JPH05328100A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Correction) [Purpose] A continuous format composite image can be obtained with the minimum number of readings without any troublesome timing of document replacement. [Configuration] Format composition mode is selected (S3),
At the start of copying (S4), the formatted document is first conveyed to the exposure position and stored in the memory 1 (S7). Next, the first sheet of the second original is conveyed to the exposure position and stored in the memory 2 (S8). The image data of the formatted original in the memory 1 and the image data of the first original of the second original in the memory 2 are combined and stored in the memory 3 (S10). The composite image data in the memory 3 is read and a composite image is formed (S11). The second sheet of the second original is conveyed to the exposure point and stored in the memory 2 when the combining processing of the first and second originals is completed and stored in the memory 3. In this way, after that, the nth original is read and the first original is read.
-Continuous synthesis processing is performed while synthesizing the first original in parallel.

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 for forming a document image on a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine, an image of an original is read by a scanner and image data of the read original is temporarily stored in a readable / writable memory. If necessary, this image data is read from the memory, various processing is performed on the image data in the image processing unit, and then stored again in the memory. Based on the processed image data, for example, image formation including a laser printer unit is performed. The unit is configured to form a visible image on a sheet.

Recently, a digital copying machine having many functions has been developed, and it is known that one of these functions is to combine different original images on one sheet. There is.

[0004]

In such a conventional image forming apparatus, when the original images are combined, the reading operation of the originals must be performed the same number of times as the number of originals to be combined.

That is, when at least one of the original images to be combined is the same, for example, one first original such as a format original and a plurality of second originals each having a different image. Combining with the manuscript in pairs,
Even in the case of so-called format combination, it is necessary to perform the reading operation of the first original (format original) as many times as the number of second originals, which not only complicates the operation but also forms a composite image. There is a problem that it takes a lot of time.

Further, the originals are all exchanged manually, and the user determines that the reading of the originals has been completed, and there is a problem that the originals replacement timing is difficult.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the number of times of reading an original document, to combine a plurality of images continuously at high speed and with a simple operation, and to change the original document replacement timing without difficulty. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the above object is to provide an original document feeding device for sequentially feeding a plurality of original documents, and an original document reading means for reading an image of an incoming document.
First storage means for storing image data of the first original read by the original reading means, and a plurality of second originals sequentially read by the original reading means after image reading of the first original Second storage means for sequentially updating and storing the image data, and the first storage means for storing the image data of the second document in the second storage means.
Image synthesizing means for synthesizing the image data of the original document and the image data of the second original document, an image forming means for forming a synthetic image synthesized by the image synthesizing means on a sheet, and the image synthesizing means for the first image An image forming apparatus including control means for controlling a document feeding device so as to read a document next to the second document when the combining process of the image data of the first document and the image data of the second document is completed. Achieved by

[0009]

The first original and the second original to be combined with the first original
Documents are sequentially sent by the document feeder. The sent first and second originals are sequentially read by the original reading means, and the read image data of each original is stored in the first storage means and the second storage means. The image synthesizing unit synthesizes the image data of the first document stored in the first storage unit and the image data of the second document stored in the second storage unit. The combined image thus combined is formed on a sheet by the image forming means. The control means controls the document feeding device to read the document next to the second document when the combining process of the image data of the first document and the image data of the second document is completed.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, an example in which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital copying machine is shown.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the overall construction of a digital copying machine which is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital copying machine 10 of this embodiment is provided with a scanner section 11, a laser printer section 12, a multi-stage sheet feeding unit 13 and a sorter 14.

A double-sided automatic document feeder (ADF) 15 is installed on the upper part of the scanner unit 11.
Is composed of a document placing table 16 made of transparent glass, a movable scanner unit 17, and a position control device for controlling the position of the scanner unit 17.

This position control device is a scanner unit.
The position control device includes a scanner motor 18 for driving the motor 17, a pulley 19, and a wire 20 stretched between the scanner motor 18 and the pulley 19, and the position control device moves the scanner unit 17 along the longitudinal direction of the document table 16. It is configured so that it can be moved and stopped at a predetermined position.

The scanner unit 17 includes a lamp reflector assembly 21 for exposing an original, a CCD (photoelectric conversion element) linear image sensor 22, and a plurality of reflecting mirrors 2 for guiding a reflected light image from the original to the CCD linear image sensor 22.
3 and a lens 24 for forming a reflected light image from the original on the CCD linear image sensor 22.

When scanning a document placed on the document table 16, the scanner section 11 reads a document image while the scanner unit 17 moves along the lower surface of the document table 16 and uses the ADF 15. If you want to do this, A with the scanner unit 17 stopped at a predetermined position below the ADF 15.
It is configured to read an image of a document conveyed by the DF15.

