JPS6342578A - Color image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To evade a wasteful recording operation, by canceling an achromatic mode automatically, when the achromatic mode is selected, and the achromaticity is performed on all of the colors accidentally, in a compact type copying machine in which a color mode can be selected freely. CONSTITUTION:Command data from a various kinds of keys in an operating and displaying part 40, are fetched in a CPU31, and a prescribed arithmetic operation, etc., is applied on them. By operating achromatic buttons 56-59 at the time of selecting a multicolor mode, the designation of a color corresponding to a depressed button is canceled, and copying is performed in a state where the color relating to an operated button disappears. The above control is performed by a CPU1. When the multicolor mode is selected, and if all of the buttons 56-59 are operated accidentally, the CPU1 detects the fact, and recovers a device automatically to the multicolor mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a color image recording device suitable for application to a simple electrophotographic color copying machine and the like.

[Background of the Invention] A simple color copying machine attempts to record a color image by separating color information into approximately three to four types of color information.

An example of such a simple electrophotographic color copying machine is shown in FIG. However, in this example, the color information is separated into four colors and developed.

In FIG. 6, 10 is an example of a main part of a color copying machine, and 11 is a drum-shaped image forming body (photosensitive drum,
A photoconductive photoreceptor surface layer made of selenium Se or an organic substance is formed on the surface of the drum (hereinafter simply referred to as a drum), so that an electrostatic image (electrostatic latent image) corresponding to an optical image can be formed.

The following members are sequentially arranged on the circumferential surface of the drum 11 in the direction of rotation thereof.

The surface of the drum 11 is uniformly charged by a charger 12. The surface of the charged drum 11 is no longer exposed to image light (the light is indicated by 14) based on each color separation image.

After image exposure, the image is developed by a predetermined developing device.

The developing devices are arranged in a number corresponding to the color separated images.

In this example, developing device 1 filled with blue toner developer
5, a developing device 16 filled with red toner developer,
A developing device 17 filled with a yellow toner developer and a developing device 18 filled with a black toner developer are connected to the drum 11.
The jR-order drum 11 is disposed facing the surface of the drum 11 in the direction of rotation.

The developing devices 15 to 18 are sequentially selected in synchronization with the rotation of the drum 11. For example, by selecting the developing device 18, a black color separation image, that is, a normal black and white image is developed.

A pre-rotation/pre-rotation charger 19 and a pre-transfer exposure lamp 20 are provided on the developing device 18 side, and these facilitate the transfer of a color image onto a recording paper (transfer paper, etc.) P. however,
These pre-transfer charger 19 and pre-transfer exposure lamp 20 are provided as necessary.

The color image developed on the drum 11 is transferred onto the recording paper P by the transfer device 21.

The transferred recording paper P undergoes a fixing process by the fixing device 22 at the subsequent stage, and then the recording paper P is discharged.

Note that the static eliminator 23 includes one or a combination of a static eliminator lamp and a corona discharger for static elimination.

The cleaning device 24 includes a cleaning blade and a fur brush, and is used to remove residual toner adhering to the surface of the drum 11 after the color image has been transferred thereto.

As the charger 12 described above, a scorotron corona discharger or the like can be used. This is because the drum 11 is less affected by previous charging and can be stably charged on the drum 11.

As the image exposure, image exposure obtained by an optical scanning device such as a laser beam scanner can be used.

When using such an optical scanning device, a semiconductor laser can be used as the light source of the image recording device. This is because semiconductor lasers are small and inexpensive, and can also record clear color images.

However, since these configurations are not directly related to this invention, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted.

[Points to be solved by the invention] By the way, in such a simple color copying machine,
If the copy mode that uses all of the plurality of developing units 15 to 18 described above and therefore uses the four colors of red, blue, yellow, and black is called a multicolor mode, in addition to this multicolor mode, there is also a copy mode that uses only one color. In other words, if it is possible to select and record in monochrome mode, it is very convenient because it allows the user to copy in his/her favorite color.

