JPH06102721A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] In an image forming apparatus equipped with a plurality of image areas of a document and a function of designating copy colors for these image areas, color confirmation for confirming copy color information regarding designated and input image areas. An image forming apparatus having a mode is realized. [Structure] When a color confirmation mode is designated by an operator's input operation, the CPU waits for the operator's input operation according to a color confirmation mode control program stored in the ROM, and an area in which a copy color is designated in advance. Is designated, the copy color information in the area is read according to the data stored in the RAM, and the color is displayed on the display device. Therefore, by visually observing the display content of the display device, the copy color information can be easily confirmed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided with an area designating means such as an editor, and by using the area designating means, an image of a copying machine or the like capable of copying a plurality of image areas of a document on a platen with desired copy colors. Forming apparatus

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, as an example of a copying machine, a copying machine having an edit copy function capable of partially copying an image area of a document has been developed. Further, as an example of a copying machine having such an editing copy function, a copying machine capable of copying a plurality of image areas in desired copy colors has been developed.

In such a copying machine, an editor is used as a means for inputting a copy color of an image area of a document placed on a document table and a designated image area to a CPU which is a control center of the copying machine. Area designation means such as

When the copy button is turned on after the above-described designation input is made by the region designation means, the CPU controls a series of copy processes, thereby making a desired copy of a plurality of designated image regions. An edit copy is made by color.

[0005]

By the way, in the copying machine having the above-mentioned functions, inputting of a plurality of image areas,
In order to input the copy color for each image area, for example, there is an emergency call etc. when the operator finishes the designated input, and if it responds, the input information will be forgotten when copying afterwards. Sometimes.

In such a case, the conventional copying machine does not have a means for confirming the information once input.
For example, when a copy operation is executed, the copy result is visually recognized, and if an error occurs, it is necessary to perform the re-input operation for all the image areas again from the beginning. For this reason, there are drawbacks that it is inconvenient to use and that miscopy occurs.

The present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above, and the specified image area and the copy color information for the image area can be easily confirmed thereafter.
As a result, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be significantly improved in usability.

[0008]

An image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises area designating means for designating an image area on a document,
By designating and inputting a plurality of image regions by the region designating means and designating and inputting the copy colors of the designated and input plurality of image regions, the plurality of image regions of the original document can be copied in desired colors. The image forming apparatus further includes a color confirmation mode for confirming the copy color designated and input in the image area thereafter, the color confirmation mode is selected, and the corresponding image area is designated and input by the area designating means. Then, it has a control means for reading out the copy color information on the image area stored in the storage means after the designated input of the copy color and displaying it on the display means, thereby achieving the above object.

[0009]

In the above structure, when the operator operates the select key to select the color confirmation mode, the color confirmation mode control program stored in the ROM is started, and the CPU (control means) follows the control program. The following control operation is executed. That is, when the CPU confirms that the color confirmation mode has been selected, it waits for the operator's key input, determines whether or not there is an image area designation input via the area designation means, and confirms that there is. ,
After the designation is input, the copy color information about the image area stored in the RAM (storage unit) is read. Then, the read copy color information is displayed in color, for example, on display means such as an LCD display device. Therefore, by visually recognizing the copy color information displayed on the display means, the copy color information on the designated and input image area can be immediately confirmed.

[0010]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows the upper structure of a copying machine to which the present invention is applied. The table glass (document table) 1 on which the document 3 is placed is formed by one transparent glass plate, and the table glass 1 serves as an operation surface of a signal input unit (editor) described later. On the table glass 1,
An original placing area 2 for placing the original 3 is set, and the original 3 placed in the original placing area 2 is copied.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a designated area of the original 3 and a rectangular area having two diagonal points 5-5 'on the operation surface, 16 denotes a diagonal area having points 14-14'. Is a region having a diagonal line between points 15 and 15 ', 6 is a reference line for placing the document 3 with the leading edge of the document 3 as a reference, and 7 is a reference index of the document to be placed. It becomes the center line, and its position is the origin O (0,0).

