JP3262085B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having at least a manual feed tray and having a function of recording an image on a recording sheet placed on the manual feed tray.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image recording apparatus, a given image is recorded on a recording sheet. The recording paper is supplied by being loaded into a paper cassette, or placed on a manual feed tray and supplied. Usually, when recording paper is supplied from a paper cassette, a sensor or the like for identifying the size of the recording paper is provided. Therefore, the size of the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette can be recognized by the apparatus. For example, if recording paper corresponding to the image to be recorded is loaded in the paper cassette, the recording paper can be selected and the image can be recorded.

If the size of the image to be recorded is too large or too small for the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette, the manual feed tray is set without automatically selecting the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette. select. At this time, if recording paper of a size corresponding to the image is placed on the manual feed tray, the image can be recorded using the recording paper. However, some image recording devices include
In some cases, a sensor for identifying the paper size is not provided in the manual feed tray. In such a case, although the user selects the manual feed tray, the user does not know the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray. The recording paper size is configured to be selected. The same applies to the case where the user has previously selected the manual feed tray.

When selecting the size of the recording paper, it is necessary to select from a large number of sizes, and the operation is troublesome. In this specification, the size of the recording paper includes the size of the recording paper and the direction in which the recording paper is placed (loaded).

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has been made in consideration of the above circumstances. It is intended to provide a device.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus comprising at least one paper cassette and a manual feed tray, wherein an image is recorded on a recording paper loaded in the paper cassette or a recording paper placed on the manual feed tray. Recordable recording means;
Operating means having display means and input means for selecting recording paper; and selecting a paper size other than the paper size of the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette when at least selecting the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray. It is characterized by comprising control means for initial display on the display means. In many cases, a manual tray is used when recording paper not loaded in a paper cassette is used. Therefore, when recording images using the manual feed tray,
By displaying the paper size other than the paper size of the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette first, the target paper size can be displayed as early as possible, making it easy to select the paper size. Will be able to do it.

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a facsimile apparatus including an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a main control unit, 12 is an operation unit,
13 is a display unit, 14 is an input unit, 15 is a reading unit, 16 is a recording unit, 17 is a manual feed tray, 18 is a paper cassette, 19
Is a paper size sensor, 20 is an NCU, 21 is a modem, 2
2 is an image memory, 23 is a RAM, 24 is a ROM, and 25 is a bus.

The main control section 11 controls the entire apparatus and operates each section to realize an image transmission / reception function, a copy function, and the like. In particular, when an image is recorded by the recording unit 16, a recording sheet on which the image is to be recorded is selected and the recording unit 16 is instructed. At this time, when the setting is made so that the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 is used, or the recording paper of the size used for recording the image is contained in the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette 18. If not, a recording sheet placed on the manual feed tray 17 is selected. At this time, the manual feed tray 1 is
7. Have the user select the size of the recording paper placed on 7. The selection of the paper size will be described later.

The operation unit 12 includes a display unit 13 and an input unit 1
4 to provide a user interface for the user. The display unit 13 can display various information such as a message to the user, a message indicating the state of the apparatus, and operation guidance. In particular, when the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 is selected as the recording paper for recording an image, various paper sizes are displayed in order or in a list, and the paper size is presented to the user.

The input unit 14 is used when the user makes various settings and instructions. For example, a transmission function or a copy function can be selected, and an instruction to execute the selected function can be given. When executing the copy function, an arbitrary magnification can be set. When the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 is selected as the recording paper for recording the image, the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 is changed from the paper size displayed on the display unit 13. The size can be selected and input.

The reading section 15 reads an image on a document.
The reading unit 15 can be composed of various image input devices such as an image scanner and a digital camera. The reading unit 15 has a mechanism for determining the size of the document, and can output the determined size of the document. When the magnification is set by the user, the image may be read by the reading unit 15 in accordance with the set magnification.

The recording section 16 forms a received image or an image read by the reading section 15 on recording paper. As a recording method, various methods such as an electrophotographic method and an ink jet method can be adopted. Recording unit 1
For example, a plurality of sizes of recording paper can be loaded in the paper cassette 18. In the paper cassette 18,
A paper size sensor 19 is provided, and can detect the size of the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette 18. In the recording unit 16, recording paper of any size can be placed on the manual feed tray 17 and used.
In this example, the paper size sensor is not provided on the manual feed tray 17 and the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 cannot be detected. The recording unit 16 selects one of the recording papers loaded in the paper cassette 18 or the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 according to an instruction from the main control unit 11, and stores the selected recording paper. Feed and record the image.

The NCU 20 controls a line to communicate with an external device. The modem 21 modulates and demodulates image data to be transmitted and received.

The image memory 22 stores image data to be transmitted and received, image data read by the reading unit 15, image data to be recorded by the recording unit 16, and other image data being processed.