Further, when selecting the multicolor mode, if it is possible to cancel any color among the multicolors, that is, to perform color erasure, the color selectivity of color copying will be improved, which is extremely convenient in conjunction with the above-described configuration.

In order to meet such requirements, the image processing apparatus may be equipped with a microcomputer and a special control program for color selection may be programmed.

By the way, when selecting multi-color mode, if you select a specific color erasing button to cancel a specific color, you may accidentally cancel all selectable colors, and if you copy without realizing this. , no image is recorded on the recording paper P at all.

Such records are useless.

Therefore, in this invention, in a color image recording device configured to be able to freely select between multi-color mode and mono-color mode, when the achromatic mode is selected, all the achromatic images are erroneously erased. The purpose of the present invention is to propose a color image recording apparatus in which the achromatic mode is automatically canceled so that wasteful recording operations can be avoided.

[Technical Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention separates color image No. 48 into a plurality of color signals, and develops each separated color signal to obtain a desired image. A color image recording device capable of recording a color image in which a plurality of color signals is characterized in that the color cancellation mode is canceled when all of the color cancellation modes are canceled.

[Function 1] When the achromatic mode is completely canceled, the camera automatically returns to the multicolor mode in which all of a plurality of colors can be recorded. This makes it possible to reliably avoid recording without an image.

[Example] Next, an example of a color image recording device according to the present invention will be described.
The application to a simple electrophotographic color copying machine will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1 and subsequent figures.

However, as a simple electrophotographic color copying machine, one having the configuration shown in FIG. 6 is used.

In this invention, when the multicolor mode is fully selected and all four colors are selected to be canceled, the achromatic mode is automatically canceled.

Therefore, a control system for mode control is provided. In this example, a microcomputer used in a system control unit provided for controlling the operating state of a color copying machine can be used.

Fig. 1 shows an example of the main parts of the control system, where 31 is a microprocessor (CPU), 32 is a ROM in which a control program is stored, and 33 is a RAM for storing various control data. be.

Command data from various keys provided on the operation/display unit 40 shown in FIG.
, and predetermined arithmetic processing can be executed. For example, various command signals obtained by selecting the multicolor mode are input to this CPU 31, and the results are input to the I
In this example, the light is supplied to the lighting control circuit 38 via the 10 boat 37 to notify the operating state of the operating button, and the lighting state of the display element associated with the corresponding operating button is controlled according to the control mode.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the key arrangement of the operation/display section 40. As shown in FIG.

41 is a copy start button, the number of copies set on the numeric keypad 42 is copied, and the set number of copies is displayed on the display section 4.
It can be displayed in 3.

Copying can be performed at any density by operating the copy density selection button 45. The selected copy density is displayed on the display section 46.

Numeral 51 is a copy mode switching button, and each time the button is pressed, multicolor mode and monocolor mode are alternately selected. When the monochrome mode is selected, any color can be selected using four color selection buttons 52 to 55.

When multicolor mode is selected, buttons 56 to 59 for color erasure
If you operate , the specified color will be canceled. Therefore, in this mode, the achromatic buttons 56 to 59
If you operate any of the buttons, the copy will be completed with the color associated with that button disappearing.

Note that 47 is an operation button for reverse copying, and reverse copying is enabled only in monochrome mode.

FIG. 3 shows another example of the operation/display section 40, in which color selection buttons 52 to 55 and color erasing buttons 56 to 59 can be used in common.

Therefore, in this case, four operation buttons 52 to 55 are provided, and multicolor and monocolor display elements (LEDs) 48 and 49 are selectively displayed by operating the mode switching button 51. Note that 44 is a display element for displaying the achromatic mode.

FIG. 4 and the following are control i's programs showing an example of how to use the operation buttons differently in multi-color mode and mono-color mode.

Note that the operation/display unit 40 used has the configuration shown in FIG. 2 as an example.

Figure 4 shows the copy mode switching routine, Figure 5A,
B shows a processing routine for the color selection button.

All of these are subroutines, and although not shown, are included in a control routine (main routine) for realizing color image processing.

