JPH07114450B2 - Image recorder - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine, and more particularly, to an image recording apparatus having improved operability of inset combination.

[Prior Art] In recent years, in image recording apparatuses such as copying machines, by introducing a microcomputer and making full use of advanced control technology and image data processing technology, it is possible to copy not only black and white but also full color of four colors. Can be performed, in addition, a mask for deleting a desired portion of the image of the original, a trim for extracting only a desired portion of the image of the original, a desired portion of the second original on a desired portion of the first original It realizes various editing functions such as inlaying and combining images.

The embedded synthesis is as follows. The inset composition is performed on a document having an image serving as a background (hereinafter, referred to as the first document).
Other manuscript (hereinafter referred to as the second manuscript)
This is an editing process for fitting a desired range of the image of the first document), so that the area where the first document is to be fitted (hereinafter referred to as the fitting area) is the second document. The area to be extracted (hereinafter referred to as the extraction area) must be set respectively. Therefore, in the conventional copying machine, as shown in FIG.
The second original 803 is placed on the edit pad 800, and the fitting area 802 and the extraction area 804 are set by a stylus (not shown). Note that when both the fitting area 802 and the extraction area 804 are rectangular, the setting of each area is as shown in FIG.
As shown in, the two points on the diagonal of the rectangle, that is, the inset area
For 802, two points P ₁₁ and P ₁₂ may be designated with a stylus, and for the extraction region 804, two points P ₂₁ and P ₂₂ may be designated. In FIG. 20 (a), 805 is a registration position of the edit pad 800 (hereinafter referred to as a registration position), that is, a mark indicating the origin (0,0) of the coordinates,
In the x direction and the y direction, the slow scan (slow sca)
n) direction and the main scan (fast scan) direction are shown.

In this way, the fitting area 802 in the first original 801 is
After setting the extraction area 804 on the second original 803, as shown in FIG. 20 (b), these originals are turned over, and
The copy is started by placing it on the platen glass 810 of the copying machine so as to be symmetrical with the arrangement on the edit pad 800. As a result, the copying machine first sets the first original
For the area 801, the inset area 802 is masked and copied, then only the image of the extraction area 804 is extracted from the second original 803, and the image is inserted into the inset area 802 of the first original 801.
To the position, and the first original described above is copied on the copied paper. As a result, the first original 801
An image is obtained in which the extraction area 804 of the second original 803 is fitted into the fitting area 802. At this time, it goes without saying that the image of the extraction region 804 is appropriately scaled or reduced or enlarged so that it is within the range of the fitting region 802. In FIG. 20 (b), 811 is a mark indicating the registration position of the platen glass 810.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional copying machine, there is a problem in operability in the case of performing the inset composition.

That is, in order to perform the inset composition, as described above, first, the inset area of the first original must be masked to make a copy. Therefore, the copying machine can recognize the size of the first original. There must be. Further, since it is necessary to obtain an image of the extraction area of the second original, it is necessary to know from which position the second original should be scanned. That is, in order to perform the control of the inlaying composition, the information on the size of the first original and the information on the scanning range of the second original are indispensable.

Of course, even with conventional copiers, document size detection (Docume
nt Detector: hereinafter referred to as DOD),
The size of the original can be known by performing a prescan at the start of copying, but the conventional DOD function is that the minimum coordinate value and the maximum coordinate of the position where the original is placed in the x and y directions, respectively. Since only the value is detected, as shown in FIG. 20 (c), two originals of different sizes, the first original 801 and the second original 803 are placed on the platen glass 810. In this case, only the coordinates of the point indicated by P in the figure are obtained, and the first original 801
The size of the second original 803
It is not possible to know the scanning range of.

Therefore, in the conventional copying machine, the above problem is solved by predetermining the size of the first document and the size of the second document. That is, when the maximum document size that can be copied by the copying machine is A3 size, the document that can be embedded and combined is determined to be A4 size. With this setting in advance, the copier can always recognize the size of the first document as A4 size without performing prescan, and can always determine the scanning range of the second document as A4 size. Then, the information necessary for performing the inset synthesis can be obtained.

Then, in order to clearly show the position where the document is placed to the user, as shown in FIG. 20 (d), in addition to the first registration position mark 805 indicating the origin, the edit pad 800 has Two registration position marks 820 are provided, and similarly, the platen glass 810 is provided with a second registration position mark 821 in addition to the first registration position mark 811 indicating the origin. Since the distance between the first registration position and the second registration position is the length of the short axis of the A4 size sheet, both the first document 801 and the second document 803 are A4 size documents. When using, the two originals are placed on the edit pad 800 and the platen glass 810 without any gap as shown in FIGS. 20 (f) and 20 (g). Become.

However, in general, a document to be subjected to inset composition is not necessarily A4 size, and for example, there may be a request to insert a photograph into a part of B5 size document. As described above, when the sizes of the first document and the second document are smaller than the A4 size, it is necessary to re-attach each document to the A4 size paper and perform the above operation, which is inferior in operability. Met. As a matter of course, if the first original 801 and the second original 803 are placed at the predetermined registration positions as shown in FIG. 20 (h) without attaching the originals to the A4 size paper, they are fitted. Although it is possible to perform composition, it is very uncomfortable for an ordinary user to place two originals apart from each other in this way, and the first and second registration position marks are provided. Even if it is done, the intuitive action is to place the two originals in close contact with each other without any gap as shown in FIG. 20 (i). It was not allowed to be placed as shown in Fig. 20 (i). 20 (h) and 20 (i) show an example in which a document is placed on the edit pad 800, but this is also the case when it is placed on the platen glass.

Therefore, the present invention provides an image recording apparatus that allows two originals of different sizes to be placed in close contact with each other without a gap when performing inset synthesis, as shown in FIG. 20 (i). It is intended to be provided.

[Means for Solving the Problems, Actions and Effects of the Invention] The basic configuration of the image recording apparatus of the present invention is as shown in FIG. 1 (a), and the operation of the image recording apparatus is generally managed. Control means 1, an image input terminal (hereinafter referred to as IIT) 2 for reading an image of a document and generating digital image data, a DOD 5 and a digital image data for detecting a document size based on the digital image data obtained by IIT 2. Image processing system (hereinafter referred to as IPS) 3, IPS 3 including at least an editing process 6 for performing various image processes
To obtain digital image data processed by
Image output terminal (hereinafter referred to as IOT) 4 for copying such as 4-color full color copy, edit pad 7 for setting inset area and extraction area during inset combining, display device such as color CRT and copy mode setting button First of all, a user interface including various buttons such as a start button and a numeric keypad (hereinafter,
8). The edit pad 7 is an example of area setting means for setting an area on the document, and it goes without saying that other means can be used.

Now, in the configuration of FIG. 1 (a), when performing the fitting combination, the user first selects the fitting combination processing by U18. Then, the first original and the second original are placed on the edit pad 7, and the fitting area is set for the first original and the extraction area is set for the second original. At this time, the first and second originals can be placed in close contact with each other without a gap as shown in FIG. 1 (b). In FIG. 1B, 10 is a registration position mark, 11 is a first document, and 12 is a second document.

However, in the present invention, the first original 11 has a standard size, and the size of the second original 12 in the y direction (main scanning direction) must be equal to or smaller than the size of the first original 11 in the y direction. There is a condition that it must be.

Here, it is also possible to display the positions and sizes of the inset area and the extraction area set on the edit pad 7 at predetermined locations on the display device of the UI8, in which case the user can set the inset area. It is possible to intuitively recognize the position and size and the position and size of the extraction region, and it is possible to easily set each region.

