG. 4 explained earlier, one of the system UIs 517 and 519 is the fourth
One is the 5YSUI module 81 of the SYS remote shown in the figure, and the other is the MCBU of the MCB remote shown in FIG.
I module 86.

The user interface of the present invention includes a UICB 521 and an EPIB 52 as hardware, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of two control boards consisting of 2, and its functions are broadly divided into two, corresponding to the above module configuration. The UICB 521 controls the hardware of the U engineer and has an edit pad 513 and a memory card 514.
In order to drive, there is also a touch screen 503
It uses two CPUs (for example, Intel's 8085 equivalent and 6845 equivalent) to process the input and write it to the CRT, and furthermore, the EPIB522 has an insufficient ability to draw in the bitmap area at 8 bits. Therefore, a 16-bit CPU (for example, Intel's 80C196KA
) to DMA the drawing data of the bitmap area.
Functional distribution is achieved by configuring the data to be transferred to the UICB 521.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing the configuration of the UICH.

In addition to the above-mentioned CPU, the UICB has a CPU 534 (for example, equivalent to Intel's 8051), and a CCC 531 is connected to the high-speed communication line L-NET and the communication line of the optional keyboard, and the CPU 534 and CCC 531 control communication. The CPU 534 is also used to drive the touch screen. The touch screen signal is sent from the CPU 534 to the CCC with its coordinate position information intact.
531 to the CPU 532, and the CPU 53
2, the button ID is recognized and processed. It is also connected to the control panel through the input port 551 and output port 552, and from the EPIB 522 and the subsystem (ESS) through the subsystem interface 548, receiver 549, and driver 550.
Video data is received and received by IMbpS along with Hz tarokku, and commands and status information can be exchanged at 9,600 bps.

The memory is BootR, which stores the bootstrap.
In addition to OM535, frame ROM538 and 539, RA
M536, bitmap RAM537, V-RAM54
It has 2. Frame ROMs 538 and 539 are memories in which display screen data is stored not in a bit map but in a data structure that is easy to handle with software, and when a display request is sent through L-NET,
First, drawing data is generated by the CPU 532 using the RAM 536 as a work area, and written to the V-RAM 542 by the DMA 541 . Further, the bitmap data is transferred by the DMA 540 from the EPIB 522 to the bitmap RAM 537 and written therein. Character generator 544 is for graphic tiles, and text character generator 543 is for character tiles. The V-RAM 542 is managed by a tile code, which consists of 24 bits (3 bytes), 13 bits for tile type information, 2 bits for identification information of text, graphics, or bitmap, and 1 bit for tile type information.
One bit is used for blink information, five bits are used for tile color information, and three bits are used for background or foreground information. CRT controller 533
develops the display screen based on the tile code information written in the V-RAM 542, and displays the shift register 545.
, multiplexer 546, and color palette 547 to send the video data to the CRT. The drawing of the bitmap area is switched by a shift register 545.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the configuration of EPIB.

The EPIB includes a 16-bit CPU (for example, equivalent to Intel's 80C196KA) 555, a boot page code ROM 556, an OS page code ROM 557, an area memory 558, and a RAM 5 used as a work area.
It has 59. And interface 561,
U through driver 562 and driver/receiver 563
The high-speed communication interface 5 transfers bitmap data, commands, and status information to the ICB.
64, the x and Y coordinate data are transferred to the IPS through the driver 565. Note that reading/writing to/from the memory card 525 is performed through the interface 560.

Therefore, when closed-loop editing area designation information and copy mode information are entered manually from the nib pad 524 or memory card 525, these information are sent to the UICB via the interface 561 and driver 562, and to the IPS via the high-speed communication interface 564 and driver 565. are transferred to each.

(C) Display screen configuration Even when using a display as a user interface, providing information corresponding to multi-functionality requires a large amount of information, so if you think about it simply, a large display area is required, which makes it easier to make it more compact. This has the aspect of making it difficult to respond. When a compact size display is adopted, it becomes difficult to provide all necessary information on one screen not only because of display density issues, but also because it is difficult to provide a screen that is easy for the operator to view and understand.

In the user interface of the present invention, a compact size display is used, and the display screen and its control are devised.

In particular, color displays take advantage of the advantage of being able to adopt a variety of display modes by controlling color, brightness, and other display attributes compared to the LEDs and liquid crystal displays used in console panels, making them compact and compact. Various efforts have been made to display the information in an easy-to-understand manner, even at large sizes.

For example, by broadly classifying the information displayed on the screen and dividing it into multiple screens, and then, for each screen, creating a pop-up with detailed information and omitting it from the primary screen, the screen can be configured concisely with the minimum necessary information. We are trying to do this. For screens containing multiple pieces of information, features of color display and highlighted display are designed to make it easier to recognize and identify the necessary information on the screen.

(a) Screen layout FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the display screen.
Figure (a) is a diagram showing the configuration of the basic copy screen, Figure 2) is a diagram showing an example of a pop-up screen expanded to the basic copy screen, and Figure (C) is a diagram showing the configuration of one creative editing paint screen. It is.

In the user interface of the present invention, a basic copy screen for setting a copy mode as shown in FIG. 25 is displayed as an initial screen. The screen for setting the copy mode constitutes a software control panel, which is divided into two areas, message area A and busway B, as shown in FIG.

Message area A uses the top three lines of the screen,
Predetermined messages are displayed on the first line for state messages, and on the second and third lines for guidance messages when there is a contradiction in function selection, messages regarding abnormal conditions of the device, and warning information messages.

The right end of the message area A is a number display area where the set number of copies entered using the numeric keys and the number of copies being copied are displayed.

Busway B is an area for selecting various functions,
It has each pathway of basic copy, aid feature, marker editing, business editing, freehand editing, creative editing, and tool, and a pathway tab C is displayed corresponding to each busway. Additionally, each busway has a pop-up to improve operability.

Busway B displays a soft button D that is an option and selects a function when touched, an icon (picture) E that changes depending on the selected function and displays that function, an indicator F that displays the zoom ratio, etc. and soft button D
△ pop-up mark G on the item that will be popped up with
is attached. By touching the pathway tab C, the busway can be opened, and by touching the soft button D, the function can be selected. The selection of functions by touching the soft button D is designed to be operated in order from the upper left to the lower right in consideration of operability.

