JPH024905B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in a copying machine in which an original is set on a glass platen for copying.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for copying a partial area of a document set on a glass, a device is known in which the document image is read and stored in a memory, and only the necessary portion is reproduced.

However, it is difficult to determine which part of the manuscript is the copy area.
It could only be known by some marks around the glass stand. Therefore, since the copy area can be preset in only a few ways determined by the number of marks, it is impossible to copy any part in this case. In addition, in order to enable arbitrary partial copying, the applicant has
A proposal was made to mount a cathode ray tube such as a CRT on a copying machine to monitor the area, but it was not suitable for low-cost copying machines.

Additionally, a device has been proposed that monitors the copy area by projecting the original image onto a screen.
In addition to requiring a new screen, a location for installing the screen is also required, resulting in an increase in the size of the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus which eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

That is, in a copying apparatus that copies an original by setting the original on the original mounting table, there is provided an exposure means 3 for exposing and scanning the original for copying, and an exposure means 3 for exposing and scanning the original for copying; a means 21 for irradiating the original with light from a light source different from the exposure means; irradiation area limiting means 20a to 20d for restricting the irradiation area of the irradiation means; and copying of the original set on the original document mounting table. means 28 for setting a range; means for copying a copying range of a document set by the setting means; and a region of light irradiated onto the document by the irradiation means in conjunction with the setting operation of the setting means; Means 9, 19a to 19 for controlling the irradiation area limiting means so as to be the same as the copying range of the original set by the setting means.
d, 29a to 29d, 30a to 30d,
An object of the present invention is to provide a copying apparatus that can monitor the copy range of the original from above by irradiating light from the bottom of the original.

This allows the user to accurately set the desired copying range of the original while checking the original, and also eliminates the need for a screen for monitoring the copying range.

For example, a copying machine using an image sensor scans a document, reads information on the document with the image sensor, and converts it into a 1, 0 signal with a predetermined number of pixels. The converted signal is stored at an address corresponding to the pixel of the memory, and the original is stored. Further, the information stored in the memory is converted into an analog signal, modulates the light beam, and is reproduced as a scanned image on the photosensitive drum. At this time, if you want to copy a certain part of the document placed on the document table, if you specify the range by inputting from the keyboard of the operation unit, only the information stored at the corresponding memory address will be reproduced. The area of the original to be reproduced is brightly displayed as the original becomes a screen by light from below the original table whose aperture is controlled.

A detailed explanation will be given below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a copying machine, where 1 is a document, 2 is a document table, 3 is a scanning illumination lamp, 4 is a first reflecting mirror that moves together with 3, and 5 is a second movable mirror.
It moves in the same direction at 1/2 the speed of the original scan. 6 is a lens system, 7 is an image sensor with a width in the main scanning direction, 8 is a circuit that digitizes the signal from the image sensor and puts it on the data bus, 2
7 is an image memory, 9 is a control unit CPU such as a computer that controls data exchange, and 10 is a CPU.
A circuit that modulates the brightness of a light beam and deflects it in the main scanning direction by converting the data bus signal from the
11 is a light beam generator such as a laser source, 12 is a DC
13 is an AC corona charger, 15 is a developing device, 16 is a photosensitive drum, 17 is a transfer corona charger, and 18 is transfer paper.

A document 1 is scanned by an illumination system 3 and mirrors 4 and 5, and information on the document is focused by a lens system 6 and imaged on an image sensor 4. The image sensor is CCD,
This is possible with a well-known device such as a photodiode array. The read signal from the image sensor 7 is converted into a digital signal by a conversion circuit 8, and the serial data is further converted into parallel data and placed on a data bus.
The information carried on the data bus is taken into a register within the CPU and further stored in the memory 7. Further, the contents of the memory 27 are read out by the CPU and processed by the modulation circuit 10 to modulate the light beam generator 11. On the other hand, 16 is a photosensitive drum, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the drum, which is uniformly charged by the DC corona charger 12, by the AC corona charger and the light beam 14. The latent image is developed by a developing device 15 and transferred onto a transfer paper 18 with the help of a corona charger 17.

