JPS60143340A - Automatic trimming layout scanner for making printing plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow exposure after trimming and layout to be performed without using a computer with mass-storage memory when an original is read by reading line buffers stored with a trimmed readout image signal according to the layout. CONSTITUTION:When coordinates of corner parts of base paper set on a data tablet 38 are read with a cursor, a controller 37 calculates trimming data and layout data and sets them in address comparators 27-30. Then, a gate 20 is controlled through the comparators 27 and 28 and the trimmed image signal read out of the original on a readout drum 1 is stored in line buffers 31 and 32 which are used alternately at intervals of one scanning line. This readout timing is controlled through the comparator 30 and the subscanning of an exposure head 4 which exposes an exposure drum 2 to a film is controlled through the comparator 29; and exposure after trimming and layout is carried out during original readout scanning without using a computer equipped with mass-storage memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a printing plate-making scanner that performs document reading scanning and film exposure scanning at different times, and in particular, exposure scanning is performed after trimming and layout of the original image have been completed. Regarding the scanner.

In order to print a color original image, it is necessary to separate the original image into multiple, for example, 3 or 4 types of separation plates for each specific color. So-called color separation scanners have been used in the past.

However, with conventional scanners, it is difficult to arbitrarily select only a predetermined portion of the set original image and read and expose the image signal. Apart from the disassembled version that will be created, there will also be 1) Mingda's Masamoshi Sakui 1-
Conventionally, a method of trimming from a first-office version has been adopted, and therefore, there has been a problem in the past in that it requires time and cost to create a mask version for trimming.

Therefore, in order to eliminate these drawbacks of conventional methods, a means that can select an arbitrary point on the document surface and generate position data for the image data input means for reading image data from the document, such as a scanner, has been developed. and the layout position data of the image on the layout mount surface, the scaling factor data of the image, the position data of a specific point in the image, and the corresponding specific point of the document loaded on the image data input means. The system calculates the range to be read on the document surface from the position data of the document, directly obtains cropped image data when reading the image data, and lays out this image according to the instructions of the layout position data. Special application 1987-1
This invention has been proposed by the present sponsor as an invention of No. 68591.

However, in this system, due to the above-mentioned layout, it is necessary to temporarily store the image data obtained in the trimmed state in memory, and then read it out and perform calculations. This system has the disadvantage that it requires an expensive computer device, and requires considerable skill to operate it.

An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to automatically obtain a cropped and laid-out exposed image directly during document reading and scanning, without requiring a computer system with a large capacity memory. To provide a cropped layout scanner.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention uses a scanner that simultaneously scans a document image and exposes bust data, gates the read image signal to obtain a trimmed image signal, and stores the trimmed image signal in a line buffer. After being accommodated, the line buffer is read out and exposed, and the laid-out exposed image can be obtained by controlling the timing of reading out from the 2-in buffer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of an automatic trimming layout scanner for printing plate making according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a rotating drum type scanner. In the figure, 1 is a reading drum, 2 is an exposure drum, 3 is a reading head, and 4 is an exposure drum. Head, 5.6 is the head drive motor, 7.8 is the head drive motor control unit, and 9.10! 11 is a rotary enhancer, 12, 13, 14 is an address generator, 15 is a frequency divider, 16 is a signal processing unit, 17
is an exposure drive unit, 18 is an A/D converter, 19 is a D/A converter, 20.21 is a gate, 22 is a 1/2 frequency divider\23 is a beam generator, 24, 25.26 are switches circuit, 27.
2B, 29.30 is an address comparator, 31.32 is a line buffer, 33 is an R/W control section, 34.35 is an AND gate, 36 is a delay circuit, 37 is a control device, 38 is a data tablet, 39 is a Hamenyu fR area, 4o is a cursor.

Mother-in-law'Trff++4Pu11Ipponfuchu1Yoge2 of the middle factory warehouse1
Then, the drums are rotated at a predetermined speed by a driving mechanism, and a document is stuck and held on the surface of the reading drum 1, and an unexposed raw film is stuck and held on the surface of the exposure drum 2, respectively. The rotational position of the drum 1.2 at this time is detected by the rotary encoder 11 and the address generator 1.
Main scanning synchronization signal zs representing the scanning start position by 2
1 and an address signal MA representing the position in the main scanning direction is generated.