The image data obtained by reading the original image with the scanner unit 17 is subjected to various kinds of processing by an image processing control unit, which will be described later, included in the digital copying machine 10. The image is temporarily stored in a memory provided therein, and image data in the memory is given to the laser printer section 12 in accordance with an output instruction to form an image on a sheet.

The multi-stage paper feeding unit 13 includes a first cassette 28,
It has a second cassette 29, a third cassette 30, and a fourth cassette 31 that can be added by selection. In the multi-stage paper feeding unit 13, the papers are sent out one by one from the papers stored in these cassettes, and are conveyed toward the laser printer unit 12.

The laser printer unit 12 is a manual document tray 2
5. A laser writing unit 26 and an electrophotographic process unit 27 for forming an image are provided.

The laser writing unit 26 is a semiconductor laser which emits a laser beam according to the image data from the above-mentioned memory, a polygon mirror which deflects the laser beam at a constant angular velocity,
And the laser beam deflected at a constant angular velocity is used in the electrostatic photography process section.
It has an f-θ lens and the like for correcting so that the light is deflected at a constant speed on the photosensitive drum 27a of 27.

The electrophotographic process section 27 comprises a charging device, a developing device, a transfer device, a peeling device, a cleaning device, a static eliminator and a fixing device 32 around the photosensitive drum 27a according to a known manner. ..

A conveying path 33 is provided downstream of the fixing device 32 in the conveying direction of the sheet on which an image is to be formed.
33 is a transport path 34 leading to the sorter 14 and a multi-stage paper feeding unit
It branches off to a conveyance path 35 leading to 13.

The conveyance path 35 is branched in the multi-stage paper feeding unit 13, and a reversal conveyance path 36 and a double-sided / composite conveyance path 37 are provided as the conveyance paths after branching.

The reverse conveyance path 36 is a conveyance path for reversing the front and back sides of the sheet with respect to the image forming position of the photosensitive drum 27a in the double-sided copy mode for copying both sides of the original. The duplex / composite transport path 37 transports paper from the reverse transport path 36 to the image forming position on the photoconductor drum 27a in the duplex copying mode, or forms an image of different originals or images of different colors on one side of the paper. Photosensitive drum 27a without reversing the paper in single-sided composite copy mode for composite copy
Is a transport path for transporting to the image forming position.

The multi-stage paper feeding unit 13 includes a common conveyance path 38, and the common conveyance path 38 transfers the papers from the first cassette 28, the second cassette 29 and the third cassette 30 to the electrophotographic process section 27. It is configured to be carried out toward.

The common transport path 38 joins the transport path 39 from the fourth cassette 31 on the way to the electrophotographic process section 27 and communicates with the transport path 40.

The conveyance path 40 merges with the double-sided / composite conveyance path 37 and the conveyance path 41 from the manual document tray 25 at the confluence point 42 to form an image between the photoconductor drum 27a of the electrostatographic process section 27 and the transfer device. It is configured to reach the formation position.
The confluence point 42 of the two conveyance paths is provided at a position close to the image forming position.

Therefore, in the laser writing unit 26 and the electrophotographic process section 27, the image data read from the above-mentioned memory is scanned by the laser writing unit 26 with a laser beam, so that the photosensitive drum 27a is scanned.
The toner image formed as an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the sheet is visualized by the toner, and is electrostatically transferred and fixed on the surface of the sheet conveyed from the multi-stage sheet feeding unit 13.

The sheet on which the image is thus formed is sent from the fixing device 32 to the sorter 14 via the conveying paths 33 and 34, or is conveyed to the reverse conveying path 36 via the conveying paths 33 and 35.

Next, the structure and operation of the ADF 15 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the ADF 15 attached to the scanner section 11 of the digital copying machine 10 of FIG.

The ADF 15 sets a plurality of set originals as one.
It is configured so that it is automatically fed sheet by sheet to the scanner unit 11 and one or both sides of the document can be read by the scanner unit 17 of FIG. 2 according to the operator's selection.

As shown in FIG. 3, the ADF 15 includes a document tray 50 for setting a document 51, a document pickup roller 52 driven through an electromagnetic clutch (not shown), a pair of transport rollers 53, and a transport path of the document 51. Solenoid-driven change lever 54 that can switch between the two, and a document support drum (platen roller) that can rotate in two directions (the direction of the arrow shown in the figure)
55, left and right supply rollers 56L and 56R for feeding the original 51 in cooperation with the platen roller 55, a transparent original support glass 57,
Left and right document guides 58L and 58R, left and right document ejection rollers
59L and 59R, solenoid driven left and right movable guides 60L and 60 which cooperate with the document discharge rollers 59L and 59R, respectively.
R, solenoid-driven movable document discharge guide 61, document discharge conveyance path 62, discharge roller pair 63, discharge tray 64, solenoid-driven rotatable document reverse guide 65, document reverse guide 65
Is provided with a reversing conveyance path 66 formed on one side thereof, a reversing conveyance roller pair 67 driven via an electromagnetic clutch, and a rotating shaft 68.

