JPH09247427A - Image forming device and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control an output image in accordance with the direction and the kind of an original image and to form a desired image by detecting the direction of the placed original. SOLUTION: An original direction detecting part 109 detects the direction of the read original, that is, judges whether the original is placed in an upper part, the lower one, the right one or the left one and whether the original is written vertically or horizontally so as to output the result. A memory controller 110 controls the layout of the image at the time of writing an image signal in an image memory by the detection result which is detected by the original direction detecting part 109. That is, the initial value and up/down of an address counter at the time of writing the image is controlled so that a writing position and a device are controlled. Thus, desired copying is executed in accordance with the direction and the kind (horizontally written or vertically written) of the original in reduction layout both-surface control.

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 and its method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, copiers have been able to improve work efficiency by mounting accessories such as an automatic document feeder and an automatic collator. Further, a digitized copying machine has been devised, and more advanced functions have been realized by treating images as digital information.

As the above-mentioned advanced function, for example, there is a function called a reduced layout function. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example in which a double-sided function, a binding margin function, and a stapling function are combined with the reduced layout function.

In FIG. 12, 1201, 1202, 1
203, 1204, ... are a plurality of originals, and when these are set in the orientation shown in the automatic document feeder,
The front side is laid out like 1205, the back side is laid out like 1206, a binding margin is added, and a desired position is stapled to make a copy. In the figure, "1", "2",
"3", "4", ..., "8" correspond to the order of the originals, that is, the pages of the originals.

[0005]

However, the above conventional example has the following problems.

That is, for example, 1207, 1208, 120
When the vertically written originals 9, 1210, ... Are set upward, the layout will be laid out as 1211 on the front side and 1212 on the back side, which is a very unnatural layout for vertically written text. Become. Further, the binding margin position and the staple position are also positions that are not in practical use.

Similarly, 1213, 1214, 121
When the vertically written originals shown in Nos. 5, 1216, ... Are set to the left, the front is laid out as 1217 and the back is laid out as 1218.
When the vertically written originals 0, 1221, 1222, ... Are set to the left, the front side is 1 as shown by 1223 in the table.
However, in any case, there is a problem that the layout, the binding margin, the staple position, etc. are not practical.

Further, the orientation in which the original is placed (upper, lower, left and right)
However, there are various other combinations depending on the type of document (horizontal writing or vertical writing), and a layout, binding margin, and stapling that are not in practical use are often performed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides an image forming apparatus and a method thereof capable of controlling an output image according to the direction and type of an original image to form a desired image. With the goal.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming apparatus of the present invention has the following constitution.

That is, an original orientation detecting means for detecting the orientation of the original placed, a control means for controlling writing of an original image in the memory based on the detection result of the original orientation detecting means, and the control means. An image forming unit that reads a controlled original image and forms an image.

In such a configuration, the orientation of the document is detected, the writing of the document image in the memory is controlled based on the detection result, and the document image is read to form an image.

In order to achieve the above object, the image forming method according to the present invention has the following steps.

That is, an original orientation detecting step for detecting the orientation of the original, a control step for controlling writing of an original image in a memory based on the detection result in the original orientation detecting step, and the control step And an image forming step of reading the controlled original image to form an image.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, a full-color copying machine is described as an example of the image forming apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this.

(Description of Device Outline) FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a full-color copying machine according to this embodiment. First, in copying a document as a copying machine, 200 is an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as DF), which automatically feeds a plurality of documents one by one and places the front and back surfaces of each document on a document table. Can be set sequentially. Since the specific configuration of the DF 200 is already known, detailed description will be omitted.

A plurality of originals 202 to be read are placed on the DF 200 as shown in FIG. Manuscript 20
Documents 2 are fed one by one by the DF 200
Put on top. The original 202 on the original table 201 is illuminated 20
3 and the reflected light is reflected by the mirrors 204, 20.
An image is formed on the CCD 208 by the optical system 207 via 5, 206. Further, by the motor 209, the mirror 20
4. The first mirror unit 210 including the illumination 203 is mechanically driven at the speed V, and the second mirror unit 211 including the mirrors 205 and 206 is driven at the speed 1 / 2V to scan the entire surface of the original 202. .

