JPH09116741A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain consecutive photographing of an original image in the main scanning direction without the need for a large memory capacity. SOLUTION: In the case of multiple consecutive photographing mode where plural original images are arranged side by side in the main scanning direction, image data outputted from an optical read section for each one main scanning line are sequentially stored in a line memory 62 having at least a memory capacity of one main scanning line and the stored data are outputted sequentially from the line memory 62 and an image is formed on an image forming medium based on the output data. In this case, the image data are stored with divisions in the line memory 62 by number of arranged original image data. Since the plural image data of one original image are stored in the line memory 62 during one main scanning line, the plural original images are consecutively photographed in the main scanning direction. Since the memory capacity of the line memory 62 is enough to be one main scanning line, no large memory capacity is required.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a stencil printing machine for reproducing a read original image on a transfer paper. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a multi-face continuous shooting mode in which a plurality of read original images are continuously shot on one transfer sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a multi-face continuous shooting function has been developed and realized as one of the functions of image forming apparatuses. The multi-sided continuous shooting function is a function capable of continuously shooting a plurality of read original images on one transfer sheet.
JP-A-3-83453 and JP-A-4-361040
The contents are disclosed in the publication. Such a multi-face continuous shooting function is extremely convenient when a large number of small originals such as business cards and postcards are transferred onto one transfer sheet.

However, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 3-83453 and 4-361040 only disclose a multi-face continuous shooting function for continuously shooting read original images in the sub-scanning direction. The function of continuous shooting in the scanning direction is not disclosed. For this reason, the number of document images that can be continuously shot and the arrangement position thereof are limited. Here, FIG. 8 (a)
8 shows a case in which original images are continuously shot in the sub-scanning direction.
(B) conceptually shows the case where the original image is continuously shot in the main scanning direction.

On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-220970 discloses an image forming apparatus having a multi-face continuous shooting function capable of continuously shooting original images in the main scanning direction. That is, the multi-face continuous shooting function in this image forming apparatus is a function that allows a plurality of one original image to be transferred onto one transfer sheet with a predetermined magnification and arrangement. More specifically, by comparing the size of the original with the size of the transfer paper, the scaling factor and the arrangement position of the original image are determined in advance by calculation processing, the image data of the read original image is stored in the reading memory, and is determined in advance. There is disclosed a process of storing the data stored in the reading memory in a predetermined area of the transfer memory according to the scaling ratio and the arrangement position of the original image and forming an image on the transfer paper according to the data in the transfer memory.

[0005]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 0, the image data for one screen of the original image is expanded in the reading memory, and the image data for one screen of the transfer paper is expanded in the transfer memory. For this reason, a large memory capacity for at least two screens is required, and the cost of parts increases.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of continuously shooting a document image in the main scanning direction without requiring a large memory capacity.

[0007]

An image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a line type optical reading section for optically reading an image on a document surface and outputting image data read for each main scanning line. An image forming unit that forms an image on an image forming medium based on image data output from the optical reading unit, and a multi-face continuous shooting mode that sets an operation mode to a multi-face continuous shooting mode in which a plurality of original images are arranged in the main scanning direction. Setting means, a line memory having a memory capacity of at least one main scanning line, and image data output from the optical reading unit are sequentially divided and stored in the line memory in the number of arranged original images when the multi-plane continuous shooting mode is set. A division storage unit and a connection unit that sequentially outputs the stored data from the line memory when the multi-face continuous shooting mode is set and forms an image on an image forming medium based on the output data. Comprising an image forming means. Therefore, an image is formed on the image forming medium based on the image data output from the optical reading unit. When the operation mode is set to the multi-face continuous shooting mode by the multi-face continuous shooting mode setting unit during such image formation, the image data for one main scanning line output from the optical reading unit is converted into a document image by the division storage unit. Are divided and stored in the line memory by the number of arrangements of. As a result, the line memory stores image data for one line of a plurality of original images in the main scanning direction,
The image data for one line is sequentially output by the continuous image forming means to form an image on the image forming medium. Therefore, when the image data for all the lines output from the optical reading unit is formed on the image forming medium, the image on the document surface is continuously shot in the main scanning direction on the image forming medium. At this time, since the image data from the optical reading unit is sequentially stored in the line memory and the stored data is sequentially output by the image forming means, the memory capacity of the line memory is sufficient if it is at least one main scanning line. . Therefore, a large memory capacity is not required, and the memory capacity of the line memory can be set to one main scanning line as in the invention of claim 4. The image forming apparatus is
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, for example, a basic configuration as a stencil printing machine is provided. In this case, the image forming medium is the master.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the division storage means equally divides and stores the image data output from the optical reading section in the line memory. Therefore, the images formed on the image forming medium are arranged evenly on the basis of the data stored in the line memory.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, there is provided main scanning direction data scaling means for scaling the image data output from the optical reading section and storing the image data in the line memory. And a sub-scanning direction data scaling means for scaling the image formation in the sub-scanning direction by either the image forming means or the continuous image forming means according to the scaling ratio of the main scanning direction data scaling means. Prepare Therefore,
The original image is magnified in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction and formed on the image forming medium, and the original image is ½ of the image forming medium.
Even with the above size, continuous shooting is possible in the main scanning direction.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a stencil printer 1 as an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel 2 thereof. Since the basic structure of the stencil printing machine 1 in the present embodiment is a well-known structure, the basic structure will be briefly described. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described separately for a mechanism system, a control system, and various units executed by the control system.

