JPH0817434B2 - Color scanner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a color scanner capable of completely continuous automatic operation from document reading to image output.

(Prior Art) A conventional color scanner is generally a drum scanner, and an original for reading and outputting an image is manually attached to an input drum with a tape or the like for reading. The structure has an input section 20 for scanning and reading a color reversal film document as shown in FIG. 16, and the input section 20 separates the color into R (red), G (green) and B (blue). The color separation signal CS is input to the image processing unit 30A, and the image processing unit 30A
The halftone dot% signal DS processed by is input to the output unit 50 and C
(Cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow, K (ink) 4th screen halftone film is output, and the operator directly views the original or the original is displayed on the image processing unit 30A. Is displayed on the display device and while watching the displayed image, the setup condition SU is manually input from the outside.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the conventional color scanner, the operator determines and inputs the setup condition SU for each document as described above, and the knobs, keys, etc. are operated every time to input. I was doing. Further, in the drum scanner type color scanner, it is difficult to mount the original on the cylinder, and it is necessary to replace the cylinder when the magnification greatly changes. Furthermore, the setting of the manuscript in the input section is also performed manually, which is far from being fully automated.

The present invention has been made under the circumstances as described above, and an object of the present invention relates to a flat-scanning type color scanner which is fully automated except for setting disassembly conditions for a document to improve the efficiency of the scanner process. .

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention relates to a color scanner, and the above object of the present invention is to provide an input section for reading a color separated by scanning an original and an original stored in a storage. A document storage / conveyance unit that automatically conveys the document to the input unit, an output condition setting unit that sets separation conditions when the document is output, and a halftone dot signal by image processing based on the color separation signals from the input unit. An image processing unit that outputs a halftone dot film according to the halftone dot signal, a characteristic value of the original document based on rough scan data from the image processing unit, and an original document based on the characteristic value. This is accomplished by providing classification information and an automatic condition setting unit that automatically sets up setup parameters of the image processing unit according to the document classification information.

(Operation) In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, a document such as a color reversal film is scanned by the input unit 20 and is color-separated into three RGB colors and read, and the color separation signal CS is input to the image processing unit 30. Therefore, the rough scan data LS from the image processing unit 30 in the rough scan (pre-scan) is input to the automatic condition setting unit 40, and the automatic condition setting unit 40 images the document classification information PC obtained as described later. The setup parameters necessary for image processing are automatically set by inputting them to the processing unit 30. Further, the operator manually inputs data other than the processing conditions necessary for the image processing unit 30, that is, the disassembling condition SC for the document.

As described above, in the color scanner of the present invention, the automatic condition setting unit 40 automatically obtains the processing condition from the rough scan data LS, and the setup parameters necessary for the image processing are automatically set. Just input the disassembly conditions (magnification, output size, trimming range, number of lines, type of negative / positive output, etc.) SC, and all other conditions will be automatically input to improve the efficiency of the scanner process. Can be planned.

