JPH03175467A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently exeucte the add-on processing of the copied image of an original and a desired digital image by driving a liquid crystal shutter array and a liquid crystal display unit with the aid of an identical driving means. CONSTITUTION:A liquid crystal driver 25 drives the liquid crystal display unit DISP and makes it display inputted mode information before the exposure operation of the original is started. Then, when the exposure and scanning of the original is started, the driver 25 drives the liquid crystal shutter array 10 while synchronizing with the moving speed of a photosensitive drum 12 and forms the image of the original transmitted through the array 10 on the drum 12 through the light convergent lens 11 of an optical medium. At that time, a liquid crystal controller 24 which is also used as a driving control means and a driving inhibition means controls the driving of the array 10 executed by the driver 25 based on inputted add-on information and forms the prescribed digital image on the drum 12 in parallel with the exposure and scanning of the original. Thus, the add-on processing of the copied image of the original and the desired digital information is executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image using an image selected by exposing and scanning an original, and particularly relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image using an image that is selected by exposing and scanning an original. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs exposure scanning based on information.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, this type of image forming apparatus includes a laser beam printer that scans and exposes a laser beam to form an image, and an optical head that includes a combination of a light emitting diode (LED) array and a light converging lens. LED printers, LCD printers having an optical head consisting of a combination of a liquid crystal shutter and a light source, and the like have been put into practical use.

The device for forming an analog digital image includes a reader unit that scans and exposes the original, and a recording medium transport device that transports the copied recording paper to the image forming unit again in an inverted state or in a non-inverted state. have. Then, in order to add the set digital information to the copied image, after performing the normal image copying process, the recording paper conveyance control is executed such that the image forming process is executed again via the recording medium conveyance device. to form the desired digital/analog image.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In this way, a printer device that does not have a reader section concentrates on digital processing such as forming an image according to input print information, so a reader section is required in order to copy an original image. Therefore, a significant economic burden is required when expanding the system.

On the other hand, in digital/analog image forming devices,
The following problems (1) to (3) arise because it is necessary to transport the recording paper that has undergone copying original processing to the image forming section again.

(1) In order to automatically superimpose add-on characters on a copy image, the recording medium transport device described above is required, which increases the size and cost of the device.

(2) Since the recording medium transport device operates to perform multiple processing, a situation occurs in which image forming processing is performed on the same recording medium at least twice, resulting in a significant reduction in throughput.

(3) When performing 5-fold processing, the general feed device for recording medium 1 is activated, so the image forming process for the same recording medium may be performed at least twice, resulting in misalignment of the vertical and horizontal registration for the recording medium. There were many problems such as deterioration of image quality.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and includes a liquid crystal shutter array that selectively transmits light in an optical imaging optical path of an image forming apparatus that scans an original with concentrated light. By driving the array and liquid crystal display with the same driving means, the single driving means can efficiently perform exposure processing based on desired digital information and normal display processing in parallel with original scanning π light processing. It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive device capable of efficiently performing add-on processing on a copy image of a document and a desired digital image while processing.

[Means to solve the problem]

The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal shutter array that is located on the optical path of an input original image to be scanned and is opposed in the width direction of a photoreceptor; An optical medium that forms an image on the photoconductor is installed, and a shared system that drives the liquid crystal shutter array in synchronization with the moving speed of the photoconductor and drives the liquid crystal display in parallel with scanning and exposing the document by the optical scanning system. The apparatus is provided with a drive means and a drive control means for controlling the drive of the 7-night crystal shutter array by the shared drive means based on input add-on information.

Further, a driving inhibiting means is provided for temporarily inhibiting driving of the liquid crystal display by the shared driving means based on the scanning state of the optical scanning system.

(Function) In the present invention, before the optical scanning system starts exposure scanning of the document, the shared driving means drives the 7-unit display to display the input mode information. Then, when the optical scanning system starts exposure scanning of the document, the shared driving means drives the 7-day crystal shutter array in synchronization with the moving speed of the photoreceptor, and the reflected image transmitted through the liquid crystal shutter array is transmitted through the optical medium. Form an image on a photoreceptor. At that time, add-on-1l! to which the drive control means is inputted to drive the liquid crystal shutter array by the shared drive means! control based on f-information,
It is possible to form a predetermined digital image on a photoreceptor in parallel with the original π light scanning.

