JPH0311909B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a color image recording apparatus that records an original color image on recording paper according to a color mode.

The applicant previously stated in Japanese Patent Application No. 56-80046, etc.
We proposed a new image processing method with editing function. In other words, for example, a recording device that can designate a predetermined area with a blue loop for a red/black original and perform the same recording as the original inside and outside that area, or can perform red → black recording, black → red recording, etc. Disclosed.

In addition, the present applicant has previously proposed, in Japanese Patent Application No. 1983-63462, a basic mode (normal mode) recording of 8 dots/mm recording, a fine mode recording of 16 dots/mm recording, or a mode recording in which the image density can be changed. A recording device that can perform this has been disclosed.

According to such a recording device, it is possible to obtain a color image that has been subjected to desired color processing.

In particular, if various color processing can be performed, it is required to confirm whether the color processing has been set accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color image recording apparatus that can improve operability to meet such demands.

In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides an area determining means for determining a specified area of a color image, and a setting means for setting color processing for an image within the specified area of the color image or an image outside the area. a display means for displaying the color processing set by the setting means for an image within the designated region or an image outside the region in association with the designated region; and region determination by the region determination means and the setting. The present invention provides a color image processing apparatus characterized by comprising a processing means for performing color processing on a color image region by region based on color processing settings by the means.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a recording apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, in which 100 and 200 are recording units each having a black recording head and a red recording head, and 300 is each recording unit 100, 200. This console panel is equipped with a recording unit selection switch, various switches for specifying a mode, a mode playback display for displaying a specified mode, etc., which will be described later. 400 is a reading unit for reading image information on a document; 500 is an input console provided with a numeric keypad for specifying the number of copies, a clear key thereof, a copy number set display, a copy start key, a stop key, etc. These various devices are arranged on a table 600.

In the embodiment of the present invention, areas are specified in blue on a black and/or red document, and different recording processes can be executed for black and red within and outside the blue frame. For example, only the characters written in red inside the frame can be erased or recorded in black, or the characters written in black outside the frame can be recorded in red or erased.

FIG. 2 shows a list of 81 recording modes that can be recorded according to the embodiment of the present invention, which will be explained with reference to FIG. 3. Assume that the original to be recorded is as shown in FIG. Here, the thick line represents a black original, the thin line represents a red original, and the broken line represents an area (frame) designated in blue. Also in FIG. 2, thick lines mean black records, thin lines mean red records, and blank areas mean erased characters.

In Figure 2, the first column COL1 in the horizontal direction is
It shows how to record all areas of the document when areas outside the frame or areas are not recorded, and the second column COL2 in the vertical direction shows how to record the area inside the frame. Note that black → and red → mean erasing the black original and red original. In addition, the nine modes in the third column COL3 in the first row of Figure 2 indicate the modes when area specification is not performed, but these nine modes are in the first column.
Since it is included in the 81 modes indicated by the intersections of COL1 and the second column COL2, the concept of no area specification is not introduced in this example when specifying the mode.

For example, if you want to record the character A written in black outside the frame (hereinafter abbreviated as black A), red D outside the frame, black B inside the frame, and red C inside the frame as they are, When recording like the intersection CRS1 in Figure 2, black characters outside the frame are recorded as black (hereinafter abbreviated as black → black), outside the frame is recorded as red → red, inside the frame is black → black, and inside the frame is recorded as red → red. You can specify . Note that the procedure for specifying each mode will be described later.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the console panel 300 of the recording section 100 shown in FIG. 1, where 301 is a recording section selection switch, and 302 is a storage section selection indicator. By pressing down 301, the recording unit 100 is selected and the display 302 lights up. 303-306
are color change part designation switches, 307-310
is the display, and only one of the switches can be pressed down, and the display corresponding to that switch lights up. 311 to 313 are output color specification switches, and a change part specification switch 303
In steps 306 to 306, it is specified whether the specified portion of the image on the document is to be recorded in black, red, or erased. Further, 314 is a color mode playback indicator, and switches 303 to 306 and 3
A mode pattern indicating the recording mode specified by 11 to 313 is displayed.

