JPH06178021A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prepare test paper with an answer, easy for checking answer by providing an editing/copying function for copying a document image on the surface of the paper except a designated image of a part thereof, and also, forming a mirror image of the designated image on the reverse side of the paper. CONSTITUTION:The copying machine is provided with an editing/copying function for copying a document image G on the surface of paper P except a designated image GS of a part thereof, and also, forming the designated image GS on the reverse side of the paper P. In such a state, when a specific copying mode (question preparing mode) is designated, on the surface (one face) of the paper P, the document image G is printed (formed) except of designated image GS of a part thereof, and on the reverse side (the other face) of the paper P, a mirror image GF1 of the designated image GS is printed. That is, in the question preparing mode, double copying for applying a masking function as for the reverse side of the paper P, and also, applying a trimming function and a mirror function as for the reverse side of the paper P is executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine capable of masking and trimming.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital copying machine, masking is performed to erase a part of a document image, copying is performed, trimming is performed to copy only a part of the document image, and the document image is copied as a mirror image with its right and left reversed. Various editing copies have been realized, including mirrors.

As a method of designating a target area at the time of editing and copying, a method of designating a point on the contour of the target area with a stylus pen or the like by providing an editor, a method of numerically inputting the coordinates of the point on the contour of the target area, Also known is a method (marker designating method) of surrounding a target area with a frame line (marker line) of a specific color.

According to the marker designating method, the operator can easily mark a desired portion in an image with a marker line on a manuscript using a writing instrument of a specific color such as a red pencil to easily create a target area of an arbitrary shape. Can be specified.

A copying machine adopting the marker designating method discriminates an original from inside the marker line and prevents the marker line from being printed, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-66967. It is provided with so-called marker area discriminating means for identifying the area to be edited.

On the other hand, a particularly large-sized copying machine is provided with a paper conveying mechanism (automatic double-sided copying mechanism) for automating double-sided copying in which copied images are formed on both front and back surfaces of the paper.

[0007]

Of the various editing and copying functions that have already been put into practical use as described above, the masking function and the trimming function are useful functions in the field of education such as schools and cram schools. .

That is, if a textbook or a reference book is partially erased and copied by using the masking function, a so-called worm-eating calculation or fill-in-the-blank test problem can be easily created. In that case, the more masking portions (problem portions), the more advantageous the above-described marker designating method becomes. Then, the manuscript used to create the test question, that is, the textbook or reference book in which the marker line is written in the problem area, is copied as it is by designating the trimming function, so that the answer corresponding to the test question can be created.

By the way, in practice, a simple test is often carried out in which the students themselves make an answer, and in that case, the answer is often printed on the back surface of the test sheet.

However, heretofore, there has not been a copying machine capable of performing edit copying (a type of double-sided copying) in which test questions and answers are separately printed on the front surface and the back surface of a sheet in order or in parallel. That is, even if the conventional copying machine is equipped with an automatic double-sided copying mechanism, it is not possible to perform double-sided copying with different editing contents between the front and back sides of a sheet.

Therefore, when creating a test sheet with an answer, the operator specifies the single-sided copy mode instead of the double-sided copy mode, and after performing a predetermined number of single-sided copies for creating a test question (or answer), It was necessary to set the copied paper back on a paper feed cassette or the like and perform another single-sided copy to create an answer (or test question).

Further, it is conceivable that the answer is printed on the back surface of the test sheet as a mirror image of the left and right sides of the answer in correspondence with a blank portion in the test question, instead of simply printing the answer on the back surface of the test sheet. According to this, by making the test sheet transparent, the test question and the answer (when viewed from the front side, the image is a normal image) can be seen at the same time, and the answer matching becomes easy.

However, conventionally, in particular, when the trimming and the mirror cannot be designated at the same time, the answer of the normal image is printed by the trimming function, and the mirror image is printed by the mirror function by using the printed paper as an original. Had to do. For this reason, it was very troublesome to make a test sheet with a mirror image of the answer printed on the back side.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a copying machine suitable for a specific application, for example, the preparation of a test sheet with an answer that allows easy answer matching.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a copying machine which copies an original image on a front surface of a sheet except a part of the designated image, and a mirror image of the designated image on a back surface of the sheet. It is equipped with an edit / copy function for image formation.

