JP5564443B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a booklet printing function.

  Booklet printing is a method of scanning one or both sides of multiple originals, printing four pages of each side of the image on the front and back of a sheet of paper that has two originals arranged, and folding these sheets in half. By doing so, it is printing to become a booklet.

  As an image forming apparatus having a booklet printing function, when a manuscript is a saddle-stitched booklet, the user operates the interface according to navigation, so that the booklet is not removed when reading the booklet. A technique for printing a booklet having the same configuration as the booklet has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this technique, when a booklet has a front cover, first page, second page, third page,..., Last page, and back cover, a booklet-printed sheet is overlapped and folded in two. Can be finished in that configuration.

JP 2003-189027 A (paragraph 0078 to paragraph 0101)

  In booklet printing, it is conceivable that a spread document (for example, A3 document) is included in a plurality of documents (for example, A4 document). Since the spread document is read as two pages, it is troublesome for the user if the user operates the setting screen to change the type of the document to the spread document in order to read the spread document.

  According to the present invention, in booklet printing, when a spread document is included in a plurality of documents, the user can read the document as a spread document without performing an operation of changing the type of the document to a spread document. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can be used.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention that achieves the above object reads a plurality of documents including a spread document to be read as two pages and generates a plurality of pages of image data, and is generated by the document reading unit. The image data storage unit for storing the image data of the plurality of pages and whether the document read by the document reading unit is the spread document, and if the document is determined to be the spread document, The spread document determination unit that stores image data as two pages of image data in the image data storage unit, and after the reading of the plurality of documents by the document reading unit, the image data storage unit stores the image data. An image data rearrangement unit that reads out image data of a plurality of pages, rearranges the read image data for booklet printing, and prints an image on paper. Comprising a printing unit for, and a printing control unit to print in the print unit the image represented by the image data rearranged for the booklet printing by the image data shuffle play unit.

  According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the document read by the document reading unit is a spread document. If it is determined that the document is a spread document, the image data storage unit converts the image data of the document into two pages of image data. Remember me. Therefore, in booklet printing, when a spread document is included in a plurality of documents, the user can read the document as a spread document without performing an operation of changing the type of the document to a spread document. .

  In the above configuration, if the spread document determination unit determines that the dimension of the top position of the document read by the document reading unit is smaller than the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the top position, the document Is determined to be the spread document.

  This configuration utilizes the fact that the size of the document in the direction of the top position is smaller than the size in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the position of the top when the spread document is read by the document reading unit. According to this configuration, if it is determined that the dimension of the top position of the document read by the document reading unit is smaller than the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the top position, the document is determined to be a spread document, The image data of the original is stored in the image data storage unit as two pages of image data. According to this configuration, it is determined whether or not the document is a spread document by utilizing the fact that the dimension in the direction of the top position of the document is smaller than the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the top position. Even if the document to be read is a spread document, it can be determined whether the document is a spread document. Further, according to this configuration, it is possible to determine whether or not the document is a spread document regardless of whether the top position of the document other than the spread document (normal document) and the spread document is set to the top or the left. Can do.

  In the above configuration, the spread document determination unit determines whether the document read by the document reading unit is in portrait orientation or landscape orientation, and if it is determined to be in landscape orientation, the document is determined as the spread document.

  According to this configuration, when the top position of a normal document and a spread document is set upward, if the orientation of the document is landscape, the document can be determined as a spread document regardless of the size of the document. it can. If it is determined that the document is in landscape orientation, the document is determined to be a spread document. Therefore, even if the first read document is a spread document, the spread document can be determined.

  In the above configuration, the spread document determination unit determines the size of the document read by the document reading unit according to the size of the document, and determines that the document is the spread document when the size is determined to be large.

  According to this configuration, even if the orientations of the documents are the same, a large-size document can be determined as a spread document. In this configuration, it is necessary to set the top position for each of the spread document and the normal document, and it is necessary to set the size for each of the spread document and the normal document.

  In the above configuration, if the spread document determination unit determines that the spread document is the spread document, the two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document when the booklet is printed are the even page first and the odd page later. A spread page determination unit that determines whether the two pages are printed as a spread page based on whether the odd page is first and the even page is later. When it is determined by the spread page determination unit that the spread page is not printed, the replacement unit has an additional page before the second page of the image represented by the image data of the spread document when the booklet is printed. As described above, the image data of the plurality of pages is rearranged for booklet printing.

  According to this configuration, when it is determined that the two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document when the booklet is printed are not printed on the spread page, the additional page is displayed as the image data of the spread document when the booklet is printed. The image data of a plurality of pages is rearranged for booklet printing so that it comes before the image page represented by Therefore, if the image represented by the rearranged image data is printed on a sheet, the two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original can be printed on the sheet in the order of the spread pages. Therefore, when two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original are not printed as the spread page when the booklet is printed, the booklet can be printed without causing the user to perform an additional page setting operation.

  In the above configuration, the spread document determination unit includes document detection means arranged to be able to determine whether or not a document set on the image forming apparatus for reading by the document reading unit is the spread document. In the image forming apparatus, when the original set on the image forming apparatus is determined to be the spread original by the spread original determination unit, the original read by the original reading unit is the spread original. A display control unit configured to display the presence on the display unit; and a reading command unit configured to receive an operation of a command to read the document set on the image forming apparatus after the display is performed on the display unit.

  According to this configuration, the user can recognize that the original is read as a spread original before reading the original set on the image forming apparatus.

  In the above configuration, the display control unit has a setting screen for accepting a setting operation for reading the spread document when the document set on the image forming apparatus is determined to be the spread document by the spread document determination unit. Displayed on the display unit, the reading command unit receives an operation of a command to read a document set on the image forming apparatus with the setting received on the setting screen displayed on the display unit.

  According to this configuration, when a document set on the image forming apparatus is determined to be a spread document, a setting operation for reading the spread document can be accepted. Therefore, it is convenient when the image quality or the like differs between a document other than a spread document and a spread document among a plurality of documents.

  In the above-described configuration, the spread document determination unit has a size of one page image and the other page image represented by the image data of the spread document that is other than the spread document among the plurality of documents. It is determined whether or not the image size is the same as the size of the image represented by the image data of the document. If the spread document determination unit determines that the size is not the same, the image forming apparatus uses the image data of the document other than the spread document. An enlargement / reduction unit that enlarges / reduces each of the image of the one page and the image of the other page so as to match the size of the represented image, and the print control unit is configured to An image represented by the image data of the spread original that has been enlarged or reduced is printed on the printing unit.

