JPS6323178A - Copying machine with editing function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To optionally designate the picture density of a point part (specific area) so as to make the part conspicuous, by providing an input means which inputs data designating the specific area of an original, potential lowering means, and designating means which designates the level to which potential is to be lowered by the potential lowering means. CONSTITUTION:A photosensitive body layer is formed on the surface of a drum 61 and the layer is sensitized and electrified by passing through eraser lamps 62 and 64 and electrifiers 63 and 65. An electrostatic latent image is formed upon receiving slit (picture) exposure from an optical system 5. I such case, the electrification is removed (blank; full-erase) or lowered (half-erase) from a specific area by means of an inter-image eraser 4 before making the slit (picture) exposure. Therefore, no latent image is formed (full-erase) or a low- potential latent image is formed (half-erase) in the specific area. The quantity of toner stuck to the low-potential latent image becomes smaller than that of ordinary cases.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a copying machine that employs an electrophotographic process,
Specifically, the present invention relates to a copying machine with an editing function that allows specifying the density level of a reproduced image of a specific area of a document (to make it lighter: to make it lighter; to make it blank, etc.).

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a copying machine uses an electrophotographic process in which an original is exposed and scanned to form an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor, this is developed with toner, and then transferred and fixed onto copy paper. 2. Description of the Related Art Copying lines have been provided that have a so-called editing function that reproduces a specific area of a document as blank on paper.

The principle is that, prior to the development of the electrostatic m-image, an area on the document that is not desired to be copied (an area desired to be blank) is
The electrostatic charge is removed from the area on the photoreceptor corresponding to the area, making it impossible for toner to be attracted to that area.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In recent years, when copying a manuscript and distributing it to others, there is a desire to make a specific fr4 region of the manuscript stand out.

For example, the other person does not have time to read every corner of the manuscript, and important points are only in a part of the manuscript.
Others are cases where the points are supplemented.

In such a case, for example, an underline or the like is attached to the point section of the original, or an underline or the like is attached to the point section of the copy to make the point section stand out. However, the former method stains the original, while the latter method requires time and effort when a large number of copies are to be made. Furthermore, both methods may be impossible if the original is not a text original.

Therefore, there is a need for a copying machine that can make the point portion stand out without the drawbacks mentioned above.

The present invention aims to provide such a copying machine.

[Means and effects for solving the problems] The present invention improves the control of a copying machine with an editing function, makes it possible to arbitrarily specify the image density of the point portion (specific area), and makes the area stand out. It was designed to allow

That is, the present invention provides a copying machine that scans a document with exposure to form an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor, develops the electrostatic latent image with toner, and transfers it onto paper to form a copy image. input means for inputting data specifying a specific area of the document; and based on the input data, before developing the electrostatic latent image, a potential of an area on the photoreceptor corresponding to the specific area is determined. A 1 ml: ml thick edition characterized in that it has: a potential lowering means for lowering the potential by a predetermined level; and a specifying means for specifying the level of potential reduction by the potential lowering means.

Each component will be explained below.

(1) Copying machine to which the present invention is applied A document image obtained by exposure scanning is formed on a charged photoreceptor to form an electrostatic latent image, which is developed with toner and transferred onto paper. The present invention is applied to a so-called electrophotographic process copying machine.

(2) Input means The input means may be of any type as long as it can input data specifying a specific area of the document (area desired to be made lighter, darker, blank, etc.).

For example, in a mode for specifying an area, the area can be input as coordinate data using a numeric keypad for numerical input.

Alternatively, the document can be virtually divided into a plurality of blocks, and the areas can be input in units of blocks using a block designation key.

Further, the input means may be installed on the operation panel of the copying machine, or may be installed on the editor connected to the copying machine.

(3) Potential lowering means The potential lowering means is constructed by, for example, arranging a large number of light emitting elements such as LED elements close to the surface of the photoreceptor so that any part of the surface of the photoreceptor can be irradiated. be able to. For example, an inter-image eraser can be used.

The degree of reduction in the potential of the specific area of the photoreceptor by the potential reduction means is, for example, the amount of light of the eraser (1ux −5ec
) by controlling it according to the signal from the designated means,
Can be set arbitrarily. The light intensity can be determined by adjusting one or both of the light intensity and the irradiation time.

(4) Designation means The designation means can be configured by a copy-like operation panel or a predetermined key installed on the editor.

The designation can be made as an alternative between "make it pale" and "make it blank".

Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of degrees of "lightness" are set and one of them is designated by the designation means.

[Example] The present invention will be described below with reference to specific examples shown in the drawings.