On the right side of the table glass 1, there is provided an input section 8 in which a large number of keys are arranged. The input unit 8 is used to input data such as functions in the copying machine. The input unit 8 is, for example, the upper surface of the table glass 1,
Alternatively, it is printed on the back side, and an input is made according to the print content.

In the input section 8, items A and B for designating the area of the original 3 and items C to G for setting the processing mode of the copy condition are set.
Is provided. Among the processing modes, the item G is for designating the copy color (for example, red, blue ...) For the designated original area. Item F is for keying in the color confirmation mode. When item F is keyed in by the operator, the color display of the original area designated and input by item G is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 10 shown in FIG.
The operator can visually confirm the copy color by visually checking the displayed contents.
Details of this color confirmation mode will be described later. As the input unit 8, a ten-key pad for inputting a numerical value may be additionally provided.

Further, X is formed on the periphery of the table glass 1.
The reference scales 12, 13 for the Y coordinate are printed.

Vibration sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ are directly adhered to the back surface or the front surface of the table glass 1 near the four corners of the table glass 1. The sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ are provided to detect the spotted position on the table glass 1, detect the vibration transmitted from the spot position, and detect the vibration detection timing.

In such a copying machine, the table glass 1
The copy area of the original 3 can be specified by placing the original 3 on top and specifying the specified point 5 of the original 3 as a position signal. Further, not only the area designation of the original 3 but also the copy condition and the like related to the detected position signal are similarly set.
By inputting the desired input portion 8 as a designated point with a hand or a pen, input is possible.

That is, when one point on the table glass 1 is struck, vibration is transmitted from that position to each of the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ , and the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ are responsive to the linear distance from the struck position. Vibration detection time is different. Thereby, for example, the spotted position with respect to the reference index 7 can be calculated. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the dot is on the document placing area 2 or the dot on the input unit 8. Further, in the input section 8, it is possible to determine which position for each input item and to input a signal for that item.

Next, an image editing operation procedure in the copying machine of the present invention will be described.

Within the copyable area with the image surface of the original 2 facing upward, the original position reference index 7 is used as a center line mark, and the leading edge of the original 3 is aligned along the reference line 6.

The area of the start item A of the input section 8 for instructing the start of area specification is set with a pen so that the area can be specified for the original 3 placed in the procedure. A desired designated area 4 is designated from the image surface side of the original 3 by marking two designated points 5 and 5'which are diagonal lines.

When a plurality of areas are designated, it is possible to input the areas 16 and 17 by repeating the above operation.

When ending the area designation, point B
By hitting, the plurality of position data designated by the procedure are signaled to the main body of the copying machine (more specifically, the CPU 45 described later) as designated areas.

The processing mode of the original 3 whose area is designated is
Trimming, masking, centering, color designation, color confirmation, etc. are performed, and the selection of each of the above processing modes is input by scoring the respective areas of items C to G as necessary.

By the above operation, the input by the area designation of the original 3 and the copy processing mode etc. by the area designation are performed.

After the area designation of the original 3 is completed in this manner, the original 3 is turned over, set again along the reference line 6 of the table glass 1 along the line 6, and the copy switch of the main body of the copying machine is pressed to input. The copy processing is performed according to the copy processing mode.

FIG. 2 shows a modification of the signal input section provided on the table glass 1. In FIG. 2, on the axes of the x direction which is the longitudinal direction in the document placing area 2 and the y direction which is orthogonal to the x direction, the same distance L is set from the origin O which is the intersection of the x axis and the y axis. hand,
Two vibration sensors S ₁ and S ₃ , S ₂ and S ₄ are arranged respectively. Also in this modification, a plurality of areas 4, 16 and 17 are designated in the document placing area 2 as in FIG. Each vibration sensor S _{1 to} S ₄
Is directly bonded to the lower surface of the table glass 1 at a position separated from the original placing area 2, and detects the vibration applied to the table glass 1. The respective coordinates of the vibration sensors S ₁ and S ₃ arranged on the x-axis are (L, 0) and (−L, 0), and the vibration sensors S ₂ and S arranged on the y-axis. The respective coordinates of ₄ are (0, L) and (0, -L).

