JPH066579A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the workability by properly discriminating propriety of copying and to possibly suppress useless consumption of paper with respect to the copying machine configured to be able to attain copying called a magnified consecutive shot. CONSTITUTION:The copying machine is a copying machine which has a function that splits an original depending on a copy magnification, uses plural paper sheets to copy the original picture Gi with magnification and is provided with a designated operation means to designate part of the original as a specific area and when the specific area is designated in the case of magnification copying, a split area e13 corresponding to the specific area takes precedence of copying over each of split area e1--e25 of the original D.

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 copying, which is referred to as enlarged continuous shooting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a digital copying machine, enlarged continuous copying has been realized as one form of copying. Enlargement continuous copying divides the area of the original according to the copy magnification, and performs continuous partial enlargement copying on each area using multiple sheets of paper to enlarge and copy the entire original image. is there. That is, in the magnified continuous shooting, the original image is partially magnified and copied on each of a plurality of sheets, and the respective sheets are sequentially ejected.

By properly aligning the discharged sheets, the operator can obtain a large copy image that does not fit on one sheet in the form of a collective image of the images on each sheet.

A conventional copying machine is configured to use one sheet for each divided area of an original and to copy each area in order from an area corresponding to one corner of the original during continuous enlargement. It was

For example, as shown in FIG. 55 (a), when the original image Gi of the original D is magnified and copied four times using a paper of the same size as the original size, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the document D is divided into 16 areas e1 to e16 in total in four rows and four columns, which are divided into four in each of the vertical and horizontal directions, and these areas e1 to e16 are arranged from the top row to the bottom row in the drawing. To each row, and each row is copied in the order from left to right as indicated by the arrow in the figure. That is, e1 → e2 → e3 → e4 → e5 → e
6 → e7 → e8 → e9 → e10 → e11 → e12 → e1
3 → e14 → e15 → e16 in the order of the areas e1 to e1
The copying operation for 6 is repeated. And
In this case, as shown in FIG. 55C, the paper P having the partial copy image Gh1 corresponding to the area e1 to the paper P having the partial copy image Gh16 corresponding to the area e16.
Up to 16 sheets of paper P are sequentially discharged.

[0006]

In enlarged continuous copying, especially when the number of divisions of the original image Gi is large due to the relationship between the copy magnification and the paper size, it takes a relatively long time to copy all the divided areas. Requires.

On the other hand, when copying, not limited to the enlarged continuous shooting, a part of the original image may be regarded as important depending on the purpose (use of the copied image). That is, the operator sometimes pays attention to a specific portion of the copy image and determines the suitability of the copy result. For example, when copying a color photograph, attention is focused on a portion that requires delicate color adjustment (such as a person's skin color portion).

Now, let us consider a case where the operator attaches importance to, for example, the image in the area e11 in the example of FIG. In this case, depending on the state of the partial copy image Gh11 corresponding to the area e11, it is necessary to change the copy conditions such as the copy magnification and the reproduction color and re-enlarge continuous shooting.

However, conventionally, since the area e11 is copied to the 11th position, the operator cannot judge the suitability of the copying at an early stage, which is disadvantageous in terms of the workability of copying.

Further, even if the operator immediately decides to redo copying at the time when the paper P copying the area e11 is ejected and cancels the continuous continuous copying in progress, 10 papers P and up to that time are required. There was also the problem that the time spent was wasted.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to improve workability by facilitating determination of suitability of copying and to suppress wasteful consumption of paper as much as possible.

[0012]

A copying machine according to the present invention comprises:
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a copying machine having a function of dividing an original according to a copy magnification and enlarging and copying an original image using a plurality of sheets, and designating a part of the original as a specific area When the specific area is designated during the enlargement copying, the divided area corresponding to the specific area is preferentially copied when the specific area is designated in the enlargement copying. .

[0013]

In order to obtain a copy image of a size larger than one sheet of paper, when copying the original image using a plurality of sheets of paper (hereinafter referred to as enlarged continuous shooting), the original is the paper size and copy magnification. Accordingly, the copy image of each area after the division is divided vertically and horizontally so that the size of the copy image is equal to or smaller than the size of one sheet.

Then, among the divided areas, the divided area corresponding to the specified specific area is preferentially copied to the other areas. That is, for example, the divided area corresponding to the specific area is first copied.

[0015]

1 is a front view showing the structure of a copying machine 1 according to the present invention. The copying machine 1 is a digital color copying machine, and the maximum reading size is A3 size (297 mm × 42).
(0 mm) image reader unit IR and maximum copy size A3 size printer unit PR.

The image reader IR is provided on the platen glass 3
The original document D placed on the document 1 is exposed and scanned (scanned) by the scanner 32, and the reflected light from the original document D is read by the one-dimensional image sensor 38 including a CCD. The image processing unit 120 generates image data corresponding to the photoelectric conversion signal of the image sensor 38, and transmits the image data to the print head control unit 130 of the printer unit PR. The scanner 32 is driven by the pulse motor 35.

The printer section PR is composed of an image forming system for forming a copy image by an electrophotographic process, a storage / conveyance mechanism for automatic sheet feeding, and the like. The image forming system includes a laser device 21 using a semiconductor laser as an exposure light source, a photosensitive drum 4 as a latent image carrier, a developing unit 6, and a transfer drum 10 for transferring a developed toner image onto a sheet. Have Photoconductor drum 4 and transfer drum 10
Rotate synchronously by the drum drive motor 22.

The developing unit 6 of the copying machine 1 includes a magenta developing unit 6M for developing with magenta toner, a cyan developing unit 6C for developing with cyan toner, a yellow developing unit 6Y for developing with yellow toner, and a developing unit with black toner. Black developing device 6K
And a toner hopper (not shown) for supplying the toner of each color (M, C, Y, K) is provided above each developing device.

The developing device unit 6 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction in order to selectively place each developing device at the developing position. The movement of the developing unit 6 is performed by the developing unit motor 61.

The storage / conveyance mechanism has three paper cassettes 42, 43, 4 capable of storing papers of different sizes.
4 and a sheet conveying system 40 driven by the main motor 41.

Each of the paper cassettes 42 to 44 has a storage capacity of several hundreds. Further, the paper transport system 40 selectively selects each of the paper cassettes 42 to 44 to feed the paper, and re-feeds the paper after passing through the fixing device 48 to the transfer position as necessary.

In normal full-color copying, a sheet pulled out from any one of the sheet cassettes 42 to 44 is conveyed by a roller group including a pair of timing rollers 45 and is wound around the peripheral surface of the transfer drum 10. The sheet on which the toner images of the four colors have been transferred in order is separated from the transfer drum 10 by the separation claw 18 and sent to the fixing device 48 by the conveyor belt 47. The fixed sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 49.

In double-sided copying, the paper after fixing has nails 53,
The sheet is temporarily stored in the intermediate storage table 50 via 54, and is re-fed from the intermediate storage table 50 to the transfer drum 10 so that the surface opposite to the surface having the copied image becomes the transfer surface.

