JPS6046661A - Picture forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To switch full colors, a single color, seven colors mutually by forming a picture having a half tone in the 1st mode and forming a picture having no half tone in the 2nd mode in a picture forming device for a heat transfer type color copying machine. CONSTITUTION:Respective color specifying keys of red, yellow, blue, and black, a seven-color specifying key and a full color specifying key are formed on an operation panel 2, and when the seven-color specifying key is depressed, a control part 61 scans an original and supplies a color signal consisting of G, Y and C light rays to a color conversion part 64, which converts the color signal into components such as yellow, magenta and cyan. Respective color signals are compared with prescribed threshold levels, and when a color component is more than its threshold level, the component is set up to ''1'' and stored in a storage part 68 in each color. The stored contents do not include half tones and transferred to paper by a heat sensitive head 66 in accordance with the output of the storage part. In case of the specification of full-colors, respective color signals obtained by scanning are compared with the threshold levels of daisy matrixes of respective colors and stored to execute transfer including half tones.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a thermal transfer color copying machine.

[Technical background of the invention]

Recently, a thermal transfer type color copying machine that performs color copying using thermal transfer inks of a plurality of colors, for example, has been considered. The outline of this copying machine is to extract image information (color signals of light) by scanning and reading a document with an optical scanning means, and converting this image information into color signals corresponding to each ink color of thermal transfer ink. Then, the corresponding ink portion of the thermal transfer ink ribbon is selected in accordance with this color signal, and the ink is thermally transferred onto the paper by a thermal head, thereby sequentially transferring each color onto the paper to perform color copying.

[Problems with background technology]

However, in the above devices, the color mode to be printed is fixed, such as full color including intermediate colors or two colors of red and black, and fl?? Simply,
It was not possible to change from full color to two colors, from full color to single color, or vice versa. However, there are different types of manuscripts, such as full color for copy manuscripts, 2 to 7 colors for graph manuscripts, and black and white for text manuscripts. It would be very convenient if the mode could be changed.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and the purpose is to be able to switch from full color to 7 colors, from full color to single color, from 7 colors to single color, or vice versa, with a simple operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

[Summary of the invention]

In the present invention, in the first mode, open weave formation with halftones is performed, and in the second mode, image formation without halftones is performed. Further, in the present invention, in the first mode b, a color signal having a halftone or a color signal having no halftone obtained in the second mode is stored.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 schematically show a thermal transfer type color copying machine according to the present invention. That is, reference numeral I denotes a main body of the copying machine, and an operation panel A' 2 is provided at the front of the upper surface of the main body 1. The left side of the main body 1 is a document scanning section 8 that scans and reads a document set on a document table (transparent glass plate) 7, and the right side of the main body 1 is an image forming section 9.

Incidentally, reference numeral 10 denotes a four-high original cover provided on the document table 7 so as to be openable and closable.

The document scanning section 8 is configured as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, for example. That is, the document table 7 is fixed to the main body 1, and the document O set on the document table 7 is placed under the document table 7 by reciprocating along the lower surface of the document table 7 in the direction of arrow a in the figure. A scanner 1 is provided for optically scanning and reading the image. This scanner 1 is a document O.
an illumination lamp 12 that illuminates the document 0, a photoelectric converter 13 that receives the reflected light from the document 0, and an optical system 14 such as a lens that guides the reflected light from the document 0 to the photoelectric converter 13. It is constituted by a carrier horn 15 that supports these. The photoelectric converter 13 photoelectrically converts the reflection from the original O into green (G) image information for each pixel.

It outputs color signals of yellow (Y) and cyan (C) light, and is mainly composed of, for example, a CCD type line image sensor. In addition, the above-mentioned Calitsuno 15 is
As shown in FIG. 4, it is guided by a guide rail 16 and a guide shaft 12 so as to be able to reciprocate in the direction of arrow a. At one end of the guide @17 is a scanning motor (
For example, a driving shear 19 is driven by a drive shaft 18, and a driven shear 20 is provided at the other end thereof, and a timing belt 21 is stretched between these shears 19 and 20. In addition, one point C of the timing belt 21 is connected to the carriage 15 via the fixing member 22.
Fixed. This allows the carriage 15 to move linearly by rotating the scanning motor 18 in the forward or reverse direction.