The RAM 23 is used when it is necessary to store data in the processing of the main control unit 11 and other units.
The image read by the reading unit 15, the image recorded by the recording unit 16, and the image when the main control unit 11 performs image processing such as scaling processing may be temporarily stored in some cases. ROM
24 is a program that defines the operation of the main control unit 11,
Stores fixed data.

The bus 25 comprises a main control unit 11, an operation unit 12
(Display unit 13, input unit 14), reading unit 15, recording unit 1
6, NCU 20, modem 21, image memory 22, RAM
23, ROM 24, etc., are connected to each other to enable data transfer between them.

Next, an example of the operation of an example of a facsimile apparatus including an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention will be described. Here, a case will be described in which an image on a document is read using a copy function and the image is recorded on recording paper. When using the copy function, the user specifies the use of the copy function from the input unit 14 and sets the document on the reading unit 15. At this point, the reading unit 15 detects the size of the set document. In addition, the user sets the number of copies, the magnification, etc. as necessary.

Further, as recording paper for recording an image,
When the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 is used, the user instructs from the input unit 14 to use the manual feed tray. Even when the size of the document detected by the reading unit 15 does not match any of the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette 18, it may be switched to use the manual feed tray 17.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a process for selecting a paper size when using a manual feed tray in an example of a facsimile apparatus including an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. When the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 is used, if the size of the paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 cannot be detected as described above, the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 is used. Have the person specify. At this time, a process as shown in FIG. 2 is performed.

In S31, it is determined whether or not the reading unit 15 has detected the document size. For example, when the original is of a deformed size or the like, the reading unit 15 may not be able to determine the size of the original using a mechanism for detecting the paper size. In such a case, the size of the recording paper used by the user is not fixed, and any paper size may be selected. However, in many cases where the manual tray 17 is used, the desired recording paper is not loaded in the paper cassette 18. Therefore, it can be considered that the possibility that the size of the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette 18 is selected as the paper size when the manual tray 17 is used is low. Therefore, in S32, a paper size selection screen is displayed on the display unit 13 with priority given to paper sizes not loaded in the paper cassette 18. As a result, the paper cassette 1 that is likely to be placed on the manual feed tray 17 is
8 can be displayed preferentially with a paper size other than the size of the recording paper loaded in the recording paper 8. Therefore, the user can refer to and select from paper size candidates that are likely to be selected.

In S31, if the document size can be detected by the reading unit 15, it is further determined in S33 whether or not the magnification is designated by the user. If the magnification is not specified, the image of the document read by the reading unit 15 is to be recorded on the recording paper in the same size. That is, it can be considered that the possibility that a recording sheet having the same size as the image size is selected is very high. Therefore, in S34, a paper size selection screen is displayed on the display unit 13 with the paper size substantially the same as the image of the document as the initial value. This makes it possible to easily select a paper size that is likely to be placed on the manual feed tray 17 and that is substantially the same as the document size.

If the user has specified a magnification in S33, the image of the document is subjected to scaling (enlargement or reduction) according to the specified magnification. In the case where the image is subjected to the scaling process in this way, it is considered that a recording sheet that appropriately fits the scaled image is often selected. For this reason, in S35, a screen for selecting a paper size is displayed on the display unit 13 with the minimum paper size that can accommodate the image after zooming as an initial value. As a result, it is possible to easily select the minimum paper size that is likely to be placed on the manual feed tray 17 and that can accommodate the image after the magnification.
Note that the image size after scaling can be obtained by multiplying the image size by a magnification.

As described above, S32, S34, S3
In 5, the paper size which is most likely to be selected is preferentially displayed on the display unit 13 as an initial value. In S36, the user operates the input unit 14 to select and designate the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17. At this time, the designation of the paper size displayed as the initial value can be performed as it is.
Operation is simplified. In this way, the manual feed tray 1
The operation for inputting the size of the recording paper placed on the sheet 7 can be easily performed.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are explanatory diagrams of specific examples of the paper size selection screen displayed on the display unit 13. FIG. In the drawing, the hatched paper size indicates that the paper is in the selectable state, and FIGS. 3 to 6 show the paper size in the selectable state as an initial value. FIG. 3 shows an example of a paper size selection screen in the case where priority display is not performed as in the present invention, and each paper size is arranged in the descending order of the paper size and in the paper direction.

Now, it is assumed that A3 vertical and B4 vertical recording papers are loaded in the paper cassette 18. At this time, when a document whose document size is unknown is set on the reading unit 15, a screen for selecting a paper size as shown in FIG. 4 can be displayed on the display unit 13, for example. That is, the A3 portrait and B4 portrait paper sizes loaded in the paper cassette 18 are displayed backward in the display order, and the A4 portrait paper size not loaded in the paper cassette 18 is displayed as an initial value. Conventionally, as shown in FIG.
Since the paper size loaded in the printer 8 is an initial value, in many cases, a plurality of operations such as a cursor key have to be performed. However, by performing the display as shown in FIG. 4, the number of key operations can be reduced, the number of user operations can be reduced, and the paper size can be easily set.