As mentioned above, the basic copy screen and others are separated to maximize commonality with other models and with the hard console panel, and the m collection screen has screens and functions tailored to the skill level of the operator. It has a multi-layer structure to provide this. Furthermore, by combining such a screen configuration with a pop-up function, a screen that is easy to use in a variety of ways is provided, such as displaying advanced or complex functions within a single screen as a pop-up.

A pop-up has detailed setting information for a specific function, and by providing a pop-up opening function and opening the detailed setting information as needed, the screen configuration of each busway can be changed. I keep it simple and easy to read. A pop-up opens when a soft button with a pop-up mark is touched. Then, it closes when the close button or cancel button is selected, when the all clear button is pressed, when all clear is applied by the auto clear function, etc. FIG. 25(b) shows the state of the screen when a pop-up is opened by touching the magnification soft button in the reduction/enlargement function.

When the creative editing pathway tab is touched on the basic copy screen, the screen changes to the creative editing pathway screen, of which the Paint 1 screen is shown in FIG. 25(C). This screen has a bitmap area H and a guidance message area I. The bitmap area H is located at the upper left of the screen, and when an editing area is specified on the edit pad, the area can be displayed as a bitmap in black and white. Further, the guidance message area (3) uses the lower left corner of the screen to guide the user in response to editing work, and changes depending on the work. On the screen, the area excluding the bit map area li, the guiding message area 2, and the message area 8 at the top of the screen is used as a work area.

(b) Basic copy screen The basic copy busway has soft buttons (options) for selecting each function: color mode, paper selection, reduction/enlargement, copy image quality, color balance, and job program, as shown in Figure 25 (a). It also has busway tabs for marker editing, business editing, freehand editing, creative editing, aid feature, and tools. This busway is an initial busway, and is displayed after turning on the power or turning on the all clear button, or when auto clearing, etc.

The color mode is full color (4 bus color), which copies with 4 types of toner in YSM%C%, 3 except K.
It has 3-pass color that copies with seed toner, single color that allows you to select one color from 12 colors, black, and black/red, and the automatically selected default can be set as desired. Here, since the single color and black/red options have detailed setting items, those items are expanded as a pop-up.

Paper selection has the following options: automatic paper selection (APS), )ray 12, and cassette 3.4. It does not hold true if The default is APS.

Reduction/enlargement is 100%, AMS sets the magnification based on the paper size and original size when paper is selected,
It has options for arbitrary magnification, and the set magnification, calculated magnification, or automatic is displayed on the top indicator. In variable magnification, the magnification can be set in 1% increments in the range from 50% to 400%, and the vertical and horizontal magnifications can also be set independently (unbalanced magnification). Therefore, these detailed setting items are expanded as a pop-up. Note that the default is 10.
It is 0%.

As mentioned earlier, this reduction/enlargement can be achieved in the sub-scanning direction (X direction) by changing the scan speed, and in the main scanning direction (Y direction) by changing the reading method from the IPS line memory.
direction).

Copy image quality has two options: automatic, which performs automatic density adjustment for black-and-white originals, and automatic color balance adjustment for color originals, and manual, which allows 7-step density control via pop-up. It will be done.

For color balance, select the color you want to reduce on the copy from YlM, , CSB, , G, R by pop-up, and select I
The control is performed in the PS.

The job program options are valid only when the memory card is inserted into the slot of the reader, and in this mode, a pop-up allows you to select between reading jobs from the memory card and writing jobs to the memory card.

For example, the memory card can store up to 8 jobs.
Use a film projector with a byte capacity.
All jobs except modes are programmable.

(c) Aidito Feature screen The Aidito Feature busway has soft buttons (selections) for selecting each function: copy output, copy sharpness, copy contrast, copy position, film projector, page programming, job program, binding margin. It also has pathway tabs for marker m collections, business editing, freehand editing, creative editing, basic copy, and tools.

Copy output has the option of outputting to the top tray or sorting mode. The default is the top tray, and if a sorter is not installed, this item will not be displayed.

Copy sharpness is 7 for standard and pop-up.
It has a manual that allows you to control the steps, and pop-up options for photos that are categorized into photos, text (characters), prints, and photos/text, and these controls are performed in the IPS. The default can be set arbitrarily.

For copy contrast, you can select a 7-step contrast control. The copy position has the option of an auto-center function that places the center of the copy image on the center of the paper by default.

As explained in a separate section, the film projector is a mode for making copies from various types of film.
5mm positive, 35mm negative or 6cmX on the platen
Choose from 6 cm slides or 4' x 5' slides.

Page programming includes paper options such as a cover for copies, an insert for inserting blank or colored paper between copies, a color mode that can be set for each page of the original, and one tray for each page of the original. Note that this item will not be displayed unless you have an ADF.

The binding margin can be set in 1mm increments within the range of 0 to 30mm, and only one location can be specified for a document. The binding margin is the amount from the leading edge of the paper to the leading edge of the image area, and is generated in the main scanning direction by a shift operation using the IPS line buffer, and in the sub-scanning direction by shifting the scan timing of the IIT.

(d)! Collection screen and tool screen There are four pathways for editing screens: marker editing, business editing, freehand editing, and creative editing.

Marker editing pathway and freehand editing pathway have options for each function related to extraction, deletion, coloring (halftone/line/solid), and color conversion, and also have pathway tabs for basic copy, edit feature, and tool.

Business editing pathways include extraction, deletion, and coloring (shading/shading).
It has options for each function related to line/solid), color conversion, color filling, logo insertion, and binding margin, and it also has pathway tabs for basic copy, edit feature, and tool, just like the marker editing pathway.

The creative editing pathway includes extraction, deletion, coloring (halftone/line/solid), color conversion, color filling, logo insertion, binding margin, negative/positive inversion, inset composition, watermark composition, paint, mirror image, repeat, enlarged continuous shooting. , partial movement, corner/center movement, manual/auto magnification, manual/auto polarization, color mode, color balance adjustment, page continuous copying, color composition, etc., as well as marker editing pathway, etc. Has a basic copy aided feature and a pathway tab for tools.

The tool pathway is entered by the key operator and customer engineer by manually inputting the PIN number, and is used to set up the audiotron, machine initial values,
Default selection for each function, color registration, film type registration, fine adjustment of registered colors, presetting of various machine options, film projector scan area setting, audio tone (sound type, volume), paper transport system, and other miscellaneous items It has options for various functions such as timer settings (such as auto clear), pilling meter, dual language settings, diagnostic mode, maximum value adjustment, and memory card formatting.

