JPH096070A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The output state of the copy image can be confirmed in advance by interlocking the brightness adjustment of the display device and the density adjustment of the device main body, simplifying the density adjustment and miscopying. Eliminate and improve operability and economy. A brightness adjusting means (not shown) for adjusting the brightness of the display image data output to the image display unit 200, and the density of the density adjusting key of the operation unit 240 with respect to the adjustment value of the brightness adjusting means. And a system control unit 220 that sets the values in association with each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention adjusts the brightness of a displayed image and makes a copy when the read original image data is displayed on a monitor and the condition of the image finally required is set while watching the display screen. Interlocking with image density adjustment,
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine capable of confirming an output state of a copy image in advance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a digital full color having a display / editing function for reading a manuscript image with a scanner, displaying the read image on a display device, and instructing the desired editing process or processing process on the image. Copiers are known. Using such a copying machine, the user displays the original image of the copy target on the display device before performing the final copying operation, and performs desired edit processing and processing while viewing the displayed image, When the print start key is pressed after the processing is confirmed, a copy image is output.

Further, when performing a copying operation, the density of a normal document is adjusted by automatic density setting, but the user manually adjusts the density according to whether the image state of the document is dark or light. For example, when the original is a relatively low density document written with a pencil, the density adjustment key provided on the operation unit sets a darker density. Further, in the case of the second original or a double-sided original, operations such as setting a low copy density are carried out in order to prevent stains on the pressure plate / ADF belt and show-through due to the double-sided original from appearing in the copy. .

As a reference technical document for preventing or reducing show-through copying, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-16076 is available.
No. 9 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-10577. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-160769, the image density is changed according to the type of the original. Particularly, in the case of a double-sided original, a brighter image density is adjusted as compared with the case of a single-sided original, so that a double-sided original is printed. Prevents show-through during copying. Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-110577, the transmittance of a document is detected and the copy density is varied according to the transmittance.

[0005]

However, the conventional technique as described above has the following problems. That is, after the original image to be copied is displayed on the display device and desired editing is performed, the copy density must be set by the density adjustment key provided on the operation unit of the main body of the copying machine. In other words, since the image on the display device and the density adjustment set on the operation unit are not linked to each other, it is difficult to know what kind of density the copied image is obtained by copying the image displayed on the display device. As a result, trial and error was repeated, resulting in a decrease in workability and a decrease in economic efficiency due to miscopying.

For example, when copying a thin paper original or a double-sided original, the copy-through image is liable to show through due to the transmittance of the original, which makes the image difficult to see. In such a case,
It was necessary to adjust the density to a brighter level manually, but there were many cases where it was not clear if I made a copy of how much adjustment should be made. That is, there is a problem that it is not possible to confirm the degree of density of the copy image while displaying the image on the display device.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and makes it possible to check the output state of a copy image in advance by interlocking the brightness adjustment of the display device and the density adjustment of the device body. The purpose is to simplify density adjustment, eliminate miscopying, and improve operability and economy.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, an image reading means for optically reading an original image and outputting digitalized image data is provided. Image processing means for performing a predetermined correction process on the image data read by the image reading means,
Display editing means for displaying the image data corrected by the image processing means and for applying arbitrary processing to the display image data; and operating means having a density adjustment key for adjusting at least a desired image density. An image forming apparatus having an image forming means for forming an image on the recording paper with the image data corrected by the image processing means, the brightness for adjusting the brightness of the display image data output to the display editing means. It is provided with adjusting means and system control means for setting the density value of the density adjusting key of the operating means in conjunction with the adjustment value of the brightness adjusting means.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the operation means causes the image reading means to execute reading of a document and displays the image read by the image reading means on the display editing means. When the brightness of the display image output to the display editing means is adjusted by the operation of the image checking means, the system control means sets the adjustment value of the image forming means. The density value is fed back.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the operation means includes a double-sided instruction means for instructing copy processing of double-sided copy or single-sided copy from the double-sided original, and the system control means comprises: When a copying process is instructed by the double-sided instructing unit, the reading operation by the image reading unit is executed before the image formation by the image forming unit, and the read image data is displayed on the display editing unit. To do.

In the image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the image processing means includes γ correction of the image reading means, γ correction of the image forming means, or color conversion processing of the image forming means. The density adjustment is executed by.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the image processing means executes the density adjustment by changing the image forming process condition of the image forming means.

In the image forming apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the brightness adjusting means adjusts the brightness of the display screen to a reference level. Image forming device.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the brightness adjusting means adjusts the brightness of the display screen based on the reference data at the time of shading correction of the image reading means. .

In the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the display / editing means has a color display function.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a manual adjusting means for manually adjusting the image density to a desired level on the operating means, and the system control means comprises the brightness adjusting means. When any one of the manual adjustment means and the manual adjustment means is adjusted, the other adjustment value is also shifted in conjunction.