Here, the characters "black" and "red" indicate the colors of image information on the document, and the frame 314A indicates the area. In other words, in this example, a predetermined color, for example, blue, is used to designate an area on the document, and different processing is performed for each color of the image information on the document, inside and outside the area (also referred to as inside the frame and outside the frame). can be specified, and the specified mode pattern can be displayed on this display 314. Thereby, the recorded image of the operator can be visually confirmed, and recording errors can be prevented.

315 is a registration switch, 316 is its display,
317 to 319 are registration mode selection switches, and after displaying the desired mode pattern on the display 314 as described above, the registration switch 315 is pressed down, and then the registration mode selection switches 317 to 319 are pressed down.
By pressing any one of 319, the mode is registered corresponding to the pressed switch. That is, modes that are frequently used by the operator can be assigned in advance to each of the switches 317 to 319. In other words, such a group of programmable switches can simplify the mode designation operation and improve usability. Also, 3
20 is a clear switch, and this switch 32
By pressing 0, the specified mode is disabled, the basic mode is selected, and the basic mode pattern is displayed on the playback display 314. In addition,
Here, the basic mode refers to a mode in which image information on a document is recorded as is.

Next, typical modes will be described with reference to FIG. 4 regarding the procedure for specifying a desired mode.

(i) Basic mode: Black image information inside and outside the frame (hereinafter abbreviated as black original) is recorded in black, and red originals are recorded in red.

First, when the color change portion designation switch 303 is pressed and then the output color designation switch 311 is pressed down, the black document outside the frame is selected to be recorded in black. Next, when the switch 311 is pressed after pressing down the switch 304, the black document within the frame is selected to be recorded in black. Furthermore, when the switch 312 is pressed down after the switch 305 is pressed down, the red original within the frame is selected to be recorded in red. Furthermore, after the switch 306 is pressed down, the switch 312
When you press down, red originals outside the frame are selected to be recorded in red.

Similarly, by specifying a changed portion using switches 303-306 and specifying output color or erasure of that portion using switches 311-313, each of the 81 modes shown in FIG. 2 can be selected.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the mode playback display 314 shown in FIG. 4, where 330 is a display panel;
It is a light-shielding panel with each character pattern as shown in the illustration punched out in advance, and the "black" and "red" in the center are marked with a blue frame 3.
It is surrounded by 14A. Further, on the back side of the panel 330, partition plates 331 to 333 are provided at the boundaries of each character, and a blue lamp 33 is provided for each character.
4. A red lamp 335 and an incandescent lamp 336 are provided. When each of these lamps 334 to 336 is turned on in accordance with the designated mode as described above, the desired mode pattern is displayed on the display panel 330. Note that when the blue lamp 334 is lit, it means that image information is recorded in black; when the red lamp 335 is lit, it means that image information is recorded in red;
When 6 lights up, it means that image information is erased and recorded.

It goes without saying that this mode playback display 314 may be a display such as a CRT.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed configuration example of the recording sections 100, 200 shown in FIG.
are each equipped with two recording heads, for example ink jet heads 10, 11 and 20, 21. Each ink jet head is a full-line ink jet head in which a plurality of recording elements are arranged in a straight line in a direction perpendicular to the drawing of FIG. 6, and is driven in response to electrical signals from an information source (not shown) to perform recording. conduct. In this example, it is assumed that the inkjet heads 10 and 20 perform black recording, and the inkjet heads 11 and 21 perform red recording. Each recording section is arranged vertically in two sections by a support (not shown).
It is stacked in tiers. Further, each recording section can be configured in the same way except for the configuration of each head or its control.

In the figure, 101 and 201 are recording paper storage cassettes 11.
Recording paper stored in 4,214, 102,2
02 is a paper feed roller, 103, 203 is a guide plate,
104, 204 are registration rollers, 105, 20
5 is a first conveyance roller, 106, 206 is a platen having a large number of pores, 107, 207 is a fan, 108, 208 is a second conveyance roller, 10
9, 209 is a suspension roller, 110, 210 is a conveyor belt, 111, 211 is a paper discharge tray, 112,
113, 212, 213 are ink tanks.

