JPS63122362A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save a labor for forming a printing original edition and to simply execute a small quantity of many types of printings by forming an image of plural colors on an image formed medium by the use of an image forming medium of plural colors when a block copy original mode is selected. CONSTITUTION:When the block copy original mode is selected, the ink 47Y, the ink 47M, the ink 47C, the ink 47B of a thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 are used to the block copy originals OY, OM, ON, OB of respective colors to execute a color printing on a paper P. In such a way, printing originals to YMCB respectively are used to obtain one color printed image. Thereby, from four block copy originals, the color printing can be carried out simply. Accordingly, the labor for forming the printing edition can be saved and the small quantity and various types of printings can be executed simply.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that forms an image from a color-separated printing document, for example, in offset printing.

(Prior Art) Recently, plate making and printing technology has made great progress with the development of electronics, and electronic plate making has become mainstream today. This electronic plate making photoelectrically converts the shading of the original image,
By performing certain processing on the electrical signal, the intensity of the light is changed, exposing the film (photosensitive material), and developing it to create negative or positive film, which is the basis of the original printing plate. .

However, in such a method, the manufacturing process is very complicated, and the machine itself is large and therefore very expensive.

That is, the above-mentioned apparatus is suitable for high-speed, large-volume printing, but has the disadvantage that it requires time and effort to create an original printing plate, and is not suitable for printing a large number of different types.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, this invention eliminates the drawback that it requires time and effort to create a printing original plate and is not suitable for printing in large quantities in small quantities, thereby eliminating the trouble of creating a printing original plate. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can easily perform printing of various kinds and in small quantities.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a first scanning unit that optically scans a document and reads it as a plurality of types of color signals, and a plurality of plated documents. a second scanning means that sequentially optically scans each color signal and reads it as a plurality of types of color signals; a color conversion means that converts each color signal obtained by the first scanning means into an image forming signal of a plurality of colors; a normal mode or a plate; a selection means for selecting a lower original mode, and when the normal mode is selected by this selection means, one image forming medium is used to form a single image using a plurality of color image forming media according to a plurality of color image forming signals obtained by the color conversion means; When a plurality of color images are formed on an image forming medium and the draft manuscript mode is selected, a plurality of color image forming media are used in accordance with the plurality of color image forming signals obtained by the second scanning means. It is composed of an image forming means that forms images in multiple colors on one image forming medium.

(Function) The present invention optically scans a document and reads it as a plurality of types of color signals with a first scanning means, and sequentially optically scans each of the plurality of draft manuscripts and reads them as a plurality of types of color signals. When the normal mode is selected, each color signal obtained by the first scanning means is converted into a plurality of color image forming signals by the color conversion means. When a plurality of color images are formed on one image forming medium using a plurality of color image forming media according to the image forming signal and the draft original mode is selected, the plurality of images obtained by the second scanning means are According to a color image forming signal, a plurality of color image forming media are used to form a plurality of color images on one image forming medium.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show, as an example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a thermal transfer color copying machine that is capable of selectively making multicolor copies and printing with a plurality of originals. In other words, 1 is a copying machine body, and an operation panel 2 is provided on the front of the second side of the main body 1.The left side of the main body 1 scans the original set on the document table 7. The right side is an image forming section 9. Reference numeral 10 designates a document cover that is openable and closable on the document table 7''.

As shown in FIG. 13, the document table 7 is provided with alignment marks A' for aligning the originals OY%OM and QCSOB for each color. As a result, each plate is placed so that the alignment mark A provided at the edge of the original manuscript oys OM-oc, oB matches the alignment mark A' on the document platen 7. Accurate alignment with respect to the lower original OY soMs oc 10B can be performed.

In addition, each of the above-mentioned manuscripts OY s OM s OCs O
The alignment of B may be performed by providing a guide section on the document table 7 and placing the document using this guide section as a reference.