Then, in the case of forming a plurality of copy images on one sheet in the enlargement continuous shooting described later, the sheet after fixing is transported by switchback through the claws 53 and 54 and the sheet reversing device 51. The sheet is once stored in the intermediate storage table 50 and is re-fed so that the surface having the copied image becomes the transfer surface.

Around the transfer drum 10, a suction charger 11, a pressing roller 12 and a transfer charger 1 are provided.
4, the separation chargers 16 and 17, and a reference position sensor 13 that outputs a rotation position reference signal of the transfer drum 10 are arranged. Further, an actuator plate 13 for operating the reference position sensor 13 is provided on the surface of the transfer drum 10.
a is attached.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the operation section OB, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation panel 70 of FIG. Operation part OB
Is composed of a display device 69 for displaying a screen for interactive operation, an operation panel 70 and the like, and is arranged on the upper part of the copying machine 1.

The display device 69 is attached to the support base 68 via a flexible arm 68B, and the orientation of the screen can be freely adjusted. The operation panel 70 includes a print key 71, an image monitor key 72, a ten key group 73, a clear key 74, a stop key 75, a panel reset key 76,
Auto magnification key (automatic paper selection key) 77, auto scaling key (automatic magnification selection key) 78, manual key (manual setting key) 79, five function keys 81 to 8
5, an enter key 86, a reverse key 87, and a trackball 88 are arranged. The functions of these keys will be clarified as necessary in the following description.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system 100 of the copying machine 1. The control system 100 has four CPUs.
(Central processing unit) 101, 102, 103, 104, and a control bus 110 connecting them are mainly configured. Each CPU is a microprocessor unit (M
PU).

First, the CPU 102 controls the image reader IR. That is, while communicating with the image processing unit 120, the drive system 121 including a motor for scanning a document and an exposure lamp is controlled.

The CPU 103 is responsible for controlling the printer section PR, and sends a predetermined control signal to the drive system 131 including the main motor 61 and the print head control section (PH control section) 130 based on the detection signal of the sensor group 132. Output.

The CPU 104 controls the operation unit OB, performs an input process of the key group 142 of the operation panel 70, and controls an address of the image memory 141 which stores the thinned image data for screen display.

The CPU 101 controls the overall control of the copying machine 1 by an MSC (Macro System Co).
controller), gives a predetermined command to the other CPUs 102 to 104 according to the copy mode, and receives data from each of the CPUs 102 to 104 as necessary.

In principle, the operation of the control system 100 is thus sequentially controlled by the CPU 101. However, for signals that require high-speed transfer between the image reader section IR and the printer section PR, C
Direct signal transmission / reception is performed without passing through the PU 101.

For example, the signals transmitted directly from the image reader section IR to the printer section PR include image data VIDEO, pixel transfer clock SYNCK, signal HD representing a printable area in the horizontal direction (main scanning direction), and vertical direction ( There are a signal VD representing a printable area in the sub-scanning direction) and a print weight request signal BUSY. In addition, the printer unit P
The signals that are directly transmitted from R to the image reader unit IR include a horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync, an image data request signal I-REQ, and an image data request notice signal PRE-TRG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image processing unit 120. The image sensor 38 separates and reads the original image into three primary colors (R, G, B). Then, based on the photoelectric conversion signals of the respective colors output from the image sensor 38 by the image processing unit 120, image data (print data) serving as an exposure control signal for forming a latent image.
VIDEO is generated.

The image processing unit 120 includes an input processing unit 122,
A / D conversion unit 123, shading correction unit 124, density conversion unit 125, color conversion unit 126, edit processing unit 127,
It is composed of an MTF correction unit 128 and a scaling / movement unit 129.

The photoelectric conversion signal input to the input processing unit 122 is amplified to a predetermined level and then sampled at a constant cycle. The sampling value is the A / D conversion unit 12
At 3, each color is converted into 8-bit (256 gradation) image data.

The shading correction unit 124 corrects the image data according to the unevenness of the light amount of the exposure lamp 33 and the variation of the sensitivity of each pixel of the image sensor 38. After that, the image data is converted by the density conversion unit 125 from data proportional to the amount of reflected light to data (density data) proportional to the density of each color of the image, and a process of emphasizing the highlight part and the shadow part is performed. It should be noted that the respective processes for the above image data are performed in parallel for the three colors (R, G, B).

Next, the color conversion unit 126 generates image data corresponding to any of the four color toners in accordance with the values of the three color image data. At this time, a control signal indicating which color of image data is generated is given from the CPU 102 to the color conversion unit 126 in synchronization with the operation of the printer unit PR.

The edit processing unit 127 performs a predetermined process when editing and copying. For example, at the time of trimming editing, a process of deleting an image outside the designated trimming area is performed. The MTF correction unit 128 also performs image quality improvement processing such as edge enhancement and smoothing processing.

The scaling / moving unit 129 performs scaling processing (pixel density conversion processing in the main scanning direction) for enlarging or reducing the image in accordance with the copy magnification, and moving the image in the main scanning direction (image shift). ) And repetition (image repeat) are processed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the scaling / moving unit 129, FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing the operation during enlargement copying, FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing the operation during reduction copying, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of image shift copying, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of image repeat copying.

The scaling / moving unit 129 includes two line memories 301A and 301B, a thinning clock generating unit 302,
Write address generator 303, read address generator 3
04 and a clock selector 305.

The image data input from the MTF correction unit 128 is stored in one line memory (for example, the line memory 30).
1A). At this time, the line memory 301A
Are controlled by the write address generator 303.

In parallel with this, the other line memory 30
The previously stored image data is read from 1B.
At this time, the line memory 301B is address-controlled by the read address generator 304.

Each of the address generators 303 and 304 generates a write address or a read address by counting the clock signal selected by the clock selector 305.

The selection input of the clock selector 305 is the pixel transfer clock SYNCK and the thinning clock R-SY.
It is NCK. The thinned-out clock R-SYNCK is generated in the thinned-out clock generation unit 302 by thinning out the pixel transfer clock SYNCK according to the magnification data MAG-DATA given from the CPU 103. For equal size copying (copy magnification is 1), clock R-SYNC
Becomes a signal having the same cycle as the clock SYNCK.

The selection operation of the clock selector 305 is C
According to the enlargement / reduction signal RE given from the PU 103. Each line memory 301A, 301B and each address generator 3
The relationship with 03 and 304 is switched every time the horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync is input. That is, each line memory 3
In 01A and 301B, writing and reading are alternately performed every time the signal Hsync is input.

The initial value of the clock count in the write address generator 303 is "0". On the other hand, in the read address generator 304, the initial value of the clock count is the read start position data FST-.
It is changed according to the POS and is counted up or down according to the signal UD. Further, the read address generation unit 304 determines that the repeat position data REP-P
The counting of a predetermined number is repeated according to the OS.

At the time of enlargement copying, as shown in FIG.
Pixel transfer clock SYNCK as a clock for writing
Is selected, and the thinned clock R-SYNCK is selected as the read clock. As a result, the same data is read from the line memory a plurality of times in synchronization with the pixel transfer clock SYNCK. In the example of FIG. 7, the data corresponding to each pixel of the original image is read twice, and as a result, the original image is doubled.

