JPH09261417A - Image processor and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve efficiency in the case of processing plural originals having the possibility of mixing black-and-white originals and color originals. SOLUTION: When a copy operation is started (S11), first of all, the image of the original conveyed by an automatic original feeder is read and based on that image information, it is discriminated and stored whether the original is the white-and-black original or the color original (S12-S15). When all the originals are completely discriminated, the stored discriminated results are read out (S16), an image reading mode or an image forming mode is set for each original based on the discriminated results of respective originals, and the copy operation is executed (S17-S23).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a method thereof, for example, an image processing apparatus provided with a document feeding apparatus and a method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many copying machines equipped with an automatic document feeder have been put into practical use in order to process a plurality of documents efficiently.

On the other hand, in a full-color copying machine, before actually performing a reading operation for forming an image,
A technique is known in which a prescan for reading a document image is performed, and so-called ACS (Auto Color Select) processing or the like for determining whether a monochrome document or a color document is performed based on image information obtained by the prescan.

By the way, in a full-color copying machine, in general,
In addition to cyan, magenta and yellow toners, black toner is also used. This is cyan in theory,
A black image can be formed by mixing magenta and yellow toners evenly, but in reality,
This is because it is difficult to evenly mix three color toners and faithfully reproduce black. Further, it is also for preventing an increase in running cost due to an increase in toner consumption. Therefore, as described above, by using the black toner instead of the cyan, magenta, and yellow toners, the color reproducibility of black is improved, and the consumption amount of the toner is suppressed to suppress the increase of the running cost. There is.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned technique has the following problems. In other words, multiple originals containing a mixture of black and white originals and color originals
/ Color mixed document ") is continuously copied by the automatic document feeder, two image reading operations, one for pre-scan and one for main-scan to determine whether it is a monochrome document or a color document Will be required. For this reason,
There is a problem that the copy time is significantly increased as compared with the case where the prescan is not performed.

Further, assuming the use of a copying machine in an office, most of black and white / color mixed originals are considered to be black and white originals. Therefore, it can be said that it is desirable for the color copying machine for office to be as close as possible to the productivity, running cost and black reproducibility of the black and white copying machine.

The present invention is for solving the above-mentioned problem, and image processing capable of improving the efficiency in processing a plurality of originals in which black and white originals and color originals may be mixed. An object is to provide an apparatus and a method thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and method capable of improving the efficiency in processing a black and white image, reducing the running cost, and improving the reproducibility of black.

[0009]

The present invention has the following configuration as one means for achieving the above object.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a supply means for supplying a document to a reading means for reading a document image, and a forming means for forming an image on a recording medium based on the image information obtained by the reading means. And a control means for controlling those means, wherein the reading means reads a first reading mode for reading an image of a document supplied and fixed by the supply means, and an image of the document conveyed by the supply means. A second reading mode for reading during conveyance, wherein the forming unit is
The control unit includes a first formation mode in which an image is formed using a plurality of color components and a second formation mode in which an image is formed using one color component, and the control unit reads in advance in the second reading mode. The image reading mode and the image forming mode of the document are controlled based on the image information of the document.

Further, based on the image data generated by the reading means, the reading means for reading the original image and generating the image data, the feeding means for feeding the original image to the reading means, and the original by the feeding means. While transporting images,
And a determination unit that determines whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image.

An image processing method according to the present invention comprises a supply means for supplying a document to a reading means for reading a document image, and a forming means for forming an image on a recording medium based on the image information obtained by the reading means. An image processing method of an image processing apparatus comprising: a reading step of reading image information of a document conveyed by the supply means by the reading means;
Based on the determination step of determining the characteristics of the original document based on the image information, the storage step of storing the determination result obtained in the determination step in a storage unit, and the determination result stored in the storage unit, And a setting step for setting the reading mode of the reading unit and the forming mode of the forming unit.

