JPH04304065A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the image forming device whose mode is automatically switched to the mode reading a transmitted light from the usual copy mode by providing a means detecting the picture projector placed on an original platen to the image forming device. CONSTITUTION:Two engaging holes 126 are provided on a rear side of a reflector 123 being a picture projector. Each of two engaging projections 127 provided on the original platen is inserted to each of the holes 126. Thus, the reflector 123 is fixed onto the original platen. In this case, a detection section 128 being a sensor sensing the presence of the reflector 123 is provided between the two engaging projections 127. The detection section 128 has a light emitting diode and the light from the light emitting diode is reflected by the reflector 123 and the reflected light is detected. If the reflector 123 is placed on the original platen, the detection section 128 detects it that the reflector is in existence and the usual copying mode is switched into the mode to read a transmitted light.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a thermal multicolor image forming apparatus that reads image information of a document and copies the image information of the document by sequentially thermally transferring color materials of multiple colors. Regarding equipment.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a multicolor image forming apparatus includes an image reading section that reads image information of a document, and an image reading section that converts the image information read by the image reading section into electrical signals and performs predetermined image quality improvement and encoding. It includes a processing section and an image forming section that outputs the read image information onto a transfer material.

[0003] The image reading section includes an operation panel into which printing (copying) conditions such as the number of prints (copies), printing magnification, printing mode, and a printing start signal are input, and an operation panel on which a document or an object to be read is placed. A document table that illuminates the document table, an illumination device that illuminates the document table, an optical device that transmits reflected light from the document illuminated by the illumination device, that is, information on the document or the object to be read, and a reflected light transmitted by the optical device. It is equipped with a photoelectric conversion device that receives light and converts it into an electrical signal.

[0004] Furthermore, the image processing section processes and encodes the information of the original or the object read by the reading section, that is, converted into an electrical signal, according to a predetermined method, and outputs it as a print signal to the image forming section. It includes an image processing circuit, a plurality of electric circuits, and a control device, such as a main control circuit that includes the image processing circuit, drives the image processing circuit, and controls the operation of the entire image forming apparatus.

On the other hand, the image forming section includes a printing device that sequentially transfers a plurality of color materials to a transfer material based on a printing signal supplied from the image processing section, and a printing device that sequentially transfers color materials of a plurality of colors to a transfer material based on a printing signal supplied from the image processing section; The printer is provided with a feeding/discharging device that supplies the printing material and discharges the transfer material printed by the printing device after the printing is completed.

In the above-mentioned multicolor image forming apparatus, image information of a document or an object to be read is transmitted through an optical imaging device including a color separation mechanism, that is, a three-color separation filter, an imaging lens, and a plurality of folding mirrors. The signal is transmitted to a photoelectric conversion device, ie, an image reading sensor, through the member, and converted into an electric signal, ie, an image signal, by the image reading sensor. This image signal is processed by the image processing unit to improve image quality such as intensity correction, contour correction, or color correction for each color component, replace each color component with its complementary color, and convert it into a color signal that includes density information. , and is subjected to image processing according to a predetermined method such as conversion into a binary signal containing gradation information, and outputted as a print signal to a printing device. The corresponding print head is driven by this print signal, and the transfer material that has been fed to a predetermined position from the ink ribbon supplied between the print head and the transfer material and is kept waiting at the print start position is colored. material is transferred. The transfer of this coloring material onto the transfer material is repeated according to the number of color signals (as it is a multicolor image forming apparatus, it is equipped with a plurality of coloring materials), and the coloring materials are superimposed on the transfer material. A multicolor (color) image is reproduced.

[0007] This type of image forming apparatus is configured such that a film projector can be attached thereto as an image projection apparatus. A film projector is used to form an image on film, and is placed on a document table on which a document or an object to be read is placed. In this film projector, light from the film projector that has passed through the film is incident on a transparent document table by a reflective mirror placed on the document table, which is an image projection device together with the film projector, to form an image. When this film projector is used to form an image on a film, the image forming apparatus is switched to a mode in which transmitted light is read using a key on a control panel, and copies are made.

[0008]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In a conventional image forming apparatus to which an image projection device is attached, when the projector and reflection mirror are placed on the document table, it is difficult to convert the transmitted light from the normal copying mode. It is necessary to switch to reading mode. However, in conventional image forming apparatuses, an operator is required to perform an operation to switch to a mode for reading transmitted light. If the operator starts copying without performing this operation, normal copying will be performed, resulting in a copying operation that was not requested. Conversely, the normal copying mode
If the operator desires the mode to read the transmitted light but does not perform an operation to switch the mode, there is a problem in that copying is performed while the mode is still in the transmitted light reading mode.

[0009] Therefore, according to the present invention, when an image projection device such as a film projector or a reflection mirror is placed on a document table, the mode is automatically changed from the normal copying mode to the mode for reading transmitted light. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be switched.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] An image forming apparatus of the present invention includes a document table for placing a document, a reading device for reading image information on the document placed on the document table, and a reading device for reading image information on the document placed on the document table. an image forming means for forming an image corresponding to the image information read by the image carrier on an image carrier;
A film projection means for reading an image formed on the film, and a processing means for causing the image forming means to form an image corresponding to the image formed on the film read by the film projection means on an image carrier. a first operation mode for causing the reading means to read image information on a document placed on the document table; and a first operation mode for causing the film projection means to read the image formed on the film. a mode setting means capable of setting the second operation mode; a detection means for detecting that the film projection means is placed on the document table; and in response to the detection result of the detection means, and control means for controlling the mode setting means to set the second operation mode.

[0011]

In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the image projecting apparatus is placed on the document table, it automatically switches from the normal copying mode to the transmitted light reading mode.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, which is a thermal transfer type color copying machine capable of selectively producing multicolor copies. In other words, 1 is a main body of a copying machine, and an operation panel 2 is provided at the front of the top surface of this main body 1.
is provided. The upper part of the main body 1 is a document scanning section 6 that scans and reads a document D (not shown) set on a document table (transparent glass) 4, and the lower part is an image forming section 8. Note that 10 is a document cover provided on the document table 4 so as to be openable and closable.

As shown in FIG. 2, a fixed scale 16 is provided at the longitudinal end of the document table 4, and serves as a reference for setting the document D. As shown in FIG. The fixed scale 16 is composed of a transparent part and a white opaque part. Fixed scale 16 above
is provided with two engaging protrusions 127, which will be described later. A pointer (not shown) serving as a size indicator faces the transparent portion.

A white reference plate (not shown) is also provided on the upper surface of the end of the document table 4 below the fixed scale 16.
is provided.

[0015] This image forming apparatus will be described below in the case of normal copying.

The original scanning section 6 is constructed as described below. That is, the illumination lamp 2 as the first light source
2, a second carriage 30 that bends the optical path with a mirror, a lens 42, a color separation filter 44, and guides the reflected light from the original D to a photoelectric converter 48, which corrects the optical path length when changing magnification. It is comprised of a mirror unit 46 that performs this, a photoelectric converter (conversion means) 48 that receives reflected light from the document D, and a drive system (not shown) that changes the positions of these parts.

The first carriage 20 includes an illumination lamp 22 that irradiates light onto the original D, a reflector 24 that serves as a reflector that collects the light from the illumination lamp 22 onto the surface of the original, and a second carriage that directs the light reflected from the original D. A mirror 28 is mounted to guide the carriage 30 toward the carriage 30 side.

Mirrors 32 and 34 are mounted on the second carriage 30 to guide the light guided by the mirror 28 to a lens 42 and a color separation filter 44. The first and second carriages 20 and 30 are connected to each other by a timing belt (not shown), and the second carriage 30 moves in the same direction at half the speed of the first carriage 20. As a result, the lens 42, the color separation filter 44
Scanning can be performed so that the optical path length up to the point is constant.

The lens 42 has a fixed focal length and is moved in the optical axis direction when changing the magnification. Alternatively, a variable focal length lens such as a zoom lens may be used.

Further, the image scanning section 4 provides a focusing property to the reflected light L from the second carriage 30, that is, the image information of the document D, and by moving itself, it scans this image information at a desired magnification. A lens 42, which is an imaging device that is movably arranged via a drive mechanism (not shown) that forms an image, a color separation filter 44 that separates the reflected light L into three primary colors, and are arranged at right angles to each other to convert this reflected light L. Mirrors 44 and 46 that are movable along the optical axis by a drive mechanism (not shown) and the above-mentioned The photoelectric converter 48 receives the reflected light L from the original D guided by the mirror and converts the reflected light L into an image signal.

The mirror section 46 is composed of two mirrors, and the positions of these mirrors are changed in accordance with changes in the optical path length corresponding to the selected magnification ratio.
By bending the optical path of the light from the color separation filter 44 with the two mirrors, the light is guided to the photoelectric converter 48.

The photoelectric converter 48 photoelectrically converts the light reflected from the document D, thereby separating and outputting the image of the document D as color signals of cyan, green, and yellow (or red, green, and blue) light. So, for example, CCD
It mainly consists of a line image sensor. In this case, one pixel of the original D corresponds to three consecutive elements (C, G, Y or R, G, B) of the CCD sensor. The output of the photoelectric converter 48 is output to an A/D converter 191, which will be described later.

The first and second carriages 20, 30, lenses 42, 44, and mirror 46 are moved by stepping motors (not shown), respectively.

The first and second carriages 20 and 30 are moved in accordance with the operation of a timing belt (not shown) stretched between a drive pulley (not shown) and an idle pulley (not shown) connected to the rotating shaft of the stepping motor. It has become so.

Mirror 46 and lenses 42 and 44 are each moved by separate stepping motors (not shown). The lenses 42 and 44 are connected to spiral shafts (
(not shown) rotates and is moved in the optical axis direction by this spiral movement.

The image forming section 8 is configured as described below. That is, the platen drum 70 is disposed approximately at the center of the image forming section 8 . The platen drum 70 has a periphery made of an elastic material such as rubber, and functions as a platen roller for the thermal head 76. The platen drum 70 wraps the paper P around itself by rotating itself counterclockwise,
This prevents paper P from shifting during overlapping printing. Around the platen drum 70, sheets of paper P are arranged at predetermined intervals.
A pressure roller 74 is provided to prevent the platen from floating up from the platen drum 70. The circumference of the platen drum 70 is slightly longer than the length in the longitudinal direction of the maximum paper size.

A thermal head 76 is disposed diagonally below the left side of the platen drum 70. Thermal head 7
6 is attached to a heat radiator integrally formed on the rear end surface of the holder. Then, an ink ribbon 78a serving as an image forming medium is interposed between the platen drum 70 and the thermal head 76. thermal head 76
is pressed against the platen drum 70 by the rotation of the eccentric cam 76a when the printing operation becomes possible. Also, the platen drum 70 near the right side of the ink ribbon 78a
A gripper detector 75 for detecting the position of the gripper 72 is arranged around it.

Cores 78b and 78c of ink ribbon 78a
is connected to a drive shaft of a motor (not shown) via a drive force transmission mechanism (not shown), and is rotationally driven as required.

A paper feed roller 81 is provided at the lower portion of the main body 1, and is configured to take out sheets P, which are image forming media, stored in a paper feed cassette 82 one by one. The paper P taken out by the paper feed roller 81 is transported by a transport roller 84a toward the platen drum 70 located diagonally above and to the left of the transport roller 84a, and is transferred to the gripper 7.
2. The paper is wrapped around the platen drum 70 by the pressure roller 74, and is thereby accurately fed. Here, the paper feed cassette 82 is detachable from the side of the main body 1. Note that 82a is a manual paper feeding device for manually feeding paper P and the like. This manual paper feeder 82
The paper P fed from a is also transferred to the platen drum 7 in the same manner as above.
It is designed so that it can be wrapped around 0.

The paper P, whose leading edge is fixed by the gripper 72, is wound around the platen drum 70 by counterclockwise rotation, and after the leading edge passes through the printing area, the thermal head 76 presses the platen drum 70. , printing is performed.

When printing of the first color is completed, the platen drum 70 has made approximately one rotation. here,
Once the thermal head 76 is released, the ink ribbon 78
A is wound up and the next color is cued up. and,
The platen drum 70 starts rotating counterclockwise again, printing is performed by the thermal head 76, and the next color is overprinted (printed).

In this way, in the case of full-color copying,
Image formation is performed by four operations of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, or three operations of yellow, magenta, and cyan. In the case of a single color such as black, it is performed in one operation.

When discharging the paper, the platen drum 70 is moved until the rear end of the paper P reaches the paper discharging guide 86 for discharging the paper.
When the platen drum 70 reaches the platen drum 70, the platen drum 70 is rotated clockwise, and the rear end of the paper P is separated from the platen drum 70 by a separation claw (not shown) and guided to the paper discharge guide 86. Finally, the leading edge of the sheet P is released from the gripper 72, and the sheet P, which has been copied and transported by the sheet ejection guide 86, is ejected onto the sheet ejection tray 86a.

Further, a main body control section 60 for controlling the entire image forming apparatus 2 is arranged, and an image processing section 50 is provided.

Next, the case of reading transmitted light will be explained.

A film projector 100 is placed above the document table 4 as an image projection device. As shown in FIG. 3, this film projector 100 includes:
A film carrier 1 that accommodates a light source such as a halogen lamp 104, a condenser lens 106 for condensing light from the halogen lamp 104, and a film 102.
08, a projection lens 110 for projecting the light that has passed through the film 102, etc. are accommodated. Further, a reflection mirror 120, which is an image projection device for reflecting the light from the film projector 100, is arranged on the document table 4, and a reflection mirror 120, which is an image projection device for reflecting the light from the film projector 100, is arranged on the document table 4. Fresnel lens 12 for condensing light
2 is placed. The reflective mirror 120 and Fresnel lens 122 are integrally made as shown in FIGS. 4(a), (b), and (c). This Fresnel lens 1
A diffusion layer 124 is coated on the lower surface of the film 102 to focus the image from the film 102.

In this film projector 100, as shown in FIG. 3, light from a halogen lamp 104 is appropriately modulated by passing through a condenser lens 106, and then passes through a film 102. film 10
The light from 2 is incident on the projection lens 110 which is adjusted to be properly focused onto the diffusion layer 124. As shown in FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), and 5(c), the projection lens 110 is moved in position in the optical axis direction so that an accurate image can be formed against the shift of the film 102. Can be done. The light from the projection lens 110 is reflected by a reflection mirror 120.
The light is reflected by the light and enters the Fresnel lens 122. A very thin image is formed in the diffusion layer 124 on the lower surface of the Fresnel lens 122. The light from the Fresnel lens 122 is incident on the document scanning section 6 of the image forming apparatus. and,
The photoelectric conversion section 48 of the document scanning section 6 converts light into electricity. The following image formation is the same as when the document D is placed on the document table 4.

4(a), (b), and (c), a reflection mirror 120 and a Fresnel lens 122, which are image projecting devices, are integrally formed in the mode of reading transmitted light according to the present invention. A reflection device 123 is shown. FIG. 4(a) is
The film projector is set to reflect light from the projector, Figure 4(b) is the stored state, and Figure 4(c)
) shows the back side of the reflection device 123. Two engagement holes 126 are provided on the back surface of this reflection device 123. These engagement holes 126 include, as shown in FIG.
Two engaging protrusions 127 provided on the fixed scale 16 are inserted. Thereby, the reflection device 123 is fixed to the main body 2. In this case, a detection section 128 that is a sensor that detects the presence or absence of the reflection device 123 is provided between the two engaging protrusions 127 of the main body 2 . This detection section 128 is
It has a light emitting diode, and the light from the light emitting diode is reflected by a reflection device 123, and the reflected light is detected. If the reflecting device 123 is placed on the fixed scale 16, the light from the light emitting diode is reflected by the reflecting device 123, and the detection unit 128 detects that the reflecting device is present.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the overall control system of the image forming apparatus, which includes a main control section 181, a first sub-control section 1
82 and a second sub-control unit 183. The main control unit 181 includes the operation panel 2, the memory 199, and the correction circuit 18.
4, respectively connected to the luminance color difference separation circuit 185, the image quality improvement circuit 186, the color signal conversion circuit 187, the binarization circuit 188, the first sub-control unit 182 and the second sub-control unit 183;
Control these.

The first sub-control unit 182 includes a light source control unit 189
, motor drive section 190, photoelectric converter 48, A/D converter 191, and resolution conversion section 192, and are in charge of controlling these. The light source control section 189 is connected to the illumination lamp 22 and controls its lighting and light amount. That is, the illumination lamp 22 is turned on during normal image reading operation. The motor drive unit 190 drives a scanning motor. The second sub-control unit 183 includes a thermal head temperature control unit 193, a thermal head 76, various detection switches 194, and a drive unit 1.
95 and are in charge of these controls. The drive unit 195 is connected to a drive system 196 such as a motor and a solenoid, and drives the drive system 196 . Memory 19 above
Reference numeral 9 stores reference data obtained by A/D converting the light reflected by the white reference plate. The correction circuit 184 standardizes (shading correction, that is, the photoelectric converter 4
8).

Further, the above-mentioned detection section 128 is connected to the main control section 181. The detection unit 128 detects the reflection device 12.
3 is arranged, the main control unit 181
The copy mode can be changed from the normal mode to the mode that reads transmitted light.
switch to mode. Further, if it is determined that the reflection device 123 is not arranged, the main control section 181 switches the copy mode to the normal mode.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the detection unit 128 was provided to detect the presence or absence of a reflection device, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to detect whether or not a film projector is placed. Of course. Further, although the detection section detects the reflected light from the light emitting diode, it is obvious that the method is not limited to this method.

[0043]

The image forming apparatus of the present invention can automatically detect the presence or absence of an image projection device and form an image using transmitted light.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a portion of the image projection device of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a reflection device of the image projection device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the optical system when the projection lens of the film projector of the present invention is moved.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the reflection device of the image projection device of the present invention is arranged.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a control circuit of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] 2... Original table, 4... Original scanning section, 6... Image forming section, 22...
Illumination lamp, 48... Photoelectric converter, 70... Platen drum, 76... Thermal head, 78a... Ink ribbon (image forming medium), 81... Main control section, 82, 83... Sub control section,
84... Correction circuit, 91... A/D converter, 92... Resolution converter, 99... Memory, 100... Film projector,
104...Halogen lamp, 106...Condenser lens,
108... Film carrier, 110... Projection lens. 120... Reflection mirror, 122... Fresnel lens, 123
...Reflector, 126...Engagement hole, 127...Engagement protrusion, 12
8...Detection section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A document table for placing a document, a reading device for reading image information on the document placed on the document table, and an image corresponding to the image information read by the reading device. an image forming means for forming an image on an image carrier; a film projecting means that can be placed on the original platen and for reading an image formed on the film; processing means for causing the image forming means to form an image corresponding to the formed image on the image carrier; and processing means for causing the reading means to read image information on a document placed on a document table. mode setting means capable of setting a first operation mode for reading an image formed on a film by the film projection means, and a second operation mode for reading an image formed on a film by the film projection means; detecting means for detecting that the document is placed on the document table; and controlling the mode setting means to set the second operation mode in response to the detection result of the detecting means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control means for controlling the image forming apparatus.