JPH0316824B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an image processing device, and particularly to a device that handles a memory capable of storing image information.

<Prior Art> The following device is an example of a device that processes image information written in a conventional memory. That is, in order to obtain multiple copies without circulating the original document as is done in the apparatus shown in FIG. Devices that read image information multiple times have been proposed.

<Problem to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the above-mentioned device, it is difficult to erase a plurality of image information in the memory at once, and therefore an image different from the image information already stored in the above-mentioned memory is difficult to erase. There was a problem in that it was difficult to store information back into the memory.

Furthermore, there is a problem in that quick processing cannot be performed when re-storing a different image in the memory mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve this problem and provide an image processing device that can easily store image information different from already stored image information in a memory.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an image memory having a plurality of memory blocks each having an end portion and capable of storing screen information (in the embodiment, an image memory having an end portion 405
The access position to the memories shown in 408 to 408 or memory media such as disks having ends on the inner and outer peripheries can be changed, and the writing means (also 401) writes screen information to each accessed memory block. , 402, 404), and reproducing means (403, 410 to 412) which can change the access position to the memory and reproduce screen information written by the writing means in the accessed storage block; means for generating an instruction to erase screen information of a plurality of blocks of the image memory (control circuit 413 that also executes step 729); Erasing means (also 509, 511) for erasing information, and means for sequentially operating the erasing means while sequentially changing the access position of the erasing means to sequentially erase the plurality of storage blocks in accordance with the erasing instruction. A control circuit 413) that similarly executes step 701; and a control circuit 413) that controls the writing means so that when the erasing means erases the plurality of storage blocks, the writing means accesses the storage blocks at the end of the image memory. (a control circuit 413 that also executes step 705,
It has a step motor 409).

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an example of a block diagram of the apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 301 is an operation panel, 302 is a document table, and 303
304 is an exposure light source, and 304 is an optical image memory such as liquid crystal, electrochromy, or PLZT (a compound of Pb, La, Zr, and Ti). 305 is an image memory 304
This is a photoelectric conversion unit including a scanning circuit that reads out image signals from. This converts the image signal into a time-series electrical signal. A converter 306 converts a time-series electric signal into a time-series optical signal, and is composed of, for example, a laser light source and a driver circuit for the light source. Reference numeral 308 denotes a tray for storing the copies made by the copying machine 307, and is moved at a place where one book or a good separation is made, and the separation is performed for each book. 309 is a control unit for optimally performing these operations.

In the above block diagram, for example, when copying 5 copies of pages 1 to 10 of a block manuscript and arranging them in page order, one item of the block manuscript is copied onto the manuscript table 300.
When the memory switch MR on the operation panel 301 (Fig. 6) is pressed, the first page is stored in the image memory 304.
is stored in area 1 of.

Next, when the second page of the block original is placed on the original table and the memory switch MR is pressed again, the image information of the second page is stored in the memory area 2. In the same manner, up to 10 pages are stored in the original image memory. and panel 3
Store the required number of books in another memory using the number set key CSS of 01. When the start switch CS is turned on, image signals are started to be read from the image memory area, the read optical signals are converted into electrical signals, and the time-series electrical signals are converted into laser beam signals by the converter 306. The modulated beam exposes the photosensitive paper of an electronic copying machine and then develops it. As a result, the first page is recorded. After completion, read image memory area 2, record the second page in the same way, and finish recording up to page 10 in the same way. When you want more books, read image memory areas 1 and 2 sequentially again, and record the second page in the same way. Copy pages 1 to 10 in the same way as for the first volume.

In this way, the present invention stores the original in the image memory once, and then converts it into an electrical signal and then an optical signal and records it, so all you need to do is store the required original in the image memory in advance. Complete automation can be obtained with only the effort required, thus saving labor for the operator. Furthermore, a sorter for aligning pages is no longer necessary, and the entire machine can be made smaller.
Moreover, automatic copying can be performed at high speed, regardless of the shape of the document or article.

Furthermore, when recording with an electrophotographic copying machine, it is necessary to wait until the fixing device and the like rise to a predetermined temperature after the copying machine is powered on, but the original information can be set during this time, so the recording time can be shortened.

One embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 shows an automatic document processing device using a liquid crystal as a memory.
In the figure, 401 is a document table; 402 is a light source for exposing the document;
403 is a light source for reading, 404 is a power source for writing and reading, 405 and 408 are transparent electrodes, 406 is a photoconductive layer, 407 is a liquid crystal, and 405 to 408 constitute a rectangular flat image memory, which is movable in the x-axis direction. 409 is a pulse motor for moving it, 410 is a lens system, 411 is a photodetector, 412 is a video amplifier, 413 is a control circuit,
414 is a laser beam deflector, 415 is a laser beam generator, 416 is a deflection mirror 417 is an F-θ lens,
418 is a primary charger that charges the photosensitive drum;
19 is a charger that performs AC charging at the same time as exposure, 420 is a lamp for full-surface exposure, 421 is a developer, 422 is transfer paper, 423 is a pick-up roller, 424 is a charger for transfer, 426 is a fixing device, and 427 is an ejected transfer A tray for storing paper, 428 a blade for cleaning the photosensitive drum, 429 a drive circuit for the pick-up roller 423, and 430 an operation panel.