According to this configuration, the size of the image of one page represented by the image data of the spread document and the size of the image of the other page are images represented by the image data of the document other than the spread document (normal document). If they do not match, the images on one page and the images on the other page represented by the image data of the spread original are enlarged or reduced so as to match. As a result, when an ordinary document is enlarged or reduced and printed, the spread document can be enlarged or reduced in accordance with the enlargement or reduction setting of the ordinary document. Therefore, the user can omit the setting operation for enlarging or reducing the spread original.
The image forming apparatus according to the present invention has the following modes. A document reading unit that reads a plurality of documents including a spread document to be read as two pages and generates image data of a plurality of pages, and an image data storage that stores the image data of the plurality of pages generated by the document reading unit And the document read by the document reading unit is determined to be the spread document, and if the document is determined to be the spread document, the image data of the document is stored as the image data of two pages. After the reading of the plurality of documents by the document reading unit is completed, the image data of the plurality of pages stored in the image data storage unit is read, and the read image data is read An image data rearrangement unit for rearranging for booklet printing, a printing unit for printing an image on paper, and the image data rearrangement unit An image forming apparatus comprising: a print control unit that causes the printing unit to print an image represented by image data rearranged for booklet printing; a display unit; a display control unit; and an operation unit including a start key. The spread document determination unit includes document detection means arranged to be able to determine whether or not a document set on the image forming apparatus for reading by the document reading unit is the spread document. When the document set on the image forming apparatus is determined as the spread document by the spread document determination unit, the display control unit displays a setting screen for accepting a setting operation for reading the spread document. When the start key is operated, the document reading unit performs the image formation with the setting received on the setting screen displayed on the display unit. When the start key is operated when the original set on the image reading unit is read and the original set on the image forming apparatus is not determined to be the spread original by the spread original determination unit, the original reading unit The original set on the image forming apparatus is read.

  According to the present invention, in booklet printing, when a spread document is included in a plurality of documents, the user can read the document as a spread document without performing an operation of changing the document type to a spread document. can do.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of an operation unit provided in the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a document feeding unit provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a document is set on a document placement unit of the document feeding unit illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a document reading unit provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state where a document is set on a document table of a document reading unit illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state where a document is set on a document table of a document reading unit including one optical sensor. It is a figure explaining the top position of a manuscript. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of 11 originals that are determined to be printed in the order in which a double-page spread becomes a double-page spread. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating image data of 12 pages generated by reading 11 sheets of the document illustrated in FIG. 10 by a document reading unit. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the 12 pages of image data shown in FIG. 11 are rearranged for booklet printing and printed on A3 paper. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of 11 originals that are determined not to be printed in the order in which a double-page spread becomes a double-page spread. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating image data of 12 pages generated by reading 11 sheets of the document illustrated in FIG. 13 by a document reading unit. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the image data of 12 pages illustrated in FIG. 14 is rearranged for booklet printing and printed on A3 paper. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a state in which image data of 12 pages illustrated in FIG. 14 is rearranged for booklet printing and printed on A3 paper so as to include one additional page. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state where image data of 12 pages shown in FIG. 14 is rearranged for booklet printing and printed on A3 paper so as to include 3 additional pages. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a booklet printing process using the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment (part 1). 10 is a flowchart for explaining a booklet printing process using the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment (part 2). It is a figure which shows the transition of the screen displayed on a display part at the process of performing booklet printing using the image forming apparatus which concerns on this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the internal structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 can be applied to, for example, a digital multifunction machine having functions of a copy, a printer, a scanner, and a facsimile. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body unit 100, a document reading unit 200 disposed on the main body unit 100, a document feeding unit 300 disposed on the document reading unit 200, and an operation disposed on the upper front surface of the main body unit 100. Section 400 and a sheet post-processing section 500 disposed on the sheet carry-out side, for example, the left side of the main body section 100.

  The document feeder 300 functions as an automatic document feeder, and includes a document placement unit 301, a paper feed roller 303, a document transport unit 305, and a document discharge unit 307. A paper feed roller 303 feeds the originals set on the original placement unit 301 one by one. The document transport unit 305 transports the fed document to the document reading unit 200. The document is read by the document reading unit 200 and discharged to the document discharge unit 307.

  The document reading unit 200 includes a carriage 201 on which an exposure lamp or the like is mounted, a document table 203 made of a transparent member such as glass, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor (not shown), and a document reading slit 205. When reading a document placed on the document table 203, the document is read by the CCD sensor while moving the carriage 201 in the longitudinal direction of the document table 203. On the other hand, when reading a document fed from the document feeding unit 300, the carriage 201 is moved to a position facing the document reading slit 205, and the document fed from the document feeding unit 300 is scanned. Reading is performed by the CCD sensor through the reading slit 205. The CCD sensor outputs the read original as image data.

  The main body unit 100 includes a sheet storage unit 101, an image forming unit 103, and a fixing unit 105. The sheet storage unit 101 is disposed at the lowermost part of the main body unit 100 and includes a sheet tray 107 that can store a bundle of sheets. In the bundle of sheets stored in the sheet tray 107, the uppermost sheet is sent out toward the sheet conveying unit 111 by driving the pickup roller 109. The sheet is conveyed to the image forming unit 103 through the sheet conveying unit 111.

  The image forming unit 103 forms a toner image on the conveyed paper based on the image data. The image forming unit 103 includes a charge eliminating unit 112, a photosensitive drum 113, a charging unit 114, an exposure unit 115, a transfer drum 116, developing units 117C, 117M, 117Y, 117BK, and a transfer unit 119.

  The neutralization unit 112 is a device that neutralizes residual charges from the surface of the photosensitive drum 113. The charging unit 114 is a device that charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 113 after charge removal. The exposure unit 115 generates modulated light corresponding to image data (image data output from the document reading unit 200, image data transmitted from a personal computer, image data received by facsimile, etc.), and is uniformly charged. The apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 113 by irradiating the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 113.

  The developing units 117C, 117M, 117Y, and 117BK have cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (BK) colors on the photosensitive drum 113 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. An apparatus for forming a toner image. If there is no need to distinguish between the developing portions of the respective colors, they are referred to as developing portions 117. On the transfer drum 116, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drum 113 are transferred and superimposed. The transfer unit 119 is a device that transfers the toner image on the transfer drum 116 to a sheet. The toner for each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is supplied from a toner supply container or a toner cartridge (not shown).

  The sheet on which the toner image is transferred is sent to the fixing unit 105. In the fixing unit 105, heat and pressure are applied to the toner image and the paper, and the toner image is fixed on the paper. Thereby, the printing of the image on the paper is completed. When post-processing is performed on the printed paper, the printed paper is sent from the paper discharge port 121 of the main body 100 to the paper post-processing unit 500. On the other hand, when no post-processing is performed, the printed paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 123.

  The paper post-processing unit 500 performs post-processing such as sorting, stapling, punching, and saddle stitching on the printed paper. The paper post-processing unit 500 includes a paper carry-in port 501, a paper transport unit 503, a paper carry-out port 505, a stack tray 507, and the like. The paper transport unit 503 sequentially transports the printed paper carried into the paper carry-in port 501 from the paper discharge port 121, and carries out the post-processed printed paper from the paper carry-out port 505 to the stack tray 507. The stack tray 507 has a configuration capable of moving up and down in the direction of the arrow in accordance with the number of sheets stacked from the paper exit 505.

  The operation unit 400 includes an operation key unit 401 and a display unit 403. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operation unit 400. The display unit 403 has a touch panel function, and displays a screen including soft keys. The user operates the soft keys while viewing the screen to make settings necessary for executing functions such as copying.

  The operation key unit 401 includes operation keys including hard keys. Specifically, a function switching key 405, a start key 407, a ten key 409, a stop / clear key 411, a reset key 413, a power saving key 415, and an interrupt key 417 are provided. A department management key 419, a document management key 421, an output management key 423, a re-copy key 425, an application copy key 427, a document size mixed loading key 429, and the like.