At the time of reduction copying, as shown in FIG.
Thinned clock R-SYNC as a clock for writing
K is selected, the input image data is thinned out and stored in the line memory. Then, the thinned-out image data is read in synchronization with the pixel transfer clock SYNCK. As a result, the original image is reduced. In the example of FIG. 8, the size is reduced to half.

Further, in the image shift copying, as shown in FIG. 9, the reading of the line memory starts from the value of the reading start position data FST-POS. Move to. Figure 9
In the example, the value of the data FST-POS is a positive number, and as a result, the copied image moves to the left. Data FST-
If the value of POS is negative, the copied image moves to the right.

At the time of image repeat copying, the count value (read address) of the read address generator 304
Reaches the value of repeat position data REP-POS,
It is counted from the initial value again, and a part of the original image is repeatedly copied.

Further, at the time of mirror image copying, the read address generating unit 304 performs a countdown operation according to the signal UD, whereby the copied image becomes a mirror image of the original image. In addition, variable magnification, image shift, image repeat,
It is also possible to obtain a copied image by arbitrarily combining the mirror images.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the print head controller 130, and FIG. 12 is a waveform diagram of signals relating to the operation of the print head controller 130. The print head control unit (hereinafter, referred to as PH control unit) 130 includes a pair of buffer memories 360 and 361, a write address counter 362, a read address counter 363, an LD drive circuit 364, a pixel clock generation circuit 365, and a horizontal synchronization signal generation circuit 366. And a light emission permission signal generation circuit 367
It consists of

The buffer memories 360 and 361 are provided for asynchronously writing (storing) and reading the image data VIDEO in parallel, and are written or read alternately every scanning of one line of the document. .

That is, the image data VIDEO for one line of the Nth line transferred from the image reader unit IR.
Is stored in one buffer memory within one cycle Ths of the horizontal synchronizing signal Hsync. Also, in parallel with this,
It has already been stored from the other buffer memory (N-
1) The image data VIDEO of the line is read.

At this time, the count value of the write address counter 362 is given to the buffer memory to be written as the write address. The write address counter 362 resets the count value in response to the input of the signal Hsync, and counts the pixel transfer clock SYNCK within the subsequent active period Thd of the signal HD (see FIG. 12).

In the buffer memory to be read, the read address counter 3 is used as a read address.
A count value of 63 is given. The read address counter 363 controls the active period Th of the light emission permission signal HIA.
The pixel clock DOTCK is counted within ia.

The pixel clock DOTCK is a signal that defines the on / off control timing for each pixel of the semiconductor laser LD, and is generated by the pixel clock generation circuit 365. Further, the light emission permission signal HIA is the horizontal synchronization signal Hs.
It is generated by the light emission permission signal generation circuit 367 based on the sync and the pixel clock DOTCK.

Such buffer memories 360, 361
To the LD drive circuit 364 through the image data VIDEO
Is transferred. The LD drive circuit 364 controls the image data VI.
DEO is converted into LD light emission data, and ON / OFF control of the semiconductor laser LD is performed. In the following, drawing a latent image on the photosensitive drum 4 with a laser beam is referred to as “printing”.

In the PH controller 130 of this embodiment,
By changing the timing of activating the light emission permission signal HIA, the print start timing is changed to the horizontal synchronization signal Hs
It can be arbitrarily set within the range of one cycle Ths of sync. That is, the start position of the printing on the photosensitive drum 4 in the main scanning direction can be changed to shift the position of the copied image with respect to the sheet by a predetermined length regardless of the image shift described above.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of image movement by setting the operation timing of the PH control unit 130. FIG.
As shown in (a), the active period Th of the signal HIA is
When ia is the first half of the period Ths, the copy image Gh is formed on the left side portion of the paper P. In addition, FIG.
As shown in (b), the active period Thia is set to the period T.
In the latter half period of hs, the copy image Gh is formed on the right side portion of the paper P.

In the copying machine 1 having the electrophotographic process mechanism and control means having the above-mentioned structure, various forms of copying can be realized, including the above-described simple variable magnification copying and image shift copying.

Among these various types of copying, the enlarged continuous shooting according to the present invention and several kinds of copying related thereto will be described below. [Full Color Copy] When a mode selection operation for designating full color copy is performed and the print key 71 is pressed (turned on), the copying machine 1 scans the same document D four times in total, 4 The color toner images are sequentially transferred onto the sheet P and superposed.

At the time of superposition, it is necessary to strictly synchronize the operations of the image reader section IR and the printer section PR in the sub-scanning direction in order to prevent the position shift of each toner image.

In order to realize such synchronization, the copier 1 uses the rotational position reference signal TBASE from the above-mentioned reference position sensor 13 and actuator plate 13a. FIG. 14 shows the image reader IR and the printer PR
5 is a timing chart for explaining the synchronization operation of FIG.

Referring also to FIG. 1, the CPU 103 for controlling the printer section PR makes the sheet stand by in the vicinity of the timing roller pair 45 and makes each section such as the laser device 21 and the developing unit 6 ready for image formation. After that, the generation of the rotational position reference signal TBASE is awaited.

When the signal TBASE is generated, the CPU
103 starts the time counting by the timer count. Time t
When 1 has passed, the CPU 103 sets the timing roller pair 4
The paper feed control for turning on 5 and the like is executed. As a result, the sheet is electrostatically attracted to a predetermined position on the transfer drum 10. Further, the CPU 103 sends an image data request signal I- to the image reader unit IR at the time point when time t2 elapses from the start of timing.
Output REQ.

The CPU 102 of the image reader IR is
In response to the signal I-REQ, the time t corresponding to the copy magnification
The count of the wait timer for counting w is started. After the wait timer has finished counting, the pulse motor 35 is turned on to start the acceleration movement of the scanner 32.

The scanner 32 starts moving at time t1.
When 0 has passed, it reaches just below the leading edge of the document. Here, the time t10 is constant regardless of the copy magnification, and the time tw and the moving speed v of the scanner 32 are adjusted to satisfy this condition.

On the other hand, on the printer section PR side, the signal IR
When time t10 has elapsed from the output of EQ, the semiconductor laser LD is allowed to emit light, and the exposure of the photosensitive drum 4 is immediately started.

The latent image formed by exposure reaches the position (transfer position) facing the transfer charger 14 after being visualized as a toner image of the first color by the developing unit 6. At this time, the front end of the paper is at the transfer position, and the toner image is positioned and transferred with the front end of the paper as a reference.

After that, the four colors of toner images are superposed by sequentially switching the developing colors and repeating the electrophotographic process in the state where the sheet is adsorbed on the transfer drum 10. At this time, for the second to fourth colors, the operation control of the image reader section IR and the printer section PR is performed based on the signal TBASE as in the first color.

The movement of the developing unit 6 and the scanner 3
When the time required to return to 2 is longer than one rotation time of the transfer drum 10, the transfer drum 10 is idly rotated (idle rotation).