When the setting of the fitting area and the extraction area is completed, the first and second originals are turned upside down and placed on the platen glass of IIT2. Again, these two manuscripts 11,12
Can be placed on the platen glass 20 in close contact with each other without any gap, as shown in FIG. 1 (c). In FIG. 1 (c), 21 is a mark indicating the registration position of the platen glass 20.

When the start button is pressed in this state, the control means 1
Causes IIT2 and IPS3 to perform a prescan to detect the document size. By this, the control means 1 determines the size of the first original, controls IIT2, IPS3 and IOT4 to perform the mask copy on the first original. As a result, an image in which the fitting area is deleted is obtained. Next, the control means 1 causes the IIT2 to read the extraction area of the second document, and causes the IPS3 and IOT4 to execute a process of combining the image of the extraction area with the fitting area.
As a result, the image of the extraction area of the second document is fitted into the fitting area of the first document.

As described above, in the present invention, when the inset composition is performed, what is required is that the first original has a standard size and the second original has a size in the main scanning direction that is smaller than that of the first original. Since it may be a manuscript, the operability or usability is markedly improved as compared with the case where the first and second manuscripts are previously determined to be one as in the prior art.

Moreover, since it is possible to place the first and second originals in close contact with each other on the edit pad or the platen glass without any gaps, it is possible to operate according to the human intuitive action. It is possible.

Further, since the size of the first original is determined from the size of the original detected in the image processing system in the main scanning direction, the first original size can be easily determined at high speed.

[Examples] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Examples.

Contents In this embodiment, a color copying machine is taken as an example of an image recording apparatus, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a printer, a facsimile, an image filing apparatus, etc.
It goes without saying that it can be applied to various image recording apparatuses.

First, a table of contents is shown prior to the description of the embodiments. In the following description, (I) is an item for explaining the outline of the overall configuration of the color copying machine to which the present invention is applied, and in that configuration, the section for explaining the embodiment of the present invention is ( II).

(I) Outline of device (I-1) Device configuration (I-2) Device features (I-3) Configuration of electric control system (I-4) Image input terminal (IIT) (I-5) Image processing System (IPS) (I-6) Image output terminal (IOT) (I-7) User interface (UI) (I-8) Film image reading device (II) Embedded composite (I) Outline of device (I-1) Apparatus Configuration FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a color copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

In the color copying machine to which the present invention is applied, a base machine 30 having a basic configuration is a platen glass on which an original is placed.
31, image input terminal (IIT) 32, electrical system control housing 33, image output terminal (IOT) 34, paper tray 35, user interface (U / I) 36,
As an option, an edit pad 61, an automatic document feeder (ADF) 62, a sorter 63 and a film projector (F / P) 64 are provided.

To control the IIT, IOT, U / I, etc., electrical hardware is required.
It is divided into multiple boards for each processing unit such as IPS, U / I, and F / P that processes the output signals of T and IIT, and the SYS board that controls them, and IOT, ADF, and sorter. It is housed in an electric control system housing 33 together with an MCB board (master control board) for controlling the etc.

Further, the feature of this embodiment is that a mirror unit (M / U) 65 is placed on the platen glass 31, a film image is projected from the F / P 64, and the image is read by the imaging unit 37 of the IIT 32. This makes it possible to make color copies directly from color films.
The target document can be a negative film, a positive film, or a slide, and is equipped with an autofocus device and a correction filter automatic exchange device.

(I-2) Features of the device (a) Achievement of high image quality full color In this device, black image quality reproduction, light color reproducibility, generation copy quality, OHP image quality, fine line reproducibility, film copy image quality reproducibility, copy We are aiming to achieve high image quality full color with improved maintainability and clear reproduction of color documents.

(B) Cost reduction The cost of image materials and consumables such as photoconductors, developing machines, toners, etc. can be reduced, service costs such as UMR and parts costs can be reduced, and it can also be used as a black and white copier. The black-and-white copy speed is about 30 times higher than the conventional one, which is 30 sheets / A4, to reduce running cost and copy unit price.

(C) Improving productivity ADF and sorter are installed in the input / output device (option) to process a large number of documents, and the magnification can be selected from 50 to 400%.
Maximum document size A3, paper tray is upper row B5-B4, middle row
B5 ~ B4, lower B5 ~ A3, SSIB5 ~ A3, copy speed is 4 full color, A4 4.8 CPM, B4 4.8 CPM, A3 2.4 C
PM, B / W, 19.2CPM for A4, 19.2CPM for B4, 9.6CPM for A3. Warm up time within 8 minutes, FCOT is full color 28 colors
We achieved less than 2 seconds, less than 7 seconds in black and white, and continuous copy speed of 7.5 sheets / A4 in full color and 30 sheets / A4 in black and white for high productivity.

(D) Improved operability Hard buttons and CRT on the hard control panel
The soft buttons on the screen soft panel are used together to make it easy for beginners to understand, not to be bothered by an expert, to select the contents of a function directly, and to improve the operability by concentrating operations in one place as much as possible. Is used effectively so that the necessary information can be accurately transmitted to the operator. Hi-Fi copy is performed only by operating the hardware control panel and the basic screen, and start, stop, all clear, interrupts, etc., which cannot be specified in the operation flow, are performed by operating the hard buttons to select paper, reduce / enlarge, copy density, and image quality. Adjustments, color modes, color balance adjustments, etc. are made naturally by the user of the conventional single-color copying machine by operating the soft panel on the basic screen. Further, various editing functions and the like can be opened and the various editing functions can be selected only by touching a pathway tab in the pathway area of the soft panel. Further, by pre-storing the copy mode and its execution conditions in the memory card, it is possible to automate a predetermined operation.

(E) Enrichment of functions In the present invention, in the user interface, selection of functions, selection of execution conditions, and display of other menus and the like are displayed on a display such as a CRT so that anyone can easily operate. In addition to the above, the main feature is that it is fully automated from the entrance to the exit of the copying work while having various functions corresponding to the needs of the user.

Its main functions are to start, stop, all clear, ten keys, interrupts, information, language switching, etc., which cannot be specified in the operation flow, by operating the hard control panel, and to operate various functions by touching the soft buttons on the basic screen. It is possible to select it. Also, by touching the pathway tab corresponding to the pathway, which is the function selection area, you can open the pathway and select various editing functions such as marker editing, business editing, creative editing, etc. with a simple operation that can be used like a conventional copy. You can make full-color and black-and-white copies. Further, the area designated by the editing function is displayed by the bitmap area, and the designated area can be confirmed. In this way, abundant editing functions and color creation can greatly improve the textual expression.

(F) Achievement of power saving We have realized a high-performance copying machine with four colors at 1.5 kVA. Therefore, the control method for realizing 1.5 kVA in each operation mode is decided, and the power distribution by function to set the target value is decided. In addition, an energy system table is created to determine the energy transfer route, and management and verification are performed by the energy system.

(I-3) Configuration of Electric Control System In this section, a hardware architecture and a software architecture will be described as an electric control system of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the hardware architecture, and FIG.
The figure shows the software architecture.

When a color CRT is used as U1 as in this copier, the amount of data for color display is increased compared to when a monochrome CRT is used, and the display screen configuration and screen transitions are devised to make it more friendly. The amount of data increases when trying to build a UI.

On the other hand, it is possible to use a CPPU equipped with a large-capacity memory, but it is difficult to store it in the main body of the copying machine because the board is large, and it is difficult to flexibly respond to changes in specifications. There are some problems such as high cost.

Therefore, in this copying machine, the technology that can be shared with other models or devices such as a CRT controller is used as a remote and the CPUs are distributed to cope with an increase in the amount of data.