The document scanning section 8 is configured as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, 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 below the document table 7 by reciprocating along the lower surface thereof in the direction of arrow a in the figure. A scanner 11 is provided for optical scanning and reading. The scanning rA11 includes an illumination lamp 12 that illuminates the original 0, a photoelectric converter 13 that receives reflected light from the original O, an optical system 14 that guides the reflected light from the original O to the photoelectric converter 13, and a carriage that supports these. 1
Consisting of 5. The photoelectric converter 13 photoelectrically converts the reflected light from the original 0 to convert the image of the original 0 into cyan, green, yellow (or red, green,
It separates and outputs a color signal of (blue) light, and is mainly composed of, for example, a CCD type line image sensor. As shown in FIG. 5, the carriage 15 is guided by a guide rail 16 and a guide shaft 17 so as to be able to reciprocate in the direction of arrow a. A scanning motor (for example, a pulse motor) 1 that is capable of forward and reverse rotation is mounted on one end of the guide shaft 17.
A drive pulley 19 is driven by a drive pulley 8, and a driven pulley 20 is disposed at the other end thereof, and a timing belt 21 is stretched between these pulleys 19 and 20. One point of the timing belt 21 is fixed to the carriage 15 via a fixing member 22.

This allows the carriage 15 to move linearly by rotating the scanning motor 18 in the forward or reverse direction.

The image forming section 9 is configured as shown in FIG. 6, for example. That is, a platen 30 is disposed approximately at the center of the image forming section 9, and a thermal head 31 is disposed on the left side facing the platen 30. The thermal head 31 is attached to a heat radiator 33 that is integrally formed on the rear end surface of the holder 32.

A ribbon cassette 35 containing a thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 as an image forming medium is detachably attached via a holder 32, and the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 is interposed between the thermal head 31 and the platen 30. It has become. As shown in FIG. 6, the ribbon cassette 35 has two parallel winding cores 36 and 37 around which both ends of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 are wound, and a midway portion of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 is wound around the cores 36 and 37. In order to be interposed between the platen 30 and the thermal head 31, it is covered with a case 38 with a part thereof exposed. When the ribbon cassette 35 is attached, the winding cores 36 and 37 are connected to a drive shaft of a motor (not shown) via a drive force transmission mechanism (not shown), and are rotated as necessary. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the ribbon cassette 35 can be inserted into or removed from the holder 32 through an insertion/removal port 39 formed on the right side of the main body 1. Note that the insertion/removal port 39 is provided with a lid 40 that can be opened and closed.

A paper feed roller 41 is provided diagonally below the right side of the platen 30, and a paper feed roller 41 is provided as an image forming medium (or a black film) housed in a paper feed cassette 42.
P is taken out one by one. Paper feed roller 41
The paper P taken out is sent to the registration rollers 43 disposed diagonally above and to the right of the paper feed roller 41, and its leading edge is aligned, and then transported by the registration rollers 43 toward the platen 30. The press is wrapped around the platen 30 by rollers 44, 45, and is thereby accurately fed. Here, the paper feed cassette 42 is detachable from the front of the main body 1.

Note that 46 in FIG. 6 is a manual paper feeding device for manually feeding the paper P.

The thermal head 31 presses the paper P against the platen 30 via the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34, and as shown in FIG. It is designed to be transcribed. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 has a width approximately equal to that of the paper P and is yellow.

Magenta, cyan, and black ink portions 47Y.

47M, 47C, and 47a are sequentially stacked one on top of the other, and after transferring one color at a time, the paper P is returned to the transfer starting position, and the sheets are accurately stacked one after another. Note that the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 may not have the black ink portion 47B, and in that case, approximately black can be produced by overlapping the three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan.

In addition, both when making color copies and when printing from original manuscripts,
As described above, each ink portion 4 of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34
7y, 47M, and 470.47B are used to form an image on one sheet of paper P.

During color actual copying or printing based on a draft manuscript, 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 this time is inclined and protrudes toward the main body 1''2. 11. It is guided onto the second guide plate 49,50.

This includes the platen 30 and the first. The first guide plates 49 and 50 are respectively provided between the ends of the second guide plates 49 and 50. This is done by the second distribution gates 51 and 52. That is, the paper P taken out from the paper feed cassette 42 first passes through the registration rollers 4.
3 and the first distribution gate 51,
Its tip end is now wrapped around the platen 30.

