JPH06152862A - Copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a copying machine in which an AMS function is in operation regardless of a carrying direction of an original picture and a copying paper sheet. CONSTITUTION:A picture signal processing section (not shown) detects a size of original paper and outputs picture data to a memory unit section 30. A size of copying paper is sensed by a sensor (not shown). Data of an original picture are read by a CCD and stored in a picture memory 304. When printing is implemented based on the picture data, only a magnification processing section 309 only is operated when the carrying direction of both the original and the copy paper is the same by taking the size and the carrying direction of the original and the copy paper and only the magnification is implemented, and when the carrying direction of the original and the copy paper is different, the rotation and magnification of the picture signal are implemented by a rotation processing section 307 and the magnification processing section 309. Thus, the picture is copied onto the copy paper independently of the direction and the size of the original.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a copying machine, and more particularly to an AMS (Auto) which automatically calculates a copying magnification and outputs an image.
The present invention relates to a copying machine having a matic Magnificaion Selection) function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional copying machine is provided with an AMS function for automatically calculating a copying magnification and outputting the image on the copying paper when the original placing direction and the copying paper conveying direction are the same. There is something that was created.

[0003]

In the conventional copying machine having the AMS function, there is a problem that the AMS function does not operate when the original placing direction and the copy sheet conveying direction are different.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a copying machine capable of operating the AMS function regardless of the conveying direction of a document and a copy sheet.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A copying machine according to the present invention has either an image forming means for forming an original image on a copy sheet, or a longitudinal direction in which the copy sheet is long in the conveying direction or a long side in the conveying direction. First determining means for determining whether or not it is set, and first for detecting the length of the long side or the short side of the copy sheet.
Second detecting means for determining whether the original is a vertically long original in the conveying direction of the copy sheet or a horizontally long original in the conveying direction of the copy sheet
The discriminating means, the second detecting means for detecting the length of the long side or the short side of the document, and the lengths of the long sides or the short sides of the copy sheet and the document detected by the first and second detecting means. Copy magnification determining means for comparing and determining the copy magnification,
When the determination means determines whether the orientations of the copy sheet and the original are the same based on the determination results of the first and second determination means, and when the determination means determines that the orientations of the copy sheet and the original are the same, , The image forming means is controlled so that the copy is performed at the copy magnification determined by the copy magnification determining means without rotating the original, and when the determining means determines that the orientations of the copy paper and the original are not the same, And a control means for controlling the image forming means so as to rotate and perform copying at the copying magnification determined by the copying magnification determining means.

[0006]

The sizes and orientations of the original and the copy sheet are detected, and the enlargement / reduction ratio is determined by comparing the long sides or the short sides according to the detection result regardless of the orientations of the original and the sheet.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overall construction of a copying machine 1 in which the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is embodied.

Referring to FIG. 1, the copying machine 1 includes a scanning system 10 for reading a document and converting it into an image signal, an image signal processing section 20 for processing an image signal sent from the scanning system 10, and an image signal processing. A memory unit section 30 for storing image data input from the section 20 in a memory; and a memory unit section 3
Based on the image data input from 0, the semiconductor laser 6
An optical system 60 that guides the laser light from the laser beam 2 to the exposure position on the photosensitive drum 71, and develops the latent image formed by the exposure,
Image forming system 70 for forming an image by transferring and fixing on paper
Including and

The scanning system 10 and the image signal processing unit 20 and the like form a reading device IR, and the printing processing unit 40, the optical system 60 and the image forming system 70 and the like form a printer device PRT.
Are configured respectively.

The scanning system 10 includes an exposure lamp 11 and a first mirror 12, a second mirror 3a, and a third mirror 13a, 13 which are mounted on a scanner 19 which moves below a platen glass 18.
b, a condenser lens 14, a photoelectric conversion element 16 using a CCD array, a scan motor M2, and the like.

The image signal processing section 20 includes a photoelectric conversion element 16
The image signal output from the device is processed to detect the document paper size and the like, and the image data is output to the memory unit section 30. Image signal processing unit 20 and memory unit unit 30
The details will be described later.