The hardware of the electrical system is
It is roughly divided into three systems, UI system, SYS system and MCB system.
The UI system includes a UI remote 70, and in the SYS system, an F / P remote 72 that controls F / P, an IIT remote 73 that reads a document, and an IPS remote 74 that performs various image processes are distributed. The IIT remote 73 has an IIT controller 73a for controlling the imaging unit and a VIDEO circuit 73b that digitizes the read image signal and sends it to the IPS remote 74, and is controlled by the VCPU 74a together with the IPS remote 74. A SYS (System) remote 71 is provided to collectively manage the remotes described above and described later.

Since the SYS remote 71 requires a huge memory capacity for programs for controlling UI screen transitions, we are using the 8086 equipped with a 16-bit microcomputer. In addition to the 8086, for example, 68000 can be used.

In the MCB system, it is a Raster Output Scan (ROS) interface for receiving a video signal used to form a latent image with a laser on the photosensitive belt from the IPS remote 74 and sending it to the IOT.
VCB (Video Control Board) remote 76, RCB remote 77 for servo of transfer device (turtle), further IOT,
As an I / O port for ADFs, sorters and accessories
MCB (Master Co) to distribute IOB remote 78 and accessory remote 79 and manage them
ntrol Board) Remote 75 is provided.

Each remote in the figure is composed of one substrate. In the figure, the thick solid line indicates the 187 and 5 kbps LNET high-speed communication network, the thick broken line indicates the 9600 bps master / slave serial communication network, and the thin solid line indicates the hot line that is the control signal transmission line. Also, 76.8 kbps in the figure is a dedicated line for notifying the IPS remote 74 from the UI remote 70 of graphic information drawn on the edit pad, copy mode information input from the memory card, and graphic information of the editing area. Is. Furthermore, in the figure CCC
(Communication Control Chip) is an IC that supports the high-speed communication line LNET protocol.

As mentioned above, the hardware architecture is UI type,
It is roughly divided into three types, SYS system and MCB system. The sharing of these processes will be described below with reference to the software architecture of FIG. The arrows in the figure indicate the relationship between the LNET high-speed communication network of 187.5 kbps and the master / slave serial communication network of 9600 bps shown in FIG. Is shown.

UI Remote 70 is an LLUI (Low Level UI) module 80
And a module (not shown) for processing the edit pad and the memory card.
The LLUI module 80 is similar to what is known as a normal CRT controller, and it is a software module for displaying a screen on a color CRT. Module 8
1 or controlled by MCBUI module 86. It is obvious that this allows the UI remote to be shared with other models or devices. This is because the CRT controller is used integrally with the CRT, although the screen configuration and screen transitions differ depending on the model.

The SYS remote 71 is composed of three modules, a SYSUI module 81, a SYSTEM module 82, and a SYS.DIAG module 83.

The SYSUI module 81 is a software module that controls screen transitions, and the SYSTEM module 82 recognizes which screen has selected which coordinates on the soft panel, that is, what kind of job has been selected.
re Function) selection software, job confirmation software that finally checks the job to see if there are any inconsistencies in the copy execution conditions, and F / F selection, job recovery, machine state, etc. with other modules. It is a module including software that controls communication for exchanging various information.

The SYS.DIAG module 83 is a module that operates in the customer simulation mode in which a copy operation is performed in the diagnostic state for self-diagnosis.
Customer simulation mode behaves like a normal copy, so the SYS.DIAG module 83 is virtually
It is the same as the SYSTEM module 82, but since it is used in a special state called diagnostic, SYST
It is described separately from the EM module 82 but partially overlapped.

The IIT remote 73 stores an IIT module 84 that controls the stepping motor used in the imaging unit, and the IPS remote 74 stores an IPS module 85 that performs various processes related to IPS. Is controlled by the SYSTEM module 82.

On the other hand, the MCB remote 75 has a MCBUI module 86 that is software that controls screen transitions in the case of a fault such as a diagnostic, an Auditron, and a jam, a photosensitive belt control, a developing machine control, and a fuser control. IOT module 90 for performing necessary processing when performing copying such as control, ADF module 91 for controlling ADF, each software module of SORTER module 92 for controlling sorter and copying executive module 87 for managing them. It also stores a diagnostic executive module 88 for performing various diagnoses and an auditron module 89 for performing charge processing by accessing an electronic counter with a code number.

The RCB remote 77 also stores a turtle servo module 93 that controls the operation of the transfer device.The turtle servo module 93 is placed under the control of the IOT module 90 to control the transfer process of the xerographic cycle. Has been. In the figure, the copying executive module 87 and the diagnostic executive module 88 overlap for the same reason that the SYSTEM module 82 and the SYS.DIAG module 83 overlap.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the system and other remotes.

As mentioned earlier, the remote 71 has a SYSUI module 81 and S
The YSTEM module 82 is installed, and data is exchanged between the SYSUI 81 and the SYSTEM module 82 by the inter-module interface. Also, the SYSTEM module 82 and the IIT73, IPS74
It is connected with a serial communication interface between
B75, ROS76 and RAIB79 are connected by LNET high speed communication network.

Next, the module configuration of the system will be described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a module configuration of the system.

In this copier, each module such as IIT, IPS, and IOT is considered as a component, and each module of the system that controls these is considered to have a brain. The distributed CPU method is adopted, and the system side is in charge of par-original processing and job programming processing. Corresponding to this, control right to manage the initialization state, standby state, setup state, cycle state, and these states Since we have the UI master right to use the UI, we configure the system with the corresponding modules.

The system main 100 fetches the received data from SYSUI, MCB, etc. into the internal buffer, clears the data stored in the internal buffer, calls each lower module of the system main 100 and passes the processing, and updates the system state. It is processing.

The M / C initialization control module 101 controls the initialization sequence from power-on to system standby.
Performs various tests after power-on by B It is started when the power-on process is completed.

The M / C setup control module 103 is an MCB that performs copy layer processing after the start key is pressed.
Controls the setup sequence until startup, and specifically creates a job mode based on the FEATURE (instruction item for M / C to achieve the user's request) instructed from SYSUI, and the created job Determine the setup sequence according to the mode.

The M / C standby control module 102 controls the sequence during M / C standby, and specifically, receives a start key, controls color registration, and enters a diagnosis mode.

The M / C copy cycle control module 104 controls the copy sequence from when the MCB is started to when it is stopped, specifically, notification of the paper feed count,
It judges the end of JOB and makes a request to start IIT, and judges the stop of MCB to make a request to stop IPS.

Also, it plays the function of notifying the remote of the other party of the through command that occurs during M / C stop or during operation.

The fall control module 106 monitors the fall factors from IIT and IPS, requests a fall to the MCB when the factors occur, and concretely performs a fall by a fail command from IIT and IPS, and also from the MCB. After a request to shut down is made, the recovery at the time of M / C stop is judged and decided.
For example, a jam command from the MCB is used for recovery.

The communication control module 107 sets the IIT ready signal from the IIT and enables / disables the communication in the image area.

The DIAG control module 108 controls the input check mode and the output check mode in the DIAG mode.