The reading head 3 and exposure head 4 are each driven at %-5.
．． 6 and moves along the surface of the drum 1.degree. 2 to perform sub-scanning. Then, the position in the sub-scanning direction at this time is detected by the respective linear encoders 9 and 1o, and a signal SAI representing the address of the reading head 3 in the sub-scanning direction is sent from the address generator 13 and then the position of the exposure head 4 in the sub-scanning direction. fsA representing the address of
2 are generated from the address generator 14, respectively.

The image signal read from the document by the reading head 3 is sent to a signal processing section 16, also called a color computer, where it is printed with a mark 9.
17"++1lfL t Theory 7 Snowfall, etc.^/n Digitized by the digital converter 18, and scanned by the gate 20 during a predetermined period during the main scanning period (the period during which the reading drum 1 rotates once) and during the sub-scanning period. Only the portion of a predetermined period during the period (the period during which the reading head 3 continues to move intermittently) becomes the extracted signal DTI, and becomes the signals IDI and ID2, which are alternately distributed by the switching circuit 26 for each main scanning period. , are written to line buffers 31 and 32 alternately.

On the other hand, the image data thus written to the line buffers 31 and 32 are read out alternately every main scanning period, become signals ID3 and ID4, and are input to the D/A converter 19 via the switching circuit 25 and gate 21. is converted into an analog signal and then supplied to the exposure drive section 17. The exposure drive section 17 then operates the exposure head 4 to expose the unexposed film held on the exposure drum 2. In addition,
The operations of the line buffers 31 and 32 at this time are as follows. That is, in the current main scanning period, the switching circuit 2
6 had been switched to line buffer 31,
During this period, the switching circuit 25 switches the line buffer 32. The switching circuit 26 is switched to the next main scanning period.
When the line buffer 32 is switched to the line buffer 32, the switching circuit 2 then switches to the line buffer 31.

Therefore, when the line buffer 31 is in the write period, eζ
In this case, the line buffer 32 is in the d selling period, and conversely, when the line buffer 31 is in the escape period, the line buffer 32 is in the writing period, and this is alternately reversed every main scanning period.

l'r ljJ motor control section 8 on the exposure side of the scanner
The lock signal CKi is required for the operation of the D/A converter 19.
is supplied from the crofter e-generator 23, while the clock signal CK2 of the bouncing motor control unit 7 and A/D converter 18 on the reading side is supplied from the branching unit 15 which receives the clock signal CK1 as input. 0, the control unit device 37
By controlling the fraction 1u ratio of the frequency division 'c15 by the magnification change data α supplied from the scanner, the change rate of the scanner can be controlled.

Note that the R/W control unit 33 for controlling writing and successive output of the line buffers 31 and 32 uses a clock fF for chopstick insertion.
j CK2, and the clock signal (EKI
Since one clock signal is required for each clock, both of these clock signals are generated manually.

The control arm 37 consists of a computer, etc., and performs arithmetic processing of various data necessary for controlling the movement of the scanner system/living body and for trimming and raying.

The data tablet 38 is also called a tablet digitizer, and if you specify any point within a predetermined range on its surface with the cursor 4o, the position of that point, expressed with a rectangular cursor, will be converted to data. , Py can be generated by 3, and furthermore, various data such as the image magnification ratio α can be input to the control device 37VC through a menu area 39 on its surface. Note that data such as the magnification ratio α may be input using a keyboard (not shown) or the like.

Next, the operation of this example will be explained.

For the first time in JD, we will explain the operations from inputting data necessary for trimming and layout to calculating control data necessary for control.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, a layout mount is set at a predetermined position on the data tablet 38. On this layout mount, ruled lines specifying the trimming range of the document to be laid out and simple figures E indicating outlines of the pictures included therein are drawn.

Therefore, next, the cursor 40 is moved and position data for the ruled line is manually input to the control device 37. That is, when the trimming range is a rectangle as shown by the ruled lines in the figure, the cursor 40 is moved sequentially to point P1 at the upper left corner and point P at the lower right corner of this rectangle. Mark these points P1 and P! position data (P+: X+,
Y+), (Pt: Xz, Yz) by the control device 37
, and further input the position data of the specific point Pα of the figure E (
Xα, Yα). It should be noted that this specific point Pa must be such that the same part in the image of the manuscript can be easily distinguished, and therefore, for example, if the image is
If it is a house as shown, you can select the intersection of the eaves and pillars of the house in Figure 2K.

Input the position data (Po:Xo, Yo) of the point PO at the upper left corner of the layout range for one page of the layout sheet.

