JPH09266540A - Color image forming equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A color image forming apparatus that facilitates delicate color correction is obtained. A scanner unit reads a color original image, and the read image data is displayed on an operation display unit. An area of any color of the image data is designated based on this display. Color data in the specified range is nonvolatile RAM5
Stored in 23. The original image and the color information of the copied image are transmitted to the image data processing unit 515, where color correction data is created. When the first original is set in this state and the copy start key is operated, color correction is performed according to the stored color correction data, and a color image is formed. According to this procedure, subtle color correction is possible,
By storing the corrected color data, the same correction can be repeated easily and arbitrarily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus such as a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a tendency that a color of an image formed by a color image forming apparatus is required to be subtle. In such a demand, the conventional color image forming apparatus generally has a color adjusting function. To adjust the color using this function, for example, compare the original image with the image after copying,
The operator selects and adjusts the color balance and the like, prints out again, sees the result, and adjusts again. It can be said that this is a complicated adjustment and depends on the user's feeling.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-311353 discloses an improvement on the above general method. In the second conventional example,
In order to facilitate the reproduction of the color that you want to prioritize, several colors are stored and saved in the color forming device, the color in the read original is specified, and the specified color is corrected with the stored color. How to do is presented.

[0004]

However, there is a problem in that all the complicated and delicate color correction states cannot be dealt with only by the several kinds of memory colors of the above-mentioned conventional example 2.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a color image forming apparatus which facilitates delicate color correction.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, a color image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises an image reading means for reading a color original image and a display means for displaying the image data read by the image reading means. A designating means for designating an area of any color of the image data, a converting means for further converting to color data, a storing means for storing the image data of the designated area, and a correcting means for further correcting the color of the image data. It is characterized in that it has an output means for forming and outputting a color image on the basis of the corrected color data, and correction of any color is possible.

Further, the above-mentioned arbitrary color and the data related to this color after correction are stored, and correction can be automatically performed in image formation after storage, and the stored data is RGB or YMCK constituent data, and color correction is performed. Should be possible for multiple colors. Further, the designating unit and the display unit may be integrally configured as an operation unit by a liquid crystal display, a touch panel, or the like.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a color image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 8 show an embodiment of the color image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an example of the overall configuration of a copying machine to which this embodiment is applied.

The copying machine shown in FIG. 1 is an operation unit integrally constituted by a system control unit 1, an image reading unit 2 such as a scanner, an image processing unit 3, an image writing unit 4, a liquid crystal display and a multi-value panel. Unit 5, copier mechanism section 6, drum unit 7, intermediate transfer section 8, developing section 9, paper feed section 10, fixing section 11, paper transfer section 12
It is composed of each part.

In the copying machine having the above structure, the image reading unit 2 scans the original while irradiating it with a light source, the reflected light from the original is read by a 3-line CCD sensor, and the read image data is read by the image processing unit 3.
Send to The image processing unit 3 performs image processing such as scanner γ correction, color conversion, main scanning scaling, image separation, processing, area processing, and gradation correction processing, and sends the processed image data to the image writing unit 4.

In the image writing unit 4, the driving of the laser diode (LD) is modulated according to the image data.
In the drum unit 7, a latent image is written by a laser beam from an LD on a rotating photosensitive drum that is uniformly charged, and toner is attached by a developing unit 9 to make it visible.

The image formed on the photosensitive drum is retransferred onto the transfer belt of the intermediate transfer unit of the intermediate transfer unit 8. 4 for full-color copy on the intermediate transfer belt
Color (Bk, C, M, Y) toners are sequentially stacked.

For full-color copying, Bk, C,
When the four-color image forming process and the transfer process for M and Y are completed, the transfer paper is fed from the paper feed unit 10 at the same timing as the intermediate transfer belt, and the paper is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 4 to the paper transfer unit 12.
At the same time as the color, the toner is transferred to the transfer paper. The transfer sheet on which the toner has been transferred is sent to the fixing section 11 via the conveying section, is thermally fixed by the fixing roller and the pressure roller, and is discharged.

What is set by the operator, such as the copy mode, is input through the operation unit 5. The operation mode such as the set copy mode is sent to the system control unit 1, and the system control unit 1 performs a control process for executing the set copy mode. This time,
The system control unit gives control instructions to units such as an image reading unit, an image processing unit, an image writing unit, a paper detection unit, and an operation display unit.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the entire operation panel of the copying machine. The operation panel of this embodiment includes an operation display screen 201, a copy button 202, and an interrupt start button 2.
03, stop / clear key 204, numeric keypad 205,
Memory call key 206, residual heat / mode clear key 20
7 and a document color storage key 208.

An operation display screen 201 which also functions as a touch panel is provided in the center of the operation panel. On this touch panel, a copy button 202 is used when executing copying. The interrupt start button 203 is used for interrupting the copy work and resetting the number of copies. The stop / clear key 204 is used for interrupting the copy work and resetting the number of copies. The ten-key pad 205 is used to input a set value for the number of copies. Memory call key 206
Is used to call the previous copy mode. The residual heat / mode clear key 207 is used when the residual heat mode is set and when the settings such as the copy mode are initialized. The document color storage key 208 is used when registering the document color.

Next, the display contents of the liquid crystal display screen 201 will be described. The screen shown in FIG. 3 is a basic screen. On the basic display screen of FIG. 3, a message area 301 for notifying the operator of the copying machine and showing the procedure to the operator, a copy density button 302, a color mode button 303, an image quality mode button 304, a paper feed stage setting button 305, A copy scaling button 306, a create button 307, a color processing button 308, a move / book processing button 309, and a scaling button 310 are displayed.