Next, the platen 30 is rotated in the forward direction by a pulse motor (not shown) to transport the paper P at a constant speed, and the heating elements of the thermal head 31 arranged in a line tread along the axial direction of the platen 30 (not shown) generates heat in response to printing (S), and 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 30 is sent onto the first guide plate 49 provided along the lower surface of the paper discharge tray 48 by the second distribution gate 52 located at the solid line position at this time. In this manner, 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 conveyed backward and returned to the transfer starting position. At this time, the first distribution gate 5 is rotated to the position shown by the two-dot chain line.
1, the rear end of the paper P is sent onto the second guide plate 50 provided along the lower surface of the four first guide plates.

In this way, a plurality of colors are transferred by moving the paper P back and forth a plurality of 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 distribution gate 52 which is rotationally displaced to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 48 by the paper discharge tray 48.

FIG. 9 shows the operation panel 2, which includes a mode key 61 for selecting the normal mode (color copy mode) and a block manuscript mode (color printing mode with m block manuscripts); A color selection key 62 for specifying the color of the draft manuscript, a numeric keypad 63 for setting the number of copies, etc., a clear key 64 for clearing the set number of copies, etc., a copy key 65 for starting the copying operation, and a numeric display for displaying the number of copies, etc. 6
6. A status display section 67 for displaying operating status and the like is provided. The color selection key 62 selects, for example, yellow (Y
) to specify Y key 68, M to specify magenta (M)
A key 69, a C key 70 for specifying cyan (C), and a B key 71 for specifying black (B).

FIG. 10 schematically shows the overall control system, in which the main control section 8] 2, the first sub-control section 82 and the second sub-control section 8
It has 3. The main control unit 81 includes the operation panel 2,
Correction circuit 84, luminance color difference separation circuit 85, image quality improvement circuit 8
6. A color signal conversion circuit 87 is connected to the binarization circuit 88, the first sub-control section 82, and the second sub-control section 83, and controls these. The first sub-control unit 82 includes the light source control unit 8
9, connected to the motor drive unit 90, the photoelectric converter 13, the A/D converter 91, and the resolution conversion unit 92, respectively;
It controls these things. The light amount control section 89 is connected to the illumination lamp 12 and controls the light amount thereof. A motor drive unit 90 is connected to the scanning motor 18 and drives it. The second sub-control unit 83 is connected to a thermal head temperature control unit 93, the thermal head 31, various detection switches 94, a switching circuit 97, and a drive unit 95, and controls these. The drive unit 95 is connected to a drive system 96 such as a motor and a solenoid, and drives the drive system 96 .

The signal flow in FIG. 10 in such a configuration will be explained. The reflected light of the light irradiated onto the original from the illumination lamp 12 forms an image on a photoelectric converter 13''. The photoelectric converter 13 separates this light into analog color signals of cyan (C), green (G), and yellow (Y), and sends them to the A/D converter 91.

The A/D converter 91 converts each analog color signal into a digital signal and sends it to the resolution converter 92. The resolution conversion unit 92 performs resolution conversion to match the resolution of the photoelectric converter 13 and the resolution of the thermal head 31, and sends the result to the correction circuit 84. The correction circuit 84 performs correction processing on each of the c, c, and y color signals sent from the resolution converter 92 in order to correct variations in the photoelectric converter 13, and sends the results to the luminance color difference separation circuit 85. . The luminance and color difference separation circuit 85 performs various arithmetic processing on each of the C, G, and Y color signals sent from the correction circuit 84, and outputs a luminance signal (I), color difference signal 1 (C1), and color difference signal 2 (C2). The signal is separated into each signal and sent to the image quality improvement circuit 86. The image quality improvement circuit 86 analyzes the luminance f:, color difference signal 1, and color difference signal 2 sent from the luminance and color difference separation circuit 85, performs image improvement processing such as edge emphasis and character identification, and converts the color signal to the color signal ° conversion circuit. 87 and switching circuit 97. The color signal conversion circuit 87 performs color conversion based on the luminance signal, color difference signal 1, and color difference signal 2 that have been subjected to image quality improvement processing, and converts the colors into yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), Black (B) [Primary colors (Y, M, C) plus B when printing]
The color signal is converted into one of the color signals and sent to the switching circuit 97. The switching circuit 97 sends the color signal from the color scheme signal conversion circuit 87 to the 2fm conversion circuit 88 in the normal mode, and sends the color signal from the image quality improvement circuit 86 to the binarization circuit 88 in the block manuscript mode. send. The binarization circuit 88 receives the color signals (Y, M, etc.) sent from the switching circuit 97.