Also, the originals are input from the storage section to the input section via the original cassette.
The document cassette automatically conveyed to the input section 20 and read by the input section 20 is automatically conveyed and stored in the storage section. This has achieved complete automation of document reading and output.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an external configuration of a color scanner system of the present invention, in which the scanner 1 is placed on a desk,
An operation panel 2 having a display section is placed on the desk, and a signal processing section 3 is installed below the operation panel 2.
Further, an image output machine 4 and an automatic developing machine 5 for developing the output film are installed in the vicinity. FIG. 2 shows the coupling relationship between the storage / conveyance device 10 of the document cassette accommodating a document such as a color reversal film and the input section 20 of the scanner 1. The storage / conveyance device 10 mounts the document cassette. A cassette mounting table 11 for this purpose and an automatic feeder 12 for accommodating and automatically conveying a large number of original cassettes.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the automatic feeder 12. A storage box 100 for storing a large number of rectangular parallelepiped original cassettes 300 in a stack is provided with entrances 101 at a plurality of stages at predetermined intervals. At the same time, a feeding window 102 is provided on the side surface for pushing out the document cassette 300 in the M direction shown in the figure by the pressing force and rotational force of the conveying roller 121 and the elastic belt 122, or for storing it in the N direction shown in the figure. There is. Support plates 103A to 103D and 104A to 104D are provided at the four corners of the top and bottom of the storage box 100, and circular holes are formed in the diagonal support plates 103B, 104B and 103D and 104D, respectively. The rods 105 and 106 are pierced through, and the other diagonal support plates 103A, 104A and 103C, 104C are provided with threaded holes, respectively, and screw rods 107 and 108 are screwed and hung vertically. There is. Rollers 136 and 137 are attached to the lower ends of the screw rods 107 and 108, respectively.
The storage box 100 is moved up and down by being rotated by the motor 130 via 5 and 134, respectively. That is, the drive rollers 132 and 133 are attached to the motor shaft 131 of the motor 130 in different steps, the belt 135 is mounted between the rollers 133 and 136, and the belt 134 is mounted between the rollers 132 and 137. ing. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the storage box 100 is lifted to the uppermost position, and the document cassette is being fed out from the lowest entrance 101.

In addition, a feeding table is provided on the feeding window 102 side of the storage box 100.
120 is provided, and as shown in detail in FIG. 5, a motor 122 and a solenoid 125 are mounted on the feeding table 120, and P or Q with the shaft 123A as a fulcrum.
A rotating plate 123 that rotates in the direction is provided. A plunger 125A of a solenoid 125 is coupled to an end of the rotating plate 123, and a delay roller 121 for feeding and storing the document cassette 300 is attached to the other end of the rotary plate 123. The elastic belt 124 between the drive shaft 126 and
Is mounted. Further, the rotating plate 123 is constantly given a force to rotate in the Q direction about the fulcrum 123A by a spring (not shown), and rotates in the P direction via the plunger 125A when the solenoid 125 is turned on. It is like this. Further, the feeding window 102 of the storage box 100
A drive plate 141 that can move forward and backward is disposed on the opposite side of the drive plate 141, and a plurality of rotation-free guide rollers 140 are arranged on the drive plate 141. Document cassette 3 by guide roller 140
00 is smoothly delivered and stored.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the internal configuration of the storage box 100 is provided with stepwise storage shelves 100A and 100B on both sides, and the original cassette 300 slides on the shelves of the storage shelves 100A and 100B. It is then stored and delivered. 6 shows the cassette transport mechanism 13 and the input section of the scanner 1.
20 shows the outline of the internal structure of the auto feeder 12
The original cassette 300 fed from the inside is conveyed in the cassette conveying mechanism 13 by a belt conveyor or the like, and the entrance / exit 30 of the input section 20 is conveyed.
It is sent to the conveyance path 301 via 2. Conveying rollers 311 to 313 are arranged on the side surface of the conveying path 301.
Drive rollers 314 to 316 are attached to 311 to 313 via respective drive shafts. A belt 317 is mounted between the drive shaft 318 of the motor 310 and the drive rollers 314 to 316, and the transport rollers 311 to 313 are rotated by the drive of the motor 310 to guide the document cassette 300. Meanwhile, the document cassette 300 is conveyed on the conveying path 301, and the conveyed document cassette 300 is sent and loaded on a document table 400 shown in detail in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows the structure of the document table 400 of the image reading unit in which the above-mentioned document cassette 300 is used. The entire document table 400 in the form of a housing is composed of the moving member 401 connected to the document table 400 and the moving member 401. A wire 402 connected to 401 and a motor 403 are used for scanning in the sub-scanning direction. Further, in the original table 400, a rotary table receiver 411 rotated by a motor 410 in a direction shown in the figure is provided, and a cassette receiver 412 for receiving the original cassette 300 is provided in a central portion of the rotary table receiver 411. The entire rotary table receiver 411 is scanned in the trimming direction by the moving member 420 connected to the moving plate 423 and the wire 421 and the motor 422 connected to the moving member 420. Further, on the upper surface of the starting end portion in the sub-scanning direction of the document table 400, a correction area 404 for adjusting the optical system by reading the magnification adjustment chart at the start of image reading.
Is provided. Further, guide rollers 431 to 433 and 436 for pressing the both sides of the original cassette 300 to convey the original cassette 300 are arranged on the upper surface of the rotary base receiver 411, respectively, and the original cassette is provided at the tip thereof.
A stopper 430 for positioning 300 is provided.