[0017]

In the image forming apparatus (claim 1) according to the present invention, when the user wants to obtain a copy image having a desired density, the original image to be copied is displayed on the display / editing means before the final copying. The brightness of the display image is adjusted by operating the brightness adjusting means while observing the display screen to adjust the brightness to the desired brightness, and the system controlling means executing the density adjustment during image formation based on the adjusted value. The state of the output image can be confirmed on the display screen before copying by linking the density with the density at the time of image formation.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention (Claim 2) displays the image before the image is formed by operating the image confirmation means, and when the brightness of the displayed image is adjusted, the adjustment value thereof is adjusted. By feeding back as the density value during image formation, the state of the output image can be confirmed on the display screen before copying.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention (Claim 3), when an instruction for a copying process using a double-sided original is given from the double-sided indicating means, the image is displayed before the image is formed, and the displayed image is displayed. When the brightness is adjusted, the adjusted value is fed back as the density value during image formation,
Allows you to check the status of the output image on the display screen before copying.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention (claim 4) performs density adjustment for image data, gamma correction of the image reading means, gamma correction of the image forming means, or color conversion processing of the image forming means. By executing using
It is possible to realize the density adjustment in the state where the balance of each color is maintained in the color image.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention (claim 5) simplifies the processing at the time of monochrome image by changing the image forming process condition at the time of image formation for density adjustment for monochrome image data. .

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention (claim 6), by adjusting the reference brightness of the display / editing means, the variation of the display / editing means itself is suppressed, and the display image and the copy between the apparatuses are reproduced. The deviation from the image is minimized.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention (claim 7) uses the white reference data for shading correction as the reference brightness of the display / editing means, without preparing a special reference document. The variation of the display editing means itself is suppressed, and the deviation between the display image and the copied image between the devices is minimized.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention (Claim 8) displays the original image by using the color display function, and finely adjusts the hue while watching the displayed image.

Further, in the image forming apparatus according to the present invention (Claim 9), when any one of the brightness adjusting means and the manual adjusting means is adjusted, the other adjusting value is also shifted. By doing so, it is only necessary to adjust the brightness of the display image or the darkness of the copied image, and the desired darkness adjustment is realized.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a digital full-color copying machine having various image processing functions will be described.

(Structure of Copying Machine) FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a digital full-color copying machine suitable for applying the present invention. This digital full-color copying machine is roughly composed of a color image reading device 100 as an image reading means.
(Hereinafter referred to as a color scanner) and a color image recording device 110 (hereinafter referred to as a color printer) as an image forming unit. In this case, a paper feeding device 170 for increasing the paper feeding amount is mounted. ing.

The color scanner 100 illuminates the original P, so that the halogen lamp 101 and the first mirror 102, the second mirror 103, and the third mirror 1 that guide the reflected light of the original P.
04, an imaging lens 105, and a color sensor function for converting the light imaged by the imaging lens 105 into an image signal, that is, three colors of blue (B), green (G), and red (R) simultaneously. Readable 3-line CCD
(Charge-coupled device) 106, a white reference plate 109 used as white reference data when performing shading correction, and the like.

The color printer 110 is roughly composed of an optical writing unit 111, an image forming unit 112, and a paper feeding unit 113.
And a fixing / paper discharging unit 114 and the like. The optical writing unit 111 includes a laser diode 115 using a semiconductor laser, a laser drive control plate (not shown) for the laser diode 115,
A polygon mirror 116, a polygon motor 117 for rotating the polygon mirror 116, an f / θ lens 118,
It is a box-shaped unit including a reflection mirror 119 and the like.

The image forming unit 112 is provided with the following functions centering on the photosensitive drum 120 that forms an electrostatic latent image. 121 is a charger for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 120, 122 is a potential sensor for detecting the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 120, 123 is a Bk developing device for black toner, and 124 is C for cyan toner. Developing unit, 1
Reference numeral 25 is an M developing device for magenta toner, 126 is a Y developing device for yellow toner, 127 is a photoconductor cleaning unit for removing and collecting residual toner on the photoconductor drum 120, and a pre-cleaning static eliminator is provided. There is. Further, 128 is a discharge lamp for erasing the residual potential of the photoconductor drum 120, and 129 is a developing density pattern detector.

Reference numeral 130 denotes an intermediate transfer belt unit, which includes a driving roller 131 and a belt transfer bias roller 1
32, and a driven roller 133.
The belt drive motor 134 can be driven. The intermediate transfer belt unit 130 is provided with a belt cleaning unit 135. The belt cleaning unit 135 includes the brush roller 136, the rubber blade 137, and the intermediate transfer belt unit 13.
It is composed of a contact / separation mechanism 138 and the like from 0.

Further, the developing devices 123 to 126 rotate the Bk developing sleeves 139, C by contacting the brush of the developer for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 120 with the surface of the photosensitive drum 120. The developing sleeve 140, the M developing sleeve 141, the Y developing sleeve 142, and the developing paddles 143 to 14 that stir to scoop up and stir the developer.
6, and developer toner concentration detection sensors 147-15
0 and so on.

The paper feed unit 113 is equipped with a paper feed cassette 151, a paper feed cassette 152, and a manual paper feed tray 153 for feeding special paper such as OHP film one by one. Further, 154 is a paper feed cassette 151
The paper feeding roller 155 for feeding the recording paper, and 155 is a registration roller for feeding the recording paper in synchronism with the image on the intermediate transfer belt unit 130. Also, 15
6 is a paper transfer unit, and this paper transfer unit 156
Is composed of a paper transfer bias roller 157, a roller cleaning blade 158, a belt contact / separation mechanism 159, and the like. Further, 160 is a conveyor belt for conveying the recording paper after the transfer.

