Method of positioning original image to be copied and apparatus for performing the same

• US 4,707,126 A
• Filed: 07/12/1985
• Issued: 11/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Suzuki, Shigeru, Ohshima, Kiyoshi, Mashiko, Harumitsu, Ohdake, Eisyu
• Primary Examiner(s): PRESCOTT, ARTHUR
• Application Number:
  US06/754,842
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 355/3 R, 355/14 R, 355/14 E, 355/14 SH, 355/14 C, 355/60, 355/75, 355/7, 355/5
• US Class Current: 399/14
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/04018 Image composition, e.g. adding or superposing informations on the original image composition of facsimile picture signals H04N1/387
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/305 with special means to synchronize the scanning optic to the operation of other parts of the machine, e.g. photoreceptor, copy paper
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/502 relating to the structure of the control menu, e.g. pop-up menus, help screens

Abstract

A composite copy of an image or images from a single or plural original sheets is formed by regulating the position or positions of the images from the original sheets on the copy sheet in a copy paper feeding direction and a direction orthogonal thereto. The setting of the image positions in the X and Y directions on the copy sheet is obtained by regulating the scanning of the original sheet, movement of the illumination system or optical system, or timing of movement of the photosensitive member or the copy sheet.

Claims

1. A method of shifting a copying position of an image on an original sheet to be copied by a copying machine to a desired position on a copy sheet during a copying operation of said copying machine, including illuminating said original sheet by an illuminating device moving relatively thereto to expose a photosensitive member to thereby form an electrostatic laent image thereon, developing said electrostatic latent image with toner and transferring the image onto said copy sheet, said method comprising the step of regulating a position of said image of said original sheet by means of a position setting means in at least one of a copy sheet feeding direction to said photosensitive member and a direction orthogonal to said copy sheet feeding direction to set a visible image forming position on said copy sheet.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said regulating step comprises the step of regulating a position of said illumination device at which the latter starts to effectively illuminate said original sheet.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said regulating step comprises the step of regulating an exposure timing of said photosensitive member.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said regulating step comprises the step of regulating said position of said image in said orthogonal direction by moving a condenser lens in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis thereof.

5. A copying machine for copying desired portions of a single or plural original sheets on desired positions of a single copy sheet, comprising an illumination device for optically scanning said original sheets mounted on an original sheet mounting means, a first optical system including at least one lens for condensing said images of said original sheets obtained by scanning by said illumination device on a photosensitive member, a second optical system including a photoelectric conversion means for converting said images into electric signals, a control unit for processing said electric signals from said second optical system, a display unit for displaying said images on the basis of signals from said control unit and means for selecting areas of the copy sheet on said display unit in which said images are to be reduced, said control unit including means for storing and processing instructions from said selecting means.

6. A copying machine for copying a plurality of original images onto selected positions of a single copy sheet comprising:

an original sheet mounting means;

illumination means for optically scanning at least a portion of an original sheet operatively positioned by said original sheet mounting means;

a photosensitive member;

first optical means for transferring an image scanned from an original sheet by said illumination means and forming a corresponding latent image on a photosensitive member;

developing means for developing a latent image formed on said photosensitive member;

copy sheet feeding means for feeding a copy sheet into contact with said photosensitive member;

transfer means for transferring a developed image from said photosensitive member to a copy sheet fed by said feeding means and fixing the image thereon;

intermediate guide means for guiding a copy sheet onto which a first original image has been transferred by said transfer means onto a first selected position of the copy sheet along a return path to be fed at least a second time by said feeding means into contact with said photosensitive member for transferring a second original image onto a second selected position of the copy sheet;

second optical means including photoelectric conversion means for scanning an image of an original sheet and converting the image into image signals;

display means including a control unit for processing image signals from said second optical means and displaying a corresponding image of an original sheet and an available copy area of a copy sheet;

selecting means for selecting an original image of at least a portion of an original sheet displayed by said display means and a position in said copy area in which the selected original image is to be copied, said selecting means including memory means for storing selection instructions for copying at least first and second selected original images in respective selected copy positions on a copy sheet; and

regulating means responsive to said selecting means and comprising means for controlling operation of at least one of said original sheet mounting means, illumination means, first optical means, developing means, copy sheet feeding means, or intermediate guide means such that said at least first and second selected original images are copied onto said selected copy positions on a copy sheet.

7. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means includes switchover means for switching scanning of an original sheet between said first and said second optical means.

8. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means includes means for controlling movement of a movable original sheet mounting means relative to a stationary illumination means for scanning a selected image portion of an original sheet.

9. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means includes means for controlling movement of a movable illumination means relative to a stationary original sheet mounting means for scanning a selected image portion of an original sheet.

10. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means includes means for controlling movement of said photosensitive member relative to said first optical system for forming a latent image on said member of a selected image portion of an original sheet.

11. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means includes means for controlling movement of said first optical system relative to said photosensitive member for forming a latent image on said member of a selected image portion of an original sheet.

12. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means includes means for controlling said copy sheet fedding means for feeding a copy sheet relative to said photosensitive member for forming a latent image on said member of a selected image portion of an original sheet.

13. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means includes means for controlling said photosensitive member relative to a copy sheet fed by said copy feeding means for forming a latent image on said member of a selected image portion of an original sheet.

14. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said developing means includes erasing means for erasing a portion of a latent image area on said photosensitive member, and said regulating means includes means for controlling said erasing means for forming a latent image on said member of a selected image portion of an original sheet.

15. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means controls movement of at least one of said means relative to an X direction parallel to the direction of feeding a copy sheet.

16. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said regulating means controls movement of at least one of said means relative to a Y direction orthogonal to the direction of feeding a copy sheet.

17. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said first optical system includes magnification means and said selecting means includes means for selecting a magnification level of a selected original image to be copied on a copy sheet.

18. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said developing means includes development concentration means and said selecting means includes means for selecting a concentration level of a selected original image to be copied on a copy sheet.

19. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said selected optical means includes a video camera.

20. A copying machine according to claim 6, wherein said selected optical means includes a charge coupled device.