JPS5952810B2 - Image synthesis copying device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image synthesis copying apparatus that synthesizes images of a plurality of original documents to obtain a single copy.

Conventionally, there are various methods of synthetic copying of images, but the main one is the overlay method. The overlay method is a method in which a plastic film called an overlay consisting of transparent and opaque areas on which an image is printed is superimposed on an ordinary sheet-like original, and the image is copied using an electrophotographic copying machine or the like.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, if you want to leave a desired part of the manuscript A (for example, the name field) and create another format, cut out the name field C of the opaque overlay B of the other format into a window shape and place it on the manuscript. When overlapping to obtain a copy D, or when copying a computer output paper E with a title and ruled lines as shown in FIG. is superimposed on the paper E to obtain a copy G.

This method has the disadvantage that the work of aligning both sheets is complicated and inefficient, and the overlay itself is easily scratched and dusted.

An object of the present invention is to obtain an apparatus for creating a copy in which first image information and second image information are combined.

Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to superimpose second image information on first image information, modify (partially delete or add) the latter, and further superimpose third image information on this modified image information. The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that creates a composite copy of these pieces of information by recording them.

In the present invention, an optical image of a document (document A), which is sheet-like or three-dimensional first image information, is converted into an electrophotographic image through a light valve driven by second image information (information C). A composite image is obtained by scanning and exposing the photoreceptor.

Note that the light valve is arranged near the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, perpendicular to the scanning direction. Further, at the same time or before and after this, if a light image of a document (referred to as document B), which is third image information, is scanned and exposed at a position synchronized with the scan exposure position on the electrophotographic photoreceptor, three images are obtained. A composite image is obtained. When the original A is scanned and exposed, a partial light image (
selectively absorbs a portion of the band (cut out in a band shape). This operation selectively prevents optical information of a desired portion of the image of document A from being projected onto the electrophotographic photoreceptor, and at the same time,
It becomes possible to additionally synthesize an arbitrary image with the image of document A. Original B records an image to be combined with the portion of the original A image deleted by the light valve, and an electrophotographic photoreceptor formed by scanning exposure of original A through the light valve. It is desirable that the image configuration is such that the upper electrostatic latent image does not disappear. Under these conditions, when the image of document B is scanned and exposed onto the electrophotographic photoreceptor, superimposed on the electrostatic latent image, the image of document B is only shown in the portion of document A added by the light valve driven by information CffC. It is possible to form an electrostatic latent image in which these are synthesized. Figure 1 shows the configuration of the light valve.

In the figure, 1 is a polarizer, 2 and 5 are transparent glasses, 3 is a transparent electrode in the y direction, 4 is a transparent electrode in the x direction, 6 is an analyzer, 1
is the light valve drive circuit. The y-direction transparent electrode 3 and the x-direction transparent electrode 4 are formed by coating transparent glasses 2 and 5 with a transparent conductive film, and are divided into many parts. Lead wires come out from each electrode and are connected to a light valve drive circuit. Transparent glasses 2 and 5 are placed opposite each other with an interval of several μm to several hundred μm, and nematic liquid crystal is injected between the transparent glasses 2 and 5. The polarization planes of the polarizer 1 and the analyzer 6 are made to coincide with the optical axis of the liquid crystal. When no voltage is applied between the y- and x-direction electrodes, the nematic liquid crystal is transparent, and the light L incident on the polarizer 1 from the left in FIG. Electrode 3, nematic liquid crystal, x-direction transparent electrode 4,
The light passes through a transparent glass 5 and an analyzer 6 and is emitted to the outside. ζ
In contrast, the transparent electrode 3 in the y and x directions is controlled by the light valve driving circuit 7.
, 4 are selected and a voltage is applied between them, the nematic liquid crystal located at the intersection of the transparent electrodes in the y and x directions exhibits strong light scattering properties, resulting in a so-called dynamic scattering mode. Therefore, the light that has been imparted with polarization by passing through the polarizer 1 loses its polarization in the nematic liquid crystal layer. Therefore, most of the light emitted from the nematic liquid crystal layer in the dynamic scattering mode is absorbed by the analyzer 6 and is not emitted to the outside. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the principle of the present invention.