The print processing section 40 guides the sent image data to the semiconductor laser 62. The optical system 60 includes a semiconductor laser 62 and a polygon mirror 6 that changes a laser beam.
5, main lens 69, reflection mirror 67a, reflection mirror 67
b, etc.

The image forming system 70 comprises a developing and transferring system 70A, a conveying system 70B and a fixing system C. The development transfer system 70A includes a photosensitive drum 71 that is driven to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, a charging charger 72b, a developing device 73b, a transfer charger 74, a separation charger 75, which are sequentially arranged around the photosensitive drum 71 from the upstream side in the rotation direction. Cleaning unit 76
And so on. The developing device 73b contains a two-component developer including toner and carrier.

The transport system 70B comprises cassettes 80a and 80b for storing sheets, size detection sensors SE11 and SE12 for detecting the sheet size, a sheet guide 81, a timing roller 82, a conveyor belt 83 and the like.

The fixing system 70C includes a fixing roller 84 that conveys the paper while thermocompressing it, a discharge roller 85, and a discharge sensor SE62 that detects the discharge of the paper.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit 100 of the copying machine 1. Next, referring to FIG. 2, the control unit 100
Will be described. The control unit 100 includes five CPUs 1 to 1.
5, the CPUs 1 to 5 each have a ROM 111 to 115 storing a program, and a RAM 121 to a work area for executing the program.
125 is provided. The CPU 3 is provided in the memory unit section 30.

The CPU 1 controls the input and display of signals from various operation keys of the operation panel OP. The CPU 2 controls each part of the image signal processing section 20 and controls the driving of the scanning system 10. Further, the CPU 4 controls the print processing unit 40, the optical system 60 and the image forming system 70,
The CPU 5 performs processing for adjusting the overall timing of the control unit 100 and setting operation modes.

The CPU 3 controls the memory unit section 30 to temporarily store the read image data in the memory (image memory 304), read it out, and print it out by the print processing section 4.
Output to 0.

The paper size detection sensors SE11, 1
The signal from 2 is input to the image forming sensor I / O 77, and the size of the copy sheet and the conveying direction thereof are managed by the CPU 4.

Next, the reading device IR and the image signal processing section 2
0 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the reading device IR. The CPU 2, ROM 112, RAM 122 and CCD 16 correspond to those in FIG.

An image reading synchronizing signal is supplied from the timing control unit 21 to each block. The CCD 16 scans the document in the main scanning direction and generates a document reading signal. The A / D converter 22 converts the generated signal into a digital signal,
It is sent to the image processing unit 23. The image processing unit 23 performs image quality correction such as shading correction, MTF correction, and gamma correction,
Processing such as scaling and image editing is performed, and the image data is supplied to the printer engine unit and the image memory unit.

The image monitor memory 24 stores image data for one line according to an instruction from the CPU 2. Also, CPU
Reference numeral 2 controls parameters of the image processing unit 23, scan control by driving the scanner motor, and overall control of the reading device such as communication with the host CPU 5.

Next, the method for detecting the size of the original and whether the original is a vertical original or a horizontal original will be described. However, placing the original so that the long side of the original is approximately parallel to the paper transport direction is called vertical placement, and the original is placed so that the long side of the original is approximately perpendicular to the paper transport direction. What you do is called horizontal placement. Whether or not the read image is an original is determined, for example, by scanning the original with the original cover 17 (see FIG. 1) having a mirror surface and detecting white when the original is detected. Alternatively, scanning may be performed with the document cover 17 open.

When the CPU 2 receives an instruction of the document size detecting operation from the host CPU 5, it performs a preliminary scan as follows. The CPU 2 controls the scanner motor M based on the scanner position information from the scanner position sensor 25,
The scanner 19 is scanned in the sub scanning direction. Image data is stored in the image monitor memory 24 at a timing corresponding to the sub-scanning position, the image data is then read, the document size is detected from the content of the image data and the monitor position information, and the detection result is transmitted to the host CPU 5. To do.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the method of detecting the document size. (A) is a view showing a document placing table,
(B) shows an equation for calculating the position detected during the preliminary scan and the document size. Further, FIG. 5 shows a buffer in which the detected data is stored.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, CPU 2 prestores document placement table reference position O. In the preliminary scan, image scanning is performed on the entire surface of the document table. CP
U2 regularly monitors the image monitor memory 24 during the preliminary scan.
The image information is stored in and the image data is scanned from the reference position direction of the main scanning direction. The address (FST / WHT) at which the first white level is detected in the main scanning direction and the address (LST / WHT) at which the last white level is detected are stored in the buffer as shown in FIG. 5 in association with the sub-scanning position. . The address is set to 0 when the white level cannot be detected.