[Mechanical System] The stencil printing machine 1 has an optical reading unit 3, a plate making unit 4, a printing unit 5, a plate discharging unit 6, a paper feeding unit 7, and a paper discharging unit 8 as a schematic structure.

The optical reading unit 3 has a structure as a digital scanner in which a document 10 placed on a contact glass 9 is irradiated with light from a light source 11 and the reflected light is received by a CCD 12, and an ADF 13 is provided. .

The plate making section 4 draws out the master 14 as an image forming medium which is wound and held in a roll shape to the transport path MP, punches the master 14 by the thermal head 15 located on the transport path MP, and after punching. The master 14 is cut by a cutter 16 into a sheet shape, and the sheet-shaped master 14 is sent to the printing unit 5.

The printing section 5 has a plate cylinder 17 as a main component. The plate cylinder 17 has holes having a diameter of about 0.15 to 0.5 mm formed on the outer peripheral surface at intervals of about 0.25 to 1.0 mm, and is centered on a spindle that also serves as an ink supply pipe 21 described later. Is driven to rotate. The plate cylinder 17 has a stage section 18 and a clamper section 19. The master 14 sent from the plate making section 4 to the stage section 18 is clamped by the clamper section 19 and driven to rotate so that the master 14 is held. It is a structure that holds it in a wound state. The printing unit 5 includes an ink supply unit 20 inside such a plate cylinder 17. The ink supply unit 20 includes an ink supply pipe 21, an ink supply roller 22, and a doctor roller 23,
Ink 25 is supplied from a large number of holes formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply pipe 21 to an ink reservoir 24 located between the ink supply roller 22 and the doctor roller 23, and the amount of this ink 25 is adjusted by both rollers 22, 23. The ink is supplied to the ink supply roller 22 after being regulated by a gap between them. And
The printing unit 5 includes the ink supply roller 2 from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17.
The press roller 26 is pressed against the plate 2, and the press roller 26 applies a pressure to the plate cylinder 17 to deform the plate cylinder 17 so that the ink 25 leaks from the inner peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17. . In other words, the ink from the plate cylinder 17
5 leaks, the ink 25 passes through the holes formed in the master 14 wound on the plate cylinder 17, and the transfer paper 27 is passed between the plate cylinder 17 and the press roller 26 to transfer the transfer. The principle of printing in the printing unit 5 is to form an image on the paper 27.

The plate discharge unit 6 has a structure in which the master 14 that is no longer needed after use is received from the plate cylinder 17 and is stored in the plate discharge box 28.

The paper feed section 7 has a structure in which the transfer papers 27 placed in a stacked state on the paper feed table 29 are separated and fed and guided between the plate cylinder 17 and the press roller 26. The transfer paper 27 guided between the plate cylinder 17 and the press roller 26 is conveyed to the belt conveyor 30 and reaches the tray-shaped paper ejection unit 8, so that the paper feed unit 7 and the paper ejection unit 8 are in a conveyance path. It is tied with PP. Below the belt conveyor 30, a fan 31 for adsorbing the transfer paper 27 to the belt conveyor 30 is arranged.