(I-4) Image Input Terminal (IIT) No. 7 shows a sectional view of the imaging unit 37.
In 0, the image surface to be read is set downward on the platen glass 31, the imaging unit 37 moves its lower surface in the direction of the arrow in the figure, and the daylight fluorescent lamp 222 and the reflecting mirror 223 expose the original surface. Then, the reflected light from the original 220 is passed through the SELFOC lens 224 and the cyan filter 225 to form an erecting equal-magnification image on the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 226. Selfoc lens 224 is 4
It is a compound eye lens consisting of a row of fiber lenses, and since it is bright and has a high resolution, it has the advantages that the power of the light source can be kept low and that it becomes compact. The imaging unit 37 also includes a circuit board 227 including a CCD sensor drive circuit, a CCD sensor output buffer circuit, and the like.
Will be installed. 228 is a lamp heater, 229 is a control signal flexible cable, and 230 is a lighting power flexible cable. A circuit board 227 is attached to the lower part of the housing 37a to which the CCD line sensor 226 is fixed, a heat sink 250 having a protrusion 250b is attached between the circuit board 227 and the housing 37a, and the heat sink 250 is further covered. Punching metal for electromagnetic shield 2
51 is installed. The circuit board 227 has a drive I
The C chip 252 is provided, and the CCD line sensor 226 is electrically connected to the circuit board 227 by the connecting pin 226a.

FIG. 7 (b) shows a detailed view of the daylight fluorescent lamp 222,
On the inner surface of the glass tube 222a, the reflection film 222b has an aperture angle α.
A reflection type fluorescent lamp is shown which is formed excluding a surface (about 50 degrees) and further has a fluorescent film 222c formed on the inner surface thereof. Thus, the amount of light of the fluorescent lamp 222 is efficiently applied to the document surface, thereby reducing power consumption. The reason why the fluorescent film 222c is formed on the entire inner surface and the reflective film 222b is formed on the surface excluding the aperture angle surface is the type in which the fluorescent film is attached excluding the aperture angle surface (aperture type).
This is because the fluorescent film absorbs the bright line emitted by mercury vapor, but the ratio of the intensity of the bright line in the distribution of the spectral spectrum of the illumination light to the phosphor emission is reduced, although the amount of light is reduced. Further, the lamp heater 2 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the fluorescent lamp 222.
A heat sink (heat dissipation member) 222d is provided, and the lamp heater 228 and the cooling fan are controlled by detecting the temperature of the thermistor 222e.

Next, using the CCD line sensor 226, the color originals R, G,
A video signal processing circuit for reading a reflectance signal color-separated into B and converting it into a density signal having a digital value will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 8, a read data adjusting / converting circuit 232 samples and holds an analog video signal, adjusts gain and offset, and converts it into a digital signal. The sample and hold circuit 232a and the gain adjusting circuit AGC.
(AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL) 232b, offset adjustment circuit
AOC (AUTOMATIC OFSET CONTROL) 232c, A / D conversion circuit 232
It consists of d. The white signal (read signal of the white reference plate) and the black signal (output signal in the dark) of the CCD line sensor usually vary depending on each chip and each pixel in the chip. In the gain adjustment circuit AGC232b, the maximum value (peak value) of the white signal of each channel is set to a reference value, for example, 256
Align to "200" on the stairs, and the offset adjustment circuit AOC232c sets the minimum value of the black signal to a reference value, for example, "1" at 256 gradations.
It is arranged to be aligned with "0".

The ITG (IIT Timing Generator) 238 controls the delay amount setting circuit 233 and the separation / combination circuit 234 that perform the zigzag correction, and controls the delay amount of the zigzag correction according to the contents of the register set by the VCPU 74a. 5 channels CCD
Adjust the output timing of the line sensor 226 to adjust B,
Control for distributing to G and R color separation signals is performed.

The delay amount setting circuit 233 is a so-called zigzag correction circuit that corrects the mounting deviation amount of the CCD line sensor 226 in the sub scanning direction. It consists of a line memory with a FIFO structure, stores the signal from the CCD line sensor in the first row that scans the document first, and outputs it in synchronization with the signal output from the CCD line sensor in the second row. Yes, the number of delay lines is controlled according to the setting of the delay amount according to the enlargement factor in ITG238.

The separation / combination circuit 234 separates the 8-bit data string connected to BGRBGR ... Of each channel into R, G, B and stores them in the line memory, and then serially combines the signals of each channel by R, G, B. Is output.

The conversion table 236 is a logarithmic conversion table LUT and a through conversion table LUT for converting a reflection signal into a density signal.
The above two tables are stored in, for example, a ROM. Then, the R, G, B signals of the reflectance obtained by reading the original are converted into R, G, B signals of the density corresponding to the amount of recording material (for example, toner amount).

The shading correction units 235 and 237 include shading correction circuits 235a and 237a and SRAMs 235b and 237b, and perform pixel shift correction, shading correction, image data input adjustment, and the like. Pixel shift correction is a process of performing weighted averaging between pixel data. As described above, in the signal processing circuit, R, G, and B data are fetched in parallel, but R, G, and B filter positions are used. Since the values are out of alignment, the weighted averaging process is performed. Shading correction is a process of subtracting the image data written in SRAM as reference data from the image input data after pixel shift correction, and outputting it. Variations due to the light distribution characteristics of the light source and aging of the light source, reflection mirrors, etc. Corrects variations in the optical system due to dirt and the like, and variations in sensitivity between bits of the CCD line sensor. The shading correction circuit 235a is connected to the front stage of the conversion table 236 and performs correction for the dark level (dark output when the fluorescent lamp is turned off), and the shading correction circuit 237a is connected to the rear stage of the conversion table 236 and is white. The read output of the reference plate is corrected.

(I-5) Image Processing System (IPS) FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an outline of the module configuration of the IPS.

IPS is for I, B, G, R color separation signals,
Input 8-bit data (256 gradations), Y,
After converting to the M, C, and K toner signals, the process color toner signal X is selected and binarized to be turned on / off data of the process color toner signal and output to the IOT. Then, during this period, various data processings are performed in order to enhance color reproducibility, gradation reproducibility, definition reproducibility, and the like.

The END conversion (Equivalent Neutral Density) module 301 is a module for adjusting (converting) an optical reading signal of a color original obtained by IIT into a gray-balanced color signal, and reading a gray original. In this case, 16 conversion tables are provided for converting the color separation signals of B, G, and R to output at the same gradation in accordance with the level (black → white).

The color masking module 302 converts the B, G, and R color separation signals into Y, M, and C toner signals, and performs matrix calculation or obtains using a table.

The document size detection module 308 performs document size detection during pre-scanning and platen color erasing (frame erasing) processing during document reading scanning. If the document is tilted or not rectangular, the maximum and minimum values (x1, x2, y1, y2) in the vertical and horizontal directions are detected and stored.

The color conversion module 305 performs conversion processing with a specified color in a specific area. If the area is not a color conversion area according to the area signal input from the area image control module, Y, M, and C of the document are converted. When it is sent out as it is and enters the color conversion area, the designated color is detected and the converted colors Y, M and C are sent out.

UCR (Under Color Removal) & black generation module 305 generates an appropriate amount of K so that color turbidity does not occur, and reduces Y, M, and C by an equal amount according to the amount (undercolor removal). ) Processing is performed to prevent the mixture of black ink and the decrease in the saturation of low-brightness and high-saturation colors.

The spatial filter module 306 is a digital filter,
Halftone dot removal information and edge emphasis information are generated by the modulation table, and smoothed in the case of photographs or halftone printed originals, and edge emphasis is performed in the case of characters or line drawings.

IOT is Y, M, according to ON / OFF signal from IPS.
Four copy cycles (in the case of four full-color copies) are executed for each process color of C and K to enable reproduction of full-color originals. However, in reality, the colors theoretically obtained by signal processing are faithfully reproduced. To play back, it is necessary to make a fine adjustment considering the characteristics of IOT.

TRC (Tone Reproduction Control) module 307 is for improving reproducibility,
It has editing functions such as density adjustment, contrast adjustment, negative / positive inversion, color balance adjustment, character mode, and watermark composition according to area signals.