Further, based on the reading step of reading the document image conveyed by the supplying means and generating image data, and the document image being conveyed by the supplying means on the basis of the image data generated in the reading step, the document is conveyed. A determination step of determining whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the application of the present invention, a plurality of photosensitive drums are arranged in parallel, a tandem drum type image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording paper conveyed by a conveyor belt, or a plurality of recording areas having a recording area width of the recording paper or more. An inkjet-type image forming apparatus that arranges a plurality of full-line type recording heads in which inkjet nozzles are arranged in parallel and forms an image on recording paper conveyed by a conveyor belt, and a hybrid-type image formation that has both of them. It is especially effective for devices.

[0015]

First Embodiment [Automatic Document Feeding Device] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a circulation type automatic document feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The document feeding operation will be described.

In FIG. 1, when a document 402 is placed on the document table 401 and a copy operation is started, the document table 401 is rotated in the direction of arrow A shown in the figure, and the document 402 is a document moving means (not shown). Thus, the document 402 is moved in the direction of arrow B, and the document 402 is set at a predetermined position (document feeding position). Then, the originals 402 are picked up one by one by a half-moon-shaped pickup roller 403 and indicated by an arrow C.
In the direction of, and is conveyed to the document conveyance belt 408 by the conveyance roller pairs 404 and 405. The document conveying belt 408 driven by the belt driving roller 409 is used to convey the document 402 being fed.
Is conveyed onto the platen glass 301. After that, after the image information of the document 402 is read by the image reading unit (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “reader unit”) 361, the document 402 is transferred to the conveyance roller pair 410.
The sheet is conveyed again to the original table 401 by 411. In this way, a plurality of originals are sequentially and automatically circulated and supplied.

[Reader Unit and Printer Unit] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration example of the reader unit and the printer unit.

[Reader] The document 402 placed on the document table glass 301 is illuminated with light from a light source 303 such as a halogen lamp or a fluorescent lamp. Reflective shades 305 and 306 arranged around the light source 303 direct light to the original document 40.
It is for focusing on 2. The reflected light from the document 402 passes through the first mirror 307, the second mirror 308, and the third mirror 309, and is condensed by the lens 310 on the CCD 101 mounted on the substrate 311. Light source 303, reflective shades 305, 306 and first mirror
307 is housed in the first reading carriage 314, and the second mirror 308 and the third mirror 309 are housed in the second reading carriage 315.

Next, the reading operation of the image information in the above-mentioned configuration will be described in detail. By mounting the above-mentioned circulation type automatic document feeder 302, this embodiment realizes two kinds of reading modes. can do.

Image fixed reading mode: automatic document feeder 30
2, the original 402 is fixed and placed at a predetermined position on the original platen glass 301, and the first reading carriage 314 is scanned at a speed V and the second reading carriage 315 is scanned at a speed V / 2, so that the image information Read mode.

Image flow reading mode: As shown in FIG.
First reading carriage 314 and second reading carriage 315
In the direction of arrow D, the first reading carriage 314 is moved to the position R1, and the second reading carriage 315 is moved to the position R2.
The mode in which the image information of the document 402 conveyed by the automatic document feeder 302 is read while being fixed to each. In this mode, since the image information is read while the document 402 is being conveyed, the time required for exchanging the document is unnecessary, and thus the image information can be read in a shorter time than the image fixed reading mode. In addition, the positions R1 and R2 will be referred to as a “flow reading position” below.
Call.

As described above, the reading carriage scans or the document 402 moves in the direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning (main scanning) direction of the CCD 101, so that the document 402 is moved.
Is scanned over the entire surface. Then, the reflected light from the original 402 is CCD
It is guided to 101, converted into an analog RGB image signal, and input to the controller unit 201. It should be noted that the CCD 101 is a color sensor in this embodiment, and the RG is arranged on the CCD of one line.
Color filters are installed inline in the order of B, CCDs with 3 lines each are combined with R filter, G filter, B filter, filter is on-chip, filter and CCD have different configurations. Use either one.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the controller unit 201.

The RGB image signal representing the image information of the original 402 input from the CCD 101 to the controller unit 201 is the image processing unit.
Well-known digital image processing is performed by 202, and finally converted into, for example, a binary digital CMYK image signal and supplied to the printer unit 362.