When an original of B5 landscape size is set on the reading unit 15 and copying is performed at the same size, for example, FIG.
Can be displayed on the display unit 13 as shown in FIG. That is, B5 width, which is the image size of the document set on the reading unit 15, is displayed at the top as an initial value and is in a selected state. Therefore, when the paper size next to B5 is to be selected as it is, an operation for specifying the paper size may be performed in this state. Conventionally, FIG.
In the display shown in FIG. 7, the user has operated the cursor key or the like a plurality of times to select the B5 horizontal size, and then has designated it. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, operation is simplified very much, operation of a user can be reduced and operability can be improved.

Further, when an original of A5 landscape size is set on the reading unit 15 and copying is performed with 141% specified as the magnification, a paper size selection screen as shown in FIG. Can be displayed. That is, the image of the A5 landscape document set on the reading unit 15 is
The smallest paper size that can accommodate the image after the scaling process by 41%, that is, A4 landscape is displayed at the top as an initial value and is in the selected state. Therefore, in the case where the A4 landscape paper size is selected as it is, an operation of designating this paper size may be performed in this state. Compared to the conventional operation that required multiple key operations such as cursor key operation, according to the present invention, the paper size can be set by a simple operation, and the operation of the user can be reduced with less operation. Performance can be improved.

Note that the paper size selection screen shown here is an example, and the screen layout is arbitrary, and the selection operation is also arbitrary.

After the size of the recording paper is instructed, the user instructs the input section 14 to execute the copy function. Thereby, the main control unit 11 causes the reading unit 15 to read an image from the document, and transfers the image to the recording unit 16. At this time,
When the image deviates from the range of the recording paper to be used, the image may be transferred for each recording range of the recording paper, or the deviated portion of the image may not be transmitted.

The main controller 11 instructs the recording unit 16 to use the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17. The recording unit 16 feeds the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 according to the instruction from the main operation unit 11, and records the transferred image on the recording paper.

When the magnification is designated by the user, the image is read as an image scaled in accordance with the designated magnification when the image of the document is read by the reading section 15, or is read by the reading section 15. The main controller 11 performs scaling processing on the image according to the designated magnification. Then, the image after the scaling process is transferred to the recording unit 16. In this way, the image of the document subjected to the scaling process is recorded on the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17.

Here, an example of the operation in the case of using the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 when using the copy function has been described. The example shown in FIG. 1 has a facsimile communication function, and the same applies to the image stored in the image memory 22 received by facsimile when the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 17 is used. To select the paper size.

Although the above-described example shows a case where the paper cassette 18 is present, the paper cassette 18 may not be present, and a configuration having only the manual feed tray 17 may be used.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another example including an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 26
Is an interface. In the example shown in FIG.
An example in which the image recording apparatus of the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a copy machine having no communication function without the NCU 20 and the modem 21 can be configured. Further, as shown in FIG.
It may be configured as an apparatus having only an image recording function. In the configuration shown in FIG. 7, an image is input via an interface 26 from an externally connected computer, for example. The size of the image can be given from an external computer or the like together with the image, or the size can be recognized from the number of pixels by scanning the image. Even if the size cannot be recognized, S32 in FIG.
Can be displayed.

As a modification of the configuration shown in FIG. 7, for example, a system constituted by a computer system and a recording unit 15 may be used. In this case, the paper size may be selected in the computer system, and the selected paper size may be sent to the recording unit 15. The present invention can be applied to various configurations other than the above.

[0038]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the operation for indicating the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray becomes easy, and the operation of the user is reduced. Thus, there is an effect that an image recording apparatus with good operability can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a facsimile apparatus including an embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a process of selecting a paper size when using a manual feed tray in an example of a facsimile apparatus including an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a paper size selection screen displayed on a display unit 13;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a paper size selection screen displayed on the display unit 13 when A3 vertical and B4 vertical recording papers are loaded in a paper cassette and an image size cannot be detected. .

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a paper size selection screen displayed on the display unit 13 when an image size is B5 landscape.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of a paper size selection screen displayed on the display unit 13 when an image size is A5 horizontal and a scaling process of 141% is performed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing another example including an embodiment of the image recording apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: Main control unit, 12: Operation unit, 13: Display unit, 14 ...
Input unit, 15 reading unit, 16 recording unit, 17 manual feed tray, 18 paper cassette, 19 paper size sensor,
20 ... NCU, 21 ... Modem, 22 ... Image memory, 23
... RAM, 24 ... ROM, 25 ... Bus, 26 ... Interface.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI G06F 3/00 653 G06F 3/00 653A (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00 B41J 21 / 00-21/18 B41J 29/00-29/70

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A recording means having one or more paper cassettes and a manual feed tray, capable of recording an image on recording paper loaded in the paper cassette or on a recording paper placed on the manual feed tray, a display means and an input. Operating means having means for selecting recording paper, and displaying at least a paper size other than the paper size of the recording paper loaded in the paper cassette when selecting the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray. An image recording apparatus comprising a control unit for causing a unit to perform initial display.