The reduction / enlargement processing module 308 performs reduction / enlargement processing in the main scanning direction by performing thinning complement and additional complement when reading / writing data using a line buffer. In addition, the shift image processing in the main scanning direction can be performed by reading the data written in the line buffer from the middle or by reading the data after delaying the timing, and by repeatedly reading the data, it is possible to perform the repeated processing. It is also possible to perform mirror image processing by reading out. In the sub-scanning direction, the IIT scan speed is changed from 2x speed to 1 / 4x speed and 50% to 400%.
Scale up to%.

The screen generator 309 converts the gradation toner signal of the process color into an on / off binarized toner signal and outputs the binary toner signal. The screen generator 309 performs binarization processing by comparing the threshold value matrix and the gradation-represented data value. Error diffusion processing is being performed. In IOT, input this binary toner signal and
Almost vertical 80μmφ and width 60μm to correspond to 6 dots / mm
A half tone image is reproduced by turning on / off the φ-elliptical laser beam. In addition, the error diffusion processing is performed by detecting the quantization error between the on / off binarized signal generated by the screen generator and the input gradation signal, and feeding back the quantization error to obtain the gradation of the macro. The reproducibility is improved.

The area image control module 311 is capable of setting seven rectangular areas and their priorities, and area control information is set corresponding to each area. The control information includes color modes such as color conversion and full-color mono color, modulation select information for photographs and characters, TRC select information, screen generator select information, etc.
2. Used for controlling the color conversion module 304, UCR module 305, spatial filter 306, and TRC module 307.

The editing control module reads a document such as a pie chart instead of a rectangle, and enables a coloring process of filling a specified area whose shape is not limited with a specified color. It is set and processed as a command for processing fill logic, logo, etc.

In the IPS of the present invention, as described above, the IIT original reading signal is first END converted and then color masked, and full color data processing is more efficient for original size and frame erasing, and color conversion processing is performed. The undercolor is removed and the black ink is generated to focus on the process color. But,
Processing such as spatial filter, color modulation, TRC, expansion and contraction,
By processing the process color data, the amount of processing is smaller than when processing with full color data,
The number of conversion tables used has been reduced to 1/3, and the number of types has been increased accordingly to improve adjustment flexibility, color reproducibility, gradation reproducibility, and fineness reproducibility.

(I-6) Image Output Terminal (IOT) FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image output terminal.

This device uses an organic photosensitive material belt (Photo Recepter
Belt), K, M, C, Y for 4 full colors
Developing device 404, a transfer device (Tow Roll Transfer Loop) 406 that conveys the paper to the transfer portion, and a vacuum transfer device (Vacuum Tran) that conveys the paper from the transfer device 404 to the fixing device 408.
sfer) 407, paper trays 410, 412, and a paper transport path 411 are provided, and the three units of the photosensitive belt, the developing device, and the transfer device can be pulled out to the front side.

The information light obtained by modulating the laser light from the laser light source 40 is irradiated onto the photosensitive material 41 via the mirror 40d and is exposed to form a latent image. The image formed on the photosensitive material is developed by the developing device 404 to form a toner image. The developing machine 404 is composed of K, M, C and Y, and is arranged in the positional relationship shown in the figure. This is arranged in consideration of, for example, the relationship between the dark attenuation and the characteristics of each toner, and the difference in the influence of the color mixture of other toners on the black toner. However, the driving order for full color copying is
It is Y → C → M → K.

On the other hand, the sheets supplied from the two-stage elevator tray 410 and the other two-stage tray 412 are supplied to the transfer device 406 through the transport path 411. The transfer device 406 is arranged at the transfer portion and is connected by a timing chain or belt.
It consists of two rolls and a gripper bar that will be described later, gripping the paper with the gripper bar and transporting the paper,
The toner image on the photosensitive material is transferred to the paper. In the case of 4 full colors, the paper is rotated 4 times in the transfer device section, and Y, C, M, K
Images are transferred in this order. The transferred sheet is released from the gripper bar, transferred from the transfer device to the vacuum transfer device 407, fixed by the fixing device 408, and ejected.

The vacuum transfer device 407 absorbs the speed difference between the transfer device 406 and the fixing device 408 and synchronizes. In this device,
The transfer speed (process speed) is set at 190 mm / sec, and the fixing speed is 90 mm for full-color copying.
Since it is / sec, the transfer speed and the fixing speed are different. In order to secure the fixing degree, the process speed is reduced, while the power of 1.5kVA cannot be supplied to the fuser.

Therefore, in the case of small paper such as B5 and A4, at the moment when the transferred paper is released from the transfer device 406 and placed on the vacuum transfer device 407, the speed of the vacuum transfer device is reduced from 190 mm / sec to 90 mm / sec and fixing is performed. Same as speed. However, in this device, the distance between the transfer device and the fixing device is made as short as possible to make the device compact, so in the case of A3 paper, it cannot fit between the transfer point and the fixing device, and the speed of the vacuum transfer device is reduced. If so, the trailing edge of A3 is being transferred, and the paper will be braked, causing color misregistration.
Therefore, the buffer plate 40 is provided between the fixing device and the vacuum transfer device.
9 is provided, in the case of A3 paper, the baffle plate is tilted downward to draw a loop on the paper to lengthen the transport path, and the vacuum transport device is set to the same speed as the transfer speed, and the end of the paper is fixed after the transfer is completed. The speed difference is absorbed by reaching the device. Also, in the case of OHP, heat conduction is poor, so A3
The same as for paper.

In addition, in this device, not only full color but also black can be copied without lowering productivity, and in the case of black, fixing is possible even if the toner amount is small and the heat amount is small, so the fixing speed is 190 mm / sec. As it is, the speed is not reduced by the vacuum transfer device. This is the same as in the case of a single color toner layer such as a single color toner other than black because the fixing speed does not decrease. When the transfer is completed, the cleaner 405 scrapes off the toner remaining on the photosensitive material.

(I-7) User interface (U / I) U / I is designed as shown in Fig. 2 to improve operability.
It has a 2-inch color display 51 monitor and a hard control panel 52 beside it. The color display is devised to provide a user with an easy-to-see and easy-to-understand menu, and a color display 51 is combined with an infrared touch board 53 so that the user can directly access it by a soft button on the screen. Also, the hard buttons on the hard control panel 52 and the color display 51
By allocating the operation contents to the soft buttons displayed on the screen, the operation can be simplified and the menu screen can be efficiently configured.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the U / I.

The U / I board consists of two UICB521 and EPIB522 as shown in FIG. The UICB521 also has a touch screen 5 to control the UI hardware and drive the edit pad 513 and memory card 514.
Uses two CPUs (eg Intel 8085 and 6845 equivalents) to process 03 input and write to the CRT.
EPIB522 has 8 functions to draw in the bitmap area.
Since the number of bits is insufficient, a 16-bit CPU (for example, 80C196KA of Intel Corporation) is used, and the function is distributed by configuring the drawing data DMA of the bitmap area to be transferred to the UICB521.

The U / I of the present invention adopts a compact size display, and devises the display screen and its control. For example, the information displayed on the screen is roughly classified and divided into a plurality of screens, and in each screen, detailed information is popped up and omitted from the primary screen to concisely configure the screen with the minimum necessary information. Are devised so that On the screen containing a plurality of information, the features of color display and highlighting are provided so that the necessary information can be easily recognized and identified on the screen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a display screen, FIG. 12 (a) is a diagram showing a configuration of a basic copy screen, and FIG. 12 (b) is a diagram showing an example in which a popup screen is expanded on the basic copy screen. is there.

In the U / I of the present invention, a basic copy screen for setting the copy mode as shown in FIG. 12 is displayed as the initial screen. The screen for setting the copy mode is a soft control panel which is divided into a message area A and a path B.