Next, the recording operation in the above configuration will be described. However, since the recording sections 100 and 200 operate in exactly the same manner except for the operations of the ink jet head, only the recording section 100 will be explained.

Recording paper 10 stored in paper cassette 114
1, the guide plate 1 is rotated by the rotation of the paper feed roller 102.
03 to the registration roller 104, which has stopped rotating, and forms an appropriate loop.
Next, as the registration roller 104 rotates, the recording paper is held between the registration roller 104 and the first conveyance roller 105 and transferred to the inkjet head 10,
It is transported in 11 directions. At this time, a platen 106 having small holes and a fan 107 are provided on opposite sides of the ink jet heads 10 and 11, and as the fan 107 rotates, air is blown in the T direction in the figure. Therefore, the recording paper that has passed the first conveyance roller 105 is sucked by the fan 107 while passing over the platen 106 to the second conveyance roller 108.
transported in the direction. Recording is performed by a drive circuit in response to electrical signals supplied to ink jet heads 10 and/or 11 from an information source (not shown). After recording, when the leading edge of the recording paper is transported to the second transport roller 108, the second transport roller 1
The recording paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray 111 by the conveyor belt 110 and the conveyor belt 110 .

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the document reading section shown in FIG. In the figure, 401 is a document table glass, 402 is a bar-shaped light source such as a halogen lamp or a fluorescent lamp, 403 is a first mirror, 404 is a second mirror, 405 is a third mirror, and 406 is an imaging lens. The beam splitter 408 is a color separation beam splitter arranged corresponding to the lens 406, and has spectral characteristics of reflecting light in a long wavelength range including red light and transmitting light in a short wavelength range including blue light. have. 407R, 40
7B is an element that receives reflected light and transmitted light from the beam splitter 408 and performs photoelectric conversion, for example, a one-dimensional solid-state image sensor such as a CCD;
The main scanning direction is perpendicular to the drawing, and each photoelectric conversion element reads the same position on the document.

To explain the operation of the document reading unit, the document placed on the document table glass 401 is illuminated by a rod-shaped light source 402, and the first mirror 403, second mirror 404, and third mirror 405 scan (sub-scan) the document.
The image is formed on the CCDs 407B and 407R by the lens 406 through the lens 406. The rod-shaped light source 402 and the first mirror 403 are integrated by a support (not shown), and scan the document surface while moving in the direction F in the figure by a guide rail (not shown) (sub-scanning). The second mirror 404 and the third mirror 405 are integrated by a support (not shown), and move in the same direction as the first mirror 403 at a speed that is half the moving speed of the first mirror 403. (Illustrated)
move on. Rod-shaped light source 402, first mirror 40
3. The second mirror 404 and the third mirror 405 are at positions 402', 403', and 40 indicated by dotted lines in the figure, respectively.
4', 405', but at this time, the original platen 4
The optical path length from 01 to lens 406 through mirrors 403, 404, and 405 is always kept constant. Therefore, during sub-scanning, CCD 407B and 4
If the signals from the 07R light-receiving elements are read out in sequence, it is possible to obtain sequential signals obtained by raster scanning the document surface.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the control section in the present invention,
The same parts as in FIGS. 1 to 7 are given the same reference numerals. First, a photoelectric conversion element 407R that receives light in a long wavelength range including red light and a photoelectric conversion element 407 that receives light in a short wavelength range including blue light.
The outputs of B are digitized by circuits DG1 and DG1, respectively.
Supply to DG2 and convert analog signal to digital signal
Convert to BSR, BSB. Its digital signal BSR
and BSB are supplied to the color discrimination circuit DMC to obtain red data DRE, blue data DBU and black data DBK, and these data are supplied to the memory ME1 via the buffer circuit BUF1 for storage. here,
Address signals, timing signals, and read/write signals for writing or reading data are supplied from the memory control circuit MEC to the memory ME1 to control the memory ME1. Note that the memory control circuit MEC is controlled by the main control circuit MCC.