Also, when the optical scanning system starts document exposure scanning,
The driving inhibiting means temporarily prohibits driving of the liquid crystal display by the shared driving means, and enables preferential driving of the 7-night crystal shutter array.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a document table glass on which a document (not shown) is placed. Reference numeral 2 denotes an original illumination lamp, and scanning mirrors 3 to 5 constitute a scanner 33, and a reflected image of the exposed original is sent to an imaging lens 9. Scanning mirror 6-8
．． Liquid crystal shutter array 10. An image is formed on the photosensitive drum 12 via the light collecting lens 11.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a pre-exposure lamp which exposes the photosensitive tram 12 cleaned by a cleaner to eliminate electric charge.

14 is a primary 11: electric device which uniformly charges the photosensitive tram 12. Reference numeral 15 denotes a blank general light lamp, which exposes the space between sheets of recording paper, which is the recording medium being fed, to the corresponding photosensitive drum 12.
Prevent unnecessary toner from being developed on top.

A developing device 16 uses a developing material (toner) to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 12 by scanning exposure or add-on exposure of an original image.

17 is transcription 1! : Using an electric device, the developed toner image is transferred onto the recording paper whose leading edge positioning of the image is synchronized by driving the registration rollers 19.

18 is a separation charger that transfers the transferred recording paper to the photosensitive drum 1.
Separate from 2. The separated recording sheets are sequentially conveyed by a conveyor belt (not shown) and subjected to a fixing process.

C0NT is a controller unit that comprehensively controls image forming processing based on an electrophotographic method based on a control program stored in a ROM, etc., which will be described later.

Note that the scanner 33 and the imaging lens 9. Scanning mirror 6-8.
Liquid crystal shutter array 10. The relative positional relationship of the light collecting lens 11 and the like is set so that the following conditions are satisfied.

That is, with the imaging lens 9 set at the same magnification position and stopped, the scanning mirrors 3 to 3 are
5. If the optical path length to the imaging lens 9 is X, then the scanning mirrors 6 to 8. The liquid crystal shutter array 10 is positioned so that the optical path length between the liquid crystal shutter arrays 10 is also X, and if the optical path length from the liquid crystal shutter array 10 to the light collecting lens 11 is y, then light from the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is The light collecting lens 11 is positioned so that the optical path length up to the collecting lens 11 is y. With this configuration, light obtained by image exposure can be focused on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 through the liquid crystal shutter array 10.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the controller unit C0NT shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In the figure, 20 is a controller, ROM 20a, R
It is composed of an AM 20b, a timer 20C, etc. 21
is a developing bias circuit which controls the developing bias applied to the developing device 16. A registration clutch 22 drives/stops the registration roller 19. A RAM 23 stores dot information according to addon information (single symbol, stamp information) instructed by, for example, the stylus pen 32 of the editor section 31. Reference numeral 24 denotes a 7-crystalline controller constituting a drive control means in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, which connects the liquid crystal shutter array 10 to a photoreceptor (in this embodiment, a photoreceptor) in parallel with scanning and exposing an original by an optical scanning system (scanner 33). A horizontal synchronizing signal H3YNC (described later) synchronized with the moving speed (rotational speed in this embodiment) of the tram 12) is generated and output to the liquid crystal driver 25. In this embodiment, the liquid crystal driver 25 constituting the driving means processes the image data sent from the liquid crystal controller 24 in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal H3YNC, and changes the liquid crystal shutter array 10 to the open/closed state or the above image data. selectively drives a specific cell into an open/closed state based on the information.

Reference numeral 26 denotes an operation section, including a copy key 27. It is comprised of various mode setting keys 28, 29, 30, a liquid crystal display DISP composed of, for example, an LCD, a display for displaying various setting states, and the like.