Next, the operation panel 2 provided on the upper surface of the stencil printing machine 1 will be described. This operation panel 2
It has an operation system, a display system, and an operation display system. The operation system includes a plate making start key 32 for instructing the start of plate making operation,
A print start key 33 for instructing to start a printing operation, a test printing key 34 for instructing execution of a test printing operation, a stop key 35 for instructing stop of various operations, a ten-key pad 36, an enter key 37 used for setting various programs, and A zoom key 38 and the like for setting the scaling factor are provided.
As a display system, a monitor display section 39 including a 7-segment LED and an LCD display section 40 are provided. As an operation display system, a multi-sided continuous shooting key 41 for setting a multi-sided continuous shooting mode and its LED display parts 41a and 41b, a plate-making mode key 42 for setting a plate-making mode including a character mode and a photo mode, and its LED display part 42a and 42b are provided. The LED display portions 41a and 41b for the multi-sided continuous shooting key 41 have a display of "2 faces" and a "4 faces".
Is displayed. "Two sides" means the original 10
Is a multi-plane continuous shooting mode in which the image of (4) is continuously shot only in the sub-scanning direction.

[Control System] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of each unit, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram conceptually showing the circuit configuration of the image processing control unit.

The control system includes a clock generator 43 for centrally performing various processes, a CPU 44, a ROM 45 and an RA.
A microcomputer including an M46 is provided as a main component, and roughly includes an optical reading control unit 47, a plate making control unit 48, a print control unit 49, an image processing control unit 50, and an operation display control unit 51. The CPU 44 operates according to the basic clock cycle generated by the clock generator 43,
The operation program executed by the CPU 44 is stored in the ROM 45. The RAM 46 is used as a work area or the like.

The optical reading control unit 47 is included in the optical reading unit 3 and controls its operation. Therefore, the optical reading control unit 47 includes an image reading system that handles the output signal of the CCD 12 and a drive system that drives the light source 11 and the like. The image reading system includes a CCD substrate 52 including a signal output circuit of the CCD 12.
And A for A / D converting the output signal from the CCD substrate 52
The D / D conversion board 53 is connected to the CPU 44 and receives operation control. The CCD substrate 52 is the CCD 12
This is a mounting substrate of the above, and the read signal of the CCD 12 for each main scanning line is serially output pixel by pixel. A
The / D conversion board 53 converts the analog signal serially output from the CCD board 52 into a multivalued digital signal of 64 to 256 gradations, and further performs well-known shading correction and background for the converted multivalued digital signal. Apply correction. Then, the signal after A / D conversion by the A / D conversion substrate 53 is output to the image processing control unit 50 described in detail later. The drive system includes a motor drive circuit 55 that controls the drive of two motors 54 that are drive sources of the digital scanner and the ADF 13. The motor drive circuit 55 synchronizes with the clock signal from the clock generator 43,
A current pulse having a predetermined value is applied to each excitation phase of No. 4 at a predetermined timing and a frequency, thereby rotating the motor 54 at a predetermined timing and speed. Clock generator 4
The clock signal given from 3 to the motor drive circuit 55 is a signal divided from the basic clock cycle.

The plate-making control section 48 is included in the plate-making section 4 and controls its operation. Therefore, this plate making control unit 48
Is composed of an image writing system for driving and controlling the thermal head 15 and a carrying system for carrying the master 14. The image writing system includes a thermal head heat generation control circuit 56 which is connected to the CPU 44 and drives and controls the thermal head 15.
The thermal head heat generation control circuit 56 transmits a heat generation signal to the thermal head 15 according to the image data transmitted from the image processing control unit 50, which will be described later, to selectively heat the heat generating element (not shown). The transport system includes a motor drive circuit 58 that controls the drive of the motor 57 that is the drive source of the feed unit that transports the master 14. This motor drive circuit 5
Reference numeral 8 applies a current pulse of a predetermined value to each excitation phase of the motor 57 at a predetermined timing and frequency in synchronization with the clock signal from the clock generator 43, thereby rotating the motor 57 at a predetermined timing and speed. To drive. The clock signal supplied from the clock generator 43 to the motor drive circuit 58 is a signal whose frequency is divided from the basic clock cycle.