Further, the image forming section 9 may be configured as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, for example.
It is configured as shown in the figure. That is, a platen 30 is disposed approximately at the center of the image forming section 9, and an I-i thermal head 3 is disposed on the left side facing the platen 30. The above heat sensitive head” 3
1 is attached to the rear end of the holder 3Z [a heat radiator 33 formed integrally with the nail]. A cassette 35 containing a thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 as a thermal transfer material is removably attached via the holder 32, and a thermal transfer ink IJ, p is inserted between the thermal head 3) and the platen 30. 34 is present. As shown in FIG. 5, the ribbon cassette 35 has two parallel winding cores 36° 37 around which both ends of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 are wound, and a midway portion of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 734. The case 38 is partially exposed so as to be interposed between the platen 30 and the thermal head 3.
It has a structure that is encapsulated in Then, the winding core 36
, 37 are connected to a drive shaft of a motor (for example, a pulse motor), not shown, via a drive force transmission mechanism, not shown, when the IJ & hook set 35 is installed, and are rotated as necessary. Also, ribbon cassette 3
As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 5 can be attached to and removed from the holder 32 through an insertion/distraction 39 formed on the right side surface of the main body 1. In addition, the insertion/removal port 39
is provided with a lid 4θ that can be opened and closed.

On the other hand, a paper feed row 94 is located diagonally below the right side of the platen 3θ.
1 is provided, and the paper Pi as a transfer material stored in the paper feed cassette 42 is taken out one by one. Then, the paper P taken out by the paper feed roller 41 is
The paper is sent to the registration roller 43 disposed diagonally above and to the right of the feed roller 41, and its leading edge is aligned.The paper is then transferred by the reno stroker 43 toward the platen 30, and then pressed against the platen by the pressing rollers 44 and 45. 30, so that it can be fed accurately. Here, the paper feed cassette 42 is detachable from the front of the main body 1. Note that 46 in FIG. 5 is a manual paper feeder for manually feeding the paper P.

Therefore, the thermal head 31 is connected to the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34.
As shown in FIG. 6, the ink 47t as a colorant on the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 is heated and melted and transferred onto the paper P.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 has a width approximately equal to that of the paper P and prints each color of yellow (Y), magenta (B), cyan (C), and black (B). Ink sections 47Y, 47M.

47C and 47B are provided one on top of the other in order, and after transferring one color at a time, the paper P is returned to the entire transfer starting position.

It is designed to overlap accurately one after the other. With this ink ribbon 34, as shown in FIG.
Seven colors are printed: magenta), cyan (C), black (3), red (R), green (G), and black (811).

In this way, the paper P is moved back and forth by the number of colors by the rotation of the platen 30, but the path of the paper P at that time is
The first and sixth trays are arranged along the lower surface of the paper discharge tray 48, which is inclined and protrudes from the main body 1. 2nd information board 49.50
be led upwards. The platen 30 and the first. The first guide plates are provided between the ends of the second guide plates 49 and 50, respectively. This is performed by the second vibration molecules 51 and 52. That is, first, the paper P taken out from the paper feed cassette 42 is transported all the way through the reno stroller 43 and the first distribution date 510, and its leading end is wound around the platen 3θ. Next, the platen 3θ is
The paper P is transported at a constant speed by being rotated in the forward direction by a four-speed motor or the like, and the heating elements (not shown) of the single heating head 32 arranged in a line tod shape along the axial direction of the platen 30 generates heat according to image information,
As a result, the ink 47 of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 is transferred onto the paper P. Then, the leading edge of the paper P that has passed through the platen 30f is sent onto the first guide plate 49 provided along the lower surface of the paper output tray 48 by the second distribution gate 52, which is located at the solid line position at this time. .

In this way, when the transfer of ink 47 of one color is completed, the platen 30 is rotated in the opposite direction, so that the paper P is reversely transported and returned to the transfer starting position. At this time, the rear end of the paper P is sent onto the second guide plate 50 provided along the lower surface of the first guide plate 49 by the first sorting gate 51 which is rotated to the position shown by the two-dot chain line. It will be done. In this way, paper P
It transfers multiple colors by moving the roller back and forth multiple times. Finally, the paper P, on which the transfer of ink 47 of all colors has been completed, is guided to the paper ejection roller 53 by the second vibrating member 52, which is rotationally displaced to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line, and is ejected to the paper P. It is something that