Reference numeral 212 denotes an image processing circuit portion, which is a portion for processing the read image information as an electric signal, temporarily holding it in the image memory, and outputting it as a print. The print signal output from the image processing circuit unit 212 is
It is sent to a laser driver (not shown) and drives four semiconductor lasers (not shown).

Reference numeral 213 is a polygon mirror, which receives four laser beams emitted from four semiconductor lasers (not shown). One of them is the mirror 214, 215, 21
6, the photosensitive drum 217 is scanned, the next one scans the photosensitive drum 221 via the mirrors 218, 219, 220, the next one scans the photosensitive drum 225 via the mirrors 222, 223, 224, The last one is mirror 226
The photosensitive drum 229 is scanned via 227 and 228.

On the other hand, 230 is a developing device for supplying yellow (Y) toner, which forms a yellow toner image on the photosensitive drum 217 in accordance with the laser beam, and 231 is development for supplying magenta (M) toner. Is a developing device that forms a magenta toner image on the photosensitive drum 221 according to the laser light, and 232 is a developing device that supplies cyan (C) toner. The developing device is a cyan toner image on the photosensitive drum 225 according to the laser light. 233 is a developing device that supplies black (Bk) toner, and forms a black toner image on the photosensitive drum 229 according to the laser beam.

The above four-color (Y, M, C, Bk) toner images are transferred onto a sheet, and a full-color output image can be obtained.

The paper fed from any of the paper cassettes 234 and 235 or the manual feed tray 236 is adsorbed on the transfer belt 238 via the registration roller 237 and conveyed. The toners of the respective colors have been developed in advance on the photosensitive drums 217, 221, 225, and 229 in synchronism with the sheet feeding timing, and the toners are transferred onto the sheet as the sheet is conveyed.

The paper on which the toners of the respective colors have been transferred is separated, conveyed by the conveyor belt 239, and the toner is fixed on the paper by the fixing device 240. Then, in the case of single-sided copy, the sheet is discharged to the sorter / stapler 241, and in the case of double-sided copy, the sheet is discharged to the double-sided path 242.

Here, in the case of double-sided copying, the fixing device 2
The paper discharged from the 40 to the double-sided path 242 is the reverse path 2
The sheet is turned over at 43, passed through the transport section 244, and then the double-sided tray
Holds to 5. The sheet held on the double-sided tray 245 is fed again, and is adsorbed on the transfer belt 238 via the registration roller 237 to form an image on the back side and conveyed. Similar to the back side, in synchronization with the feeding timing, the toners of the respective colors have been developed on the photosensitive drums 217, 221, 225 and 229 in advance, and the toners are transferred onto the sheet as the sheet is conveyed. After that, the paper is separated, conveyed by the conveyor belt 239, and the toner is fixed on the paper by the fixing device 240. Then, the sheet is discharged to the sorter / stapler 241 as in the case of single-sided copying.

The sorter / stapler 241 can perform collation or stapling of ejected copies. The specific structure of the sorter / stapler 241 is omitted because it is already known.

(Flow of Image Signal) Next, the flow of the image signal in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the image processing circuit unit 212 shown in FIG. In the figure, the image information read by the CCD sensor 208 is output as a digital signal for each of the three color components of red (R), green (G), and blue (B).

Reference numeral 112 denotes a masking circuit, which converts the input (R0, G0, B0) signal into a standard (R, G, B) signal by the calculation shown in the following equation.

[0029]

[Equation 1]

However, Cij (i = 1, 2, 3 j = 1,
2, 3) are constants peculiar to the apparatus in consideration of various characteristics such as the sensitivity characteristic of the CCD sensor 208 / spectral characteristic of the illumination lamp. Reference numeral 104 denotes a brightness / density conversion unit (Log), which is configured by a look-up table of a RAM or a ROM, and performs an operation like the following equation.

[0031]

[Equation 2]

Reference numeral 106 denotes an output masking / UCR circuit portion, which converts the M1, C1, Y1 signals into Y, M, C, Bk signals which are toner colors of the image forming apparatus, and the following equations are calculated.

