JPH0318185B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image composition device for an electronic copying machine,
More specifically, the present invention relates to an image synthesizing device for an electronic copying machine that can synthesize a trimmed image and a masking image.

(Prior Art) An electronic copying machine exposes a charged drum to light according to document information, and then forms a toner visible image on an electrostatic latent image formed on the drum surface. This is a device that transfers the image onto recording paper. In recent years, this type of electronic copying machine has been widely used for copying information in all fields of industry. and,
Recent electronic copying machines are available on the market that not only automatically copy the number of copies, but also have a zoom function for enlarging or reducing images.

Furthermore, electronic copying machines have also appeared that are capable of trimming or masking a partial area of a document. Here, trimming is defined as leaving only a part of the document (target area) and erasing other parts, and masking is defined as erasing only part of the document (target area) and leaving other parts. . FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example of this type of device. In the figure, 1 is a document table, 2 is a document placed on the document table 1, and 3 is an area (target area) in the document 2 to be trimmed or masked. Reference numeral 4 denotes a keyboard operation section, which is composed of a display section 5, a numeric keypad 6, and a function key 7.

When the target area 3 is a simple rectangle as shown in the figure, if you know the positions of any two diagonal points among the four corners A, B, C, and D (for example, points A and C), The target area 3 can be specified. Now, A
The coordinates of point are (X ₁ , Y ₂ ), and the coordinates of point C are (X ₂ , Y ₂ )
shall be. The values of X ₁ , X ₂ , Y ₁ , and Y ₂ are read from the scales in both the X and Y directions.

After changing the trimming mode or masking mode with the function key 7, the operator first inputs the _coordinate data of The data is input to the internal control circuit (not shown) by operating the button key 7. Next, perform the same operation to input the coordinate data of _X2 . After inputting the X-direction position coordinate data, the Y-direction position coordinate data Y ₁ and Y ₂ are input. After the target area is specified in this way, when the original is copied, a trimmed image as shown in FIG. 5A or a masked image as shown in FIG. 5B is obtained.

Recently, attempts have been made to synthesize a trimmed image and a masking image to obtain one copy image using this type of electronic copying machine. Such image synthesis can be carried out by making the trimming image 11 shown in FIG. 5A and the masking peripheral image 12 shown in FIG.
This is effective when combining these two images to obtain a multicolored composite color image as shown in FIG. 6.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) When performing such image composition, no matter how accurately the trimming area and the masking area are specified, the light beam used to erase the charge on the positively charged drum surface is constant. The two images may not be in the correct position as shown in Figure 6 due to the width of the image (light blur), a timing shift in the internal electronic circuit of the electronic copying machine, or misalignment of the document during copying. It is extremely rare for the two signals to be synthesized, and in most cases they overlap as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in the figure, the overprinting overlapped portion 13
occurs, reducing the quality of the copied image.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and its purpose is to provide image synthesis for an electronic copying machine that does not cause overlap (overprinting) in any case when synthesizing a trimmed image and a masking image. The purpose is to realize the device.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention, which solves the above-mentioned problems, places a first document on the document table, inputs the position coordinate data of the trimming area from the keyboard operation section, and then After placing the original and inputting the positional coordinate data of the masking area on the same coordinates as the trimming area from the keyboard operation section to specify the target area in each case, the first and second originals are combined. In an image composition device of an electronic copying machine that obtains a copy image, means for erasing charges on unnecessary portions on a photoreceptor during masking or trimming, means for selecting trimming priority or masking priority, and selecting trimming priority by the selection means. In this case, the masking area is enlarged by enlarging the erased area by the charge erasing means, a composite copy is made with a blank space between each image of the trimming area and the masking area, and masking priority is selected by the selecting means. In the case of the present invention, the present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for reducing the erasing area by the charge erasing means to reduce the trimming area and perform composite copying with a blank space provided between each image of the trimming area and the masking area. That is.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Components that are the same as those in FIG. 4 are designated with the same numbers. In the figure, 21 is a control circuit that performs various calculation controls, and 22 is a keyboard interface that receives operation signals from the numeric keypad 6 and function keys 7, converts them into digital data corresponding to each contact, and provides the digital data to the control circuit 21. . Control circuit 2
As the keyboard interface 22, for example, a microcomputer is used, and as the keyboard interface 22, for example, a microcomputer or a digital circuit is used.

23 is a charge erasing section that receives a signal from the control circuit 21, and 24 is a drum that receives exposure from the charge erasing section 23. The display section 5 and the control circuit 21 are connected via a digital bus. The charge erasing unit is, for example, a multi-divided LED element (e.g. diode array)
The number of LED elements used is, for example, about 50. The operation of the device configured as described above will be explained as follows.

First, the operator places the first document on the document table 1, operates the function key 7 to set the trimming mode, and then inputs position coordinate data (X ₁ , Y ₁ ), (X ₂ , Y ₂ ) are input using the same operations as explained in connection with FIG.
When the input of the position coordinate data of the target area 3 is completed, the operator operates the function key 7 to
The control circuit 21 is notified of the end of the data input operation.

Next, the operator places the second document on the document table 1, operates the function key 7 to set the masking mode, and then inputs the position coordinate data for setting the masking area in the same way as in the trimming mode. Input using the steps below. Assuming that a masking area as shown in FIG. When the data input is completed, the operator operates the function key 7 to notify the control circuit 21 of the completion of the data input operation.