When the copy mode switching button 51 is operated, a processing routine 60 for copy mode switching shown in FIG. 4 is called.

That is, when the copy mode switching button 51 is operated, this is determined in step 61, and then the state of the color copy mode is determined (step 62). Since the color copy mode can be switched between multicolor mode and monochrome mode using the mode switch button 51, this step determines which color copy mode was used before this button 51 was operated. I can check it.

This mode determination is performed based on the presence or absence of the multicolor mode flag. When the multicolor mode flag is 1, the previous color copy mode is multicolor mode, so in that case, it is necessary to invert the color copy mode to monochrome mode.

On the other hand, when the multicolor mode flag is O, the previous color copy mode was monochrome mode, and in that case, the color copy mode is reversed to multicolor mode.

For this reason, when the mode flag is 1, in this example, only the black flag is set to invert to monochrome mode (step 63).

That is, in the monochrome mode, the black flag is first set to 1 so that black copying is performed unconditionally, that is, the normal black and white copying mode. Thereafter, a display element (not shown) such as an LED provided on the black selection button 55 is controlled to be lit (step 64). This makes it possible to visually recognize that black is currently selected in the monochrome mode.

After controlling the black display element to be lit, the multicolor mode flag is reset (step 65). This is done so that when the next mode selection operation is performed, by operating the copy mode switching button 51, the multicolor mode can be immediately selected in place of the monochrome copy mode that was selected immediately before. .

On the other hand, when it is confirmed in step 62 that the multicolor mode flag is O, golden flags ranging from red to black are set, and the display elements provided in the achromatic buttons 56 to 59 are turned on. be controlled. The multicolor mode flag is then set (steps 66-6
8) Copy mode switching system (returning from the wholesale routine to the main control routine).

In this manner, in the multicolor mode, only the color erasing buttons 56 to 59 are turned on, and the color selection buttons 52 to 55 are turned off.

Now, when in multicolor mode, multiple color erasing buttons 56
59 is operated, a color selection processing routine 70 shown in FIG. 5 is called.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, when any color selection button is operated, this is checked in step 71.
When operated, the color copy mode is checked.

The color copy mode is determined by the presence or absence of the multicolor mode flag, and when this color mode flag is O, it is monochrome mode, so in that case, the gold flag is reset and the color selection buttons 52 to 55 correspond to the color copy mode. The displayed display element is controlled to be turned off (steps 72 and 73).

Next, the operation status of each color selection button can be determined.

First, in step 74, the presence or absence of blue color selection is checked;
When the blue selection button 53 is selected, the blue flag is set and the blue display element lights up (step 75).
).

As a result, the copy mode becomes the blue copy mode.

When the red selection button 52 is selected instead of the blue selection button 53, this is determined in step 76, and as a result, the red flag is set, the red display element lights up, and the mode shifts to red copy mode (step 77). ).

Similarly, when the yellow selection button 54 is fully selected instead of the red selection button 52, this is determined in step 78, and as a result, the yellow flag is set, the yellow display element lights up, and the process shifts to the yellow copy mode. Step 79)
.

When none of the blue, red, and yellow operation buttons 52 to 54 are operated, a black flag is set in step 80, and the black display element is controlled to the lit state f3! I will be treated.

In this manner, in the monochrome mode, only the color corresponding to the selected operation button is to be copied.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 72 that the mode is multicolor mode, the mode shifts to achromatic mode.

That is, when an achromatic button is selected in such a multi-color mode, as shown in FIG. will be done.

Therefore, first, in step 90, the blue erase button 5 is pressed.
It is determined whether or not button 7 has been operated, and when the button has been operated, a blue flag is checked (step 91). When the blue flag is 1, reset the blue flag,
At the same time, the blue display element is turned off (step 92).

In this way, the blue display element that has been lit up until now turns off, so that it can be visually determined that the blue color has been completely erased.

When the blue flag is O, it means that blue achromatic has already been selected, so in this case, achromatic mode is canceled and the blue copy state is restored so that blue can be copied. . .

Therefore, in this case, set the blue flag and
Control the blue display element to a lit state (step 9)
3).