  The function switching key 405 includes a copy key, a printer key, and a scanner key, and is a key for switching between a copy function, a printer function, and a scanner function. When the copy key is operated, an initial copy screen is displayed on the display unit 403. When the printer key is operated, an initial screen of the printer is displayed on the display unit 403. When the scanner key is operated, an initial screen of the scanner is displayed on the display unit 403.

  A start key 407 is a key for starting operations such as copying and facsimile transmission. A numeric keypad 409 is a key for inputting numbers such as the number of copies and a facsimile number. A stop / clear key 411 is a key for canceling the operation or canceling the input content. A reset key 413 is a key for returning the set contents to the initial setting state. The power saving key 415 is a key for shifting to the power saving mode. An interrupt key 417 is a key for interrupting another job during a job.

  The department management key 419 is a key for shifting to the department management mode. In department management, by setting a department code for each department, the total number of copies for each department can be managed.

  A document management key 421 is a key for shifting to the document management mode. The document management function is a function that accumulates image data representing an image of a document (such as a copied manuscript) in a document box, and can read and print the image data from the document box without the manuscript.

  The output management key 423 is a key for shifting to the output management mode. The output management function is a function that can manage a job waiting for printing and a job that has finished printing among a plurality of copy jobs generated for reserved copying.

  The recopy key 425 is a key for setting recopy. When the re-copy key 425 is operated, the necessary number of copies can be additionally printed when the copying is required again after the copying is completed.

  The application copy key 427 is a key for shifting to an application copy mode such as booklet printing or aggregate printing.

  An original size mixed key 429 is a key for copying originals having different sizes. When the document size mixed loading key 429 is operated, documents of different sizes are read at once using the document feeding unit 300 (FIG. 1), and automatically copied onto a sheet of the same size as each document.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a main body unit 100, a document reading unit 200, a document feeding unit 300, an operation unit 400, a sheet post-processing unit 500, a control unit 600, a communication unit 700, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 800. It has a connected configuration. Since the main body unit 100, the document reading unit 200, the document feeding unit 300, and the paper post-processing unit 500 have already been described, description thereof will be omitted. The main body unit 100 functions as a printing unit that prints an image on a sheet.

  The communication unit 700 includes a facsimile communication unit 701 and a network I / F unit 703. The facsimile communication unit 701 includes an NCU (Network Control Unit) that controls connection of a telephone line with a destination facsimile and a modulation / demodulation circuit that modulates / demodulates a signal for facsimile communication. The facsimile communication unit 701 is connected to the telephone line 705.

  A network I / F unit 703 is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) 707. A network I / F unit 703 is a communication interface circuit for executing communication with a terminal device such as a personal computer connected to the LAN 707.

  The HDD 800 is used for storing image data output from the document reading unit 200, image data transmitted from a personal computer via the communication unit 700, image data received by facsimile via the communication unit 700, and the like. A part of the storage area of the HDD 800 is used as a document box.

  The control unit 600 will be described. The control unit 600 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU executes control necessary for operating the image forming apparatus 1 for the above-described components of the image forming apparatus 1 such as the main body 100. The ROM stores software necessary for controlling the operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The RAM is used for temporary storage of data generated during execution of software, storage of application software, and the like.

  The control unit 600 includes an image data storage unit 601, a spread page determination unit 607, a page number acquisition unit 609, an image data processing unit 611, a print control unit 613, and a display control unit 615. The function of the spread document determination unit 605 is realized by the control unit 600 and the optical sensors 605a, 605b, 605c, and 605d.

  The image data storage unit 601 stores image data of a plurality of pages generated by the document reading unit 200. The document reading unit 200 reads the document set on the document placement unit 301 and sent to the document reading slit 205 by the document feeding unit 300 or the document set on the document table 203. If it is not necessary to distinguish between the document set on the document placement unit 301 and the document set on the document table 203, the document is described as a document set on the image forming apparatus 1.

  The spread document determination unit 605 determines whether or not the document read by the document reading unit 200 is a spread document. If it is determined that the document is a spread document, the image data of the document is stored as image data for two pages as image data. Stored in the unit 601. Specifically, it is determined whether or not the dimension of the top position of the document read by the document reading unit 200 is smaller than the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the top position. If the spread document determination unit 605 determines that the document is small, the document is determined to be a spread document, and the image data of the spread document is stored in the image data storage unit 601 as image data of two pages. The spread document determination unit 605 includes optical sensors 605a, 605b, 605c, and 605d (an example of document detection means). These sensors are arranged so as to be able to determine whether or not a document set in the image forming apparatus 1 for reading by the document reading unit 200 is a spread document. The spread document determination unit 605 has an image of a document other than a spread document (a normal document) out of a plurality of documents in which the size of the image of one page and the image of the other page represented by the image data of the spread document is the same. It is determined whether or not the size of the image represented by the data is the same.

  If the spread page determination unit 607 determines that the spread document is determined to be a spread document by the spread document determination unit 605, two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document when booklet printing is performed, the even page comes first, and the odd page comes later. It is determined whether or not two pages are spread and printed on the basis of whether there is an odd page first and an even page later. A spread page is a page that becomes two pages on the left and right or two on the top and bottom when a booklet created by folding a booklet-printed sheet in two is opened.

  A page number acquisition unit 609 acquires the page number n of a plurality of documents read by the document reading unit 200 in the booklet printing mode. If one side of a normal document (a document that is not a spread document) is read, one page is read. If both sides of one normal document are read, two pages are read. If one side of a single spread original is read, two pages are read. If both sides of a single spread original are read, four pages are read.

  The image data processing unit 611 processes image data of a plurality of pages generated by the document reading unit 200. The image data processing unit 611 includes an enlargement / reduction unit 611a and an image data rearrangement unit 611b. If the enlargement / reduction unit 611a determines that the size of the image on the page is not the same by the spread document determination unit 605, one of the spread document is matched with the size of the image represented by the image data of the document other than the spread document. Each of the image on the first page and the image on the other page is enlarged or reduced.

  The image data rearrangement unit 611b reads the image data of a plurality of pages stored in the image data storage unit 601 after the reading of a plurality of documents by the document reading unit 200, and arranges the read image data for booklet printing. Change. Further, if the image data rearrangement unit 611b determines that the spread page determination unit 607 does not print the spread page, the additional page is displayed before the second page of the image represented by the image data of the spread original when the booklet is printed. The image data of a plurality of pages is rearranged for booklet printing.

  The print control unit 613 causes the main body unit 100 (an example of a printing unit) to print an image represented by the image data rearranged for booklet printing by the image data rearranging unit 611b. Further, the print control unit 613 causes the main body unit 100 to print an image represented by the image data of the spread original that has been enlarged or reduced by the enlargement / reduction unit 611a.

