JPH01163768A - copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides a copying apparatus that recognizes different color image areas on a document from reflected light exposed to the document and forms images of different colors for each color region. It is related to.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in this type of device, such as an analog copying machine, a latent image is erased by emitting light from, for example, an LED array onto an area specified by an erase area specifying means provided in an operation unit, such as a digitizer or numerical input. A model equipped with an erase function has been commercialized. In addition, in a digital copying machine, such as a laser beam printer, image information read from a reader is
An image that is buffered in the H memory and that converts the image information stored at the address corresponding to the area data into white image information when, for example, masking processing is specified for the area data specified from the operation unit. There are also models on the market that are configured to perform processing, erase specified images, and easily perform trimmed copies.

Incidentally, recent image processing apparatuses are configured so that a plurality of development units can be exchangeably housed, and when performing trimming copying as described above, trimming copying can be performed in a desired copy color, There is an increasing demand for obtaining a well-designed or impressive copied image by multiple-transferring trimmed images of different colors onto a single transfer sheet.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, in order to perform the color trimming copy described above with an analog copying device, a complicated key is required to specify the inside or outside of the color area to be copied in the original, and then repeat erase and development processing on the image for that area. There are operational problems in that the user is not able to fully utilize the functions, as it requires a lot of practice and waste of paper to obtain the optimum color cutout image.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it separates the reflected light obtained by exposing an original into colors, detects a colored area of a specific color, and erases the detected colored area of a specific color. By doing so, it is an object of the present invention to provide a copying apparatus capable of outputting a mask image in which an image drawn in a line drawing area is erased from a single color original with a simple operation and with high accuracy.

[Means for solving problems]

A copying apparatus according to the present invention includes an area detection means for detecting a colored area of a specific color in a document, and an eraser for erasing an area outside the image area of a photoreceptor corresponding to the colored area of a specific color detected by the area detection means. means, and a development control means for developing an image area of the photoreceptor corresponding to the colored area of the specific color detected by the area detection means by any one of the plurality of development units selected. It is something that

[Effect]

In this invention, the eraser irradiates a light beam to erase the outside of the image area of the photoreceptor corresponding to the colored area of a specific color detected by the area detection means, and the development control means The development control means controls the development processing of the plurality of development units so that an image area of the photoconductor corresponding to the colored area of the specific color is developed by one of the development units selected from among the plurality of development units. do.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a copying apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an original table glass, on which a color original, which will be described later, is placed at a predetermined position. Reference numeral 2 denotes an original irradiation lamp composed of, for example, a halogen lamp, which exposes the original placed on the original table glass 1. Scanning mirrors 3a to 3C are housed in an optical scanning unit (not shown) and guide reflected light from the document to the CCD unit 4 while reciprocating in the main scanning direction. The CCD unit 4 includes an imaging lens 4a+
Equipped with a switching filter that separates the reflected light into colors based on the copy color information specified from the switch box described later.
For example, it is composed of an image sensor 4b composed of a CCD, a non-filter image sensor 4C, and the like. In addition, the image sensor 4b
The non-filter image sensor 4C constitutes an area detecting means according to the present invention, and detects a colored area, which will be described later, in a color document placed on the document table glass 1. For example, a red filter for performing area detection is selectively arranged and set in the image sensor 4b according to an instruction from a switch box, which will be described later. Reference numeral 5 denotes a folding mirror, which folds back the reflected light imaged by the imaging lens 4a onto the photosensitive drum 6. Reference numeral 7 denotes a pre-exposure lamp, which eliminates the charge on the photosensitive drum 6 in preparation for image formation. A charger 8 charges the photosensitive drum 6 uniformly. Reference numeral 9 denotes an eraser unit serving as an eraser means of the present invention, which is composed of, for example, a semiconductor laser, and corresponds to a colored area detected by the image sensor 4b and the filter image sensor 4C in parallel with the original exposure of the optical scanning unit. A laser beam is irradiated onto the image area of the photosensitive drum 6 to erase the formed electrostatic latent image. Note that if this erase processing is performed in parallel with the document exposure, a desired area can be erased without performing blisscanning.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a fixed developing device, which stores, for example, black toner. Reference numeral 11 denotes a replaceable developing unit, which is configured so that the user can easily set it in a predetermined position in the device. 11 is filled. 12a, 1
Reference numeral 2b denotes a paper feed cassette, in which the transfer sheet is fed into the device by driving each paper feed roller 13a, 13b, and is temporarily stopped at the position where the registration roller 14 is disposed, whereupon the transfer sheet is transferred to the image formed on the photosensitive drum 6. The position is timed and re-fed. A transfer charger 15 transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 6 onto a fed transfer sheet. 1
A separation charger 6 separates the transfer sheet after the transfer operation from the photosensitive drum 6. A conveyor belt 17 conveys the transfer sheet after the transfer process to the fixing device 18.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a flapper that controls the conveyance path of the transfer sheet that has undergone the fixing process in either the direction in which the paper discharge tray 2o or the intermediate tray 22 is disposed. Feed rollers 21a to 21d feed the transfer sheet, which has undergone the fixing process once, to the intermediate tray 22 after being reversed (multiple It) or non-reversed (double-sided).

23 is a re-feeding roller which feeds the transfer sheet placed on the intermediate tray 22 again through the paper path 24 to the registration rollers 14.
Transport it to the installation position. Reference numeral 25 denotes an exposure shutter that controls to block the image light scanned by the folding mirror 5 in accordance with the image area detected by the image sensor 4b and the no-filter image sensor 4c.

Note that image control and color conversion development processing are carried out by R provided in the control section C0NT which also serves as development control means of the present invention.
It is comprehensively controlled based on a control program stored in the OM.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of main parts for explaining the configuration and control system of the eraser unit 9 shown in FIG.
Components that are the same as those in the figures are given the same reference numerals.

In this figure, 31 is a manuscript, for example, the letter P (red)
The image 31a is placed on the document table glass 1 with the image surface facing downward. 32 is an image area processing unit;
Based on the copy color designation specified from the switch box 33 (provided in the operation section, not shown), the image sensor 4b,
The readout of the non-filter image sensor 4C is set, and in this state, the image area information detected from the exposed document 31 is scanned for a predetermined scanning area (from the exposure position scanned by the folding mirror 5 to the laser scanned from the eraser unit 9). The erase information is stored in the driver circuit 34 at the timing when the photosensitive drum 6 rotating at a constant speed reaches the exposure position of the laser beam scanned by the eraser unit 9. memory 3
The erase beam is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 6 based on the image area information stored in the image sensor 2a (information calculated from the difference between the read data of the image sensor 4b and the non-filter image sensor 4C), and the erase beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 6. Erase the latent image.

Next, the color image recognition erase processing operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the color image recognition erase processing operation according to the present invention, in which numeral 41 is a color document, for example, a black character image 42 for the character "0" and a character rpJ.
In particular, the black character image 43 has a colored area 44 (indicated by diagonal lines in the figure) colored red.

Reference numeral 51 denotes an erase image output, in which only the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 6 for the black character image 43 of the color original 41 is developed by the developing device 1o shown in FIG. This corresponds to a state in which black toner is transferred and fixed to a transfer paper. 51a is a black image output.

Note that, when the fixing operation is completed, this multiple image output 51 is conveyed toward the paper discharge tray 2o and placed thereon by the operation of the flapper 19.

Place the color original 41 at a predetermined position on the original platen glass 1 shown in FIG. 1, and copy from the switch box 33.
In other words, when the color designation of the developing unit 11 is inputted,
The image area processing unit 32 sets the readout of the image sensor 4b and the non-filter image sensor 4C to erase mode.

When exposure of the color original 41 is started in this state, the reflected light on the color original 41 is imaged on the image sensor 4b and the non-filter image sensor 4c as the scanning unit moves in the sub-scanning direction, and the read image data is Guided by an arithmetic circuit (not shown) of the image area processing unit 32, the difference between the image data output from the image sensor 4b and the image data output from the non-filter image sensor 4c is taken, and the coloring of the color original 41 is performed. Area 44 (colored in red) is recognized, and area data of this colored area 44 is sequentially stored in internal memory 32a. Then, based on the data of the red colored area 44 read from the internal memory 32a, the area outside the corresponding area of the electrostatic latent image (before development) formed on the photosensitive drum 6 (
Erasing information for irradiating a laser beam onto the colored area 44 (outside the colored area 44) is output to the driver circuit 34, and the laser beam is irradiated from the eraser unit 9 to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 6 outside the red colored area 44. As a result, the electrostatic latent image outside the red colored area 44 disappears.

Next, the developing device 10 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 6 corresponding to the inside of the red colored area 44, and the black toner is transferred and fixed onto the transfer paper fed from the paper feed cassette 12a. An erased image output 51 shown in FIG. 3 is obtained. The erased image output 51 is then output to the flapper 1.
The paper is conveyed toward the paper discharge tray 20 via the paper guide 9 and is discharged.