The fixing / paper discharging unit 114 includes a fixing unit 163 including a fixing roller 161 having a fixing heater built therein and a pressure roller 162 facing the fixing roller 161 and biased with a predetermined pressure. It is composed of a paper discharge roller 164, a paper discharge tray 165, and the like. In addition, the paper feeding device 17
0 has paper feed cassettes 171 and 172.

(Operation of Copying Machine) Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, before reading the original P, the halogen lamp 101 is turned on. Next, the white reference plate 109 is read by the 3-line CCD 106, and analog / digital conversion is performed by the A / D converter in the image processing unit. Then, the converted data is used for shading correction of the image data, that is, the halogen lamp 1
The data is stored in the RAM in the image processing unit as data for correcting the unevenness of the light quantity 01.

Subsequently, the color scanner 100 receives a scanner start signal in timing with the operation of the color printer 110, scans the document in the direction of the left arrow, and obtains image data of one color for each scan. The halogen lamp 101 illuminates the image of the original P, and the reflected light is emitted from the first mirror 10.
An image is formed on a 3-line CCD 106 by an image forming lens 105 via a second mirror 103, a second mirror 103, and a third mirror 104. This operation is repeatedly performed a total of four times to sequentially obtain four-color image data. Then, the color image information of the original P is
For example, blue (B), green (G), red (R)
It is read for each color separation and converted into an electrical image signal.
Next, various correction processes are executed by the image processing unit 230 (see FIG. 9), and black (hereinafter referred to as Bk), cyan (hereinafter referred to as C), magenta (hereinafter referred to as M),
The color image data of yellow (hereinafter referred to as Y) is obtained.

This color image data is Bk, C, M, Y by the color printer 110 for each color.
Is visualized as a final color copy. The details will be described below. The optical writing unit 111 converts the color image data from the color scanner 100 into an optical signal and performs optical writing corresponding to the original image, and the photoconductor drum 12
An electrostatic latent image is formed on 0.

Now, in the standby state, the four developing units 123
Although all of Nos. To 126 are in the state of cutting off the developing sleeves 139 to 142 (development inoperative), the order of the developing operation (color image forming order) is as follows in the example of Bk, C, M and Y. explain. The developing order is not limited to this.

When the copying operation is started, the color scanner 100 starts reading Bk image data at a predetermined timing, and optical writing by a laser beam and latent image formation are started based on the image data. Hereinafter, the electrostatic latent image based on this Bk image data is referred to as a Bk latent image. Note that C, M, and Y are treated in the same manner.

In order to enable development from the tip of the Bk latent image, the Bk developing sleeve 139 is rotated to make the developer stand before reaching the developing position of the Bk developing device 123 to reach the tip of the latent image. , Bk latent image is developed with Bk toner. Then, after that, the developing operation of the Bk latent image area is continued, but when the trailing edge of the latent image passes the Bk developing position, the developer of the Bk developing sleeve 139 is quickly cut off to make the developing inoperative state. . This is completed at least before the leading edge of the C latent image by the next C image data arrives. It should be noted that this cutting is performed by switching the rotation direction of the Bk developing sleeve 139 to the opposite direction to that during the developing operation.

The Bk toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 120 is transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt unit 130 which is driven at the same speed as the photosensitive drum 120. Hereinafter, this is performed by applying a predetermined bias voltage to the transfer bias roller 132 while the intermediate transfer belt unit 130 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 120. In the intermediate transfer belt unit 130, the Bk, C, M, and Y toner images sequentially formed on the photoconductor drum 120 are sequentially aligned on the same surface to form a belt transfer image of four-color superimposition, and thereafter. , Perform batch transfer to recording paper.

By the way, on the photosensitive drum 120 side, B
After the k step, the C step is started, but the C image data reading by the color scanner 100 is started at a predetermined timing, and the C latent image formation is executed by the laser light writing by the image data. The C developing device 124 starts the rotation of the C developing sleeve 140 after the trailing end of the Bk latent image to the developing position has passed and before the leading end of the C latent image reaches the developing position. The ears are raised and the C latent image is developed with C toner. After that, the development of the C latent image area is continued, and when the trailing edge of the latent image passes, the brush cutting on the C developing sleeve 140 is performed like the Bk developing device 123. This is also completed before the leading end of the next M latent image arrives. Also, M and Y
With regard to the step (2), the reading, latent image forming, and developing operations of the respective image data are performed in the same manner as the steps Bk and C, and therefore the description of these operations is omitted.

The intermediate transfer belt unit 130 is rotationally driven by a belt drive motor 134. Further, the bias roller 157 of the paper transfer unit 156 is usually separated from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt unit 130, but the four-color superposed images transferred and formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt unit 130 are collectively transferred onto the recording paper. At this time, the contact / separation mechanism 159 presses at a timing, and a predetermined bias voltage is applied to the bias roller 157 to perform the transfer process on the recording paper. Further, this recording paper is, for example, a paper feed cassette 151.
From the paper feed roller 154, and the registration roller 155 feeds the front end portion of the four-color superimposed image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt unit 130 at the timing of reaching the paper transfer position.