  A display control unit 615 controls display on the display unit 403. If the document set on the image forming apparatus 1 is determined to be a spread document by the spread document determination unit 605, the display control unit 615 displays on the display unit 403 that the document read by the document reading unit 200 is a spread document. . If the document set on the image forming apparatus 1 is determined to be a spread document by the spread document determination unit 605, the display control unit 615 displays a setting screen for accepting a setting operation for reading the spread document on the display unit 403. Let

  The operation unit 400 includes a read command unit 401. The read command unit 401 is realized by a start key 407. The read command unit 401 receives an operation of a command to read a document set on the image forming apparatus 1 after the display unit 403 displays that the document read by the document reading unit 200 is a spread document. Further, the reading command unit 401 receives an operation of a command to read a document set on the image forming apparatus 1 with settings received on the setting screen displayed on the display unit 403. This setting screen is a setting screen for accepting a setting operation when reading the above-described spread document.

  Next, the spread document determination unit 605 will be described in detail. The orientation (vertical orientation or landscape orientation) of the document set on the image forming apparatus 1 is detected, and it is determined whether or not the set document is a spread document based on the orientation of the document and the top position of the set document. First, detection of the orientation of a document set on the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. There are two types of documents set on the image forming apparatus 1, that is, a document set on the document placement unit 301 of the document feeding unit 300 and a document set on the document table 203. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the document feeding unit 300. FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing a state in which a document is set on the document placement unit 301 of the document feeding unit 300. FIG. 5A shows a state in which the A4 document 11 is set in the vertical direction, and FIG. (C) shows a state where the A3 original 13 is set sideways.

  Referring to FIG. 4, document feeder 300 is provided with document feed port 309. A document set on the document placement unit 301 is fed from a document feeding port 309 to a document transport unit 305 (FIG. 1) inside the document feeding unit 300. A guide member 311 and a guide member 313 are installed on the surface of the document placing portion 301. The guide members 311 and 313 extend in the sub-scanning direction D2, and guide when the document set on the document placement unit 301 is fed. The guide members 311 and 313 are movable on the document placing portion 301 in the main scanning direction D1. If one of the guide members 311 and 313 is moved closer to the other, the other is moved closer to the other, and the distance between the guide members 311 and 313 is reduced. On the other hand, if one of the guide members 311 and 313 is moved away from the other, the other is also moved away from the other, and the distance between the guide members 311 and 313 is increased. As shown in FIG. 5, the guide members 311 and 313 are moved according to the sizes and orientations of the originals 11, 12 and 13 set on the original placement unit 301.

  An optical sensor 605 a is disposed on the document placement unit 301. An optical sensor 605 b is arranged in the vicinity of the document feeding port 309 in the document conveying unit 305 of the document feeding unit 300. The magnitudes of the outputs of the optical sensors 605a and 605b differ depending on whether or not the original is positioned on the optical sensors 605a and 605b when the original is set on the original placement unit 301.

  The optical sensors 605a and 605b are arranged so that the following relationship is established. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the A4 document 11 is set vertically, the document 11 is not positioned on the optical sensor 605a but positioned on the optical sensor 605b. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the A4 document 12 is set sideways, the document 12 is positioned on the optical sensor 605a, but not positioned on the optical sensor 605b. As shown in FIG. 5C, when the A3 original 13 is set sideways, the original 13 is positioned on the optical sensors 605a and 605b. Accordingly, based on the output signals from the optical sensors 605a and 605b, it is possible to automatically determine whether the document set on the document placement unit 301 is in any of the states (A) to (C) of FIG. . According to the arrangement of the optical sensors 605a and 605b shown in FIG. 4, the size and orientation of the document can be detected before the document feeding unit 300 feeds the document and starts reading the document.

  In the document conveyance unit 305 of the document feeding unit 300, the optical sensor 605a and the optical sensor 605b may be arranged with a predetermined distance along the document conveyance direction. According to this, it is possible to detect the size and orientation of the document after the document feeding unit 300 feeds the document and starts reading the document.

  The detection of the orientation of the document set on the document table 203 will be described. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the document reading unit 200. FIGS. 7A and 7B are views showing a state where the original is set on the original platen 203. FIG. 7A shows a state where the A4 original 11 is set vertically, and FIG. 7B shows the A4 original 12 set sideways. (C) shows a state in which the A3 original 13 is set sideways.

  Referring to FIG. 6, document reading unit 200 includes a frame 209 having an opening, and a document table 203 fitted in the opening. Inside the frame 209, a CCD sensor 207 and a carriage 201 extending in the main scanning direction D1 are arranged. The carriage 201 is movable in the sub scanning direction D2. Optical sensors 605c and 605d are arranged below the document table 203. The magnitudes of the outputs of the optical sensors 605c and 605d differ depending on whether or not the original is positioned on the optical sensors 605c and 605d when the original is set on the original table 203.

  The optical sensors 605c and 605d are arranged so that the same relationship as the above-described optical sensors 605a and 605b is established. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the A4 document 11 is set vertically, the document 11 is not positioned on the optical sensor 605c but positioned on the optical sensor 605d. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the A4 original 12 is set sideways, the original 12 is positioned on the optical sensor 605c but not on the optical sensor 605d. As shown in FIG. 7C, when the A3 original 13 is set sideways, the original 13 is positioned on the optical sensors 605c and 605d. Therefore, based on the output signals from the optical sensors 605c and 605d, it is possible to automatically determine whether the document set on the document table 203 is in any of the states (A) to (C) of FIG. According to the arrangement of the optical sensors 605c and 605d shown in FIG. 6, when a document is set on the document table 203, the size and orientation of the document can be detected before the document reading unit 200 starts reading the document.

  If the original is detected using the CCD sensor 207, the optical sensor 605d becomes unnecessary. This will be described with reference to FIG. 8A and 8B are views showing a state in which an original is set on the original platen 203 as in FIG. 7, in which FIG. 8A shows a state in which an A4 original 11 is set vertically, and FIG. 8B shows an A4 original 12 Shows a state in which is placed sideways, and (C) shows a state in which the A3 original 13 is set sideways.

  The orientation of the document set on the document table 203 is determined by performing a pre-scan before reading the document. Specifically, by performing pre-scanning, light emitted from the light source of the carriage 201 is reflected and received by the optical sensor 605c. The amount of light received by the optical sensor 605c differs depending on whether the original is positioned on the optical sensor 605c when the original is set on the original table 203. This makes it possible to distinguish whether the document set on the document table 203 is in the state shown in FIG. 8A or in the states shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C. Whether the document set on the document table 203 is in the state shown in FIG. 8B depending on which part of the CCD sensor 207 receives light in the main scanning direction D1 due to the prescan. It is possible to distinguish whether the state is (A) or (C). As a result, it is possible to automatically determine whether the document set on the document table 203 is in any of the states (A) to (C) of FIG.

  The detection of the size and orientation of the document has been described with respect to the case where the document is A4 portrait orientation, A4 landscape orientation, and A3 landscape orientation. However, when detecting the size and orientation of other documents (for example, B4 and B5). Accordingly, an optical sensor may be arranged accordingly.

  Further, as a means for detecting the document set on the document placement unit 301 shown in FIG. 4, for example, a switch can be used without using the optical sensors 605a and 605b. The switch arranged at the position of the optical sensor 605a is pressed when a document is placed on the switch. Thus, it is detected whether or not there is a document at the switch position. The switch arranged at the position of the optical sensor 605b is pressed when a document hits the switch. Thus, it is detected whether or not there is a document at the switch position. Such a switch may be used as the document detection means.