A copying machine according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises means for detecting an image of a region surrounded by a marker line of a specific color on the original as the designated image. A copying machine according to a third aspect of the present invention has a plurality of developing means having developing colors different from each other, and uses the developing means different from each other for forming an image on the front surface and an image on the back surface of the paper.

In the present invention, the original image does not include a marker line of a specific color on the original.

[0018]

[Function] Specific copy mode (hereinafter, "problem creation mode"
Is specified), the original image is printed (imaged) on the front side (one side) of the paper, except for some of the specified images, and on the back side (the other side) of the paper. ,
A mirror image of the designated image is printed. That is, in the question creation mode, double-sided copying is performed with the masking function applied to the front surface of the paper and the trimming function and the mirror function applied to the back surface of the paper.

The specified image is specified by, for example, a marker specifying method of surrounding a desired area in the original with a marker line of a specific color, and is detected as an edit target by a so-called marker area determining method.

The original image excluding the designated image and the mirror image of the designated image are printed in different colors.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a front view showing the structure of a copying machine 1 according to the present invention, and the chain line in the drawing shows the paper conveyance path.

The copying machine 1 is a digital copying machine capable of two-color printing, and includes an image reader section IR, a printer section PR, a sheet re-feeding unit 50, a desk 60 as a pedestal with casters, and a desk 60. It is composed of an assembled elevator type paper storage unit 65.

The image reader section IR is provided with a document glass 19
Scanning system 1 that separates and reads the original placed on the paper into two colors
0, an image signal processing unit 18 that performs quantization of photoelectric conversion signals output from the scanning system 10 and signal processing according to various copy modes.

The scanning system 10 is a line scanning type image reading mechanism, and includes a scanner 11 in which an exposure lamp 11 and a mirror are assembled, mirrors 13a and 13b, and a condenser lens 1.
4, a dichroic mirror 15, two image sensors 16 and 17, and a scan motor M2 for driving the scanner 11.

The dichroic mirror 15 splits the reflected light from the original into light in a wavelength band corresponding to a specific color (for example, red) designated by a marker and light in other wavelength bands. The light in the red wavelength band is converted into an electric signal by the image sensor 17, and the light in the other wavelength bands is converted into the electric signal.
Is converted into an electric signal by. The image signal processing unit 18 will be described later.

The printer section PR has an image reader section IR.
The image corresponding to the original is printed on the paper by the electrophotographic process based on the image data output by the. A photoconductor drum 2 is rotatably arranged in the counterclockwise direction at substantially the center of the printer section PR. Around the photoconductor drum 2, a charger 3, an LED print head 4, and two magnetic brush type developing devices are provided. 5A and 5B, a transfer charger 6, a separation charger 7, a cleaning device 8, and an eraser lamp 9 are arranged in this order. The developing color of the first developing device 5A is black and the second developing device 5A
The developing color of B is red.

On the left side of the printer section PR, a manual paper feed tray 20 and three removable paper cassettes 2 are provided.
1, 22, 23 are provided. Paper cassette 21
23 to 23 and a lift table 24 of the paper storage unit 65, a paper sensor SE1 for detecting the paper size and the presence or absence of paper.
1, SE12, SE13, SE14 are provided respectively.

In the automatic paper feeding, the printer section PR selectively drives the paper feeding rollers 25, 26, 27 and 28 corresponding to the paper cassettes 21 to 23 and the paper storage unit 65, respectively, so that the paper of a predetermined size can be obtained. Take out the sheets one by one.

For example, the sheet taken out from the sheet cassette 21 is sent to the transfer position by the registration roller 30 at a predetermined timing, and after the toner image is transferred, it is sent to the fixing roller pair 32 by the conveyor belt 31. Then, the sheet on which the toner image is fixed is sent from the printer section PR to the sheet re-feeding unit 50 by the sheet discharge roller 33.

The sheet re-feeding unit 50 carries a predetermined sheet according to the copy mode. That is, in the case of normal one-sided copying, the re-feeding unit 50 has the receiving roller 51.
The sheet taken in by is sent to the discharge roller 52 and discharged onto the tray 59.