The red data DRE and black data DBK stored in the memory ME1 are read out at a predetermined timing and sent to the data switch DSW1 via the buffer circuit BUF2.
and DSW2 respectively. On the other hand, the blue data DBU is also read out at a predetermined timing and supplied to the area detection circuit DEA via the buffer circuit BUF2 to detect the blue loop area on the document, and a data switching control signal is sent based on the detected data.
Supplies DOUT to data switchers DSW1 and DSW2. Data switchers DSW1 and DSW2,
Controlled by mode signal EN and switching control signal DOUT from main control circuit MCC, desired color data is supplied to recording heads 10, 11, 20 and 21 via drive circuits DRV1 to DRV4 to perform desired recording. .

In addition, in Fig. 8, UCC1 and UCC2
is a recording section input control circuit of each recording section 100 and 200, and shows each switch 301 etc. and the reproduction display 314 described in detail with reference to FIG.
Each switch is connected to the main control circuit MCC,
In response to the depression of each switch, the program stored in the memory circuit ME2, ie, the procedure shown in FIG. 9, is executed. Note that PPD1 and PPD2 are paper conveyance systems, which drive rollers and the like of each recording section 100 and 200 under the control of the main control circuit MCC. Also, ICOP is the console panel of the input section.

FIG. 9 shows the procedure of unit console input processing in each recording section 100, 200, and shows step S1.
Power-on/reset-on is determined, and if the determination is affirmative, the basic mode is reproduced and displayed on the color mode reproduction display 314 as the recording mode in step S2. Next, in step S3, the recording unit (abbreviated as unit in FIGS. 8 and 9) selection display 302 is turned on, all the color change part designation displays 307 to 310 are turned off, and the registration display 316 is turned on. Turn off the lights.

In step S4, unit selection switch 3
It is determined whether or not 01 is pressed, and if the determination is affirmative, the process advances to step S5, and it is determined whether or not the unit selection display 302 is lit when the switch 301 is pressed. If the judgment is affirmative, the unit selection display 302 is turned off in step S6, and the mode playback display 314 and color change section designation display 307 to
310 and the registration display 316 are turned off.
Proceed to S8. If the judgment is negative in step S5, the procedure
At S7, the selection indicator 302 is turned on, the recording mode is set to basic mode, the basic mode is displayed on the color mode playback indicator 314, and the procedure is performed.
Proceed to S8.

If the determination is negative in step S4, it is determined in step S8 whether the unit selection display 302 is lit, and if the determination is negative, the process returns to step S4.
If the determination is affirmative, it is determined in step S9 whether or not the clear switch 320 has been pressed; if the determination is affirmative, in step S10, the recording mode is set to basic mode and that mode is displayed on the mode playback display 314, and the color change portion is Designated display 307~
Turn off the 310 and registration display 316 and proceed with the procedure.
Proceed to S11.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not the registration switch 315 is pressed. If the judgment is affirmative, in step S12,
When the switch 315 is pressed, it is determined whether or not the registration display 316 is lit, and if it is affirmative, the procedure
Proceed to S13 and turn off the registration display 316.
Proceed to S15. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S12, the registration indicator 316 is turned on in step S14, and the process proceeds to step S15.

If a negative determination is made in step S11, the process proceeds to step S15,
It is determined whether the registered color mode selection switches 317 to 319 are pressed. If it is pressed down,
Proceeding to step S16, it is determined whether the registration indicator 316 is lit when the switches 317 to 319 are pressed. If the judgment is affirmative, the process advances to step S17, and the pressed registered color mode selection switch 317-3
The set recording mode is registered in a predetermined area of the memory circuit ME2 corresponding to No. 19, and then the registration display 316 is turned off and the process proceeds to step S19. Step S16
If a negative determination is made in step S18, the recording mode is changed to the recording mode in the memory circuit ME2 corresponding to the pressed registered color mode selection switch, that mode is displayed on the playback display, and step S19 is performed.
Proceed to.