  Next, the top position of the document used for determination by the facing document determination unit 605 will be described. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining this. In booklet printing, the top position of the document must be determined in advance in order to align the top and bottom of each page image printed on the paper. For example, if the top position of the document is set upward in the image forming apparatus 1, the person who sets the document places the document placement unit 301 or the document table 203 so that the upper side of the document faces upward as viewed from the person. Load the original on. If the top position of the document is set to the left in the image forming apparatus 1, the person who sets the document places the document placement unit 301 or the document table 203 so that the upper side of the document faces left when viewed from the person. Load the original on.

  FIG. 9A shows a normal document 15 set with the top position facing up. The normal document 15 is a document other than a spread document, and is a document that is read with one side as one page. The size of the document 15 is A4, and the document 15 is set vertically.

  FIG. 9B shows the facing document 16 set with the top position facing up. The facing original 16 is an original that can be read with two pages on one side. The size of the document 16 is A3, and the document 16 is set sideways. FIG. 9C shows a normal document 17 set with the top position at the left. The size of the document 17 is A4, and the document 17 is set sideways. FIG. 9D shows the spread original 18 set with the top position facing up. The size of the document 18 is A4, and the document 18 is set sideways.

  9A to 9D, an arrow D3 indicates the direction of the top position of the document, and an arrow D4 indicates a direction orthogonal to the direction D3 of the top position. Whether the document set on the document placement unit 301 or the document table 203 is a spread document or a normal document can be determined by the top position and orientation of the document. That is, if the dimension in the direction D3 of the top position is larger than the dimension in the direction D4 orthogonal to the direction of the top position, the document is a normal document. On the other hand, if the dimension in the direction D3 of the top position is smaller than the dimension in the direction D4 perpendicular to the top position, the document is a spread document.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, in the A4 document 15 in which the top position is set in the vertical direction at the top position, the dimension in the direction D3 of the top position is larger than the dimension in the direction D4 (normal document). . As shown in FIG. 9B, the A3 document 16 whose top position is set sideways on the top is smaller than the dimension in the direction D4 in which the dimension in the direction D3 of the top position is orthogonal (spread document). As shown in FIG. 9C, the A4 document 17 with the top position set to the left and landscape is larger than the dimension in the direction D4 in which the dimension in the direction D3 of the top position is orthogonal (normal document). As shown in FIG. 9D, in the A4 document 18 in which the top position is set sideways on the top, the dimension in the direction D3 of the top position is smaller than the dimension in the direction D4 perpendicular to the top position (two-page spread document).

  As described above, the spread document determination unit 605 determines whether the document is a spread document based on the orientation of the document set on the document placement unit 301 or the document table 203 and the top position.

  Next, the spread page determination unit 607 will be described in detail. If the spread page determination unit 607 determines that the spread document is determined to be a spread document by the spread document determination unit 605, two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document when booklet printing is performed, the even page comes first, and the odd page comes later. Whether or not the two pages are printed as a spread page is determined based on whether there is an odd page first and an even page later. As will be described later, in printing where the cover of the booklet is the first page, two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document are printed on the spread page if the even page is first and the odd page is later. On the other hand, if the odd page is first and the even page is later, it is printed on the front and back of one sheet. On the other hand, in printing in which the back of the cover of the booklet is the first page, two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document are one sheet if the even page is first and the odd page is later. On the contrary, if the odd page is first and the even page is later, it is printed on a spread page.

  If it is determined that the page is not printed on the spread page, processing related to an additional page, which will be described later, is performed so that the page is printed as a spread page. On the other hand, if it is determined that the spread page is printed, the process for the additional page is not performed.

  First, it is determined that two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document are printed on the spread page by the even page first and the odd page after the print in which the cover of the booklet is the first page. The case where it will be described. FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a plurality of originals in this case. There are 11 documents in total, and one side of each document is read in the order of three ordinary documents 21, one spread document 22, and seven ordinary documents 23. The size of the three normal documents 21 and the seven normal documents 23 is A4, and the size of the spread document 22 is A3. Since one side of the original is read, an image of one page is read by one original, and an image of two pages is read by one spread original. In the reading of 11 originals, the original 21a is read first among the three normal originals 21, the spread original 22 is read fourth, and the original 23a of the seven normal originals 23 is fifth. To be read.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing image data of 12 pages generated by reading the 11 originals shown in FIG. 10 by the original reading unit 200. The image data 25 of the first page is image data of the original 21a, the image data 26 of the fourth page and the image data 27 of the fifth page are image data of the spread original 22, and the image data 28 of the sixth page is the original. 23a image data.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a state in which the image data of 12 pages shown in FIG. 11 is rearranged for booklet printing and printed on A3 paper. There are 3 sheets in total. An image represented by the image data of the first page and the twelfth page is printed on the back surface of the paper 31, and an image represented by the image data of the second page and the eleventh page is printed on the front surface of the paper 31. Yes.

  Images represented by the image data of the third page and the tenth page are printed on the back surface of the paper 32, and images represented by the image data of the fourth page and the ninth page are printed on the front surface of the paper 32. Yes.

  Images represented by the image data of the fifth page and the eighth page are printed on the back surface of the paper 33, and images represented by the image data of the sixth page and the seventh page are printed on the front surface of the paper 33. Yes.

  If these sheets are stacked in the order of sheets 31, 32, and 33 and folded into two, a 12-page booklet is obtained. The image represented by the image data 26 on the fourth page and the image represented by the image data 27 on the fifth page become spread pages when the booklet is opened.

  As described above, when the booklet cover is printed as the first page, and the two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document are as shown in FIG. 11, the even page comes first and the odd page comes after, It can be seen that it is printed on a spread page. If the spread page determination unit 607 determines that two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original are to be printed as the spread page, the process for the additional page is not performed.

  Next, when the booklet cover is printed as the first page, it is determined that the two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document are not printed on the spread page because the odd page comes first and the even page follows The case where it will be described. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a plurality of documents in this case. The total number of originals is 11 as in the case of a plurality of originals shown in FIG. 10 differs from the plurality of documents shown in FIG. 10 in that one side of each document is read in the order of four normal documents 41, one spread document 42, and six normal documents 43. In the reading of 11 originals, the original 41a is read first among the four normal originals 41, the spread original 42 is read fifth, and the original 43a is the sixth among the six normal originals 43. To be read.

  FIG. 14 corresponds to FIG. 11, and shows 12 pages of image data generated by reading the 11 originals shown in FIG. 13 by the original reading unit 200. The image data 45 of the first page is image data of the document 41a, the image data 46 of the fifth page and the image data 47 of the sixth page are image data of the spread document 42, and the image data 48 of the seventh page is the document. 43a image data.

  FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG. 12, and shows a state in which the image data of 12 pages shown in FIG. 14 is rearranged for booklet printing and printed on A3 paper. Images represented by the image data of 12 pages shown in FIG. 14 are printed on sheets 51, 52 and 53. An image represented by the image data 46 of the fifth page is printed on the back surface of the paper 53, and an image represented by the image data 47 of the sixth page is printed on the front surface of the paper 53. Therefore, when the sheets 51, 52, and 53 are overlapped and folded into two to form a booklet, the image represented by the image data 46 on the fifth page and the image represented by the image data 47 on the sixth page are spread pages. Don't be.