In the image forming apparatus configured as described above, the shared driving means (liquid crystal driver 25) drives the 7-unit display (liquid crystal display DISP described later) before the original exposure scan starts using the optical scanning system (scanner 33). Then, when the scanner 33 starts exposure scanning of the document, the liquid crystal driver 25 drives the crystal shutter array 10 in synchronization with the moving speed of the photosensitive drum 12, and the liquid crystal shutter The original image transmitted through the array 10 is formed on the photosensitive drum 12 via an optical medium (light converging lens 11). The drive of the nightgown shutter array 10 is controlled based on the input add-on information, and it is possible to form a predetermined digital image on the photosensitive drum 12 in parallel with the exposure scanning of the document.

Further, when the scanner 33 starts the original exposure scan, driving of the liquid crystal display DISP by the liquid crystal controller 24 or the liquid crystal driver 25 is temporarily prohibited, and it is possible to drive the liquid crystal shutter array 10 preferentially. do.

FIG. 3 is a circuit block diagram illustrating the driving operation of the 7-night crystal driver 25 shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals.

In the figure, 25a and 25c are common drivers, and the common driver 25c is refreshed with drive signals CMl and CM alternately every time the horizontal synchronizing signal HSYNC (see FIG. 4) rises. The common driver 25a connects the liquid crystal display DISP composed of NXM to the common address CA3.
~ CAO is sequentially shifted and driven according to drive data DAT, and set mode information, system status, etc. are displayed.

A segment driver 25b drives each of 1×m (positive integer) cells by ○n10ff based on drive data DATA output from the liquid crystal controller 24. In addition,
When the transmission mode is set, the drive data DATA becomes L level data.

The segment driver 25b converts drive data DATA input in synchronization with the reference clock CLK into a latch signal LAC.
Latch up in synchronization with the falling edge of TH. In addition,
SMI and 3M2 are drive signals.

Note that while the document illumination lamp 2 is on, the liquid crystal controller 24 sends a horizontal synchronizing signal HSYNC for driving the liquid crystal shutter array 10 based on the cell size (4pe1 in this embodiment) of the liquid crystal shutter array 10 and the process speed. It is created based on the following equation (1) from P (mm/5ec).

(1) Therefore, if the process speed P is 5 Q H/sec, the period of the horizontal synchronization signal HSYNC is 5 ms sec. As a result, the night tool shutter array 10 is driven in synchronization with the drum rotation speed, that is, the process speed.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the driving operation of the liquid crystal shutter array 10 shown in FIG. 3 will be explained separately for the transmission mode and the add-on mode.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart illustrating the driving operation of the liquid crystal shutter array 10 shown in FIG. Components that are the same as those in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals.

[In transparent mode]

In the case of only image exposure, the liquid crystal driver 25 sets the common addresses CA3 to CAO to rOOHJ, and sets the 7-night crystal shutter array 10 to the transmission mode in order to form a latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 through the liquid crystal shutter array 10.

That is, when the horizontal synchronization signal H3YNC is input, m pieces of drive data DATA are serially output (all L level data) in accordance with the reference clock CLK.

Further, drive signals SMI, SM2 . CMI, CM2 to 1
They are output for a period of 1H and are alternately replaced and refreshed every time the next horizontal synchronizing signal HSYNC is output. As a result, the liquid crystal shutter array 10 enters a transparent state, and an optical image formed by exposure scanning of the document by the scanner 33 is formed on the photosensitive drum 12 at a predetermined process speed.

[When in add-on mode]

Note that the add-on mode refers to a mode in which an image is added by the liquid crystal shutter array 10 in parallel to image exposure during one copy cycle.

First, the night gear driver 25 uses common addresses CA3-C.
Set AO to J other than roOH, that is, set display mode ■ in Figure 4, and sequentially set common addresses CA3 to CA○.
When the operator moves the mode setting key 30 on the operation unit 26 and operates the editor unit 31 to specify desired add-on information such as characters using the stylus pen 32, the add-on information ( code data)
is notified, and the controller 20 interprets this add-on information (code data) and writes the add-on dot data on the RAM 23, and also sends an instruction to the LCD driver to display the specified add-on information on the LCD display DISP of the operation unit 26. Give to 25.