After the completion of the preliminary scanning, the document size and position are determined using the data stored in the buffer. The buffer is sequentially read, and the address k having the first non-zero data is the sub-scanning document leading end position, and the last address n having the non-zero data is the sub-scanning end position. The document size X in the sub-scanning direction is (nk).

Further, the document position and size in the main scanning direction are determined as follows. The minimum value FST / WHTl of the buffer FST / WHT is regarded as the document leading end position in the main scanning direction, and the maximum value LST / WHT LST / WHTm is set as the document end in the main scanning direction. The document size Y in the main scanning direction is (L
ST ・ WHTm-FST ・ WHTl).

As described above, the position and size of the document are detected. Further, a size approximate to the standard size is transmitted from the detected vertical and horizontal dimensions to the host CPU 5.

The CPU 5 receives this information and creates a document management table DT1 as shown in FIG. Also, CP
U5 determines that the document is horizontally placed when the document dimension Y is larger than the document dimension X, and otherwise determines that the document is vertically placed.

Next, the memory unit section 30 will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the memory unit section 30.

The memory unit section 30 includes a switching section 301.
And a binarization processing unit 302 that creates binary data based on parameter settings from the CPU 3, and A at 400 dpi.
A multi-port image memory 304 having a capacity of 4 pages of 2 pages and a compressor 311 that can operate independently.
And a code processing unit 305 having a decompressor 312, a code memory 306 having a multiport, and a rotation processing unit 30.
7, a scaling processing unit 309, and a multi-value conversion processing unit 30 that creates multi-value data based on parameter settings from the CPU 3.
8 and a CPU 3 that controls all of them.

When the image data D2 is written in the image memory 304, the code processing unit 305 calls the data and compresses the data to create code data, and the code data is written in the code memory 30.
Write to 6. Further, according to a command from the CPU 3, the code data written in the code memory 306 is read and expanded to create image data, which is written in the image memory 304.

When one page of image data is generated in the image memory 304 by decompression, the image data is read, the rotation processing unit 307 rotates the image data as necessary, and the multi-value quantization processing unit 308. Multivalued image data is generated and output as image data D3. The compressor 311 and the expander 312 can operate independently of each other and in parallel. Data is DMA-transferred between these and the code memory 306.

By the way, the code memory 306 is the RAM 1
It is managed by the management table MT1 stored in 21. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the management table MT1 (a) and the code memory 306 (b). Code memory 30
6 is divided into memory areas of 32 Kbyte unit, and in consideration of enabling simultaneous control of writing (reading) and reading (printing), each area has a code for each page. Data is stored.

The management table MT1 includes a code memory 30.
No. 6 indicating the area, page number, number of connected areas, and various additional information necessary for compression / expansion processing such as compression method and data length are stored. The code memory is based on these information. 306 is dynamically managed.

The pre-connection in FIG. 8A is 3 in the page.
It shows the connection of areas in 2 Kbytes in the forward direction and whether or not it is the first area. "00" indicates the first area, and the other areas indicate the previous area number. The same applies to the post-connection, "FF"
Indicates the last area, and the other areas indicate the subsequent area numbers.

When the CPU 3 reads out the image data from the image memory 304 and compresses it, it controls the compressor 311 while creating the information of the management table MT1 to control the code memory 3.
It is stored in 06. Further, when outputting the image data, the code data is read from the code memory 306 by the reverse operation. The information in the management table MT1 is
It is erased when the required number of copies of the information on the relevant page has been normally discharged.

As described above, in the memory unit section 30, after the image data D2 is binarized, the image memory 30
4 to perform predetermined processing, read out from the image memory 304 as necessary, and send the image data D to the print processing unit 40.
Output as 3.