Next, the color image automatic erase processing operation according to the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the color image automatic erase processing procedure according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (
4) indicates each step, and the procedure of each step is stored in the ROM provided in the control unit C0NT that controls the copying apparatus.

First, a red separation designation for the color original 41 is manually performed from the switch box 33 (1). Next, wait for the copy key to be pressed (2), and when it is pressed, set the red filter on the image sensor 4b (3), and set the flapper 19.
is set facing downward, and the conveyance path of the transfer paper to be conveyed is set in the direction of the paper discharge tray 20. Next, reading scanning of the optical scanning unit is started, and scanning of the color original 41 by the image sensor 4b and the non-filter image sensor 4C is started. The surrounding exterior) is erased by the eraser unit 9, and only the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 6 with respect to the black character image 43 of the color original 41 is erased by the developer 1o shown in FIG. After development, black toner is transferred and fixed onto a transfer paper fed from the paper feed cassette 12a, for example, to obtain an erased image output 51 shown in FIG. 3 (4).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the image recognition and erase processing procedure according to the present invention. In addition, (1) to (
8) shows each step.

Original irradiation lamp 2. The optical system composed of the scanning mirrors 38 to 3C is advanced (1), and original exposure of the color original 41 placed on the original platen glass 1 is started. The image area processing unit 32 waits for the optical system to reach the document exposure start position, that is, the image edge 2), that is, the image edge signal that is output when the image edge sensor (not shown) detects a member of the optical scanning system. When the optical system reaches the image tip, the image pickup device 4b starts detecting the image area in parallel with the exposure scanning of the optical system, and the optical system detects the color of the color original 41, for example, when the image is drawn in red. When reaching the colored area 44, 1
Create the image area data for the line 3), and judge whether the erase is outside the colored area 44 (erase outside the specified area) based on the color specification set from the switch box 33.
), if No, the process ends, and if YES, the image area processing unit 32 creates erase data outside the colored area 44 based on the read data difference from the image sensor 4b and the filter image sensor 4C5), Image exposure The data is stored in the internal memory 32a in order to synchronize the position and the erase position (6).

Next, when the laser beam irradiation position of the eraser unit 9 reaches the leading latent image line position (erase line position) corresponding to the colored area 44 formed on the photosensitive drum 6, the erase unit 9 is driven to erase the area on the photosensitive drum 6. An erase beam is irradiated outside the colored area 44 formed in the
Of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 6, the colored area 44 is erased (7). Next, the end of the erase area is determined, that is, it is determined whether the erase position is the end of the image (8). If YES, the process ends; if NO, the process returns to step (3).

Note that the image end is determined by a timer that is driven for a certain period of time after the optical system is reversed.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention provides an area detection means for detecting a colored area of a specific color in a document, and an image of a photoreceptor corresponding to the colored area of a specific color detected by the area detection means. The image area of the photoreceptor corresponding to the specific colored area detected by the eraser means for erasing the outside of the area and the area detection means is developed by any one of the plurality of developing units selected. Since a development control means is provided, you can simply specify the image erase area by coloring a specific area in a color document with a specific color.
It has an excellent advantage of being able to output a masking image in which the image inside the colored area drawn with high accuracy is erased.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of a copying apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of essential parts illustrating the configuration of the eraser unit shown in FIG. 1 and its control system, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the color image color conversion processing operation according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the color image automatic erase processing procedure according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an image recognition and erase processing procedure according to the present invention. It is a flow chart explaining. In the figure, 4 is a CCD unit, 4b is an image sensor, 4C is a non-filter image sensor, 9 is an erase unit, 32 is an image area processing section, 33 is a switch box, and 34 is a driver circuit. Figure 1 Figure 2 j4: l'7 diagonal name Figure 3 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Claims] It has multiple developing units that develop electrostatic latent images formed on a photoconductor into multiple colors, and an original placed on a document table is exposed to light, and an image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor by the reflected light. In a copying apparatus that develops electrostatic latent images in each of the developing units and forms multiple transfers of the developed images on a conveyed recording sheet, an area detecting means for detecting a colored area of a specific color in the document; an eraser means for erasing an area outside the image area of the photoconductor corresponding to the colored area of the specific color detected by the area detection unit; A copying apparatus comprising: development control means for developing an image area by any one of the plurality of development units selected from the plurality of development units.