JPH04196970A - Copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To necessitate mere prepn. of one housing cassette for sheet sizes of one kind of copying by changing the arranging direction of image data in correspondence to the prescribed directions of sheets when the sheets of the required size are housed in the housing cassette. CONSTITUTION:The data of the document images scanned by a CCD section 18 is stored into a memory MA constituting a part of a memory 14 according to the paper sizes of the documents. Cassettes C1, C2, C3 constituting the housing cassette 17 housing the copying paper of different sizes and directions are then mounted. Whether the cross feed cassette is loaded or not is discriminated when the direction of the requested paper is not the cross feed but is a longitudinal feed. The contents of the memory MA are rotated 90 deg. and the data of the document images subjected to the processing to rotate 90 deg. are stored into another memory MB constituting a memory 31 if the cross feed cassette is mounted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a copying apparatus that outputs and copies images in accordance with the orientation in which sheets are loaded.

[Prior Art] Conventional copying devices are capable of copying the original image onto copy paper when the copy paper is set in the orientation (portrait, landscape) of the original placed on the scanning table (original table). It is configured as follows.

An example of the configuration of a conventional copying apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG. 6.

The image input section 40 is configured to store document data in a memory 41 as a binary digital amount.

The image processing section 42 is a processing section for converting the image data inputted by the image input section 40 into desired image data, and forms the desired image data on the memory 41 as a final output image.

The image output unit 43 is an electrophotographic processing device that restores the image data stored in the memory 41 in a compressed state and includes a laser and the like! 144.

The electrophotographic processing device 44 is configured to take in copy paper from a copy paper supply unit 45 in which copy paper is stored, transfer image data thereto, and send out the copy paper onto which the image data has been transferred.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned conventional copying device, many cassettes are required to prepare paper sets that match the orientation of the original, and for the largest size paper, it is necessary to change the orientation. There is a problem in that it is not possible to mount a cassette.

Further, in conventional copying apparatuses, when copying is performed in a mode in which paper is unified, the paper size is the same, but when conversion is involved, portrait and landscape copies are mixed.

Furthermore, when copying originals of mixed sizes such as A3, B4, A4, etc. onto A4 copy paper, conventionally the portrait originals such as A3, B4, etc. are copied onto portrait copy paper, and A4 , B5, etc. are copied onto landscape copy paper, so even if the copied copy paper output to the output tray is the same paper size as A4, the orientation is uneven. There is.

In view of the problems with the conventional copying apparatus described above, the present invention is capable of copying an image of a document onto copy paper of a uniform size and in a uniform orientation for all document sizes. The purpose of this invention is to provide a copying device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention includes a storage means for storing image data of a scanned original according to the size of the original, and copy sheets of different specific sizes arranged in a predetermined direction. A plurality of storage cassettes for storing each sheet, a detection means for detecting a predetermined orientation and a specific size of sheets stored in the plurality of storage cassettes, and an image of a document stored in a storage means based on the detection result of the detection means. The converting means converts the arrangement direction of the image data in accordance with a predetermined orientation of the sheet when a sheet of the requested size is stored in the storage cassette. This is accomplished by a copying machine configured as follows.

[Function] The storage means stores the image data of the scanned original according to the size of the original, and the plurality of storage cassettes store copy sheets of different specific sizes arranged in a predetermined direction, The means detects the predetermined orientation and specific size of the sheets stored in the plurality of storage cassettes, and the conversion means determines whether sheets of the requested size are stored in the plurality of storage cassettes based on the detection result of the detection means. When the image data of the document is stored in the storage means, the arrangement direction of the image data of the document is converted to correspond to the predetermined orientation of the sheet.

[Embodiment 1] An embodiment of the copying apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the copying apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing apparatus including the copying apparatus of this embodiment, which operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 1.

The image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 includes an image input section 10, an image processing section 11, an image output section 12, and an electrophotographic processing section 13.

Next, each component shown in FIG. 2 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

The image input section 10 includes a CCD section 18 and a histogram section 19.
, an error diffusion section 20, which creates a histogram based on the original data as a binary digital amount and stores it in a memory.

As shown in FIG. 4, the CCD section 18 is composed of a COD (charge-coupled device or photoelectric conversion device) 32, an analog/digital (A/D) converter 33 connected to the CCD 32, and a correction circuit 34. There is.

The CCD 32 inputs an analog signal corresponding to each pixel density and outputs it to the A/D converter 33.

The A/D converter 33 converts the analog signal output from the CCD 32 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the correction circuit 34.

The correction circuit 34 performs MTF correction, black-and-white correction, and gamma correction on the digital signal output from the A/D converter 33, and outputs it as a 256-gradation (8-bit) digital signal.