To explain the operation, the original on the original platen 401 is irradiated with light from the exposure light source 402, and the lens system 50
3, a reflected image is formed on the memory. The liquid crystal used is a mixture of 5% cholesteric liquid crystal and nematic liquid crystal, which has an image memory property of about 2 hours. Reference numeral 508 is a power supply for storing an image in this memory, which generates a voltage of several volts in the form of a sine wave or square wave of about several kilohertz. 509 is the power supply for memory erasing.
Generates a sine wave or square wave voltage of about 10KHz to several 100KHz. 510 and 511 are switches for writing and erasing; the resistance within the photoconductive layer changes depending on the density of the original, and the voltage applied to the liquid crystal 407 changes. Therefore, the light transmittance of the liquid crystal also changes depending on the original image. That is, the document information is temporarily stored in a composite memory made up of the liquid crystal and the photoconductive layer. Erasing can be performed by uniformly irradiating the composite memory with light and turning on switch 511 to apply an AC signal from power supply 509 to the memory.

When reading the information stored in the memory and uniformly illuminating the memory with the light source 403, since the light transmittance of the memory differs depending on the memory information, a transmitted image of light and shade depending on the information is created by the lens system 410. An image is formed on a detector 411. This detector 411
is a solid-state self-scanning photodetector called CCD.
This is provided so that one bit can be detected in the x-axis direction and the document width can be detected in the y-axis direction. 406 is OPC
(organic semiconductor photoelectric layer) is used.

The operation panel section is shown in FIG. MR is a memory read switch for writing image information to memory,
ME is a memory end switch to indicate the end of writing, CS is a read recording start switch, CSS
is a setting device for setting the number of recorded volumes using the numeric keypad, MAC is a display that shows the total number of memory usage areas, and CMC is a display for displaying the number of records set using CSS, all of which use a segment display method. Fig. 4 The detailed operation will be explained with reference to the sequence control flowchart. After the power is turned on and the heater of the fixing device 426 reaches a predetermined temperature, the exposure light source 403 is turned on and the pulse motor 409 is turned on to move the memory and clear all the contents of the memory. When the memory is moved from one end to the other and cleared, a memory end detection switch (not shown) turns off the means for clearing (step 702). In the determination steps such as step 702, N indicates that the determination is not possible, and Y indicates that the determination is successful. After the lamp 403, power supply, and motor 409 are turned off upon completion of memory erasure, the control circuit 413
A register that counts the number of x-direction scans in
SBR, memory area counting register MAR, book counting register CMR, display drive register
Clear MAC, CMC (step (701~)
704). Thereafter, the memory is returned to the memory start position and set (step 705). The image memory is now ready and ready for writing. Place the first page of the original on the document table 401, and turn on the memory switch MR above the panel to turn on the exposure light source 4.
02 flashes and forms a document image on the memory. At this time, when the power supply 508 is activated at the same time, image information is recorded on the liquid crystal 407 (step 708). Alternatively, the image can be stored in the memory by performing slit exposure while moving the document table, lamp, and optical system lens.
After the memorization is completed, turn off the lamp 402 and power supply 508,
The memory board is moved by one frame by the pulse motor 409, and the register MAR is incremented by +1. Then, it is determined whether memory switch MR is turned on (step 706). Thereafter, in the same manner, the required number of originals are sequentially stored in the memory. After storing each page of the original, turn on the memory end switch ME and the sequence flow will step 711.
to allow other information to be set. Here, the required number of books is set using the number key CSS and stored in the register.

