JPH0348573A - Digital image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To duplicate an original which becomes a base and all image information of another original for synthesizing on a sheet by selecting one out of plural calculation means, computing digital image data in each page memory, and reading them simultaneously. CONSTITUTION:The image information of the original read with a reader 100 is written as a digital image signal by selecting either two page memories (A) and (H) 320 and 321 in an image memory part 301 with a memory control signal under the control of the system controller 302 of an image information memory device. Next, the image signal read out with the control signal is inputted to arithmetic circuits 310-312, and is synthesized, and is inputted to a selection circuit 313. The circuit 313 selects the image data of an arbitrary arithmetic circuit, and sends it to a duplication circuit 500 and duplicates it.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a digital image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine and facsimile machine having a control means for storing digital image information and for reading and copying digital image information.

(Prior Art) The above-mentioned digital image forming device is capable of various types of image processing, such as image merging.

Conventional image synthesis technology stores the image signal converted by the imaging means in the first timing in the first storage means for one screen, and converts it at a second timing different from the first timing. The image signals of the required screen are stored in the second storage means, and the image of an arbitrary area of the first storage means is replaced with the image of an arbitrary area of the second storage means (including Mi). A device that produces an image signal for a screen is known.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The above-mentioned conventional technology is a method of replacing images, which specifies the unnecessary area of the original document and also specifies the necessary area of the other document to be combined (in this case, the sizes of both areas are the same). Since a single image is created by replacing the image of the original document, images of unnecessary areas of the original document and other combined documents will not appear on the copied paper. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a digital image forming apparatus that can record all image information of a source original and other combined originals on a copied sheet.

[Means to solve the problem]

The above object includes an image reading means for converting an original image into an image density signal, a converting means for converting the image density signal converted by the image reading means into digital image information, and a converting means for converting the image density signal converted by the image reading means into digital image information. A storage means that has a plurality of page memories that can be stored, a storage means that has the function of calculating the digital image information of each page memory with a plurality of calculation means and reading it out simultaneously, a copying means that copies the digital image information, and a set number of sheets. an operation display means comprising a group of keys including a numeric keypad and a display section for displaying predetermined information; and a means for reading a document image by removing the image reading means, storage means and copying means and storing the digital image information. This is achieved by including a control means that controls the digital image information to be written in the image data, and after the writing is completed, reads out the digital image information and copies it with the copying means, and also selects one of the plurality of calculation means when performing image matching. be done.

[Effect]

The control means selects one of the plurality of calculation means,
Control is performed so that the digital image data in each page memory is multiplied by /ii and read out simultaneously.

〔Example〕

FIG. 3 shows an outline of a copying machine incorporating an embodiment of the present invention. This copying machine executes a reading device 100 as a reading means for reading an original, an image information storage device 300 as a storage means for storing information on the read original, and a series of processes for copying the stored information onto paper. copying circuit 500. A system control device 302 that controls these.
The system controller 302 is comprised of an operating device 400 and the like as operating means for performing key manual input. Note that the operating device 400 includes a display device that displays various kinds of ↑a information.

The detailed structure of the system control device 302 is shown in FIG.

That is, the system control device 302 is mainly composed of a microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 303,
ROM. It is equipped with a RAM, a clock signal generation circuit, a timer, an interrupt controller for interrupt processing, and the like.

Further, the reading device 100. I for exchanging information with the image information storage device 300, the copying circuit 500, and the operating device 400
/O and serial communication controllers 304-306.

The operating device 400 includes an operating panel 402 and an operating control circuit 4.
Consists of 01. A plan view of the operation panel 402 is shown in FIG. The operation panel 402 has keys (mode clear, stop, start, numeric keypad, density adjustment, image quality adjustment, paper size, enlargement,
Reduced. (memory number setting) character display (number of sheets set, number of copies, variable magnification), document insertion possible indication, and document insertion direction indication.

