JPH02190075A - Picture reading and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the reading and recording of a high definition picture by devising the device to process a picture signal with nearly equal picture element number to all element number of a linear image sensor array to make the picture element number close to a scanning picture element number of a printer/ plotter with a broad width and high picture element density. CONSTITUTION:A read circuit 24 applies processings such as transmission of a clock pulse to drive a linear image sensor array 23, amplification of a fetched picture signal or shading processing. The read analog signal is A/D-converted and a picture signal processing circuit 26 applies gradation correction or the like as to an inputted signal. In order to form a large sized picture through the collection of n-set of print pictures having a width close to the maximum width of a printer/plotter 28, a maximum element number M of the linear image sensor array 23 corresponds to the unit being 1/n of the width of an original 21 to be scanned. As a result, nXM sets of read picture element number correspond to the entire width of the original 21 to be scanned in the main scanning direction. Thus, the enlarged print with high picture element density is easily and properly obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention reads the contents of a scanned document to obtain an image signal using a linear image sensor array formed by arranging a large number of reading elements in a row. The present invention relates to an image reading and recording device configured to provide this image signal to a printer to create a hard copy.

[Prior Art] A device that scans a scanned document pixel by pixel in the main scanning direction and in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to this, converts it into an electrical signal, and supplies this electrical signal to a printer to create a hard copy is a special device. Publication No. 60-52408 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-796
It is disclosed in Publication No. 83, etc., and is well known. the latter,
That is, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-79683 reads a document using a linear image sensor array in which a large number of reading elements are arranged in one dimension. Therefore, this configuration is extremely advantageous for an image reading and recording device in terms of simplifying the device configuration and increasing the degree of freedom.

FIG. 6 is a diagram taken from Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 59-79683, and shows the basic configuration of an image printing apparatus using a digital image signal.

In the figure, 1 is a scanned document, 2 is a linear image sensor array, 3 is a shift register, 4 is an A/D converter, 5 is a processor, 6 is a register, 7 is a light amount control device,
8 is a light emitter, 9 is a projection lens, and 10 is a photosensitive drum. 1 to 4 above are "original scanning devices" using a linear image sensor array 2, 6 to 10 are "printers", and 5 is an "image processing device or system controller" provided as necessary. be. In other words, the 6th
The device shown in the figure can be replaced with a general "original scanning device,""brinter," and "image processing device or system controller." Usually, this type of device is used as a copying device, or as an image file device with a large capacity memory interposed therebetween. In such cases, it is common to print out a hard copy that is the same size as the original or slightly enlarged or reduced.

In such an apparatus, the means for obtaining a variable-resolution pigeon copy of an original document are as follows: (a) thinning out or interpolating the serial image signal data read by the original scanning device (1 to 4) to reduce the number of pixels of the read signal; (b) means for changing the magnification for projecting the original image onto the linear image sensor array 2, and the like are known.

FIG. 7 is a diagram quoting and showing "manuscript reading range variable means" disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-28188. As shown in the figure, a lens 11a.

11b by the rotation of the motor 12, the area of the document 14 projected onto the linear image sensor array 13 is changed, and if the read signal is input to the same printer, the area of the document 14 projected onto the linear image sensor array 13 can be changed according to the switching of the lenses lla and llb. The dimensions of the image printed out will vary.

When the pixel density or pixel number of the scanning device and the printer are close to each other, including such a variable magnification function, the performance of both devices can be exhibited without any particular impairment, and no particular problem will occur.

By the way, A0 is a special purpose printer/plotter.
Width or wider, length from 5 meters
Products that output images as large as 10 meters have been commercialized. A device for obtaining a poster-sized brint by inputting a scanning image signal read from a 35 mm slide to such a printer is also known, but the greatest artistic technique obtained with such a combination is the AO version or similar. The size of the screen is the limit, and a larger screen cannot be obtained.

On the other hand, in order to create a large screen that is wider than the printer's print size, attempts have been made to create a strip-shaped image 1 to 2 meters long using an A3 printer. According to this attempt, it was possible to obtain a screen larger than the print size width of the printer, but there were the following problems.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] In the above-mentioned attempt, the image signal was captured by scanning the entire width of the original image with a CCD sensor and reading the signal by 1/n (n≧
The part 2) is extracted by signal processing, and the band-shaped scanning image signal obtained by this extraction is used. Therefore, the number of pixels of the image signal input to the printer is 1 / of the total number of elements constituting the linear image sensor array.
It becomes n. For this reason, there is a drawback that as the size of the printed image increases by increasing n, the pixel density becomes significantly lower, resulting in only a rough image being obtained. Even if an attempt is made to increase the number of reading elements in a linear image sensor array in order to solve the above problem, there is a limit to this. In addition, good image signals cannot be obtained unless the performance of the close-up lens and the sub-scanning feed accuracy are improved. As described above, there were major obstacles to improving the image quality of large screen prints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading and recording apparatus which is a component device and which can obtain enlarged prints with high pixel density in a convenient and accurate manner.