When the image data is read from the image memory 304, the processing of rotation and scaling is performed as required in accordance with the designation from the CPU 5.

Next, a case where the CPU 5 reads image data from the memory and prints it will be described. At this time C
The PU 5 calculates the output mode according to the sheet conveyance direction and the sheet size of the selected sheet feed port sent from the CPU 4. That is, first, it is determined whether the original placement direction and the sheet conveyance direction are the same. If the original and the paper are in the same direction, the rotation processing is not instructed. If they are not the same, the CPU 3 is instructed to perform the rotation processing. Then, compare the length of the long side of the paper with the length of the long side of the document to calculate the scaling factor,
The CPU 3 is instructed to perform the scaling process.

As an example, consider a case where the A4 vertical direction (paper length 297 mm, paper width 210 mm) is set in the selected paper feed port.

The original size is known in advance from the management table (FIG. 6). Referring to FIG. 9, the left column shows the document size, and the right column shows the copy paper (A4) set in the selected paper feed port. In the figure, (1)-(3) correspond to the first page to the third page of the original.

(1) First page Since the original and the paper have the same direction and size, the image data is read from the code memory 306 without performing the scaling processing and the rotation processing in the scaling processing unit 309 and the rotation processing unit 307. Read D3.

(2) Second page Since the orientations of the original and the paper are the same, the vertical length of the paper /
A scaling factor is calculated from the length of the document, and the scaling factor 309 processes the data from the code memory 306 at the scaling factor.
Output as image data D3.

(3) Third page Since the original and the paper are different in size and direction, the rotation processing unit 307 and the scaling processing unit 309 perform 90 ° rotation processing and scaling processing and read them from the code memory 306.

As can be seen from the above embodiment, even if there are a plurality of document sizes and their orientations are different, one type of copy paper is prepared without preparing a plurality of types (paper size, conveyance direction) of copy paper. Allows you to copy any kind of manuscript.

In the present embodiment, the copying machine that handles only fixed-size originals and copy sheets has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to handle unfixed-sized sheets.
For example, if the smaller one of the scaling factors calculated from the comparison of the long sides of the original and the copy sheet and the scaling factors calculated from the comparison of the short sides is adopted as the copying scale, the irregular size is obtained. It can also be used for manuscripts and copy sheets.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, the sizes and orientations of a document and a copy sheet are detected, and the long sides or short sides are detected according to the detection result regardless of the orientation of the document and the sheet. Are compared to determine the enlargement / reduction ratio, and the original is copied onto a copy sheet. As a result, it is possible to provide a copying machine in which the AMS function is activated regardless of the direction in which the copy sheet of the original image is conveyed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overall configuration of a copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a reading device IR.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting a document size.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method of detecting a document size.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the contents of a document management table.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory unit section.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a relationship between a management table and a code memory.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a relationship between a manuscript copyable by a copying machine according to the present invention and a copy sheet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 20 image signal processing unit 30 memory unit unit 100 control unit 304 image memory 306 code memory 307 rotation processing unit 309 scaling processing unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image forming unit for forming an original image on a copy sheet, and a first unit for determining whether the copy sheet is set in a longitudinal direction long in the conveying direction or in a transverse direction short in the conveying direction.
A determining unit; a first detecting unit for detecting the length of the long side or the short side of the copy sheet; and whether the document is a portrait document long in the transport direction of the copy sheet or a landscape document short in the transport direction of the copy sheet. A second discriminating means for discriminating the long side or the short side of the original, and a long side or a long side of the copy sheet or the original detected by the first and second detecting means, or Copy magnification determining means for comparing the lengths of the short sides to determine the copy magnification, and whether or not the orientations of the copy paper and the original are the same based on the discrimination results of the first and second discriminating means. When the determination means and the determination means determine that the orientations of the copy sheet and the original are the same, the original is not rotated and copying is performed at the copy magnification determined by the copy magnification determination means. Image to be performed When the step determines that the orientation of the copy sheet is not the same as that of the document, the document is rotated and a copy is performed at the copy magnification determined by the copy magnification determining means. And a control unit that controls the image forming unit.