The histogram unit 19 adds the digital signals output from the CCD unit 18 for each pixel density of 256 gradations to obtain density information (histogram). Then, the histogram data obtained can be sent to the CPU (central processing unit) or as pixel data to the next section as necessary.

The error diffusion unit 20 receives the 256 pixels output from the CCD unit 18.
Converts gradation (8 bits) digital signal to binary (1 bit)
It is a type of pseudo intermediate processing. That is, the system is configured to perform a redistribution calculation in order to reflect the binarization error in the binarization determination of adjacent pixels and faithfully reproduce the local area density of the original image.

The image processing unit 11 includes a multi-value conversion unit 21, 22, and a composition processing unit 2.
3. Consists of a density conversion section 24, a scaling section 25, an error diffusion section 26, and a compression section 27. It is a processing section that converts input image data into desired image data, and stores the desired image on memory. A loop is formed until the data is assembled into the final output image.

The multi-value conversion units 21 and 22 convert the data binarized by the error diffusion unit 20 into a 256-gradation (8-bit) digital signal again.

The synthesis processing section 23 is a section that performs logical operations for each pixel, and can select between OR and ANDSEXOR.

The data to be calculated includes pixel data stored in RAM and pattern generators (P, G,
) (not shown).

The density conversion section 24 is configured to arbitrarily set the relationship between the output density and the input density using a predetermined gradation conversion table for a 256-gradation (8-bit) digital signal.

The scaling unit 25 performs interpolation processing using known data input according to the specified scaling factor to obtain pixel data (density value) for the target pixel after scaling, and scales the sub-scanning. After that, the main scanning is subjected to magnification processing.

The error diffusion section 26 operates in the same manner as the error diffusion section 20 described above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The compression unit 27 is configured to compress binary data using lasso-length encoding.

Note that each of the above-mentioned components operates as necessary, and may simply pass through without operating. In particular, regarding compression, the configuration is such that compression is performed when the final output image is completed, that is, during the final processing.

The image output section 12 forms the main part of the copying apparatus of the present invention.

The image output section 12 includes a memo January 41 image data conversion section 15.
, a detection unit 16, and a storage cassette 17, it restores the data stored in the memo 4 in a compressed state, converts it back to the original 256-gradation (8-bit) digital signal, and then The error diffusion section performs four-value error diffusion, which produces a smoother halftone expression than the binary one,
sends data to the computer.

The image data converting section 15 described above includes a restoring section 28, a multivalue converting section 29, and an error diffusion section 30.

The restoration unit 28 is configured to completely restore the data compressed by the compression unit 27.

The multi-level conversion section 29 operates in the same manner as the above-described multi-level conversion sections 21 and 22, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The error diffusion section 30 operates in the same manner as the error diffusion section 16 described above, so a description thereof will be omitted.

The detection unit 16 detects a predetermined direction in which the copy paper as a sheet for copying stored in each storage cassette 17 of the plurality of storage cassettes 17 is arranged, and the orientation of the copy paper stored in each storage cassette 17. Detect a specific size.

As the copying sheet, a transparent sheet for OHP or the like may be used.

The plurality of storage cassettes 17 described above may be configured so that three or more can be installed at the same time, as shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows a first cassette 35 as the storage cassette 17;
Second cassette 36, third cassette 37, fourth cassette 3
8 and a fifth cassette 39 which can optionally be placed outside the image processing apparatus.

The memory 14 includes a first memory MA that stores image data of a document, and a second memory MB that stores the size of the document.

Next, with reference to FIG. 1, the operation of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail, focusing on the copying apparatus of this embodiment.

As described above, the original placed on the scanning surface of the copying machine is scanned by the CCD unit 18 of the image input unit 10 described above. (Step Sl).

The data of the original image scanned by the CCD unit 18 is stored in the memory MA forming a part of the memo 4 according to the paper size of the original (step S2).

Next, the cassettes C1, C2, and C3 constituting the storage cassette 17 containing copy sheets of different sizes and orientations are installed (step S3).

It is determined whether the requested paper direction is horizontal feeding (step S4).

If it is determined in step S4 that the direction of the requested paper is horizontal feeding, the size and direction of the requested paper are the same as the cassette C1 installed in step S3,
Determine whether C2 and C3 match (step S5
).

In step S5 above, the size and direction of the paper requested or the cassettes C1, C2, and C installed in step S3 above.
If it is determined that the paper matches the copy paper stored in 3, the copy paper is fed from the selected cassette (
Step 511).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the requested paper direction is vertical rather than horizontal feeding, it is determined whether a horizontal feeding cassette is installed. (Step S6).