[0033]

(Equation 3)

However, aij (i = 1, 2, 3, 4 j =
1, 2, 3, 4) are constants unique to the apparatus in consideration of various tint characteristics of the toner.

[0035]

(Equation 4)

Based on the above equations (2) to (4),
The C1, M1, Y1, and Bk1 signals based on the R, G, and B signals read by the CCD sensor 208 are corrected to C, M, Y, and Bk signals based on the toner spectral distribution characteristics and output.

On the other hand, reference numeral 105 denotes a character / line drawing determination circuit, which determines whether or not each pixel in the original image is a part of a character or a line image, and a determination signal TEXT as a determination result.
Occurs. Reference numeral 107 denotes a compression / expansion circuit, which compresses the image signal (R, G, B) and the character / line drawing determination signal TEXT, reduces the amount of information, and then stores it in the memory 108, and the image compressed by the memory 108. Signal (R, G,
B) and the character / line drawing determination signal TEXT are read and expanded. The compression / expansion circuit 107 is already known and will not be described.

The image signal read by the CCD 208 is supplied to the masking circuit 112 and the brightness / density converter 1.
After being compressed by the compression / expansion circuit 107 via 04, it is written in the memory 108. Further, the character / line drawing determination signal TEXT output from the character / line drawing determination circuit 105 is also compressed in the compression / expansion circuit 107 and then written in the memory 108.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a document orientation detection unit that detects the orientation of the read document, that is, determines whether the document is placed vertically or horizontally, whether the document is vertical writing or horizontal writing, The result is output. A memory controller 110 controls an image layout when writing an image signal in the image memory based on the detection result detected by the document orientation detection unit 109. That is, by controlling the initial value and up / down of the address counter at the time of writing an image, the writing position is controlled and the device is controlled. As a result, in the reduced layout double-sided control described below, as shown in FIG. 3, desired copying can be performed according to the orientation and type (horizontal writing, vertical writing) of the document.

Further, the data read from the memory 108 is expanded by the compression / expansion circuit 107, sent according to the image forming timing of the copying machine, and sent to the laser driver through the PWM circuit (not shown).

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing the read / write operation to the memory 108. In FIG. 11, the image read by the CCD 208 is 110
It is written in the memory 108 at the timing indicated by 1. Further, the image data written on the memory 108 is read at the timings indicated by 1102, 1103, 1104, and 1105. Incidentally, 1102, 11
The timings indicated by 03, 1104, and 1105 are read at time d / v intervals as shown in the figure. Here, d is the interval between four drums arranged at equal intervals, and v is the speed of the sheet conveyed by the conveyor belt.

(Original Orientation Detection) FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the original orientation detection unit 109. First, the RGB signal, which is an image signal based on the read original, is ND (monochromatic), thinned, and binarized by the thinning circuit 601, and the amount of information is sufficiently reduced, and then stored in the memory 602. Next, the image information stored in the memory 602 is stored in C
The PU 603 makes an access to determine the orientation of the document and vertical writing / horizontal writing. A specific determination method may be a method known as a conventional technique, for example, a method that determines a combination of character recognition and rotation of image information. Although not mentioned here, a code indicating the orientation of the document (up, down, left and right) 2 bits,
A code indicating whether the document is written vertically or horizontally is represented by a total of 3 bits of 1 bit.

Further, since there is no possibility of undetectable originals or erroneous detection, in the present embodiment, DF2
It is also possible to improve the detection accuracy by detecting the orientation of each of a plurality of originals fed by 00 and determining a plurality of detection results (character / line drawing determination circuit 105).

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the character / line drawing determination circuit 105. This character / line drawing determination circuit 10
A character 5 extracts a character and a line drawing portion from the RGB image signal read by the CCD 208, and becomes "1" only when the pixel is a character or a line drawing portion, and becomes "0" at other portions. It is a circuit that generates a simple determination signal TEXT. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes an ND signal generator, which is a circuit for generating an ND signal which is a lightness signal in consideration of human visibility characteristics from a full color RGB image signal. To do. However, d1, d
2 and d3 are constants in consideration of human visibility characteristics.