[Means for solving the problems] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the objectives, we took the following measures.

An image reader configured to read the contents of a scanned document using a linear image sensor array consisting of a large number of reading elements arranged in a row to obtain an image signal, and to provide this image signal to a printer to create a hard copy. In the recording device, the linear image sensor array and the scanned original are connected so that the maximum scanning width of the linear image sensor array does not cover the maximum width of the scanned original but covers 1/n width (n≧2). means for arranging the scanned documents in a corresponding manner, the main scanning width is 1/n of the width of the document to be scanned, the sub-scanning length covers the maximum document length, and scanning a strip area of 1/n width of the document; reading means; means for moving the relative position of the scanned document and the linear image sensor array in the main scanning direction in units of 1/n of the width of the scanned document; means for printing a strip image in correspondence with the image signal for each strip region; means for assembling the n strip image prints obtained by this means to form a print image for one screen of the original;
We prepared the following.

[Effects] By taking such measures, the following effects occur.

In order to approach the number of scanning pixels of a printer/block with a wide width and high pixel density, it is now possible to send an image signal with a number of pixels approximately equal to the total number of elements in a linear image sensor array, and the number of pixels that can be used to connect the reader and printer is It is possible to read and record high-definition images without compromising the performance of both.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. 1st
In the figure, 21 is an original to be scanned, 22 is an imaging lens, 2
3 is a linear image sensor array, 24 is a reading circuit, 25 is an A/D conversion circuit, 26 is an image signal processing circuit, 27
3 indicates a signal conversion circuit such as a dither conversion circuit, and 28 indicates a printer/block.

The imaging lens 22 projects an area xl of the screen to be scanned onto the linear image sensor array 23 .

The linear image sensor array 23 is composed of self-scanning elements or elements that perform self-scanning in cooperation with the reading circuit 24, and performs high-speed main scanning in the X direction of the area x1. Sub-scanning in the Y direction is performed by relative mechanical movement of the imaging lens 22, the linear image sensor array 23, an illumination device (not shown), the original to be scanned 21, and the like. In this way, scanning and reading of the band-shaped area surrounded by A, B, F, and E is performed. The reading circuit 24 sends out clock pulses to drive the linear image sensor array 23, amplifies the captured image signal, and performs shading processing to improve the uniformity and flatness of the read signal. The analog signal read is A/
A/D conversion is performed by the D conversion circuit 25. The image signal processing circuit 26 performs gradation correction, sharpness improvement, etc. on the input signal. When the human signal is a color image signal, conversion from R, G, and B signals to C, M, and Y signals, color masking signal processing, undercolor removal signal processing, and the like are performed. The signal conversion circuit 27 is a circuit that performs signal processing corresponding to the printer/plotter 28, and when a binary recording device such as electrostatic recording or on-day inkjet recording is used as the printer/plotter 28, it performs dither conversion. A pulse width conversion circuit or a pulse number conversion circuit is used when a multi-gradation recording device such as ion flow recording or thermal sublimation transfer recording is used. In this embodiment, the printer/plotter 28 is an AO width electrostatic color plotter using roll paper.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

Scanning and reading areas A, B, F, and E, which are obtained by dividing the width of the original 21 to be scanned into n (in this embodiment, dividing it into 3), are performed and a hard copy is made by the printer/plotter 28 based on the scanned reading signal. Images such as those shown in a, b, f, and e of Fig. 2 are obtained. Next, the scanned positions of the scanned original 21 are set at B and C.

To make the area G and F, the scanning position is shifted in the x2 direction. Note copies created based on the scanning read signals of areas B, C, G, and F are shown in Figure 2.
g, f. Similarly C, D.

The hard copies created based on the scanning read signals in the H and G areas are c, d, h, and g in FIG. 2, and the effective screens in this case are c, d', h', and g.

The hard copy “a, b, f, eJ and rb” shown in Figure 2
+clg,'J and "c, d', h'g" are combined to obtain an enlarged image of the original image in the document 21. This enlarged image is a printed image having a width n times (in this embodiment, three times) the maximum screen width of the printer/plotter 28.

As a device for producing large screen hard copy, the electrostatic plotter described above is known for producing images 32 to 42 inches wide. Inkjet printers are also known to record images of Al size. These devices have recording dot densities of 8 to 16 dots/mm. In the case of a printer/plotter equipped with a head having a recording dot density of 16 dots/millimeter and using recording paper having a width of 36 inches, the number of dots per scanning line is approximately 14,000 dots.