The distance between the platen roller 55 and the document supporting glass 57 is preferably set larger than the thickness of the document 51.

Document detection sensors S1 to S6 are arranged in the document tray 50 and the conveyance path of the document 51, and the signals from the document detection sensors S1 to S6 output when the document 51 is detected are as shown in FIG. It is sent to a central control unit (not shown) described later.

The central control section is configured to operate the various electromagnetic clutches and solenoids at a predetermined timing to control the document 51 to be conveyed through the document reading position (exposure position) P as described later. There is.

Next, the operation of the ADF 15 will be described.

When a plurality of originals 51 are set on the original tray 50, the central control unit detects by the first original detection sensor S1 that the originals are set in the ADF 15, and thereafter the ADF is set.
Each part is controlled as a mode.

When copying only one side of the original 51, the copy mode (single-sided scanning of original, number of copies, copy density, etc.) is set by the input key of the operation panel described later provided in the digital copying machine 10 of FIG. input.

When the print switch on the operation panel of the digital copying machine 10 is pressed, the main motor (not shown) of the ADF 15 starts rotating.

Next, the clutch of the original pickup roller 52 is turned on, and the original pickup roller 52 is rotated.
Feeds only the uppermost original of the plurality of originals 51 set on the original tray 50. At this time, the conveyance roller pair
The clutch of 53 also turns on at the same time, and the 53
Is also driven to rotate.

When the leading edge of the fed document 51 reaches the second document detection sensor S2, the solenoid of the change lever 54 is excited, and the change lever 54 is moved from the position shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 3 to the position shown by the solid line. Is switched to. Further manuscript 51
As the feeding of the document is continued, the leading edge of the document 51 is guided along the side surface of the change lever 54 and guided toward the fifth document detection sensor S5.

After the leading edge of the original document 51 is detected by the fifth original document detection sensor S5, the transportation of the original document 51 is temporarily stopped at the timing when the original document 51 is supported by the platen roller 55 and the right supply roller 56R. To do.

Next, at a predetermined timing, the clutch of the right transport roller 56R is turned on, and the document supporting glass 57R is turned on.
Then, the feeding of the original 51 to the exposure position P is started again.

The platen roller 55 rotates the exposure position P in the clockwise direction while the document 51 is pressed against the surface of the platen roller 55 by the document guide 58R on the right side. Pass from right to left.
At this time, at the exposure position P, the image data of the document 51 is read by the scanner unit 17 of FIG.

The document 51 that has passed the exposure position P passes under the document guide 58L on the left side and the document discharge roller 59L on the left side.
Will be transported to. The edge of the original 51 is the original discharge roller 59L
Left movable guide 60L
When the document 51 is sandwiched, the movable guide 60L is pressed against the document discharge roller 59L.

As a result, the document discharge roller 59 is attached to the document 51.
The conveyance force is given by the frictional force of L, and the document 51 is guided along the upper surface of the document discharge movable guide 61,
After passing through 62, the sheet is discharged onto a sheet discharge tray 64 by a pair of sheet discharge rollers 63.

A sixth document detecting sensor S6 provided in the document discharge / conveyance path 62 detects the rear end of the document 51 and detects the document 51.
Is for determining that the paper has been discharged onto the paper discharge tray 64.

When a plurality of originals 51 are set on the original tray 50, the next original is fed at the timing when the trailing edge of the previous original passes the exposure position P.

The original tray 50 is provided with an original detection sensor (not shown) for detecting whether or not the original 51 is set, and the above operation is repeated until the last original 51 is exhausted.

Next, when copying both sides of the original 51,
When the print switch on the operation panel of the digital copying machine 10 is pressed, the document pickup roller 52 feeds only the top document of the plurality of documents 51 set on the document tray 50.

When the leading edge of the fed document 51 reaches the second document detection sensor S2, the clutch of the transport roller pair 53 is turned on, and the transport roller pair 53 is also rotationally driven. At this time, the solenoid of the change lever 54 is in a non-excited state, the change lever 54 is at the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3, and the leading edge of the document 51 is guided toward the third document detection sensor S3. To be done.

The original document 51 that has passed through the third original document detection sensor S3
With the leading edge of the left side being sandwiched between the platen roller 55 and the left side supply roller 56L, the clutch of the left side conveyance roller 56L is turned off, and the conveyance of the document 51 is once stopped.

Next, at a predetermined timing, the transport roller 56L
Then, the clutch is turned on again, and the feeding of the document 51 to the exposure position P of the document supporting glass 57 is started again.

The platen roller 55 rotates the exposure position P in the counterclockwise direction in a state where the document 51 is pressed against the surface of the platen roller 55 by the document guide 58L on the left side,
The original document 51 passes through the exposure position P from left to right in FIG.
In this way, the exposure scanning of one side of the document 51 is started.