[0045]

(Equation 5)

A character / line drawing determiner 502 extracts a character / line drawing portion from the brightness signal ND, and is "1" only when the pixel is a character or a line drawing portion, and "1" in other portions. It is a circuit that generates a determination signal TEXT that becomes 0 ″. Since this type of circuit is already known, its description is omitted.

(Reduced Layout Double-sided Control) The reduced layout double-sided control in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the layout, the binding margin staple, and the like are controlled as follows based on the orientation of the document detected by the document orientation detection unit 109 and the vertical writing / horizontal writing discrimination.

301, 302, 303, 30 shown in FIG.
4, ... are a plurality of horizontal manuscripts placed upwards,
When this is set on the automatic document feeder in the illustrated direction, the front side is 305 and the back side is 306, and a binding margin is added to form a copy with the desired position stapled. . In the figure, "1", "2",
"3", "4", ..., "8" correspond to the order of the originals, that is, the pages of the originals. This is 120 shown in FIG. 12 described above.
1,1202,1203,1204,1205,120
It is the same operation as 6).

Next, 307, 308, 309, 310,
Is a plurality of vertically written originals placed upward, and when the originals are set in the illustrated automatic document feeder, the front side is laid out like 311 and the back side is laid out like 312, A binding margin is added and a desired position is a stapled copy.

Similarly, left-sided vertical writing originals 313, 31
In the case of 4,315,316, as in the table 317,
The back side is laid out as 318, and a binding margin is added to form a copy in which a desired position is stapled. In the case of left-sided horizontal writing originals 319, 320, 321, 322, the front side is 323, as shown in FIG. The copy is laid out as shown at 324, and a binding margin is added and a desired position is stapled.

Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and even in the case of a combination (not shown), such as a downward document, the layout and the binding margin staple can be controlled in the same manner, though the description is omitted.

(Explanation of Character / Line Drawing Judgment Signal TEXT) FIG. 4 shows the character / line drawing judgment signal TEXT in this embodiment.
FIG. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes an example of a document to be read or a printed image, and 402 denotes a character / line drawing determination signal TEXT of the image 401 two-dimensionally. That is, the image 401
Only the character / line drawing portion in is shown in "black", and the others are shown in "white". Also, a part of 402 is enlarged to 403, and the pixel part indicated by the black circle “●” of 404 is the part of the character / line drawing, the determination signal TEXT becomes “1”, and the white circle “○”. The pixel portion as shown is a portion other than the character / line drawing, and the determination signal TE
XT becomes “0”.

(PWM circuit) FIGS. 9 and 10 show PWM.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a circuit. In FIG. 9, 9
Reference numeral 01 denotes a yellow (Y) PWM circuit, which receives a yellow (Y) digital image signal and a character / line drawing determination signal TEXT that is sent in synchronization with the digital image signal, and a yellow (Y) laser not shown. Generates an analog signal that is sent to the laser driver that drives the.

A magenta (M) PWM circuit 902 receives a magenta (M) digital image signal and a character / line drawing determination signal TEXT sent in synchronism with the magenta (M) digital image signal, and a magenta (M) not shown. Generates an analog signal that is sent to the laser driver that drives the laser for.

Reference numeral 903 denotes a cyan (C) PWM circuit, which receives a cyan (C) digital image signal and a character / line drawing determination signal TEXT sent in synchronization with the digital image signal and inputs a cyan (C) signal (not shown). Generates an analog signal that is sent to the laser driver that drives the laser for.

A black (Bk) PWM circuit 904 receives a black (Bk) digital image signal and a character / line drawing determination signal TEXT that is sent in synchronization with the digital image signal and inputs a black (Bk) not shown. Generates an analog signal that is sent to the laser driver that drives the laser for.

The above-mentioned PWM circuits 901, 902, 90
Reference numerals 3 and 904 have the same circuit configuration as shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, reference numeral 1001 denotes a D / A converter, which is a portion for converting an input digital image signal into an analog signal, and the output thereof is sent to the comparator 1005. Reference numeral 1002 denotes a triangular wave generator for an image that emphasizes gradation, and generates a triangular wave of one pixel period. Reference numeral 1003 denotes a triangular wave generator for an image that places importance on resolution, and generates a triangular wave having a 2-pixel cycle.