In contrast, the maximum number of elements in one scanning line of linear image sensors that have been put into practical use is approximately 4,000.
It is element. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, when one large-screen image is created by combining n hard copies that are close to the maximum recording width of the printer/plotter 28, the balance is that the linear image sensor array 23, which is the reading element, Since the number of elements is insufficient, the definition of the produced hard copy is mainly controlled by the number of elements in one main scanning line read by the linear image sensor array 23.

In the conventional device, one main scanning line A of the scanned document 21
- The number of reading elements corresponding to BCD matched the maximum number of elements M of the linear image sensor array, so
As the number of divisions n of the print image increases, the number of read pixels corresponding to the printer scanning line decreases to M/n,
The definition of enlarged print images tended to deteriorate in proportion to n.

However, in this device, when creating a large-screen notebook, a special method is used in which n print images with a width close to the maximum width of the printer/plotter 28 are assembled to create one large-screen image. Depending on the method, the scanned original 21
The maximum number of elements M of the linear image sensor array 23 is made to correspond to the unit of 1/n of the width of , and as a result, the number of read pixels of nXM can be made to correspond to the entire width of the scanned document 21 in the main scanning direction. . The resulting printed image has significantly improved definition compared to that produced by conventional devices. Note that the above explanation does not completely eliminate the situation where the number of reading side elements is insufficient compared to the number of recording elements of the printer/plotter 28. In order to eliminate this imbalance and obtain a higher definition image, a hard copy with a recording width narrower than the maximum recording width is created in accordance with the number of reading elements of the linear image sensor array 23, and this is It is also possible to collect the images to form one screen. According to this embodiment, the effect of further improving the definition can be obtained. However, in this case, since the size of the print becomes smaller, it is necessary to set n to a larger value in order to obtain a print of the same size.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of the optical reading device in this apparatus. 30 is a light source lamp, 31 is a rotating filter frame, 32 is its rotating shaft, and 33 is a filter. 3
4 is a light guide, 35 is a rod lens array, and 36 is a condenser lens.

Reference numeral 37 denotes a frame body in which the original document 21 to be scanned is set.

22 is an imaging lens, and 23 is a linear sensor array.

The light source lamp 30 consists of a quartz/Xlogen lamp with a built-in mirror. A rotating filter frame 31 is arranged near the condensing end of this light source lamp. R, G, and B color filters 33 are attached to this rotating filter frame 31. RGB in line sequence when reading color images
When reading a signal, the filter frame 31 is rotated at high speed so that the filter 33 is switched every scan line time. In addition, when reading R, G, and B signals in sequence, the filter 33 is switched for each strip-shaped scanning area shown in FIG.

The light guide 34 is an element made of a large number of sub-optical fibers, which are gathered in a circular or square shape on the input end side, and optical fibers arranged linearly on the output side. The light source lamp 30 is disposed so that its incident end side faces the condensing end of the light source lamp 30 with the filter 33 interposed therebetween.

The functions of the rod lens array 35 and the condenser lens 36 will be explained later with reference to FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b).

The frame 37 is a 35mm slide film, 6X6.6X
9) It is possible to stably hold a transmissive original 21 such as a 4' x 5' Transpar range, and it can be used for sub-scanning and from xl to x by the scanning holding mechanism described later.
It can move in two directions.

Light transmitted through an original 21 made of transparen range or the like forms an image on a linear image sensor array 23 by an imaging lens 22 . As shown in ray diagrams 91-12 by self-scanning of the linear image sensor array 23,
The image on the main scanning line shown as xl is read, and sub-scanning is performed by moving the original to be scanned 21 in a direction perpendicular to the drawing surface. After scanning and reading one band-shaped area, the document to be scanned is moved in the X2 direction, and the next band-shaped area is read and scanned. The strip area is scanned 0 times to read the scanned screen, and the printer/plotter 28
The series of operations ends when the image is printed for each strip area.

FIG. 4(a) shows an optical system in which a condenser lens 36 is placed on the output end face of the light guide 34 in order to improve the illumination by the light guide 34. By doing so, the light beam emitted from the optical fiber of the light guide 34 is focused toward the imaging lens 22.

Therefore, the utilization efficiency of illumination light is increased and uneven illumination is reduced. Note that the light flux passing around the center of the optical axis is not affected by the condenser lens 36, but the light flux passing at a position far from L would not be directed toward the imaging lens 22 without the condenser lens 36, so the effect would be Is receiving. As a result, although the center of the scanning line is bright, the illuminance of the projected image at positions outside the center is significantly reduced.