The print control unit 49 is included in the printing unit 5, the plate discharge unit 6 and the paper feeding unit 7, and controls the operation thereof. That is, the print control unit 49 has a motor drive circuit 60 that drives and controls a motor 59 that drives each unit of the printing unit 5, the plate discharge unit 6, and the paper feeding unit 7, and a stacking state on the paper feeding table 29 of the paper feeding unit 7. It is composed of a transfer paper 27 placed and a transfer paper / original size detection unit 61 for detecting the size of the original 10 placed on the contact glass 9. Here, each unit driven by the motor 59 includes a plate cylinder 17, an ink supply roller 22,
Doctor roller 23, press roller 26, and clamper 1
9, the plate discharge unit 6 is a mechanism for applying a pressing force to the feed unit that conveys the master 14 and the master 14 in the plate discharge box 28, and the sheet feeding unit 7 is a feed mechanism that feeds and conveys the transfer sheet 27. Here, the motor drive circuit 60 applies a current pulse of a predetermined value at a predetermined timing and frequency to each excitation phase of the motor 59 in synchronization with the clock signal from the clock generator 43, thereby causing the motor 59 to a predetermined value. It is rotationally driven at the timing and speed. The clock signal supplied from the clock generator 43 to the motor drive circuit 60 is a signal whose frequency is divided from the basic clock cycle. The transfer paper / document size detection unit 61 is composed of an optical sensor and its signal output circuit.

The operation display control unit 51 drives and controls the operation system, the display system and the operation display system in the operation panel 2. That is, the operation display control unit 51 generates a predetermined signal when an operation system (including an operation system of the operation display system), for example, the plate making start key 32, the print start key 33, the multi-face continuous shooting key 41, etc. is operated. Then, the display system (including the display system of the operation display system), for example, the monitor display unit 39 or the LCD display unit 40 is driven to perform a predetermined display. In the block diagram of FIG. 3, only the plate making start key 32, the print start key 33, and the multi-sided continuous shooting key 41 are shown in the operation display control unit 51, but the operation display control unit 51 includes all of the operation panel 2. It includes an operation system, a display system, and an operation display system.

The image processing control unit 50 includes an optical reading control unit 4
A predetermined process is performed on the image data of the document 10 read in 7 and the process is transmitted to the plate making control unit 48. In FIG.
The circuit configuration of the image processing control unit 50 is conceptually shown. That is, the image processing control unit 50 includes a line memory 62 having a memory capacity for one main scanning line, and between the optical reading control unit 47 and the line memory 62 and between the line memory 62 and the plate making control unit 48. Various signal processing units are connected,
The line memory 62 is configured by connecting a comparator A 63a, a comparator B 63b, and a copy address control unit 64. As various signal processing units, the MTF correction processing unit 6
5, a scaling / movement processing unit 66, a binarization processing unit 67, a halftone processing unit 68, and a selection unit 69 are connected between the optical reading control unit 47 and the line memory 62, and the selection unit 70 and the mask processing are performed. The unit 71 is connected between the line memory 62 and the plate making control unit 48. Each of these parts adds M to the image data.
This is a circuit that performs a predetermined process such as TF correction and scaling, and the description thereof is omitted because it is well known in itself. Also, the line memory 62, the copy address control unit 64, and the comparator A63.
a, B63b, press the multi-sided continuous shooting key 41 on the operation panel 4 to
The operation is controlled only when the continuous shooting mode is set as the operation mode. The operation control at this time will be described later.

[Various Means] As various means executed by the control system mainly composed of the CPU 44, the stencil printer 1
Is an image forming unit, a multi-plane continuous shooting mode setting unit, a division storage unit, a continuous shooting image forming unit, a main scanning direction data scaling unit,
And a sub-scanning direction data scaling means.