Default selections are color mode, paper selection, copy density, copy sharpness, copy contrast, paper tray for page programming, single color, color pallet color and mesh for overlay, logotype pattern, binding margin, and color. The subject is balance.

(e) Other screen control user interfaces constantly monitor the execution status of copying, and if a jam occurs, display a screen appropriate for the jam.

Further, in the function setting, an information screen is provided for the currently displayed screen, and the screen is set to be able to be displayed as appropriate.

Note that the screen display has a width of 3, excluding the bitmap area.
It uses a tiled display of mm (8 pixels) and height of 6 mm (16 pixels), with 80 tiles horizontally and 25 tiles vertically. The bitmap area is 151 pixels vertically,
[Displayed at 216 pixels.

As described above, in the user interface of the present invention, the display screen is switched according to each mode such as basic copy, aided feature, and editing, and menus for selecting functions, setting execution conditions, etc. are displayed in each mode. At the same time, by touching soft buttons, you can specify options and enter execution condition data manually. Also, depending on the menu option, detailed items are displayed in a pop-up (overlapping display or window display).
We are working to expand the displayed content. As a result, even if there are many selectable functions and setting conditions, the display screen can be kept clean and the operability can be improved.

(D) Hard Control Panel The hard control panel is attached to the right side of the color display at an angle that points further toward the center than the screen, as shown in Figure 20, and displays the numeric keypad, numeric keypad clear, all clear, stop, and interrupt. , start, information, audiotron, and language buttons are installed.

The numeric keypad buttons are used to set the number of copies, manually input codes and data in the diagnosis mode, and input the password when using tools, and are disabled while a job is being generated or a job is interrupted.

The All Clear button is used to return all of the set copy modes to their defaults and return to the basic copy screen except when the tool screen is open.While setting an interrupt job, the copy mode returns to the default. , interrupt mode is not released.

The stop button is used to interrupt the job at a copy break during job execution and to stop the machine after ejecting the copy paper. Furthermore, in the diagnosis mode, it is used to stop (interrupt) checking of human output, etc.

The interrupt button is used to enter an interrupt mode during a primary job except when a job is interrupted, and to return to the primary job during an interrupt job.

If this button is operated during execution of the primary job, the printer enters a reservation state, interrupts or ends the job at the end of copy paper ejection, and enters an interrupt job.

The start button is used to start a job and restart it after interruption, and in the diagnosis mode, it is used to manually save code values and data values, start input/output, etc. If the start button is scanned while the machine is preheating, the machine will auto-start when the preheating ends.

The information button consists of an on button and an off button, and is in a ready state except when copying is in progress, and is used to display the information screen for the currently displayed screen with the on button, and to retreat with the off button. It is.

The AUDITRON button is operated to enter the password manually when starting a job.

The language button is operated to switch the language on the display screen. Therefore, each display screen has a plurality of data that can be selected.

In addition to the buttons listed above, the hard control panel also has LEDs as appropriate to display the operation status of the buttons.
(light emitting diode) lamp is installed.

(n-5) Film image reading device (A) Schematic configuration of film image reading device As shown in FIG. 2, the film image reading device includes a film projector (F/P) 64 and a mirror unit (
M/U) 65.

(A-1) Configuration of F/P As shown in FIG. 26, the F/P 64 is equipped with a housing 601, and this housing 601 includes an operating value S lamp 602, a manual lamp switch 603,
An autofocus/manual focus changeover switch (ΔF/MF changeover switch) 604 and manual focus operation switches (M/Fti production switches) 605a and 605b are provided. Further, the housing 601 includes an opening/closing part 606 that can be opened and closed.

A document film 6 is provided on the top and side surfaces of this opening/closing section 606.
Holes 608 and 609 are respectively formed in a size that allows the film holding case 607 holding the original film 633 to be inserted vertically or horizontally into the housing 601 depending on how the subject recorded on the original film 633 is to be photographed. has been done. A hole (not shown) through which the film holding case 607 can protrude is also provided on the opposite side of the holes 608 and 609. The opening/closing part 606 is rotatably attached to the housing 601 by a hinge, or detachably attached to the housing 601. By making the opening/closing part 606 freely openable and closable,
This allows small foreign matter to be easily removed when it enters the housing 601 through the holes 608, 609.

The film holding case 607 includes a case for 35 mm negative film and a case for positive film. Therefore, F/P64 is designed to be compatible with these films. Also, F/P 64
It is also possible to handle negative films of 6cm x 6cm and Jinch x 5inch. In that case, transfer this negative film to M/U65 and platen glass 3.
1 so as to be in close contact with the platen glass 31.

As shown in FIG. 29, a projection lens holding member 611 that holds a projection lens 610 is slidably supported on the right side of the housing 601 in the drawing.

Further, inside the housing 601, a beam flap 612 and a light source lamp 613 made of a halogen lamp or the like are arranged coaxially with the projection lens 610. A cooling fan 614 for cooling the lamp 613 is provided near the lamp 613. Further, on the right side of the lamp 613, an aspherical lens 615 for converging the light from the lamp 613, a heat ray absorption filter 616 for cutting light rays of a predetermined wavelength, and a convex lens 617 are arranged coaxially with the projection lens 610. is placed on top.

To the right of the convex lens 617 is a correction filter holder that supports a correction filter 635 (the correction filter for one film is shown in the figure) for adjusting the film density for, for example, 35 mm negative film and positive film. A member 618, a motor 619 for driving the correction filter holding member 618, and first and second position detection sensors 62 that detect the rotational position of the correction filter holding member 618.
An automatic correction filter exchange device is provided, each having a control device (provided within the F/P 64 but not shown) for controlling the 0° 621 and the drive motor 619. Of the correction filters 635 supported by the correction filter holding member 618, the original film 6
A correction filter 635 corresponding to No. 33 is automatically selected so as to be aligned with the use position coaxially with each lens such as the projection lens 610. The correction filter 635 of this correction filter automatic exchange device can be placed anywhere on the optical axis of the projection light, such as between the platen glass 31 and the imaging unit 37, for example.

Furthermore, an autofocus sensor including a light emitter 623 and a light receiver 624 for an autofocus sensor that are linked to the projection lens holding member 611, and a sliding motor 625 that slides the projection lens holding member 611 of the projection lens 610 with respect to the housing 601. A focus device is provided. When the film holding case 607 is inserted into the housing 601 through the hole 608 or 609, the original film 633 supported by the film holding case 607 is placed between the correction filter holding member 618, the light emitter 623, and the light receiver 624. Being located.

