JPH0439681A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To give the degree of freedom to the reproducing characteristic of an image by optionally changing the characteristic of the image forming element of the original image of a specified color on the original. CONSTITUTION:This device is provided with an image pickup element 4b having a color spearation filter functioning as discrimination means for discrimination the color of original image information, a non-filter image pickup element 4c, a control part 23, and an image forming means consisting of the image forming elements(6-13) for forming the image based on the image information from the original image. By setting the conversion mode of the specified color part of the original image, the image forming condition of the image forming element is changed according to the set conversion mode and the color part of the original discriminated by the discrimination means for discriminating the color of the original image is changed according to the changing mode which is changed, so that the image is formed. Thus, the degree of freedom is given to the reproducing characteristic of the image by faithfully reproducing the original or changing the specified color or the colors other than the specified color.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of determining a predetermined color of original image information and converting the color to form an image.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of device, for example, an analog copying machine, an LED array is used to irradiate light onto an erase area specified by a digitizer provided on an operation section or numerical input from the operation section. A model with an erase function that erases the latent image has been commercialized. In addition, in a digital copying machine, such as a laser beam printer, image information read from a reader is temporarily buffered in memory, and when masking processing is specified for area data specified from the operation panel, the specified image information is processed. The image information stored at the address corresponding to the area data can be converted into white image information. As a result, models have been commercialized that are configured to easily perform trimming copies by erasing images of designated area data. In recent years, full-color devices have been developed that are equipped with color separation decoding means, so that when copying an original containing a mixture of multiple colors, the copied image can be formed in multiple colors according to the color separation decoding means. Copying machines and the like have also been developed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such a conventional device, when an image is formed in multiple colors using a character image colored with a marker pen or the like as a document, the characteristics of the photoreceptor of the device or the color Depending on the decomposition method, development characteristics, etc., the marker color of the copy result may be too dark (so that the character image is difficult to read).
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional examples. By being able to change the characteristics of the imaging elements for specific color portions of the image, it is possible to faithfully reproduce the original, or to
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that allows flexibility in image reproduction characteristics by changing other colors.

[Means to solve problems] In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, An image forming apparatus that inputs original image information and forms an image on a recording medium, the apparatus comprising: a determining means for determining the color of the original image information; and an image forming apparatus for forming an image based on the image information from the original image. an image forming means including a forming element; a conversion mode setting means for setting a conversion mode for a predetermined color portion of the document image; and an image forming condition of the image forming element according to the conversion mode set by the conversion mode setting means. and a control means for controlling the document color portion determined by the determining means to be changed in accordance with the change mode changed by the condition changing means to form an image. [Effect]

In the above configuration, a conversion mode for a predetermined color portion of a document image is set, and the image forming conditions of the image forming element are changed in accordance with the set conversion mode. In this way, the color portion of the document determined by the determining means for determining the color of the document image is changed in accordance with the changed change mode, and an image is formed.