In the image forming means, the image data output from the optical reading control section 47 is subjected to a predetermined process by the image processing control section 50, and the processed image data is transmitted to the plate making control section 48, whereby the thermal processing is performed. Master 14 with head 15
It is a means for forming an image read by the optical reading unit 3. More specifically, the image forming means serially drives each heating element of the thermal head 15 to selectively generate heat based on the image data for one line which is serially output from the CCD 12, and performs such processing in the sub-scan. An image is formed, that is, a hole is formed on the master 14 by sequentially performing the processes in the directions. The line memory 62 is bypassed in the image processing control unit 50 when the process of the image forming unit is executed.

The multi-face continuous shooting mode setting means is the operation panel 2.
When the 4-sided continuous shooting mode is selected by the multi-sided continuous shooting key 41 of
By selecting the operation program stored in the ROM 45,
It is a means for setting the operation mode of the CPU 44 to the four-sided continuous shooting mode.

The divided storage means stores the image data output from the optical reading control unit 47 in two when the four-sided continuous shooting mode is set.
It is a means for dividing the data into two and sequentially storing them in the line memory 62. That is, the division storage means, based on the size of the transfer sheet 27 detected by the transfer sheet / original size detecting section 61, the copy start address nX1 for the line memory 62.
And copy end address nX2 between comparators A63a and B63
Set to b respectively. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the address for one line of the line memory 62, the CCD
Assuming that the relationships among the address for one line of 12, the size and position of the original 10 and the size of the transfer paper 27 are hypothesized, the division storage means starts copying the address corresponding to the left end portion of the transfer paper 27 in FIG. The address nX1 is set in the comparator A63a, and the address corresponding to the central portion of the transfer paper 27 is set in the comparator B63b as the copy end address nX2. Then, the image data based on the output signal of the CCD 12 is written from the address nX1 set in the comparator A63a to the line memory 62 having the addresses nX0 to nXm. At this time, if the image data is treated at the same size, the center of the original 10 is at a position L2 / 4 from the left in FIG. 5 with respect to the width L2 of the transfer sheet 27 in the main scanning direction. Therefore, the output signal of the CCD 12 written in the line memory 62 from the copy start address nX1 is CC
The output signal after the output signal of the address corresponding to the position preceding the center position of D12 by L2 / 4 is used. Then, when the image data is written from the copy start address nX1 to the line memory 62, the line memory 62
The same image data is copied as it is from the copy end address nX2. Therefore, the line memory 62
When the writing of the image data for one line is completed, the image data is stored in the line memory 62 so that two originals 10 are evenly placed within the width L2 of the transfer paper 27 in the main scanning direction, as illustrated in FIG. Is stored.

The continuous shooting image forming means is means for successively outputting the stored data from the line memory 62 when the multi-plane continuous shooting mode is set and forming an image on the master 14 based on the output data, that is, punching. More specifically, the continuous image forming means serially outputs the stored data from the line memory 62, and based on the output data, each heating element of the thermal head 15 is serially driven to selectively generate heat. A process of punching the master 14 by sequentially performing various processes in the sub-scanning direction is performed.

The main scanning direction data scaling means is a means for scaling the data output from the optical reading control section 47 by the scaling / movement processing section 66 of the image processing control section 50 and storing it in the line memory 62. . The scaling ratio in the scaling / movement processing unit 66 is set by the zoom key 38 on the operation panel 2. Further, when the multi-plane continuous shooting mode is set, the scaling ratio in the scaling / movement processing unit 66 is automatically set. That is,
Depending on the size of the original 10, the width in the main scanning direction may exceed 1/2 of the width in the main scanning direction of the transfer paper 27. Therefore, in this case, the scaling ratio in the scaling / movement processing unit 66 is automatically set so that two originals 10 are surely evenly placed within the width L2 of the transfer paper 27 in the main scanning direction.

The sub-scanning direction data scaling means is means for automatically scaling the image formation in the sub-scanning direction by the image forming means or the continuous image forming means according to the scaling ratio of the main scanning direction data scaling means. The scaling is performed by the motor 5 provided in the plate making unit 4.
By controlling the drive of the master 7, the master 57 transported by using the motor 57 as a drive source is varied in speed. For example, when the scaling ratio in the main scanning direction by the main scanning direction data scaling unit is 2: 1, the scaling ratio in the sub scanning direction by the sub scanning direction data scaling unit is also 2: 1.
It is automatically scaled to.