Further, the detailed block diagram of the image processing unit 30 is as shown in FIG. 9, and the RGB color separation signal CS from the input unit 20 is shown.
Is A / D converted by the A / D converter 31 and then input to the density conversion calibration circuit 32, and the CMY color signal is END (Equiva
The lent Neutral Density) conversion circuit 33 performs END conversion while maintaining gray balance, and the END converted signal is input to the picture adjust 34. A signal in which the highlight and shadow points are set at predetermined positions by the picture adjust 34 is input to the color correction circuit 35, and the color-corrected color signal is gradation-converted by the gradation conversion table 36.
The gradation-converted signal is input to a K-plate generation circuit 39 that generates a K-plate (black board) in addition to the CMY plate and converted into a CMYK color signal, and then is input to a magnification (enlargement / reduction) adjustment circuit 37. It is inputted and converted in magnification, and inputted to a sharpness emphasizing circuit 38 for emphasizing sharpness, and a set point% signal DS is outputted. Further, the END matrix data is input to the END conversion circuit 33 to set a matrix for END conversion, and the set density values of highlight and shadow points are input to the picture adjust 34 to set the light-dark curve of the image. It Further, a color correction coefficient is input to the color correction circuit 35, parameters for color correction are set, a gradation curve is input to the gradation conversion table 36, and a K size curve is input to the K plate generation circuit 39. K plate strength, U
CR (under color removal) intensity is input and sharpness enhancement circuit
The USM (unsharp mask) size intensity data is entered in each 38.

On the other hand, the mechanism of the input unit 20 is a plane scan type as follows. That is, FIG. 10 shows an input section optical system capable of rough scan (prescan), and the original cassette 300 received in the cassette receiver is provided by a linear aperture type fluorescent lamp 210 arranged below. Is irradiated. In the original cassette 300, an original 320 such as a color reversal film is held by being sandwiched between two transparent plates 321 and 322. The image light transmitted through the original cassette 300 is input to an image forming lens 220 of a predetermined magnification, and is input to a color separation prism 230 connected to the upper part of the image forming lens 220, and R, G, B
Are separated into the three primary colors. The color-separated RGB three-color light is input to image sensors 230R, 230G, and 230B, which are CCDs, respectively, and are converted into RGB image signals. FIG. 11 shows the main scanning relationship between the fluorescent lamp 210 and the original 320. The linear main scanning line 320A is read at the same time, and the entire image is read by sequentially moving in the sub-scanning direction.

With such a configuration, its operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the manuscript 320 is set in the manuscript cassette 300 (step S1), and the disassembly condition SC such as magnification, trimming range, negative / positive position is input to the image processing unit 30 from an external setup station (not shown), The data is stored in a memory (not shown) in association with the cassette number (step S2).
The disassembly conditions SC are sequentially input until the end of the original (step S3), and the original cassette 100 is placed in the storage box 100 of the auto feeder 12 of the storage / conveyance apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 as shown in FIG. Is set (step S4), and the image reading operation is started by pressing the start button or the like of the apparatus (step S5).