Outside the document placing area 2 in the vicinity of the vibration sensor S ₁ , along the y-axis direction, the key items similar to those in FIG. ₁ are distributed into K _{1 to} K _n-1. The input section 8 having the vibration sensor S is arranged.
_A liquid crystal display unit 10 is provided on one side outside the document placing area 2 along the x-axis direction in the vicinity of ₄ , and a key input unit 9 is provided adjacent to the liquid crystal display unit 10. Has been. The key input unit 9 includes a numeric keypad 91 arranged along the y-axis direction for inputting numerical data, and a print switch 92 located on a side opposite to the liquid crystal display unit 10 for starting a copying operation. Numerical data and the like input with the ten keys 91 are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 1.
Displayed at 0.

Each of the vibration sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ detects a vibration which is added to the point P on the table glass 1 by hitting with a pen or the like, and propagates on the surface or inside of the table glass 1 as a shock wave. . Then, the coordinate position of the designated point P is calculated based on the time difference between the vibration detection timings of the respective vibration sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ .
This is input to the main body of the copying machine. As a result, the copy area of the original is designated. Further, not only this area designation, but also the copy condition and the like related to the detected position signal can be input by similarly scoring with a hand or a pen using the desired input portion 8 of the table glass 1 as a designated point.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the copying machine of the present invention. The vibration sensor S ₁ constitutes a part of the detection circuit C _{1 including} the amplifier 41, the filter 42, the comparator 43, and the latch 44. Vibration detected by the vibration sensor S ₁ is converted into an electric signal by the vibration sensors S _1, is amplified to a predetermined voltage by the amplifier 41. The amplified signal is immediately output to the latch 44 as a valid signal when a voltage unnecessary for detection is removed by the filter 42 and then becomes a voltage of a certain magnitude or more by the comparator 43. When the latch 44 latches this valid signal I ₁ , the CPU 45 detects the timing. Then, the CPU 45 outputs the reset signal R ₁ to the latch 44 and fixes the output of the latch 44. The detection circuit C ₁ includes the vibration sensor S ₁ to the latch 4
This is a detection circuit in which up to 4 are one detection unit. Similarly, the detection circuits C _{2 to} C ₄ are connected to the vibration sensors S _{2 to} S ₄ respectively.
Is a circuit using.

A ROM 46, a RAM 47, an I / O (input / output report) 48, etc. are connected to a CPU 45 which is a control center of this copying machine. The ROM 46 uses a calculation program for calculating the position of the vibration input point P based on the detection timing of the effective signals I _{1 to} I ₄ output from the detection circuits C _{1 to} C ₄ and the input unit 8 and the input unit 9 and the like. A program and the like for controlling the operation of the copying machine based on the input data required for copying are stored.

The RAM 47 temporarily stores the detection timings of the vibration sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ , the calculation results of the designated points, the copying conditions of the copying machine, the copying state of the copying machine, and the like. The I / O 48 expands the number of input / output terminals of the CPU 45 and assists the control of the CPU 45. I / O48
Various vibration sensors 49 and a keyboard 50 necessary for driving control of an optical system of the copying machine and conveyance control of copy sheets are connected to the printer, and a plurality of drive elements 51, a plurality of control elements 52, and a voice transmitter 54 are connected. A driver 53 for driving the oscillator S is connected to the back. Furthermore, the I / O48
Also connected to the display device 10 is a liquid crystal display unit.

Next, a method of calculating the position of the vibration input point P will be described. This calculation program is in ROM4
It is stored in 6.