When the original color memory key 208 is operated,
For example, the document color selection screen of FIG. 4 is displayed. 4 in FIG.
Reference numeral 01 is an image example of the read original.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the system control section, the scanner section, the image processing section, and the operation display section. The system unit controller 501 centrally manages the entire image forming apparatus, gives operation instructions to each unit,
Perform a copy operation. The printer control unit 502 controls the printer operation. The communication control unit 503 communicates with each unit of the scanner unit, the image processing unit, and the operation display unit connected by a serial line. Non-volatile RAM 50
Reference numeral 5 stores copy condition data for the entire image forming apparatus.

The scanner section will be described. The scanner unit controller 506 controls the scanner unit. The communication control unit 507 communicates with the system control unit connected by a serial line. Lamp control unit 50
8 moves a halogen lamp or a reflector. The reading control unit 510 electrically converts the reflected light of the document and
Convert to B image data. Also, the RGB image data is transmitted to the image processing unit connected by the bus.

The image processing section will be described. The image processing unit control unit 512 controls the image processing unit. The communication control unit 513 γ-corrects the RGB image data sent from the scanner unit connected by the bus, and UCR
Processing is performed to convert into Bk, Y, M, and C color image data, and gradation reproduction correction and gradation correction are performed. In addition, the color image data connected by the bus is made to emit LD light for each color component,
Expose the photoconductor drum. The non-volatile RAM 523 stores the color data stored in the present invention.

The operation display section will be described. The operation display unit control unit 517 controls the image processing unit. The communication control unit 518 communicates with the system control unit connected by a serial line. The display control unit 519
A screen required for copying is displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 201.
An image of the original read by the scanner is also displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 201.

The input control section 520 has a liquid crystal display screen 201.
It manages all the keys on the touch panel and the operation display unit that are also provided for the operation display unit, and notifies the operation display unit control unit 517 of the selected key. Area edit data management unit 5
Reference numeral 21 stores and manages area data designated at the time of area processing and copy mode data of the designated area.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example. An example of the color adjustment procedure will be described based on this flow. In step S11, the document color storage button 208
By turning on, the color can be adjusted. Further, by turning off the button of the document color 208, it is possible to return to the normal copy operation (S12) at any time.

When the document color storage button 208 is turned on (S11 / Yes), the set document image is read and displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 201 (S13, S1).
5). The display state of the read original is shown in FIG. FIG.
Reference numeral 401 is the read original.

The operator selects the color to be stored from the original image displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 201 in the manner of area designation at the time of area processing (S16). The color selected at this time is one color that the operator wants to represent closest to the original color. The operator starts the copy start key 202
By pressing (S17), copying is performed, and at the same time, color data in the selected range is stored in the nonvolatile RAM 523 (S18). An example of the structure of stored data is shown in FIG.

Next, when the copied original is set and the copy original reading key 701 shown in FIG. 7 is operated, the copy original is read and displayed on the liquid crystal display screen 201 (S19). A portion having the same color as the previously stored document color is selected (S20), and the copy start key 202 is operated (S21). As a result, the color data of the copy document is read and stored in the nonvolatile RAM 523. An example of the structure of stored data is shown in FIG.

At this point, the original image and the color information of the copied image are transmitted to the image data processing unit 515, where color correction data is created (S22). An example of the structure of the created data is shown in FIG. When the first original is set in this state and the copy start key 202 is operated, color correction is performed according to the stored color correction data, and a color image is formed (S23).

According to the above embodiment, a color data storage section is provided, and a key for storing the color data is provided to enable the color data to be stored. Furthermore, it is possible to return to the normal copy operation at any time. Further, it becomes possible to correct the color by the stored color data. Furthermore, since the operator can select the part and color to be used for adjustment, the color correction is performed based on the part where the operator wants to reproduce the color most accurately, which increases the satisfaction of the operator. Is obtained.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, the color image forming apparatus of the present invention reads a color original image, displays the read image data, and designates an area of any color of the image data. Convert to color data. The image data of the designated area is stored, the color of the image data is corrected, and a color image is formed and output based on the corrected color data. The above procedure enables correction of any color. Therefore, subtle color correction is possible, and the same correction can be repeated easily and arbitrarily by storing the corrected color data.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall layout diagram showing an embodiment of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation panel of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is an example of a liquid crystal display screen.

FIG. 4 is a display example of a document color selection screen.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example.

FIG. 7 is an example of a liquid crystal display screen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of YMCK of stored data.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 system control unit 2 image reading unit 3 image processing unit 4 image writing unit 5 operation unit unit 6 copying machine mechanism unit 7 drum unit 8 intermediate transfer unit 9 developing unit 10 paper feed unit 11 fixing unit 12 paper transfer unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading a color original image, a display unit for displaying image data read by the image reading unit, a designating unit for designating an area of an arbitrary color of the image data, and further color data. A conversion unit for converting the image data of the designated area, a storage unit for storing the image data of the designated area, a correction unit for further correcting the color of the image data, and an output unit for forming and outputting a color image based on the corrected color data. And a color image forming apparatus capable of correcting any color. 2. The color image according to claim 1, wherein the arbitrary color and the data related to the color after correction are stored, and the correction can be automatically performed in image formation after the storage. Forming equipment. 3. The data to be stored is RGB or Y
The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color image forming apparatus is MCK configuration data. 4. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction is possible for a plurality of colors. 5. The designating unit and the display unit are integrally configured as an operation unit by a liquid crystal display, a touch panel, or the like.
Item 10. A color image forming apparatus according to item 9.