Here, the conveyance of the document cassette 300 from the auto feeder 12 of the storage and conveyance device 10 to the scanner 1 will be described.
When the desired original is designated on the operation panel 2, the original cassette 300 containing the original is searched. At this time, the motors 130 are driven to rotate the rollers 136 and 137, and the screw rods 107 and 108 are rotated. Move the storage box 100 up and down. At this time, the solenoid 125 is turned on, and the rotating plate 123 is rotating in the P direction around the fulcrum 123A as an axis. Therefore, when the roller 121 moves away from the feeding window 102, the drive plate 141 on the opposite side is also stored in the storage box. 1
By moving away from 00, the storage box 100 moves up and down smoothly. When the storage box 100 reaches the set position, the motor 1
When the driving of 30 is stopped and the solenoid 125 is turned off, the rotating plate 120 is rotated in the Q direction by the action of a spring or the like, and the roller 121 presses the side surface of the original cassette 300 through the feeding window 102. The guide roller 140 of the drive plate 141 is also brought into contact with the side surface of the document cassette 300. By driving the motor 122 in the S direction in this state, the original cassette 300 is fed out from the entrance 101 in the M direction.

The original cassette 300 fed out from the auto feeder 12 in this way is sent to the conveyance path 301 of the input unit 20 of the scanner 1 via the cassette conveyance mechanism 13, and the side surfaces are moved by the rotation of the conveyance rollers 311 to 313 driven by the motor 310. It is sent to the document table 400 while being guided. Document set 300 is platen 400
Slide on the moving plate 423 with the guide rollers 431-43.
While being guided by 3 and 434 to 436, it advances to the position of the stopper 430 and is filled in the cassette receiver 412 at the stopped position.
The cassette number n loaded in the scanner 1 in this way
Read out the decomposition condition SC from the memory (step S
6) After that, the input section 20 displays the original 320 in the original cassette 300.
Rough scan (pre-scan) of (step S
7) The rough scan data LS is input to the automatic condition setting section 40 through the image processing section 30 and the following processing is performed.

That is, automatic setting of signal processing conditions by prescan will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. The image data PD obtained by the prescan is stored in the image memory (step S31), the image of the document is displayed on a monitor such as a CRT (step S32), and the characteristic value CR is calculated (step S34). As the characteristic value CR, the density (level) in arbitrary cumulative% of the cumulative histogram for each RGB,
There are the above-mentioned value of the cumulative histogram for each RGB, the average value of the density for each RGB, the maximum peak density for the histogram for each RGB, etc. for each area divided into screens (for example, 1/4, 1/8). FIG. 15 (B) shows an example of a cumulative histogram, and the density at an arbitrary% of this cumulative histogram is obtained as shown in FIG. 15 (A). Further, FIG. 15B shows an example of the histogram, and the maximum peak density of the histogram is obtained as shown in FIG. The document classification information PC is calculated according to a rule that describes the relationship between the characteristic value CR and the document characteristic. For example, according to the following rules, manuscript classification information PC (~)
Get.

If exposure with very low average density is considerably over if then exposure with low average density is over.If exposure with slightly lower average density is slightly over if then exposure with average density is medium If density average is moderate then then exposure is normal If density average If the exposure is slightly higher, then the exposure is slightly under. If the average density is high, then the exposure is too low. If the average exposure is very high, then the exposure is very under. As described above, the average density range is classified into seven ranges. Are distinguished by Arbitrary input data is the above 7
One of the two rules, and under or overexposure is determined. As the manuscript classification information PC, there are other high key / low key, presence / absence of highlight point, presence / absence of picture, skin color, color cast, etc., and the same fuzzy inference rules as described above can be applied. Here, the manuscript classification information PC
Each item of is explained.

Density: The read image signal is calibrated at the input section and is equivalent to the density scale. High Key / Low Key: The high key means a white-tone original, and the low key means a black-tone original. Each is manuscript classification information.

[Measurement method] Apply the rule to the characteristic value and obtain the manuscript classification information by fuzzy reasoning. In fuzzy reasoning, manuscript classification information is treated as a digitized grade.