In such a configuration, the stencil printing machine 1
Is for making the master 14 on the basis of the image data of the original 10 placed on the contact glass 9, and for making the master 1 after the plate making.
4 is used to transfer the image of the original 10 onto the transfer paper 27,
This is the basic operation.

The plate making operation of the master 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, plate-making start key 32
If is determined to have been pressed (step S1), it is determined whether the four-sided continuous shooting mode is set by the multi-sided continuous shooting key 41 (step S2), and when the four-sided continuous shooting mode is set. A copy start address nX1 and a copy end address nX2 are set in each of the comparators A63a and B63b (step S3). In a succeeding step S4, the used master 14 wound around the plate cylinder 17 is transferred to the plate discharging unit 6
A process of discarding the waste in the plate discharge box 28 is performed. After that, the motor 57 of the plate making unit 4 is turned on (step S
5) The motor 54 of the optical reading unit 3 is turned on (step S6), and the plate making operation includes reading the original 10 by the optical reading unit 3 and making the master 14 by the plate making unit 4 based on the read image data. Is performed (step S7). At this time, the image data of one main scanning line is serially transmitted from the CCD 12 to the thermal head heat generation control circuit 56 after undergoing a predetermined process in the image processing control unit 50, whereby each heat generation element of the thermal head 15 is selectively selected. Fever.

During the plate making process, if it is determined in step S8 that the multi-face continuous shooting mode is not set, the plate making operation is continued. When it is determined in step S9 that the plate making for one plate is completed, the motor 57 of the plate making section 4 is turned off (step S10), and the motor 54 of the optical reading section 3 is turned off (step S11). The plate making operation is stopped (step S12), and the plate making process is completed.

On the other hand, during the plate-making process, if it is determined in step S8 that the multi-face continuous shooting mode is set, it is determined that the plate-making process for all image data of the original document 10 is completed (step S13). The operation is continued, step S1
When it is determined in 3 that the plate making process is completed, the motor 57 of the plate making unit 4 is turned off (step S14), and the optical reading unit 3
The motor 54 is turned off (step S15), and the plate making operation is stopped (step S16). Then, the process waits until the plate making start key 32 is pressed again, and if it is determined that the plate making start key 32 has been pressed (step S
17) and the plate making operation is further performed (steps S18 to S2).
0). That is, the motor 57 of the plate making unit 4 is turned on (step S18), the motor 54 of the optical reading unit 3 is turned on (step S19), and the document 10 in the optical reading unit 3 is turned on.
And the plate making of the master 14 by the plate making unit 4 based on the read image data are performed (step S20). When it is determined in step S9 that the plate making for one plate is completed, the motor 5 of the plate making unit 4
7 is turned off (step S10), the motor 54 of the optical reading unit 3 is turned off (step S11), the plate making operation is stopped (step S12), and the plate making process is completed. Therefore, in the multi-face continuous shooting mode, the image of the document 10 is formed on the master 14 twice and is continuously shot in the sub-scanning direction. At the time of continuous shooting of such images, or at the time of waiting after the end of step S16, the same original 10 is placed on the contact glass 9
When the plate-making start key 32 is pressed again with the original placed, the same image is continuously shot, and when the document 10 on the contact glass 9 is replaced, different images are continuously shot.

If the multi-face continuous shooting mode is set to the four-face continuous shooting mode, the image data of the original 10 is divided and stored in the line memory 62 during the plate making operation in step S7. Therefore, when step S16 is completed, the image of the document 10 is continuously shot in the main scanning direction. Therefore, when it is determined in step S20 that the plate-making start key 32 is pressed again and the plate-making operation is executed, the image of the document 10 is continuously shot in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.
An image as illustrated in (a) is formed on the master 14. At this time, the image of the original 10 is automatically scaled so that the image is continuously shot in the main scanning direction. On the other hand, when the multi-sided continuous shooting mode is set to the two-sided continuous shooting mode, images are not continuously shot in the main scanning direction, so that an image as illustrated in FIG. To be done.