In order to display characters on the liquid crystal display DISP, the liquid crystal controller 24 sends a signal to the liquid crystal driver 25, and displays on the liquid crystal display DISP the characters/symbols etc. that are specified as add-ons.

Then, the input characters/symbols, etc. are displayed on the LCD display DISP of the operation unit 26, the operator is asked to confirm the input characters, etc., and an instruction is given to confirm the input state, that is, the enter key EK on the operation unit 26 is pressed. When this happens, the input 7-doon information becomes valid.

Subsequently, a message "Please specify the add-on position on the editor" is displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP. In response to this, when a desired position is designated on the editor section 31, the print position on the recording paper is determined.

In this way, inputting the characters you want to add on and specifying the position you want to add on completes the input process.

Subsequently, when the copy key 27 is pressed, the 7-night crystal driver 25 sets the common addresses CA3 to CAO to drive mode ■ as shown in FIG. 4, that is, sets the common addresses CA3 to CAO to foOJ, Start the image forming sequence. Then, as mentioned above, the main motor M
1 to ONL, the document illumination lamp 2 is turned on, and the scanner 33 is turned on.
Start a move operation. And liquid crystal shutter array 1
Send drive data DATA to ON10 of each cell.
Start FF drive.

When the scanner 33 reaches a constant speed and passes the image leading edge position until it reaches the specified add-on position, the liquid crystal controller 24 sends out all drive data DATA as L level, and the process speed (drum rotation speed)
Horizontal synchronization signal HSYN, which is a timing signal synchronized with
Drive data DA is sent to the liquid crystal shutter array 10 in synchronization with C.
Write TA. When the add-on position is reached, RAM2
3 through the liquid crystal controller 24 to the liquid crystal driver 25.
The data decomposed line by line is passed to the drum shutter array 10 to drive the night gear shutter array 10 in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal H3YNC synchronized with the drum speed. Next horizontal synchronization signal H5
Data corresponding to the next line is read using YNC, and the data is sent to the 7-night crystal shutter array 10. By sequentially repeating the above processing, it is possible to add digital information such as arbitrary characters/symbols to arbitrary positions by using the liquid crystal shutter array 10 for image exposure of a document in one copy cycle.

When the series of copy sequences is completed and the standby state is returned, the liquid crystal driver 25 returns to the common address CA.
3 - CAO is set to "other than OOH", display mode becomes ■, and display processing is started.

Next, the driving process of the liquid crystal display DISP in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a driving process procedure for the liquid crystal display DISP in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. Note that (1) to (24) indicate each step.

The liquid crystal controller 24 sets the display mode in the liquid crystal driver 25, that is, the liquid crystal driver 25 again sets the common addresses CA3 to CAO to "other than rOoH", and starts the display processing set by the operation unit 26 (1).

Next, the controller 2o determines whether the add-on mode has been set by pressing the mode setting key 30 of the operation unit 26. 2) If YES, input the desired add-on information from the editor unit 31 by operating the stylus pen 32. Do (3). The add-on information set by this input processing is displayed on the liquid crystal display DISP (4). Next, wait for the enter key EK to be pressed 5), and when pressed, send the confirmed add-on data to the liquid crystal controller 24 (6).Next, determine whether the copy key 27 has been pressed 7), When pressed, the liquid crystal driver 25 sets the drive mode and sets the common addresses CA3 to CAO to "○○H" (8). Next, until the scanner 33 reaches the add-on position (9), L level data is sent out and the liquid crystal rastter array 10 is placed in the transmission mode.

Next, when the scanner 33 reaches the add-on position, set the drive data DATA to the segment driver 25b (10), wait for the end of the add-on (ii), and when the add-on ends, set the L level data to the drive data DATA.
It should be set in the segment driver 25b as 12),
Then, the night shutter array 10 is set to the transmission mode again.