The speed at which vibration is transmitted in the table glass 1 is v [m / sec], and as shown in FIG. 1, the vibration sensors S ₁ (L, O), S ₂ (O, L), S ₃ (-
L, O), S ₄ (O, -L) for 1 table glass
It is assumed that the vibration is input to the point P (x, y) at the point. Vibration sensors S ₁ and S ₃ arranged on the x-axis
Since the time difference T ₁ of the vibration detection timing in is equal to the value obtained by dividing the difference in the linear distance from the point P to each of the vibration sensors S ₁ and S ₃ by the speed v of the vibration transmitted in the table glass 1, If the relationship is mathematically expressed, it is shown by the following formula.

T ₁ = t ₃ −t ₁ = [√ {(L + x) ² + y ² } −√ {(L−x) ² + y ² }] / v ... Similarly, each of them arranged on the y axis Similarly, the time difference T ₂ between the vibration detection timings of the vibration sensors S ₂ and S ₄ is expressed by the following equation.

T ₂ = t ₄ −t ₂ = [√ {x ² + (L + y) ² } −√ {x ² + (L−y) ² }] / v In the formulas and formulas, A ₁ = ( ^{_{L 2 -K 1 2) / 2}} , A
₂ = (L ² + K ₂ ² ) / 2, and B ₁ = (L ² + K ₁ ² ) /
^{_{2, B 2 = (L 2}} -K 2 2) / 2, ^{_{Further, K 1 2 = T 1 2}} v 2
When / ^2-L 2, and ^{_{K 2 2 = T 1 2 v}} 2/2-L 3, the following formula and formula are obtained, respectively.

Y ² = (A ₁ / B ₁ ) x ² −A ₁ ...... A ₂ x ² −B ₂ y ² + A ₂ B ₂ = 0. The following equation is obtained.

X = ± √ {| B ₁ B ₂ (A ₁ + A ₂ ) / (A ₁ B ₂ −A ₂ B ₁ ) |} y = ± √ {| A ₁ A ₂ (B ₁ + B ₂ ) / (A ₁ B ₂ −A ₂ B ₁ ) |} ... Thus, the (x, y) coordinates of the point P to which the vibration is input are calculated. This calculation is performed by the CPU 45 in the vibration reception timing t ₁ of each of the vibration sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ .
It is performed according ROM46 program by detecting ~t _4.

Next, will be described control contents of CPU45 in the detection procedure of the reception timing t ₁ ~t ₄ of vibration in the vibration sensor S ₁ to S ₄ in accordance with a flow chart shown in FIGS. This control program starts only when the table glass 1 can receive the vibration, for example, when the copying machine body is ready for copying. When the program starts, the CPU 45 starts a timer TM for timing detection (step S
10).

Here, the timer TM has a count unit of 0.1 μsec so that the allowable error of the detection position is within 1 mm. The reason is that the sound wave transmission speed of soda glass which is usually used as a table glass is 4300.
If m / sec (= 4.3 mm / μsec), the time taken for the sound wave to propagate at a distance of 1 mm is 0.23 μsec. Therefore, if the measurement is performed at a cycle twice or more, the allowable error is within 1 mm. Because you can. Therefore,
In this embodiment, the measurement unit is, for example, about 0.1 μsec.

Subsequently, the CPU 45, in step S20,
The presence / absence of a valid signal I ₁ from the latch 44 in the detection circuit C ₁ indicating that the vibration sensor S ₁ has detected vibration is determined. Check that a valid signal I ₁ is detected, then in step S30, it is determined whether the flag F ₁ indicating that the valid signal I ₁ is detected is set. When the valid signal I ₁ is _first detected, the flag F ₁ is not set. In this case, therefore, the detection flag F ₁ is set, and the time value of the timer TM at that time is set as the detection timing t _1. It is stored in the storage area of M ₁ of the RAM 47. Then, in order to fix the output of the latch 44 to LOW, the reset signal R ₁ is output (step S40).