Next, the numeric data input button in the menu area 39 is specified using the cursor 40, and the image magnification data α is manually entered. Note that as described above, input may also be made using a keyboard.

In this way, the data tablet 38 allows the 3rd page of the layout mount to be read.
Position data X of two points PK+ P2, Pa, PCl
, IXt a X a * Xo , Ys r YI *
After taking in Ya*Yo and variable magnification data α, the next step is to input data from the document surface of the drum 1.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, the reading head 3 is provided with appropriate marker means, so that the best points to be read by the reading head 3 on the table 16i of the reading drum 10 can be checked using the marker means. Therefore, for example, the configuration is such that the reading head 3 can be moved from the 1 reading position and a magnification @ (low magnification microscope) having a mark such as a visual field internal pressure crosshair can be set instead. .

Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3, while looking at the original OF set on the surface of the drum 1 with a magnifying glass, the drum 1 is rotated, the reading head 3 is moved left and right, and the image of the original OF is selected. The point P'α corresponding to the specific point PaK of the figure E on the mount with II is made to coincide with the cross of the mark M within the field of view of the magnifying glass.

When the specific point P''a of the document OF is aligned with the mark M within the field of view of the magnifying glass, a command is given to the control device 37 by operating the menu area 39 or the keyboard, and the rotary encoder at that time is Address data MA from 11 and address data SAI from Wanya encoder 9 are taken into control device 37, whereby control device 37 receives data representing the position of a specific point pa of document OF on the surface of reading drum 1. (P'La: Xmi, y
'a) can be taken in.

Next, the control device 6 receives these position data X,.

Xx a Xa w X'a # YI a Yt -
Calculation is performed based on Ya*Ya, and as shown in FIG. Ruled line K of the layout mount shown in Figure 2
Needless to say, it should be specified by

Now, the position data of point P+' is (x:, y'+), point P
If the position data of 1' is (X'!, right) and the magnification ratio when reading image data from drum 1 is α, then
The relationship between these data is as follows.

(X+°X;b)a −(XI −Xa)−・=
=ilj(Y+'Ymi) α-(Y+Yα)...
...(2) (Xz"x'C,,) α-(Xt
X+z)-+・+++++(31(Y2'Ymi) α-(
YI Ya) ...... (4) Therefore, from these (1) to (Sword type relationship, position data representing the points P: and P S° necessary to specify the trimming range flK' X1
°z Y'r * X's * Yz" can be easily determined.

Also, as shown in FIG. 5, point P1.
Points P1 (L, YI) and P2 (Xt, Yz) of the exposure drum indicating the layout range K corresponding to Pt are 1, X, -X, X, ...... (5) Xt −
Xv Xo −・= −(6) YI −YI−Yo ・
・・・・・・・・・(7) Yz -YI -Yo ・・・
It can be easily obtained from (8).

After the control device 37 calculates the position 1t1t data and outputs the necessary position data, the control device 37
gives these position data to the address comparators 27 to 30, and also gives the variable magnification data α to the frequency divider 15, and starts the reading operation of the trimmed image data and the exposure operation of the layered image (g1). .

First, the address comparator 27 receives position data Y'.

Yi is given, so the output signal AS2 rises when the value of the address MA in the main scanning direction of the reading drum 1 matches the position data Y, °, and falls when it reaches the position data Yi (2). Therefore, as shown in the timing chart of FIG. 4, the main scanning period signal ZS I
This is a signal that appears only during a predetermined period within the K main scanning period.

On the other hand, since the address comparator 28 is given the position data XIZX-, its output signal ASI rises when the address S fi-1 of the reading head 3 in the sub-scanning direction matches the position data Xl. After that, the position data
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the reading head 3 starts the reading scan and moves in the sub-scanning direction, and after reaching the predetermined position 1, the signal falls. A signal that appears only for a period of .

As a result, the output signal TRI of the AND gate 34 which receives these signals AS2 and ASI as input appears only when the reading head 3 is reading and scanning within the trimming range of the original OB° on the reading drum 1. Since the gate 20 is controlled by this signal @TR1, the trimmed image data DTI is eventually obtained as the output of the gate 20.

Now, the image data DTI that has started to be extracted only from ° within the trimming range of the original OF is input to the switching circuit 26, but when the switching signal ZS2 is at H level, the switching circuit 26 has a trap where the input terminal O is the output terminal. 1, and when it is at L level, it is switched to output terminal 2. This switching signal ZS2 is a signal as shown in FIG. 4, which is obtained by dividing the frequency of the main synchronizing signal ZSI by a 1 frequency divider 22.