  Therefore, the spread document is printed on the spread page by using an additional page having an odd number of pages. FIG. 14 shows an example of an additional page 55 consisting of one page and additional pages 56, 57, 58 consisting of three pages as additional pages. The additional pages 55, 56, 57, and 58 are white images. For example, image data representing a pattern image is stored in the control unit 600 in advance as image data of an additional page according to the user's preference, and the image data is used. May be.

  The order of the additional page 55 consisting of one page is set to be before the order of the two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original (the image data 46 of the fifth page and the image data 47 of the sixth page). FIG. 16 shows a state where the sheets are rearranged for booklet printing and printed on A4 paper. On the four sheets 61, 62, 63, 64, the image represented by the image data of 12 pages shown in FIG. 14 is printed, and the portion of the additional page 55 is set to a blank state (white image) in which no image is printed. ing. The additional page 55 is between the image page represented by the image data of the fourth page and the image page represented by the image data 46 of the fifth page.

  The image represented by the image data 46 of the fifth page is printed on the front surface of the paper 63, and the image represented by the image data 47 of the sixth page is printed on the back surface of the paper 64. If the sheets 61, 62, 63, 64 are overlapped and folded into two, a booklet is opened for the image represented by the image data 46 on the fifth page and the image data 47 on the sixth page. It becomes a two-page spread.

  FIG. 17 shows a state in which the order of the additional pages 56, 57, 58 consisting of three pages is before the order of the image data of the spread original, and is rearranged for booklet printing and printed on A4 paper. Shown in On four sheets of paper 66, 67, 68, 69, the image represented by the image data of 12 pages shown in FIG. 14 is printed, and the portions of the additional pages 56, 57, 58 are not printed. . The additional pages 56, 57, and 58 are between the image page represented by the image data of the fourth page and the image page represented by the image data 46 of the fifth page.

  The image represented by the image data 46 on the fifth page and the image represented by the image data 47 on the sixth page are printed on the surface of the paper 69. If the sheets 66, 67, 68, 69 are overlapped and folded into two, a booklet is opened for the image represented by the image data 46 on the fifth page and the image data 47 on the sixth page. It becomes a two-page spread.

  Next, a booklet printing process using the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. 18 and 19 are flowcharts for explaining this. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing transition of screens displayed on the display unit 403 in the process.

  When the operation of the application copy key 427 shown in FIG. 2 by the user is accepted by the operation unit 400, the display control unit 615 (FIG. 3) causes the display unit 403 to display an application copy screen (not shown). The screen includes keys for selecting application copies such as booklet printing, aggregate printing, sorting, and the like. When the user operates the booklet printing key, the control unit 600 sets the image forming apparatus 1 to the booklet printing mode, and the display control unit 615 causes the display unit 403 to display the booklet printing setting screen 71 shown in FIG. (Step S1). The setting screen 71 includes keys 72a, 72b, 73a, 73b, 74a, 74b, 75, and 76.

  When the original reading unit 200 reads one side of the original, the user operates the key 72a, and when the original reading unit 200 reads both sides of the original, the user operates the key 72b. The user operates the key 73a when binding the finished sheet (that is, the booklet-printed sheet) to the left, and the user operates the key 73b when binding the right sheet. The user operates the key 74a to raise the top position of the document, and the user operates the key 74b to move it to the left. When stapling a booklet-printed sheet using the sheet post-processing unit 500, the user operates the key 75.

  When using the automatic recognition function of the spread document, the user operates the key 76. The key 76 has a function of automatically recognizing a spread document by the spread document determination unit 605 if a spread document is included when reading a plurality of documents. Here, it is assumed that the setting screen 71 accepts an operation for selecting one side of the original, binding the finished paper to the left, raising the top position of the original, and selecting automatic recognition of the spread original.

  When the image forming apparatus 1 enters the booklet printing mode, the page number acquisition unit 609 sets the page number n to 0 (step S3). If one side of one normal document is read, one page is read. If both sides of one normal document are read, two pages are read. If one side of a single spread original is read, two pages are read. If both sides of a single spread original are read, four pages are read. Therefore, if one side of the 11 originals shown in FIGS. 10 and 13 is read, the number of pages n is 12.

  First, the user sets the three originals 21 shown in FIG. 10 on the original placement unit 301 with the top position facing upward as shown in FIG. 9A (step S5). When the document table 203 is used, the document 21a that is the first document to be read is set.

  Since the dimension of the set document in the top position direction D3 is larger than the dimension in the direction D4 orthogonal to the direction of the top position D3, the spread document determination unit 605 determines that the document is a normal document that is not a spread document (step S7). No).

  When the operation of the start key 407 by the user is accepted by the operation unit 400 (step S9), the three document sheets 21 are sequentially sent to the document reading unit 200 by the document feeding unit 300, and images on one side of those documents are displayed. Is read (step S11). When the document table 203 is used, the document 21a is set, and the three documents 21 are set and read sequentially from the document 21a.

  The spread document determination unit 605 stores the image data of the three documents 21 read by the document reading unit 200 in the image data storage unit 601 as the image data of the first to third pages in the order in which the three documents 21 are read. Store (step S13). Since one side of the three originals 21 has been read, the page number acquisition unit 609 acquires and stores “3” as the page number n (step S15). When both sides of the document are read, the image data storage unit 601 stores the first to sixth page image data. Then, the page number acquisition unit 609 acquires and stores “6” as the page number n.

  The display control unit 615 displays the screen 78 shown in FIG. 20B on the display unit 403 (step S17). Screen 78 includes a key 79 for selecting the start of booklet printing. On the screen 78, “If there is a document to be scanned, set it and operate the start key. When all the documents have been scanned, operate the booklet printing start key and then operate the start key.” Is displayed.

  One spread original 22 shown in FIG. 10 is set on the original placement portion 301 with the top position facing upward as shown in FIG. 9B (Yes in step S19). If the spread document 22 cannot be read using the document feeding unit 300 (for example, a book spread), it is set on the document table 203.

  Since the dimension of the set document in the top position direction D3 is smaller than the dimension in the direction D4 orthogonal to the direction of the top position D3, the spread document determination unit 605 determines that the document is a spread document (Yes in step S7).

  The display control unit 615 causes the display unit 403 to display a spread original reading setting screen 81 shown in FIG. 20C (step S21 in FIG. 19). The setting screen 81 includes keys 82a, 82b, 82c, 83a, 83b, 84a, and 84b.

  If the image of the spread original is a character, the user operates the key 82a for setting the reading for the character. If the image of the spread original is a photograph, the user operates the key 82b for setting reading for the photograph. If the image of the spread original includes characters and photos, the user operates the key 82c for setting the reading for characters and photos.

  When it is desired to detect the density of the original and automatically set the optimum density for the spread original, the user operates the key 83a. If the user wants to manually set the reading density of a spread document, the user operates the key 83b to set the density.

  When the user operates the magnification key 84a, the image forming apparatus 1 prints the read image in an enlarged or reduced manner according to the size of the paper selected in the booklet printing. When the user operates the magnification key 84b, the user can manually set a magnification for enlarging or reducing the read image.