The original 51 that has passed the exposure position P passes under the original guide 58R on the right side, and the original discharge roller 59R on the right side.
Sent to. The solenoid of the movable guide 60R on the right side is excited at the timing when the leading edge of the document 51 reaches the document discharge roller 59R, and the movable guide 60R is pressed against the document discharge roller 59R while the document 51 is sandwiched.

The document 51 conveyed by being sandwiched between the movable guide 60R and the document discharge roller 59R is guided to the reversing conveyance path 66 and is conveyed to the fourth document detection sensor S4 by the reversing conveyance roller pair 67. It

When the leading edge of the original document 51 reaches the fourth original document detection sensor S4, the solenoid of the original document inversion guide 65 is excited, and the original document inversion guide 65 is drawn from the position shown by the solid line with the pivot shaft 68 as the center. It is rotated along the arrow shown in the figure to the position shown by, and the reversal conveyance path 66 is opened. At the same time, the solenoid of the change lever 54 is excited and the change lever 5
4 is switched from the position shown by the one-dot chain line to the position shown by the solid line.

The leading edge of the original 51 is further provided with a pair of reverse conveying rollers.
It is guided to the pair of conveyance rollers 53 by 67 and guided toward the fifth document detection sensor S5 along the side surface of the change lever 54 which is switched to the position shown by the solid line. Then, when the leading edge of the document 51 is sandwiched between the platen roller 55 and the right supply roller 56R, the conveyance of the document 51 is temporarily stopped.

In this state, the reverse conveyance path length (from the contact point between the platen roller 55 and the supply roller 56R, the fifth document detection sensor S5, the change lever 54, the conveyance roller pair 53, the fourth document detection sensor S4, the reversal If the length of the original is longer than the length of the original that passes through the pair of conveying rollers 67 and the reverse conveying path 66 and reaches the contact point between the movable guide 60R and the original discharge roller 59R, the original reverse guide 65 is rotated. Since the reverse conveyance path 66 is open, even if the leading edge of the document is stopped, the portion of the document after the reverse conveyance roller pair 67 is moved from the position sandwiched by the reverse conveyance roller pair 67 to the movable guide 60R. A natural flexure is formed between the position sandwiched between the document discharge roller 59R and the document discharge roller 59R.

Reversing conveyance path by rotation of the document reversing guide 65
The degree of opening of 66 is, for example, the size of the document detected by a document size detection device (not shown) which will be described later that can detect the size of the document, or the size of the document input by the operator through the input keys of the operation panel. The opening degree may be set in advance so that the reverse conveyance path 66 is opened according to the size.

Next, after the trailing edge of the document 51 has passed the exposure position P, the document is fed again to the exposure position P of the document supporting glass 57 at the timing with the scanner unit 17.

The platen roller 55 guides the document 51 to the document guide.
While being pressed against the surface of the platen roller 55 by the 58R, the exposure position P is rotated in the clockwise direction so that the original 51
Passes through the exposure position P from right to left in FIG. At this time, at the exposure position P, the image data of the document 51 is read by the scanner unit 17.

The original 51 that has passed the exposure position P passes under the original guide 58L on the left side and the original discharge roller 59L on the left side.
Will be transported to. The edge of the original 51 is the original discharge roller 59L
Left movable guide 60L
The solenoid of is excited and the movable guide 60L is pressed against the document discharge roller 59L with the document 51 being sandwiched,
To transport.

When the reading of the image on the second side of the document 51 is completed, the solenoid of the document reversing guide 65 is de-energized, the document reversing guide 65 returns to the position shown by the solid line, and the leading edge of the next document 51 is reached. Is waited for to be guided to the reverse conveyance roller pair 67.

The document 51 conveyed by being sandwiched by the movable guide 60L and the document discharge roller 59L is guided along the upper surface of the document discharge movable guide 61, passes through the document discharge / conveyance path 62, and passes through a pair of discharge rollers. The sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 64 by 63.

When a plurality of originals 51 are set on the original tray 50, when the rear side of the original passes the exposure position P at the time of scanning exposure of the second side of the previous original, Will be sent.

The above-described operation is repeated until the last document 51 is left on the document tray 50. Next, the control system of the digital copying machine 10 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit included in the digital copying machine 10 of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the control unit included in the digital copying machine 10 includes a central control unit 70, an operation panel unit 74,
Scanner control unit 75, desk unit 76, sorter unit 77,
Also, an image processing control unit 80 including an image data input unit 71, an image data processing unit 72 and an image data output unit 73.
Is equipped with. Double-lined arrows in the figure indicate input / output of image data.

The central control unit 70 centrally controls each control unit included in the digital copying machine 10 and charges, develops, temperature, and peels each process of the electrophotographic process unit 27 of the laser printer unit 12. Also, it is configured to perform control of fixing, control of timing of sheet conveyance, and the like. Regarding the image data, the central control unit 70 uses the image data input unit 7
1. The image data processing unit 72 and the image data output unit 73 are configured to be integrally controlled.