[Partial Enlargement Copy] The operator can specify the copy magnification with the ten-key group 73. Due to the mutual relationship between the document size, the paper size, and the copy magnification (magnification ratio), when the entire document image cannot be copied onto the paper, it is only possible to enlarge and copy only a partial area of the document. It is an enlarged copy.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of partial enlargement copying. FIG. 15A shows the relationship between the original image Gi and the copy image Gh, and FIG. 15B shows the state of original scanning. In the example of FIG. 15, with respect to the document D, the length X is measured in the main scanning direction from the upper left end of the document D (start point of document scanning during normal copying).
Copying is started from a position separated by a distance Y and a distance Y in the sub-scanning direction.

That is, in the main scanning direction, as in the case of the image shift copying described above, the scaling / moving unit 12
The read start position data FST-POS having a value corresponding to the length X is given to 9, and an image in a predetermined range is extracted by this.

Regarding the sub-scanning direction, the scanner 3
2 from the home position P0 in the normal direction to the front side of the scanning by the length Y
It is moved to the position P1 which is separated by only, and the scanning is started at the timing described in FIG. As a result, the image in the predetermined range is extracted.

The lengths X and Y are determined by the display device 6
9 is designated by the position input using the trackball 88 with respect to the original image displayed on the monitor. Further, the moving speed of the scanner 32 (that is, the sub-scanning speed) is appropriately set according to the copy magnification as in the normal enlargement copying.

[Multiple Image Copy in Sub-scanning Direction] The above-mentioned rotational position reference signal TBASE is generated every time the transfer drum 10 makes one rotation. In response to the signal TBASE, the printer section PR outputs the image data request signal I-REQ at the time when the time t2 has elapsed as described with reference to FIG.

In copying a plurality of images, the output timing of the signal I-REQ is changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 16A, when two document images GiA in the first half area of the document D are copied side by side in the sub-scanning direction on the paper P, the printer section PR is configured as shown in FIG. In addition, the signal I-REQ is output when the time t2a has passed for the first signal TBASE, and the time t2b (for example, t2b = 2 × t2a) has passed for the second signal TBASE. At that time, the signal I-REQ is output.

The image reader IR transmits the signal I-REQ.
Since the image data VIDEO is output in synchronization with
Both the second printing and the second printing are started from the time when a fixed time t3 has elapsed from the output of the signal I-REQ. In other words, when the signal TBASE is used as a reference, the second
The second printing is performed for a predetermined time (t2a = t2) as compared with the first printing.
b-t2a).

The operation of the transfer charger 14 is signal V
Specified by D. The operation time is not limited to the time corresponding to the paper length (paper length / rotational peripheral speed of the transfer drum 10), but is limited to the time corresponding to the length of the original image GiA in the sub-scanning direction. Such a limitation is to prevent excessive charge-up in the latter half of the sheet and optimize transfer of the toner image.

In the figure, the delay time t4 of the operation of the transfer charger 14 with respect to the signal VD is the time required for the image (latent image or toner image) on the photosensitive drum 4 to move from the exposure position to the transfer position. Yes, and depends on the rotational peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 4.

FIG. 16 shows an example in which the same area in the original document D is copied twice on one sheet of paper P, but by moving the scanner 32 prior to scanning the original document as described above, for example, the original document D can be reproduced. The original image GiB in the second half area of the sheet P
The original image GiA in the first half area on the paper P.
It is also possible to change the layout such as copying in the latter half of the.

[Enlarged Continuous Shooting] In the enlarged continuous shooting, as shown in an example in FIG. 17, an original image is divided and enlarged and copied part by part on a plurality of sheets P. The original image referred to here means the entire image of the area desired to be copied by the operator, and usually corresponds to the entire area of the original D, but when trimming is performed, it corresponds to the trimming area.

On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the operation of the copying machine 1, basically, in the continuous enlargement copying, the partial enlargement copying described above is continuously performed a plurality of times, and the copy target area of the document D is sequentially changed at that time. To do. That is, the enlarged continuous shooting is realized by appropriately selecting the value of the reading start position data FST-POS and the position of the scanner 32 at the time of starting the document scanning.

As described above, the control of each unit associated with such enlarged continuous shooting is centralized by the CPU 101 (MSC), and for this reason, as shown in FIG. 18, the CPU 101 and other CPUs 102, 103, 104 communicate with each other. Is done.

Hereinafter, the operation of each unit at the time of enlarged continuous shooting will be described in detail together with the operation procedure. The operator uses the platen glass 31
After placing the original on top with the image forming side facing down,
The image monitor key 72 is turned on.

CPU 104 for controlling operation panel 70
Indicates that the image monitor key 72 is turned on by the CPU 10
Tell 1 (MSC). The CPU 101 requests an image monitor scan from the CPU 102 of the image reader unit IR.

Upon receiving the request, the CPU 102 starts scanning and outputting the image data VIDEO without receiving the rotational position reference signal TBASE. Further, in parallel with this, the CPU 104 and the CPU 103 of the printer unit PR
Executes a process for displaying a document image on the screen of the display device 69 based on the image data VIDEO. That is, the CPU 103 generates thinned-out image data suitable for the display device 69 having a resolution lower than that of printing, and the CPU 104 stores the thinned-out image data in the image memory 141.
Write in.

The thinned-out image data is sequentially read from the image memory 141, and the original image is displayed on the display device 69. It should be noted that the CPU 104 can access the image memory 141 as necessary to superimpose a display element for operation on the image.

As shown in FIG. 19, the display device 6
The display screen HG 9 has an image area E for displaying an image.
1 and a menu area E2 for displaying messages and options for operation. In the figure, the document image Gi is displayed in the image area E1.

The display contents of the menu area E2 are shown in FIG.
~ As shown in FIG. 29, switching is performed according to the operation. First, in the menu area E2, a screen Q1 for designating each copy mode, which broadly divides various copy functions, is displayed. At this time, each copy mode is associated with the function keys 81 to 85 as options. It should be noted that in FIG. 20, the illustration of copy modes other than the enlarged continuous shooting is omitted.

When the key 81 corresponding to the enlarged continuous shooting is turned on, the screen Q2 is displayed instead of the screen Q1. Screen Q2
Then, various copy modes in the enlarged continuous shooting are options. That is, on the selection screen Q2, the key 81 is
This corresponds to a copy mode (referred to as enlarged continuous shooting A mode) in which the original image Gi (strictly speaking, the area corresponding to the original image Gi in the image area E1) is divided around a designated point.

The key 82 corresponds to a copy mode in which the original image Gi is divided so as to include the designated rectangular area (this is referred to as enlarged continuous shooting B mode). The key 83 corresponds to a copy mode for executing basic enlarged continuous shooting (this is referred to as enlarged continuous shooting C mode).

The key 84 is a copy mode in which a block smaller than a specified ratio with respect to the reference size is excluded from the copy range among the divided areas of the original image Gi (hereinafter referred to as blocks). Is referred to as enlarged continuous shooting D mode).

The key 85 corresponds to a copy mode in which the document image Gi is divided with the paper size as a priority condition (this is referred to as enlarged continuous shooting E mode). [Enlarged Continuous Shooting A Mode] The enlarged continuous shoot A mode is used for the original image G.
This is useful when it is desired to obtain a copied image Gh in which the desired portion of i is arranged in the center of the paper P.