Now, the intermediate transfer belt unit 130
The recording paper on which the four-color superimposed toner images are collectively transferred from the surface is carried into the fixing unit 136 by the conveyor belt 160. In the fixing unit 136, the fixing roller 161 controlled to a predetermined temperature and the pressure roller 16 biased with a predetermined pressure.
2 fuses and fixes the toner image on the recording paper. afterwards,
This recording paper is discharged by a discharge roller 164 to a discharge tray 165.
To obtain the final full-color copy.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 120 after the belt transfer
The surface is cleaned by the photoconductor cleaning unit 127, and the residual charge is erased by the static elimination lamp 128 to prepare for the next copying process. The surface of the intermediate transfer belt unit 130 after transferring the toner image on the recording paper is cleaned by pressing the belt cleaning unit 135 again by the contacting / separating mechanism 138.

At the time of repeat copying, the color scanner 10
0 operation and image formation on the photosensitive drum 120 are 1
Subsequent to the Y (fourth color) image process of the first sheet, the process proceeds to the Bk (first color) image process of the second sheet at a predetermined timing. Also,
In the intermediate transfer belt unit 130, the second Bk toner image is belt-transferred to the area where the surface is cleaned by the belt cleaning unit 135, following the batch transfer process of the first four-color superimposed image onto the recording paper. To do so. After that, the same operation as the first sheet is executed.

In the above description, the copy mode for obtaining four full colors has been described as an example.
In the two-color copy mode, the same operation as described above is performed for the designated color and the number of times. In the case of the single-color copy mode, only the developing device for the target color is set to the developing operation (developer spike) state until the predetermined number of sheets is completed. Further, the intermediate transfer belt unit 130 is driven at a constant speed in the forward direction while being in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 120. Then, the belt cleaning unit 135
Also performs the single-color copy operation while keeping contact with the intermediate transfer belt unit 130.

(Structure of Image Display Unit) Next, the image display function provided in the digital color copying machine will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image display unit according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 200 denotes an image display unit as a display editing means, which is mainly composed of the following functional elements. That is, 201 is a VRAM as a video memory, 202 is an LCD controller for driving and controlling an LCD panel, 203 is an LCD (liquid crystal) panel used as a display screen, 204 is a ROM, 2
Reference numeral 05 is an SRAM, 206 is a CPU with a built-in DMA controller, 207 is a DRAM for storing image data, 20
Reference numeral 8 is a FIFO as a line buffer, 209 is a keyboard, 210 is a serial level conversion unit, and 211 is an image data level conversion unit as a driver / receiver.
Further, 220 is a system control unit as system control means, 230 is an image processing unit as image processing means, and 240 is an operation unit corresponding to the operation means. The details of the system control unit 220, the image processing unit 230, and the operation unit 240 will be described later.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the panel structure of the image display unit according to this embodiment. In the figure, 301
Is a start key for starting document reading, 302
Is a screen magnification designation key for designating display magnification, 303
Is a cursor key for moving the cursor, 304 is a point designation key for designating a point indicated by the cursor, 305 is R,
A plane switching key for switching between single display of G and B data and simultaneous display of RGB, 306 is a close key for connecting a start point and an end point when an area is designated (right-angled outer polygon, polygon), 307 is the last input A clear key for canceling points, and an all clear key 308 for canceling all designated points. Further, 309 shows a concrete example of the LCD panel 203, a display having an editor function for displaying a read image and designating an area, a document color and the like, and 310 is a standard size of the document. Shown on scale display 311 is display 30
9 is a cursor showing a designated position on the position 9. Further, a brightness adjusting knob 312 as brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of the display 309, and the display 30
9 is provided with a contrast adjustment knob 313 for adjusting the contrast.

(Operation of Image Display Unit) Next, the image display unit 2 constructed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 above.
The basic operation of 00 will be described. First, each copy condition set by the user, such as the copy mode, is input by pressing each key (see FIG. 4) provided on the operation unit 240. The operation mode such as the copy mode set here is sent to the system control unit 220. The system control unit 220 executes control processing for executing the set copy mode. At this time, the system control unit 220 sends a control signal to each functional unit such as the color scanner 100, the image processing unit 230, the optical writing unit 111, and the image display unit 200.

Further, the operation of the image display unit 200 will be described. In order to display the image read by the color scanner 100 on the image display unit 200, the following operation is executed. That is, the system control unit 220
The color scanner 100 starts reading an original image based on a control signal from the color scanner 100, and the image signal from the color scanner 100 is subjected to image processing suitable for being displayed on the image display unit 200 in the image processing unit 230. Then, the read image data is output to the image display unit 200.

The image data output from the image processing unit 230 is sent to the CPU 206 via the image data level exchange unit 211 and the FIFO 208 of the image display unit 200.
The image data is stored in the DRAM 207 for storing image data by the DMA controller built in. Further, an image data control signal is sent to the image display unit 200 together with the image data, and only the effective image area can be taken in.

The image data stored in the DRAM 207 is displayed on the LCD panel 203 (display 309) through the LCD controller 202 by being transferred to the VRAM 201. The DRAM 20
Transfer from 7 to VRAM 201 is also DMA of CPU 206
By executing it by the controller and transferring an arbitrary part of the image data, it becomes possible to perform variable-magnification display such as enlargement, reduction, thinning, and partial display. The image data transferred to the VRAM 201 is displayed on the LCD panel 203 (display 309) under the control of the LCD controller 202.

The image display unit 200 may also serve as a display editor for displaying an image on the LCD panel 203 and designating an area for editing / processing / mode setting on the screen.