An overview of the mechanical configuration of the reading device 100 is shown in FIG. When an operator inserts a document into the roller 1, the document is moved between the contact glass 2 and the reflective plate 3 in the sub-scanning direction as the roller I rotates.

During this transportation, the surface of the document is scanned in the main scanning direction by light from the fluorescent lamp 4. The reflected light is imaged on an imaging device (CCD) 6 via a lens 5, and document information is read. C
The original image formed on the CD 6 is output as an analog signal in synchronization with a clock generated from a write synchronization control circuit 105, and is amplified by an image amplification circuit 101. A/D
The conversion circuit 102 converts the amplified analog image signal into multivalued digital image information representing each pixel. The shading correction circuit 103 corrects noise and light intensity unevenness in the original image.
Distortion of digital image information due to dirt on the contact glass 2, uneven sensitivity of the CCD 6, etc. is corrected. Thereafter, the image processing circuit 104 converts it into digital recorded image information. Digitally recorded image information is output to the image storage device 300,
The data is written into one page memory of the image memory unit 301. The digitally recorded image information stored in the page memory is converted into laser light in the next copying circuit 500.

FIG. 2 shows the image information storage device 300. Copying circuit 50
Copying device 200 incorporating 0 and operating device 400
An overview of the mechanical configuration is shown below.

Digitally recorded image information read from the page memory is received by a line driver circuit 501 and amplified by a laser driver circuit 502. Digitally recorded image information is 1
This is a binary signal of 1 bit (recording/non-recording) per pixel, and the laser driver circuit 502 activates the laser diode 503 to emit light in response to the binary signal. The laser light emitted by the laser diode 503 is reflected by the rotating polygon mirror 1l, passes through the polygonal mirror surface tilt correction cylindrical lens l2, passes through the f-θ lens 13, and is reflected by the first mirror 14, the second ξ mirror l5, and the third The light is reflected by the mirror 16 and irradiated onto the photoreceptor drum 17 to form an image.

The rotating polygon mirror 1l is fixed to a polygon drive motor 18 and a rotating shaft 19, and the motor 18 rotates at a constant speed to drive the polygon mirror 11 to rotate at a constant speed. Due to the rotation of the polygon mirror 1l, the aforementioned laser light is scanned in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the photoreceptor drum 17, that is, in a direction along the drum axis.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 17 is uniformly charged by a charger connected to a negative high voltage generator. When the laser beam emitted based on the digitally recorded image information is irradiated onto the uniformly charged surface of the photoreceptor, the electric charge on the surface of the photoreceptor flows to the equipment ground of the drum 17 body and disappears due to the photoconductive phenomenon. . Here, the laser is not turned on in areas where the original density is low (the binary signal is at a non-recording level), and the laser is turned on in areas where the original density is high (the binary signal is at the recording level). As a result, the portion of the surface of the photoreceptor drum that corresponds to the light density portion of the original has a potential of -750V, and the portion that corresponds to the high density portion of the original has a potential of approximately -ioov.
An electrostatic latent image is formed depending on the shading of the original. This electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing unit 20 to form a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 17. Note that the toner in the developing unit 20 is negatively charged by stirring, the developing unit 20 is biased to about -550V by a developing bias generator, and the toner adheres to a location where the surface potential of the photoreceptor drum 17 is higher than the developing bias. A toner image corresponding to the original image is created.

On the other hand, the recording paper is selected from one of the three feeding trays 2l, fed out by the paper feeding operation of the feed roller 22, cut into an appropriate size by the cutter 23, and then
The toner image is passed under the photosensitive drum l7 at a predetermined timing by the registration roller 24, and during this time, the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper by the action of the transfer charger 25. The transferred recording paper is then sent to a thermal fixing unit 26, where the toner is fixed to the recording paper, and the recording paper is discharged to a discharge tray 27.