Next, the scanner 33 waits for the exposure of the original to be completed (13), and when the original π light is completed, the scanner 33 is started to move in reverse (14), and the pre-exposure lamp 13 is turned on in parallel with this reversal movement process. Then, the photosensitive drum 12 is exposed to blank light (15). Next, it waits for the copying of the number of copies to be completed (15), and if YES, the drive mode being set for the liquid crystal driver 25 is canceled, and the display mode is switched again and set (17), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the determination in step (2) is No, check whether the copy key 27 was pressed or not.
, if YES; set the drive mode for the night gear l/raiha 25 and set the common addresses CA3 to CAO to ro O
Set HJ (19).

Next, the liquid crystal driver 25 sets the L level data to the segment driver 25b (20), and the liquid crystal shutter 1
After setting the cell to the open state of 0, wait for the scanner 33 to reach the image tip (21). When the scanner 33 reaches the image tip position, normal image forming processing is executed, and when the exposure is completed, the above-mentioned Blank exposure is performed (22). Next, it is determined whether the normal copying process for the number of sheets has been completed 23), and if No, the process returns to step (20) and YES.
If S, the drive mode in the liquid crystal driver 25 is canceled, the display mode is set (24), and the process ends.

In this way, while the device is on standby, the liquid crystal display WD I
Because of S p, common addresses CA3 to CAO are ro.
OHJ, and as shown in FIG. 4, the display mode becomes {circle around (2)}, and display processing is started by sequentially shifting the contents of the common addresses CA3 to CAO in synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signal H5YNC.

When the copy key 27 is pressed, the operation mode is displayed on the LCD DISP, and the common addresses CA3 to CAO are fixed to ``0OHJ'' so that the common address on the LCD DISP is not selected. The liquid crystal shutter array 10 is driven in the image exposure mode.Then, when a series of copy sequences is completed and the state returns to standby, the liquid crystal is driven again by the liquid crystal display DISP.
The process moves on to display processing.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal shutter array that is located on the optical path of an input original image to be scanned and is opposed to the photoconductor in the width direction, and light that is selectively transmitted through the liquid crystal shutter array. An optical medium for forming an image on the photoreceptor is provided, and in parallel with scanning and exposing the document by the optical scanning system, a liquid crystal shutter array is driven in synchronization with the moving speed of the photoreceptor, and a liquid crystal display is driven. Since the shared driving means and the drive control means for controlling the driving of the liquid crystal shutter array by the shared driving means based on the input add-on information, the liquid crystal display and the liquid crystal shutter array can be operated by the same shared driving means. It becomes possible to drive the liquid crystal, and the configuration of the liquid crystal drive system can be simplified.

In addition, a drive inhibiting means is provided which temporarily prohibits the shared driving means from driving the liquid crystal display based on the scanning state of the optical scanning system, so that the shared driving means can control desired digital information during one copy sequence. Add-ons can be recorded efficiently.

Therefore, it is possible to provide a compact image forming apparatus capable of recording desired digital information as an add-on at a low circuit cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the controller section shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram explaining the driving operation of the liquid crystal driver shown in FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure for driving a liquid crystal display in such an image forming apparatus. In the figure, 10 is a 7-night crystal shutter array, 11 is a light collecting lens, 33 is a scanner, and C0NT is a controller section. Figure ONT Troller section

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image forming apparatus having a liquid crystal display that displays set or input mode information and an optical scanning system that scans and exposes a document to form an image of the document on a photoreceptor, the input scanning exposure a liquid crystal shutter array located on the optical path of the original image to be displayed and facing in the width direction of the photoreceptor;
An optical medium is provided to form an image of light selectively transmitted through the liquid crystal shutter array on the photoreceptor, and the liquid crystal shutter array is further provided to move the photoreceptor in parallel with the scanning exposure of the document by the optical scanning system. A shared driving means for driving the liquid crystal display in synchronization with the speed, and a drive control means for controlling the driving of the liquid crystal shutter array by the shared driving means based on input add-on information. An image forming apparatus characterized by: (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising drive prohibiting means for temporarily prohibiting driving of the liquid crystal display by the shared driving means based on the scanning state of the optical scanning system.