When the above processing is completed, the next step S
In 50 to step S70, the vibration sensor S _2,
The same processing as described above is performed to detect the detection timing t ₂ in the RAM 4
It is stored in the storage area of M ₂ of 7. In the same manner, the timing t ₃ is detected in step S80~ step S100, the timing t ₄ is detected at steps S110~ step S130.

In this way, when all the vibration reception timings t _{1 to} t ₄ are detected, it is determined in step S140 whether or not all the flags F _{1 to} F ₄ indicating execution of detection are set. Then, all the flags F _{1 to} F ₄ are set,
When it is confirmed that the timings t _{1 to} t ₄ are detected, the alarm device (SP) 54 shown in FIG. 3 is sounded in order to notify the operator of the detection end in step S150.

[0044] Through the above process, the vibration from the point P of the table glass 1, the timing t ₁ ~t ₄ that the vibration sensor S ₁ to S ₄ is detected, recognized by CPU 45, the storage area of the RAM 47 M1 to It is stored in M4.

Subsequently, the CPU 45 controls the contents shown in FIG. 5 to obtain the position (x, y) of the designated point P.
The details will be described below.

The CPU 45 firstly, step S160.
Then, the vibration receiving timings t ₁ and t ₃ of the vibration sensors S ₁ and S ₃ stored in the RAM 47 are read out, and the detection time difference T ₁ = t ₃ −t ₁ of the vibration sensors S ₁ and S _{3 in} the x direction is calculated. , In the storage area M5 of the RAM 47. continue,
Similarly, in step S170, the vibration reception timings t ₂ and t ₄ stored in the RAM 47 of the vibration sensors S ₂ and S ₄ arranged in the y-axis direction are read out, and the time difference T ₂ = t ₄ −t ₂ is calculated. Then, it is stored in the storage area M6 of the RAM 47.

Next, in step S180, the x coordinate value of the point P to which the vibration is input is calculated according to the above equation.
Then, in step S190, the y coordinate value of the point P is calculated according to the above equation.

Next, in step S200, it is judged which of the vibration sensors S ₁ and S ₃ in the X-axis direction has received the vibration quickly based on the reception timings t ₁ and t ₃ , and the vibration of the vibration sensor S ₁ is determined. If it is determined that the reception timing t ₁ is early, the calculated value of x is stored as a positive value in the storage area Mx of the RAM 47 (S210). On the other hand, if it is determined that the fast vibration reception timing t ₃ of the vibration sensors S ₃ is in the storage area Mx of RAM47 value of computed x as a negative value (S220).

[0049] Similarly, it is determined based on whether it has received the vibration any faster in the y-axis direction of the vibrating sensor S _2, S ₄ to the reception timing t _2, t ₄ in step S230, the vibration reception of the vibration sensor S ₂ When it is determined that the timing t ₂ is fast, the calculated value of y is stored in the storage area My of the RAM 47 as a positive value in step S240. On the other hand, the vibration sensor when the vibration reception timing t ₄ of S ₄ is determined to fast, at step S250, and stores the value of the computed y in the storage area My in RAM47 as a negative value.

In this way, the coordinates (x, y) of the position of the designated point P to which the vibration is input are calculated, and the calculated values are stored in the designated storage areas Mx, My of the RAM 47. The position of the vibration input point P is specified on the basis of the coordinates of the point P, and if it is either the key input unit 8 or 9, it is determined that the input instruction is a predetermined input instruction, and the process according to the instruction is performed. Is executed. On the other hand, if the vibration input point P is within the document placing area 2, it is determined that the copy area of the document is designated, and only the designated document portion is copied.

With the above construction, this copying machine
It is possible to specify the copy color of the specified area together with the area of the original 3. The designation of the copy color is performed by inputting the item G of the input failure 8 described above. As an example, when the region 4 is designated as red, the region 16 is designated as blue, and the region 17 is designated as green, the coordinates and color designation data of each region are temporarily stored in the RAM 47 via the CPU 45.