【Example】

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing image forming processing in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. Moreover, FIG. 2 is a main configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. First, the image forming process in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. (2) is a document table glass, on which a color document, which will be described later, is placed at a predetermined position. Reference numeral 2 denotes an original irradiation lamp composed of, for example, a halogen lamp, which irradiates the original placed on the original table glass 1. A scanning mirror 3 is housed in an optical scanning unit (not shown) and guides reflected light from the document to the CCD unit 4 while reciprocating in the direction of arrow F. In the CCD unit 4, a portion of the light passing through the imaging lens 4a is reflected by a half mirror 4d.
The images are sent to image pickup devices 4b and 4c composed of. Also, the light that has passed through this half mirror 4d is reflected by the folding mirror 5.
The light is then folded back and an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 6. On the other hand, the light reflected by the half mirror 4d is further reflected by the half mirror 4e, and is incident on the image sensor 4b equipped with a switching filter that separates the reflected light into colors.The light that has passed through the half mirror 4e is The light is incident on the non-filter image sensor 4c. The image signals from each of these image sensors are input to the control unit 23, and the control unit 23 determines whether the original image has a predetermined color (the color corresponding to the color of the switching filter) based on the signals from each of these image sensors. It is possible to determine whether the Reference numeral 7 denotes a pre-exposure lamp, which eliminates the charge on the photosensitive drum 6 in preparation for image formation. 8
A charger uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 6. Reference numeral 10 denotes a fixed developing device, which stores, for example, black toner. Reference numeral 11 denotes a replaceable developing unit, which is configured so that the user can easily set it in a predetermined position in the apparatus. is filled with. Reference numeral 15 denotes a paper feed cassette, in which the recording paper is fed into the apparatus by the rotation of each paper feed roller 17, and is temporarily stopped at the position where registration rollers 16 are arranged, and then the recording paper is placed at the writing start position with respect to the image formed on the photosensitive drum 6. The timing is determined and re-feeding takes place. A transfer charger 12 transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 6 onto the fed recording paper. A separation charger 13 separates the recording paper after the transfer operation from the photosensitive drum 6. Thereafter, the conveyor belt 18 conveys the recording paper that has undergone the transfer process to the position of the fixing device 14, and the flapper 19 transports the recording paper that has undergone the fixing process to the output tray 20 or the intermediate tray 22. control in one of the orientation directions. A feeding roller located in the direction in which the intermediate tray 22 is arranged feeds the recording paper, which has undergone the fixing process once, to the intermediate tray 22 in a reversed (multiple) or non-reversed (double-sided) manner. Then, the refeed roller 21 transports the recording paper placed on the intermediate tray 22 again to the registration roller 16 via the transport bus.
Deliver to the installation location. 9 is a laser unit (or LED unit), and by being outputted by the controller 23,
A predetermined location on the photosensitive drum 6 is exposed to remove the electric charge. The portion of the photosensitive drum 6 from which the charge has been removed, that is, the white portion of the document or the portion exposed by the laser unit 9, becomes a white portion as a result of copying, while the unexposed portion is developed as a black or other colored portion. be done. As an example of image formation when performing multicolor copying with such a device configuration, consider the case of copying a document with two colors of red and black (the text image is black and the marker color is red).The procedure shown below is as follows. is possible. (1) Single side: Erases the red image information part of the original using a red filter and exposes only the black image information (analog) Multiple sides: Erases the black image information part of the original using a laser or LED, etc. Exposing only image information (analog) (2) One surface = Same as (1) (analog) Multiple surfaces = (
Similarly to 1), erase the black image information and expose only the red image information (however, writing is done using digital signals). Note that the above-mentioned analog uses the reflected light from the original to expose the photosensitive drum. "Digital" means a method in which the laser unit 9 leaves only the pixel part unexposed and exposes the other background (white) part according to the image information read by the image sensor 4b, that is, the background exposure method. means that image formation is performed. An example of the operation of a copying machine that forms an image according to the above-described procedure will now be described. FIGS. 3 to 7 are diagrams showing specific examples of an original original image and a copied image. Further, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing image density reproduction characteristics by electrophotography, in which the horizontal axis shows the image density of the original, and the vertical axis shows the density of the copied image. First, when attempting to copy the original document 31 as shown in FIG. 3, conventionally, as shown in the copy result 72 in FIG. This is due to the image density reproduction characteristics of electrophotography as shown in Figure 8, and in region II of Figure 8, the density of the copied image is higher than the density of the read original image. Further, FIG. 9 shows a graph based on the graph showing the image density reproduction characteristics of electrophotography shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, image density reproduction curve 9 by electrophotography method
1 (same as curve 91 in FIG. 8), the original density D
RO will be reproduced as a copy image density DRc, which will be darker than the original image density DRQ. Therefore, in order to faithfully reproduce the original density, it should be set to DR+ according to the straight line 92. However, in consideration of drum sensitivity characteristics, etc., correction is made here so that the final density of the copied image is 1F, as intended by the user.As a density changing means, for example, a bias applied to the developing device 11 is used. All you have to do is change the voltage.Specifically, if the applied bias voltage is AC, lower the peak-to-peak voltage, or if DC is applied, change the contrast voltage with the latent image potential. The density of the copied image is corrected by using means such as lowering the density of the copied image.By arbitrarily and easily performing such image processing by the user, the original original image shown at 31 in FIG. , 32
As shown in the figure, it is possible to reproduce the density as intended by the user, and the density of the part colored by the marker is properly reproduced, so the character string "A B C" can be clearly reproduced and confirmed. I can do it. [Description of Second Embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 10)] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 10. Now, when an attempt is made to copy the original image 41 shown in FIG. 4, conventionally, as shown in FIG. It will be reproduced,
In some cases, the density was almost blank. Now, when I try to reproduce the marker color (yellow) in the original as red, the density of the original image decreases. follows the straight line 92, I)y