[Designation Operation] When the operator designates the enlarged continuous shooting A mode, the screen Q3 is displayed. The operator inputs a desired copy magnification using the ten-key group 73 according to the message on the screen Q3 and turns on the enter key 86.

Then, as shown in FIG. 21, the screen Q5 is displayed in the menu area E2 and the image area E2 is displayed.
1 overlaid on the original image Gi, a vertical line LV for specifying the position
And a horizontal line LH is displayed.

The vertical line LV and the horizontal line LH move left and right or up and down according to the operation of the trackball 88. The operator positions the vertical line LV and the horizontal line LH so that their intersections coincide with the desired point Pc, and then turns on the enter key 86. By this operation, the point Pc is determined as the division center point.

Next, in the menu area E2, a screen Q6 for designating the paper size is displayed. Here, the options are A3T, A4Y, and A4T. That is, in the copying machine 1 of this embodiment, the three paper cassettes 42 to 44 are used.
It is assumed that the sheets of A3T, A4Y, and A4T are stored in each.

The A3T and A4T papers mean A3 size and A4 size papers stored such that the longitudinal direction is the carrying direction, and the A4Y paper is such that the longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the carrying direction. It means stored A4 size paper.

Now, the operator designates, for example, the maximum size A3T paper among the stored papers. When the sheet is designated, the CPU 104 divides the document image Gi into a plurality of blocks based on the sheet size, the previously designated coordinates of the division center point Pc, and the copy magnification.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a dividing method, FIG. 31 is a flowchart of the dividing process, and FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the contents of the block information table TBLK. As a division method, first, one block (this is referred to as a reference block) having the maximum size (this is referred to as a division reference size) that can be copied onto one sheet of a specified size is It is arranged so as to coincide with the division center point Pc. That is,
A part of the image area E1 is divided as a reference block. Next, the image area E1 is vertically and horizontally divided so that blocks of the same size are arranged around the reference block. Such division is actually realized by the processing of steps # 1 to # 4 in FIG.

At the time of division, the division reference size is uniquely determined by the paper size and the copy magnification. Then, depending on the size relationship between the division reference size and the document size, all blocks do not necessarily have the same size.

If the point at the end of the original image Gi is designated as the division center point Pc and the center of the reference block and the division center point Pc cannot be matched, the center of the reference block is the center of division. It is arranged as close as possible to the point Pc. In that case, at least one side of the reference block coincides with a part of the peripheral edge of the image area E1.

When the division is completed, the CPU 104 writes predetermined data in the image memory 141,
As shown in FIG. 22, an image in a divided state is displayed, and a screen Q7 that prompts designation of a paper selection method is displayed.

In the example of FIG. 22, the original image Gi including the block e5 corresponding to the reference block is 9 in total.
It is divided into two blocks e1 to e9. These blocks e1 to e9 are basically copied by using a sheet of a previously designated size, one sheet for each block. However, in the copying machine 1, as a copy mode for increasing the paper use efficiency, a copy mode using a small size paper corresponding to a block having a size smaller than the reference block (this is called a small block), and It is possible to specify a copy mode in which a plurality of small blocks are arranged and copied on one sheet P.

After the operator designates one of the three copy modes, which is an option on the screen Q7 and is a method of selecting the paper P, with the keys 81 to 83, the copy order of the blocks e1 to e9 according to the screen Q8. Is specified. The copy order will be described later.

Thus, the designation operation for the enlarged continuous shooting A mode is completed. The operator turns on the print key 71 in accordance with the message on the screen Q9 shown in FIG. When the print key 71 is turned on, copying in the enlarged continuous shooting A mode is started.

[Copying Operation] First, when using only sheets of the same size, there are the following characteristics in control. FIG.
In response to the print key 71 being turned on,
The CPU 101 requests the CPU 103 to feed paper.
At this time, the paper P designated by the CPU 101 is
The paper size is specified by.

The CPU 103 immediately discharges the paper P on which the series of processes of printing, developing, transferring, and fixing is completed. In other words, the CPU 103 causes the claw 53 to eject the paper ejection tray 49.
The sheet P is not sent to the intermediate storage table 50 side while being kept switched to the side.

According to the control in which only these arrangements (rules) are set, as shown in FIG. 54, each block e in FIG.
The partial copy images Gh1 to Gh9 corresponding to 1 to e9 are formed. However, in such a copying mode, when the discharged sheets P are arranged, the partial copy images Gh1 to Gh9 are dispersed.

Therefore, in the copying machine 1, in addition to the above-mentioned rule, "the blocks e1 to e9 obtained by dividing the original image Gi are divided.
About, when there are blocks adjacent to them,
The partial copy images Gh1 to Gh9 are formed closer to the adjacent block side ”.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of enlarged continuous shooting using only sheets of the same size, and FIG. 34 is a CP corresponding to FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of U101. In the example of FIG. 33, the partial copy images Gh1 to Gh9 corresponding to the blocks e1 to e9 of the original image Gi are arranged so that they are adjacent to each other when nine sheets P are arranged in three columns and three rows. It is located in.

Since the contents of steps # 11 to 19 in FIG. 34 are apparent from the above description, the description thereof will be omitted here. Next, when papers of different sizes are used, there are the following characteristics in terms of control.

When the CPU 101 requests the CPU 103 to feed a sheet, the CPU 101 sets the minimum size capable of copying the entire image as the sheet size of the plurality of sheets P to be fed according to the sizes of the blocks e1 to e9. The size of each is sequentially specified according to the progress of copying.

That is, as shown in FIG. 35, first, the block number of the next copy target is fetched (# 21), and the process shown in FIG.
The size information (Lx, Ly) of the block is fetched from the block information table TBLK shown in FIG. 2 (# 2
2). Next, the block size is compared with the division standard size (# 23). If the block size is smaller than the division reference size, it is checked whether or not an appropriate paper P corresponding to the block size is stored in each of the paper cassettes 42 to 44 (# 24). , Change the setting of the selection of the paper cassettes 42 to 44 (# 2
5). Then, the printer unit PR (that is, the CPU 103)
To feed the paper (# 27).

When the block size is the same as the division reference size, the paper cassette corresponding to the paper P of the size designated by the operator is selected (# 26) and the paper feed is instructed.

The CPU 103 selects the paper cassettes 42 to 43 according to the instruction and sequentially feeds the paper P of a predetermined size. Also in this case, the CPU 103 does not send the paper P to the intermediate storage table 50 side.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of continuous enlargement shooting using a paper of a size corresponding to the block to be copied. In the figure, the characters in parentheses indicate the paper size. In the example of FIG. 36, the partial copy images Gh4 to Gh6 are formed on the A3T paper P, and the other partial copy images Gh1 to Gh are formed.
3, Gh7 to Gh9 are formed on an A4Y sheet P. Thereby, as is clear from the comparison with FIG. 33,
Since 6 sheets out of 9 sheets P are A4 size,
The unnecessary margin is reduced by 1.5 sheets of A3 size paper.

Note that the rule of putting copied images is applied here as well. Although two types of paper P are used in this example, three types of paper P may be used in some cases. further,
When forming a plurality of copy images on one sheet of paper P, the following characteristics are provided in terms of control.