FIG. 9 shows the operation panel 2, which includes a density setting section 71 for setting the copy density for each color (for example, red, yellow, blue, black), and a density setting section 71 for setting the copy color (for example, red, yellow, blue, black). Color specification section 72, number of copies, ready for copying (READY),
A display section 73 that displays the color of the set thermal transfer ink ribbon and other operating conditions, a magnification setting section 74 that sets the copying magnification, a number pad section 75 that sets the number of copies, etc., and an interrupt copying section 73. An interrupt key 76 for designation, a copy key 77 for starting a copying operation, a memory setting section 78 for storing an image of an original document, and the like are provided. The color designation section 72 includes, for example, a red designation key 721, a yellow designation key 72. ．． Blue designation key 723, black designation key 724
゜If you press the 7-color color specification key 725 and the full color specification key 726, for example, press the red specification key 721, red will be specified and only that red will be copied, and the red specification key 7
If you press the double and black designation key 724, red and black will be designated and that red will appear.

Only black will be copied, and if you press all 7 color designation keys 725, red, green, yellow, blue, black, cyan, magenta and gold will be designated and all of those colors will be copied without including any intermediate tones, and the full color designation key will be pressed. When 726 is pressed, the gold color is specified and all colors including halftones are copied. In addition,
Each of the designation keys 721 to 726 has a built-in indicator light in its key head, and when the key is pressed, the indicator light lights up to display the designated color. In addition, when turning on the power of the copying machine, press the full color specification key 726.
The indicator light lights up and the machine is in golden copy mode.

Further, the memory setting section 78 includes, for example, the set key 7
81 , reset key 782 , and call key 78
For example, pressing the set key 78m specifies image storage, pressing the reset key 782 specifies canceling image storage, and pressing the call key 783 specifies image f.
The invocation of the image is now specified.

FIG. 10 schematically shows the control circuit. That is, 61 is a main control unit that controls the entire copying machine, and is mainly composed of, for example, a CPU (central processing unit) and its peripheral circuits, to which a pass line 62 is connected. . The above-mentioned gas line 62 includes the operation panel 2, the scanner control section 63,
the photoelectric converter 13, the color conversion section 64, the conveyance control section 65,
A thermal head driving section 66, a thermal head temperature control section 67, and a storage section 68 are connected to each other. The scanner control section 63 operates in response to signals sent from the main control section 6 via the pass line 62, and controls the illumination lamp 1-2, photoelectric converter I3, and scanning motor 18 of the scanner 11, respectively. Drive control. The photoelectric converter 13 detects an image on the document according to a signal sent from the main control section 6 via the pass line 62, and outputs a light color signal as described above.

The color converter 64 receives and processes the signal output from the photoelectric converter 13, and converts it into yellow (g).

The color signals are converted into color signals of each ink of magenta (to), cyan (C), and black (B), and each color signal is output as is to the nose line 62, or it is converted into a color signal having intermediate tones using a dither matrix. The signal is then output to the signal line 62, or converted into a color signal without intermediate tones using a seven-color matrix, and then output to the signal line 62. For example, as shown in FIG. Ink ribbon color conversion section 81. It is composed of a dither matrix section 82 and a seven-color matrix section 83. Above light - inkli? The color converting unit 81 converts the signal output from the photoelectric converter 13 into color signals of each ink of yellow (■, magenta (gull, 7 an C), and black (B). The conversion is performed, for example, by the following method, and will be explained with reference to FIG. Multiple conversion tables are stored.Now,
The color signal of the light is three colors of green (G), yellow (Y), and cyan (Q), and the voltage level from the photoelectric converter 13 of the scanner 11, for example, G = 1.sr, -1' = 2 &
If it is sent with G = 1 volt from the above conversion table, the color conversion unit 64 searches the conversion table for G = 1 volt from the above conversion table, and calculates Y = 2 volts in the conversion table), C = 3 & Rut. The color level of the ink stored at the intersection coordinate Q, for example, the thermal transfer ink ring 34 is yellow γ).