In the case of a composite copy in which the images of two originals are lined up on one side of one sheet and printed, the sheet re-feeding unit 50 causes the sheets to sequentially receive the receiving roller 51, the intermediate roller 53, and the sending roller 55. Switching claws 56 to pass through,
The rotation angle position of 57 is set, and the paper is sent to the paper refeed path 35 in the printer section PR. In this case, in the re-feed path 35, the lower surface of the paper becomes a surface that already has an image.

Then, in the case of double-sided copying in which images are printed on both sides of the paper, the re-feed unit 50
Temporarily stores the paper in the switchback passage 58, and thereafter reverses the rotation of the intermediate roller 54 to re-feed the paper.
Send to 5. In this case, in the re-feeding path 35, the upper surface of the paper becomes a surface already having an image, and the lower surface becomes a surface on which an image is subsequently printed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 100 of the copying machine 1. The control unit 100 has three CPUs 1.
Although not shown, each of the CPUs 101 to 103 includes a ROM storing a program and a RAM serving as a work area for executing the program.

The CPU 101 controls the operation panel OP provided on the upper surface of the image reader IR.
The CPU 102 is responsible for drive control of the scanning system 10 and control of the image signal processing unit 18. In addition, the CPU 103 uses the LED
It is responsible for controlling each part of the printer section PR including the print processing section 40 that drives the print head 4, and controls the entire control of the copying machine 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image signal processing section 18. The image signal processing unit 18 uses the A / D
Conversion units 181, 182, shading correction unit 183,
184, a color determination unit 185, an electrical scaling unit 186, a density correction unit 187, and an image editing unit 188.

An A / D converter 181 and a shading corrector 183 are provided for the image sensor 16,
The / D conversion unit 182 and the shading correction unit 184 are provided for the image sensor 17.

The A / D converters 181 and 182 amplify the photoelectric conversion signals output from the image sensors 16 and 17, respectively, to a predetermined level and then sample them at fixed intervals to obtain 8-bit (256 gradations) image data. D10, D2
Convert to 0.

The shading correction units 183 and 184 are
The image data D10 and D20 are corrected according to the unevenness of the light amount of the exposure lamp 12 and the variation in the sensitivity of the image sensors 16 and 17 for each pixel.

The color discriminating unit 185 is composed of a ROM in which predetermined data is stored as a look-up table (LUT), and for each pixel based on the two image data D11 and D12 output from the shading correcting units 183 and 184. Then, the color discrimination data DC0 for discriminating the color of the original image is output.

The electrical scaling section 186 performs pixel density conversion in the main scanning direction on the image data D11 and the color discrimination data DC0 (scaling processing in which pixels are overlapped or pixels are thinned according to the copy magnification). , Image data D12 and color discrimination data DC1 are output. In addition, the electrical scaling unit 186
In the question creation mode of the edit copy mode,
Image data (mirror image data) and color discrimination data for printing a mirror image of a specified image GS, which will be described later, are generated and output as image data D12 and color discrimination data DC1.

The function of the electric scaling section 186 is to provide a RAM for temporarily storing a predetermined amount of data (for example, one line) and an address counter for addressing the data, and count the address counter. It can be realized by controlling the operation. Ie RAM
In reading, if, for example, the cycle of the clock defining the counting operation is set to half of that in writing, one address is designated twice, and the image is doubled. In addition, by performing up-counting at the time of writing and down-counting at the time of reading, mirror image data can be generated, and at that time, a scaling process can be added.

The density correction unit 187 is provided in the image sensor 16
The image data D12 corresponding to is subjected to gamma correction for correctly reproducing the density of the original image and background removal for clarifying the copied image.

Then, the image editing section 188 changes the image data D13 or the area data DE1 to LE according to the editing content.
Print data DV for controlling the D print head 4
As the output to the print processing unit 40 of the printer unit PR.

That is, when the editing is not performed, the image editing section 188 outputs the image data D13 as it is as the print data DV. As a result, the original image is copied as it is.

When masking is performed, the image editing unit 1
The reference numeral 88 outputs the image data D13 as the print data DV only for the pixels other than the designated area (but not including the marker line) based on the area data DE1.
As a result, the original image is copied with the image in the designated area and the marker line erased.

On the contrary, when trimming is performed, the image editing section 188 outputs the image data D13 as the print data DV for only the pixels in the designated area based on the area data DE1. As a result, the image in the designated area of the original image is copied in the form of a normal image or a mirror image.

When so-called filling is performed,
The image editing unit 188 outputs the area data DE1 as print data DV. As a result, the original image is copied with the designated area filled in.