+ or more is desirable. Therefore, by lowering the lighting voltage of the halogen 92120, which is the document irradiation light source used when forming a color-separated latent image for the marker color, the apparent document image density is increased, and the final copy image density is is corrected by changing the latent image potential so that it becomes the DYF intended by the user. In this way, a copy 42 is obtained in which the color of the marker portion 41 of the original image is reproduced at a density of DYF, which is higher than the density data of the actual marker color. [Explanation of the third embodiment (Figs. 5 and 6)] By using the device configuration as described in the first embodiment, the original document image shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5, and Fig. 6 is shown. When attempting to copy such a document, a case will be explained in which, in addition to the normal copy mode, there is a mode in which the user can arbitrarily select the color, pattern, density, etc. of only the marker color. According to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain a copy image as shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, or FIG. 6. Here, in order to obtain a specified latent image based on the designation of the pattern, a pattern generating means is provided separately, and the region of the marker color obtained by the image sensor 4b is converted into a pattern image obtained from this pattern generating means. It is being replaced. In other words, in addition to changing the potential of a part of the latent image obtained from the original image based on pattern information using the laser unit 9 shown in FIG. This is achieved using the following methods. In FIG. 5, a marker portion 53 of a document image 51 is copied and reproduced as a pattern 54, such as a halftone dot. Further, in FIG. 6, the marker portion 63 of the original image 61 is
It is replaced with a sushi-shaped pattern 64 and reproduced. As is clear from the above series of explanations, the gist of this embodiment is to reproduce a specific color in the original image information with a desired density color and pattern using the density reproduction characteristics unique to the electrophotographic method. , the flowcharts are shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B). That is, in FIG. 1(A), step S
Three modes are set after setting the original in step S1 and before starting copying in step S8. First, in step S2, it is selected whether to specify a document marker color and a color to reproduce it, and if specified, the color is stored (step S3). Next, select whether to replace the marker color part with a pattern (step S
4). In the case of replacement, the pattern to be replaced is specified in step S5. Finally, in step S6, it is selected whether or not to change the density of the marker color area, and if density correction is to be performed, the density is specified (S7). Next, actual copy processing will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 1(B). When an instruction to start copying is issued in step SIO, it is first determined in step Sll whether a marker color, etc. in the document is specified, and if it is specified, the document image is scanned in step S12 to select the specified color. Copying other images while erasing them (first copy stage), then step S13
Proceed to step S2. In step S3, it is checked whether the color to be changed has been designated. If a conversion color has been designated, the process advances to step S14, and settings are made to perform transfer recording using the color developed by the developer set in the development unit. Next, the process advances to step S15, and when it is instructed to print the color portion determined in step S12 with another pattern (corresponding to the above-mentioned steps S4 and S5), the process advances to step S16, and the pattern storage section 24 is Among the stored pattern information, the pattern data specified in step S5 described above is read out. Further, the process advances to step S17,
The aforementioned step S6. It is checked in S7 whether density conversion is instructed, and if density conversion is instructed, step S7 is performed.
Proceeding to step 18, the latent image potential is changed by changing the bias voltage of the developing device 10, changing the voltage of the charger 8 and the transfer charger 12, etc., in accordance with the specified density value.
Change the image forming conditions so that the specified image density is obtained. When various image forming conditions are thus set based on the setting information, the process proceeds to step S19, and copying of the designated color image on the original image is executed (secondary copying stage). Note that if the marker color or the like on the document is not designated in step Sll, it goes without saying that normal copying processing is executed in step S20. As explained above, according to this embodiment, when copying a marker color portion on a document, the density, color, and pattern are Since the correction can be made according to the image quality, it is possible to significantly improve the fidelity of the copy result (and, depending on the settings, it is possible to make copies with enhanced appeal, etc.). Although the present invention has been explained in the case of an electrophotographic copying machine, the present invention is not limited to this; it is of course applicable to other types of color printers, such as inkjet and thermal transfer, for example. [Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, by allowing the user to arbitrarily change the characteristics of the image forming element of a specific color original image on the original, the original image can be faithfully reproduced. In addition to forming an image, or by changing a designated original color to another color, it is possible to have a degree of freedom in image reproduction characteristics.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1(A) is a flowchart showing the condition setting before the start of copying in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. 1(B) is a flowchart showing the image forming process before the start of copying in the image forming apparatus of this embodiment. , FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the main parts of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, FIGS. 3 to 6 are diagrams showing specific examples of original images and copy images in this embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a diagram of conventional original images. Figure 8 is a diagram showing image density reproduction characteristics in electrophotography, and Figures 9 and 1O explain a method for improving copy density based on image density reproduction characteristics. This is a diagram for In the figure, l...Original table glass, 2...Halogen lamp, 3...Mirror, 4...CCD unit, 5...
Mirror, 6... Photosensitive drum, 7... Pre-exposure lamp,
8...-wide charger, 9... laser unit, 10.
...Developer, 11...Developer, 12...Transfer charger, 13...Separation charger, 14...Fixer, 15...
-Paper feed cassette, 23...controller. Zotomawa (B) (A) Figure 10 Maiki - Young r; 1 copy〉 Marker Isunio random rotation diagram complete / 7th era 11?1n Figure 6 diagram change [++ zuze・-'' and sword - attached: Japanese style engatsu>

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An image forming apparatus that inputs original image information and forms an image on a recording medium, the apparatus comprising: a determining means for determining the color of the original image information; and an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on the image information from the original image. a conversion mode setting device for setting a conversion mode for a predetermined color portion of the document image; and a conversion mode setting device for setting the conversion mode of the image forming element according to the conversion mode set by the conversion mode setting device. a condition changing means for changing image forming conditions; and a control means for controlling the document color portion determined by the determining means to be changed in accordance with the change mode changed by the condition changing means to form an image. An image forming apparatus characterized by: (2) The condition changing means changes the image forming conditions of the image forming element so as to change the original color and/or density determined by the determining means in accordance with instructions from the conversion mode setting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. (3) further comprising pattern generation means, wherein the control means operates according to the conditions set by the conversion mode setting means;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pattern image obtained from said pattern generating means is formed from a color portion of the document obtained by said determining means.