The example below selectively marks a specific area of the document as "blank" (
This is a "full erase" or "half erase" state. Here, the degree of half erase is continuously set by the slide volume 920 (Fig. 2.5.6), and an arbitrary value of the continuously set half erase level is set by the half erase key 902 (second By pressing 19), the eraser 4 is designated via the second CPU 22 (FIG. 5).

In addition, erasing or half-erasing a designated area is performed by using N+1 LED lamps of the inter-image eraser 4 disposed close to the photoreceptor drum 61 as shown in FIG.
This is achieved by selectively turning it on and off.

(Description of the copying machine main body) First, the mechanical structure of the copying mode to which the present invention is applied and the copying principle will be explained.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the copying machine main body of this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the copying machine of this embodiment includes an optical system 5 (51 to 55) that exposes and scans a document and transmits an image, and a copying system that reproduces the transmitted image on copy paper by an electrophotographic process. 6 (61 to 6 units), a sheet feeding/discharging system 7 (71 to 76) for supplying copy sheets and fixing images, and a document table 8 made of glass.

(a) Optical system The optical system 5 includes a light source (not shown) and mirrors 51, 52, 5.
3.54, a lens 55, and a drive mechanism (not shown), it reciprocates along the lower surface of the document table 8, and exposes and scans the document surface during forward movement. 2. The reflected light from the original is reflected by mirrors 51, 52, and 53, passes through a lens (variable lens block) 55, is further reflected by a mirror 54, reaches the photosensitive drum 61, and is transferred to the photosensitive drum 61. 61 surface. The mirrors 51, 52, and 53 are driven in conjunction with the same exposure scanning motor M3. The moving speed of the mirror 51 is v with respect to the circumferential speed V of the photoreceptor drum 61.
/n (n; l11 magnification) Teari, also mirror 5
2.53 is ■/2n in order to keep the optical path length constant. On the other hand, the mirror 54 and the lens 55 are driven in conjunction with each other by a magnification setting motor M4. Here, lens 5
5 moves on the optical axis to change the copying magnification, and the mirror 54 moves and swings to correct the image point.

(b) Copying section 6 The copying section 6 includes a photosensitive drum 6 that can be rotated in the direction of the arrow.
1, a main eraser lamp 62 disposed around the drum 61, a sub-charging chiller 63, a sup-erasing lamp 64, a main charger 65, a developing device 66,
Transfer charger 67, copy paper separation charger 68,
It has a blade type cleaning device 69. Furthermore, between the main charger 65 and the developing device 66, an inter-image eraser unit 4, which will be described later, is arranged in close proximity to the photosensitive drum 61. In this embodiment, the inter-image eraser 4 is located closer to the main charger 65 than the image exposure side, but it may be located closer to the developing device M6611.

A photoreceptor layer is formed on the surface of the drum 61, and the photoreceptor layer is sensitized and charged by passing through the eraser lamp 62, 64 and charger 63, 65, and is charged by the optical system 5). An electrostatic latent image is formed by the slit (image fl) exposure.

In this embodiment, the charge on the specific area is removed (blank; full erase) or reduced (half erase) by the inter-image eraser 4 prior to slit (image) exposure. Therefore, no electrostatic latent image is formed in this region (full erase), or a low-potential static If latent image is formed (half erase).

Toner is attached to the formed No. 11 electrostatic latent image in the development device 66, and the attached toner is supplied to the copy paper (supplied via the timing roller 73 of the paper feed/discharge system 7) in the transfer charger 67. transferred on top. Note that the low potential electrostatic latent image (electrostatic in the half erase area) i! I
The amount of toner adhering to I) is less than usual, and therefore the reproduced image density is lighter than usual.

(C) Paper supply and discharge system 7 The paper supply and discharge system 7 consists of a paper upper cassette 71 and a lower paper cassette 72.
, a pair of delivery rollers 711.721 for each cassette,
Conveyance roller pair 712,713, timing roller pair 73
, a conveyor belt 74, a fixing device 75, a pair of discharge rollers 76, etc., and these are driven by a main motor M1.

Note that the toner image transferred to the paper is thermocompressed between rollers of a fixing device [75].

(Description of Editor 900) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of editor 900 connected to the copying machine. In this embodiment, the editor 900 is
As shown in the figure, the document is placed on the document table 8 of the copying machine.

As illustrated, the editor 900 includes a tablet 910,
It has keys 901 to 905 and a slide volume 920.

The tablet 910 has a large number of resistance wires 911 arranged at approximately 11III1 intervals in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and by pressing an arbitrary point on the tablet to short-circuit it, the X and The resistance value determined by the Y coordinate is
It is detected by voltage level. Therefore, if you want to input a specific point on the document as X and Y coordinate data,
The document may be placed on the tablet 910 in a controlled manner and the specific point may be pressed.