If a negative determination is made in step S15, the process proceeds to step S19,
It is determined whether or not the color change portion designation switches 303 to 306 are pressed. If the judgment is affirmative, the procedure
Color change part designation display 30 corresponding to the color change part designation switch pressed in S20
7 to 310 are lit at that time. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S21, where all the color change portion designation indicators 307 to 310 are turned off, and the process proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S20, in step S22, the pressed color change portion designation switches 303 to 306
Color change part specification display 307-3 corresponding to
10 is turned on, the other indicators 307 to 310 are turned off, and the process proceeds to step S23.

If a negative determination is made in step S19, step S23
Output color specification switches 311 to 313
Determine whether or not the button is pressed, and if the determination is positive, proceed to
In S24, it is determined whether any of the color change part designation indicators 307 to 310 are lit at that time, and if any is lit, the procedure
Proceed to S25 and perform the following processing. That is, in the current color mode, the portions where the color change portion designation indicators 307 to 310 are lit are changed according to the pressed output color designation switch, and the changed color mode is played back. At the same time as displaying on the display 314, all the color change part specification display units 307 to 310 are turned off.
Return to S4.

Figure 10 shows the data switch DSW in Figure 8.
A specific example of DSW 1 and DSW 2 is shown below. Here, a data switching control signal is sent to the mode control circuit CL of the data switching devices DSW1 and DSW2 together with the mode designation signal EN from the input control circuits UCC1 and UCC2.
DOUT is introduced, the first data selection signal SD1, the second data selection signal SD2, and the third data selection signal SD
3. Fourth data selection signal SD4 and first to fourth logic signals SDL1 that control passage of selected data
to generate SDL4. Also, black read data DMB, red read data DMR, OR gate based on these two data DMB and DMR.
51 output OR signal DBR and zero data GND equal to the ground potential, the first data selection circuit
Contacts s, t, u of changeover switches SW1 to SW4 included in DSC1 to fourth data selection circuit DSC4
and v, respectively. Data DSL selected by these switches SW1 to SW4
1~DSL4 are each AND gate AD41~
AD44 is supplied, and those data DSL1~
DSL4 passes only when the logic signals SDL1 to SDL4 are at a high logic level, and the drive circuits DRV1 to
Supplied to DRV4. As a result, the head 10,
11, 20 and 21 are driven.

The data switcher shows the typical modes below.
Explain the operation of DSW. Note that the recording head 10,
Let us now discuss the case where only 11 is used.

(i) Basic mode: Records the image information on the document as is, both outside and inside the frame.If you specify the information to record in basic mode from the console panel COP shown in Figure 4,
The signal generated by pressing each switch is encoded to obtain the basic mode signal EN.
In FIG. 10, signal EN is this mode signal. Control circuit CL supplied with this signal EN
supplies signals SD1 and SD2 corresponding to the basic mode to changeover switches SW1 and SW2, respectively. As a result, the contact s of the switch SW1 is connected, and the contact t of the switch SW2 is connected. That is, black read data
DMB goes to black head 10, red read data
DMR is supplied to red head 11. Also, since this mode ignores the area, the signals SD1, SD2 and logic signals SDL1, SDL2 should not change depending on the data switching control signal DOUT, and the logic signals SDL1 and SDL
2 is held at a high logic level at all times. Therefore, while recording the entire area of the original, the switch SW
1 and SW2 are switched as shown in FIG.
Data about black color respectively captured in
DMB and data DMR about red color,
Since the signal is constantly supplied to the drive circuits DRV1 and DRV2, the image information on the document can be reproduced and recorded in its original color.