Figure a is an image of document A, which is sheet-like or three-dimensional first image information, and Figure b is a second image added between a small number of y-direction electrodes and a large number of x-direction electrodes in the light valve of Figure 1. It is a figure which shows the electric signal of image information (information C). In addition, in the figure, “
"x-direction electrode position" means that the Vcx electrodes in the direction of the arrow are arranged in parallel at regular intervals; more specifically, the x-electrodes are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the above arrow. Indicates that Figure c shows the condensation on the electrophotographic photoreceptor (xerographic drum) surface when the image in Figure a is exposed (first exposure) through a light valve whose light transmission characteristics are controlled by the signals shown in Figure b. The imaged optical image or electrostatic latent L is shown. As mentioned above, the x electrodes are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the arrow of "x direction electrode position", so in figure c, image C is added to the lower half of the letter "red" in the image in figure a. Then, that part is painted black, and at the same time, the horizontal bar M of → book is additionally composited into the clay part of the character "red". FIG. d shows an image of document B, which is third image information consisting of microfilm or microfissure. In the figure, the part where the positive image to be combined with the original A is recorded has a shape and positional relationship similar to the blacked out part in Figure c. Figure e is enlarged and projected onto the xerographic drum (
(Second Exposure) A light image of original B is shown. Figure f shows the electrostatic latent image synthesized on the xerographic drum by the first and second exposures. Figure g shows an image of a copy obtained by developing, transferring, and fixing the electrostatic latent image in Figure f. The image in Figure G is a steam train in which the horizontal bar M is composited on the top of the letter ``Red'' in the image shown in Figure A, and the lower part of the letter ``Red'' is filled in and the letter R is composited in that area. be. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the image synthesis copying apparatus of the present invention.

A document A with first image information is placed on the platen 22 , and a light valve 26 is placed on the platen 22 .
The optical image is projected onto the xerographic drum 21, which has been uniformly charged in advance through the scanning exposure (first exposure).
be done. On the other hand, a magnetic recording medium 14, for example, a magnetic card, which is integrated with the original Bl3 which is the third image information, contains the first image information.
Information c indicating portions to be filled out or deleted and portions to be added of the image of document A, which is the image information of , is recorded. The magnetic reading head 15 scans the magnetic card 14 that forms part of the document B, and converts the recorded information c into an electrical signal. The signal detection circuit 16 amplifies and waveform-shapes the input signal consisting of information c, and sends it to the light valve drive circuit 17. The light valve drive circuit 17 connects the x and y direction electrodes 4 and 3 of the light valve 26.
A voltage is applied between the x and y direction electrodes to selectively make part or all of the light valve opaque depending on the information c. Since the light aperture operation is performed in synchronization with the first exposure, the second light image of the original A is
Light is blocked in a portion where information c, which is image information, exists, and as a result, a light image as shown in FIG. 2c is projected onto the xerographic drum 21. Next, the light from the lamp 11 is collimated by the condenser lens 12, and the third image information document Bl3. VC is projected.

The document B moves in the direction of the arrow in the figure at a speed of v=(drum circumferential speed)/(enlargement magnification of the lens 18), and is passed through the slit 20 by the lens 18 and the mirror 19 to the first document on the xerographic drum 21. Scanning exposure (second exposure) is performed at a position synchronized with the exposure. In this way, the original A, the original B, and the information c are combined on the xerographic drum 21,
A latent image shown in FIG. 2f is obtained.

In addition to the magnetic card 14 shown in the embodiment, magnetic recording media such as magnetic tapes and magnetic disks can be used as the recording medium for the information c described above, as well as other holes, marks, and bar codes. Paper tapes and optical recording media recorded in the form of etc. can be used. In the latter case, the magnetic reading head 15 in the embodiment
An optical reading head must be used instead of the VC.
Further, the paper tape, the optical recording medium, etc., and the original B of the third image information may not be integral with each other but may be separated. In the present invention, as a method of converting the information c recorded on the information recording medium into an electrical signal, in addition to the method using the magnetic reading head shown in the embodiment and the method using the optical reading head shown above, visual Alternatively, a method may be adopted in which a human reads the information c recorded on the information recording medium in a manner that is possible and generates an electrical signal by operating a keyboard in accordance with the information.