  Here, it is assumed that an operation for automatically selecting the image quality of the document, the density of the document automatically, and the magnification automatically is received on the setting screen 81. A spread original is often a drawing or a photograph, and better image data is often obtained when the image reading setting is different from that of a normal original. Therefore, if it is determined that the document is a double-page spread in step S7, a setting screen 81 is displayed on the display unit 403 to allow the user to set image reading. In addition, you may transfer to step S25 from Yes of step S7, without performing step S21, S23.

  When the user operates the start key 407 (step S23), the single-page spread original 22 is sent to the original reading section 200 by the original feeding section 300, and an image on one side of the double-open original 22 is read (step S25).

  The facing document determination unit 605 refers to the page number n stored in the page number acquisition unit 609. The page number n is “3”. Since the spread document determination unit 605 processes the image data of one spread document 22 read by the document reading unit 200 as image data of two pages, it is stored in the image data storage unit 601 as image data of the fourth and fifth pages. Store (step S27).

  Since one side of one spread original 22 has been read, the page number acquisition unit 609 acquires “5”, which is a value obtained by adding “2” to the stored page number n = 3, as the page number n. (Step S29).

  The spread page determination unit 607 determines whether or not two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original 22 are printed as a spread page when the booklet is printed (step S31).

  For this determination, the page number n stored in the page number acquisition unit 609 is used. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, when the cover of the booklet is the first page, if the number n of pages after reading the spread original 22 is “5”, the image data of one page of the spread original 22 The image represented by 26 is printed on the fourth page, and the image represented by the image data 27 of the other page is printed on the fifth page. As described above, when the cover of the booklet is the first page, if the number n of pages after reading the spread original 22 is an odd number, two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original 22 are even pages. Is printed on the paper as a double-page spread when the odd page comes first.

  If the spread page determination unit 607 determines that two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original 22 are printed as the spread page (Yes in step S31), the display control unit 615 displays the page in the display unit 403 as shown in FIG. The screen 78 shown in (B) of (B) is displayed (step S17).

  The user sets the seven normal documents 23 shown in FIG. 10 on the document placement unit 301 with the top position facing up as shown in FIG. 9A (Yes in step S19).

  Since the dimension in the direction D3 of the top position of the set document is larger than the dimension in the direction D4 orthogonal to the direction of the top position D3, the spread document determination unit 605 determines that the document is not a spread document (No in step S7). .

  When the operation of the start key 407 by the user is accepted by the operation unit 400 (step S9), the document feeding unit 300 sequentially sends the seven documents 23 to the document reading unit 200, and images of one side of those documents. Is read (step S11). When using the document table 203, the document 23a is set, and the document is set and read sequentially from the document 23a.

  The facing document determination unit 605 refers to the page number n stored in the page number acquisition unit 609. The page number n is “5”. The spread document determination unit 605 stores the image data of the seven normal documents 23 read by the document reading unit 200 in the image data storage unit 601 as the image data of the sixth to twelfth pages (step S13).

  One side of the seven originals 23 is read. Accordingly, the page number acquisition unit 609 acquires and stores “12”, which is a value obtained by adding “7” to the stored page number n = 5, as the page number n (step S15).

  The display control unit 615 displays the screen 78 shown in FIG. 20B on the display unit 403 (step S17). All originals have been scanned. When the operation of the key 79 and the operation of the start key 407 by the user are accepted (step S33), the image data rearranging unit 611b reads out the 12 pages of image data shown in FIG. 11 stored in the image data storage unit 601. Then, they are rearranged for booklet printing (step S35).

  The print control unit 613 causes the main body unit 100 to print an image represented by the image data rearranged for booklet printing (step S37). Thus, the sheets 31, 32, and 33 shown in FIG. 12 are output.

  Although the description has been given with respect to the case of reading the 11 originals shown in FIG. 10, when the 11 originals shown in FIG. 13 are read, processing relating to the additional page is performed. This will be described. First, after steps S1 and S3, the user sets the four originals 41 shown in FIG. 13 on the original placement unit 301 with the top position facing upward as shown in FIG. 9A (step S5). When using the document table 203, the document 41a which is the first document to be read is set. Then, steps S7, S9, S11, S13, S15, and S17 are processed. Since one side of the four originals 41 has been read, in step S15, the page number acquisition unit 609 acquires “4” as the page number n and stores it.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, one spread original 42 shown in FIG. 13 is set on the original placement portion 301 with the top position facing up (Yes in step S19). The facing document 42 may be set on the document table 203.

  Since the dimension of the set document in the top position direction D3 is smaller than the dimension in the direction D4 orthogonal to the direction of the top position D3, the spread document determination unit 605 determines that the document is a spread document (Yes in step S7). Then, steps S21, S23, S25, S27, and S29 are performed. Since one side of one spread original 42 has been read, in step S29, the page number acquiring unit 609 adds “2” to the stored number of pages n = 4 to “6”. Obtain and store as number n.

  The spread page determination unit 607 determines whether or not two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original 42 are printed as a spread page when the booklet is printed (step S31). For this determination, the page number n stored in the page number acquisition unit 609 is used. Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, when the cover of the booklet is the first page, if the number n of pages after reading the spread document 42 is “6”, the image data of one page of the spread document 42 The image represented by 46 is printed on the fifth page, and the image represented by the image data 47 of the other page is printed on the sixth page. As described above, when the cover of the booklet is the first page, if the number n of pages after reading the spread original 42 is an even number, two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original 42 are odd pages. The even page comes after. As a result, printing is performed on the front and back sides of one sheet of paper, so that it is not printed on the sheet as a spread page.

  If the spread page determination unit 607 determines that the page of the image represented by the image data of the spread original 42 is not printed as a spread page (No in step S31), processing regarding the additional page is performed (step S39). This process will be described using the additional page 55 shown in FIG. 14 as an example.

  The spread page determination unit 607 makes the order of the additional page 55 before the order of the two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread document (the image data 46 of the fifth page and the image data 47 of the sixth page). The page order is set in the image data rearrangement unit 611b. Here, the order is set so that the additional page 55 is positioned between the image data of the fourth page and the image data 46 of the fifth page. Then, the process returns to step S17.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the six normal documents 43 shown in FIG. 13 are set on the document placement unit 301 with the top position facing up (Yes in step S19). Then, steps S7, S9, S11, S13, S15, and S17 are processed. All originals have been scanned. When the user operates the key 79 and the start key 407 (step S33), the image data rearranging unit 611b reads out the 12 pages of image data shown in FIG. 14 stored in the image data storage unit 601. Then, the pages are rearranged for booklet printing so that the order of the additional pages 55 is between the image data of the fourth page and the image data 46 of the fifth page (step S35).

  The print control unit 613 causes the main body unit 100 to print an image represented by the image data rearranged for booklet printing (step S37). Thereby, the sheets 61, 62, 63, and 64 shown in FIG. 16 are output.

  The main effects of this embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, when a spread original is read by the document reading unit 200, the dimension of the top position D3 of the document is smaller than the dimension D4 orthogonal to the top position. According to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the dimension of the top position D3 of the document read by the document reading unit 200 is smaller than the dimension of the orthogonal direction D4, the document is determined to be a spread document, and the document is Scan as a double-page spread. Accordingly, in booklet printing, when a plurality of originals include the spread originals 22 and 42, the user does not perform an operation of changing the type of the original to a spread original, and the originals are set as the spread originals 22 and 42. Can read. Further, since it is determined whether or not the document in the top position direction D3 of the document is smaller than the dimension in the orthogonal direction D4, it is determined whether the document is the spread document or not. Can be determined.