FIG. 2 shows a device that illuminates a document 1 on a document table 22 from below to brightly display the portions that need to be copied. 20a corresponding to the irradiation area control means of the present invention
20d (20c and 20d are located on the front and opposite sides, so not shown) is a plate that forms a rectangular window by its aperture operation, and 21, which corresponds to the irradiation means of the present invention, is a lamp that illuminates the original. The light from the illumination lamp 21 is irradiated toward the document table through this window. If there is an original on the original table, the original becomes a screen and a rectangular window is brightly projected onto the original, allowing you to monitor the copy area. 19a-1
A cam 9d (19c, 19d not shown) is rotated by a servo motor or a stepping motor driven by a signal from a control circuit to move the plates 20a to 20d in order to set the copy range.

FIG. 3 shows a copying range where a portion of the original is illuminated by the lamp.

FIG. 4-1 shows the maximum copying range of the document table divided into pixels with symbols attached, and FIG. 4-2 shows the correspondence between memory addresses and stored pixel information. In FIG. 4-2, the memory is 8 bits to match the bus line, but any configuration is possible. What is important is that the pixels and memory locations correspond.

Figure 5 is a detailed block circuit diagram of Figure 1.
The signal from the image sensor 7 is amplified through an amplifier 8d and input to an A/D converter 8a. A/
The D converter 8a samples and holds the sensor data as a clock φ' timing signal, performs an A/D converter, and converts the data into 8-bit digital data using a select signal and an R/W signal for controlling reading and writing to memory, etc. Output as a signal. Magnetium comparator 8b determines the threshold level. As a result, the image information is converted into a binary signal of '1' and '0' and is connected to the next stage. The serial/parallel converter 8c converts the serially generated signal from the magnetic comparator 8b into a parallel 8bit signal.
The signals are put together into a group of signals and placed on the data bus line 25. The image signal on the data bus is taken into the CPU 9. The CPU 9 stores the designated data in the memory 27 in correspondence with the memory address for each pixel.

When reproducing the data, by turning on the print key (not shown), the CPU reads the signal 8 bits at a time from the memory 27, converts it into serial data at the appropriate timing, weights it with density, and sends it to the data bus. send to. The A/D converter 35 converts it into an analog signal and outputs it to the laser modulation circuit. The laser modulation circuit 36 is the A/D converter 3
The laser beam emitted from the laser generator 37 is scanned by a polygon mirror 38 to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum.

The setting of the copy range is preset by the input device 28 corresponding to the setting means of the present invention before printing starts. The input format may be specified using the x and y coordinates from the keyboard, or may be input using four dials for main direction and width direction. If you use the numeric keypad as a key to set the number of copy repetitions, add a partial set key, and after turning on the set key, one numeric keystroke will move the main scanning left direction, the second numeric keystroke will move the main scanning right direction, and the third key will move the main scanning right direction. You can set width scanning in one direction with the 4th setting, and in the same direction with the 4th setting. The input information is read by the CPU and sent to the D/A for the display device.
Data in the direction a is immediately sent to the converter 31a, which drives the rotation amount of the servo motor 29a through the drive circuit 30a, thereby driving the cam 19a. At the same time, the illumination lamp 21 is turned on. In this way, one of the plates forming the rectangle is driven, and the other three plates are similarly driven according to the individual data, respectively corresponding to the D/A converters 31b to 31d and a part of the control circuit of the present invention. circuit 3
0b to 30d, motors 29b to 29d, cam 19
b to 19d, and the opening is set within a predetermined range. The light from the lamp 21 is limited and the copy area is immediately displayed on the original. Cam 19a~
As the motor for driving 19d, a well-known technique such as a solenoid or a linear motor can be used instead of a servo motor.

The above is a technique that can be applied based on the fact that many manuscripts are made of thin paper, but for documents such as bound books or documents that are thick enough to prevent light from passing through, a monitor that shows the bottom surface of the manuscript table is used. If you install a screen, you can display it in the same way. The structure of this monitor screen is shown in FIG.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 101 denotes a document table glass, which is unnecessarily attached to the open transport opening formed on the top plate of the copying machine;
Reference numeral 02 denotes a document holding pressure plate provided on the top surface of the glass so that it can be opened and closed freely. The original is positioned and placed on the upper surface of the glass at a desired position with the side to be copied facing down, and then the pressure plate 102 is covered and pressed down to set the original. 102' is a handle for opening and closing the pressure plate 102. 103 is the document table glass 10
A lamp for monitoring the document set state disposed below the document platen 1 illuminates the entire lower surface of the document table glass 1. 1
Reference numeral 04 denotes a monitor screen made of, for example, frosted glass, which is fitted into the through hole formed in, for example, the operation panel of the copying machine. Then, the entire lower surface of the document table glass 101 illuminated by the lamp 103 is covered with a lens 105, a reflecting mirror 106, and an imaging lens 107.
Projection is performed on a monitor screen using a projection optical system consisting of a projection optical system (scale projection in the illustrated example). The actual set state, such as the position and orientation, is displayed as is on the screen 104. Further, the copy area set by the aperture means A19-21 is displayed on the screen.