(Structure of Operation Unit) FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a key arrangement structure of the operation unit 240 according to this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 401 is a ten-key pad for inputting a numerical value such as the number of copies, 402 is a touch panel key provided on a touch panel on which an operation state, messages, etc. are displayed, 403 is an image quality adjustment key used when adjusting image quality, 404 is a program key for registering or recalling frequently used settings, 405 is a brightness adjustment knob for adjusting the brightness of the display screen, 406 is the setting contents can be canceled or a fixed time, for example, 1 second or more Mode clear / remaining heat key to press to save heat, 407 is an interrupt key that is used when copying to copy another document, and 408 is an interrupt key when clearing the entered value or during copying. The clear / stop key 409 used to perform the editing is displayed on the image display unit (display editor) 200. (A) Area processing key used when using a mode such as processing / editing, and 410 is a show-through confirmation function as an image confirmation means that serves as a start key for displaying an image on the image display unit 200 when confirming a show-through. Keys 411 are print start keys for starting copying.

In the touch panel key 402, a key area is set in the same range as the range in which various key ranges displayed on the touch panel of the operation unit 240 are displayed. Further, when it is detected that the touch panel key 402 is pressed within the set range, the process of the set key is executed. The detection circuit of the touch panel key 402 will be described later.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an LCD (liquid crystal) display screen according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 5,
On the LCD screen, there are mode selection displays such as color mode, automatic density, manual density, image quality mode, automatic paper selection, paper feed tray, automatic scaling for paper, normal magnification, sorting, stacking, etc., and for creating edits. There are also sub-screen selection displays such as the create key, color processing key, double-sided key for double-sided copying, and scaling key.
Further, keys having the same size as the size of each display are set on the touch panel key 402.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of screen output by pressing the double-sided key in FIG. When the double-sided key is pressed, the double-sided setting screen is scrolled up from the bottom of the screen as shown in FIG. The double-sided setting screen includes a single-sided → double-sided key 601 for making a double-sided copy from a single-sided original, a double-sided as a double-sided instruction unit for making a double-sided copy from the double-sided original → a double-sided key 602, a single-sided copy for making a double-sided copy from the double-sided original. A double-sided → single-sided key 603 as a double-sided instruction unit is displayed and output, and each mode is set by pressing the corresponding key.

FIG. 7 shows the operation unit 24 according to this embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the 0 touch panel detection circuit.
In the figure, 701 is a touch panel provided with a touch panel key 402, 702 is a controller for controlling the entire circuit, and 703 is an A / D converter for converting an analog signal into a digital signal.

In the touch panel detection circuit, the controller 702 sets the detection terminals to the High state, and X1, X
2, Y1 and Y2 are set based on the combination chart shown in FIG. 8, and the Y1 and Y2 circuits are pulled up by resistors. When the touch panel 701 is OFF, Y1
Becomes +5 (V) and becomes 0 (V) when ON.
Therefore, the output from the A / D converter 703 is turned ON / OFF.
Check the OFF state. When the controller 702 detects the ON state of the touch panel 701, it switches to the measurement mode. In the X direction, X1 is +5 (V) and X2 is 0
(V), the potential at the input position is connected to the A / D converter 703 through Y1, and the coordinates are calculated. Also,
The coordinates in the Y direction are calculated in the same manner by switching the circuit, and the pressing position of the touch panel 701 is detected by the detection circuit as described above.

FIG. 9 shows the operation unit 24 according to this embodiment.
It is a block diagram which shows the structure of 0. In the figure, 901
Is a CPU for controlling the entire operation unit 240, 902
Is an address latch, 903 is a ROM, and 904 is a CPU 9.
Reference numeral 905 is an address decoder, 906 is an LED driver, 907 is a keyboard, and 908 is an LCD controller. In the LCD controller 908, in addition to the address bus and data bus from the CPU 901, an LED driver 906, a keyboard 907, an LCD (liquid crystal) module 911, an analog touch panel key 912, a display data ROM 909, a RAM 910, and the like. It is connected. An optical transceiver 913 that executes serial communication with the outside is connected to the CPU 901.

In the above configuration, the address signal from the CPU 901 is fetched by the address latch 902 and C
It is controlled by a signal from the PU 901. A part of the address signal output from the address latch 902 is input to the address decoder 905, where a chip select for each IC is created and used for creating a memory map. Further, the address enters a memory such as a ROM or RAM or the LCD controller 908 and is used for address designation.

On the other hand, the data bus from the CPU 901 is connected to the memory and the LCD controller 908, and bidirectional communication of data is executed. In addition, the LCD controller 9
08 is a signal from the keyboard 907 or the touch panel 7
ROM by the signal from the touch panel key 402 of 01
909, display data is created from the data stored in the RAM 910, and the display on the LCD module 911 is controlled.

(Operation of Embodiment) Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The show-through confirmation key 410 in FIG. 4 or the double-sided → double-sided key 602, double-sided → single-sided key 6 in FIG.
When 03 is pressed, the CPU 901 of the operation unit unit 240 recognizes that each key is pressed. CPU9
01 to the system control unit 220 Optical transceiver 9
Information of the pressed key is transmitted as a serial communication command via 13. The system control unit 220 is
A command for starting the reading operation is transmitted to the color scanner 100. In parallel with this, the image processing unit 2
An instruction command to transfer the read image data to only the image display unit 200 is transmitted to 30. That is, in this case, the read image data is displayed on the image display unit 200 without transferring the image data to the color printer 110.