(1) If maximum peak density is low then original is high key (2) If maximum peak density is medium then original is normal key (3) If maximum maximum peak density is high then original is low key Highlight point: Highlight point Generally refers to the brightest point on the manuscript.

However, it is determined that there is no highlight point if the catch light (the part that is shining on the subject) is excluded and there is no bright white part.

[Measurement Method] As the characteristic value, a highlight candidate point and an average density value of each candidate point are listed. As the highlight candidate points, first, an area is obtained on the rough scan data by using 5% of the cumulative histogram as a threshold value, and an area having an area equal to or larger than a certain value is set as the highlight candidate point. Next, the density average value of each candidate point is obtained, the rule is applied to the characteristic value, and the document classification information is obtained by fuzzy reasoning.

(1) If there is no candidate point for highlighting then there is no highlighting point (2) If the average density of all candidate points is low or high
then there is no highlight point (3) If the density average of any of the candidate points is medium then
There is a highlight point. Picture: Shows a rough classification of the subject. For example, a person, a landscape, a product manuscript, or the like.

[Measurement method] Information that can be used to judge each design is taken as a characteristic value. Each area of the skin color area, the sky blue area, the green area, or the area and position of the gray area is used as the characteristic value.

(1) If the area of the flesh-colored area is not then a manuscript (2) If the area of the If flesh-colored area is large then the person's manuscript (3) If the area of the if sky blue area is small then not a landscape manuscript (4) If the sky-blue area (5) If the green area is small then the scenery original (6) If the green area is large then the scenery original (7) If the gray area is large and in the back then
It is a product manuscript. (8) If the area of the gray area is small then it is not a product manuscript. Color cast: It means that the gray balance is lost depending on the lighting condition at the time of shooting.

[Measurement Method] The distribution of the highlight region is investigated, and the formula of the first principal component is obtained for the distribution of each color. Then, it is determined whether or not there is a balance by the degree of straight line overlap.

(1) If the highlight area is balanced then
No color cast.

(2) If highlight area is not balanced th
en Color cast.

The above-mentioned manuscript classification information PC is an example, and can be added as needed as an inference rule at any time, and the inference rule may be changed to improve the performance. The same applies to the fuzzy inference rules when obtaining the following setup parameters.

As the setup parameter, all that is released to the user as the operation of the color scanner can be handled. Specifically, it is a highlight / shadow point density, a highlight / shadow point halftone dot percentage, a gradation correction coefficient, a color correction (color correction) coefficient, a UCR intensity, a sharpness intensity coefficient, and the like. Since fuzzy inference is applied to determine the setup parameters, the rules are described as follows for the manuscript classification information PC.

(1) If exposure is over then the highlight point density is low (2) If exposure is normal then the highlight point density is normal (3) If exposure is under then the highlight point density is high (4) If original High key then add the highlight part of gradation correction coefficient (5) If original is normal key then gradation correction coefficient is normal (6) If original adds shadow part of low key then gradation correction coefficient (7) If There is a highlight point then the density of the highlight point is the density on the original (8) If there is no highlight point then the highlight point density is usually (9) If the person's original then skin color should be the target value Set the color correction coefficient (10) If the original manuscript then weakens the sharpness intensity coefficient (11) Set the color correction coefficient such that the then landscape original then sky blue and green are the target values (12) ) If the product manuscript then gray Set the middle part of the gradation correction coefficient so as to take a lance (13) If the color cast then sets the highlight point density to be balanced. Above-mentioned rules (1) to (3) for the exposure amount. Will be further detailed, for example, as follows.

If exposure is considerably over then highlight point density is 0.05 If exposure is over then highlight point density is 0.10 If exposure is slightly over then highlight point density is 0.15 If exposure is normal then highlight point density is 0.20 If exposure is slightly Under-then highlight point density is 0.30 If exposure is under-then highlight point density is 0.40 If exposure is quite under-then the highlight point density is 0.50 This rule is the same, and the highlight point density is set. Highlight point densities are similarly output from the other feature values, and the average value is obtained as a whole result. Similar fuzzy reasoning from IF to then… can be applied to other items.