The keys 901 to 905 are, in order, an erase key, a half erase key, a trimming key, a half trimming key,
It is a clear key. The erase key and half erase key are keys for specifying full erase or half erase within a specific area, and the trimming key and half trimming key are keys for specifying full erase or half erase outside the specific area. The clear key is a key for canceling the above designation.

The slide volume 920 is used to set the degree of half erase in an analog manner.

Therefore, when the half erase key 902 is pressed, the slide volume 920 specifies the half erase at the level set at that time.

(Description of the inter-image erase unit 4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inter-image erase unit 4 disposed close to the photoreceptor drum 61, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for full erasing or half erasing charging.

As shown in the figure, a large number (N+1
The LED array 40 has an LED array 40 in which several LED light emitting elements are arranged in a row, and by selectively causing any LED element to emit light with a predetermined amount of light, the corresponding area on the photoreceptor drum 61 is charged. is removed or lowered, and the electrostatic latent image in the area is brought to zero or to a low potential.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, suppose the codes 0 to N are assumed from the left to the LED elements of N+1gl, and the LED elements of C-D are
When timer XA is turned on from the end time of timer XB to the end time of timer
No m-image is formed, or a low potential electrostatic m-image is formed, and thus no toner image or a faint image is formed.

(Description of Control Section) FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the 11160 section of the copying machine.

As shown in the figure, the control section includes a first CPU 21 that controls the main operations of the copying machine, an editor 900, and an eraser 4.
20th PtJ22.

The 10th PtJ21 is connected to the key group 20 via the decoder 206.
7 and the display section 208. Also, the main motor M1, the developing motor M2, the clutch of the timing roller 3, the clutch of the delivery roller 711, and the delivery roller 721.
clutch, charger 65, transfer charger 67
It is also connected to each driver such as.

The first CPtJ 21 controls the main operations of the copying machine, such as driving the copying section 6, paper feed/delivery system 7, and other functions, in response to key manual input or sensor input.

The 20th PCI 22 via the A10 converter 930,
Specific coordinate data is input from the editor 900. Also,
Signals from various keys 901 to 905 of the editor 900 are input.

Further, the second CPtJ22 operates the eraser 4 in response to a command from the first CPU21 and a signal from the editor 900.
The light emission of each LED element and its light amount are individually controlled.

Note that the coordinate data and the like are written in the RAM 23.

Figure 6 shows the operation of eraser 4! This is a lυjilt@route map.

As shown in the figure, the drive control circuit includes a shift register 401,
It has a latch 402 and a driver 403, which are connected to the second
IIJ all by a signal transferred from the CPU 22
and controls on/off of each drive transistor Tr (0) to Tr (N).

In addition, each LED element (LED (0) to LED (N))
is driven by the output Voutk of the voltage variable device 921.

The level of the output yout of the voltage variable device 921 is set by the slide volume 920.
When a signal VV specifying half erase is input from 122, the set level is output.

On the other hand, if the signal VV specifying half erase is not input from the second CPU 22, the same level as the power supply voltage Vcc is output, and the LED element in the on state emits light with an intensity corresponding to full erase.

(Operation explanation) The operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained below.

FIGS. 7, Part 1 and Part 2 are flowcharts showing control of the second CPLJ 22. FIG. Note that the control of the 10th PtJ21 (operations not directly related to the operations of the editor 900, such as copying operations and temperature adjustment) is well known, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in the figure, the second CPU 22 starts processing by turning on the power, for example, and first sets the initial state (8102
), a routine timer that defines the time for one routine is set (S104).

Note that setting the initial state includes, for example, setting the number n of stored (x, y) coordinate data to O, lowering each flag, and clearing each memory.

Next, the process advances to 3106 to activate input/output.

Next, in 8108, it is determined whether or not the copying machine is in the process of copying, and if it is in the process of copying, the process proceeds to 3160 and thereafter;
Full erase (8160-8168), half erase (8172-8184), etc. are executed.

If it is determined in 8108 that copying is not in progress, 511
0, and determines whether or not (x, y) coordinate data is input. This is a tablet 910 to A10 converter 9
The judgment is made based on the presence or absence of a change in the data input via 30.

If it is determined that it is an “input cloth”, proceed to 5112, and (x,
y) Store the coordinate data in the memory 23, then 5114
- increments n (number of stored coordinate data) by 1. Note that storage of coordinate data is performed up to n-2 (<8116).

If the result of the judgment in 5110 is "input state", $
Proceed to 130 onwards.