Here, the original having a background density is read by the color scanner 100, and the image display unit 2
The case of being displayed at 00 will be described as an example. FIG.
Is the manual concentration adjustment key 11 of the operation unit 240.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the default state of 01. In addition, FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a default state when a document having density on the background is read and displayed. Therefore, since the manual density adjustment key 1101 is set to the center position here, the display state of FIG. 12 is the default state, and a dark image of the background portion is output as shown in the figure.

In the above-mentioned display image, the density of the background portion is high, and if copy output is performed in this state, the background portion will appear in the copy as it is, and the image will be very difficult to see. Therefore, the user turns the brightness adjustment knob 312 to the bright side while seeing the image displayed on the image display unit 200 (see FIG. 14) to adjust the density of the background portion to a level where it is skipped. As a result, the manual density adjustment key 1101 is interlocked to adjust to a low density value as shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the manual density adjustment key 1101 is adjusted in association with the adjustment of the brightness adjustment knob 312. Further, FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a display image example when the brightness adjusting knob 312 is adjusted to the bright side. As described above, the image display unit 200
When the brightness adjustment knob 312 is rotated, the manual density adjustment key 1101 of the operation unit 240 is automatically adjusted to the density side in the same direction as the brightness adjustment knob 312 in conjunction with this. Conversely, when the user sets the density to the low side with the manual density adjustment key 1101, the image display unit 200 side is also displayed brightly. In this way, the brightness adjustment knob 312 and the manual density adjustment key 1101
And are set in conjunction with each other.

Next, a case where the original image is a faint original such as a pencil original will be described. When the pencil manuscript displayed on the image display unit 200 is lightly displayed, the user turns the brightness adjustment knob 312 of the image display unit 200 to the dark side to darken the display screen, and the pencil writing portion becomes clear. Stop at the position.

Then, the adjustment data of the brightness adjustment knob 312 is transmitted by the system control unit 2 by serial communication.
Input to 20 in real time. If the user wants to obtain a copy image with the same brightness (density) as the displayed image,
The print start key 411 of the operation unit 240 is pressed. When the print start key 411 is pressed,
The operation unit 240 sends a print start signal to the system control unit 220. The system control unit 220 sends various data for image formation to each unit. Data for density adjustment is also included in these data, and the CPU 1010 of the image processing unit 230 selects lookup data for printer γ correction based on the data of the brightness adjustment knob 312 described above.
Image processing for density adjustment is executed.

(Structure of Image Processing Unit) FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the detailed structure of the image processing unit 230. In the figure, reference numeral 100 is a color scanner for reading an original image with a CCD or the like, and 111 is an optical writing unit for writing image-processed data on a recording medium. The image processing unit 230 is composed of the following processing function blocks.

That is, the image processing unit 230 is a scanner γ correction unit 1001 for correcting linear reflectance data based on a look-up table, and MT of RGB data.
An RGB filter / converter 1002 that performs switching processing of filter coefficients such as F correction, smoothing processing, edge processing, and through processing based on the image-separated area, and executes scaling processing for enlargement / reduction in the main scanning direction. Magnification change circuit 1003, Create circuit 1004 for executing create edit and color processing, YMCK conversion of RGB data, UCR / UC
A process is executed and the printer γ
Printer γ correction / YMCK filter 1005 having a function of setting conversion and filter coefficients, setting printer γ conversion and filter coefficients, and a function of executing gradation processing by dither processing, write timing setting, image area /
A video control circuit 1006 for setting a white area, generating a test pattern such as a gray scale or a color patch, outputting final image data, an ACS chromatic / achromatic judging section 1007 for executing black and gray judgment, and a character section. Character / halftone image area separation unit 1 for determining and separating the area of the photograph part
A CPU 1010 that controls the entire unit, a ROM 1011 that stores a control program, and an area processing unit 1012.

(Operation of Image Processing Unit) Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. Color scanner 1
In the image data output from 00, the dot shift within one line of RGB data is dot-corrected, and the scanner γ correction unit 1001 corrects the reflectance linear data by a lookup method. After that, the image data is input to the RGB filter / color conversion unit 1002, which is a block that executes image separation processing.

That is, the image data is processed by the ACS chromatic / achromatic determination unit 1007 and the character / character
It is input to the halftone image area separation unit 1008. The ACS chromatic / achromatic determination unit 1007 executes determination of black and gray. The character / dot image area separation unit 1008 determines edge determination (determination based on the continuity of white pixels and black pixels), halftone determination (determination based on a repeating pattern of peak / valley peak pixels in the image), and photo determination. Execute (when there is image data outside the characters / dots) to determine the character and the area of the print (dot) part and photo part. The determination data is the CPU 10
10 to the RGB filter / color conversion unit 100 in the subsequent stage.
2. Used for switching parameters and coefficients in the printer γ correction / YMCK filter circuit 1005.

The image data is input to the RGB filter / color conversion unit 1002, and the RGB filter / color conversion unit 1002 corrects the MTF of the RGB image data.
The filter coefficient for smoothing, edge enhancement, through, etc. is switched and set according to the previous judgment area. Further, this image data is input to the scaling circuit 1003, and the enlargement / reduction processing is executed on the image data of the main scanning. Therefore, the branch of the image display unit 200 is executed after this processing.