If it is determined in step S6 that the transverse feed cassette is not installed, the process advances to step S5.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6 that a cross-feeding cassette is installed, the installed cross-feeding cassette is selected (step S7).

After the horizontal feed cassette is selected in step S7, the content of the memory MA in which the document image data is stored is rotated by 90 degrees in step S2, and the data of the document image rotated by 90 degrees is processed. The data is stored in another memory MB constituting the memory 3I (step S8).

In step S5 above, the requested paper size and direction are the same as in the cassettes C1 and C installed in step S3 above.
2. If it does not match C3, the process advances to step S7.

In step S7 above, the memory MB is rotated by 90 degrees.
It is determined whether the requested size direction according to the original image data stored in the cassettes matches the copy paper size stored in the cassettes C1, C2, and C3 (step S9).
).

In step S9 above, the requested size direction is cassette c1,
If they do not match the copy paper sizes stored in C2 and C3, an alarm is issued to alert the user that a cassette of the requested size is not stored (step 510).

On the other hand, if the requested size direction matches the copy paper size stored in the cassettes C1, C2, and C3 in step S9, the process advances to step S11.

After the copy paper is fed in step Sll, the following steps are performed in a normal electrophotographic processing device.

The operation panel of the image processing apparatus is provided with a scaling key (not shown) for scaling the size of the original image.

The above-mentioned binary data is multi-valued into 8 bits with 256 gradations, and then converted into 2-value data using the density conversion table of the density conversion unit 24.
Density conversion is performed on the 56-gradation digital signal.

Next, the density-converted digital signal is interpolated by the scaling section 25 according to the scaling factor of the scaling key. In this scaling process, the image is scaled in the sub-scanning direction and then in the main scanning direction.

The digital signal subjected to the variable magnification process is output to a laser (not shown) that constitutes a part of the electrophotographic processing device.

Although the laser is not shown, it is driven by a digital signal that has undergone magnification processing (step 512).

The emitted light from the laser is scanned in the main scanning direction by a polygon mirror, an f-theta lens, etc., and processed (step 513), and an image is transferred onto a photosensitive drum rotating in the sub-scanning direction. An electrostatic latent image of the edited image is formed (step 514).

The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum by the laser is made visible by toner, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum is transferred to copy paper (transfer paper) and the image is fixed (step 515). The copy paper with the image fixed thereon is ejected to an ejection tray (step 816). Then, once all documents have been processed, the operation ends.

[Effects of the Invention] A storage unit that stores image data of a scanned original according to the size of the original, and a plurality of storage cassettes that store copy sheets of different specific sizes arranged in predetermined directions. , detection means for detecting a predetermined orientation and specific size of the sheets stored in the plurality of storage cassettes;
and converting means for converting the image data of the document stored in the storage means based on the detection result of the detection means, and the converting means converts the image data of the document stored in the storage cassette when the sheet of the requested size is stored in the storage cassette. Since the configuration is configured to convert the arrangement direction of image data in accordance with a predetermined orientation of the original, it is only necessary to prepare one storage cassette for one type of copy sheet size, and it is possible to place the original vertically, Since there is no need to prepare a large number of storage cassettes for horizontal placement, the hassle of replacing cassettes is eliminated. Also,
Since the orientation of the copy sheet is unified, punching, stapling, etc. can be applied to the copy sheet while the orientation is unified.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the copying apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus equipped with the copying apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining each component of the image processing device, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the CCD section in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an arrangement of storage cassettes in the copying machine of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a conventional copying apparatus. 10... Image input section, 11... Image processing section, 12.
... Image output section, 13 ... Electrophotographic process section, 14
...Memory, 15...Image data conversion section, 16...
・Detection unit, 17... Storage cassette, 18... CCD
Part, 19... Histogram part, 20.26.30...
・Error diffusion unit, 21.22.29... Multi-level conversion unit, 23
...Composition processing section, 24...Density conversion section, 25...
Magnification variable section, 27... Compression section, 28... Restoration section, 32.
...CCD, 33...A/D converter, 34...correction circuit. Representative patent attorney: Takeshi Funayama; representative, Tanumi Tawara; representative patent attorney: Jun Sakai

Claims (1)

[Claims] a storage means for storing image data of a scanned original according to the size of the original, a plurality of storage cassettes for storing copy sheets of different specific sizes arranged in predetermined directions, and the plurality of storage cassettes; A detection means for detecting a predetermined orientation and a specific size of a sheet stored in a cassette, and a conversion means for converting image data of a document stored in the storage means based on a detection result of the detection means. and the converting means is configured to convert the arrangement direction of the image data in accordance with a predetermined orientation of the sheet when a sheet of a requested size is stored in the storage cassette. Characteristic copying device.