The controller unit 201 also controls the entire digital color copying machine of this embodiment. In other words, CP
The U204 controls the automatic document feeder 302, the reader unit 361, and the printer unit 362 via the bus 207 and the signal line according to a program stored in advance in the ROM 203 to execute the operation instructed by the operation unit 206. . Further, the RAM 205 is a work memory of the CPU 204, and the CPU 204 uses the RAM 205 to execute ACS mode processing described later.

Printer Unit Since the image forming units 317 to 320 have the same configuration, the configuration of the M image forming unit 317 will be described in detail, and the description of the other image forming units will be omitted.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 342 is charged to a predetermined potential by the primary charger 321 to prepare for latent image formation. The binary CMYK image signal output from the reader unit 361 causes the LED array 210 to emit light, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 342. The latent image is visualized by a developing device 322 including a sleeve 345 for developing by applying a developing bias, and becomes a toner image. LED array 2
When using a laser scanner instead of 10, multi-valued CM
An electrostatic latent image is formed by the YK image signal.

This toner image is transferred onto the recording paper conveyed by the transfer belt 333 by the transfer charger 323 which discharges from the back surface of the transfer belt 333. After the transfer of the photosensitive drum 342, the residual toner is removed by the cleaner unit 324 to prevent the deterioration of the image quality, and then, again.
It is charged to a predetermined potential by the primary charger 321.

The recording paper stored in the paper feed cassette 340 or 341 is extracted one by one by the paper feed unit 338 or 339, and is registered by the registration roller 332 by the pair of transport rollers 337 and 336.
Transported to Then, in synchronization with the image forming operation timing, the toner is adsorbed to the transfer belt 333 and conveyed to the image forming unit, and the toner images are transferred to the surface of the image forming units 317 to 320 in the order of MCYK. The recording paper that has passed through the K image forming unit 320 is discharged from the transfer belt 333 after being neutralized by the separation charging device 349 to facilitate separation from the transfer belt 333, and the toner image is thermally fixed by the fixing device 334. Then, the sheet is discharged to a sheet discharge tray (not shown).

[Operation] Next, the image forming operation of this embodiment will be described in detail. 6 to 9 are flowcharts showing an example of the image forming operation.
It is controlled by 204.

In FIG. 6, the operator places a plurality of originals on the original placing table 401 of the automatic original feeding device 302, and selects the number of copies and the copy mode by the operation unit 206.
When the copy mode is instructed, the CPU 204 branches to a process according to the copy mode in step S1. In other words, if it is the ACS mode, it branches to the ACS mode processing of step S2, if it is the color mode, it branches to the color mode processing of step S3, and if it is the monochrome mode, it branches to the monochrome mode processing of step S4.

ACS Mode FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing an example of ACS mode processing, which automatically determines whether a document to be processed is a monochrome document or a color document and executes copying.

In step S11, waiting for the copy start key of the operation unit 206 to be pressed, the copy operation is started when the copy start key is pressed, and the ACS processing is prepared in step S12. That is, the original 402 on the original placing table 401 is set at the original feeding position, the light source 303 is turned on, and the two reading carriages are moved to the feeding reading position.

Subsequently, the feeding of the original 402 is started, the image of the first original is read in the original flow reading mode in step S13, and the ACS processing is performed in step S14. That is, manuscript 402
Image data is stored in the RAM 205 once, and it is judged from the calculation using the image data whether it is a black-and-white document or a color document, and the judgment result (ACS information) for each document is the document number (or document). It is stored in the RAM 205 together with the related number). Then, the processes of steps S13 and S14 are repeated until the determination of all the originals is completed by the determination of step S15. Note that the reading carriage remains moved to the flow reading position during this process.

A plurality of originals 402 placed on the original placing table 401
When the ACS determination is completed, the determination result of the original document 402 to be copied is read from the RAM 205 or the like in step S16, and the process is branched in step S17 based on the determination result. That is, if the determination result indicates that the original is a color document, step S18 is performed.
Then, the two reading carriages are returned to the home position, the recording paper supply interval is set to L1, and the image of the original 402 is read in the image fixed reading mode. On the other hand, if the determination result indicates that the original is a black-and-white original, the process proceeds to step S19, the reading carriage is fixed at the panning reading position, the recording paper supply interval is set to L2, and the image of the original 402 is set in the image panning reading mode. Read.