Message area A uses the top three lines of the screen,
Predetermined messages are displayed for the first line for the state message, for the second line to the third line for the guide message when there is a contradiction in function selection, for the message regarding the abnormal state of the device, and for the warning information message.
In addition, the right end of the message area A is a number display area, in which the set number of copies and the number of copies in progress input by the ten keys are displayed.

Pathway B is an area for selecting various functions.
It has basic copy, add feature, marker edit, business edit, freehand edit, creative edit, tool way, and the wayway tab CG is displayed corresponding to each way. In addition, each pathway has a pop-up to improve operability. The pathway B includes a soft button D that is an option and selects a function when touched, an icon (picture) E that changes according to the selected function and displays the function, an indicator F that displays a reduction ratio, and the like. Those displayed and popped up by the soft button D are marked with a pop-up mark G of Δ. And you can open the pathway by touching the pathway tab C,
By touching the soft button D, the function can be selected. The selection of the function by touching the soft button D is designed so as to be operated sequentially from the upper left to the lower right in consideration of operability.

As described above, the basic copy screen and others are separated to maximize the commonality with other models and the hard console panel, and the edit screen provides screens and functions that match the operator's skill level. It has a multiple layer structure. Furthermore, by combining such a screen configuration and a pop-up function, a highly versatile screen is provided, such as displaying a high-performance or complicated function in one screen in a pop-up. In the reduction / enlargement function, the state where the pop-up screen was opened by touching the scaling soft button was shown in No. 12
It is a figure (b).

The screen display is 3m wide except for the bitmap area.
Tile display with m (8 pixels) and height 6 mm (16 pixels) is adopted, with 80 tiles horizontally and 25 tiles vertically.
The bitmap area is displayed with 151 pixels vertically and 216 pixels horizontally.

The hard control panel is attached to the right side of the color display at an angle that points more toward the center than the screen, as shown in Fig. 20, and the numeric keypad, numeric key clear,
All clear, stop, interrupt, start, information, auditron, language buttons are attached. In addition to the above-mentioned buttons, LED (light emitting diode) lamps are appropriately attached to display the operation state of the buttons.

(I-8) Film Image Reading Device As shown in FIG. 2, the film image reading device comprises a film projector (F / P) 64 and a mirror unit (M / U) 65.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of F / P, Fig. 14 is a perspective view of M / U, and Fig. 15 is
It is a figure which shows schematic structure of F / P, and the relationship between F / P, M / U, and IIT.

The F / P64 has a housing 601 as shown in FIG. 13, and an operation confirmation lamp 602, a manual lamp switch 603, an auto focus / manual focus switching switch (AF / MF switching switch) 604, and Manual focus operation switch (M
/ F operation switch) 605a, 605b are provided. Also,
The housing 601 includes an opening / closing portion 606 that can be opened and closed. A film holding case 607 holding a manuscript film 633 is inserted into the housing 601 vertically or horizontally depending on how the subject recorded on the manuscript film 633 is imaged on the upper surface and the side surface of the opening / closing part 606. Holes 608 and 609 each having a size capable of being formed are provided. These holes 608,609
A hole (not shown) through which the film holding case 607 can project is also formed on the opposite side. Opening / closing part 60
6 is rotatably attached to the housing 601 by a hinge, or detachably attached to the housing 601. By making the opening / closing portion 606 openable and closable, when a small foreign matter enters the housing 601 through the holes 608 and 609, the foreign matter can be easily removed.

As the film holding case 607, a case for 35 mm negative film and a case for positive film are prepared. Therefore, F / P64 is able to support these films. Also, F / P64 is 6 cm × 6 cm or 4 inch
It is designed to be compatible with negative film of 5 inches. In that case, this negative film is brought into close contact with the platen glass 31 between the M / U 65 and the platen glass 31.

A projection lens holding member 611 holding a projection lens 610 is slidably supported on the right side surface of the housing 601 in the figure.

Further, in the housing 601, a light source lamp 613 including a reflector 612 and a halogen lamp is arranged coaxially with the projection lens 610. A cooling fan 614 for cooling the lamp 613 is provided near the lamp 613. Further, on the right side of the lamp 613, an aspherical lens 615 for converging the light from the lamp 613, a heat ray absorbing filter 616 for cutting light rays of a predetermined wavelength, and a convex lens 617 are coaxial with the projection lens 610. It is located above.

On the right side of the convex lens 617, for example, a correction filter holding that supports a correction filter 635 (a correction filter for one film is shown in the figure) for adjusting the film density for 35 mm negative film and positive film, for example. Member 61
8 and a motor 619 for driving the correction filter holding member 618.
And the first and second position detection sensors 620 and 621 that detect the rotational position of the correction filter holding member 618 and the drive motor 619.
And a control device (not shown in the figure) provided to control the automatic correction filter exchanging device. Then, among the correction filters 635 supported by the correction filter holding member 618, the correction filter 635 corresponding to the original filter 633 is automatically selected so as to be aligned with the use position coaxial with each lens such as the projection lens 610. I have to. The correction filter 635 of this automatic correction filter exchange device can be arranged at any place on the optical axis of the projection light, for example, between the platen glass 31 and the imaging unit 37.

Further, the light emitting device 623 and the light receiving device 624 for the auto focus sensor which are interlocked with the projection lens holding member 611, and the projection lens
An autofocus device including a sliding motor 625 that slides the projection lens holding member 611 of 610 with respect to the housing 601 is provided. Film holding case 607 has hole 6
08 or when inserted into the housing 601 through hole 609,
Original film 6 supported by this film holding case 607
33 is a correction filter holding member 618, a light emitter 623 and a light receiver
It is supposed to be located between 624 and. Original film 6
A film cooling fan 626 for cooling the original film 633 is provided near the setting position of 35.

The power source of the F / P 64 is provided separately from the power source of the base machine 30, but is housed in the base machine 30.

As shown in FIG. 14, the M / U 65 includes a bottom plate 627 and a cover 628 having one end rotatably attached to the bottom plate 627. A pair of support pieces 62 are provided between the bottom plate 627 and the cover 628.
9,629 are pivotally mounted, and these support pieces 629,629 support the cover 628 such that the angle formed by the cover 628 and the bottom plate 627 is 45 degrees when the cover 628 is opened to the maximum.

A mirror 630 is provided on the back surface of the cover 628. A large opening is formed in the bottom plate 627, and a Fresnel lens 631 and a diffusion plate 632 are provided so as to close the opening.

The Fresnel lens 631 and the diffusing plate 632 are made of one acrylic plate as shown in FIG. 15, the Fresnel lens 631 is formed on the surface of this acrylic plate, and the diffusing plate 632 is formed on the back surface. Has been formed. The Fresnel lens 631 has a function of preventing the peripheral portion of the image from becoming dark by converting the projection light, which is reflected by the mirror 630 and diffuses, into parallel light. Also diffuser
Reference numeral 632 is a SELFOC lens in the imaging unit 37 formed by parallel light from the Fresnel lens 631.
It has a function of diffusing a small amount of parallel light so that the line sensor 226 cannot detect the shadow of 224.

This M / U65 is folded and stored in a specified storage location when color copying by F / P64 is not performed. And
When used, the M / U 65 is opened and placed at a predetermined position on the platen glass 31 of the base machine 30.

The main functions of the film image reading device are correction filter automatic exchange function, original film insertion direction detection function, auto focus function (AF function), manual focus function (MF function), manual lighting function of light source lamp, automatic magnification change and It has a scan area automatic change function, an automatic shading correction function, and an automatic image quality adjustment function.