A film cooling fan 626 for cooling the original film 633 is provided near the position where the original film 635 is set.

The power supply for this F/P 64 is provided separately from the power supply for the base machine 30, but is housed within the base machine 30.

(A-2) Configuration of M/U As shown in FIG. 27, the mirror unit 65 includes a bottom plate 627 and a cover 628 rotatably attached to the bottom plate 627 at one end. Between the bottom plate 627 and the cover 628 are a pair of support pieces 629. '629 are pivotally connected, and these support pieces 629, 629 are connected to the cover 628 and the bottom plate 6 when the cover 628 is opened to the maximum.
The cover 628 is supported so that the angle formed with the cover 628 is 45 degrees.

A mirror 630 is provided on the back surface of the cover 628. Further, a large opening is formed in the bottom plate 627, and a Fresnel lens 631 and a diffusion plate 632 are provided so as to close this opening.

As shown in FIG. 29, the Fresnel lens 631 and the diffusion plate 632 are made of a single acrylic plate, and the Fresnel lens 631 is formed on the front surface of this acrylic plate, and the diffusion plate 632 is formed on the back surface of the acrylic plate. A plate 632 is formed. The Fresnel lens 631 has a function of preventing the periphery of the image from becoming dark by converting the projection light that is reflected by the mirror 630 and attempting to diffuse into parallel light. Further, the diffusion plate 632 diffuses a small amount of parallel light in order to prevent the line sensor 226 from detecting the shadow of the Selfoc lens 224 in the imaging unit 37 formed by the parallel light from the Fresnel lens 631. It has a function.

When the mirror unit 65 is not making color copies using the F/P 64, it is folded and stored in a predetermined storage location. When the mirror unit 65 is used, it is opened and placed at a predetermined location on the platen glass 31 of the base machine 30.

(B) Main functions of the film image reading device The film image reading device has the following main functions.

(B-1) Correction filter automatic exchange function The halogen lamp commonly used as the light source lamp 613 in the F/P 64 has a spectral characteristic that generally contains a large amount of red (R) and a small amount of blue (B). Therefore, when projecting a film using this lamp 613, the projection light is red (R).
), la (G) and blue (B) ratio is lamp 613
is affected by the spectral characteristics of Therefore, when projecting using a halogen lamp, it is necessary to correct the spectral characteristics.

On the other hand, there are many types of films for recording images, including not only negative films and positive films, but also several types of negative films and positive films.

Each of these films has different spectral properties. For example, a negative film has an orange color and has a high transmittance of R, but a low transmittance of B. Therefore, in a negative film, it is necessary to correct the spectral characteristics so as to increase the amount of B light.

Therefore, the F/P 64 is provided with a correction filter for correcting such spectral characteristics.

The F/P 64 allows these correction filters to be replaced automatically. The correction filter is replaced by the above-mentioned correction filter automatic exchange device. That is, the system (SYS) causes the correction filter corresponding to the original film 633 to be set at the use position.
When a 2-bit command signal is output from the internal microprocessor (CPU), the control device
Position detection sensor 620. ．． The drive motor 619 is controlled so that the 2-bit signal from the CPU 621 matches the CPU signal. Then, when the signals from the sensors 620 and 621 match the CPU signal, the control device stops the motor 619.

When the motor 619 stops, the correction filter corresponding to the original film is automatically set to the use position.

Therefore, the correction filter can be replaced easily and accurately.

(B-2) Original film insertion direction detection function The original film 633 is inserted into the insertion hole 608.60 formed in the opening/closing part 606.
In other words, the original film 633 can be inserted from any of the holes 9, that is, the original film 633 can be inserted from two directions, vertically and horizontally, depending on how the subject is to be photographed. In that case, the insertion holes 608, 60
A film detection switch is provided on at least one of 9. That is, at least one film detection switch is provided. When the film detection switch is provided on the hole 608 side but not on the hole 609 side, the film holding case 607 is
When the film is detected after being inserted from 08, it turns on and outputs a detection signal. When this detection signal is present, the required area of the line sensor 226 is set vertically, that is, the sub-scanning direction is set in the longitudinal direction of the projected image. Furthermore, when the film holding case 607 is inserted through the hole 609, this switch remains off and does not output a detection signal. When there is no detection signal, the required area is set horizontally, that is, so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction of the projected image.

Similarly, when the film detection switch is provided only on the hole 609 side, or when the film detection switch is provided on both the hole 608 and 609 sides,
When the film holding case 607 is inserted through the hole 608, the required area of the line sensor 226 is such that the sub-scanning direction is the longitudinal direction of the projected image, and when the film holding case 607 is inserted through the hole 609, the line sensor 226 is required area. 2
In the required area 26, the on/off signal of the film detection switch is set so that the main scanning direction is the longitudinal direction of the projected image.

(B-3) Autofocus function (AF function) When the film holding case 607 is attached to the F/P 64, an accuracy of several tens of m+n is required for the attachment position of the original film 633. Therefore, after mounting the original film 633,
Focusing is required. When performing this focusing manually, the image of the original film 633 is projected onto the diffuser plate 632 of the M/U 65 set at a predetermined position on the platen glass 31, and the projection lens holding member 611 is slid while viewing the projected image. must be done.

In that case, the image projected onto the diffuser plate 632 is extremely difficult to see, making it extremely difficult to focus accurately.

Therefore, when the original film 633 is mounted on the F/P 64, the F/P 64 is configured to be able to automatically adjust the focus.

This AP function is performed by the above-mentioned AF device as follows.

By operating the keys on the display of the U/136 to switch to F/P mode, the light emitter 623 emits light, and in FIG. 26, the AP/MP changeover switch 604 of the F/P 64 is selected to AP. By doing so, the AP device becomes ready for operation. As shown in FIG. 29, the film case 6 containing the original film 6°33
When attached to the '07GF/P64, light from the light emitter 623 is reflected by the original film 633, and the reflected light is detected by, for example, a two-element type light receiver 624 of the AP.

Then, the two elements of the light receiver 624 output to the CPU 634 a signal of a magnitude corresponding to the amount of reflected light detected by each element. The CPU 634 calculates the difference between these signals, and when the result of the calculation is not 0, it issues an output signal and drives the motor 625 in a direction that reduces the difference between the signals from the two elements. Therefore, as the projection lens holding member 611 slides, the light emitter 623 and the light receiver 6
24 move together. Then, when the difference between the output signals from the two elements becomes 0, the CPU 634 stops the motor 625. The image is in focus when the motor 625 stops.