When the above data input operations are completed, these two
Specifically, after copying the trimmed image of the first original onto recording paper, the recording paper is again set in the electronic copying machine, and the masking image is copied onto the same recording paper. A method of overprinting is used. The control circuit 21 sends a control signal to the charge erasing section 23 to slightly widen the exposure width W for charge erasing when copying the masking image. As a result, even if the trimming area moves slightly due to a deviation in the positioning of the original, a timing deviation, etc., it will not overlap with the masking image, and accurate image synthesis can be achieved.

Next, the operation of varying the exposure width W of the charge erasing section 23 will be specifically explained. Before that, we will outline the configuration around the drum of an electronic copying machine. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the mechanical configuration of an electronic copying machine, and 23 is a charge erasing section, which is the above-mentioned charge erasing section. When the operator presses the copy start button on the function key 7, the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 starts the copying operation. The drum 30 rotating in the direction of the arrow is
After the remaining toner on the drum is scraped off by a blade in the cleaning section 31, a charging electrode 32 causes corona discharge to charge the entire surface of the drum with a positive charge.

The charge erasing section 23 erases unnecessary portions of the charges charged by the charging electrode 32. Thereafter, the charged area of drum 30 is exposed to an optical image signal, forming an electrostatic latent image of the original image on the drum surface. The electrostatic latent image formed on the drum surface is converted into a visible image by adsorbing toner in the subsequent developing section 33. The toner image on the drum surface is transferred to the recording paper in the transfer section 34, and the recording paper that is in close contact with the drum 30 is separated. The separated recording paper is sent to the fixing roller 36 via the conveyance mechanism 35, and the recording paper is heated and pressurized by the fixing roller 36 to fuse the toner on the recording paper to the recording paper, completing the copying operation. .

Specifically, the erasing unit 23 is a multi-divided
It is composed of an LED element, and the charge erasing section 23 is
The exposure range is changed by receiving a drive signal for each LED element from the control circuit 21. For example, if the exposure range of the masking area without correction is W ₁ as shown in Figure 3A, then the exposure range of the masking area during composite copying is W ₂ as shown in Figure 3B. Therefore, the exposure range is wider than in case A. Note that the shaded area in the figure indicates the unlit area.

As described above, according to the present invention, the charge erasing section 23
Since the lighting range of the drum 30 can be varied, the charge erasing range on the drum 30 can be accurately determined. Therefore, a high quality composite copy image without overlap can be obtained. Note that, due to the nature of light, it bleeds to the periphery of the point of incidence. Therefore, the distance between the LED of the charge erasing section 23 and the drum 30 is made as small as possible to reduce the influence of light bleeding.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the sequence of copying using the apparatus of the present invention. first,
It is determined whether to perform composite copying, and if composite copying is to be performed, then it is determined whether or not trimming is given priority. In the case of trimming priority, the masking area is enlarged and the trimmed image is copied with priority. In the case of masking priority, the trimming area is reduced and the masking image is copied with priority.

In the above description, a case has been described in which the masking area is enlarged and composite copying is performed, but the same effect can be obtained by conversely reducing the trimming area and performing composite copying. Furthermore, in the above description, an example has been described in which the exposure range of the charge erasing section of the drum is slightly expanded as means for providing a blank space between the trimming area and the masking area.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any configuration may be used as long as it is possible to provide some blank space between the trimming area and the masking area during composite copying. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the exposure from the charge erasing section can be enlarged or reduced using a mechanical shutter or an optical system.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, according to the present invention,
When making a composite copy of a trimmed image and a masking image, by providing a blank space between the trimming area and the masking area, it is possible to prevent overlap (overprinting) during composite copying, which has a great practical effect. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
3 is a diagram showing an example of a mechanical configuration of an electronic copying machine, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an exposure state of a charge erasing unit, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional device, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a copied image. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of composite copying, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an overprinting superposition section, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a sequence when copying using the apparatus of the present invention. 1...Original table, 2...Original, 3...Target area,
4...Keyboard operation section, 5...Display section, 6...
Numeric keypad, 7...Function key, 11...
Trimming area, 12... masking peripheral area,
13... Overprinting superposition part, 21... Control circuit, 2
2...Keyboard interface, 23...Charging erasing section, 24, 30...Drum, 31...Cleaning section, 32...Charging electrode, 33...Developing section,
34...Transfer section, 35...Transportation mechanism, 36...Fixing roller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Place the first document on the document table and input the position coordinate data of the trimming area from the keyboard operation section, then place the second document and input the position coordinate data of the trimming area from the keyboard operation section. After inputting the positional coordinate data of the masking area and specifying the target area in each case, the image synthesis device of the electronic copying machine obtains a composite copy image of the first and second documents. a means for erasing charges of unnecessary parts of the
means for selecting trimming priority or masking priority, and when trimming priority is selected by the selection means, the masking area is enlarged by enlarging the erased area by the charge erasing means, and a gap between each image of the trimming area and the masking area is formed; When a composite copy with a blank area is made and masking priority is selected by the selection means, the trimming area is reduced by reducing the erased area by the charge erasing means, and a gap is created between each image of the trimming area and the masking area. 1. An image composition apparatus for an electronic copying machine, comprising: a control means for performing composite copying with a blank area.