Further, the create circuit 1004 executes create editing and color processing. In this create editing, italic processing, mirroring, shadowing, hollowing processing, etc. are executed. Further, in the color processing, processing such as color conversion for converting a color different from the original color, erasing a designated color for erasing a designated color, and undercolor for adding a background (background) color are executed.

Further, in the printer γ correction / YMCK filter 1005, the printer γ conversion and the filter coefficient are set based on the above-mentioned judgment area. Further, as gradation processing, dither processing, writing timing setting, image area setting, white area setting, and test pattern generation processing such as gray scale and color patch processing are executed, and the final image data is written to the optical writing unit. Output to 111.

Each functional process described above is performed by the CPU.
The program is connected to the CPU 1010 and the setting of each process and its operation are executed by a program stored in the ROM 911 based on an instruction from the system control unit 220.

Further, in FIG. 10, as the image density adjustment method, in addition to operating the printer γ correction data, it is also possible to adjust the image density by operating the scanner γ correction data and the color conversion correction data. . Further, it is also possible to adjust the image density by controlling the process conditions such as adjusting the power of the laser diode of the optical writing unit 111 and adjusting the exposure amount on the photosensitive drum 120.

Here, the default brightness of the image display unit 200 will be described. In order to realize the present invention, it is necessary to make the brightness of the display image of the image display unit 200 correspond to the density of the output image of the color printer 110. However, there is variation in the brightness of the LCD panel 203 (display 309) that constitutes the image display unit 200. For this reason, the following adjustments are needed to minimize this variation.

At the time of factory shipment, a basic original (predetermined test chart) is read by the color scanner 100, its image data is displayed on the image display unit 200, and measured by an RGB sensor (illuminance meter). Then, the default adjustment is performed by the measurement. Further, the contrast adjustment is similarly performed using a basic document (predetermined test chart).

Also, for the default adjustment, the clear key 3
This is performed by turning the brightness adjustment knob 312 and the contrast adjustment knob 313 while pressing 07. Note that the reason why the adjustment operation is performed in this manner is that the user does not accidentally change the default value by simply turning the adjustment knob. The default adjustment value is backed up in a non-volatile memory (not shown) of the system control unit 220 by serial communication. By the way, instead of the basic document (predetermined test chart) used in the default adjustment, the color scanner 10 is used.
It is also possible to adjust the default brightness of the image display unit 200 by reading and displaying using the white reference plate 109 for shading correction of 0.

(Effects of the Embodiments) Next, the effects of the embodiments described above will be listed together. First, if the user wants to obtain a copy image with desired density, he or she wants to display the image on the image display unit 200 before the final copy and turn the brightness adjustment knob 312 while watching the display screen. Adjust to the brightness of. Then, this adjustment value is fed back to the density adjustment during image formation in real time. Therefore, it is possible to accurately obtain a copy image having a desired density without miscopying.

More specifically, when it is desired to make the copy image darker with respect to the density decrease due to a pencil original or the like, the display of the image display unit 200 is adjusted to be darker so that the copy image is output before it is output to the recording paper. The state of the output image can be confirmed. Further, when it is expected that the characters of the copy image will be unclear in a document having a high background density, the display of the image display unit 200 is adjusted to be bright and the background can be skipped to obtain a desired image.
Further, when it is desired to clean the background in the case of an original with a high background level such as newspaper or recycled paper, or to increase the density of an original to which a fluorescent pen or a line marker is added, the brightness adjustment on the image display unit 200 is performed. It is also possible to obtain the final copy image by confirming the desired display image by performing.

Secondly, when copying a thin paper document,
Due to the transparency of the original, the show-through occurs in the copy image, making the image difficult to see. Therefore, the show-through confirmation key 410
The state of the copy image can be grasped in advance by taking in the original image image into the image display unit 200 by the operation and checking the degree of show-through while looking at the display image. Therefore, the trial-and-error operation by the manual density adjustment key 1101 of the operation unit 240, which has been performed conventionally, can be eliminated, and miscopy can be eliminated.

Thirdly, when a mode for making a double-sided copy from a double-sided original or a mode for making a single-sided copy from a double-sided original is selected, a copy image is automatically displayed on the image display unit 200 before copy output. This allows you to check the show-through state.

Fourthly, the density adjustment in the above is performed by the scanner γ correction unit 1001 and the printer γ correction / YMC.
K filter 1005, RGB filter / color conversion unit 100
In particular, in the case of color copying, it is possible to achieve good density adjustment while maintaining the balance of each color and without being affected by environmental conditions and the like.

Fifth, by performing the density adjustment described above by changing the process conditions such as the developing bias in the case of monochrome, the density adjustment can be performed with a simple structure.

Sixth, by determining the reference brightness of the image display unit 200, it is possible to adjust the variation of the image display unit 200 itself and to make the deviation of the copy image between the devices constant. .

Seventhly, by using the white reference data for shading correction as the reference brightness of the image display unit 200, the sixth effect can be obtained without preparing a special document.

Eighth, since the image display unit 200 has a color display function, fine adjustment of the image can be performed on the display screen.

Ninth, when setting the image density, whether the brightness adjustment knob 312 of the image display unit 200 is adjusted,
Manual density adjustment key 1101 of operation unit 240
By adjusting either one of the adjustments, the other adjustments are linked, so that only one of the density setting operations is required, and furthermore, image formation can be performed based on the adjustment value, and miscopying is prevented. It can be lost.