(ii) 1st mode: Record only the area specified in blue as original. As mentioned above, when you specify the 1st mode using the console panel COP shown in Figure 4, the
Mode signal EN is supplied to control circuit CL. This causes the control circuit CL to generate both data selection signals SD1 and SD2 that connect the changeover switch SW1 to the contact s and the switch SW2 to the contact t. Furthermore, by the data switching control signal DOUT, both logic signals become high logic level only during both edge detection periods for each line.
SDL1 and SDL2 are generated from control circuit CL. Therefore, in accordance with the edge detection information, that is, the data switching control signal DOUT, the document image within the specified area is sequentially recorded line by line, and the area outside the specified area is not recorded even if the color data DMB and DMR are present.

(iii) Second mode: Records outside the frame as black → red, red → black, and records inside the frame as black → black, red → red.
When the mode is specified, the second mode signal is sent to the control circuit.
When edge detection information is not included in data switching control signal DOUT, switch SW1 is switched to contact t and switch SW2 is switched to contact s, and when edge detection information is included, switch SW1 is switched to contact s. ni, switch
Data selection signals SD1 and SD2 are generated to switch SW2 to contact t. Further, the first and second logic signals SDL1 and SDL2 are controlled to always be at a high logic level. As a result, the area outside the frame can be recorded as black → red, red → black, and the area inside the frame can be recorded as black → black, red → red.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to realize a recording apparatus that can accurately and quickly set various recording modes.

In addition, in the above embodiment, various recording modes that can be realized when areas of red and black originals are specified in blue have been explained.
All kinds of recording devices that have multiple recording modes, such as a normal mode of mm, a fine mode of 16 dots/mm, or a mode that can express halftones;
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to printing devices and copying devices.

In addition, the recording mode can be set using 81 switches corresponding to each mode, or 9 switches corresponding to COL1 in the first column and 9 switches corresponding to COL2 in the second column in Fig. 2, for a total of 18 switches. Of course, 81 modes may be specified using the switch.

As explained above, according to the present invention, color processing set for an image within a specified area or an image outside the area is displayed in association with the specified area. You can check at a glance whether the color processing for images inside the area or outside the area has been set correctly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the recording device of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a diagram showing a list of 81 recording modes that can be recorded with the recording device, Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of a manuscript to explain Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a diagram showing a list of 81 recording modes that can be recorded with the recording device.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the mode playback indicator, FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing details of the recording section shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing details of the recording section shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the control section of the recording apparatus of the present invention; FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure for specifying the recording mode of the recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing details of the data switch shown in FIG. 8. 10, 11, 20, 21...recording head, 10
0,200...Recording unit, 101,201...Recording paper, 102,202...Paper feed roller, 103,2
03... Guide, 104, 204... Registration roller, 105, 108, 205, 208... Conveyance roller, 106, 206... Platen, 107,
207...Fan, 109,209...Suspension roller, 110,210...Transport belt, 111,2
11... Paper output tray, 112, 113, 212,
213...Ink tank, 114, 214...Cassette, 300...Console panel, 301,
303-306, 311-313, 315, 31
7~319,320...Switch, 302,30
7-310, 316...display device, 314...reproduction display device, 314A...frame, 330...display panel, 331-333...partition plate, 334-336
... Lamp, 400 ... Reading section, 401 ... Original table glass, 402 ... Rod-shaped light source, 403 to 405
...Mirror, 406...Lens, 407B, 40
7R...Photoelectric conversion element, 408...Beam splitter, 500...Input console, 600...Table, DG1, DG2...Digitization circuit,
DMC...color discrimination circuit, BUF1, BUF2...buffer circuit, ME1...memory, MEC...memory control circuit, ME2...memory circuit, MCC...main control circuit, DSW1, DSW2...data switcher,
DRV1 to DRV4...drive circuit, PPD1,
PPD2... Paper transport system, ICOP... Input console panel, CL... Control circuit, SW1 to SW4...
Switch, AD41~AD44...and gate,
OR51, OR52...OR gate.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Area determination means for determining a specified area of a color image; Setting means for setting color processing for an image within the specified area of the color image or an image outside the area; display means for displaying color processing set by the setting means for an image within the region or an image outside the region in association with a designated region; 1. A color image processing device, comprising processing means for performing color processing on a color image region by region based on settings.