Therefore, before setting the original and starting copying, the actual set state of the original can be checked on the monitor screen 104, and if any misalignment of the original is found, it can be corrected immediately. Copying can be performed with the original set in the correct state, and it is possible to eliminate copying errors caused by improper setting of the original.

Also, by correcting the document position while looking at the monitor screen, delicate and fine positioning can be easily performed. Similarly, the original table glass 101 is used when copying a small original onto a desired part of a copy sheet, or conversely, copying a necessary part of a large original, or when combining multiple originals to make a composite copy.
It becomes possible to easily, quickly, and accurately position the original against the object.

Also, all data stored in the image memory can be read out and checked.

It is preferable that the monitor screen 4 has a similar shape to the outer shape of the original platen glass 101, and is configured to project the image on the original platen glass to the entire surface of the screen (for example, if the original platen glass 101 is the size of an A3 paper, the monitor screen 104 Also, make the external shape similar to the A3 version).

A plurality of monitor lamps 103 that illuminate the entire inside of the document table glass 1 may be provided as necessary. The lamp 103 may be turned on by pressing a monitor button, for example, and turned off by a copying operation start signal. In addition, during the copying operation process of the copying machine, in order to prevent the light from the document exposure lamp 133 from leaking to the outside through the monitor projection optical system 105 to 107 and the monitor screen 104, the above-mentioned method is also used. In order to prevent external light from entering the copying machine through the opposite path, it is possible to provide a shutter 108 that blocks the optical path of the projection optical system in conjunction with turning off the lamp 103, for example. Reference numeral 108 ₁ indicates, for example, an electromagnetic solenoid that opens and closes the shutter 108 . By synchronizing the operations of 103 and A in the same manner as shown in FIG. 2, a desired area in the memory can be monitored before and after printing.

When the copy range shown in this way is reproduced by turning on the print key, the CPU 9 retrieves data from the memory only at the address corresponding to the partial area of the memory 27, and the other partial data is treated as if it contained no information. It is treated as the same data (as a bright area), and a latent image is not formed on the photosensitive drum. Therefore, when handling small originals, the margins around the drum will not be smudged due to excess development, and the information on the original can be maintained by leaving the run 21 and cam 19 set during printing. You can visually check and copy only the necessary parts.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is possible to set any rectangular copy range, but if you change the input format and the program in the CPU 9 and provide a pattern program that selects and controls addresses in a predetermined mode, you can easily set the copy range from the operation panel. The device can be trimmed into any shape using the pattern program select command.

In addition, since the image information is once stored in memory, even if the original is removed, it is possible to copy it many times using the data in the memory, as well as read another original and trim a part of it to restore the previous memory contents. By combining the corresponding parts of the image, multiple pieces of information can be reproduced into a single image. In addition, the above-mentioned display is possible in conjunction. Note that the D/A converter 35 in the modulation circuit 10 is configured to print a specific part according to the image density, but the D/A converter 35 can be replaced with the same one as the serial/parallel conversion circuit 8C. It is possible to increase the printing speed by increasing the black and white data transfer rate.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The first is a schematic cross-sectional view of a copying machine according to the present invention, and the second
The figure is a partial sectional view of the monitor in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the monitor in Figure 1, and Figures 4-1 and 4-2.
The figure shows a pixel, FIG. 5 is a control block circuit diagram in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another monitor, where 19 is a cam, 20 is a plate, 21 is a monitor lamp, and 7 is an image sensor. , 27 is an image memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A copying apparatus that sets a document on a document table and copies it, comprising: an exposure means for exposing and scanning the document for copying; and a device for placing the document from below the document table. means for irradiating the original set on the document mounting table with light from a light source different from the exposure means; irradiation area limiting means for limiting the irradiation area of the irradiation means; and copying of the original set on the document mounting table. a means for setting a range; a means for copying a copy range of a document set by the setting means; and a region of light irradiated onto the document by the irradiation means in conjunction with the setting operation of the setting means; means for controlling the irradiation area limiting means so that the copying range of the original is the same as the copying range of the original set by the setting means; A copying device characterized in that a copying range can be monitored.