(II) Inset synthesis So far, the outline of the configuration of this copying machine has been described. Next, the flowchart of FIG. 16 is shown for the user's operation and the operation of the copying machine when performing inset synthesis with this copying machine. It will be described with reference.

As described above, this copying machine has various editing functions, and editing is performed according to the function and the skill level of the user, that is, marker editing, business editing, and creative editing.
It is divided into types. Marker editing is a pathway for rudimentary editing, in which the desired area of the original is directly surrounded by a marker pen of a color that the copier can recognize.
It is a simple editing process that only sets the editing function.Trim that extracts only the image of the desired area, mask that deletes the image of the desired area, desired color in the desired area,
It has an editing function of black-to-color conversion for coloring with shading at a desired density and for converting a black color of a desired area into a desired color. Business editing is more advanced than marker editing, and is intended for color manuscripts, making it easier and faster to create high-quality original documents, including trim, mask, coloring, In addition to the black-to-color conversion, it has a function of a goro insertion for copying a logo such as a symbol mark at a designated point and a function of paint 1 for filling a closed area existing in an original image with a desired color. The edit pad is used to specify the area or point to be edited. Creative editing is a pathway aimed at experts such as designers, copy service providers, and key operators.
This is the highest-level editing pathway that includes all the editing functions of this copier, and has various editing functions such as inset composition.

By the way, when the all clear button is pressed when the copier is started up, the color feature CRT51 (Fig. 2) displays the screen of the Basic Feature Pathway as shown in Fig. 12 (a). There is. And, as mentioned above,
Since the inset composition is performed by creative editing, first, the user needs to open the creative editing pathway by touching the pathway tab of the creative editing pathway on the screen of FIG. 12 (a).
This is the operation in step S1 in FIG. 16, and when the pathway tab for creative editing is touched, the button information of the soft button is LLUI (Low Le
vel UI) 80 notifies SYSUI (System UI) 81. Upon receiving the notification, the SYSUI 81 recognizes that the creative editing is selected and notifies the LLUI 80 of a command for displaying the creative editing screen. When the LLUI80 receives the notification, it creates a screen for creative editing. For example, the screen as shown in FIG.
Display on T51.

As shown in Fig. 17 (a), the creative pathway is a so-called cut-and-paste of images, which includes trim, mask, mask / shift (partial move), copy-on-copy (watermark composition), logo insertion, and inset composition (Image Composition). Cut / Paste column, Paint 1,
Color column related to color processing such as paint 2, color conversion, coloring (color mesh), and color mode, repeat, mirror image, negative / positive inversion, continuous enlargement (Multi Page Enlar)
It is a manipulated image column that gives special effects to the image, and an image quality column related to image quality adjustment such as color balance and copy quality.

Each function will be described below.

The trim and mask have the same functions as described above.
The partial movement is a function of masking an image of a predetermined area of one original and moving the image of the area to a desired position of the same original. This partial movement function is a package of two functions, mask and shift, and the package function can be easily set by pressing one soft button, which allows you to achieve goal-oriented operability. is there.

The watermark composition is a function of holding the sheet on the transfer device after copying the first original, and then continuously copying the second original. It is clear that this function is also in line with the purpose-oriented operability since it is possible to package some functions to be continuously performed, that is, copying and combining two originals.

The logo insertion has the same function as described in the business editing, and the embedding composition holds the paper on the transfer device after making a color copy of the first original document as the background by masking the inset area. It is a function of successively moving only the extraction area of the second original to the position of the fitting area and copying it in an overlapping manner.

Paint 1 has the same functions as described in Business Editing,
The paint 2 is a function of temporarily masking a specified area and then coloring the area with a specified color. Although functionally similar to coloring, coloring differs from coloring in that the image in the designated area is erased while the image in the designated area is copied as it is.

Color conversion is a function that converts a desired color in a desired area of the original into another color.
Coloring has the same function as described above.

The color mode is the same as the selection of the color mode in the basic feature pathway, and four-color full color, three-color, black and white or red / black mode can be selected by a popup.

The repeat image is a function of repeatedly copying a predetermined image in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, and is an effective function when copying a number of logos or service marks.

The mirror image is a function for obtaining a mirror image.

Negative / positive inversion is a function of performing negative / positive inversion with a designated single color.

The multi-page enlargement is a function of enlarging the viewing and listening pages of a book by a predetermined magnification and copying the pages continuously on a paper of a predetermined size page by page.

As for the color balance, the area for performing the color balance adjustment, the toner color and the amount thereof can be arbitrarily set.

The copy quality is a function for performing adjustments such as copy density adjustment, and a desired adjustment can be performed by pop-up.

Although the color balance and copy quality can be set in the basic mode as described above, it may be necessary to adjust the color balance etc. only within the desired area of the document, so such adjustments can be made for the creative pathway. The function is provided.

The collection (Correction) is the same as described in the Business Editing Pathway, adding, deleting, changing setting functions, deleting the setting area, adjusting the size, correcting the position, deleting the indicated point (point), correcting the position, etc. This is the function to perform.

Now, when the soft button for inset composition is pressed on the screen of FIG. 17 (a) (step S2), SYSUI81 interprets the button information and shows it to LLUI80, for example, as shown in FIG. 17 (b). Such a screen is instructed, and the parameters necessary for performing the inset composition, that is, the setting of the inset area for the first original and the setting of the extraction area for the second original, and the setting of the copy magnification of the image of the extraction area To request. In the screen of FIG. 17 (b), the menu title of "IMAGE COMPOSITION" showing the inset composition is displayed, and further, the bitmap area H in which the set inset area and the extraction area are displayed and the state of the inset composition. An icon I shown, a soft button J for setting the copy magnification of the extraction area, and other soft buttons are displayed.

Now, next, the user places the first original document and the second original document on the edit pad, and sets the fitting area and the extraction area, respectively (step S3).
As shown in FIG. 18A, the first original 702 and the second original 7
The 03 can be placed on the edit pad 700 in close contact with each other without any gap. In the figure, 701 is a mark indicating the registration position of the edit pad 700.
Then, in the state shown in FIG. 18A, first, with a stylus (not shown), two points P ₁₁ (x ₁₁ ,
When y ₁₁ ), P ₁₂ (x ₁₂ , y ₁₂ ) is instructed, the coordinate information is notified to the LLUI80, and further notified from the LLUI80 to the SYSUI81 and temporarily stored. The LLUI 80 determines a rectangle whose diagonal points are the two points P ₁₁ and P ₁₂ based on the coordinate information, and the rectangle is edited in the bitmap area H as shown in FIG. 17 (c). Fill and display at the position corresponding to the coordinate value on 700. This is the fitting area 704. In this way, the position and size of the set area can be clearly confirmed on the bitmap area H, so that the setting error can be prevented. Next, the user makes the same 2 for the second original 703.
When the points P ₂₁ (x ₂₁ , y ₂₁ ) and P ₂₂ (x ₂₂ , y ₂₂ ) are specified, these coordinate information is notified to the LLUI80, and the LLUI80 also sends the SYSU
In addition to being notified to I81, in the bitmap area H,
As shown in FIG. 17 (d), the extraction area 705 is displayed (step S4). As described above, in this copier,
At the time of inset synthesis, the first two points are used for setting the inset region, and the next two points are used for setting the extraction region.