In this way, AF operation is performed. This eliminates the need for manual focusing each time a film case containing original film is attached to the F/P 64. Therefore, not only is it time-saving, but also copying failures due to out-of-focus can be prevented.

(B-4) Manual focus function (MF function) By switching the AF/MF changeover switch 604 to MF, the lamp 613 is automatically turned on for a predetermined period of time.
You will be able to manually adjust the focus. M
F is operated by pressing the operation switch 605 while viewing the image of the original film projected on the diffuser plate 632 of the mirror unit 65.
This is done by pressing a, 605b. This MF makes it possible to focus on a specific part of the film image.

(B-5> Manual lighting function of light source lamp By pressing the manual lamp switch 603, the lamp 613 can be turned on unconditionally.This switch is not normally used, but it is relatively thick. It is used for backlighting when copying images recorded on objects, for viewing images projected for a long time during AF, and for monitoring lamp burnout.

(B-6) Automatic magnification change and scan area automatic change function By setting the paper size using U/136, the magnification can be automatically set. Also,
By selecting the type of original film using the U/I 36, a copy area can be automatically selected according to the film.

(B-7) Automatic shading correction function CPU634
The ROM generally contains FUJ 1 (registered trademark'), KODA, which is a negative film often used for photography.
The density data of each ASA100 orange mask of K (registered trademark) and KONICA (registered trademark) is stored, and when these films are selected, the CPU 6
34 allows shading correction to be automatically performed based on the stored density data.

In that case, the base film of these films is F/P.
There is no need to install it on 64.

Therefore, not only can the trouble of attaching the base film be saved, but also it is possible to prevent the base film from being attached by mistake, and there is no need to manage the base film.

Furthermore, for one type of film other than these three types of films, the density data of the orange mask of that film can be registered. This data is stored in RAM within the copier system. In the case of this registered film, shading correction is automatically performed as in the case of the three types of films described above.

(B-8) Automatic image quality adjustment function It is possible to perform corrections such as r correction based on various conditions such as the density characteristics of the original film and the exposure conditions when shooting the film, and automatically adjust the density and color balance. That's what I do.

(C) Image signal processing (C-1) Necessity of image signal correction and principle of correction Generally, the density range of a film is wider than that of an original. Further, even for the same film, the density range differs depending on the type of film, for example, the density range of positive film is wider than that of negative film.

Furthermore, the density range of the film is influenced by the photographing conditions of the original film, such as the exposure amount of the film, the density of the subject, or the brightness at the time of photographing. In fact, the subject density is widely distributed within the film's density range.

Therefore, when an image recorded on such a film is to be copied using a copying machine that copies an original using reflected light, good reproducibility cannot be obtained by performing the same signal processing. Therefore, good reproducibility is obtained by appropriately correcting the image reading signal so that the density of the main subject becomes appropriate.

FIG. 28 shows the density characteristics of a certain negative film and the principle of density correction. In this figure, the right half of the horizontal axis represents the exposure amount of the subject (corresponding to the subject density), and the left half represents the density after shading correction. Further, on the vertical axis, the upper half represents the video circuit output (equal to the negative density), and the lower half represents the output copy density.

In other words, the first quadrant describes the density characteristics of the negative film,
The second quadrant shows the relationship between shading correction, and the third quadrant shows the relationship between r
The fourth quadrant represents the relationship between the correction and the relationship between the subject exposure amount and the corrected output copy density.

The density characteristics of this negative film are shown by the line α in the first quadrant of FIG. That is, when the amount of exposure from the subject is large, the density of the negative film is high, and as the amount of exposure from the subject decreases, the density of the negative film decreases linearly. When the amount of exposure from the subject decreases to a certain extent, the linearity between the amount of exposure from the subject and the density of the negative film disappears. If this exposure amount is small, for example, if the image recorded on the film is a bust of a human being, the contrast between the face and the hair will not be adequate. Further, even when the exposure amount is large, the slope of the line α, that is, the value of r, is smaller than 1, so unless r correction is performed, the copy will be soft.

For this reason, r correction is necessary.

Next, the principle of correction will be explained using FIG. 28.

In the third quadrant of the figure, an END curve β for r correction is set. The slope r' of this END curve β is the fourth
In order to make the relationship between the exposure amount from the subject and the output copy density a linear relationship of 45 degrees in the quadrant, r'
=l/r.

For example, in the case of area a where the amount of exposure from the subject is relatively high, if the density adjustment value set in the register of the shading correction circuit is a value represented by a straight line ■ in the second quadrant, then after shading correction The concentration is in area a
'. This region a' no longer falls within the conversion range of the END curve β, and this region becomes white when copied. Therefore, in the second quadrant, the density adjustment value is shifted from the straight line ■ to the straight line ■ so that the density after shading correction falls within the conversion range of the END curve β. By doing this, the relationship between the amount of exposure from the subject and the output copy density will follow a 45 degree straight line (2) in the fourth quadrant, and the copy will have a density with gradations.

Furthermore, in the case of a region where the amount of exposure from the subject is relatively small, the linearity between the amount of exposure from the subject and the negative film density is lost. In this case, the density adjustment value of the shading correction circuit is set to the value of the straight line ■ in the second quadrant. Then, the END curve β represented by the line ■ is selected in the third quadrant. By selecting this END curve β, the exposure amount from the subject and the output copy density can be adjusted to the fourth
It can be represented by a 45 degree straight line (■) in the quadrant. In other words, when the amount of exposure from the subject is within the range, for example, if a person with black hair is wearing a brown hat, the hair and hat will be prevented from having almost the same density, and the hair and hat will be You will be able to clearly bring out the contrast between.

In this way, correction is performed so that the density of the subject becomes appropriate.

(C-2) Image signal processing method As shown in FIG. 29, the line sensor 226 reads the projection light of the image on the original film 633 in an analog manner as a light amount for each R1GSB, and the image represented by this light amount is The signal is amplified to a predetermined level by amplifier 231. The amplified image signal is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 235, and further converted from a light amount signal to a density signal by a log converter 238.

The image signal expressed in density is sent to the shading correction circuit 2.
Shading correction is performed in step 39. This shading correction removes from the image signal the effects of uneven light intensity of the SELFOC lens 224, uneven sensitivity of each pixel in the line sensor 226, variations in the spectral characteristics and light intensity level of the correction filter and lamp 613, and changes over time. .