Erasing each color from red to yellow is also processed through the same steps as described in L.

That is, when the red erase button 56 is operated, the red flag is checked, and depending on the presence or absence of the flag, the flag processing and the control state for the display element are selected (steps 94 to 97).

Similarly, when the yellow erasing button 58 is operated, the yellow flag is checked, and depending on the presence or absence of the flag, the flag processing and the control state for the display element can be selected (steps 98 to 101).

When the blue to yellow erase buttons 55 to 58 are not operated, a black flag is checked.

In this case as well, the black flag processing and the control state for the display element can be selected depending on the presence or absence of the flag, as in the case described above (steps 102 to 105).

Next, in step 106, the states of all color flags are determined, and when all the flags are O, that is, it is checked that all display elements from blue to black are in the off state, at this time. Only then, all flags are inverted and the gold display element is controlled to turn on (steps 107 and 108).

This is to prevent recording of no image. That is,
The fact that all flags are set to O means that the recording mode has been selected to cancel all colors, or if this is left as is, no image will be recorded on the recording paper P at all. It is.

In addition, since the user cannot fully judge the input situation in such a non-recording state, there is a possibility that the user may misunderstand the non-recording state due to his own operational error as a failure of the recording device. This is because, in response to such operational errors, it is better to take appropriate measures to record the invitation than to issue a warning of the operational error.

In this way, when the golden flag is 0,
When all the color flags are set, the multicolor mode is automatically returned to, and all display elements for the achromatic buttons 55 to 59 are controlled to be lit.

Incidentally, if any of the flags is set as described above, the process immediately returns from the color selection control routine 70 to the main routine.

Also, in the operation section shown in Fig. 3, if the color selection buttons 52 to 55 are considered to be color erasing buttons in the multi-color mode, it can be controlled by the flowcharts shown in Figs. 4 and 5 A and B. be.

In addition, since the above example shows a simple copying machine as a color copying machine, even in multi-color mode, only the four colors red, blue, yellow, and black can be selected as the colors that can be copied. The present invention can also be applied to a color copying machine that can copy the colors of , and a color image recording device that performs development processing based on a color separation image different from that of this embodiment (for example, a color separation image of complementary colors). It is easy to understand how it can be applied.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention provides a color image in which a multicolor mode and a monocolor mode can be selected, and an achromatic mode can also be selected when the multicolor mode is selected. In the recording apparatus, when an operational error such as canceling all of a plurality of colors occurs, this is immediately detected and the recording mode is automatically switched to a multicolor mode.

According to this, it is possible to reliably avoid recording of no image due to a user's operational error, which is extremely convenient for practical use.

In addition, even when automatically returning to multi-color mode, the display elements provided corresponding to each color erase button light up, making it easy to identify the automatic transition to multi-color mode. can do.

Therefore, the present invention is extremely suitable for application to a color image recording apparatus or the like that can select a predetermined color and perform color erasure as described above.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a control system showing an example of the essential parts of a color image recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are plan views showing an example of an operation/display section, and FIGS. 4 and 5 FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a control program for explaining the operation of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a color copying machine. 11... Retaining body (drum) 40... Operation/display section 51... Copy mode switching buttons 52-55... Color selection buttons 56-59... Color erasing button 44... Color erasing Mode display element patent applicant Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd. Figure 1 Seiji Control Station Figure 2

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In a color image recording device that separates a color image signal into a plurality of color signals and develops each separated color signal to record a desired color image, among the plurality of color signals, In addition to being able to select and record any color, it is also configured to be able to cancel any of the above colors, and when all of the above colors are canceled, this color cancellation mode is canceled. Characteristic color image recording device. (2) When the achromatic mode is canceled,
2. The color image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color image recording apparatus is configured to automatically return to a multicolor mode in which all of the plurality of colors can be recorded. (3) Claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of colors include four colors: red, blue, yellow, and black.
The color image recording device according to Items 1 and 2. (4) The achromatic mode can be selected during a multi-color copy mode in which all of the plurality of colors are selected. Color image recording device.