The operation panel section 74 is composed of a display section using liquid crystal, a touch sensor and the like superimposed on the liquid crystal display section, and is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) dedicated to the operation panel section and at the same time. What is the control unit 70?
(Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter) Connected by a line and centrally controlled by the central control unit 70.

The scanner control unit 75 is configured to control the ADF 15 and the movement of the scanner unit 17, and is a C dedicated to the scanner control unit.
It is controlled by the PU and is centrally controlled by the central control unit 70 via the UART line.

The desk section 76 is constructed so as to control the sheet feeding from the front loading cassette and the conveyance of the sheet in the duplex.
It is connected by ART line.

The sorter unit 77 is configured to sort the copied sheets according to each mode such as sorting and grouping, and is connected to the central control unit 70 by a UART line. The sorter 14 shown in FIG.
Included in.

Next, the structure and function of the image processing controller 80 will be described.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the image processing controller 80 included in the digital copying machine 10 of FIG.

As shown in the figure, the image processing control section 80 comprises an image data input section 71, an image data processing section 72, an image data output section 73, a memory 81 including a RAM (random access memory) and a CPU 82. There is.

The image data processing section 72, as shown in FIG.
The central control unit 70 is connected to the central control unit 70, and is configured to control the operation of the image processing control unit 80 together with the CPU 82 dedicated to the image processing control unit. The memory 81 has three memory areas as described later.

The image data processing section 72 is an embodiment of the image synthesizing means of the present invention. The memory 81 is an embodiment of the first and second storage means of the present invention.

The image data input section 71 includes a CCD section 71a, a histogram processing section 71b and an error diffusion processing section 71c.

The image data input unit 71 binarizes and converts the image data of the original read from the CCD linear image sensor 22 of FIG. 2 to obtain a histogram as a binary digital amount, and image data by the error diffusion method. Is processed and temporarily stored in the memory 81.

That is, in the CCD unit 71a, after analog electric signals corresponding to the pixel densities of image data are A / D (analog / digital) converted, MTF correction, black-and-white correction or gamma correction is performed, and the 256th floor It is output to the histogram processing unit 71b as a key (8-bit) digital signal.

In the histogram processing section 71b, the CCD section 71
The digital signal output from a is added for each pixel density of 256 gradations to obtain density information (histogram data), and if necessary, the obtained histogram data is sent to the CPU 82 or pixel error It is sent to the diffusion processing unit 71c.

The error diffusion processing section 71c performs an error diffusion processing which is a kind of pseudo halftone processing. That is, in the error diffusion processing unit 71c, the digital signal of 8 bits / pixel output from the CCD unit 71a is converted into 1 bit (binary) by the method of reflecting the binarization error in the binarization judgment of the adjacent pixel. The redistributed calculation is performed in order to faithfully reproduce the density of the local area in the original that has been converted.

The image data processing unit 72 includes multi-valued processing units 72a and 72b, a synthesis processing unit 72c, a density conversion processing unit 72d, a scaling processing unit 72e, an image processing unit 72f, an error diffusion processing unit 72g and a compression processing unit 72h. Is included.

The image data processing section 72 is a processing section for finally converting the input image data into image data desired by the operator, and is stored in the memory 81 as output image data obtained by finally converting the image data. Until this is done, processing is performed in this processing unit.

Image composition processing such as format composition based on the present invention is also executed in the image data processing section 72, as will be described later. Each processing unit included in the image data processing unit 72 functions as needed, and the function may not be executed in some cases.

In the multi-value processing units 72a and 72b, the data binarized by the error diffusion processing unit 71c is converted again into 256 gradations.

In the synthesizing section 72c, a logical operation for each pixel,
That is, the operation of logical sum, logical product, or exclusive logical sum is selectively performed. The data to be calculated is the pixel data stored in the memory 81 and the bit data from the pattern generator (PG).

In the density conversion processing unit 72d, the relationship between the input density and the output density is arbitrarily set for the 256 gradation digital signal based on a predetermined gradation conversion table.

In the scaling processing section 72e, pixel data (density value) for the scaled target pixel is obtained by performing an interpolation process with known data that is input according to the instructed scaling ratio. After the scanning is scaled, the main scanning is scaled.

In the image processing unit 72f, various image processings are performed on the input pixel data, and information collection such as feature extraction can be performed on the data string.

The error diffusion processing section 72g performs the same processing as the error diffusion processing section 71c of the image data input section 71.

In the compression processing section 72h, binary data is compressed by the encoding called run length. Regarding the compression of the image data, the compression functions in the final processing loop when the final output image data is completed.

The image data output unit 73 includes a restoration unit 73a, a multi-value quantization processing unit 73b, an error diffusion processing unit 73c, and a laser output unit 73d.
Is included.