Before performing this shading correction, first, when the above-mentioned three types of films and registered films are selected as the original film, the correction filter is set in the positive film filter, and the lamp is turned on without the original film 633 attached. Read the light amount signal from 613,
After the signal is amplified and converted into a digital signal, data obtained based on the converted density signal is stored in the line memory 240 as reference data.

That is, the imaging unit 37 is R and G.

Each pixel of B is scanned and sampled in 32 line steps, and these sampling data are sent to the CPU 634 through the line memory 240.
Calculate the average concentration value of the two lines of sampling data,
Take shading data. By taking the average in this way, errors for each pixel are eliminated.

Furthermore, when an original film is loaded and an image of the original film is read, the CPU 634 calculates a density adjustment value DADj from the density data of the negative film stored in the ROM, and stores it in the register of the LSI in the shading correction circuit 239. Rewrite the DADj value that has already been set. Further, the CPU 634 adjusts the light intensity of the lamp 613 and the gain of the amplifier 643 in accordance with the selected film.

Then, the shading correction circuit 239 shifts the read density value by adding the DAOJ value to the actual data read from the original film. Further, the shading correction circuit 239 performs shading correction by subtracting the shading data for each pixel from the adjusted data.

In addition, in the case of a film that is not recorded in the ROM of the CPU 634 and is not registered in the RAM of the system, the base film is attached and the density data of the film is obtained, and the D ADj value is calculated from the obtained density data. must be calculated.

After the shading correction is completed, IIT32 will change to IPS3.
3, the R and GSB density signals are output.

Then, the CPU 634 selects an END curve based on the actual data of the original film, and outputs a correction signal to perform F correction based on the selected curve. Based on this correction signal, the IPS 33 performs r correction to correct the fact that r of the original film is not 1 and the unclear contrast caused by nonlinear characteristics.

(D) Operation procedure and signal timing The operation procedure and signal timing will be explained based on FIG. 30. Note that a signal indicated by a broken line indicates that the signal may be used.

The operation of F/P64 is mainly done by U/13 of base machine 30.
6. That is, by operating the F/Fi1 operation key displayed on the display screen of the U/I 36, the base machine 30 is placed in the F/P mode. Assuming that the original film is one of the three types of films mentioned above and one of the registered films, the third
As shown in Figure 0, the message "Please select the film type after placing the mirror unit" is displayed on the display screen of the U/I 36. Therefore, first, the M/U 65 is opened and set at a predetermined position on the platen glass 31.

Next, when the film selection key on the screen is pressed, the screen displays the message "Please wait without loading film." At the same time, the lamp 613 is turned on and the correction filter control (FCC0NT) signal becomes (0,0) to perform the FC operation. That is, the correction filter automatic exchange device is operated and the positive correction filter is set in the use position. When the correction filter is set, the correction filter exchange end (FC5ET) signal becomes LOW.

In addition to this being LOW, the lamp 613 is lit and 3
The collection of shading data for shading correction is started using the elapse of ~5 seconds as a trigger.

When this shading data collection is completed, this completion is used as a trigger to set FCC0NT to (0, 1), the correction filter automatic exchange device is activated, and the film correction filter is set in the use position. In addition, the shading correction is triggered and a message appears on the screen to adjust the focus.

Please insert film" is displayed and the lamp 613 turns off. Therefore, the original film 633
Attach the film case 607 containing the film to the F/P 64. Thereby, the light from the light emitter 623 is reflected by this film, and the reflected light is detected by the light receiver 624.

When the difference in the amount of reflected light received between the two elements of the light receiver 624 is not O, the motor 625 of the AF device is activated to focus. That is, AF operation is performed. When focusing is completed, F/P is ready (F)
PRDY) signal becomes LOW. After this n million Y (word becomes LOWI and 1 second has elapsed since FCSET becomes LOW, the message "Ready to copy" is displayed on the screen. When you press the start key of U/I36, ``Copying in progress'' is displayed on the screen, the lamp 613 lights up, and data collection for automatic density adjustment (A/E) starts after waiting for the lamp 613 to rise. adjustment, color balance adjustment, r
In order to obtain data for correction and the like, the imaging unit 37 partially scans and reads part or all of the projected image.

Next, in the case of full color, the imaging unit 37 scans four times to perform copying. In that case,
Shading correction and density adjustment are automatically performed based on the shading data and automatic density adjustment data. When the copying is completed, the lamp 613 turns off and the screen displays "Copy ready".

Therefore, when the start key is pressed again, a new copy is performed. If you want to copy another image, you have to change the frames of the film. When changing frames, "7v
-■DY becomes HIGH and the screen displays [Focusing].

Then, when a new frame is set, the AP operation is performed, and at the same time, the ffi signal becomes LOW, and the message ``Ready to copy'' is displayed on the screen. After that, copying is performed by pressing the start key.

(III) Image Human Power Terminal (IIT) (III
-1) Imaging unit drive mechanism FIG. 31 shows a perspective view of the imaging unit drive mechanism, and the imaging unit 37 has two slide shafts 202.2.
03, and both ends are connected to the wire 2.
It is fixed at 04.205. This wire 204.2
05 is wound around the drive pulley 206, 207 and the tension pulley 208, 209, and the tension pulley 208
．． 209 is under tension in the direction of the arrow in the figure. A deceleration boot 1211 is attached to a drive shaft 210 to which the drive pulleys 206 and 207 are attached, and is connected to an output shaft 214 of a stepping motor 213 via a timing belt 212. Note that the limit switches 215 and 216 are connected to the imaging unit 3.
The registration sensor 217 is a sensor for setting a reference point of a document reading start position.

The reason for adopting the stepping motor 213 to drive the imaging unit 37 is as follows. In order to obtain a four-color copy of R, G, and B on one sheet, the imaging unit 37 needs to repeat the scan four times. In this case, the major issue is how to reduce synchronization and positional deviations within the four scans.To do this, it is necessary to suppress fluctuations in the stop position of the imaging unit 37 and shorten the arrival time from the home position to the register position. It is important that fluctuations be suppressed and that scan rate fluctuations be reproducible. However, if a DC servo motor is used, it is difficult to suppress fluctuations in the stop position of the imaging unit 37 and fluctuations in the arrival time from the home position to the register position, so a stepping motor 213 is used.