Therefore, among the image data DTI extracted from the output of the gate 20, the first data that appears after the start of the reading scan, that is, the scanning line when the position data X: and the address SAI of the reading head 3 match. The data I and L5 appearing in D2. D3・・・・・・・・・
If the data when the position data Xi and the address SAI match is Dn, then the data IDI of the output 1 of the switching circuit 26 is the odd-numbered data DI, D3, D3, etc., as shown in FIG. . . . The output 2 is even-numbered data D2, D4, . . . and is alternately distributed in each main scanning period.

On the other hand, the signal TRI from the AND gate 34 is also supplied to the R/W controller 33, and the switching signal ZS2 from the 1/2 frequency divider 22 is also supplied to the R/W controller 33. As a result, the line buffer 31 outputs the data IDI (Dl, D3...) to the output 1 of the switching circuit 26.
...Drl) is in the write state only when it appears, and the external input and line buffer 32 are switched [data ID2 (D2, D4......
) appears, it enters the write state and stores trimming data for one main scanning period.

The next pressure and address comparator 29 is given position data (X, -1) from the control device 37b). The output signal AS5 of the address ratio 1 signal generator 29 becomes high level only while the data τ1'1 (Xt-1) is larger than the address SA2.

On the other hand, the control section 8 of the drive motor 6 is driven in the sub-scanning direction (indicated by the arrow) only when the signal RD71j' supplied from the switching circuit 24 is at a high level.

Therefore, before starting the reading exposure operation of the scanner, after winding the unfinished film around the exposure drum 2, the optical path head 4 starts scanning (before ffft'ff (in FIG. 1, the exposure (near the left end of the drum 2), stop reading scanning by the reading head 3, and press 1 while keeping it warm.
Assume that the rotational drive of the ram 1.2 is started. By adding desired values to tyt and yt obtained from the control device 37, the journey can be started from any position on the garden drum depending on the mounting position of the unexposed film. Further, in synchronization with the start of the rotational drive of the drums 1 and 2, the control device 37 supplies the switching signals C and T1 to the switching circuit 24, and the output signal RD and the signal AS5 from the address comparator 29 are I am trying to output it.

Then, as a result, the signal RD becomes high level,
The exposure head 4 is driven in the sub-scanning direction every rotation of the drums 1 and 2, and the address SA2 increases sequentially. Then, since the signals A and S5 fall to the 4-level at the sub-scanning position where the address SA2 becomes equal to the position data (x;'-i), the four-light head 4 stops at this position.

On the other hand, the address comparator 30 receives position data Y, IY!
is supplied and compared with address data MA in the main scanning direction. Therefore, this comparator 30
The output signal AS4 is generated on the surface of the exposure drum 2.
The signal becomes high level at the coordinate in the main scanning direction corresponding to the ruled line K representing the trimming range (Fig. 2).
=Figure 5).

Further, the delay circuit 36 is supplied with the signal ASI from the address comparator 28 and the main scanning synchronization signal ZSI, so that the delay circuit 36 lags the signal ASI by one main scanning period, as shown in FIG. A signal AS3 as shown is generated.

Furthermore, the AND gate 35 connects these signals AS3 and A
Since S4 is used as an input signal, a signal TR2 as shown in FIG. 4 will be generated at its output.

Therefore, when this signal TR2 is supplied to the read input of the R/W control section 33, the R/W control section 33 alternately controls the line buffers 31 and 32 to perform a read operation every main scanning period. At this time, as is clear from FIG.
The timing at which the signal 2 starts to be generated is delayed by one main scanning period with respect to the signal TRI supplied for writing.

Therefore, the first time the 1-line buffer 31 is controlled to read out is in the main scanning period following the main scanning period in which the data D1 was written, and similarly, the first time the 1-line buffer 32 is controlled to be read is Since the main scanning period is the next main scanning period after the main scanning period in which data D2 was written to this buffer 32, these line buffers 31 and 32, as described above, perform write operations alternately in each main scanning period. Moreover, the line buffers 31 and 32 operate in a state where writing and reading are reversed, and the output of the switching circuit 25 is controlled to read the original OF (see FIG. 3). ), the image data DT1 read from ' is included in the trimming range of
Within the next main scanning period delayed by one main scanning period, the layout sheet D (
Image data DT2 is obtained which is taken out at the scanning timing on the exposure drum 2 corresponding to the line @K representing the trimming range in FIG. 2).