This is because when copying a black-and-white original, the black-and-white image forming mode in which the image is formed only by the K image forming section 320 can be used, so that the image forming operation becomes faster than the color image forming mode. Therefore, the reading of image information can be speeded up by the image flow reading mode, and it is possible to speed up the copying operation, reduce the running cost, and improve the reproducibility of black. In this way, in the case of a black-and-white original, image information can be read in a shorter time and an image can be formed in a shorter time than in the case of a color original.
The relationship between the recording paper supply intervals L1 and L2 is L1> L2.

Then, in step S20, the process branches depending on the number of copies (the number of copies) for one original.
If the number of copies is one, an image is formed on the recording paper supplied in step S21. When copying a plurality of sheets, so-called retention copy is performed in steps S22 and S23. In other words, the image data read in step S22 is stored in the retention memory (for example, RAM 205) of the image processing unit 202, and the image data read from the retention memory in step S23 is supplied continuously at the above-mentioned intervals. An image is formed on the number of recording sheets.

Then, the processes of steps S16 to S23 are repeated until the copying of all the originals is completed by the judgment of step S24. Whether or not all the originals have been copied can be determined from the signal of the sensor provided in the automatic original feeder 302, or can be determined from the number of originals information stored in the RAM 205 or the like together with the determination result.

Color Mode and Monochrome Mode FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of color mode processing,
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the black-and-white mode processing, but the steps that perform the same processing as the steps shown in FIG. 7 are assigned the same reference numerals.

The processing in these modes is basically the same as the ACS mode processing shown in FIG. 7 except for the processing related to ACS (that is, the color mode is processing when the original is color, and the monochrome mode is Since the processing is for a document in black and white), detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Prescan after the start of the copy operation by reading the image information of the original document in the image flow reading mode, performing ACS processing to store the judgment result, and performing the copy operation using the judgment result. Can be eliminated, and productivity can be improved when copying a monochrome / color mixed original. Further, since the black-and-white image forming mode or the color image forming mode is switched according to the stored determination result, in the black-and-white mode copy operation, the operation speed can be increased, the running cost can be reduced, and the black reproducibility can be improved. .

(2) In an image forming mode such as a double-sided copy mode, the number of originals is counted before the copy operation is started. According to the present embodiment, however, the number of originals is counted together with the prescan. The property is improved.

(3) If the image reading mode and the image forming mode are switched based on the stored ACS information, the image information of the black and white original is read in the image flow reading mode and the image is formed in the black and white image forming mode. Compared with the combination of the fixed reading mode and the color image forming mode, the copying operation can be sped up, and the supply interval of the recording paper can be shortened accordingly. As a result, the copy time for black and white manuscripts is
The copy time is shorter than that of a color original, the productivity when copying a black-and-white original can be improved, and the running cost and black reproducibility that are almost the same as those of a black-and-white copying machine can be obtained.

[0045]

Second Embodiment Further, the present invention may be applied to a full-color copying machine having a printer unit of the type shown in FIG.

In FIG. 2, a reader unit 361 reads image information of a document 402 conveyed to a platen glass 301 by an automatic document feeder 302, and an image recording unit (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer unit”) 362 displays an image. Form.

That is, the printer unit 362 drives the laser element based on the image information sent from the reader unit 361, and the laser beam output from the laser element is scanned by the laser scanner 363 and the photosensitive drum is scanned. An electrostatic latent image is formed on 342. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 342 is the magenta (M) image forming unit 317 and the cyan (C) image forming unit 3
18, a yellow (Y) image forming unit 319, or a black (K) image forming unit 320 visualizes the toner image.
This toner image is transferred from the paper feed cassette 340 to the transfer drum 364.
The recording medium transported to (hereinafter simply referred to as "recording paper")
Transferred to 365.

In the case of forming a full-color image, the above-described formation of the electrostatic latent image, visualization, and transfer of the toner image are repeated four times after the number of color components, that is, four color toner images are transferred. The recording paper 365 is sent to the fixing device 334, the toner image is heat-fixed, and the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 335.