gradation conversion, that is, binarization, is performed on one of C and B), and the binarized signal is sent to the thermal head temperature control section 93. To thermal/rad temperature control section 93
sends a print signal to the thermal head 31 based on the binarized signal sent from the binarization circuit 88. ;The thermal head 31 performs printing (that is, image formation) according to this print signal.

By controlling the switching circuit 97, the main control section 81 outputs the color signal for each color from the color signal conversion circuit 87 to the binarization circuit 88 in the normal mode, and outputs the color signal for each color from the color signal conversion circuit 87 in the block manuscript mode. Image quality improvement circuit 86 corresponding to each block manuscript
The chrominance signal is output to a binarization circuit 88.

Here, the color signal conversion circuit 87 will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. Luminance signal (■), color difference signal 1 (C1), and color difference signal 2 sent from the image quality improvement circuit 86
Each signal (C2) is sent to a color signal conversion circuit 87, where Y, M.

A binarization circuit 88 converts one of the color signals of C and B.
I am sending them to Y, M, and C.

The selection of the B color signal is performed by the main control section 81.

That is, as shown in the table below, the main 1;
, M, C, and B color signals are selected. Note that the color signals are automatically selected sequentially, for example, in the order of Y-M-C-B.

Next, the operation will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the normal mode is selected in step Sl. If the normal mode is selected, it is the normal color copying mode, so step S2
Proceed to. In step S2, the original O is placed on the original table 7, the copy key 65 is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, an image forming operation is performed. That is, in this case, since it is the color copying mode, the document O is scanned four times, and color copying (image formation) is performed using the thermal transfer ink ribbons 34 of a plurality of colors by the above-described operation.

In step S1, if the draft original mode is selected, it is a color printing mode using a plurality of draft manuscripts oY, oM, and OCs OB, so the process advances to step S4. In step S4, the original oY corresponding to yellow Y is placed on the document table 7 with its alignment mark A aligned with the alignment mark A' on the document table 7, and the Y key 68 is pressed, and step S5 Proceed to. In step S5, the original flio
While performing scanning for y, the switching circuit 97 is switched and the output of the image quality improvement circuit 86 is outputted to the binarization circuit 88. As a result, image formation on the yellow original oY is performed using the ink 47Y of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34. Therefore, the yellow manuscript
Printing is performed, and the process advances to step S6.

In step S6, the master manuscript OM corresponding to magenta M is
and the alignment mark A on the original platen 7.
' and place them on the document table 7, press the M key 69, and proceed to step S7. In step S7, the original manuscript OM
When scanning is performed, the switching circuit 97 is switched and the output of the image quality improvement circuit 86 is outputted to the binarization circuit 88. As a result, image formation on the magenta original document oM is performed using the ink 47M of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 on the paper P on which the yellow (Y) is printed. Therefore, printing is performed on the magenta original document oM, and the process advances to step S8.

In step S8, the original Oc corresponding to cyan C is placed =g on the document table 7 with its alignment mark A aligned with the alignment mark A' of the document table 7, and the C key 70 is pressed. Proceed to S9. In step S9, the original manuscript Oc
At the same time, the switching circuit 97 is switched and the output of the image quality improvement circuit 86 is outputted to the binarization circuit 88. As a result, image formation on the cyan original document QC is performed using the ink 47c of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34 on the paper P on which magenta (M) is printed. Therefore, printing is performed on the cyan original Oc, and the process advances to step S10.