Referring again to FIG. The copying machine of this embodiment includes an image information storage device 30 in addition to a reading device 100 and a copying circuit 500.
0, and this storage device 300 consists of an image memory section 301 and a system control device 302. In this embodiment, the image memory section 30I, the system control device 302, and the operating device 400 are the copying machine 20 shown in FIG.
It is housed in a housing of 0. Reading device 100.
The copying circuit 500, the image information storage device 300, and the operating device 400 are connected to each other by signal lines L1, L2, and L3 of the RS422 standard, and serial data transmission is performed between them.

FIG. 6 shows the structure of the image memory section 301. The image memory unit 301 includes two page memories (A). (B)32
0,321, and by a memory control signal from the system control device 302, one of the page memories 3z
o. 321 is selected, and digitally recorded image information is written into or read from the page memories 320 and 321.

The read image signals are respectively sent to arithmetic circuits {l). (
2), (3) are input to 310, 311, and 312, and are combined and entered into the selection circuit 313. Here, image data of an arbitrary arithmetic circuit is selected by the selection circuit 313, and the copying circuit (
writing means) 500.

The procedure of the gathering using the page memories 320 and 321 as described above will be explained in detail.

Memory number keys (A) and (B) 411, 4 corresponding to each page memory 320, 321 are provided on the operation panel 402.
There are 12. These keys 411 and 412 are keys for specifying page memories 320 and 321 that store image information obtained by reading a document.

Now, after pressing the memory number key (A) 411, when it is determined to insert the original and starts reading the original, the system control unit 302 sends the WMSELCT signal to the page memory (
A) 320, and the image information is written to the page memory (A) 320 in synchronization with the WFGATE signal and the WSYNC signal. If the memory number key is not pressed, image information is automatically output from the page memory (A) 320 as described above by sending the copy start signal in synchronization with the RFGATE signal and the RLSYNC signal, but if the memory number key is not pressed, Then, this copy start signal is output by the start key 421 of the operation panel 402. That is, by pressing the start key 421, the RFG
The ATE signal and the RLSYNC signal are output, and image information is output from the page memory (A) 320 in synchronization with these signals.

The memory number key (B) 412 also functions in a similar manner, allowing selection as necessary. The image information of the preceding manuscript is stored in the page memory (A) 320, and the subsequent manuscript is stored in the page memory (A) 320.
B) Store them in 321 respectively. Next, when the start key is pressed, the image information of the final document is output by the copy start signal, but by pressing the memory number before pressing the start key 421, it is possible to output the image information of the specified page memory. It is.

In other words, after reading two originals, press the memory number key (
When A) 411 is pressed and then the start key 421 is pressed, the image information of the page memory (A) 320 is output. Further, when the start key 421 is pressed after pressing the memory number key (A) 411 and the memory number key (B) 412, the system control device 302 receives each key code from the operation device 400, and the CPU 303 301 to the RMSELCT signal to the page memory (A>3
20 and page memory (B) 321. Furthermore, if the copy start signal is output to the write drive control circuit 504, the RFGATE signal and the RLSYNC signal are output.
Page memory selected in synchronization with this (A) 320
Image information is simultaneously output from 321 and (B). As a result, the image information is merged and copied.

The image information output at the same time is input to the calculation means (11310, calculation means (2) 311. Then, OR (logical sum) is performed, AND (logical product) is performed in the calculation means (3), and the calculation result is output.The output calculation result is the combination method number specified on the operation panel 402. Copying is performed using an arbitrary method among the image information selected and combined in the selection stage 313 by the selection control signal according to the following.

In this embodiment, the memory number keys 411 and 412 corresponding to the page memories 320 and 321 are respectively provided, but the page memories in which image information is recorded t11 may be fixed according to the order in which the originals are inserted.

For example, there is a method in which when a preceding original is read, it is automatically stored in the page memory (A) 320, and subsequently, the subsequent original is stored in the page memory (B) 321.