However, the stepping motor 213 has greater vibration and noise than a DC servo motor, and is also susceptible to mechanical problems such as aging of the timing belt 212 and wires 204 and 205, and viscous resistance between the slide pad and slide rail 202 and 203. Vibration is also caused by unstable factors. Therefore, countermeasures are required to improve the image quality and speed of the image recording apparatus.

To this end, in this embodiment, two slide shafts 202 (203) are provided in parallel, and as shown in FIG. Vibration of the imaging unit 37 in the main scanning direction is regulated by interposing the oil-impregnated pad P using the leaf spring 37b and the leaf spring 37c.

(I[l-2) Stepping Motor Control Method FIG. 33(a) shows the circuit of the driver of the stepping motor 213. The motor windings are connected in a pentagonal pattern, and each connection point is connected to the positive or negative side of a power supply using two transistors, and bipolar drive is performed using 10 switching transistors. In addition, the current value flowing through the motor is fed back, and the current supplied to the motor is controlled and driven to be constant. The excitation sequence is as shown in (b), when four phases are excited, the remaining one
Phases are shorted at the same potential, positive or negative.

FIG. 34(a) shows a scan cycle of the imaging unit 37 driven by the stepping motor 213. The figure shows the relationship between the speed of the imaging unit 37, that is, the frequency applied to the stepping motor, and time when performing a scanning operation and a return operation at a magnification of 50%, that is, the maximum movement speed. When accelerating (
As shown in b), for example, by multiplying 259Hz,
The frequency is increased to a maximum of about 11-12 KHz. Providing regularity to the pulse train in this way simplifies pulse generation. And, as shown in (a), 259pp
It accelerates in a regular stepwise manner at s/3.9ms to create a trapezoidal profile. Further, a pause time is provided between the scan operation and the return operation and between the return operation and the scan operation to reduce vibrations of the IIT mechanical system and to synchronize with image output in the IOT.

On the other hand, when reading a color original, the imaging unit 37 is scanned four times to read out four color signals, so a major challenge is how to reduce color shift between the four colors. Imaging unit 3
It is important to suppress fluctuations in the stop position of No. 7, fluctuations in the arrival time from the home position to the register position, and fluctuations in the scan speed.

Fig. 35 is a diagram for explaining the cause of color shift caused by the occurrence of vibration, and (a) figure is an imaging unit).
This indicates that the position at which the machine scans and stops at the original position differs by ΔL, and when the next time it starts, the time to the registration position deviates and color shift occurs. Also, (b
) As shown in the figure, due to transient vibration of the stepping motor (speed fluctuation until reaching steady speed) within 4 scans, the time to reach the registration position shifts by Δt, causing color misregistration. In addition, Figure (C) shows the variation in the constant speed scanning characteristics from the registration point to the tail edge after passing through the position, and it shows that the variation in speed fluctuation in the first scan is larger than the variation in speed fluctuation in the second to fourth scans. It shows.

Therefore, in this embodiment, during the first scan, yellow, which causes less noticeable color shift, is developed.

(III-3) IIT's control method IIT'J-Mote has sequence control for various covey operations, service support function, self-diagnosis function, and fail-safe function.IIT's sequence control includes normal scan, Divided into sample scan and initialization.

Various commands and parameters for IIT control are SY
It is sent from the S remote 71 via serial communication.

36th rl! J(a) shows a timing chart of normal scan. The scan length data is set from 0 to 432 mm (1 m-step) depending on the paper length and magnification.
The scan speed is set by the magnification (50% to 400%), and the blisscan length (distance from the stop position to the registration position) data is also set by the magnification (50% to 400%). When a scan command is received, the FL-ON signal turns on the fluorescent lamp, the 5CN-RDY signal turns on the motor driver, and after a predetermined timing, a shading correction pulse WHT-REF is generated to start scanning. When the register position is reached, the image area signal IMG-AREA becomes low level for a predetermined scan length, and in synchronization with this, the IIT-PS signal is output to the IPS.

FIG. 36(b) shows a timing chart of sample scan. The sample scan is used for color detection during color conversion, color balance correction and shading correction when using F/P.

Based on the data of the stop position, movement speed, number of micro-movements, and step interval from the register position, it goes to the target sample position, pauses or repeats the micro-movement multiple times, and then stops.

FIG. 36(C) shows a timing chart of initialization. When the power is turned on, a command is received from the SYS remote, and the registration sensor performs F11 verification, the registration sensor confirms the operation of the imaging unit, and the registration sensor corrects the home position of the imaging unit.

(III-4) Imaging unit FIG. 37 shows a cross-sectional view of the imaging unit 37, in which the original 220 is set with the image surface to be read facing downward on the platen glass 31, and the imaging unit 37 faces the lower surface in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure. The document surface is exposed to light using the daylight color fluorescent film 222 and the reflecting mirror 223.

Then, by passing the reflected light from the original 220 through the SELFOC lens 224 and the cyan filter 225, a royal life-size image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 226. The SELFOC lens 224 is a compound lens consisting of four rows of fiber lenses, and has the advantage of being bright and having high resolution, allowing the power of the light source to be kept low, and being compact. The imaging unit 37 also includes a CCD sensor drive circuit, a CC
A circuit board 227 including a D sensor output buffer circuit and the like is mounted. Note that 228 is a lamp heater, 229 is a flexible cable for control, and 230 is a flexible cable for lighting power source. A circuit board 227 is attached to the lower part of the housing 37a to which the line sensor 226 is fixed, and a heat sink 250 having a protrusion 250b is attached between the circuit board 227 and the housing 37a. A punching metal 251 for electromagnetic shielding is attached to.

A drive IC chip 252 is disposed on the circuit board 227, and the line sensor 226 is electrically connected to the circuit board 227 by a connecting pin 226a.

FIG. 38 shows a detailed view of the daylight-colored fluorescent film 222. A reflective film 222b is formed on the inner surface of the glass tube 222a except for the surface having an aperture angle α (approximately 50 degrees), and the fluorescent film 222 is formed on the inner surface of the glass tube 222a. A film 222C is formed. Thereby, the amount of light from the fluorescent film 222 is efficiently irradiated onto the document surface, thereby reducing power consumption. The reason why the fluorescent film 222C is formed on the entire inner surface and the reflective film 222b is formed on the surface other than the surface at the aperture angle is to reduce the peak of the bright line of mercury, although the amount of light is reduced. Further, a lamp heater 228 and a heat sink (heat radiating member) 222d are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fluorescent film 222, and the lamp heater 228 and the cooling fan are controlled by temperature detection by the thermistor 222e.