Therefore, as described above, the original OF is set on the reading drum 1vc, the layout sheet is set on the data tablet 38, and the unexposed film is set on the exposure drum 2, and the capture and calculation of the 5'L position data is completed. Then, as described above, the control device 37 applies the signal CT1 to the switching circuit 24 to switch its output signal RD to the signal AS5, thereby causing the exposure head 4 to change address S A 2 to data (Xt-x). Equal position K
fj: After that, the scanner is stopped, and the scanner starts the reading operation, and the light operation starts at tIi+.

Therefore, the control device 37 first switches the output signal RD of the switching circuit 24 from the signal As5 to A3B using the switching signal OT1.

The controller 37 then controls each address comparator 27, 28 .
30, position data Xt' * Xt - Y1's Y2
rYI* With Yl applied, the image reading operation by the reading head 3 and the V light operation by the optical head 4 are started.

Then, first, the reading head 3 selects the address SA.
Time t when the sub-scanning position is reached where I and data Xζ are equal
o (Figure M4), the signal ASI becomes high level, and as a result, the output signal TRI of the AND gate 34 corresponds to the trimming range of the original OF in each main scanning period. is gate 2
0 output, and the line buffers 31 and 32 receive data D1. D2......They are written alternately as Dn.

On the other hand, the output pressure of the delay circuit 36 is 1 with respect to the signal ASI.
Since the signal AS3 delayed by the main scanning period appears at time t1, the time t. The signal TR2 starts to appear at the output of the AND gate 35 from the next main scanning period after K consecutive main scanning periods, and as a result, the data Di is output from the line buffers 31 and 32.
, D2 . The light is then supplied to the exposure head 4.

On the other hand, the exposure head 4 is stopped until time 1o.
At this time, the digit 1 of the sub-climbing direction (I is the position data (X, -
,
．． When the signal AS3 becomes high level, at this point in time, it is moved in the sub-scanning direction by a distance equal to one main scanning line interval, and at this moment, the first line on the ruled line representing the trimming range of the layout sheet is moved. Scanning start point position: Point position P on exposure drum 2 equal to Xth building data X1 of P+ (Fig. 2)
It is located at the sub-scanning position corresponding to the X coordinate data X of 1.

Therefore, when the exposure of the image data 1) T2 is started at time t, the luminance range of the image on the unexposed film becomes the range given by the layout sheet and is correctly distributed at the position ff1K. The exposure of the cropped image will be obtained.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain a separation plate in which image trimming processing and layout processing are completed at the same time as the color separation operation by the scanner, and the operations can be completed in one go.

In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
To make it easier to understand, game) 20.21 and switching circuit 2
5.26, but the data writing process and continuous output process by the 1-line buffer 31 and 32 essentially include data selection and gate functions, so the R/W If the line buffers 31 and 32 are properly controlled by the control unit 33, the gate 20 described above can be
21 and the switching circuits 25 and 26 can be omitted to configure the present invention.

As explained above, according to the present invention, image trimming and layout can be performed all at once when reading an image with a scanner and exposing the image. Trimming and layout processing can be performed simply by inputting point position information using a cursor or mark, making one operation easy, and the quality of trimming and layout processing does not depend on the skill of the operator, resulting in always accurate results. It is possible to provide an automatic trimming layout scanner for printing plate making at a low cost.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the automatic trimming layout scanner for printing plate making according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing reading of data using a layout board, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing how to read data from a document on a reading drum. An explanatory diagram showing reading of data,
FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the operation, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the exposure operation on the exposure drum. 3...Reading head, 4...Exposure head, 9, 10...Linear encoder, 11...
...Rotor IJ-: r-encoder, 38...
...Data tablet, 39...Menu area, 4o...Cursor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a printing plate making scanner which is equipped with an image signal extracting means that operates in synchronization with the reading scan of the original image, and which extracts a trimmed image signal v11 directly from the original image and exposes it, any of the original image reading scans ``''. data generating means for specifying a point on the layout sheet surface and generating document surface position data representing the coordinate position; and data generation means for specifying an arbitrary point on the layout sheet surface and generating layout surface position data representing the coordinate position. , calculation means for calculating layout data on the exposure scanning surface based on these document surface position data and layout surface position tKI data, and buffer memory means for storing the trimmed image signal for at least one scanning line period. An automatic trimming layout scanner for printing plate making, characterized in that the readout of image signals from the buffer memory means is controlled by the layout data, and the readout image signals are exposed.