At 5130, it is determined whether there is an input from the erase key 901, and if it is determined as "input cloth", the E flag (erase flag) is set (8132) and the H flag (half flag) is set (8134).

At 8136, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the half filler key 902, and if it is determined as "input cloth", an E flag (erase flag) is set (8138) and an H flag (half flag) is set (8140).

At 5142, it is determined whether there is an input from the trimming key 903, and if it is determined as "input cloth", the T flag (trimming flag) is set (8144) and the H flag (half flag) is lowered (8146).

At 5148, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the half trimming key 904, and if it is determined as "input cloth", the T flag (trimming flag) is set (8150), and the H flag (half flag) is set (8152). At S154, It is determined whether there is an input to the clear key 905, and if it is determined that there is an input, the process returns to step 5102, and if it is determined to be an input state,
Return to 5104 above.

If n-2 is reached in 5116, that is, two points (x
, y) If the coordinates are stored, proceed to 8118 and determine the H flag.

If the H flag is -1 at 8118, proceed to 5120;
The control signal Vv to the voltage variable device 921 is set to high level. As a result, the output yout from the voltage variable device 921 is brought into a half-erased state (see FIG. 6). Therefore, when an LED element is turned on, a half-erase level voltage is applied to the element. Note that the level at which the applied voltage is in the half erase state is set by the slide volume 920.

If the H flag is -○ in 8118, proceed to 5122;
II@signal Vv to voltage variable device 921 is set to low level. As a result, the output from the voltage variable device 921
t is assumed to be in a full erase state (see FIG. 6). Therefore, when the LED element is turned on, the power supply voltage VOC is applied to the element.

5120.5122, and 5160 from the above 8108
Proceed to.

8160 to 8168 are steps for executing erase or half erase control. In other words, by lighting up the LED elements x1 to x2 from 'W-y1 to y-y2, a rectangular area with (xl, yl) and (x2.y2) as diagonal vertices is fully erased. or half erased.

On the other hand, 5172 to 5184 are steps for performing trimming or half trimming control. That is, V-
By turning off the LED elements x1 to x2 from 1 to y-y2, (xl.

yl ), (x2, y2) are the vertices of the diagonal and the area outside the rectangular area is full erased or half erased.

After the above processing, upon completion of the main timer, 510
Return to 2 <8170>.

(Modification of Embodiment) In the embodiment described above, a slide volume is provided independently, but this may be linked to or used in combination with, for example, a key for setting copy density.

Further, in the embodiment described above, erasing or half erasing in a specific area in the feeding direction is realized by timer control of the lighting timing of the LED element. However, the present invention is not limited to this method; for example, the on/off times of the clutch of the timing roller 73 may be controlled by a timer.

Further, in the above embodiment, the area specification is performed using an editor, but the area specification method is not limited in the present invention.

Further, although the above embodiment does not mention the case of changing the copying magnification, it is also possible to combine it with a known magnification changing means.

[Effects] As described in detail above, the present invention provides a means for half-erasing a specific fI41jX in a copying machine that reproduces an original image on paper using an electrophotographic process.

As is clear from the description of the embodiments, according to the copying machine of the present invention, it is possible to half-erase the area within or outside the specific area to make the recirculated image lighter, thereby making it possible to make the desired area stand out. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a copying machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an editor connected to the copying machine. Figure 3 shows the location of the inter-image erase unit and photosensitive drum! ! FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the relationship. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the inter-image erase unit and the erase area. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of the tIIII section of the copying machine of the embodiment. FIG. 6 is an eraser drive circuit diagram. FIG. 7 Parts 1 and 2 are flowcharts showing the control of the second CPU. 21...1st CPU 22...20th PIJ4
...Image erase unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A copying machine that scans a document with exposure to form an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor, develops the electrostatic latent image with toner, and transfers it onto paper to form a copy image. an input means for inputting data specifying a specific area of the document; and based on the input data, the potential of an area on the photoreceptor corresponding to the specific area is set to a predetermined level prior to development of the electrostatic latent image. 1. A copying machine with an editing function, comprising: a potential lowering means for lowering the electric potential; and a specifying means for specifying a level of potential reduction by the electric potential lowering means. (2) The specifying means may include, as the level of decrease in the potential,
2. A copying machine with an editing function according to claim 1, wherein a full erase level where development with toner is not possible and a half erase level where development with toner is possible is selectively specified. (3) The copying machine with an editing function according to claim 2, wherein the designating means designates any one of levels that can be changed continuously as the half erase level. (4) A copying machine with an editing function according to claim 1, wherein the potential lowering means is an image-to-image eraser capable of controlling the amount of light irradiated onto the photoreceptor according to a signal from the specifying means.