(III-5) Increase in light amount on the cash register side FIG. 39 is a diagram for explaining the method of increasing the light amount on the cash register side of the present invention, and FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the imaging unit in the present invention.

An example of a fluorescent lamp as a light source for illumination used in this device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 39 and 40.

The daylight color fluorescent lamp 222 used in the present invention uses, for example, a side touch type base 222-1, 222-2, and is fixed by fitting into the holding member 235, 236. The diameter of the fluorescent light is 15.5φ, and the length from end to end of the fluorescent light is 410mm.
m+11, and the platen surface is A3 size, that is, the width read by the image sensor is 300 pieces. Note that 223 is a glue flap for reflecting light from a fluorescent lamp and irradiating it onto the document surface, and is housed in a metal case 251 for electromagnetic shielding together with the fluorescent lamp.

FIG. 41 and FIG. 42 are diagrams showing the light amount distribution in the main scanning direction of a daylight color fluorescent lamp.

As shown in FIG. 41, the light intensity distribution of the fluorescent lamp has a substantially flat characteristic over the entire region, but the light intensity decreases at both ends. For example, as shown in FIG. 42, if the light amount at end A is FLY and the light amount at 10 mm inward from end A is FL2 and compared, a 20% difference in light amount will occur between the two. Therefore, the amount of light increases by 20% relative to the end portion 10 mm inside.

Therefore, as shown in Fig. 39, the original size is read,
Document setting reference position (register position) that serves as a reference for reduction/enlargement
is at the corner (left rear) position P on the rear side and the lead edge side, and the fluorescent lamp 222 is placed on the corner registration side lQ.
If the distance from the end of the fluorescent lamp on the rear side to the corner registration position is 60m5° and the distance from the end of the fluorescent lamp on the front side to the end of the platen surface is 501111, how much is 20% as explained in Figure 42? The amount of light on the corner register side can be increased. As can be seen from the perspective view of FIG. 40, this is done by moving the holding member 235 of the rear base 222-1 of the fluorescent lamp 222 to the position shown by the broken line in the figure. Of course, at this time, the holding member 236 of the front side cap 222-2 is moved by the same distance in the same direction.

Next, the relationship between light amount distribution and image quality will be explained with reference to FIG.

When the fluorescent lamp is moved toward the cash register side as described above, the light amount distribution in the main scanning direction becomes higher on the cash register side, as shown in FIG. 43(a). As a result, the amount of output light increases as shown in C3 in the diagram.
When it drops from C2 to C2, although it drops below the threshold on the side opposite to the cash register side, it can be prevented from falling below the threshold on the cash register side, and a drop in S/N can be prevented. . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 43(b), when the magnification of an A3 document is 100%, grainy image quality deterioration occurs in the shaded area of the figure where the value has fallen below the threshold at the edge opposite to the register side. On the cash register side, as shown in Figure 43 (C), for small documents such as B5 and A4, there is no effect because the document does not cover the area where grainy image quality deterioration occurs, and furthermore, as shown in Figure 43 (d).
As shown in FIG. 2, in the case of an enlarged copy such as 400%, since the original is small, deterioration in image quality can be prevented.

In the above embodiments, an example in which a fluorescent lamp is used as a light source has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other light sources such as a halogen lamp.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, by moving the illumination light source to the cash register side, it is possible to prevent image quality deterioration due to a decrease in light amount due to use of small documents without increasing the size of the light source. Particularly in the case of enlarged copying, it is possible to prevent grainy image quality deterioration from occurring.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an image reading device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a color copying machine to which the present invention is applied.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example; Figure 4 is a diagram showing a software architecture; Figure 5 is a diagram showing a copy layer; Figure 6 is a diagram showing state division; Figure 8 is a diagram explaining the sequence from power-on state to standby state, Figure 8 is a diagram explaining the sequence of progress state, Figure 9 is a diagram explaining the diagnostic concept, and Figure 1O is a diagram explaining the system and others. Figure 11 is a diagram showing the module configuration of the system, Figure 12 is a diagram explaining job mode creation, Figure 13 is a diagram showing the data flow between the system and each remote, and the system internal child. Figure 14 is a diagram showing an overview of the module configuration of the IPS. Figure 15 is a diagram explaining each module that makes up the IPS. Figure 16 is an example of the hardware configuration of the IPS. 17 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of rOT, FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a transfer device, FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of how to install a UI using a display, and FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the module configuration of the UI. Figure 22 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the UI.
3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the UICB, FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the configuration of the EPIB, FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the display screen, FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the F/P, and FIG. 27 is the M /U
FIG. 28 is a diagram for explaining the density characteristics of negative film and the principle of correction. FIG. 29 schematically shows the configuration of the F/P, and shows the F/P, M/U, and IIT.
30 is a diagram for explaining the operating procedure and timing, FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the imaging unit drive mechanism, FIG. 32 is a sectional view of the main part of FIG. 31, and FIG. 33 (a) is a drive circuit diagram of the stepping motor, (b) is a diagram showing the excitation sequence, Figure 34 is a diagram to explain the scan cycle by the imaging unit, and Figure 35 is a diagram to explain the cause of color shift in color copying. Diagrams for explanation, FIGS. 36(a) to (c) are Ir
37 is a sectional view of the imaging unit, FIG. 38 is a sectional view of a fluorescent lamp, and FIG. 39 is a diagram illustrating the method of increasing the amount of light on the cash register side of the present invention. FIG. 40 is a perspective view of the imaging unit in the present invention, FIGS. 41 and 42 are diagrams showing the light intensity distribution in the main scanning direction, and FIG. 43 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the scene distribution and image quality in the present invention. 44 is a diagram showing the input/output characteristics of the image sensor, FIG. 45 is a diagram showing the light amount distribution in the main scanning direction, FIG. 46 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between usage time and light amount reduction, and FIG. The figure is a diagram for explaining grainy image quality deterioration due to a decrease in light intensity. 222...Light source, W,...Reading range, P...
Original setting reference position.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A predetermined position on the front or rear side in the main scanning direction is set as a reference position for setting the original, and an imaging unit having a long illumination light source and an image sensor is scanned in the sub-scanning direction to create the original image. An image reading device for reading an image, characterized in that an illumination light source is shifted toward a reference position for setting the document relative to an image sensor. (2) The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the illumination light source is a fluorescent lamp and is deviated by 10 to 20 mm toward the reference position of the document.