[0092]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus (Claim 1) of the present invention, when the user wants to obtain a copy image having a desired density, before the final copying,
The original image to be copied is displayed on the display / editing means, the brightness adjusting means is operated while observing the display screen to adjust the brightness to a desired value, and the system controlling means adjusts the density during image formation based on the adjusted value. By executing the adjustment, the brightness of the display image and the density at the time of image formation are linked, and the state of the output image can be confirmed on the display screen before copying, so that the density adjustment is simplified and miscopying is prevented. Operability
Economical efficiency is improved.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus (Claim 2) of the present invention, when the image is displayed by the operation of the image confirmation means before the image is formed and the brightness of the displayed image is adjusted, By feeding back the adjustment value as the density value during image formation, the state of the output image can be confirmed on the display screen before copying, which simplifies density adjustment and eliminates miscopying, thus improving operability and economic efficiency. Is improved.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention (Claim 3), when the double-sided instructing means gives an instruction for a copying process using a double-sided original, the image is displayed before the image formation and the display is performed. When the brightness of the image is adjusted, the adjustment value is fed back as the density value at the time of image formation, so that the state of the output image can be confirmed on the display screen before copying, so that the density adjustment is simplified. At the same time, miscopy is eliminated and operability and economy are improved.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention (Claim 4), density adjustment for image data is performed by γ correction of the image reading means, γ correction of the image forming means, or color conversion of the image forming means. By executing the processing using the processing, the density adjustment in the state where the balance of each color is maintained in the color image is realized, so that the state of the output image can be accurately confirmed on the display screen before copying.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention (claim 5), the density adjustment for monochrome image data is changed by changing the image forming process condition at the time of image formation, thereby simplifying the processing at the time of monochrome image. Can be

Further, according to the image forming apparatus (Claim 6) of the present invention, by adjusting the reference brightness of the display / editing means, variation in the display / editing means itself can be suppressed.
Since the deviation between the display image and the copied image between the devices is minimized, the state of the output image can be accurately confirmed on the display screen before copying.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus (Claim 7) of the present invention, a special reference original is prepared by using the white reference data for shading correction as the reference brightness of the display editing means. In this way, the variation of the display / editing means itself can be suppressed, and the deviation between the display image and the copied image between the devices can be minimized.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention (claim 8), by displaying the original image by using the color display function, it is possible to finely adjust the hue while watching the displayed image.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus (Claim 9) of the present invention, when one of the brightness adjusting means and the manual adjusting means is adjusted, the other adjusting value is also linked. Since the brightness of the displayed image or the darkness of the copied image need only be adjusted by shifting the shift, the desired density can be adjusted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a digital full-color copying machine suitable for applying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image display unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a panel configuration of the image display unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a key arrangement configuration of the operation unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an LCD (liquid crystal) display screen according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of screen output by pressing the double-sided key in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a touch panel detection circuit of the operation unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a chart showing combinations of outputs in the touch panel detection circuit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operation unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of an image processing unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a default state of a manual density adjustment key of the operation unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a default state when a document having density on the background is read and displayed according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which the manual density adjustment key is adjusted in association with the adjustment of the brightness adjustment knob according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display image example when the brightness adjustment knob according to the present embodiment is adjusted to the bright side.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 color scanner 109 white reference plate 110 color printer 200 image display unit 220 system control unit 230 image processing unit 240 operation unit 312 brightness adjustment knob 410 show-through confirmation key 602 both sides →
Double-sided key 603 Double-sided → single-sided key 1101 Manual density adjustment key

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for optically reading a document image and outputting digitalized image data, an image processing unit for executing a predetermined correction process on the image data read by the image reading unit, and the image processing. A display editing means for displaying the image data corrected by the means and applying an arbitrary processing to the display image data; and an operating means having at least a density adjustment key for adjusting to a desired image density,
In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on the recording paper by the image data corrected by the image processing unit, a brightness adjustment for adjusting the brightness of the display image data output to the display editing unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit and a system control unit that sets a density value of a density adjusting key of the operating unit in association with an adjustment value of the brightness adjusting unit. 2. The operation means includes an image confirmation means for causing the image reading means to read a document and displaying the image read by the image reading means on the display editing means, and the system control means. When the brightness of the display image output to the display editing unit is adjusted by the operation of the image checking unit, the adjustment value is fed back as a density value of the image forming unit. The image forming apparatus described. 3. The operating means comprises a double-sided instructing means for instructing copy processing from a double-sided original to double-sided copying or single-sided copying. 3. The reading operation by the image reading means is executed before the image formation by the image forming means, and the read image data is displayed on the display / editing means. Image forming apparatus. 4. The image processing means executes density adjustment by γ correction of the image reading means, γ correction of the image forming means, or color conversion processing of the image forming means. 1. The image forming apparatus according to 1. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit executes density adjustment by changing an image forming process condition of the image forming unit. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brightness adjusting unit adjusts the brightness of the display screen to a reference level. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the brightness adjusting unit adjusts the brightness of the display screen based on reference data at the time of shading correction of the image reading unit. 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display editing unit has a color display function. 9. A manual adjustment means for manually adjusting an image density to a desired level on the operation means is provided, and the system control means adjusts one of the brightness adjustment means and the manual adjustment means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other adjustment value is also interlocked with the other adjustment value to shift.