Also in this case, the CPU 101 is
03 is instructed as the paper size of the plurality of papers P to be fed, the minimum size that allows copying of the entire image in accordance with the sizes of the blocks e1 to e9. Since the document image is divided based on the paper size specified by the operator as described above, the maximum size instructed by the CPU 101 is necessarily the paper size specified by the operator.

The CPU 103 sequentially feeds the paper P of a predetermined size in accordance with the instruction, and does not immediately discharge the paper P having a margin of a predetermined size after copying, but temporarily stores it in the intermediate storage. The paper is stored in the table 50 and re-fed.

FIG. 37 is a view showing an example of enlarged continuous shooting for forming a plurality of copy images on one sheet P, FIG. 38 is a view showing a part of the copying process of FIG. 37, and FIG. 39 is corresponding to FIG. Did CP
It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of U101. In FIG. 38, halftone dots indicate that the image is a toner image before fixing.

In the example of FIG. 37, only two sheets P of A3T and A4Y are used, two sheets P in total, that is, four sheets P in total. That is, in comparison with FIG. 33, the paper surface equivalent to 6 sheets of A3 size paper is saved.

In FIG. 39, the CPU 101 is the CPU 1
03 is instructed to copy one block into which the original image is divided (# 31). Next, when the size of the paper P used for copying is larger than the size of the copied image, it is checked whether or not there is an uncopied block of a size that can be copied in the margin (# 32, # 33). Then, if there is a small size block that can be copied, it is checked whether or not the margin is adjacent to the copy image (the toner image at this stage) in the sub-scanning direction (y direction) (# 34).

If YES at step # 34, CPU
103 is instructed to start copying of the next block in the state where the paper P is wound around the transfer drum 10, and step #
If the answer is NO in 34, an instruction to re-feed is given (# 35, # 3).
6).

Thereafter, the information such as the scanning range of the document and the printing position is transmitted to the CPU 102 and the CPU 103 for copying the next block (# 37), and the process returns to step # 31.

If a plurality of copy images cannot be formed on the paper P side by side (that is, if No at step # 32), the CPU 103 is instructed to eject the paper P on which the copy image for one block is formed. Yes (# 3
8).

In enlarged continuous copying, it takes a relatively long time to copy all the blocks, especially when the number of divisions of the original image Gi is large due to the relationship between the copy magnification and the paper size. The order of copying for each block of the image Gi is important.

For example, as shown in FIG.
Of the original document image Gi of 25 blocks e1 to 5 rows and 5 columns in total
Consider the case where the image is divided into e25 and copied. Then, a central block e13 (a block having a halftone dot pattern in the drawing) of these blocks is set as a target block, that is, a block corresponding to the division center point Pc (see FIG. 21).

In this example, according to the normal control (that is, the control of the mode designated by the key 81 during the display of the screen Q8 in FIG. 22), the blocks e1 to e25 are similar to the scanning of the document D in the figure. The rows are copied from the top row to the bottom row, from left to right for each row, in ascending order of the number of symbols in the figure. That is, the block e13 is copied thirteenth.

Here, for example, the operator makes a block 1
It is assumed that the user wants to make color adjustments for full-color copying by looking at the copying result of No. 3. That is, the block e13 is designated as the block of interest in color reproduction (division center point Pc
Input).

Therefore, depending on the copy result of the block e13, it is possible to stop the enlarged continuous shooting by the stop key 75. Therefore, it is advantageous to copy the block e13 as soon as possible in order to save the paper P, toner and time. Becomes

Therefore, in the copying machine 1, the above-mentioned screen Q8 is displayed.
It is possible to specify a copy order in which a specific block is copied with priority. When such priority copying is designated, the CPU 101 determines that the CPU 102 and the CPU
Instruct 103 to copy one of the following two patterns (A pattern and B pattern).

For this instruction, the CPU 101
41, in the block information table TBLK, among the data of each block, the block number corresponding to the copy order is exchanged. That is, the correspondence between the data group indicating the position and size of each block and the block number is changed. FIG. 41 shows replacement of block numbers when the A pattern is designated.

In the pattern A, as shown in FIG. 40 (b) by the number of the copy order of each block, first, the block e13
Are copied, and thereafter, the blocks e13 are copied in order from the one closest to the block e13 in the radial direction. For example, e13 →
e12 → e14 → e8 → e18 → e17 → e19 → e7
→ e9 → e11 → e15 → e6 → e10 → e16 → e2
0 → e23 → e3 → e2 → e4 → e22 → e24 → e2
Copy in the order of 1 → e25 → e1 → e5.

In the B pattern, as shown in FIG. 40 (c), the priority order is determined on a line-by-line basis. First, the line containing the block e13 is copied, and then the lines near the block e13 are copied in order. . For example, e11 → e12 → e
After copying in the order of 13 → e14 → e15, then e6 →
e7 → e8 → e9 → e10 → e16 → e17 → e18 →
e19 → e20 → e21 → e22 → e23 → e24 → e
Copy in the order of 25 → e1 → e2 → e3 → e4 → e5.

According to the A pattern, the block of interest is copied with the highest priority, so that the suitability of the image quality can be judged at an early stage. On the other hand, since the regularity of the copy order is complicated,
When arranging a large number of ejected paper sheets P so as to correspond to the document image Gi, some effort is required. On the other hand, B
According to the pattern, copying of the target block is slightly delayed as compared with the pattern A, but the sheets P can be easily arranged. The operator can pre-designate either the pattern A or the pattern B by a dip switch (not shown) for initial setting of the operation in consideration of the purpose of copying and the convenience of sorting the sheets P.

[Enlarged Continuous Shooting B Mode] The enlarged continuous shooting B mode is useful when a part of the original image Gi is particularly important and it is not necessary to divide the part into a plurality of sheets P. is there.

[Specifying Operation] Returning to FIG. 20, in the enlarged continuous shooting B mode, the screen Q4 is displayed as a screen next to the screen Q3. The operator designates the paper P according to the display on the screen Q4.

Following screen Q4, screens Q10 and Q11 are displayed in sequence as shown in FIG. The operator uses the trackball 88 in accordance with the messages on these screens to specify a desired rectangular area by sequentially inputting two diagonal points.

When the rectangular area is designated, the CPU 104
Divides the original image Gi into a plurality of blocks so that the copied image in the rectangular area is not divided into two or more sheets, and displays the division result in the image area E1.

As a dividing method, first, the reference block is arranged so that its center coincides with the center of the rectangular area.
Then, the image area E1 is vertically and horizontally divided so that blocks of the same size are arranged around the reference block (see FIG. 22).

After that, the operator gives an instruction to start copying by performing an operation corresponding to the screens Q7 to Q9, similarly to the operation in the enlarged continuous shooting A mode described above. CP related to copying
The operation of U101 is similar to that of the enlarged continuous shooting A mode, and therefore its description is omitted here.

[Enlarged Continuous Shooting C Mode] [Designation Operation] The operator designates the enlarged continuous shoot C mode,
When the copy magnification is designated according to the display on the screen Q3, the CPU 104 of the operation panel 70 divides the document image Gi based on the magnification information so that the required number of sheets is as small as possible. That is, the maximum size of the stored sheets P is used as a reference for division. The division at this time is sequentially performed from the edge of the document image Gi.