In the case of having such a function, there are cases where the operator forgets which copy color is designated and input in which area after the designation input operation. The copying machine of the present invention has a function of easily confirming what the copy color information designated and input in the corresponding area is in such a case without performing a copying operation.

That is, in the copying machine of the present invention, the ROM 46
The control program for the color confirmation mode is stored in, and when the operator inputs and operates the color confirmation mode corresponding to the item F of the input unit 8, this color confirmation mode is selected, and the copy color information for each area, for example, the color Is displayed on the display device 10. FIG. 6 shows the control procedure of the CPU 45 in this color confirmation mode.

In step S300, the operator
When the area designation and the copy color designation input processing for the designated area are performed, the CPU 45 performs step S31.
When the input processing by the operator is awaited at 0, it is determined whether or not the item F is input and the color confirmation mode is selected. If the color confirmation mode is not selected, other processing such as area input is executed in step S320.

On the other hand, when it is confirmed in step S310 that the color confirmation mode is selected, the control program for the color confirmation mode stored in the ROM 46 is started and the CPU 4
Step 5 waits for the operator's input operation in step S330.
When the area is designated by the operator's dot input, the process proceeds to step S340, the copy color information about the area designated here is read from the corresponding storage area of the RAM 47, and the color display corresponding to the read data is displayed on the display device 10. Let it be done. Therefore, by visually observing the display content of the display device 10, the copy color information regarding the area can be confirmed without performing the copy operation.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S330 that the operator has not performed an input operation, the process proceeds to step S350, where the operator's input operation is awaited, and it is determined whether or not there is another operation input. If it is confirmed that there is no other operation input, the process proceeds to step S330, and the same process as above is performed again.

On the other hand, if it is confirmed in step S350 that another operation input has been made, it is determined in step S360 whether or not the color confirmation mode should be canceled. When it is determined that the color confirmation mode should be canceled, this color confirmation mode is terminated. To do.

[0058]

According to the copying machine of the present invention as described above, a color confirmation mode is provided. When this color confirmation mode is selected, a plurality of images of the original document, which have been designated and input in advance by the operator and stored in the storage means, are stored. Since the control unit reads the copy color information about the area and then displays the read copy color information on the display unit, the copy color information can be easily confirmed thereafter. In addition, when the display content is different from the operator's recognition, it is necessary to re-input only for different image areas, so the operability is markedly improved compared to the conventional example that requires re-input operation for all image areas from the beginning. Can be improved. In addition, no miscopy occurs. For this reason, according to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus that can be significantly improved in usability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a table glass in a copying machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a modified example of the input unit provided on the table glass.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control system of the copying machine of the present invention.

[Fig. 4] C in the reception timing detection of the vibration sensor
The flowchart which shows the control procedure of PU.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the CPU in the calculation processing of the hitting point position performed subsequent to the control procedure of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of the CPU in the color confirmation mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 table glass 2 original placement area 3 original 8 input section item for selecting F color confirmation mode 10 item for inputting G color designation 10 display device 45 CPU 46 ROM 47 RAM F color confirmation mode selection Item G Item for inputting color designation S _{1 to} S ₄ Vibration sensor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical indication location H04N 1/387 4226-5C (72) Inventor Nobuyuki Ueda 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Within Sharp Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An area designating unit for designating an image area on a document, wherein a plurality of image areas are designated and input by the area designating unit, and a copy color of the designated plurality of image areas is designated and input. Thus, in the image forming apparatus capable of copying a plurality of image areas of the original document in desired colors, a color confirmation mode is provided for confirming the copy color designated and input in the image areas. When the mode is selected and the corresponding image area is designated and input by the area designating means, the copy color information on the image area stored in the storage means is read out after the copy color is designated and displayed on the display means. An image forming apparatus having a control unit.