Next, when the start switch CS is turned on (step 712), the memory reading and recording operations start. The y-axis direction of the memory is read by the CCD 411 by self-scanning by an external clock pulse (not shown). The x-axis direction is operated by moving the memory by a pulse motor 409, and one bit is read by the CCD 411. In short, reading for one line is performed by the CCD 411. Further, the leading edge of each frame of the memory is optically detected and aligned using a position detection hole (not shown) provided in the memory (step 714). Before setting the position (step 714), the register SBR that counts the number of scans in the x-axis direction is set to zero. Then, the leading end of memory area 1 is set at the memory read position. And chargers 418, 419, lamp 42
0, the developing device 421 is activated to start executing a known electrophotographic process (step 715). After the surface of the photoreceptor charged by the charger 418 passes through the surface of the charger 418, the memory reading light source 403 is turned on to perform the first scan in the y-axis direction. The pick-up roller 423 is also turned on to feed the transfer paper (step 716). The image formed on the CCD 411 is taken into the CCD memory (step 71).
7) The CCD is scanned in the y direction in synchronization with the operation of the laser scanner 414 for scanning in the width direction of the photoreceptor (step 718). Then, a time-series captured electric signal is input from the CCD to a semiconductor laser oscillator 415 via an amplifier 412, and the brightness of the laser is modulated according to the magnitude of the captured signal. The laser beam carrying image information is deflected in synchronization with the scanning of the CCD, and is irradiated onto the rotating photosensitive drum surface via an F-theta lens. When the first scan in the y-axis direction is completed, the laser beam is incident on a fixed beam detector provided at the end of the width of the photosensitive drum surface.
By this incident detection, the y-axis direction is stopped and switched to the next scan. That is, when the detector performs a detection operation, the pulse motor 409 is driven one step to advance the memory by one bit in the x-axis direction. Then, scanning in the y-axis direction is started again from the initial position, the image information formed on the CCD 411 is taken into the CCD 411, and the second line information is recorded on the photosensitive drum in synchronization with the laser scanner 414 in the same manner. The number of scans (resolution) in the x-axis direction for 11 memory frames is stored in advance in the register SBC. Therefore, when the number of registers SBC matches the number of optical registers SBR, scanning for one frame is completed (step 72).
2). On the other hand, the photosensitive drum is simultaneously charged with AC and exposed (by a laser beam) to form a high-contrast electrostatic latent image by irradiating the entire surface, forming a developed image with toner, and this development is applied to the recording paper fed by the roller 423. The image is transferred by the charger 424,
The transferred material is fixed by a fixing device 426 and transferred to a tray 427.
is discharged. In other words, the recorded material on the first page of the first book has been obtained. Next, the step motor is operated to shift the memory board and move the next memory frame to the memory read area (step 723).
Then, the number of registers MAR is +1 and the aforementioned x-axis direction scanning number register SBR is set to zero (step 725), and each time reading of one area is completed, MAR
and MAC, and if they do not match (step 726), that is, if recording of the entire memory is not completed, the next memory frame is sequentially read out. In the same manner as for the first page, recording of the second page is completed through feeding of the recording paper, reading from the memory, and forming a latent image. Thereafter, the number of pages stored in the display register MAC is continued to be recorded in the same manner to complete recording of one book. Note that the movement of the memory by the pulse motor and the rotation of the photosensitive drum 400 are synchronized.

After that, the desired number of books for which the book count register CMR is +1 is stored in the memory that displays the number display CMC, so if the number does not match the counter register CMR, step 712 is executed again (step 8). , memory reading from memory area 1 is performed again and recording continues. Thereafter, in the same manner, the recording operation is stopped after recording the required number of books set on the display CMC, and the image information stored in the memory at this time is also cleared. In this example, the pages are read in the tray 427 in order from the initial read page to the last page, but the page order can be reversed by reading from the memory first and then reading from the last page. .

Although we have explained an example of using optical memory as image memory, semiconductor memory, magnetic disk,
It is clear that similar effects can be obtained using memory media such as magnetic tape.

Although the electrophotographic method has been described as an example of a recording method, similar effects can be expected by using an inkjet method, a contrast method, an electrostatic recording method, or the like.

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to erase multiple pieces of image information in memory at once.
Furthermore, when such erasing is performed, the memory writing means accesses the storage block at the end of the image memory, so the next writing can be performed quickly.

Further, the above control flow can be executed by a well-known computer program method, for example, using a microcomputer system (μCOM4), so the details will be omitted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional automatic document processing device, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an automatic document processing device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the automatic document processing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 3 is a control flowchart of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a top view of the operating section of the automatic document processing apparatus shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 2, 302 is an original table, 304 is an image storage memory, 305 is a photoelectric converter, 306 is an optical converter,
307 is an electrophotographic device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Writing means for writing screen information into each accessed storage block, the access position of which can be changed for an image memory having a plurality of storage blocks each having an end portion and capable of storing screen information; a reproducing means whose access position to said memory is changeable and which reproduces screen information written by said writing means in the accessed memory block; and generating an instruction to erase screen information of a plurality of blocks of said image memory. means for erasing screen information stored in the access position, the access position to the image memory being changeable; and the erasing means for sequentially erasing the plurality of memory blocks in response to the erasure instruction. means for sequentially operating the erasing means while sequentially changing the access position of the means; and when the erasing means erases the plurality of memory blocks, the writing means erases the memory blocks at the end of the image memory. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control means for controlling an access position of the writing means so as to access the writing means.