As shown in FIG. 4, the function of the image editing section 188 is, for example, the selector 191 and the gate circuit 1.
92, 193, and the NOT circuit 194.

The copying machine 1 having the above-described structure has an edit copy mode called a question creation mode, which is suitable for a specific application. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of copying in the question creation mode.

In FIG. 5A, the original D is a printed matter using a white paper, and the original image G is "3 + 4 =".
It is composed of three mathematical expressions (equations) of "7", "2 + 3 = 5", and "9-5 = 4". The letters in each formula are colors other than red (generally black).

Here, based on such a document D, a test paper is printed by using the copying machine 1 as shown in FIG. 5B, in which the mathematical problem in which the right side of each mathematical expression is blank is printed. , A test sheet P where the answer appears when the sheet is transparent
Shall be created.

First, the operator first selects the answer portion of the original image G, that is, the numbers "7" and "5" on the right side of the mathematical expression.
A marker line ML is written using a writing tool of a specific color (red in this embodiment) so as to surround "4", and an area to be edited is designated (marking). As a result, the image in the marked area, that is, the numbers "7" and "5"
“4” is the designated image GS. Although the three numbers are individually surrounded in the drawing, the marking may be performed so that the three numbers are collectively contained in one frame line.

Next, the operator places the document D provided with the marker line ML on the document table glass 19 and depresses a predetermined key on the operation panel OP to specify the question preparation mode. The document D may be placed after selecting the mode.

Then, when the operator presses the print key, the copying machine 1 takes out one sheet P of a predetermined size from the sheet cassettes 21 to 23 and the like, and as shown in FIG. The copy image GH1 of the original image G excluding the designated image GS is printed in black, for example. At this time, the scanner 11 moves in the positive direction from the right side to the left side in FIG. 1 to scan the document D.

Subsequently, the copying machine 1 includes the refeed unit 50.
The paper P is switched back by the paper, and the paper P is re-fed so that the back surface of the paper P contacts the photoconductor drum 2.
As shown in (d), a copy image (mirror image) GH2, which is a left-right inverted version of the designated image GS, is printed on the back surface of the sheet P in red, for example. At this time, the scanner 11 moves in the opposite direction from the left side to the right side of FIG. 1 to scan the document D, and the electric magnification varying unit 186 generates mirror image data. Then, the copying machine 1 discharges the paper P for which printing on the back side has been completed onto the paper discharge tray 59.

That is, the question creation mode is a copy mode in which masking is applied to the front surface of the paper and double-sided copying is applied to the back surface of the paper using trimming and mirroring. The mirror image is printed on the back surface of the paper P at a position corresponding to a blank portion on the front surface generated by masking (that is, just behind the blank portion).

The copying machine 1 will be described below with reference to the flow chart.
The operation of will be described. FIG. 6 is a main flowchart showing a schematic operation of the CPU 103 that controls the entire copying machine 1.

When the power is turned on, the CPU 103 sequentially executes the initial setting of the internal RAM and the like (# 1) and the serial receiving process (# 2) of receiving the key input information from the CPU 101 which controls the operation panel OP. . In the serial reception process, the copy mode is set and the flag is set according to the content of the operation.

Next, if there is a copy request, the CPU 103 executes the copy processing described later (# 3, 4), and executes the normal processing for monitoring the operating state of each unit (# 5), and the CP.
A serial communication process of transmitting the status display information to U101 is executed (# 6). Then, the CPU 103 waits for the end of time measurement of the loop timer that defines the processing time of one routine (#
7), each processing of step # 2 to step # 7 is repeatedly executed.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the copy process of FIG. If the above question creation mode is specified,
When the CPU 102 is notified of the start of scanning, the CPU 103 checks the scanning direction (# 11, 1).
2, 13).

When the scan direction is the forward direction, the CPU 1
In No. 03, the developing device 5A is selected to perform black printing, and front surface print processing is performed to copy the original image G other than the designated image GS on the surface of the paper P (# 13, 14, 1).
5).

When the scan direction is the reverse direction, C
The PU 103 uses the developing device 5B to print in red.
To print a mirror image of the designated image GS on the back surface of the paper P (# 13, 16, 1).
7).

On the other hand, when a copy mode other than the question creation mode is designated, the CPU 103 executes a copy process of another mode for controlling each section of the copying machine 1 according to the copy mode (# 18).

8 and 9 are flowcharts showing the operation of the CPU 102 which controls the image reader IR. Upon receiving the image reading request from the CPU 101, the CPU 102 moves the scanner 11 in the forward direction as a preliminary scan to detect the position of the trailing edge of the document D, and returns the scanner 11 to the home position on the leading edge side of the document D. After that, the main scan of the document D is started (# 21 to 25).

Subsequently, the CPU 102 controls the image signal processing unit 18 to perform necessary signal processing on a line-by-line basis, and sends predetermined image data DV to the print processing unit 40. At this time, in the question creation mode, the color discrimination data DC0 by the color discrimination unit 185 is fetched for each line, and the region discrimination for each pixel is performed. Then, the image editing unit 188 is controlled so as to output the image data DV that erases the image within the designated region by marking, and the image data D13 that has passed through the density correction unit 187 is output as it is outside the designated region. To control the image editing unit 188 (#
26-31).

When the scanner 11 reaches the rear end of the document D,
The CPU 102 once terminates the scan and checks again whether it is in the question creation mode (# 32, 33). At this time, if the mode is not the question creation mode, the CPU 102 performs the return process of the scanner 11, waits for the scanner 11 to return to the home position, and notifies the CPU 101 and the like of the scan end (# 33, 40 to 42).

On the other hand, in the question creation mode, C
The PU 102 performs processing for printing a mirror image of the designated image GS on the back surface of the paper P. That is, the scanner 11 is moved in the opposite direction to read the document D, the electric magnification changer 186 is controlled so as to generate mirror image data within the designated area, and image data DV in a form of erasing the image outside the designated area is generated. The image editing unit 188 is controlled to output (# 34 to 39).

According to the above-mentioned embodiment, by using a commercially available so-called copy paper or the like having a suitable light-transmitting paper P,
You can easily create a test sheet that allows you to match the answers without turning the paper over. Further, since the document D is read not only while the scanner 11 is moving in the forward direction but also when it is moving in the reverse direction, the speed of copying in the problem creation mode can be increased.

In the above embodiment, the color discrimination data DC
The area discrimination of the document D based on 0 can be realized by an appropriate logic circuit. In addition, a mirror image of the designated image GS is moved to the edge of the paper P by using a known technique of transmitting image data through the line memory and controlling the addressing of the line memory to shift the image. You may make it print. Further, when the mirror image data is generated, a rotation process of 180 ° is added as necessary, so that the mirror image of the back surface of the paper P is the front side of the copy image GH1 regardless of the orientation of the document D (portrait / landscape). However, it may not be turned upside down.

In the above embodiment, the image signal processing unit 1
8 and the configuration of the control unit 100 can be appropriately changed. Further, it is possible to use a single developing device so that the print colors on the front and back surfaces of the paper P are the same.

In the above-described embodiment, the edit area is specified by the marker specifying method, but other methods such as a point specifying method by an editor or a coordinate input specifying method by a numeric keypad may be adopted.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the copying machine 1 for printing images on the front surface and the back surface of the paper P in order has been exemplified. However, for example, two photoconductor drums 2 are provided to print the images on both surfaces of the paper substantially at the same time. Is also possible in principle.

The use of the question creation mode is not limited to the creation of test questions.

[0074]

According to the present invention, it is possible to enhance the convenience in a specific application, for example, the preparation of a test sheet with an answer that allows easy answer matching.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of a copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image signal processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an image editing unit in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of copying in a question creation mode.

FIG. 6 is a main flowchart showing a schematic operation of a CPU that controls the entire copying machine.

7 is a flowchart of the copy processing of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a CPU that controls an image reader unit.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU that controls the image reader unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 G original image GS designated image P front surface GH1 copy image (mirror image) ML marker line 5A, 5B developing device (developing means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An edit copy function for copying an original image on the front surface of a sheet except a part of the specified image and forming a mirror image of the specified image on the back surface of the sheet. Copier. 2. A copying machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for detecting an image of an area surrounded by a marker line of a specific color on the original as the designated image. 3. A plurality of developing means having different developing colors are provided, and the different developing means are used for forming an image on the front surface and an image on the rear surface of the sheet. The copying machine described in 2.