After the master 14 is made, the image is transferred to the transfer paper 27 by depressing the print start key 33, and the image of the original 10 is printed on the transfer paper 27. Since such a printing process is a well-known process, its details are omitted.

Although this embodiment has shown an example of application to the stencil printing machine 1, it may be applied to a copying machine or the like in practice. Further, as the multi-plane continuous shooting mode for continuous shooting in the main scanning direction, the four-plane continuous shooting mode is exemplified in the present embodiment.
In practice, a multi-plane continuous shooting mode such as a 6-plane or 9-plane continuous shooting mode may be provided. In such a multi-plane continuous shooting mode, the number of divided memories in the line memory 62 is increased in the main scanning direction, and the number of processes of steps S17 to 20 in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is increased in the sub scanning direction. , Can be easily realized.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the invention, a line memory having a memory capacity of at least one main scanning line is provided on the premise of a sequential image forming format for each main scanning line, and when the multi-plane continuous shooting mode is set, an optical system is provided. The data output from the reading unit is divided and stored in the line memory for the number of arrangements of the original image,
As a result, a plurality of original images are continuously shot in the main scanning direction, so that the line memory has a memory capacity of at least one main scanning line for continuous shooting processing of original images in the main scanning direction. Since it is sufficient, the document images can be continuously shot in the main scanning direction without requiring a large memory capacity. Therefore, as in the fourth aspect of the invention, the memory capacity of the line memory can be set to one main scanning line, and the component cost can be significantly reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the data output from the optical reading unit is equally divided and stored in the line memory, the image formed on the image forming medium based on the data stored in the line memory. Can be arranged evenly in terms of arrangement, and an image that is easy to see can be formed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a main scanning direction data scaling means for scaling the data output from the optical reading unit and storing it in the line memory, and a scaling ratio for the main scanning direction data scaling means. And a sub-scanning direction data scaling unit that scales the image formation in the sub-scanning direction by the image forming unit or the continuous image forming unit. Since the image can be formed on the forming medium, an original image having a size of 1/2 or more of the image forming medium can be continuously shot in the main scanning direction, and an original can be continuously shot in the main scanning direction. The types of images can be increased.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of an entire apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing electrical connection of each unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram conceptually showing the circuit structure of an image processing control unit.

FIG. 5: Address for one line of line memory, CCD
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the relationship among the address for one line, the size and position of the document, and the size of the transfer paper.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing during a plate making operation.

7A is a conceptual diagram showing a correspondence relationship between an image of an original document in a four-sided continuous shooting mode and an image punched in a master, and FIG. 7B is an original diagram in a two-sided continuous shooting mode; It is a conceptual diagram which shows the correspondence of the image of and the image perforated by the master.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the transfer paper showing a state in which original images are continuously shot on the transfer paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus (stencil printing machine) 3 Optical reading section 10 Original document 14 Image forming medium (master) 62 Line memory

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A line type optical reading unit that optically reads an image on a document surface and outputs image data read for each main scanning line; and an image forming medium based on the image data output from the optical reading unit. An image forming means for forming an image on the screen, a multi-plane continuous shooting mode setting means for setting the operation mode to a multi-plane continuous shooting mode for arranging a plurality of original images in the main scanning direction, and a memory capacity for at least one main scanning line. A line memory, a division storage unit that sequentially stores the image data output from the optical reading unit in the line memory by the number of arranged original images when the multi-plane continuous shooting mode is set, and when the multi-plane continuous shooting mode is set, Continuous recording image forming means for sequentially outputting the stored data from the line memory and forming an image on the image forming medium based on the output data. An image forming apparatus symptoms. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the division storage unit equally divides and stores the image data output from the optical reading unit in the line memory. 3. A main scanning direction data scaling means for scaling the image data output from the optical reading part and storing it in a line memory, and an image forming means according to the scaling ratio of the main scanning direction data scaling means. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a sub-scanning direction data scaling unit that scales image formation in the sub-scanning direction by one of the continuous image forming units. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory capacity of the line memory is one main scanning line. 5. The image forming apparatus has a basic structure as a stencil printing machine, and the image forming medium on which an image is formed by either the image forming means or the continuous image forming means is a master. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.