The image data processing unit 73 is a memory in a compressed state.
The image data stored in 81 is restored, converted back to the original 256 gradations, and the error diffusion of the 4-valued data, which is a smoother halftone expression than the binary data, is performed, and the data is output to the laser output section 73d. Is configured to forward.

That is, the decompression unit 73a decompresses the image data compressed by the compression processing unit 72h.

In the multi-value processing section 73b, the image data processing section
Processing similar to that of the multi-value quantization processing units 72a and 72b of 72 is performed.

The error diffusion processing unit 73c performs the same processing as the error diffusion processing unit 71c of the image data input unit 71.

In the laser output section 73d, the digital pixel data is turned on (ON) for driving the laser on the basis of a control signal from a sequence controller (not shown).
/ OFF (OFF) signal is converted to laser ON / OF
It becomes the F state.

The image data handled by the image data input section 71 and the image data output section 73 is basically stored in the memory 51 in the form of binary data in order to reduce the capacity of the memory 81. It is also possible to process in the form of four-valued data in consideration of deterioration of image data.

Next, the structure of the operation panel of the digital copying machine 10 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an operation panel included in the digital copying machine 10 shown in FIG.

As shown in the figure, on the operation panel 90 provided in the front part of the digital copying machine 10, a format composition mode selection section 91 for selecting and canceling the format composition mode, and alignment of the composition image. Area designation mode selection section 92 for selecting the area designation mode for inputting, a numeric input numeric keypad 93 for inputting the number of copies, a display section 94 for the number of sheets to be copied, a copy start button 95 and a clear button
96 etc. are provided.

Format composition mode selection section 91, area designation mode selection section 92, numerical value input ten-key 93, and number display section
94 is configured by stacking a liquid crystal display unit and a touch sensor. This operation panel is included in the operation panel section 74 of FIG.

The format compositing mode selection unit 91 is configured to alternately repeat the reverse display and the normal display in response to the user's contact, and it is easy to determine whether or not the format composing mode is currently selected. You can do it. At this time, the reverse display indicates a state in which the format combination mode is selected, and the regular display indicates a state in which the format combination mode is released.

Next, format combining by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, that is, one first original such as a format original and a plurality of second originals each having a different image are combined in pairs. In this case, the operation of the process of aligning the composite image will be described.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the operation of the format compositing process in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the memory area of the memory 81 of the image processing control unit 80 in FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 is a composite image. It is an explanatory view showing an example of a mark sheet used when performing the alignment of. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of aligning a composite image showing a mark sheet for specifying an area and a second original to be combined with the first original, and FIG. 10 is an image forming process according to the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of image composition by the apparatus, and FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another example of image composition by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

The central control unit 70 of FIG. 4 is the operation panel 90 of FIG.
When the format synthesizing mode is selected by the input from the touch sensor of the format synthesizing mode selection unit 91, the program is programmed to execute the format synthesizing routine shown in the flowchart of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the memory 81 of the image processing controller 80 shown in FIG. 5 has at least three memory areas for performing format combination, that is, a memory area 81a (memory 1 and abbreviated below), a memory. It has a region 81b (memory 2 and abbreviated below) and a memory region 81c (memory 3 and abbreviated below).

As shown in FIG. 1, in step S1, the counter n for discriminating the first original is reset to zero, and the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, the copy start button 95 shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.
It is determined whether or not has been pressed, and if so, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, it is determined whether the format combination mode is selected via the touch sensor of the format combination mode selection unit 91. If the format compositing mode is not selected, the processing routine proceeds to another function, and if it is selected, the processing proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the area designation mode selection section 92
It is determined whether the area designation mode is selected via the touch sensor of. If the area designation mode is not selected, the process proceeds to step S6, and if it is selected, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the following operation is executed.

First, the area designation mode selection unit 92 displays "area".
Is blinked to inform the user that the mark sheet shown in FIG.

The mark sheet shown in FIG. 8 is a sheet for designating in which area of the first document the second document is to be combined. As shown in the figure, as the mark sheet, for example, a normal sheet having the same size as the first original and having a handwritten closed curve as a designated area can be used.

Next, when such a mark sheet is placed on the document placing table 16 of FIG. 2 and the copy start button 95 of FIG. 6 is pressed, the designated area written on the mark sheet is recognized.

That is, the image of the mark sheet is the scanner unit 11
9 and the read image data is read by FIG.
As shown in (A), the image data processing unit 7 of FIG. 5 is a quadrangle circumscribing the designated area 102 written on the mark sheet 101.
2, the two sides A and B of the circumscribed quadrangle and the center coordinates (X, Y) of the circumscribed quadrangle are stored in the memory 1.

At this point, the display of the area designation mode selection section 92 is changed from "area" to, for example, an orange "area designation completed" display, and the area designation mode is reset to the unselected state.