This will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

That is, when the start key 421 is pressed, it is first determined in step S whether a document has been inserted, and if the document is inserted into the roller 1 of the reading device 100, it is scanned in step S2 as described above. Read the original with CCD6. Next, in step S3, it is determined whether the read document is a preceding document or a subsequent document. This determination is made based on whether the preceding document bit is 1 or 0. If it is determined in step S3 that the preceding document bit is 1, image information is stored in the page memory (A) 320 in step S4. After storing, a discharge signal for the preceding original is output in step S. As a result, the preceding original is ejected, and the process returns to step Sl to wait for the next original to be inserted.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the preceding document bit is O in step S, the read document information is of the subsequent document, and the read document information is stored in the page memory (B>32l) in step S6. to be memorized.And,
When the storage operation is completed, a document ejection signal is output in step S7, and the document is ejected.Subsequently, in step S, paper is fed from the feed tray 21 side, and in step S, the document is ejected from the page memory (A) 320. and the image information in the page memory (B) 321 are simultaneously output to the writing system, that is, the copying circuit 500 side, and step S1. After executing the copying operation, the process returns to step S1 and waits for the next document to be inserted. In this way, a desired composite image can be automatically obtained.

As explained above, this embodiment has the following effects.

1) Since the image information of two originals can be overlapped and merged, it is possible to merge text on halftone originals such as photographs.

2) Since image information of two originals can be EXORed and combined, it is easy to understand that even if images that do not need to be overlapped are mistakenly overlapped, no image information is missing. Also, if you want to insert text in a solid black area, the text will be inserted in white.

3) Since the image information of two originals can be ORed and combined, when a halftone image and text are combined, the text does not become a white halftone dot.

4) Since the image information of two originals can be ANDed and combined, triangulation can be performed by combining a necessary area of one original with another original by making it a black area. On the other hand, masking is also possible.

5) The above EXOR, OR. Since you can freely select AND, you can choose the best synthesis conditions for your manuscript. Further, since the above conditions can be set on the operation unit without having to read the original again, the optimum selection can be made in a short time.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, one of the plurality of calculation means is selected to calculate and read out the digital image data in each page memory at the same time. All the image information of other original documents can be copied onto paper.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are schematic diagrams of the mechanical structure of an embodiment of a digital copying machine according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of electrical elements of the embodiment, and FIG. Third
5 is a block diagram showing the structure of the system control device in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of the image memory section in FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the operation panel shown in the figure. is a flowchart showing the control operation of the microprocessor in FIG. 5; 1...Roller, 2...Contact glass, 3...
Reflector, 4...Fluorescent lamp, 5...Lens, 6...C
CD, 1l...Rotating polygon mirror, l2...Cylindrical lens, 13...f-theta lens, l4...First mirror 15...Second mirror 16...Third mirror
17... Photosensitive drum, l8... Motor, 19...
・Rotating shaft, 20...Developing unit, unit, 2l...Feeding tray, 22...Feeding roller, 23...Cutter, 24...Register roller, 25...Transfer charger, 26... Heat fixing unit, 27... Discharge tray, 100... Reading device (image reading means) 200...
Copying device (copying means), 300... Image information storage device, 301... Image memory section (storage means) 302...
・System control device (control means), 310 to 312...
・Calculation means, 313...Selection means, 320.321・
. . . Page memory, 400 . . . Operation device (operation display means). Condolence Figure 5PJ2 Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image reading means for converting an original image into an image density signal, a converting means for converting the image density signal converted by the image reading means into digital image information, and is capable of storing digital image information of an original up to a certain size. A storage means that has multiple page memories, a storage means that can calculate the digital image information of each page memory using multiple calculation means and read it out simultaneously, a copying means that copies the digital image information, and a numeric keypad for setting the number of sheets to be set. an operation display means comprising a group of keys and a display section displaying predetermined information; and controlling the image reading means, storage means and copying means to read the original image and write the digital image information in the storage means, and the writing is completed. A digital image forming apparatus comprising: a control means for controlling the reading of post-written digital image information and copying it by a copying means, and for selecting one of a plurality of arithmetic means when performing image synthesis. Image forming device.