Upon completion of the division, the CPU 104 causes the CPU of FIG.
5, the menu area E2 is displayed on the screen Q1.
While switching to 2, the image in the divided state is displayed in the image area E1. In the example of FIG. 25, the original image Gi
Is divided into four blocks e1 to e4 in total. Then, only the block e1 is a block of the division standard size calculated on the basis of the A3T (maximum size in this embodiment) sheet P.

According to the display on the screen Q12, the operator selects whether or not the block of the division reference size is arranged in the center with respect to the document image Gi, and then the print key 71
Turn on to instruct to start copying. The selection on the screen Q12 is made by using the trackball 88 and placing the halftone dot-shaped cursor CU on “Yes” or “No”.

When the operator selects the option "No" on the [copy operation] screen Q12, copying is performed in the form shown in FIG. That is, each block e1
The partial copy images Gh1 to Gh4 corresponding to e4 are arranged one by one on one sheet of paper P (size is A3T) according to the screen display.

On the other hand, the operator selects the option "Ye
When "s" is selected, a copy image Gh including four partial copy images Gh1a, Gh2a, Gh3a, and Gh4a is formed at the center of the image forming surface S including the four sheets P, as shown in FIG. As such, copying is performed by moving the image.

At this time, the image movement amount in each partial copy image is one half of the lengths lx and ly of the blank space WS shown in FIG. 42 in each of the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction.

[Enlarged Continuous Shooting D Mode] [Specifying Operation] In the enlarged continuous shoot D mode, the operator designates the copy magnification according to the screen Q3, and then follows the screen Q13 shown in FIG. A paper size or a document size is designated as a size standard, and a ratio to the standard is numerically input. In the example of FIG. 26, the document size is specified, and the ratio is specified to be less than 10%.

When the operator finishes the designation on the screen Q13 and turns on the enter key 86, the CPU 104 copies each block obtained by dividing the document image Gi according to the designated ratio, as shown in an example in FIG. Target blocks e1, e2, e4, e5 and blocks e not targeted for copying
3, e6, e7, e8, and e9 are displayed separately. In the figure, a dot pattern is added to the block that is not the copy target. The blocks can also be distinguished by color coding.

Then, instead of the screen Q13, the CPU 104 displays a screen Q14 for ascertaining whether or not the blocks not to be copied are distributed around the document image Gi. At this stage, the non-copying portion is offset to the right end side and the lower end side of the document image Gi.

When the operator designates the distribution of the portion not to be copied, the CPU 104 subdivides the original image Gi and displays the image in the subdivision state and the screen Q15 as shown in FIG. Prompts the operator to turn on the print key 71.

46 and 47 are diagrams showing a re-division method. As shown in FIG. 46, the copyable area EC on the paper P is an area excluding a margin (margin) having a width of several mm around the paper P. The border size is constant regardless of the paper size. Here, the copyable area EC
The length in the main scanning direction is Ax, and the length in the sub scanning direction is Ay.

When the copy magnification is M, the length S of the divided reference block on the document D in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction is S.
x and Sy are Ax / M and Ay / M, respectively. Then, in the normal division, as shown in FIG. 47A, the original image Gi has the origin O (0, 0,
0). In the figure, the original image Gi is divided into four 2 × 2 blocks having a division reference size (Sx × Sy) and five small blocks (small blocks) that are not to be copied.

Here, if the lengths of the original image Gi in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction are Ox and Oy, respectively, the length x in the main scanning direction of the small block at the lower end of the figure is (Ox-2 × S).
x), and the length y in the sub-scanning direction of the small block at the right end in the figure is (Oy−2 × Sy).

Upon subdivision, as shown in FIG. 47B, the original image Gi is moved from the point p (x / 2, y / 2) in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction by the lengths Sx and Sy, respectively. The four blocks of the division standard size are divided in the form of division.
As a result, the copy target area becomes the central area in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction with respect to the original image Gi.

When it is determined whether or not to make a small block on the basis of the paper size, the size of the small block is converted into the size on the original image Gi, and then the point p is determined and the subdivision is performed. .

[Enlarged Continuous E-mode] In the enlarged continuous E-mode, when the operator designates the copy magnification according to the screen Q3, the CPU 104, based on the size information of the stored paper P, as shown in FIG. , The original image Gi is divided so that the use efficiency of the paper P is maximized. here,
The usage efficiency is an index that comprehensively captures aspects such as margins and the number of sheets, and means better copying economically and temporally.

In the example of FIG. 27, the original image Gi is divided into four blocks e1 to e4 of the same size. In the block e1, the A3T sheet is used as a division criterion, in the blocks e2 and e4, the A4T sheet is used as a division criterion, and in the block e3, the A4Y sheet is used as a division criterion.

The operator turns on the print key 71 after confirming the copy contents by the image of the divided state displayed in the image area E1 and the message on the screen Q16.

When the print key 71 is turned on, copying is started, and as shown in FIG. 48, the partial copy images Gh1 to Gh4 corresponding to the blocks e1 to e4 are A3T.
Paper P, A4T paper P, A4Y paper P, and A4
The sheets P of T are used one by one and are formed one by one on the sheet P.

49 (a) to 49 (c) are diagrams showing a method of dividing the original image Gi in the enlarged continuous shooting E mode, and FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing the operation of the CPU 104 corresponding to FIG.

Here, it is assumed that the copy magnification M is specified so that the size of the copy image (combined partial copy image) Gh is 400 mm × 565 mm. First, as shown in FIG. 49A, the maximum size A3T (2
The original image Gi is divided based on a paper P of 97 × 420 mm ² ).

In this example, four sheets P are required.
When margins of 10 mm in total are provided at the upper and lower edges and margins of 5 mm in total are provided at the left and right edges as an edge of the paper P,
The area of the copyable area in the copy surface composed of four sheets P is 478880 [(297-5) × (420-10).
× 4] mm ² .

Therefore, when four sheets of A3T paper P are used, the area of the unnecessary margin is 252880 (47
It is 8880-400 × 565) mm ² , which is about 53% of the copyable area.

Next, as shown in FIG. 49B, A3T
If two sheets of paper P and paper of A4Y are used, the area of the copyable area is 356240 mm ² . Then, in this case, the area of the unnecessary margin is 13
It is 0240 (356240-400 × 565) mm ² , which is about 37% of the copyable area.

Further, as shown in FIG. 49 (c), if one A3T sheet P, two A4Y sheets P and one A4T sheet P are used, the copyable area Has an area of 295790 mm ² . In this case, the area of the unnecessary margin is 69790 mm ² , which is about 24% of the copyable area.

As described above, in the enlarged continuous shooting E mode, the minimum number of sheets to be copied is calculated based on the maximum size sheet P (# 41 in FIG. 50), and each combination of sheets that does not increase the minimum number of sheets is used. The paper usage efficiency is compared (# 42), the combination with the highest usage efficiency is selected, and the original image Gi is divided (# 43).

[Operation at Paper Empty] The above 5
Although the two enlarged continuous shooting modes are different from each other in the image division method and the paper selection method, one original image Gi is copied using a plurality of paper sheets P.