When the operation for recognizing the designated area in step S5 is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, it is determined whether the counter n is not zero. Counter n in step S1
Is reset to zero, the process proceeds to step S7 when reading the first original document for format synthesis.

In step S7, the first original is read by the scanner section 11, and the read image data is stored in the memory 1 of the memory 81 under the control of the central control section 70 as shown in FIG. 10 (A). To be done.

The first original is, for example, one format original as shown in FIG. 10 (A).

When the reading of the formatted document and the writing of the image data into the memory 1 are completed in this way, the process proceeds to step S13, where 1 is added to the counter n, and then the process proceeds to step S2 and thereafter. At this time, the counter n
Is 1, and therefore, as a result of the determination made when proceeding to step S6, the process proceeds to step S8.

At step S8, the second original is read and the read image data is shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), it is stored in the memory 2 of the memory 81.

This second original is the first of two or more second originals having different contents.

Then, in step S9, the following operation is executed.

First, the scaling factor is obtained from the image data of the second document stored in the memory 2 and the data regarding the designated area stored in the memory 1.

That is, the lengths A'and B'of the two sides of the second original shown in FIG. 9B and the lengths A'and B'of the circumscribed quadrangle of the designated area 102 shown in FIG. 9A. From B and B, the scaling factor is calculated as follows.

When A / A'≤B / B ', A / A' is used as a scaling factor, and when A / A'≥B / B ', B / A'
9A and 9B, the image data of the second original document stored in the memory 2 is scaled by the same vertical and horizontal ratios, with B'as a scaling ratio.
The center of the second original after scaling is aligned with the center coordinates (X, Y) shown in (A), and the image data of the second original after scaling is stored in the memory 2 again.

When the operation for scaling the image data of the second document in step S9 is completed in this way, step S10
Go to.

At step S10, as shown in FIG. 10 (C), the image data processing unit 42 of FIG. 4 causes the image data of the format original, which is the first original stored in the memory 1 of the memory 81, The image data of the first sheet of the scaled second original stored in the memory 2 is combined, and the obtained combined image data is stored in the memory 3 of the memory 81.

Next, in step S11, the composite image data stored in the memory 3 of the memory 81 is read out and output from the image data output unit 73 of FIGS. 4 and 5, and the composite image is formed on the paper by driving the laser. To do.

The output of the composite image is performed in step S12.
The process is repeated until the end of the designated number of copies is determined. When copying of the designated number of sheets is completed, step S13
And the counter n is incremented by 1 and then stepped again.
Proceed to S2 and later.

Similarly, the third sheet (the second sheet of the second original) is read by the scanner 11, the read image data is scaled, and the read image data is written to the memory 2. The image data of the format original which is the first original stored in No. 1 is combined with the scaled image data of the third original stored in the memory 2 to obtain a desired number of sheets. Image output is performed.

The timing of reading the third and subsequent originals is as follows: (when only three memory areas are provided), the memory 2 is read when the combining process of the first original and the second original is completed. Since it becomes possible to write in, the third original is read at that time. If the combining process of the first document and the third document is completed, then 4
The nth original is read at the time when the first original and the nth original are combined in sequence, after the first original is read.

These operations are repeated until the user releases the format combination mode via the touch sensor of the format combination mode selection unit 91, that is, until the format combination mode shown in FIG. 10 is turned off. The reset timing of the format document is set when the format compositing mode is released. Further, in the right part of FIG. 11, that is, in the same figure, after the format composing mode is turned on for the second time, a different format original (kth sheet)
Is used to continue image composition.

Therefore, when performing format combination,
The reading operation of one first original (for example, a format original) having the same content is sufficient only once. That is, assuming that the number of the second originals is N, the conventional apparatus needs to read the originals N × 2 times, whereas the image forming apparatus of the above-described embodiment can read the originals N + 1 times. It is enough.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain a desired composite image with the minimum number of times of reading an original when combining images such as format composition.

Next, description will be made regarding a case where format composition is performed while feeding a document from the ADF 15.

As described above, in the digital copying machine according to the present embodiment, the sequentially read original data is stored in the memory 2 according to the flow chart of FIG. The combined image data is combined with the original data, and the combined image data is stored in the memory 3 and output. This also applies to the ADF mode, and continuous processing can be performed by using the ADF 15 shown in FIG.
The continuous combining process in the ADF mode will be described in detail below. To simplify the description, the case where the area designation mode is not selected will be described.

First, when a plurality of originals 51 are set on the original tray 50, the first original detection sensor S1 detects that the originals 51 are set on the ADF 15. Central control unit 70
After that, each unit is controlled in the ADF mode. At this time, the plurality of originals 51 are set on the original tray 50 so that the first one of the originals 51 to be fed becomes the format original. The format combination mode is selected by the input from the touch sensor of the format combination selection section 91 of the operation panel section 74 (S3), and when the copy start button 65 is pressed (S4), the paper feed from the tray 50 is started. .. First, the formatted document is conveyed to the exposure position P by the ADF 15 and stored in the memory 1 (S7). Next, the second original (first original of the second original) is conveyed to the exposure position P and stored in the memory 2 (S8).