[0049]

[Other Embodiments] Even if the present invention is applied to a system including a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), an apparatus (for example, a copying machine) Machine, facsimile machine, etc.).

Further, the object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium having a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer (or CPU or M or CPU of the system or apparatus).
Needless to say, this can also be achieved by the PU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. Examples of the storage medium for supplying the program code include a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM,
CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Moreover, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It is needless to say that this also includes a case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion card inserted in the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU included in the function expansion card or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

When the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned storage medium, the storage medium stores the program code corresponding to the above-mentioned flow chart. Briefly, in the memory map example of FIG. Each module shown will be stored in the storage medium. That is, at least the program code of each module of “reading mode setting”, “ACS processing”, and “formation mode setting” may be stored in the storage medium.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and a method thereof with improved efficiency when processing a plurality of originals in which black and white originals and color originals may be mixed.

Further, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus and method for improving efficiency in processing a black-and-white original, reducing running cost, and improving black reproducibility.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a circulation type automatic document feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electrophotographic recording type full-color copying machine including an automatic document feeder according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration example of a reader unit and a printer unit according to the first embodiment,

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an image flow reading mode;

5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a controller unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an image forming operation of the present embodiment,

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of ACS mode processing,

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of color mode processing,

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of monochrome mode processing,

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a memory map of a storage medium storing a program code according to the present invention.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A supply unit for supplying a document to a reading unit for reading a document image, a forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium based on image information obtained by the reading unit, and a control for controlling those units. The reading means includes a first reading mode for reading an image of an original document supplied and fixed by the supplying means, and a second reading mode for reading an image of an original document conveyed by the supplying means during conveyance. A reading mode, the forming unit includes a first forming mode for forming an image using a plurality of color components, and a second forming mode for forming an image using one color component, the control unit The image processing apparatus controls the image reading mode and the image forming mode of the original based on the image information of the original read in advance in the second reading mode. 2. The control unit controls a supply interval of the recording medium in the forming unit based on image information of a document read in advance in the second reading mode. The described image processing device. 3. The image forming unit includes an image forming unit for each of the color components arranged in a predetermined order, and an image is formed on the recording medium sequentially conveyed by the image forming units. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the forming unit selects the second reading mode and the second forming mode in the case of a monochrome original. Image processing device. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the forming unit selects the first reading mode and the first forming mode in the case of a color original. Image processing device. 6. An image of an image processing apparatus comprising: a supply unit for supplying a document to a reading unit for reading a document image; and a forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium based on image information obtained by the reading unit. A processing method, comprising: a reading step of reading image information of a document conveyed by the supply means by the reading means; determining characteristics of the document based on the image information; and storing the determination result in a storage means. An image processing method comprising: a determining step; and a setting step of setting a reading mode of the reading means and a forming mode of the forming means based on a determination result stored in the storage means. 7. The reading mode includes a first reading mode in which an image of a document supplied and fixed by the supply unit is read, and a second reading in which an image of a document conveyed by the supply unit is read during conveyance. 7. The image processing method according to claim 6, further comprising a mode. 8. The formation mode includes a first formation mode in which an image is formed using a plurality of color components and a second formation mode in which an image is formed using one color component. The image processing method according to claim 6. 9. An image of an image processing apparatus, comprising: a supply unit for supplying a document to a reading unit for reading a document image; and a forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium based on image information obtained by the reading unit. A computer readable memory storing a processing method program code, wherein a reading step code for reading image information of an original document conveyed by the supply unit by the reading unit and a characteristic of the original document is determined based on the image information. Then, the code of the determination step of storing the determination result in the storage means, and the code of the setting step of setting the reading mode of the reading means and the formation mode of the forming means based on the determination result stored in the storage means. A computer-readable memory comprising: 10. A reading unit that reads a document image and generates image data, a supply unit that conveys the document image to the reading unit, and based on the image data generated by the reading unit,
An image processing apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines whether the document image is a color image or a monochrome image while the document image is being conveyed by the supply unit. 11. A reading step of reading an image of a document conveyed by a supply means to generate image data, and a step of reading the document while the document image is conveyed by the supply means based on the image data generated in the reading step. An image processing method, comprising: a determination step of determining whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image.