If there are four colors: magenta (C), cyan, and black (B), read Y = d level, M = e level, C = f level + B'''g level. Color conversion is performed in this way. The dither matrix section 82 is
By binarizing a grayscale image using a dither method, it is converted into a color signal having halftones. For example, as shown in Figure 13, the color signals of each ink ribbon are compared at the level of a dither matrix consisting of a 4x4 dither matrix in which each dot corresponds to a different threshold level, and each dot is A signal indicating whether or not to print is output for each dot. The 7-color matrix section 83 has a predetermined threshold level for the entire image.
By converting it into a value, it is converted into a color signal that does not contain halftones. Furthermore, in FIG. 10, the color conversion section 64 can also perform color conversion on the signal sent from the pass line 62 and output a new signal to the pass line 62. The conveyance control section 65 operates in response to a signal sent from the main control section 61 via the pass line 62, and includes a motor that drives the platen 30, and a motor that drives the ribbon cassette 35.
A motor that drives the 0-roll core 36 and 37, and the paper feed roller 4
2. A motor that drives the reno stroller 43, the paper ejection roller 53, etc., and the first motor. Second shooting gate 51.
52 (none of which are shown). The thermal head driving section 66 operates in response to a signal sent from the main control section 61 via the pass line 62 and a signal from the rad temperature control section 67 to drive the heating element of the thermal head 31. Control. The thermal head temperature side section 67 outputs a temperature control signal to the thermal head drive section 66 in response to a signal sent from the main control section 61 via the gas line 62. The storage section 68 operates in response to a signal sent from the main control section 6 via the pass line 62, and stores information sent via the pass line 62 or reads out the stored information. The storage section 68 includes memories 681 to 684 that store one page's worth of color signals or dot patterns for each ink IJ gun supplied from the color conversion section 64.
For example, the memory 68 stores the color signal or dot pattern for yellow, the memory 682 stores the color signal or dot pattern for magenta, and the memory 683 stores the color signal or dot pattern for magenta. The color signal or dot pattern for black is stored in the memory 684, and the color signal or dot pattern for black is stored in the memory 684. The storage unit 6
8 is powered by a battery (not shown), so that the stored contents are protected when the power is turned off.

Next, the operation in such a configuration will be explained. For example, if you press the 7 color designation key 725 and copy key 72
Operation starts by pressing . Then, the main control section 6 moves the scanner 1 to start scanning the document. Green (G) read by this scanner 1
), yellow (7), and cyan (C) are supplied to a light-ink color conversion section 8 in the color conversion section 64. As a result, the light-ink ribbon color conversion unit 81 converts the supplied image signal into gold color, that is, yellow component, maze/
Converts to black component, cyan component, and black component. These color signals are compared at a threshold V level for each color in a seven-color matrix section 83, and a dot pattern in which only dots above that level become "1" is output. The dot patterns for each color are supplied to the storage section 68 via the stain 62, so that the dot pattern for yellow is stored in the memory 681, the dot pattern for magenta is stored in the memory 6B, and the dot pattern for magenta is stored in the memory 6B.
The dot pattern for cyan is stored in memory 683 and the dot pattern for black is stored in memory 684.

In this way, when the dot patterns for each color for one page of the original have been memorized, the paper feed roller 41 moves the dot patterns to the paper feed cassette 42.
One sheet of paper P stored therein is taken out. This taken out paper P is sent to the registration rollers 43, and after its leading edge is aligned, it is transported by the registration rollers 43 toward the platen 30, and is wound around the platen 30 by the pressing rollers 44 and 45. The state becomes. Next, the paper P is conveyed by the platen 30, and the yellow component dots and turns of one page of the document read from the memory 681 of the storage unit 68 by the thermal head 31 are thermally transferred using the yellow ink portion 47Y'lz of the ink ribbon 34. Ru.

The paper P on which printing of the yellow component has been completed in this manner is sent onto the first guide plate 49 by the Shiraten 300 rotations. Then, the platen 30 is rotated in the reverse direction, so that the sheet P is transported in the reverse direction. When this reverse feeding is completed, the paper P has been sent onto the second guide plate 50.

Thereafter, the memories 68□, 683 of the storage unit 68 are transferred onto the paper P by the same operation as the transfer of the yellow component described above.
．． Dot patterns for magenta, cyan, and black for one page of the original document sequentially read from 684 are thermally transferred using ink portions corresponding to the dot patterns. In this way, the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black printed paper P is transferred to the paper discharge roller 53 by the rotation of the platen 30 and the second sorting gate 52.
and is guided to the paper ejection tray 48 by the paper ejection roller 53.
The paper is ejected upward, and one copying operation is completed.

Therefore, copies are made on paper P in seven colors or less, excluding halftones.