Next, in step S10, the image data processing unit 42 of FIG. 4 causes the image data of the format original document, which is the first original document, stored in the memory 1 of the memory 81 and the second image data stored in the memory 2 to be stored. The image data of the first sheet of the document is combined, and the obtained combined image data is stored in the memory 3 of the memory 81.

Next, in step S11, the composite image data stored in the memory 3 of the memory 81 is read out and output from the image data output unit 73 of FIGS. 4 and 5, and the composite image is formed on the paper by driving the laser. To do.

The output of the composite image is performed in step S12.
The process is repeated until the end of the designated number of copies is determined.

The third original (the second original of the second original) is
The registration is stopped by the one carrying roller 56R, and the processing is stopped, and the combining process of the first original (format original) and the second original shown in step S10 in FIG. 1 is completed and stored in the memory 3. At the time point (S10), it is transported to the exposure point P (transport roller 56R is ON) and stored in the memory 2.
(S8). After that, the nth original is registered by the carrying roller 56R and stopped, and when the combining process of the first original and the (n-1) th original is completed and stored in the memory 3, ,
It is transported to the exposure point P and stored in the memory 2. In this way, the continuous combining process proceeds while reading the nth original document and processing the image data in which the first original document and the (n-1) th original document are combined in parallel.

If the touch sensor of the format combination selection section 91 is pressed again to cancel the format combination mode during the continuous combination processing, the feeding of paper is stopped, the format original data is erased from the memory 1, and the operation is accepted. It becomes a state. At the time when the first document detection sensor S1 detects the document empty, the feeding operation of the ADF 15 is temporarily stopped to enter the operation acceptance state. In this state, the data of the formatted document is erased from the memory 1. not,
The original remains stored, and when the original is set on the ADF 15 again and the copy button is pressed, the newly set original and the previously stored formatted original are combined. In the state where the data of the format original is stored, the format combination selection section is highlighted, so when storing the format original again, touch this inversion area to restore the normal display pattern,
The formatted document data in the memory 1 is erased.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the format combination is performed, the reading operation of one first original document (for example, the formatted original document) having the same content is sufficient. That is, assuming that the number of the second originals is N, the conventional apparatus needs to read the originals N × 2 times, whereas the apparatus of this embodiment is sufficient to read the originals N + 1 times. Is.

Further, in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to manually replace the originals, and it is possible to continuously format and synthesize the originals while automatically feeding the originals from the ADF. There is no need for the user to make a judgment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a desired composite image can be obtained with the minimum number of times of manuscript reading at the time of image composition such as format composition, and the user is annoyed. It is possible to perform continuous synthesizing processing without using it.

[0153]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first storage means for storing the image data of the first original and the first storage means are provided.
Second storage means for sequentially updating and storing the image data of the plurality of second originals that are sequentially read after the image reading of the first original, and the image data of the second original are stored in the second storage means. Since the image synthesizing means for synthesizing the image data of the first original and the image data of the second original are provided for each image, the number of times of reading the original can be reduced, and the image synthesizing can be performed at high speed by a simple operation. It becomes possible to do.
Further, a document feeding device for sequentially feeding a plurality of documents is used, and when the document feeding device finishes the combining process of the image data of the first document and the image data of the second document, the second document is fed. Since the next original is controlled to be read, image composition can be continuously performed without the troublesomeness of the user determining the original replacement timing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an operation of a format combining process in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a digital copying machine that is an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an automatic document feeder included in the digital copying machine of FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit included in the digital copying machine of FIG.

5 is a block configuration diagram of an image processing control unit included in the digital copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an operation panel included in the digital copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a memory area of a memory of the image processing control unit in FIG.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a mark sheet used when aligning a composite image.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a method of aligning a combined image showing a mark sheet for designating an area and a second original to be combined with the first original.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of image composition by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another example of image composition by the image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Digital copying machine 11 Scanner section 12 Laser printer section 15 Automatic document feeder 70 Central control section 72 Image data processing section 81a, 81b, 81c Memory area

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An original feeding device for sequentially feeding a plurality of originals, an original reading unit for reading an image of an original being sent, and a first reading unit for reading the originals.
First storage means for storing image data of the original document, and a first storage means for sequentially updating and storing image data of a plurality of second original documents sequentially read by the original document reading means after the image reading of the first original document. Image storage for synthesizing the image data of the first original and the image data of the second original each time the image data of the second original is stored in the second storage. Means, an image forming means for forming a combined image on the paper by the image combining means, and a combining process of the image data of the first original and the image data of the second original by the image combining means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls a document feeding device to read a document next to a second document when the document is finished.