Reference numeral 1004 denotes a selector, which selects two triangular wave generators 100 depending on the value of the character / line drawing determination signal TEXT.
2 and 1003 output is switched, comparator 100
5 As a result, in the character and line drawing portions, PWM is performed by comparing the triangular wave of one pixel period output from the triangular wave generator 1003 for an image in which resolution is important with the analog image signal. On the other hand, in portions other than the character and line drawing portions, the triangular wave output from the triangular wave generator 1002 for images that emphasizes gradation is compared with the analog image signal, and PWM is performed.

7 and 8 are timing charts showing the above-mentioned PWM operation. FIG. 7 is a timing chart of PWM in an image that emphasizes gradation. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 701 is an output example of the D / A converter 1001, which is compared with the triangular wave 702 in units of two pixels, and the output of the comparator 1005 becomes as shown by 703.

On the other hand, FIG. 8 is a PWM timing chart for an image in which resolution is important. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 801 is an output example of the D / A converter 1001, and this is compared with the triangular wave 802 for each pixel, and the output of the comparator 1005 is as shown by 803. Actually, 7 shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 by the signal TEXT indicating whether each part of the output image is a character / line drawing part where resolution is important or a part other than a character / line drawing where gradation is important.
03 and 803 are adaptively switched and output to perform preferable image formation.

In the present embodiment, the case of application to a full-color copying machine has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to apply to a black-and-white copying machine or a two-color copying machine.

Further, all of the following functions are controlled based on the orientation of the document and the distinction between vertical writing and horizontal writing.
You may control only what has one or more. That is, the control may be performed only on both sides or only the reduced layout. (1) Reduced layout (2) Double-sided (3) Binding margin (4) Staple In addition, the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.). Alternatively, it may be applied to an apparatus (for example, a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, etc.) which is composed of one device.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or an apparatus, and to provide a computer (CPU or MP) of the system or apparatus.
It goes without saying that U) is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD
-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. ) May perform some or all of the actual processing, and the processing may realize the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instructions of the program code, It goes without saying that the CPU included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention, a desired image can be formed by controlling the output image according to the direction and the type of the original image.

[0069]

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an image processing circuit unit 212 shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the structure of a full-color copying machine according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining reduced layout double-sided control in the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a character / line drawing determination signal TEXT.

5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a character / line drawing determination circuit 105. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a document orientation detection unit 109.

FIG. 7 is a PWM timing chart in an image in which gradation is emphasized.

FIG. 8 is a PWM timing chart for an image in which resolution is important.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PWM circuit.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a PWM circuit.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing a read / write operation to the memory 108.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a reduced layout function is combined with a two-sided function, a binding margin function, and a staple function.

[Explanation of symbols]

 105 character / line drawing determination circuit 108 memory 109 document orientation detection unit 110 memory controller

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A document orientation detection means for detecting the orientation of a document, a control means for controlling writing of a document image in a memory based on a detection result of the document orientation detection means, and the control means. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that reads a controlled original image and forms an image. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document orientation detecting means detects whether the document is placed in the up, down, left, or right orientation. 3. The document orientation detecting means detects whether the type of document is vertical writing or horizontal writing.
The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit forms a full-color image. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit forms a monochrome image. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a direction of an original image output on a medium, and the image forming unit forms images on both sides. 7. The control means controls the layout order of document images output on a medium, and the image forming means controls
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of images laid out on one medium are formed. 8. The image according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the position of the binding margin on the medium, and the image forming unit forms the image with the binding margin on the medium. Forming equipment. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a staple position on a medium. 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a plurality of originals. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection result of the document orientation detecting means is majority-processed to obtain the determination result. 12. A document orientation detection step of detecting the orientation of a document, a control step of controlling writing of a document image in a memory based on a detection result in the document orientation detection step, and the control step. And an image forming step of forming an image by reading a controlled original image.