Therefore, in the enlarged continuous shooting, the paper empty state may occur after the copying is started. That is, the paper P of a predetermined size, which is scheduled to be used in the middle of copying, may be used up.

In the conventional copying machine, the enlarged continuous shooting is stopped when the paper empty state is reached, but in the copying machine 1 of this embodiment, the paper P is stored in one of the plurality of paper cassettes 42 to 44. As long as it is open, continuous continuous shooting is possible.

Here, as an example, as shown in FIG. 51, the original image Gi is divided into four blocks e1 to e4, and these blocks e1 to e4 are sequentially copied using an A3T sheet P, respectively, for enlarged continuous shooting. A case will be described in which the paper empty state is set at the time when the copying of the two blocks e1 and e2 is completed.

When the paper empty state is entered, the CPU
The screen 104 displays the screen Q17 shown in FIG. Screen Q
The display content of 17 is to replenish the paper cassette in the paper-empty state with paper of the same size as before and continue the continuous enlargement under the same conditions as before, or change the selection condition of the paper P to enlarge. This is a message prompting the operator to select whether to continue continuous shooting.

When the operator turns on the enter key 86, the CPU 104 causes the procedure (# 51 to # 5) shown in FIG.
In 3), the original image Gi is redivided. For example, as shown in FIG. 53, when the size of the copy image Gh to be formed is 560 mm × 790 mm, the size of the copyable area of one sheet of A3T paper P is 292 mm × 410 mm.
Therefore, the size of the uncopied portion of the copied image Gh is 56.
It becomes 0 mm × 380 (790-410) mm.

On the other hand, A4T paper P and A3Y paper P
The size of each copyable area is 205mm x 2
It is 87 mm and 292 mm × 200 mm. Therefore, when copying the uncopied portion, six sheets P are required when using the A4T sheet P, and the A4Y sheet P is required.
When using, four sheets of paper P are required.

Therefore, the CPU 104 divides the uncopied portion of the copied image Gh using the A4Y sheet size as the division reference size so that the number of sheets is reduced. When the redivision is completed, the CPU 104 displays the redivided original image Gi and the screen Q18 as shown in FIG. Figure 2
In the example of 9, the blocks e3 and e4 before subdivision are subdivided into blocks e31, e32, e41, and e42. Then, these new blocks are provided with a halftone dot pattern in order to distinguish them from the already copied blocks e1 and e2.

When the operator turns on the print key 71 according to the screen Q18, the CPU 101 instructs the CPU 103 to feed the A4Y sheet P, and in response thereto, the C
The PU 103 starts copying blocks e31, e32, e41, e4.

As a result, the original image Gi has two A3 sheets.
Copying is performed using the T paper P and the four A4Y paper P. Even when the operator turns on the print key 71 without replenishing the A3T paper P while the screen Q17 is displayed, the copying machine 1 redistributes the uncopied portion, and the paper of another size is used. A display indicating that copying is continued is displayed using P. Then, when the operator turns on the print key 71 again, copying is continued under the sheet selection condition after the redivision.

According to the above-described embodiment, when a plurality of images are sequentially formed on the paper P so as to be arranged in the sub-scanning direction, the process up to the development in forming each copy image is performed on the transfer drum 10 with the paper P. Since it is possible to carry out the fixing process as it is while being wound, it is possible to speed up copying.

According to the above-described embodiment, when the larger the paper size is, the longer the copying time is due to the mechanical limitation or the like, the paper P is selected according to the size of each block into which the original image Gi is divided. It is possible to increase the speed of enlarged continuous shooting.

In the above embodiment, the color copying machine 1 is used.
However, the present invention can be applied to a mono-color copying machine. In that case, even if the toner image is transferred onto the paper P without using the transfer drum 10, it is possible to realize plural image copying in the sub-scanning direction by re-feeding using the intermediate storage table 50. it can.

[0188]

According to the present invention, it is possible to make an early judgment as to whether or not copying is appropriate, paying attention to an arbitrary portion of a document image.
Workability is improved, and wasteful consumption of paper can be suppressed as much as possible.

[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 perspective view showing a configuration of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a configuration of an operation panel.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a scaling / moving unit.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing an operation during enlarged copying.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart showing an operation during reduced copying.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of image shift copying.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of image repeat copying.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a printhead controller.

FIG. 12 is a waveform chart of signals related to the operation of the printhead controller.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of image movement by setting operation timing of a print head control unit.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart for explaining a synchronous operation of the image reader unit and the printer unit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of partial enlargement copying.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of copying a plurality of images in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a basic example of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a communication procedure between CPUs that control a copying machine.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of a display screen of a display device and an example of a document image.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an operation procedure of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a method of dividing an original image in the enlarged continuous shooting A mode.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart of division processing corresponding to FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing the contents of a block information table.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of enlarged continuous shooting using only sheets of the same size.

34 is a flowchart showing a CPU operation corresponding to FIG. 33. FIG.

FIG. 35 is a flowchart of paper selection processing.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of continuous enlargement shooting using a paper of a size corresponding to a copy target area.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example of enlarged continuous shooting in which a plurality of copy images are formed on one sheet.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a part of the copying process of FIG. 37;

39 is a flowchart showing the CPU operation corresponding to FIG. 37. FIG.

[Fig. 40] Fig. 40 is a diagram for explaining the order of copying of each divided area in enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing an example of data change of a block information table.

FIG. 42 is a diagram showing an example of copying in enlarged continuous shooting C mode.

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing another example of copying in enlarged continuous shooting C mode.

[Fig. 44] Fig. 44 is a diagram illustrating an example of a divided state in an enlarged continuous shooting D mode.

[Fig. 45] Fig. 45 is a diagram illustrating an example of a subdivision state in an enlarged continuous shooting D mode.

[Fig. 46] Fig. 46 is a diagram illustrating a subdivision method in an enlarged continuous shooting D mode.

[Fig. 47] Fig. 47 is a diagram illustrating a subdivision method in an enlarged continuous shooting D mode.

FIG. 48 is a diagram showing an example of copying in enlarged continuous shooting E mode.

[Fig. 49] Fig. 49 is a diagram illustrating a dividing method according to the enlarged continuous shooting E mode.

50 is a flowchart showing the CPU operation corresponding to FIG. 49.

[Fig. 51] Fig. 51 is a diagram illustrating an image division state at the start point of enlarged continuous shooting.

FIG. 52 is a flowchart of a redivision process at the time of paper empty.

FIG. 53 is a diagram showing a redivision method at the time of paper empty.

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing one form of enlarged continuous shooting.

[Fig. 55] Fig. 55 is a diagram showing a copy order according to conventional enlarged continuous shooting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Copier D Original P Paper 88 Trackball (designating operation means) e1 to e25 blocks (divided area) e13 block (specific area)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A copying machine having a function of dividing an original according to a copy magnification and enlarging and copying the original image using a plurality of sheets, for specifying a part of the original as a specific area. When the specified area is specified during enlargement copying, the specified area is designated and the divided area corresponding to the specified area is prioritized for copying. And a copier.