Next, press the full color specification key 726, and press the copy key 77.
Operation starts by pressing . Then, the main controller 61 moves the scanner 11 to start scanning the original. Green (G) read by this scanner 11
), yellow (Y), and cyan (C) light color signals are supplied to a C-ink ribbon color conversion section 81 within the color conversion section 64 .

As a result, the light-ink ribbon color conversion section 81 performs color conversion on the supplied image signal, that is, converts it into a yellow component, a magenta component, a cyan component, and a black component, respectively.

Each dot of each color signal is compared in a dither matrix section 82 at a different threshold level of the tatiza matrix for each color, and a dot pattern in which only dots higher than the corresponding threshold level become "1" is output. Dot setter/gaba, sline 62 for each color
The dot pattern for yellow is stored in the memory 681, the dot pattern for magenta is stored in the memory 682, the dot pattern for cyan is stored in the memory 683, and the dot pattern for black is stored in the memory 683. Dot pattern is memory 6
84. In this way, when the memory for each color of one page of the original is completed, the operations will be performed in the same manner as when the seven color designation keys 725 described above are pressed. The dot pattern is thermally transferred onto the paper P using an ink portion corresponding to the dot pattern. As a result, copies are made on the paper P in seven or more colors including halftones.

Next, the operation is started by pressing the red designation key 721f and the copy key 77. Then, the main control section 6 moves the scanner 1 to start scanning the document. The color signals of green (G), yellow (7), and cyan (C) light read by this scanner J1 are sent to a color conversion unit 64.
The light is supplied to the light-ink ribbon color conversion section 81 inside. Accordingly, the light-ink ribbon color conversion unit 8 converts the supplied image signal into gold color, that is, yellow component, magenta component,
Convert to cyan component and black component respectively. These color signals are compared at a threshold level for each color in a 7-color matrix section 83, and only dots above that level are detected.
A dot-tsku turn is output. This dot pattern for each color is stored in the storage unit 6 via the pass line 62.
8, an ink dot pattern representing red, a yellow dot pattern and a magenta dot pattern are selected and stored in the memories 681 and 682. In this way, when the dot patterns for each color for page I of the original have been memorized, the 7-color designation key 7 is pressed.
It works in the same way as if you press 25, memory 681.682) A? The turns are thermally transferred onto the paper P using ink units corresponding to the turns.

As a result, only red color is copied onto the paper P.

Furthermore, even if another single color is specified, the same operation as above 1 will occur.

Next, press any key in the color specification section 72, press the set key 781, and press the copy key? Operation starts by pressing 7. Then, the main control section 61 causes the scanner 1 to start scanning the original by moving the scanner 1.

The color signals of the green (G), yellow) and cyan (C) light read by this scanner 11 are the light in the color conversion section 64.
The ink ribbon is supplied to an ink ribbon color conversion section 81. This results in
The light-ink ribbon color converter 81 converts the supplied image signal into a 9-color component.

The magenta component is converted into a cyan component and a black component, respectively. The color signal (level) of each dot of each color is supplied to the storage unit 68 through the mass line 62'ff:, so that the color signal of each dot for yellow is stored in the memory 681, and the color signal of each dot for magenta is stored in the memory 681. The color signals are stored in memory 682, the color signals of each dot for 5 cyan are stored in memory 683, and the color signals of each dot for black are stored in memory 684.

At this time, the main control section 6 causes an internal memory (not shown) to store all flags indicating that the color signals of the document have been stored in the storage section 68.

When the color signals for each color for one page of the original document have been stored in this manner, the operation is similar to that when the seven color designation key 725 described above is pressed. However, each memo I7681 to 6 in the storage unit 68
The 840 color signals are compared with matrices of corresponding predetermined levels in a 7-color matrix section 83, and thermal transfer is performed on the paper P according to the color (dragon)zf green obtained from this comparison result. Thereafter, continuous copying can be performed according to the contents stored in the storage section 68. Therefore, it is possible to change colors even for stored images.

In this way, by temporarily storing the output of the color conversion unit without performing matrix conversion, only one original f-height scan is required when performing multi-copying (copying 100 sheets). Furthermore, by storing color signals of frequently used image information, it is possible to immediately copy the image information. In addition, there is a possibility that the document scanning section and the transfer section are separated and used differently, and in this case, by temporarily storing them in the storage section,
I can handle it.