On the other hand, while watching the image display on the monitor, the operator inputs the trimming range and the like through the operation panel 2 (step S33), and thereafter sets the parameters with the document classification information PC obtained as described above (step S3).
5) After setting the signal processing conditions (step S3
6) Then, the main scan is performed by the input unit 20 (step S37). The read data of the main scan is input to the image processing unit 30 and signal-processed with automatically set parameters. The setup parameters include the density of highlight / shadow points, the shape of the gradation conversion carp, the sharpness enhancement coefficient, and the color correction coefficient.

Also, the CMYK halftone dot% signal output from the image processing unit 30.
The output unit 50 converts the DS into a mesh film and outputs it.
The output half-tone film is developed by the automatic processor 5 and commercialized.
It will be created as a YK platemaking film.

The used document cassette 300, which has been subjected to image reading as described above, is ejected from the cassette receiver 412 of the document table 400 and is guided on the moving plate 423 by the guide rollers 431 to 433 and 434 to 43.
The sheet is conveyed along 6 and is sent to the cassette conveying mechanism 13 by the reverse rotation of the motor 310. The document cassette 300 transported by the cassette transport mechanism 13 is transported in the N direction into the storage box 100 from the doorway 101 of the storage box 100 that has been raised and lowered to a predetermined position in advance, and the motor 122 is rotated in the R direction to copy the document. Store the cassette 300.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the color scanner of the present invention, the image characteristic signal is obtained from the data obtained by the rough scan (pre-scan) of the input section, and the classification information of the document is obtained and automatically. The image processing conditions are set. Therefore, the operator's setup operation can be automated, the efficiency of the scanner process can be improved, and the objectivity of data setting can be realized. Further, the originals (original cassettes) can be automatically stored and conveyed, and the high-speed operation of the scanner is realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view of a storing and conveying device, FIG. 3 is an internal structure view of an auto feeder, and FIG.
FIG. 5 is a structural view of a storage box, FIG. 5 is a plan structural view of an automatic feeder, FIG. 6 is a structural drawing of a scanner input section, FIG. 7 is a structural view of a document table, and FIG. 8 is a structure of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing unit according to the present invention, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are mechanical diagrams showing an example of an input unit, and FIG. 12 is an operation example of the present invention. A flow chart shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 is a diagram for explaining a state of parameter setting in the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional color scanner. 1 ... Scanner, 2 ... Operation panel, 3 ...
Signal processing unit, 4 ... Image output machine, 5 ... Automatic developing machine, 10
…… Storing and transporting device, 11 …… Cassette mounting table, 12 …… Ota feeder, 13 …… Cassette transport mechanism, 20 …… Input section,
30 ... Image processing unit, 40 ... Automatic condition setting unit, 50 ... Output unit, 100 ... Storage box, 120 ... Delivery table, 122, 130,
310 …… motor, 125 …… solenoid, 210 …… fluorescent lamp, 2
30 …… color separation prism, 300 …… manuscript cassette, 320 ……
Manuscript, 400 ... manuscript table.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location G06F 15/66 310

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An input section for color-separating and reading a document while scanning it, a document storage / conveying section for automatically transporting the document stored in a storage section to the input section, and a disassembly for outputting the document. An output condition setting unit that sets conditions, an image processing unit that performs image processing based on the color separation signal from the input unit and outputs a halftone dot signal, and an output unit that outputs a halftone dot film by the halftone dot signal. A characteristic value of the document is obtained based on the rough scan data from the image processing unit, document classification information is calculated based on the characteristic value, and a setup parameter of the image processing unit is automatically calculated according to the document classification information. A color scanner comprising an automatic condition setting unit for setting.