When the setting of the fitting area and the extraction area is completed, the user next sets the magnification of the extraction area using the magnification setting button J. Magnification is "100%", "automatic", "arbitrary magnification (Var
iable) ”, and if“ 100% ”is selected, the image of the extraction area is combined into the inset area with the same size, and if“ Automatic ”is selected, SYS The (SYSTEM) 82 automatically determines the magnification in the x direction and the magnification in the y direction from the size of the fitting area and the size of the extraction area, and scales the image of the extraction area and combines it with the fitting area. Also, when "arbitrary magnification" is selected, a pop-up opens so that desired magnifications can be set in the x and y directions, respectively, and the image in the extraction area is enlarged or reduced to the set magnification. Are combined in the inset area. The magnification information is SY, as is the coordinate information.
SUI81 is notified and stored.

As described above, when the setting of the fitting area 704, the extraction area 705, and the magnification of the extraction area 705 is completed, the save / save is performed.
When the Save / Close button is clicked, the set parameters are registered, but if you want to set the parameters again, click the Cancel button.

After setting the parameters, the first original 701
And the second manuscript 703, as shown in FIG.
It is turned inside out and placed on the platen glass 710. At this time, as well as on the edit pad 700,
The first original 701 and the second original 703 are placed in close contact with each other without a gap.

When the start button is pressed in this state (step S
5) The relevant button information is notified to SYSUI81 and interpreted. Then, the SYSUI 81 notifies the SYS 82 that the copy start is instructed, and also notifies the SYS 82 of the coordinate information of the fitting area 704, the coordinate information of the extraction area 705 and the magnification information which have been stored once. On this condition, SYS
82 instructs IIT84 and IPS85 to perform prescan (step S6). This causes the IIT84 to scan the imaging unit 37 (Fig. 7 (a)) over the entire surface of the platen glass, and the IPS85 activates the DOD303 (Fig. 9).
Document size is detected based on digital image data output from IT. As a result, the point P in FIG.
The coordinate value of (x _max , y _max ) is obtained, and the coordinate value is notified from the IPS 85 to the SYS 82 (step S7).

Next, SYS82 determines the point P (x
The size of the first original 702 is determined from the coordinate values of ( _max , y _max ) (step S8), and the determination process is performed as follows. That is, the SYS82, as shown in FIG.
Y-coordinate value y _{max of} , i.e., only the size in the main scanning direction is referred. If 255≤y _max <277, it is determined that the first original 702 is a B5 size original, and 277≤y _max. <295 (Unit is m
m, the same below), the first manuscript 702 is a letter (LE
T) size (8.5 x 11 inches), it is determined that the
When 5 ≦ y _max <315, it is determined that the first original 702 is an A4 size original, and when 315 ≦ y _max and y _max <255
In this case, the first original 702 is determined to be an illegal original.

Therefore, from this fact, the first original 702 is a standard size original, and the size of the second original 703 in the y direction exceeds the size of the first original 702 in the y direction. There are two restrictions that must not exist.

By determining the size of the first original 702 in this manner, the scanning range of the first original 702 and the size of the paper are determined.

When the size of the first manuscript 702 is determined, the SYS82
4, the IPS 85, and the IOT 90 are instructed to execute the copy (step S9), but the copy operation is performed in two stages. The instruction from the SYS82 to the IOT90 is performed by the high-speed communication line LNET shown in FIG. 3 via the copy execution (COPIER EXEC.) Module 87 of the MCB.

In the first stage of the copy operation, mask copy is performed on the first original 702. That is, the IIT84 is instructed of the scanning range based on the first original size obtained in step S8, the IPS85 is instructed to mask the fitting area 704 of the first original 702, and the IOT90 is instructed in step S8. An instruction is given to copy on a sheet of the same size as the obtained size of the first original 702. Therefore, when the color mode is four full colors, the imaging unit 37 scans the range of the first original 702 and transfers the image data to the IPS 85 four times. The IPS 85 deletes the data in the fitting area 704 from the image data and transfers it to the IOT 90. As a result, in IOT90, the image of the first original is copied onto a sheet of the same size as the first original 702, but the inset area
The image of the portion 704 is masked. In addition, the paper is not ejected even when the first-stage copying is completed, and the transfer device 406 (first
(See Fig. 0).

Next, in the second stage, the extraction area 7 of the second original 703 is extracted.
Partial move processing is applied to 05. That is, the imaging unit 37 moves from the home position to point P in FIG. 18 (b).
Move to position ₂₁ and scan the range up to point P ₂₂ four times. I
The PS85 extracts the image data in the range of the extraction area 705 from the image data transferred from the IIT84, enlarges or reduces it to the set magnification, and moves it to the position of the inset area 704. Transferred image data to IOT90. The movement processing is IPS8 for movement in the main scanning direction.
5 and the IIT84 moves in the sub-scanning direction. Transfer device 40
Since the sheet on which the first-stage copying has been performed is still held in the sheet 6, the second-stage copying is performed in this state, so that the first original 702 is set in the fitting area 704.
A copy in which the image of the extraction area 705 of the second document is combined can be obtained.

When the second stage copying is completed, the imaging unit
37 returns to the home position, the IOT ejects the paper, and the process of fitting and combining is completed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a color copying machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 3 is hardware. Figure showing architecture, Figure 4 showing software architecture, Figure 5 showing relationship between system and other remotes, Figure 6 showing module configuration of system, and Figure 7 imaging FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a unit, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a video signal processing circuit, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an outline of a module configuration of IPS, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an IOT, and FIG. 11 is a UI hardware. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a display screen, FIG. 13 is a perspective view of F / P, FIG. 14 is a perspective view of M / U, and FIG. 15 is a configuration of F / P. Fig. 16 schematically shows the relationship between F / P and M / U and IIT. Fig. 16 shows the process flow during inset synthesis. Row chart,
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen at the time of inset combination,
FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining how to place an original when embedding and combining is performed in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining a first original size determination method, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining inset combining in a machine. 1 ... Control means, 2 ... IIT, 3 ... IPS, 4 ... IOT,
5 ... DOD module, 6 ... Edit processing module, 7
…… Edit pad, 8 …… UI.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An area setting means for setting an area on a document, an image input terminal for reading an image of a document, an image processing system for performing at least inset-combining edit processing on image data, and an image. In an image recording apparatus having an image output terminal for recording, a user interface for making various settings, and a control means, the control means sets inset synthesis by the user interface, and the inset area is set by the area setting means. The first original having a fixed size and the second original having the extraction area set and at least the size of the image input terminal in the main scanning direction smaller than that of the first original are placed on the platen glass of the image input terminal. If the start button is pressed while the Prescan, the process of determining the document size of the first document based on the size of the document detected by the image processing system in the main scanning direction at this time, and the prescan. To perform a first-stage copy operation that performs a copy operation within the range of the first document based on the size of the first document determined during scanning, and a copy operation within the range of the extraction area set for the second document. And a process of instructing the image input terminal to perform the second-stage copy operation of the image input terminal, and the image input terminal performs the pre-scan operation and the first determination made by the control means during the first-stage copy operation.
The scanning of the range of the original is performed to read the image of the first original, and the scanning of the range in the sub-scanning direction of the extraction area set in the second original by the area setting unit is performed during the second-stage copying operation. The image processing system performs the process of reading the image in the area, and the image processing system detects at least the maximum size in the main scanning direction as the document size in the state where the first and second documents are placed during the prescan. Then, during the first-stage copy operation, the inset area set on the first original is masked based on the image data read by the image-input terminal, and during the second-stage copy operation, the image-input terminal is used. The image output terminal performs the process of extracting the image data in the extraction area from the read image data. -During the operation, the image of the first original whose masking area is masked by the image processing system is copied onto the paper and held in the transfer device, and during the second-stage copying operation, the image of the second original extraction area is transferred to the transfer device. An image recording apparatus characterized by performing a process of copying an image of a first original document held in a range of an inset area and discharging a sheet after the copying is completed.