FIG. 4(b) is a diagram showing an optical system in which the defect in FIG. 4(a) has been improved, and corresponds to FIG. 3. As shown in the figure, a rod lens array 35 is arranged between the light guide 34 and the condenser lens 36. The light beam emitted from the light guide 34 is a light beam that has a spread as shown by the arrow. Therefore, if the above-mentioned curvature is not corrected before this light flux reaches the imaging lens 22, the light flux reaching the imaging lens 22 will pass through the light guide 34.
As a result, only a dark image is projected onto the linear sensor array 23. When the rod lens array 35 is arranged as shown, the light guide 3
The light emitted from 4 is converted into a substantially parallel beam of light. Since the illumination light converted into a parallel light beam is bent in the direction of the imaging lens 22 by the condenser lens 35, the utilization efficiency of the light is much better than in (a). Since the light guide 34 is made of an optical fiber with a diameter negligibly smaller than that of the rod lens array 35, the light emitted from it can be regarded as a small beam of light. The installation position and rod lens length of the rod lens array 35 are set so that the light beam emitted as a minute beam can be converted into a parallel beam. Further, the condenser lens 36 is curved so as to receive the parallel light beam and focus it on the pupil position of the imaging lens 22.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a document table applied to this apparatus. (a) is a side view thereof, and (b) is a top view of the lower movable table forming a part thereof.

The document table has a lower moving table 40 for moving in the sub-scanning direction.
and an upper moving table 42 for movement in the X2 direction.

The lower moving table 40 is a frame-shaped table having a large window 39 in the center, and has legs 40a protruding downward at the four corners.
40b, 40c, and 40d are provided. The legs 40a and 40b are provided with female threads, and a lead screw 41 is screwed into the female threads. Also legs 40c,
40d is provided with a slide bearing, through which the guide bar 45 passes. Lead screw 41
The guide bar 45 is supported by the main body, and the lead screw 41 is rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not shown). Lower moving platform 4
0 moves in the left and right directions in the figure as the lead screw 41 rotates. This moving direction coincides with the sub-scanning direction.

46 indicates a strip-shaped scanning area, and xl indicates the main scanning width.

The upper movable table 42 is made of a frame-shaped body with a large window 47 in the center, and further has a stepped portion 48 into which the frame 37 of the original to be scanned 21 is dropped. The upper moving table 42 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction with respect to the lower moving table 40, that is,
Dovetail bonding is performed using grooves 43 and 44 so that it can be moved in two directions.

Every time the scanning of the strip-shaped area 46 is completed, the upper movable table 42 moves along the dovetail groove to enable scanning of the next strip-shaped area. Movement in the X2 direction is performed manually, and the configuration is simple in that the positioning is performed using a clip stop. Although FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show its configuration, it may be driven by a motor using a mechanism similar to that of the lower moving table 40.

According to this embodiment, the linear image sensor array 23
High-definition read information can be transmitted to obtain high-definition hardcopy images beyond the limitations of the number of read elements in the printer/plotter 28 without impairing the capabilities of the printer/plotter 28.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, movement in the sub-scanning direction and
Although an example has been described in which the direction movement is performed by moving the document table, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained by moving the elements on the projection optical system side.

Further, in the scanning reading device, the maximum width of the linear image sensor array 23 does not cover the maximum width of the document to be scanned;
The width of /n (n≧2) is mapped so as to cover the width, so it basically has the feature of scanning and reading the width of 1/n with as high a pixel density as possible, but in reality The configuration allows that all elements of the image sensor may not exactly correspond to the 1/n area.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image reading and recording device that can easily and accurately obtain enlarged prints with a high pixel density despite having a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 5 (a) and (b) are diagrams showing one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the device, and Figure 2 is a diagram showing the hardware for each operation area divided into n. A diagram showing a copy image, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of a reading/scanning device, and FIG. 4(a)
5(b) is a diagram showing the functions of the condenser lens and the rod lens array, and FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are a side view of the document table and a plan view of the lower movable table. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are diagrams showing the prior art. 21... Document to be scanned, 22... Imaging lens, 23...
...Linear image sensor array, 28...Printer/block-30...Light source lamp, 33...Filter 34...Light guide, 35...Rod lens array, 36...Condenser lens, 37・
... Frame body, 40... Lower moving table, 42... Upper moving table. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Atsushi Tsuboi x2 Figure Figure Figure (a) Figure (b) Figure Figure Figure Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A linear image sensor array consisting of a large number of reading elements arranged in a row reads the contents of a scanned document to obtain an image signal, and this image signal is applied to a printer to create a hard copy. In the configured image reading/recording device, the linear image sensor array and the linear image sensor array are arranged so that the maximum scanning width of the linear image sensor array does not cover the maximum width of the scanned document but covers 1/n width (n≧2). means for arranging the original to be scanned so as to correspond to each other; means for scanning and reading; means for moving the relative position of the scanned document and the linear image sensor array in the main scanning direction in units of 1/n of the width of the scanned document; and the linear image sensor array A means for printing a strip image in correspondence with the image signal of each read strip region; and a means for assembling the n strip image prints obtained by this means to form a print image for one screen of the original. An image reading and recording device comprising: