JPH0458264A - Copying machine - 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 relates to an electrophotographic copying machine, and particularly to functions in an erasing mode.

[Conventional technology]

Recently, many copying machines have been equipped with various editing functions.1 For example, there is a trimming mode that erases images outside the specified area on the original, and a A masking mode, which obtains a copy with the image erased, is also well known.

In the outer erase mode, a rectangular area is input as the distance from a certain reference point on the original, so copies are currently obtained using transfer paper of the same size as the original.

For example, if you use an A3 size original as shown in Figure 13 (A) and specify the area surrounded by a broken line in the outside erase mode, the same A3 size as the original as shown in Figure 13 (B) will appear.
Copies of only the image within the designated area were obtained on three sizes of transfer paper.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, with the outside erase mode editing function of conventional copying machines, no matter what area is specified, copies are always made on transfer paper of the same size as the original, as described above, so the margins are If the price of transfer paper differs depending on the paper size, there is a problem that the copying cost becomes high.

This invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to obtain a copy with outside erasure on transfer paper of an optimum size according to the size of a designated area in outside erase mode. do.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an area input means 1 for specifying and inputting an arbitrary area on a document, and an area input means 1 for specifying and inputting an arbitrary area on a document, and for inputting an image other than the area specified by the means, as shown in the functional block diagram in FIG. In a copying machine equipped with an outside erasing means 2 for erasing, and a copying magnification specifying means 3 for specifying a copying magnification.

Transfer paper automatic selection means 4 automatically selects an optimal size of transfer paper from the input data of the area designated by the area input means 1 and the copy magnification designated by the copy magnification designation means 3; and input of the designated area. A scan start timing calculation means 5 is provided for determining the length in the scanning direction by the optical system from the data and calculating the optimum scan start timing therefor, and feeding the transfer paper selected by the automatic transfer paper selection means 4 at a predetermined timing. The scanning operation by the optical system is started at the timing calculated by the scan start timing calculation means 5, and a copy image is obtained in which images other than the designated area are erased.

[For production]

With the above-described configuration, the copying machine according to the present invention is configured such that when in the outer erasing mode, an area to be copied on a document is designated by the area input means 1 and a copy magnification is designated by the copy magnification designation means 3, the transfer paper automatic selection means 4 automatically selects a transfer sheet of optimum size according to the designated area, and scan start timing calculation means 5 calculates the optimum scan start timing.

Then, by feeding the transfer paper selected by the automatic transfer paper selection means 4 at a predetermined timing and starting the scanning operation by the optical system at the timing calculated by the scan start timing calculation means 5, the image outside the designated area is removed. Copy the erased image onto the automatically selected transfer paper.

Therefore, for example, A3 shown in FIG.
Specify the area surrounded by the dashed line on the original size, specify the copy magnification of 1:1, and make a copy.

As shown in FIG. 3C, a copy of only the image within the designated area can be obtained using A4 size transfer paper.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to FIG. 2 and subsequent drawings.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an example of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

This copying machine consists of a copying machine main body 7, an intermediate unit 8, and a table unit 9.
and a removable two-stage paper feed cassette 11.12. Paper output tray 16. It includes an input section 17 such as various keys, and a display section 18 such as an LCD or LED.

The intermediate unit 8 is provided with a removable paper feed cassette 13, and the table unit 9 is provided with two removable paper feed cassettes 14 and 15.

Each of the paper feed cassettes 11 to 15 can store approximately 250 sheets of transfer paper of different sizes and orientations.

1 In the normal copy mode, open the pressure plate 10 upwards, set the original to be copied on the contact glass with the original surface facing down, return the pressure plate 10 to the illustrated state to hold down the original, and press the input unit 17. When you specify the copy magnification etc. using a key (not shown) and press the start key 17b, the size and orientation of the document is detected during scanning, and a paper feeder containing transfer paper of the optimum size and orientation is detected based on that and the copy magnification. A paper cassette is automatically selected, transfer paper is fed from there, the original image is copied, and the document is ejected onto the paper ejection tray 16.

Furthermore, if the outside erasure (trimming) mode is set using a key (not shown) on the input section 17, for example, the input section 17
A desired area on the document can be specified using the numeric keypad 17a.

In that case, a display for area designation as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 18. XI, X2 are lamps (LEDs) that prompt you to input the X coordinate with mark M1 as a reference, Yl, Y2
is a lamp (LED) that prompts input of the Y coordinate based on the origin mark M2.

Each coordinate can be entered in mm units using the numeric keypad 17a. Then, the lamps XI, X2゜Yl, and Y2 will blink sequentially, so if you input their coordinate values in sequence, the blinking will change to continuous lighting, and if you input all four coordinate values, all the lamps will turn on continuously, and the specified Area As
is displayed in reverse video.

Furthermore, by using an editor as shown in FIG. 4, by inputting two points, it is possible to easily specify a rectangular area with the two points as diagonal points.

This editor 2o is provided with a document receiver 23 behind a document placement surface 21 on which a touch panel is arranged, a stylus pen 24 is stored therein, and is connected to the main body by a cord 26. 22 is a document reference position (origin) mark, and 25 is a mode input section provided with a number of mode select keys including an outer erase mode key 25a and an inner erase mode key 25b.

The editor 20 is mounted on the pressure plate 10 shown in FIG. 2 or placed on a separately provided rack.
It is used by being connected to the copying machine main body 7 via a cable (not shown).

When specifying an area in the outer erase mode and inner erase mode, before setting the original to be copied on the contact glass, set it on the original placing surface 21 of this editor 20 and use the stylus pen 24 to When you press two points PitP2 as shown in Figure 5, the touch panel displays the locations #A (x,, yt) and (X21) of each point.
yz) is detected, and by inputting the data into the copying machine main body 7, an area surrounded by a broken line with these two points P1*P2 as diagonal points is designated.

In this case, the coordinate in the scan direction by the scanner (optical system) is the X coordinate, and the coordinate in the direction orthogonal thereto is the Y coordinate. Also, the coordinates of the origin PO, which is the document reference position, are (0, 3
00).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control section provided in the copying machine main body 7 shown in FIG. 2, showing only the parts directly related to the present invention.

30 is a central processing unit (C) that centrally controls the entire copying machine.
PU) and a ROM31.PU which is a program memory. RAM 32 which is data memory. and the engineering/○ port 33 constitute a microcomputer.

The I10 port 33 controls the input data such as key input from the input section 17 shown in FIG. 2 and the display output data to the display section 18. It also outputs a scanner start signal, outputs control signals for various sequence loads (not shown), and inputs signals from various sensors.

The serial interface 34 is an interface circuit for inputting data from the editor 20 shown in FIG. 4, and the serial interface 35 is an interface circuit for outputting control data to an erase unit 36 for performing outer erasure or inner erasure. This is an interface circuit.

Next, processing related to the present invention by the CPU 30 of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 to 12.

Figure 7 is a flowchart of the main routine, and the fourth
After the outer erase mode is set by pressing the outer erase mode key 25a of the editor 2o shown in the figure, the area data (coordinate data: xn, y
n) When there is an input, it is taken in, and when the area designation, that is, the input of two points per area, is completed, the vertical size check, horizontal size check, and optimal size check are performed.

The process of each subroutine for setting the scanner start timing is executed in sequence and the process ends.

Next, the processing of the height size check subroutine will be explained with reference to FIG.

Coordinates of the two input points (X□, y) and (x2゜yz)
Therefore, since this embodiment is based on the center, the distance farther from the center line CL shown in FIG. 5 is multiplied by the designated copying magnification data m, and the value is set as Y.

That is, yl = y shown in Figure 5 in step 1
t-ao.

Calculate YZ = l yz -300I, and if -yt≧Y2, then Y= (Yl /2)X
m, and if Yl < YZ, then Y= (YZ /2)X
Let it be m.

Then, in step 2, all vertical size OK flags are set in the vertical size Buff (buffer).

Next, in step 3, it is determined whether B6 vertical ≧ Y,
If Yes, end the process; if No, proceed to step 4
Proceed to and determine whether A5 length ≧Y.

Then, if Yes, proceed to step 8, reset the B6 vertical (B6T) flag of the vertical size Buff,
If No, the process proceeds to step 5, and it is determined whether B6 horizontal or B5 vertical ≧Y.

If the result is Yes, proceed to step 9 and select B6 vertical (B6T), A5 vertical (A5T) of vertical size Buff.
) Reset the flag, and if NO, proceed to step 6 and judge whether A5 horizontal or A4 vertical ≧Y.

If Yes, proceed to step 10 and select B6 vertical (B6T), A5 vertical (A5T) of vertical size Buff.
), B6 horizontal (B6Y), and B5 vertical (B5T) flags are reset, and if NO, the process proceeds to step 7, and it is determined whether B5 horizontal or B4 vertical≧Y.

If Yes, proceed to step 11 and select B6 vertical (B6T) and A5 vertical (A5 vertical) of vertical size Buf f.
T), B6 horizontal (B6Y), B5 vertical (B5T), A5
Reset the horizontal (A5Y) and A4 vertical (A4T) flags, and if NO, proceed to step 12 and set the A3 vertical (A3) and A4 horizontal (A4Y) of the vertical size Buff.
Resets all flags except the flag.

In addition, the vertical size of the transfer paper for domestic specifications is B6 vertical (128 m) < A5 vertical (148 m) < 86 horizontal, B
S vertical (182), A5 horizontal, A4 vertical (210)
<The order is B5 horizontal, B4 vertical (257 shoes), A4 horizontal, A3 vertical (297 ■).

Next, process the horizontal size check subroutine in the ninth step.
This will be explained using a diagram. First, in step 21, the image width
Calculated as 2. In the case of the example shown in Figure 5, Xm
Calculate (l Xi −xzl)m/2.

Then, in step 22, all horizontal size OK flags are set in the horizontal size Buff (buffer).

Next, in step 23, it is determined whether B6 horizontal ≧X,
If Yes, end the process; if No, proceed to step 2
Proceed to step 4 and determine whether A5 horizontal ≧X.

If Yes, proceed to step 30 and reset the B6 horizontal (B6Y) flag of the horizontal size Buff; if NO, proceed to step 25, and reset the B6 vertical or B6 horizontal size Buff.
Determine whether 5 horizontals ≧X.

If the result is Yes, the process advances to step 31 and the B6 side (B6Y) of the side size Buff is displayed.

Reset the A5 horizontal (A 5 Y) flag, and if NO, proceed to step 26, and if A5 vertical or A4 horizontal ≧ Y
Determine whether or not.

If it is Yes, proceed to step 32 and set the horizontal size Buff of B6 yaw 1 (B6Y), A5 horizontal (A5
Y), reset the B6 vertical (B6T), and B5 horizontal (B5Y) flags, and if No, proceed to step 27, and
5 Determine whether vertical ≧X.

Then, if Yes, proceed to step 33, and proceed to step 33, where the horizontal size Buff is B6 horizontal (B6Y), A5 horizontal (A5Y)
), B6 vertical (B6T), B5 horizontal (B5Y), A5 vertical (A5T), and A4 horizontal (A4Y) flags are reset, and if NO, proceed to step 28 to determine whether A4 vertical ≧X. .

If the result is Yes, proceed to step 34 and set the horizontal size Buff to A3 vertical (A3) and B4 vertical (B4).
, all flags except the A4 length (A4T) flag are reset, and if NO, the process proceeds to step 29, where it is determined whether B4 length ≧X.

If Yes, proceed to step 35 and reset all flags except for the A3 vertical (A3) and B4 vertical (B4) flags of the horizontal size Buff, and if No, proceed to step 36, and reset the horizontal size Buff. Buff's A3 vertical (
A3) Reset all flags except the flag.

In addition, the horizontal size of the transfer paper for domestic specifications is B6 horizontal (128 all) < A 5 horizontal (148 mm) < B
6 vertical, B5 horizontal (182 mm) < A 5 vertical, A4 horizontal (210 cabinets) < B5 vertical < A4 vertical (297 m) < A
The order is 4 lengths (364 mm) < A 3 lengths (420 nm).

The optimal size check subroutine, as shown in FIG. 10, takes the AND (Δ) of the horizontal size Buff and the vertical size Buff, and selects the size that is considered to be the smallest.

. For example, as shown in Figure 12, the horizontal size Buff is "1111010100" and the vertical size Buff is "1111010100".
1110100000", take the AND (△) and get the result "1110000000".
From this, A3 vertical, B4 vertical, and A4 horizontal are valid, but the smallest size among them, rA4 horizontal, is selected as the optimal size.

When the optimum transfer paper size is determined as described above, the original can be scanned in A3 size, as shown in the example shown in Fig. 13, for example.
This is done depending on the size, but in order to make the transfer paper A4 horizontal size, it is necessary to change the start timing of the scanner.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, a scanner start timing setting process is executed.

That is, when the current scanner speed is V and the current scanner start timing is T, the scanner start timing T' is calculated from the optimum size using the following equation.

T' = T + a/V (s e c) However, if there are multiple designated areas, a is the first
As shown in the calculation formula at the bottom of Figure 1, 1/2 of the horizontal length of the optimal size was subtracted from the average value of 1/2 of the sum of the X coordinate values of the diagonal points of each area. value.

In the case of the example shown in Figure 5, there is only one designated area and the X coordinates of the input diagonal points are xl and xl, so a = ((xt + xz )/2) - A4 Yo. :The length of I.

Once the transfer paper size (including orientation) is determined in this way, the paper feed cassette containing paper of that size is automatically selected, and the transfer paper is fed to the image transfer unit at a predetermined timing. By starting the scanning operation by the scanner at the calculated timing, a copy as shown in FIG. 13(C) can be obtained from a document as shown in FIG. 13(A).

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, in the outside erasing mode, a copy with outside erasing can be obtained on transfer paper of the optimum size according to the size of the specified area, so there is no unnecessary margin. If the price of transfer paper differs depending on the size, copying costs will be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the basic configuration of this invention, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view showing an example of a copying machine to which this invention is applied, and Fig. 3 is a display for specifying an area in the erase mode. An explanatory diagram showing an example, Fig. 4 is an external perspective view showing an example of an editor used for area specification, Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of area specification, and Fig. 6 is an example of an editor installed inside the main body of the copying machine shown in Fig. 2. FIG. 7 to 11 are flowcharts of processing according to the present invention performed by the CPU of FIG. 6. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the process of determining the optimal size using the optimal size check subroutine in FIG. 10. FIG. 13 is a comparison of copying in the external erase mode between a conventional copying machine and a copying machine of the present invention. FIG. 1...Area input means 2...Outside erasure means 3...
・Copy magnification specifying means 4...transfer paper automatic selection means 5・
... Scan timing Saro means 7 ... Copying machine main body 10 ... Pressure plates 11 to 15
...Paper cassette 7...Input section 18...Display section O...Editor 21...Document placement surface 4...Stylus pen 25...Mode input section O...Central processing Device (CPU) 6...Erase unit

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A copying machine equipped with means for specifying and inputting an arbitrary area on a document, means for erasing images other than the area specified by the means, and means for specifying a copy magnification. automatic transfer paper selection means for automatically selecting a transfer paper of an optimum size from the input data of the specified area and the specified copying magnification; and determining the scanning direction by the optical system from the input data of the specified area. scan start timing calculation means for determining the length and calculating the optimum scan start timing therefor, and feeding the transfer paper selected by the automatic transfer paper selection means at a predetermined timing, and feeding the transfer paper selected by the automatic transfer paper selection means at a predetermined timing; A copying machine characterized in that a scanning operation by an optical system is started at a timing calculated by the calculation method, and a copy image is obtained in which images other than a designated area are erased.