In step SIO, the original O corresponding to black B is
B is placed on the document table 7 with its alignment mark A aligned with the alignment mark A' of the document table 7, the B key 71 is turned on, and the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, the original OB is scanned, and the switching circuit 97 is controlled to switch, and the output of the image quality improvement circuit 86 is output to the binarization circuit 88. This results in
The image formation on the black draft manuscript OB is performed using the ink 47B of the thermal transfer ink ribbon 34.
C) is carried out on the paper P on which it is printed. Therefore, printing is performed on the black draft manuscript OB, and step S
Proceed to step 12.

In step S12, the paper P on which the transfer has been completed is guided to the paper ejection roller 53 by the second distribution gate 52, which is rotated to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line. It is discharged to the top.

As a result, for example, Fig. 13(a)(b)(c)(d)
Manuscripts of each color as shown in oy-oMsoM, oB
On the other hand, color printing is performed as shown in FIG.

As described above, one color print image is obtained using print originals for each of YMCB. This makes it possible to easily perform color printing from four originals. Therefore, it is possible to save time and effort in creating a printing original plate, and it is possible to easily print a wide variety of products in small quantities.

In the above embodiment, a mode key is provided on the operation panel, and the mode is switched using this mode key. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Mode switching may be performed by manually inputting a switching code.

In addition, when printing a draft manuscript, we have explained the case where the corresponding color selection key is input after placing each draft manuscript, but this is not limited to this. m
;You may also insert the key.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can eliminate the trouble of creating a printing original plate and easily perform printing in various types and in small quantities.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention.
The figure is a flowchart for explaining the operation, Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view with a part cut away showing the overall configuration, Figure 3 is an external perspective view schematically showing the overall configuration, and Figure 4 5 is a side view schematically showing the structure of the document scanning section, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the scanner moving mechanism of the document scanning section, FIG. 6 is a vertical side view schematically showing the structure of the image forming section, and FIG. Fig. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the transfer operation state, Fig. m8 is a plan view showing the configuration of the thermal transfer ink ribbon, Fig. 9 is a plan view of the operation panel,
FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing the overall control system, FIG. 11 is a block diagram for explaining the color signal conversion circuit in detail, and FIG. Diagram for explaining the relationship with alignment marks, 1st
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a draft manuscript and a printing example. 0...Original, P...Paper (image forming medium), ASA-...Alignment mark, 2...
・Operation panel, 8... Original scanning section, 9...
...Image forming section, 11...Scanner, 31...
... Thermal head, 34 ... Thermal transfer ink ribbon (image forming medium), 61 ... Mode key (mode changeover switch), 62 ... Color selection key, 63. ...Numeric keypad, 72...-Batch print key, 81...Main control unit, 82.83...
Sub-control unit, 87... Color signal conversion circuit, 88...
- Binarization circuit, 93... Thermal head temperature control section, 97... Switching circuit. Applicant's representative Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 1 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 47Y 47M 47C47B Figure 8 Figure 11

Claims (6)

[Claims] (1) A first scanning means that optically scans a manuscript and reads it as a plurality of types of color signals, and a second scanning means that optically scans each of the plurality of draft manuscripts sequentially and reads them as a plurality of types of color signals. means, color conversion means for converting each color signal obtained by the first scanning means into image forming signals of a plurality of colors, selection means for selecting the normal mode or the draft original mode, and the selection means selects the normal mode. When selected, a plurality of color images are formed on one image forming medium using a plurality of color image forming media according to a plurality of color image forming signals obtained by the color conversion means, and the image formation mode is changed to a draft manuscript mode. is selected, image formation in which a plurality of color images are formed on one image forming medium using a plurality of color image forming media according to a plurality of color image forming signals obtained by the second scanning means. An image forming apparatus comprising: means; (2) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an alignment mark is provided on the original manuscript, and each original manuscript is aligned based on the alignment mark. (3) The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of types of color signals are cyan, green, and yellow, or three types of red, green, and blue. (4) Image forming signals of multiple colors include yellow, magenta,
Claim 1 characterized in that the four colors are cyan and black, or the three colors are yellow, magenta and cyan.
The image forming apparatus described in . (5) Claim 1, characterized in that the multi-color image forming medium consists of four colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, or three colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan.
The image forming apparatus described in . (6) The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 and 5, wherein the image forming medium is a thermal transfer ink ribbon.