In the above embodiment, a transmission type nematic liquid crystal panel was used as the light valve 26, but instead of this, a PLZ
Transmissive light valve, nematic liquid crystal cell, or PLZTflC using transparent ferroelectric material represented by T or electrochromic material represented by halogenated viologen, etc.
A reflective light valve using a transparent ferroelectric material or an electrochromic material such as a halogenated viologen may be used.

According to the image synthesis copying apparatus according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, an image is added to a desired portion of the image of one document A, and that portion is filled in, and an arbitrary image is added to the portion that is not filled in. Not only can it be combined, but it is also possible to obtain a composite copy in which the image of the original B is written in the added or filled out areas.

By the way, in the synthesis of FIG. 4 according to the present invention, A is the document A, and the parts other than the cutout window C of the opaque overlay B are the light valves 26.
This can be implemented by blocking the image by blocking the image and superimposing the description of overlay B on the blocked portion as third image information.
In addition, for the synthesis in Figure 5, computer output paper E is used as manuscript A.
and light valve 2 with the ruled line of transparent overlay F as information c.
6, or similarly, by setting the computer output paper E as the original A, keeping the light valve 26 open, and setting the ruled line of the transparent overlay F as the third image information, ie, the original B. It is. Further, according to the present invention, in addition to achieving the effect of being able to combine and delete/combine a plurality of images at high speed, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) It saves the effort of aligning the overlay and original and setting them in a predetermined position on the platen each time a copying operation is performed.

If the same overlay is to be superimposed on a large number of documents, it is only necessary to set it once. (2) Since the original B is in the form of a microfilm and can be stored in a frame, it is easy to handle, and since it does not come into contact with other objects, it will not be damaged.

It also requires less storage space.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the light valve of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the principle of the invention, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention, and Figs. 4 and 5 are conventional image synthesis methods. It is an explanatory diagram of a method. 1...Polarizer, 2,5...Transparent glass, 3...y
directional transparent electrode, 4... x-direction transparent electrode, 6... analyzer, 7... light valve drive circuit, 11... lamp, 12...
...Condenser lens, 13...Second manuscript, 14
...magnetic card, 15... stealth reading head, 16...
- Signal detection circuit, 17... Light valve drive circuit, 20...
Slit, 21... Xerographic drum, 22... Platen, 23... Rotating mirror, 24... Lens, 2
5...Mirror, 26...Light valve.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An exposure optical system that sequentially projects partial optical images cut out in strips of an original image onto an electrophotographic photoreceptor that has been uniformly charged in advance for scanning exposure; In the optical path,
a light valve that is arranged one-dimensionally at right angles to the scanning direction and selectively blocks optical information of a desired portion of the band-shaped partial optical image from being projected onto the electrophotographic photoreceptor; and,
An image information signal to be added to an area on the electrophotographic photoreceptor where projection of the partial light image is blocked is supplied, and depending on the image information signal, it is determined in which part of the light valve light passage is blocked. An image synthesis copying apparatus comprising a light valve drive circuit for controlling the light valve. 2. An exposure optical system that sequentially projects and scans partial optical images cut out in strips of a first original image onto an electrophotographic photoreceptor that has been uniformly charged in advance, and an optical path of the exposure optical system. and selectively preventing optical information of a desired portion from being projected onto the electrophotographic photoreceptor among the partial optical images cut out in a band shape, which are arranged one-dimensionally at right angles to the scanning direction. a light valve and an image information signal to be added to a desired portion of the area on the electrophotographic photoreceptor blocked from projecting a partial light image of the first original image; a light valve drive circuit that controls which part of the valve blocks light passage; and a light valve driving circuit that controls light passing through the light valve on the electrophotographic photoreceptor at the same time or before or after exposing the first original image. An image synthesis copying apparatus comprising means for projecting and exposing an optical image of a second original image onto a portion whose passage is blocked.