  According to the present embodiment, when it is determined that the page of the image represented by the image data of the spread original 42 is not printed as a spread page when the booklet is printed (No in step S31), the order of the additional pages 55 is determined. Are arranged in front of the order of the two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original (the image data 46 of the fifth page and the image data 47 of the sixth page). As a result, in step S35, the image data of a plurality of pages is rearranged for booklet printing so that the additional page 55 comes before two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original when the booklet is printed. Can do.

  Therefore, if the image represented by the rearranged image data is printed on a sheet, the page of the image represented by the image data of the spread original 42 can be printed on the sheet in the order in which the page is spread. Therefore, when the page of the image represented by the image data of the spread original 42 is not printed on the paper when the booklet is printed, the booklet can be printed without causing the user to perform an additional page setting operation.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, as described in steps S7 and S21, if the original set on the image forming apparatus 1 is determined to be the spread originals 22 and 42 by the spread original determination unit 605, the display unit 403 is displayed. A setting screen 81 for a spread document shown in FIG. 20C is displayed. Thus, the display unit 403 displays that the document read by the document reading unit 200 is the spread document 22 or 42. Therefore, the user can recognize that the original is read as the spread originals 22 and 42 before reading the original set on the image forming apparatus 1. Further, the setting screen 81 for the spread document shown in FIG. 20C is displayed on the display unit 403, and the setting operation for reading the spread documents 22 and 42 is accepted. Therefore, it is convenient when the image quality or the like is different between the originals other than the spread original and the spread originals 22 and 43 among the plural originals.

  In the present embodiment, there is an aspect in which the enlargement / reduction unit 611a is used. This mode can be used, for example, when the normal document is the document 15 (A4 portrait orientation) shown in FIG. 9A and the spread document is the document 18 (A4 landscape orientation) shown in FIG. 9D. it can. Between step S25 and step S27, the spread document determination unit 605 displays the size of the image of one page and the image of the other page represented by the image data of the spread document as image data of a normal document. It is determined whether it is the same as the size of the image to be processed. For example, when the normal document is the document 15 (A4 portrait orientation) shown in FIG. 9A and the spread document is the document 16 (A3 landscape orientation) shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the normal document is the document 15 shown in FIG. 9A and the spread document is the document 18 shown in FIG. 9D, it is determined that they are not the same.

  If the two-page spread document determination unit 605 determines that they are not the same, the enlargement / reduction unit 611a sets the image of one page of the two-page spread document and the other page so as to match the size of the image represented by the image data of the normal document. Processing for enlarging or reducing each of the images. As a result, when an ordinary document is enlarged or reduced and printed, the spread document can be enlarged or reduced in accordance with the enlargement or reduction setting of the ordinary document. Therefore, the user can omit the setting operation for enlarging or reducing the spread original.

  Further, in this embodiment, if the spread document determination unit 605 determines that the dimension of the top position D3 of the document read by the document reading unit 200 is smaller than the dimension of the direction D4 orthogonal to the top position direction. The original is determined to be a double-page spread. According to this determination method, it is possible to determine whether or not the document is a spread document regardless of whether the top position of the normal document and the spread document is set to the upper side or the left position. There are the following two methods for determining a spread document.

  One is a method in which the spread document determination unit 605 determines whether the document read by the document reading unit 200 is in portrait orientation or landscape orientation, and if it is determined to be in landscape orientation, the document is determined as a spread document. According to this determination method, as shown in FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9D, when the top position of the document is set upward, if the orientation of the document is landscape (document 16 , 18), the original can be determined as a spread original regardless of the size of the original.

  The other is a method in which the spread document determination unit 605 determines the size of the document read by the document reading unit 200 by dividing the size into large and small, and determines that the document is a spread document if it is determined to be large. According to this determination method, as shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, even if the orientation of the original is the same, it is possible to determine that the large-size original is a spread original. In this determination method, it is necessary to set the top position for each of the spread document and the normal document, and it is necessary to set the size for each of the spread document and the normal document.

1 Image forming apparatus 100 Main unit (an example of a printing unit)
203 Document table 301 Document placement unit 403 Display unit 407 Start key (an example of a reading command unit)
D1 main scanning direction D2 sub-scanning direction D3 document top position D4 direction perpendicular to top position

Claims (6)

A document reading unit that reads a plurality of documents including a spread document to be read as two pages and generates image data of a plurality of pages;
An image data storage unit for storing image data of the plurality of pages generated by the document reading unit;
If it is determined whether the document read by the document reading unit is the spread document, and the document is determined to be the spread document, the image data of the document is stored in the image data storage unit as image data of two pages. A two-page spread document determination unit
After the reading of the plurality of documents by the document reading unit, the image data rearrangement for reading the image data of the plurality of pages stored in the image data storage unit and rearranging the read image data for booklet printing And
A printing section for printing an image on paper;
A print control unit that causes the printing unit to print an image represented by the image data rearranged for booklet printing by the image data rearrangement unit;
A display unit;
A display control unit;
An image forming apparatus including an operation unit including a start key,
The spread document determination unit includes document detection means arranged to be able to determine whether or not a document set on the image forming apparatus for reading by the document reading unit is the spread document.
When the document set on the image forming apparatus is determined as the spread document by the spread document determination unit, the display control unit displays a setting screen for accepting a setting operation for reading the spread document. When the start key is operated, the document reading unit reads the document set on the image forming apparatus with the settings received on the setting screen displayed on the display unit,
When the document set on the image forming apparatus is not determined to be the spread document by the spread document determination unit, when the start key is operated, the document reading unit reads the document set on the image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus for reading .   If the spread document determination unit determines that the dimension of the document in the top position of the document read by the document reading unit is smaller than the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the top position, the document is determined to be the spread document. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spread document determination unit determines whether the document read by the document reading unit is portrait or landscape, and determines the document as the spread document when the document is determined to be landscape. .   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spread document determination unit determines the size of a document read by the document reading unit in large and small sizes, and determines that the document is the spread document when the size is determined to be large. If the two-page spread document determining unit determines that the two-page spread document is present, two pages of the image represented by the image data of the two-page spread document when booklet printing is performed, the even page is first and the odd page is later, or A spread page determination unit that determines whether the two pages are printed as a spread page based on whether the odd page is first and the even page is later,
When the image data rearrangement unit determines that the spread page determination unit does not print the spread page, the additional page is two pages of the image represented by the image data of the spread original when the booklet is printed. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image data of the plurality of pages is rearranged for booklet printing so as to come before. The spread document determination unit is configured such that the size of one page image and the other page image represented by the image data of the spread document has image data of a document other than the spread document among the plurality of documents. To determine whether the image size is the same as
In the image forming apparatus, if the spread document determination unit determines that the two are not the same, the image of the one page and the image are matched with the size of an image represented by image data of a document other than the spread document. An enlargement / reduction unit for enlarging or reducing each of the images on the other page;
The image formation according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the print control unit causes the printing unit to print an image represented by image data of the spread original that has been enlarged or reduced by the enlargement / reduction unit. apparatus.

Images