Note that when color signals for each color are stored in each of the memories 681 to 684 of the storage section 68, when copying image information other than the stored contents, the original is scanned for each color. Obtain the color signal of each color component and directly perform the dot-shape turn according to this color signal (without using the storage unit 68)
By outputting to the thermal head 3, a dot pattern for each color is thermally transferred onto the paper P, and a copy is performed.

In addition, images stored in memory can be called up using the call key 783 and copied, and at this time, copies can be made in full color, 7 colors, 9 single colors, or other colors that are rare for the purpose (for technical data → Full Cassie 1 reference) Material → Single color).

In addition, in the above embodiment, copying of 7 colors without halftones and full-color copying of 7 colors with halftones were performed; however, the present invention is not limited to this. It is also possible to perform halftone copying and halftone copying.

Also, the storage section is optional! 2 attachment can be implemented in the same way if possible. In other words, note 1 is when the copy is removed or when the storage section is installed.When the color signal of image information is stored in this storage section, the document is scanned for each color and this scanning is performed as described above. A transfer operation is performed for each
The storage unit is installed at a later time, and when the color signal of image information is not stored in this storage unit, the color signal for each color is stored in the storage unit in one scan of the document, and the data is transferred according to the stored contents. It is designed to take action. A flowchart in this case is shown in FIG.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As detailed above, according to the present invention, it is possible to change from full color to 7 colors, from full color to single color, and from 7 colors to 7 colors with a simple operation.
It is possible to provide an image forming device capable of switching from color to monochrome or vice versa.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an external perspective view schematically showing the overall structure, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway schematic perspective view, and FIG. 3 is a manuscript. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the structure of the scanning section, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the scanner moving mechanism of the document scanning section, FIG. 5 is a vertical side view schematically showing the structure of the image forming section, and FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the structure of the scanning section. is a perspective view for explaining the transfer operation state, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the configuration of the thermal transfer ink ribbon, FIG. 8 is a view for explaining all the colors printed by the ink ribbon, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the operation panel. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing the control circuit, FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the color conversion section, FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the color conversion method, and FIG. 13 is the dip method. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of another embodiment. 0... Original, P... Paper (transferring material), 2... Operation panel, 7... Original table, 8... Original scanning unit, 9...
. . . Image forming unit, 1. Scanner, 30. Platen, 3.. Thermal head, 34. Thermal transfer ink ribbon (thermal transfer material), 47. Ink, 61. . . . Main control unit, 63 . . . Scanner control unit, 64 . . . Color conversion unit, 65 . ~684...
Memory, 72...Color specification section, 725...7 color specification key, 726...Full color specification key, 78...
・Memory setting section, 781...Set key, 782...
・Reset key, 783... Call key, 8...
Light-ink ribbon color conversion section, 82... dither matrix section, 83... 7 color matrix section. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 6P Figure 7 47Y 47M 47C47B 1114 Figure 12 11 → -Y level 1 + Y level 1 + Y level 13 exhaust 1 Figure 14

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) A scanning means for optically scanning a document and outputting image information; and in a first mode, converting the image information obtained from the scanning means into a color signal having a halftone corresponding to the color of the image forming medium. a color converting means for color converting, and in a second mode, converting the image information obtained from the scanning means into a color signal having no intermediate tone corresponding to the color of the image forming medium; and a color obtained from the color converting means. Image forming means for forming an image having a neutral color corresponding to an image of a document or having no intermediate color on an image forming body using the image forming medium according to a signal. Device. (2) The first mode and the second mode are switched by a signal from the channel during operation.
The image forming apparatus described in . (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is characterized in that image formation is performed in one color or in a plurality of colors. (4) a scanning means for optically scanning a document and outputting read image information; and in a first mode, converting the image information obtained from the scanning means into a color signal having a halftone corresponding to the color of the image forming medium; color converting means for color converting the image information obtained from the scanning means into a color signal having no halftone corresponding to the color of the image forming medium in a second mode; and a color signal obtained from the color converting means. A storage means for storing the entire image, and an image having a neutral color corresponding to the image of the original document or having no intermediate color is formed on the image forming body using the image forming medium according to the color signal stored in the storage means. An image forming apparatus comprising an image forming means. (5) The fourth mode is characterized in that the first mode and the second mode are switched by a signal from an operation/gunnel.
The image forming apparatus described in . (6) The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein image formation is performed using one color or a plurality of colors.